Ok, seems clear that refined carbs = weight gain, and a balance of the "right" carbs, proteins, and water is need to maintain healthy weight levels.

Sux for me (and anyone else who is like me) because bad carbs are what I want most. I did use Atkins Diet over a 3-4 month period and went from 171 to 134 about 3 years ago. I stopped using it, and began gaining again. I am currently at 163, so it didn't all come at once. (Currently about 3 pounds over "high normal" range so not feeling desperate. However, mine's all in the belly, so I don't like that at all...)

Since then, have not dieted, but have read some resources, including the "Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" and "Jorge Cruz' 3 Hour Diet," both of which had information I think is valuable to know for when I do decide to diet again.

The idea in the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet is that the bad carbs are literally addictive, and from there it lays out a diet plan based on minimizing bad carbs while eating healthy. 3-Hour Diet is based on eating every three hours (using a timer to ensure eating either a meal or snack before the body's starvation reflex kicks in).

I noticed on Atkins, I had more energy and less hunger overall. However, as I added in some carbs and finally went off it altogether, I discovered that the pull of those carbs I love so well became irresistable. I ABSOLUTELY believe that carbs are physically addictive. (As a smoker who has quit and then started again, and former chemical dependence counselor, I am amazed at how similar the experiences are.)

My body didn't just pack the weight on all at once when I resumed my free-for-all eating lifestyle, but when I tried to start Atkins again, I have found it almost impossible to adhere to this time.

Now I've been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondilitis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It's genetic, and caused by chronic inflammation through various parts of the body. In researching it, I discovered that something called "glyconutrients" and "glycoproteins" seem to be what regulate inflammation in the body (some of the glyconutrients, not all) and the ones that do are often used for allergy problems as well.

It's been theorized that alcoholism is an allergy of sorts. I wonder if there's a link between addictions and allergies... What do you think?

Absolutely. I've had battles with all that you mentioned. As a kid, who was the 'ADD' type, I could drink a bottle of sugary soda and get a tremendous high from it. Even into my teens and early twenties, I could consume empty calories and get a mental euphoria from this. Being mildly depressed and anxious my entire life, I believe that sugar I consumed increased blood sugar and increased natural brain chemicals such as dopamine that I might had been naturally lacking.