<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hi all! I'd like to throw in my 2-cents worth about this one. I struggle with weight gain and I have found I can actually lose weight and not feel deprived but I have to count calories because otherwise I can really get alot of calories from rice and meat. Since I don't get carbohydrates from other breads, I have to get them from veggies, so potatoes become important and squash. Low calorie, without adding alot of butter or oils, they fill me up and I don't have to write down hundreds of calories like I do if I eat rice or rice flour products. Chromium piccolinate as an added supplement keeps me from craving sweets and evening primrose oil or borage seed oil gives me essential fatty acids so my body can produce cholesterol and use it as a precursor for progesterone and other hormones and prostaglandins. I strive to make myself a well-oiled, and functioning machine so I can continue my work and increase the good in the world. It sometimes is difficult to find the time to exercise for me, but that seems to be an important, essential element to maintaining health as well. I was able to lose 15 pounds over 6 months with this lifestyle. I quit now for 6 months counting calories and have gained 7 pounds back, so I've started counting again. It is so tedious, but for me, it's the only thing that has worked. I'm 41, work 45-50 hour weeks on my feet continuously and have 5 children, 3 of which are still at home. I'm the only gf family member and I can honestly say that all in all, I'm the picture of health, and in pretty good shape, just would like to be 25 pounds lighter. Hope this helps someone out there and I'm interested in knowing what others have found to be successful strategies for the weight question. Cindy in Texas