Two points: One: let's see if the guy can keep the weight off. Two: a lot of people who would never listen to what authority figures say about the dangers of excessive weight might listen to a rapper. Cred.

As long as he can keep avoiding the things that made him fat, like sugar, white flour, starchy foods, etc., then he can keep it off. The body knows how to regulate this stuff, but our diets are geared to throw off all of the regulation. Good for him, I say.

And to point 2: agreed, but it's a good thing.

Yep, it works. After years of trying to lose weight (it didn't help that my ex was the best country cook in three states; she put a hundred pounds on me within a year of the wedding) I finally read Taubes and really cut back on starches, carbs, and sweets. Well, starches and carbs, anyway; dark chocolate is a weakness. But with that alone I dropped quite a bit of weight without even trying and it's stayed off. Taube's notion is that we're evolved for survival and never expected to live in the absolutely amazing land of plenty that we've created for ourselves. The best diet? Take the FDA food pyramid (or whatever they call it these days), chop off sweets, and turn it upside down.

I do low carb for life if it wasn't for pizza. :-(

Pizza is pretty much just as good without the crust (and without the crust, it is pretty good on a low carb diet).

That said, the occasional cheat won't kill you or mess up your gains, just don't do it more than one or two times a month.

(speaking as one down from a high of 375 to 300 currently, in just under a year, and on track for a target of 250 by summer) If you think that's high, consider being 6'6" with 20" arms (when entirely fit [I am the antithesis of small]).

The tomato sauce is even worse, actually. All it is is tomato juice concentrated which bumps up the sugar found in the fruit... and that's before the recipe adds any.

Well, I'm talking about the pizza *I* make, where the sauce is pretty much crushed tomatoes, garlic, and herbs (and the toppings are basically italian sausage and bacon and olives).

I have to admit to a craving for good pizza, (with crust) from time to time, but I don't do it very often, because it's so horrible in quantity.

Once every month or two won't kill you (or even subvert a low carb diet), just don't make it a habit.

Even before I went low carb, I couldn't stand the 'prepared' sauces, whether for pasta or pizza. They all just sucked, no flavor, too sweet (and too thin, to boot).

I learned to make a good marinara when I was 12. Anything else just doesn't quite get there.

Try brancrisp bread. They are crackers really great and very filling

I eat these a lot and have replaced bread and normal crackers with them. They are very high fiber, low carb, low glycemic index.

They give the carb feel and crunch without the calories or sugar issues. We eat them with cheese, avocado, peanut butter and make fake pizza. We put them in soups and stews.

I bring them to restaurants to substitute for bread. The go with butter, cream cheese etc. They go with sweet and savory foods.

High fiber is very good for colon health too.

They are called brancrisp bread and are way cheaper if you order in bulk.

They are used by a very famous and expensive diet doctor in NYC.

A friend of ours lost 75 lbs using these and eating her normal diet less the high carb foods.

I have lost weight and kept it off.

They have a neutral taste and last forever.

Slightly Husky Joe doesn't have the same ring to it. But then, neither does Posthumous Joe!

I just finished Wheat Belly yesterday and my wife is reading it now. We have been eating low carb for almost two years.

Last night, we made a pizza with almond flour crust. It didn't taste as good as a whole wheat crust, but it did taste good. We have Eades' "Low Carb Comfort Food Cookbook" and she was going through it yesterday. I may have some almond flour muffins by the time I get home tonight.

I read Taube's lastest book about a year ago, and started a low carb diet in early January. So far, I've lost 15+ pounds (from 215 to 199 or so), and continue to lose while still having the occasional treat like pizza or a beer now and then. I could be losing faster without the treats, but they keep me sane. I've been trying to convince my family that low carb is the way to go, but they are so indoctrinated and set in their ways...

Oh, and last night I deep fried pecan encrusted tilapia. Delicious!

I've been working on this, too. I used to eat two peanut butter sandwiches for lunch regularly, and take one (or two) into work for dinner. We's poor, so we rarely eat out. My diet's pretty limited.

Since then, I've cut out the sandwiches (peanut butter on celery works for me) and cut down on the sweets. My exercise has been limited to meeting the calorie count on the Wii Fit (about 300), and I get on there about every other day.

I had my off months. Last winter killed me when the wife made Christmas cookies (which in my house meant several dozens of all types: chocolate with chocolate chips, butterscotch crunchies and mint/crushed candy cane). I gained weight.

But over 21 months, I've dropped from 219 to 190, which I haven't seen since 1990. I still like pizza (homemade, including the sauce), but I'm heading in the right direction, and I think cutting down on the wheat and the sugar helped.

Other sources: Robert Lustig has good info against sugar (which is 50% fructose; "high fructose corn syrup" is typically 55% fructose). And to tie it all together: Kurt Harris, an MD who has synthesized a ton of literature into a useful list: http://www.archevore.com/get-started/ ... Archevore, Paleo 2.0, primal, evolutionary etc.