Question:

Hello Do you know what’s with Herman Taller, M.D., who has written "Calories Don’t Count"? I can’t find any information about him, after 1967 and his law problems. What’s with him? Is he still alive? If not – how and when he died? — Regards Tomasz [Tom] Trojanowski

It is an interesting question.  As I recall from websurfing about a year ago, he was convicted of something like mail fraud based on the page in his diet book that recommended the safflower oil pills.  He had some kind of investment in the supplement seller.  The prosecutor claimed that his diet book was a complete fiction made for the purpose of selling a bogus diet supplement. I found his diet book quite inspiring.  There are others these days who claim omega 6 has a role in weightloss.  When I read the book, the one page that touted the saflower oil pills sounded different in cadence, as if it was either written by someone else, or written at a different time than the rest of the book, and then inserted.  I think there is no question that he sincerely believed in a low carb high fat diet, as do I.  In his own profound weightloss he had used safflower oil as his fat source, himself. I don’t know how or when he died.  I’m sure he would have appreciated last year’s low carb surge. I believe Dr. Taller’s work was part of the research done by Atkins. Dr. Taller claimed that *all* of his patients on the diet lost weight. However, he monitored the patients with blood tests by which he determined who was cheating on the diet, and thus cheaters were not included in the 100% success figure. My personal theory is that any form of fat will work to produce weightloss. I have lost 166 pounds, and now have a BMI of about 24.  Dr. Taller claimed that weightloss using his approach stops working at 11% body fat.  In the 1960’s counting calories was difficult.  Today, with software like Fitday, it is easy.  I have been calorie counting at the same time as eating a 60% to 65% fat diet.  So, I guess I disagree with the title of his book.   It is entirely possible that I would have had the same results, except somewhat slower, if I had followed his ad-lib eating approach. Dr. Taller’s book inspired me to my success.  I belived his 100% success claim, for those Who Do Not Cheat.  That belief kept me from cheating. Dave  http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LowCarbHighFat/

Response:

I guess I use the term in the sense of: "To violate rules deliberately" In dieting jargon, "cheating" would be violating the rules of the diet one has chosen.  For example: A vegan eating brains is cheating. Did you mean to point out that a diet cheater is cheating themselves out improved health? :)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Do you know what’s with Herman Taller, M.D., who has written "Calories Don’t Count"? I can’t find any information about him, after 1967 and his law problems. What’s with him? Is he still alive? If not – how and when he died? It is an interesting question.  As I recall from websurfing about a year ago, he was convicted of something like mail fraud based on the page in his diet book that recommended the safflower oil pills.  He had some kind of investment in the supplement seller.  The prosecutor claimed that his diet book was a complete fiction made for the purpose of selling a bogus diet supplement. I found his diet book quite inspiring.  There are others these days who claim omega 6 has a role in weightloss.  When I read the book, the one page that touted the saflower oil pills sounded different in cadence, as if it was either written by someone else, or written at a different time than the rest of the book, and then inserted.  I think there is no question that he sincerely believed in a low carb high fat diet, as do I.  In his own profound weightloss he had used safflower oil as his fat source, himself. I don’t know how or when he died.  I’m sure he would have appreciated last year’s low carb surge. I believe Dr. Taller’s work was part of the research done by Atkins. Dr. Taller claimed that *all* of his patients on the diet lost weight. However, he monitored the patients with blood tests by which he determined who was cheating on the diet, and thus cheaters were not included in the 100% success figure. My personal theory is that any form of fat will work to produce weightloss. I have lost 166 pounds, and now have a BMI of about 24.  Dr. Taller claimed that weightloss using his approach stops working at 11% body fat.  In the 1960’s counting calories was difficult.  Today, with software like Fitday, it is easy.  I have been calorie counting at the same time as eating a 60% to 65% fat diet.  So, I guess I disagree with the title of his book. It is entirely possible that I would have had the same results, except somewhat slower, if I had followed his ad-lib eating approach. Do not count on it. I am eating ad lib at about the same ratios as you, and am not losing any more weight. I am at BMI 24 also. Dr. Taller’s book inspired me to my success.  I belived his 100% success claim, for those Who Do Not Cheat.  That belief kept me from cheating. With regards to diet cheating, my question is, "just who is being cheated". i Dave  http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LowCarbHighFat/ — 223/175.3/180

Response: