I’m often taken aback by the ugliness of comments on blogs about diet and health. Especially by women about other women. I’ve been really fat, and I try to avoid disparaging others appearance. I know those comments can sting.

Still, when you put yourself out there as an advisor on diet you are just asking for comments. Obese writers offering diet advice are like chain smokers running smoking cessation classes.

And, really, it shouldn’t stop there. If you are actively promoting your approach to diet then everything is relevant. Do you sleep well at night? Do you take meds for anxiety or depression? Are you able to work a normal job and socialize with people? We need to know is your total cholesterol 360 or 160. We can argue about which is better, I suppose, but if you are offering health advice I need to know that sort of information. The answers to those questions may not offer any insight into whether the intellectual argument the person is making is valid, but it is certainly relevant to the question of whether others should follow your life advice. So, I will occasionally comment on this.

For the record, I’m still a fat-ass. My comments on my current weight-loss approach should be taken with a grain of salt. I have a plan for being a former fat-ass in 2017 — I’m not that far away from that goal. But talk is cheap.

My comments on the dangers of low-carb eating long-term should be taken as yet one more cautionary tale, though. Disregard my experience and that of dozens like me at your own peril. The low carb casualty list is quite long.

And, more importantly, if you are easily offended, you might just skip this blog. I intend to be direct and say what I think.