Patrick Jane - I am surprised myself at my ability to handle my food choices, and I loved bacon. But the alternative just isn't worth the risk. Giving up alcohol was fairly easy because I didn't drink that much anyhow. In my teens, 20's and 30's, that was a different story. I started drinking fairly regularly around age 12, with my parents okay. I didn't get drunk until age 19, but that's another story for some other time. Coca-Cola was the hardest thing to give up. I do limit myself to one Coke per week with a meal. I'm to the point where it doesn't make much difference anymore, but I've still got a half case left of Coke, and being tight with a dollar with respect to myself and work, I just can't bring myself to throw it away. My weight has gone from 189+ to 172 lb now. For my height (5'-7"), I should weigh somewhere in the 140's to low 150's. I played my best golf when I was about 138 - 142 lbs. I still have a long way to go even though I don't look fat anymore.