Thanks for the reply. I have a lot of low carb experience, having eaten mostly low carb since May 1998 with occasional switches into straight reduced calorie and balanced maintenance. That is the reason that I have real questions about the carb ladder. I know exactly which foods trigger cravings for me -- I will never be able to eat corn or rice without having an issue but I can eat wild rice without the cravings monster rearing his head. I can safely eat blueberries but not strawberries, pecans but not almonds, lentils but not navy beans, acorn squash but not the much lower carb pumpkin unless it is accompanies by lots of fat (as in cheesecake).