Around 2007, when I'd been on Atkins with great success, and while DH was trying, he kept falling off. I felt he needed a dramatic demonstration, and I thought I could.

I got us each a free meter from the chain pharmacy nearby, and challenged him to blood sugar readings after the evening meal. It didn't take long for him to see I was beating him considerably as we each ate our usual meals. It was one of his favorite frozen meals that shot his blood sugar into the hundreds.

It was meat and potatoes, a salisbury steak frozen dinner like his mom used to make, only it was processed and had UPF. He has been falling off less, and is keeping off about 70 pounds. He's recently seen the numbers on his kidneys improve now that he has lowered his oxalate with diet. Went from worrisome to higher than it's been in years.

We all have our moments when we admit to ourselves what is going on. Because it's not always about information. It's about breaking through the delusions they tell themselves about what it all means. I think men, especially, take some weird comfort in it being "fate" and so, they don't have to change anything.