I guess I should finish the story on a  20b1   happier note:  My mother, father, and even my brother are all on the bandwagon now.  Mama loves her cold vegetables (especially now that it's July) and has always been a perfect weight.  Daddy is eating right at his caloric needs daily and no more.  He's still overweight, but that guy could outwork a rented mule any day of the week and I wouldn't be surprised.  The best part is that we've all been at this for a good five years.  After a while it becomes a habit that's hard to break (just like our early years).