DEAR ABBY: After 25 years of marriage and my putting on a "few" extra pounds, my wife now repeatedly tries to get me to take cold showers before we go to bed. She claims that the energy my body will expend reheating the surface of my skin will burn up enormous amounts of calories, thus making me more attractive to her.
Is this some new fad, or at least is the principle valid? I can't help feeling she has some ulterior motive, although she's always quite honest with me. -- J.H. IN LEVITTOWN, N.Y.
DEAR J.H.: If it's a new fad, it's news to me. The only proven method of weight loss that I'm aware of is a change in eating habits and a regular program of exercise. Cold showers dampen the ardor; they will not burn calories.