When You're Low-Carbing Perfectly And Producing No Weight Loss--What Gives?
I've been guilty of it and now I realize it was just plain wrong.
Here's the scenario: somebody sends me an e-mail and says, "Jimmy, I'm doing everything exactly as I am supposed to on my low-carb lifestyle and I'm just not losing weight." Okay, the first inclination that most of us, myself included, have is to suggest that person seriously evaluate what they are eating to look for hidden carbs and sugars, reminding them to follow their chosen low-carb plan exactly as the author prescribes, and then to determine if they are doing anything differently since the scale stopped moving downward. This should do the trick.
It certainly sounds like good advice, right? Well, maybe not.
Certainly, there are people who allow some old habits to slip back into their routine again and they experience the dreaded "carb creep" that has haunted many an unsuspecting low-carber as they live this lifestyle over the long-term. It's usually easily remedied simply by bringing your carbohydrate intake back down again to a level where you can still maintain or lose weight. I went through this myself a couple of years ago and it happens. But you get right back on plan again and all is well.
And I should know. It's exactly what's been going on with me this year and I'm baffled as to why it is happening. As my regular readers are already aware, I started lifting weights for the first time in my life beginning in December 2007 and was excited about getting stronger and firming up areas of my body that were still plagued by loose skin from my 180-pound weight loss. A trainer friend of mine suggested I start taking creatine to supplement my resistance training in the first couple of months to help get me going. He warned me that I'd gain some weight taking it, but that the weight would come back down again after I come off of it.
After loading up for a few days on the creatine, I religiously took that stuff daily for about six weeks. When I started working with my personal trainer in mid-December, my weight was 235 pounds. Six weeks later, I weighed 260 pounds--A 25-POUND INCREASE! Holy cow! My trainer friend sure wasn't kidding when he said I'd gain weight on creatine. It was at this point that I decided to come off of the creatine in early February since that weight gain was sorta freakin' me out a bit. I fully expected the weight to come back down some (but not all since I was building up some good muscles especially in my upper body).
But it didn't happen and it hasn't happened. In fact, although my diet didn't really change from what I was doing before I started lifting weights (except for maybe a little more protein since I was trying to grow muscle mass), I have been hovering around 265 pounds for nearly four months in a row. It has been so disconcerting to me that I went to see a low-carb doctor earlier this month about it to see what was going on. What was I doing wrong, if anything, and how can we get the weight to come back down again? I was adding muscle to my body, yes, but my waist has also increased by a few inches. What gives?
Of course, when I started sharing about this recent weight gain at my forum and at my menus blog, the typical responses started pouring in from people trying to offer their own guidance about what I should do: you're eating too much food, your calories are way too high, you consume too many low-carb "products," you aren't eating often enough, you don't exercise enough, yadda yadda yadda! I know everyone means well and I sincerely appreciate their suggestions for my diet. But I wasn't convinced I was doing anything at all wrong with my low-carb lifestyle and I still don't. Nevertheless, I'm stuck.
That's why I went to see this low-carb doctor. Perhaps he could pinpoint exactly what's going on with my weight. He ran a series of tests on me, examined my dietary choices, looked at the supplements I am taking, and asked me about any changes I have made since the weight gain took place. I told him about the weight lifting and adding more protein to my diet. I also switched brands of fish oil since then as well as adding cinnamon to my daily vitamins.
His proposal for me was to put me back on a very strict Induction diet for two weeks and to cut out all of my supplements as a temporary measure of seeing if they are the reason for my inability to lose these 30 pounds. Additionally, I reduced my diet soda consumption voluntarily to make sure that wasn't a culprit as well. The two-week Induction period began on May 7th and ends today. Wanna know the grand total of the amount of weight loss I've experienced since cutting out all the low-carb "Frankenfoods" (which have never been a MAJOR part of my diet, just some chocolate and the occasional treat), eating strictly low-carb Induction for the past two weeks, and never wavering or cheating at all during that time? Zip, zero, nada! That's right--NOTHING!
And, in case you are wondering what I ate these past two weeks, see for yourself:
My diet could not have been more perfect following strict Atkins Induction. I did it even more strict this time around than I did in 2004 when I lost my weight the first time. I checked my ketosis levels using Ketostix every single day and I was DEFINITELY excreting ketone bodies. My carbohydrate intake remained at or below 20g daily and I basically did everything exactly right. I didn't even have any one bite of my low-carb chocolates during this time which was a BIG sacrifice for me. The net result of this effort was NO weight loss. COME ON!!!
It's at this point that most people would be ready to just throw their hands up and give up on this stupid low-carb diet thing. I mean, you follow it like you are supposed to and this is the reward you get for that dedication?! AAACK! But I'm not looking at it that way. The way I see it, even if for some odd reason the weight NEVER comes back down again (I know it will, but let's just pretend it won't), the low-carb way of eating is so incredibly healthy that I wouldn't dare think of eating any other way.
Remember, even if the scale isn't moving, your healthy is still improving. I'll be sharing some exciting numbers with you about my health soon that will both shock and inspire you as you continue down this journey to better health the low-carb way. Even my low-carb doctor was amazed at my numbers, but he said I am exactly where I need to be to keep my risk factors for cardiovascular disease at bay. That's a sweet sound to hear especially in light of my weight concerns! :)
So what now? Beginning this afternoon at 6pm, I will begin something that I swore I'd never do again--the intermittent fast. If for some reason I am consuming too many calories even on my low-carb lifestyle as some have proposed, then this should do the trick. The last time I did it, I lost 4 1/2 pounds in a week although I hated it. But if we can get those few stubborn pounds to start moving again, then it'll be worth it. I'm ready to figure out what's going on and I'm certainly doing everything I can in my diet to make that happen.
My doctor says there may even be a non-diet related reason for my weight gain which intrigued me. Yes, some of the weight is indeed muscle as my biceps, triceps, shoulders, neck, chest and legs are all noticeably bigger now five months after beginning my weight lifting, the fact my stomach has gotten bigger is the greatest concern. There may be an underlying internal issue going on that could be the culprit in my abdominal weight gain.
Even before my low-carb lifestyle began in 2004, I have had trace amounts of blood in my urine during routine physical exams. I've been to see a urologist before, they've performed an IVP (shooting dye through me) as well as a very expensive 30-second cystoscopy test only to be told there is nothing wrong with me, and to take an antibiotic. After I take the antibodies, the blood goes away for about six months and then it comes back. When I go back to the urologist, they want to do another IVP and cystocopy followed by antibiotics again. UGH! Obviously, something is going on, but heretofore nobody can tell me what it is.
That blood in my urine may indeed be the reason why my weight is increasing. I'm aware of two other prominent low-carbers who have been through similar strange and unexpected weight gains over the past couple of years. I won't share their names because of privacy concerns, but one gained about 50 pounds and ended up eating just chicken and pickles for a year trying to get the weight back down again. It turns out, there was a cyst pressing up against the pancreas causing constant insulin to be released. And we know what that does! Since the cyst has been removed, the weight has come back down again in short order.
The other person had another strange issue with the development of a fibroid in the stomach. Although the body was normal elsewhere, this person's belly was protruding out. When the doctors found the fibroid, this person was relieved that nothing was seriously wrong. Of course, the naysayers pointed to this well-known low-carber and claimed that they can't seem to follow their own advice. You get that when you put yourself out there, so you learn to ignore it. This person now faces a pretty major surgery to remove the fibroid and is putting it off until the end of the year.
And that's the other issue with all that's going on with my weight right now. I've become more self-conscious about how I look again. Are people looking at me judging that I must be letting myself go again since I've gained weight? Do people nervously say to my face that they're happy to see I'm still keeping the weight off after all these years while simultaneously thinking, "Oh boy, here he goes gaining it all back again! I knew it would happen eventually!" These psychological games are virtually impossible to ignore, although I'm trying very hard to do just that--IGNORE THEM! It just adds another layer to this developing story.
What exactly is happening to me right now, I don't know. I wish I did so I could help others going through similar circumstances. We're getting closer to knowing than we did before and that's a good thing. Rest assured you will know when I know and I covet your thoughts and prayers as we try to figure this all out. I'm not worried at all because I know I have a plan of action that will put me in position to lose the weight I've put on since December.
I am very pleased that my weight has NOT increased since February. I've been right around 265 for the past three months although my muscles continue to get bigger and bigger. So, in essence, I have been losing some weight while gaining the muscle, but it has been offset. That's encouraging and I wouldn't mind seeing my muscles continue to grow in size as long as my weight remains where it is. A 6'3" man with big muscles could easily weigh 265 pounds, right? :D
Let this be a gentle reminder that low-carb living is always a work in progress and we should assume anything about anyone who is following this lifestyle. There are just too many underlying issues at work to make judgments about someone who is not losing weight while following low-carb. Yes, some are preventable...but others like me are not. This has opened my eyes to a new level of appreciation and compassion for anyone who is struggling with their weight and health and concerned about what to do. You are NOT alone.
THANK YOU again to everyone who has offered advice and support during this time and I will report back to you my progress on my intermittent fasting experiment for the next two weeks. It certainly can't be worse than what I've experienced the past two weeks on strict Atkins Induction. You can see what I'm eating at my menus blog and provide your continued feedback. I will likely add back in some low-carb chocolate again on the days I'm not fasting and staying low-carb the rest of the time. Let's see what happens!
Gary Taubes sat down with me in Phoenix, AZ to discuss low-carb
One of the most influential voices in the diet and health arena this decade isn't a doctor, researcher, clinician, dietitian, fitness buff, or any of the other so-called "experts" that we usually hear from as it relates to this subject. Nope, it's none of them and instead is, of all things, an American journalist named Gary Taubes. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year, then you should be very well aware of Taubes and his bestselling book about the unique role of carbohydrates as the root cause for obesity and most diseases called Good Calories, Bad Calories which continues and expands upon the ideas he wrote about in his infamous 2002 New York Times op-ed piece "What If It's All Been A Big Fat Lie?"
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 139:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 139 [24:59m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
Gary Taubes has been traveling around the nation giving a rather succinct lecture on the basic tenets of what he wanted to convey with his book. If you haven't seen the lecture, then you really should check it out for yourself because it is well worth the 72-minute investment of your time to listen to what this man has to say. As he revealed in today's segment, Taubes hopes to convince his publisher to allow him to create a more user-friendly book out of that lecture for the sake of clarity and understandability by those of us who are not medically inclined (which was the primary audience of Good Calories Bad Calories).
Hear interviews from REAL experts like Gary Taubes whenever you'd like by:
So what do you think so far? Gary Taubes could literally talk on and on for hours about this subject which encompasses so much of his life right now and we need more people like him out there vocalizing what you and I have seen happen in our own lives since we started livin' la vida low-carb. This isn't some dangerous "fad" diet which we've been led to believe by the media and the "experts"--it's a life-changing event that could literally save the lives of millions more if it weren't so vilified. That's why Taubes wrote his book and is lecturing about this so fervently.
Talk about what you heard in Part 1 of the Taubes interview in the show notes section of Episode 139. If you happened to miss any of my blog posts about Gary Taubes and Good Calories, Bad Calories, then you can see them all in one place by clicking here. You can also provide us with your audio feedback about this interview by calling (206) 202-6516.
A special CONGRATULATIONS to Justin Wallraven, Maya, and Steve Whitley for being my three winners of the hit Canadian low-carb documentary called My Big Fat Diet. Last Monday I conducted a giveaway during Episode 137 by requesting a brief essay explaining how a high-fat, low-carb diet has transformed and changed your life forever. There were lots and lots of entries, so THANK YOU to everyone who tried to win. Keep listening for more chances to win FREE STUFF in the future. I appreciate your support! :)
The Most Compelling Reasons Why You Should Switch To Grass-Fed Beef
The health benefits of grass-fed beef cannot be ignored
I've traditionally been the kind of person who looked at food as a means for satisfying my hunger and giving me the energy to get through the day. Of course, I'm also a bargain-hunter and will tend to lean towards those foods that are on sale more often than not. Yes, I'm a part of the Wal-mart generation who looks for cheap food and I usually get what I pay for.
But ever since I started livin' la vida low-carb, I've found my frugality for food has evolved into a search for substance as it relates to nutrition. All food is not the same and the nutritional content of what I buy now compared to when I weighed 410 pounds four years ago is light years apart. Bye bye sugar! See ya starchy carbs! So long fast food and high-carb crap that used to dominate my pantry and refrigerator. Those things aren't in my cabinets anymore!
Today I make better choices about the foods I eat because I care more about my health now than I ever have. Living healthy is arguably the top priority for most of us who are livin' la vida low-carb. Sure, weight loss is a big reason, too, but I consider it merely a side effect of choosing to live healthier. And it doesn't really take willpower to decide to start living healthier right away as is often suggested by well-meaning people who haven't got a clue. You just gotta do it!
That said, there's even a subset of healthy food choices within the realm of low-carb living that you may not even know about. We all know most meats that have not been injected with sugars are acceptable on low-carb, but is it possible to get more nutritional bang for your proverbial buck when you are shopping for beef, chicken, and pork? Absolutely it is!
Up until recently, I've pretty much relied on the good old store-bought meats and the occasional cuts from the local meat market to stock up the Moore household refrigerator and freezer with healthy high-fat, low-carb meat selections. But what I didn't realize was how much extra nutrition I was missing from my diet because I failed to purchase what is known as "grass-fed" beef and other meats.
What the heck is "grass-fed" meat and what's the point, you ask? GOOD QUESTIONS!
Whether you realize it or not, most of the meat supply in the United States has been tainted with things like hormones, antibiotics, and even steroids to (pardon the pun!) "beef up" the cows so they'll weigh more and bring in more money for the cattlemen. It's BIG BUSINESS these days making meat and you and I suffer the consequences of that lack of quality with the end product. Plus, the mistreatment of animals on these factory farms is absolutely atrocious!
Why else are these cattle and other animals so unhealthy to eat? They are fed a diet heavy in processed grains which leads the meat to become LOADED with omega-6 fatty acids. This is the one the standard American diet has too much of and you want to offset it with omega-3s. The higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats you have, the more inflammation that is created in the body (as nutritionist Monica Reinagel recently shared in my podcast interview with her).
So what do you do? This is where grass-fed meat comes in. It can be extremely difficult to find, but well worth the effort. Why? Although it costs a little more money than standard meat, the nutritional difference is like upgrading from tin to gold! It's more like goldmine when you see all that you're getting from grass-fed meat which is what your low-carb lifestyle could use to kick it into high gear for both weight loss and health improvements.
The most compelling reasons why you should switch to grass-fed beef have everything to do with properly managing your health which everyone who is reading this right now I think takes a personal vested interest in. If you care about your health, then you cannot overlook these important arguments in favor of consuming grass-fed beef and other meats every chance you can get!
THEY ARE LOADED WITH OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
Yep, unlike their factory farm counterparts, grass-fed meats only eat grass from a pasture rather than the forced diet of grains, grains, and more grains. There's a reason the big farms feed their cattle grains--IT MAKES 'EM GET REALLY FAT! You avoid the nasty side effect of all those omega-6s and instead reward your body with omega-3s when you choose grass-fed instead.
BETTER TREATMENT FOR THE ANIMALS
Again, the big factory farms just don't care about how the animals are treated. It's a business about making meat as quickly as possible so they can make a buck. But organic, grass-fed animals are treated very humanely and not subjected to the poor treatment that is part and parcel of what happens on those other farms.
THERE ARE NO ANTIBIOTICS USED
Grass-fed animals don't need any antibiotics in them like their grain-eating counterparts do because they don't deal with the health complications that high-carb diet brings on.
YOU GET LOTS OF CONJULATED LINOLENIC ACID
Conjugated linolenic acid, or CLA, is a powerful fat that is created in the stomach of a grass-fed animal which is extremely healthy as an anti-cancer agent.
SAY BYE BYE TO E. COLI
When you select organic meats, the risk of consuming E. coli tainted meat is next to nil. E. coli generally exists inside of animals with a highly acidic environment which is typical of grain-fed cattle. The lack of acidity in grass-fed beef make it less likely that E. coli could even exist there.
NO NEED FOR STEROIDS OR GROWTH HORMONES
You want a cow to get bigger, you inject it with steroids or growth hormones. This has become so routine these days that nobody stops and thinks about the consequences of what happens when humans begin ingesting all that into their bodies. Again, it all comes down to trying to make a buck as quickly as possible instead of insuring the safety of the food supply.
NO ADDITIONAL ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS FED TO THEM
An organic meat farmer does not risk contaminating his cattle with animal by-products which can subject the meat to things like Mad Cow Disease. Just the grass, man, just the grass.
(Special thanks to Dr. Jonny Bowden for sharing that great list of reasons for choosing grass-fed beef over store-bought beef!)
I gotta tell you about an great company I recently heard about that sells very high-quality, grass-fed meats. They are U.S. Wellness Meats and I encourage you to check them out if you want to take your low-carb lifestyle to the next level. There is a health benefits page on their web site you should check out for even more compelling reasons to choose grass-fed meats over the ones in your local grocery store. (NOTE: U.S. Wellness Meats is not a sponsor of my blog--I was just very impressed by what they have to offer consumers).
Do you have any comments to add about grass-fed beef, chicken, and pork? Have you seen the health benefits in your own life from switching to this kind of meat over conventional cuts? Share your comments below so we can hear how it has changed your life. Hopefully now everyone understands that all meat is not created equal. Make those better choices for your health starting TODAY!
True Lemon products catching on with busy health enthusiasts
On a recent trip down to Atlanta, Georgia to visit with some friends there, they took us to the gym where they workout. When we walked in and started to sign our names as guests, I couldn't help but notice the counter display for True Lemon sitting right there with lots of little packets for the members to try this amazing product in their bottled water during their workouts. It made me proud to have them as a sponsor at my blog because they really do have an incredible product for anyone living a healthy and busy lifestyle!
In fact, True Lemon is looking for some enthusiastic stay-at-home moms and housewives primarily to join their True Crew--a group of wonderful people just like YOU who spread the True Lemon word by contacting select businesses and non-profit groups to talk about this amazing product. If you already love True Lemon (and who doesn't?), are excited and don't mind talking with people, know how to use Excel and aren't afraid to pick up the phone and tell somebody about the True Lemon products, then simply e-mail True Lemon at customercare@truelemon.com for more information about joining the True Crew team.
Oh Canada! You've asked about how to find True Lemon in your country and now you've got it! CLICK HERE for a store locater listing of the provinces where you can purchase True Lemon products. If you're still having trouble finding True Lemon products in stores there, then please visit this online store in Canada to order.
In my 2005 book entitled Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year, I dedicated an entire chapter to the subject of water. Water consumption is vital when you are livin' la vida low-carb because it "keeps things moving" so to speak. Anyone who complains about constipation on low-carb clearly is not drinking very much water. And the complaint about water is that it tastes disgusting. Two ways to improve that is to get filtered or bottled water and to flavor your water with True Lemon, True Lime, or True Orange. Read more about "The Benefits Of Drinking Water."
Christine and I have been traveling a lot this year taking many plane rides across the country. On a recent trip back from Phoenix, Arizona, my lovely bride thought of a neat new way to use her True Orange packets. When you're stuck on a plane for hours, there's not much you can do about the choices you are given for beverages. So when she decided on a Sprite Zero to drink, I watched her pull out some True Orange and mix it with her drink. Just one sip and she was raving about it! I tried it and agreed--pretty good stuff! Just last night we were watching television and Fresca now has an "orange-flavored" version of their product. Were they on that plane listening to Christine? :P
Don't forget about Operation Gratitude in support of the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Every time you sign up for FREE SAMPLES of True Lemon products through the end of May, True Lemon will be donating 10 packets to send overseas to the troops to help flavor their water in the arid conditions there. Their goal is to send 1,000,000 packets and they're getting very close. If you haven't already, won't you go get your samples and help out the soldiers who are defending our nation? THANK YOU!
Brand new stores are adding the True Lemon products to their inventory every week, so check out the Store Locater to see where you can purchase it in your area. It's usually on the same aisle you will find Splenda and other artificial sweeteners (although True Lemon doesn't have any artificial sweeteners in it--just crystallized lemons, limes, and oranges!), in the powdered drink mix section, or next to the bottled lemon juice, usually in the juice aisle. But if you're still having trouble finding it in a store, then you can always get some from any of these online vendors. Get a special $1 off coupon by signing up here and it will be mailed to your home.
Wanna know why True Lemon products taste so incredible? Here's the secret behind the process that goes into making True Lemon. It's one of the reasons I was so impressed with them and support their products for use on the healthy low-carb lifestyle. With such concerns over artificial sweeteners along with the ever-increasing busy schedules that most of us have, True Lemon is such a convenience to have around. I LOVE IT!
Finally, would you like to be considered an official True Lemon Super Fan by expressing your love and devotion for this amazing carbohydrate-free, calorie-free product? True Lemon wants to hear from you if you do. Send your True Lemon love letter to Heidi Carney at customercare@truelemon.com. Tell her you heard about True Lemon here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" and how much you enjoy using it as part of your healthy low-carb lifestyle. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Remember to sign up for FREE SAMPLES (after all, they're FREE!) and let me know what you think about them. I appreciate the support you have given this outstanding sponsor who helps me continue to bring quality low-carb diet and health information to you on a daily basis. They're a company I KNOW you can trust and feel good about. THANK YOU! :)
Christine's Triglycerides Plummet 55% In Just Six Weeks On A Truly Low-Carb Diet
My wife Christine should be smiling with this great news
It's one thing to share with you the latest research and scientific studies that highlight the healthy benefits of carbohydrate restriction. But today I am overjoyed and jubilant to report to you the amazingly fast health improvements that are happening for the love of my life, Christine. This is absolutely incredible!
You'll recall less than two months ago when I reported to you that despite eating a lower-carb diet, which helped Christine drop 35 pounds last year, her triglycerides actually rose to 293 in March 2008 and opened her eyes to the damaging effect that carbohydrates were having on her health despite the fact her weight had gone down. It was a great reminder that livin' la vida low-carb is not just some quick fix weight loss regimen as it has often been portrayed by the media and those ever-so-present health "experts" out there who think they know how we're supposed to eat. Instead, it is a permanent lifestyle change that will improve virtually every single aspect of your health forever.
And Christine is living proof of that! After seeing nearly 300 for her triglycerides, we put together a solid plan of action to combat this problem head-on. She immediately gave up the M&M's, breaded meats, French fries, and buns she had been eating and replaced them with Atkins bars, low-carb wraps, cheese, and other delicious and nutritious low-carb alternatives to these foods she loves. It was a difficult transition at first, but now she's coasting along well (of course, it doesn't hurt to have a hubby to keep her on the straight and narrow). :D
Nearly two weeks ago, Christine and I went to see Dr. Eric Westman in Durham, NC to have our blood drawn to evaluate our lipids. I was especially anxious to see what impact in just six weeks had been made to Christine's triglycerides. Additionally, her insulin level in that March blood test was at 13--considered on the low end of high. Would there be any measurable difference in her triglycerides and insulin levels in such a short period of time?
Lemme tell you--YEP, YEP, YEPPERS!
Hold on to your hats, people, because this will blow you away. After putting Christine on regular liquid fish oil supplements and requiring her to eat a truly low-carb diet which even included a few "products" that helped keep her away from the real stuff, the results were UNBELIEVABLE!
Check this out:
MARCH 2008--Triglycerides--293 MAY 2008--Triglycerides--132
That's not a misprint! Christine's triglycerides fell sharply by a total of 161 points--that's a mind-boggling 55 percent in only six weeks! Let me reiterate, this does not include the use of any drugs, just diet and fish oil supplements. Her dietitian recommended she exercise by walking as well, but she hasn't done a whole lot of that yet. I do have her doing some light resistance training which she surprisingly loves. I'm so proud of her progress!
Wanna know what's even more amazing about these changes--there was no significant weight loss associated with it. That's right! Christine has only lost about two pounds over that period which is statistically no change. So, despite all the chants from those illustrious health "experts" out there about improving your health just by "losing a little weight," the fact is that's not necessarily true when you implement the appropriate dietary changes into your routine. YEAH LOW-CARB!!!
As for her insulin levels which were previously at 13, they were cut nearly in half falling to 6.7. It was yet another tell-tale sign that livin' la vida low-carb was working to improve Christine's health and the results were immediate. When she saw these numbers for herself, you would have thought she'd just won the lottery she was so happy. And, in a sense, she did win the health lottery by correctly choosing the method that would restore her health to where it needed to be using a simple change in diet to make it happen.
Oh, I have to share with you the story about what happened when we returned to see the dietitian with these results. This was bent-over-in-pain hilarious!
The dietitian said to Christine, "Well, I guess my recommendations are working for you." That's when my dear wife chimed in and said, "No, I'm eating a low-carb diet and taking fish oil." The dietitian stammered a second and then said, "Oh...(awkward pause)...well I guess it's working." Uh, YA THINK?!
When her dietitian asked about exercise, Christine said she's not walking much, but she's lifting some light weights since I was helping her with that. The dietitian replied, "Well, your numbers will drop even more if you just go walking more." UGH! Nevermind the HUGE change in your triglycerides and insulin levels, you had better listen to me (because I know more than you) and exercise. These people seem to be on automatic mode sometimes! ARGH!
Hopefully this story about Christine will encourage you to keep at it with your low-carb lifestyle even if the scale isn't exactly cooperating for you right now. It's all about your health first and foremost and then the weight loss will come. Be encouraged my friends and NEVER GIVE UP! This is a lifelong journey that will includes some bumps along the way. It's not always an easy road, but it is one you'll never regret.
Send your congratulatory notes to Christine at muzikgirl@charter.net. She loves getting e-mails and will be thrilled to read your encouraging comments for her today.
For those of you who are wondering about my blood work, I'll be blogging about it very soon. I can tell you this--it will be shocking to some who believe in the traditional hypothesis regarding cholesterol, but it is right in line with what is considered healthy by the latest research on lipids. As soon as I get the final report with the particle size breakdown of my cholesterol strands, I'll share with you my numbers, too. Get ready to watch the low-fatties faint when they see my numbers!
Aida Mollenkamp has a new show coming to The Food Network
Do you like watching The Food Network as much as my wife Christine does? She's a bona fide junkie and I've actually grown to like many of the shows on there, too. Watching these professional cooking kings and queens do their thing making some of the most delicious food you've ever seen is fun. That's why the channel has been such an overwhelming hit with viewers over the years.
In Episode 37 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I share with you about another brand new show (like this one I recently blogged about) coming to The Food Network beginning on August 2, 2008 at 12:30pm/11:30 CST--it's called "Ask Aida". Featuring the lovely and talented Aida Mollenkamp, the premise of this new show is to let Aida fix your culinary conundrums during her broadcast. She is soliciting people to send her a video of their cooking problems so she can help fix them. She's like a "Dear Abby" for the kitchen!
See my two submissions to "Ask Aida" in today's video:
Wanna see Aida discussing what she's looking for in her new show on The Food Network? Click here to access it now. Also, you can see my eggs video as well as my fried mashed cauliflower video (here's the recipe, by the way!) questions that I am asking Aida to help me answer. The producers are looking for energy, excitement, entertainment and engaging videos with interesting questions. So don't be shy! Give this a try and YOU could be appearing in this brand new television show starting in August. If you have any questions or simply want to submit your questions via e-mail, then send your feedback to AskAida@foodnetwork.com. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Our YouTube videos keep piling up and that's a good thing. If you've missed any previous episode, then don't worry: I've got 'em all compiled for you in one place so you can access them anytime. Of course, you can subscribe to our videos and never miss a future episode of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." Also, let us hear from you with whatever is on your mind. Feel free to e-mail me directly at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I hope you've been enjoying our videos as much as we do making them! :)
Blogger Jennette Fulda shares about her 200+ pound weight loss
It's one thing to blog about losing weight for the entire world to see. But it's yet another thing to actually LOSE weight and cut your weight in half. That's exactly what popular weight loss blogger Jennette Fulda did on her way shedding not just triple digits, but over 200 pounds! And guess what? She did it following a lower-carb South Beach diet and exercise program. WOO HOO!!! Way to go, Jennette!
In Episode 138 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," you'll hear directly from Jennette who shares about what life was like for her when she weighed over 370 pounds, how she was able to overcome her old habits by implementing smarter diet and fitness choices into her routine, and how all of these dramatic changes increased her confidence so much so that she penned all about her experiences in her debut book release entitled Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir.
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 138:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 138 [19:25m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
I gotta tell you, Jennette is a real trip! If you've never seen her "Half of Me" blog (which I first told you about in this blog interview from last year), then you are missing out on some of the best free entertainment on the Internet. This woman is an amazingly talented writer who has been on both sides of the fitness equation. She knows what it's like hearing the fast food calling out your name, but she also knows why you should resist the urge to splurge. Although that perky personality has always been there, losing weight has shone a bright light on this beautiful young lady as she provides hope and inspiration to others who struggle with obesity like she once did.
If you were watching NBC-TV's Today show on Sunday morning, then you probably already saw Lester Holt interview Jennette about her weight loss and new book. She did an amazing job on the show, although I thought it was funny they wouldn't allow her to say the same of her book because of the word "ass" in the title. In fact, when they showed the front cover, there were two stick figures where the "ss" was. Too funny! And Jennette, bless her heart, tried to get in as much of the title at the end of the interview as she could. Ironically, I've heard MUCH worse on NBC (but that's another story!).
Get inspired by weight loss successes like Jennette Fulda by:
Are you inspired in your weight loss efforts after hearing from Jennette Fulda today? Is there anything you'd like to tell Jennette about how her story has impacted you? Share what's on your mind in the show notes section of Episode 138. Don't forget to check out Jennette's incredible blog for before and after pictures like you've never seen before, inspiring and hilarious blog entries, and everything else you'd expect from someone who has so dramatically changed her life for the better.
I'd like to remind you of a new feature we now have available to the listeners of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore." You can provide audio feedback for me anytime by dialing (206) 202-6516. We'd LOVE to hear from you with your questions, comments, rants, or whatever is on your mind. Just share and you may hear yourself on a future episode the podcast. Also, don't forget to sign up for you chance to win your own copy of the hit Canadian low-carb documentary called My Big Fat Diet simply by going to the show notes section of Episode 137 and sharing a brief essay explaining how a high-fat, low-carb diet has transformed and changed your life forever. We'll be announcing the THREE winners on Monday, so hurry and enter TODAY!
And the wait is almost over! Coming up on Monday is Part 1 of my highly-anticipated and very exciting interview with award-winning science writer and bestselling author of Good Calories, Bad Calories Gary Taubes. I met him in person at the 2008 ASBP/Nutrition & Metabolism conference in Phoenix last month and he sat down and shared quite a bit about what has happened since the release of his book last Fall and discusses what's coming next for him in our 45-minute interview. I really think you're gonna enjoy what Gary has to say, so join us for Part 1 on Monday and Part 2 of my interview next Thursday. THANKS so much for listening! I really appreciate it.
If you like potato pancakes, then try this cauliflower one instead
I'm a real sucker for Southern comfort food. Call it my roots living in Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina for most of my life, but I love delicious foods made in the South. Unfortunately, most of these foods are decidedly high in carbohydrates.
That's why I have been looking for and working on coming up with low-carb versions of fried chicken, lemon icebox pie, and so many more. Lately I've been experimenting with my own version of mashed cauliflower and putting a Southern spin on it by frying it up in a pan like you would potato pancakes.
I've had some minor issues with getting the mashed cauliflower to brown like the potato version, but this recipe tastes as good as it looks! ENJOY!
LOW-CARB BACON & CHEESE CAULIFLOWER CAKES
1 head of cauliflower 1/2 stick butter (melted) 6 strips of crumbled bacon 3 Tbs sour cream 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream Salt and pepper to taste 1 large egg Cheese (optional topping) Sour cream (optional topping)
Break up the cauliflower and place in a large pot of water. Cook on high heat to a boil for 20-30 minutes until very soft. When it reaches this consistency, put out paper towels across the counter and carefully pull the cauliflower out individually on the paper towels. Take more paper towels and place on top of the cauliflower. Gently press down to soak up the excess water in the cauliflower.
Grab a big bowl and place the cauliflower you just dabbed with the paper towels in it. Using a potato masher, thoroughly mash up the cauliflower until it is smooth. Add butter, bacon, sour cream, whipping cream, salt and pepper, and egg. Whip until well-blended.
Heat up a non-stick skillet to medium high, spray cooking spray or use butter to grease the bottom of the pan, and scoop the cauliflower mixture into the skillet. Cook the cauliflower patties for couple of minutes constantly scraping the sides. Gently flip and place cheese on top cooking for two more minutes.
Plate the cauliflower cake and put a dollop of sour cream on top.
ALTERNATIVE RECIPE OPTION: My wife Christine loves garlic and onions, so I added these to the cauliflower mix before the skillet step. It's not too bad, so you might try it!
Meet Bowden, Westman, and Eberstein on 2009 low-carb cruise
A couple of weeks ago I was excited to tell you about The 2nd Annual Low-Carb Cruise coming up January 19-24, 2009 leaving out of Galveston, Texas on the luxurious Carnival Ecstasy ship. A group of 35 of us had a fabulous time in February this year on this exact same cruise down to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico and it was simply amazing. We met so many people and built lasting friendships with people who are passionate about the healthy low-carb lifestyle. That's why we wanna go back again in 2009.
Just in case you are wondering, yes, you CAN eat low-carb on a cruise with a little guidance and we'll have three amazing low-carb experts on board to help provide that direction for you while you enjoy some fun in the sun on your low-carb vacation getaway. That's right, there will not one, not two, but THREE BIG LOW-CARB EXPERTS on board the ship providing seminars and one-on-one sessions with the people who attend. WOO HOO!
Dr. Jonny Bowden, Dr. Eric Westman, and Jackie Eberstein have all agreed to come on board this excursion with us to share their immense wealth of knowledge and experience about the healthy low-carb lifestyle. I've blogged so much about all three of these people that I feel like they don't need any introduction. But for those of you who haven't heard of them, allow me to introduce you to them now:
DR. JONNY BOWDEN, PhD, C.N.S.
He is the author of the must-have book for anyone going on a low-carb diet entitled Living The Low-Carb Life where each of the major low-carb plans are evaluated and compared so that you can choose the one that's right for YOU! Jonny's most recent books on Fair Winds Press have been very popular as well, including 150 Healthiest Foods On Earth, The Most Effective Natural Cures On Earth, and his upcoming release in June 2008 The Healthiest Meals On Earth, a cookbook featuring the healthy foods he wrote about in his first two books. This man is an incredible speaker and motivator on the subject of diet, health and weight loss as you will find out very quickly and will be a welcomed voice on this low-carb cruise.
DR. ERIC WESTMAN, MD, M.H.S.
As one of the world's leading researchers on carbohydrate-restricted diets, Dr. Westman has taken the knowledge he has observed in his study participants and is now applying what he has learned to his own patients who come to see him at his Durham, NC-based Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic with such serious health issues as obesity, diabetes, and worse. He is in my estimation one of the kindest men I have ever met in my life and is so very accessible with his time treating his patients like human beings rather than a statistic hurrying them through his office like some number. You'll immediately notice exactly what I'm talking about from the time you meet Dr. Westman and I'm thrilled to have him joining us on this cruise down to Mexico.
JACQUELINE EBERSTEIN, RN
The late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins was fortunate to have a nurse like Jackie Eberstein by his side for three decades as he treated patients with his world-famous low-carb nutritional approach. She really knows all the ins and outs of this way of eating so well that I consider her the foremost authority on the Atkins diet today. She was the co-author of the book Atkins Diabetes Revolution (with Dr. Mary C. Vernon) and has frequently defended the healthy low-carb lifestyle in columns and articles in the medical media. Anytime I have a question from a reader that leaves me stumped, Jackie is always there to provide her unique perspective and it is such an honor to have her join us on this special get-together on the Carnival Ecstasy.
Isn't this AWESOME?! And who knows, there may be even more low-carb experts who will be hopping on board this cruise coming up in January 2009, so what are you waiting for (you never know)? GO SIGN UP right now so you won't miss out on all the fun and excitement we're gonna have. Christine and I will be there as will Amy from "Eating Low,"Christin from "The Journey On,"Amy Dungan (Sparky's Girl) from "Healthy Low-Carb Living," and so many more. I think the best part about this year's cruise was all the NEW people I'd never met before. And most of them will be coming back again in 2009.
The original deadline for having the first $50 deposit per person was May 6th, but we have been granted a slight extension for those who have not yet signed up. If you sign up by next Wednesday, May 21, 2008, then you will still only be required to put down a $50 deposit per person or $100 a room (after May 21st, the first and second deposit will be due of $200 per person or $400 a room). If you get your first deposit in on time, then your second deposit of $150 isn't due until September 8, 2008 and then the remaining balance is due on November 6th. The total cost of this cruise is a very affordable $400 each which includes all your port charges and taxes. And the man who organized our cruise for us this year gave us a room credit of $75 that we could spend on anything we wanted on the ship. That was COOL and very unexpected!
I've been getting many e-mails from people telling me they REALLY want to go on the cruise, but they didn't know how to sign up. Here's how: it should be booked through Vacations To Go through our cruise agent Amelie Richards and you can contact her directly with any questions about the 2nd Annual Low-Carb Cruise by calling her toll-free 800-514-9986 ext. 7583 anytime Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm CST. Or you can e-mail her Amelie at arichards@vacationstogo.com. If you have any questions for our cruise leader, her name is Becky Regandy and she can be reached at xregandyx@yahoo.com. I appreciate all the hard work she put into this year's cruise and she's doing a superb job again for the one in 2009.
We visited Duke University on our recent Durham, NC trip
Last week Christine and I were in North Carolina for several days in Durham area to meet some truly fabulous low-carb supporters, speak with people who are interested in the healthy low-carb lifestyle, and observe in action an amazing low-carb researcher-turned-clinician who is changing the weight and health of people using a controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach to help his patients do just that. In case you missed it, click here for a recap of our amazing visit including stories and pictures from our three days in Durham.
In Episode 36 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," we show you even more pictures and video footage we took of our meeting at Rio Churrascario in Cary, NC where we met up with about 18 enthusiastic low-carbers who are part of the Triangle Low Carb Cooking Meetup group, my talk to Dr. Eric Westman's patients from the Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, and then took a tour through what a real low-carb doctor's office actually looks like. It was a great adventure that I'm excited to share with you today in our latest video.
Listen to me and Christine recollect on our Durham visit in today's video:
We'd love to come visit your area as well, so let us know if you'd be interested in having us speak to your group. Feel free to contact me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net if you'd like to set it up. This was an incredible experience and we will DEFINITELY be coming back to Durham again in the future. :)
If you've missed any of our YouTube videos, then get caught up now and also be sure to subscribe to our videos so you'll always be the first to see the new ones. E-mail us your show ideas, suggestions, and feedback anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANK YOU for watching "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube."
Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States
On January 1, 2004, I made it my New Year's resolution to lose weight on the Atkins diet after weighing in at a whopping 410 pounds. In just one year I lost 180 pounds and I have kept that weight off by making low-carb my permanent lifestyle change. Or, as I like to say, I'm livin' la vida low-carb. Won't you join me in this journey to a dramatically better weight and health like you've never experienced before? It can happen for you because it happened to me!
This blog is, in part, sponsored by companies who recognize the value of low-carbohydrate diets and respect the dietary choices of my readers. It is the policy of this blog that only sponsors and affiliates with whom I believe offer quality products or services along with good customer service and responsiveness to needs of my readers will be accepted.
Whenever a sponsor's product or service is mentioned, it is my opinion about the product or service and I have not been compelled by a contractual obligation to promote the product or service to my readers within the text content of my blog nor will I enter into such contracts in the future. The only exception to this is any promotion or giveaway where no purchase is required. But you are still under no obligation to participate or enter. In posts such as this, I will clearly state the nature of my relationship in the promotion.
Regarding comment moderation, it is the policy of this blog to allow an open debate of ideas. However, vulgarity, profanity, and commercial uses of comments will not be tolerated and will be subject to moderation by the blog author. Simply disagreeing with an opinion stated by the author will not result in the comment being moderated.
Read the full Disclaimer.
