Fitness Camp Misguided Regarding Low-Carb

Okay, this is the kind of story that just gets my blood boiling. The local NBC affiliate in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area published this story about a fitness camp called "Commit To Be Fit" that seeks to "retrain low-carb 'addicts' about exercise and a balanced diet."

I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but maybe I am. Every time these lies are spread in what is supposed to be a news story, it has to be addressed. Even if it is something that has been corrected a hundred times before!

The story focuses on women who gained back their weight after quitting a low-carb diet.

Well, if you quit doing low-carb, then you did not make the lifestyle change necessary to keep the weight off. If there was no lifestyle change, then it stands to reason you are going to gain back the weight. And that goes for any diet. If you don't stick with it after you lose the weight, then you most certainly will gain it all back and then some! Don't blame low-carb for their failure, though.

While exercise makes a low-carb lifestyle even better, I don't like the insinuation that this camp is needed to rehab people who have failed at doing low-carb. While a "balanced diet" is encouraged to keep from doing "your body a disservice," it does not address the issue of making the necessary changes in eating habits to make the lifestyle sustainable. Low-carb does. And that's the difference!

Although I am not against this fitness camp helping women who want to learn about how to do a good, healthy workout, I take great offense to the premise that people who have tried "low-carb" and gotten off that way of eating need to be retrained.

My experience has been just the opposite. I find myself trying to retrain people that fat is not necessarily as bad for them as is reported in the media. It all goes back to education about what low-carb is. This is a common theme you will hear me repeat often for people livin' la vida low-carb!

Indiana Retailer Offers Low-Carb Convenience Foods

The News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Indiana reported on a new low-carb retailer in that area that is helping people who are livin' la vida low-carb find foods to satisfy their discerning way of eating.

Low Carb Zone and Gerber & Company Foods are urging people to turn to the low-carb lifestyle to lose weight and get healthy. To help people in this endeavor, they have created a line of convenient products that make doing low-carb easier than it has ever been before. This includes a month's worth of entire low-carb meals for a family down to a delicious low-carb cheesecake made without sugar or flour.

The expectation of this company is that they will have a strong customer base for many years to come. And the fact that they are undertaking this business venture flies in the face of low-carb opponents who believe the so-called "low-carb craze" which they describe as a "fad" is over. Not hardly!

These new low-carb cheesecake has already become a big hit in some test marketing conducted at Richards, a local restaurant chain in Indiana. Reorders are already coming in and are expected to be swift as people continue to clamor for this sugar-free, 4-carb delicacy that comes in strawberry, blueberry, apricot, New York or chocolate-peanut butter flavors.

The people involved in this business venture has seen success doing Atkins and controlling their carbs and sugar intake. They are excited to market their products throughout Indiana and to people who are diabetic.

Here's a great quote from the story: "Our goal is to make food options more fun, more tasteful, and to make low-carb a way of living, because diets are known to just end," said one of the owners. "A way of living is a continuation of everything."

What a beautiful way to describe low-carb. For those of us who have done it to lose weight, we are staying on it to keep it off. There is no "diet" to get off of.

My only hope is that more stores like this will pop up all over the United States and offer low-carbers more options than the lame attempts at low-carb foods offered in our grocery stores that are not low enough in carbs nor do they taste good enough to sell as dog food! That segment of low-carb may be dying, but the great-tasting foods like the ones sold by this new business are alive and thriving!

Exercise Is An Integral Part Of A Low-Carb Plan

This Davenport, Iowa-based Quad City Times newspaper article laments that people have gotten away from exercise and eating right by chasing after the next great "diet" fad to come down the pike. And I agree with that premise.

With over $46 billion spent on diet products, including self-help books and specialty foods, in 2004, the "diet" industry is indeed an industry of its own. People are trying to find that magic ingredient that will help them lose weight without doing the necessary work and changes in their own life to make it happen.

The article makes a great point: "While millions jump on the bandwagon of the latest and greatest weight loss methods, the success of such programs is undermined by the fact that Americans are now bigger than ever.

What a profound observation and one that is backed by the fact that so many people still struggle with being overweight or obese. My heart aches for people who have been stuck in weight loss hell for so many years. It's not a fun place to be an usually leads to even greater and greater weight gain. But there is hope for people who find themselves in this place. You can start livin' la vida low-carb, too!

Learning about this amazing lifestyle is your first step and that fact that you are reading this blog shows me you are interested in arming yourself with more information about what all it entails. When you feel like you grasp what it means to do low-carb, then start doing it like you've never done anything before. You will literally be amazed at how fast you will lose weight and lose it for good!

This article cites a government review that came out in March 2005 that states two-thirds of people who diet gain back all their weight in a year and a whopping 97 percent gain it all back within 5 years. That's why I keep telling people that I don't think I've accomplished anything with my 180-pound weight loss because I haven't kept it off over the long-term yet. I strongly believe that I will, but I have no evidence to back up that claim at this point. Yet, I do not plan on getting back to 410 ever again. Or even 310 for that matter! I'm just not going to allow that to happen.

One of the things that was an integral part of my weight loss and has helped me keep it off is exercise. It has boosted my strength and energy and allows my body to eat more food (and, yes, that means more carbs!) without having a negative effect on my weight. Except for the few pounds of muscle weight I have developed, my weight has remained stable. And my waist size has continued to shrink!

The so-called "expert" in this story warns people wanting to lose weight to stay away from low-carb, high-fat diets and eat a "balanced" diet of carbs, calories and fat.

Who knows what the heck "balanced" means anymore? The government standard for that kind of meal is one that has obviously not worked very well for the American people because two-thirds of us are obese in their eyes. Did you know that although I weigh 230 pounds at 6'3" tall, I am still considered obese according to the government standard for weight? While I do not discount the fact the there are a lot of overweight people in this country, the numbers are certainly inflated and unreasonable.

This expert continued with a statement that shows he has no idea what he is talking about: "Anything that has you completely eliminating certain foods, like sugars or carbohydrates, is not something you will stick with."

Oh really? So is this health expert advocating eating even more sugar and carbohydrates than is consumed in the United States today? It seems like sugar is the main culprit that has prevented permanent weight loss from occuring and needs to be eliminated from our bodies altogether. Even some allegedly low-carb products contain these hidden sugars in them and cause people to stall or gain weight while trying to do low-carb. That's why some people fail on Atkins, not because the plan doesn't work!

One excellent point from this article is they state any succesful weight loss program needs to incorporate exercise. I could not agree more. Too many people sit on their laurels and don't do any exercise. My work offers a free gym membership and only a handful of us use it.

Okay, towards the end of the article, a fitness representative redeems this story by stating: "If your diet and exercise is not something you can do forever, it is not a lifestyle change and you will not likely be successful. We’ve had people lose 40, 50, 60 pounds by just finding balance with daily walking and eating healthier foods."

EXCELLENT! That is well-stated and can be applied to low-carb, too! Just get your body moving and you will notice how much your life will change dramatically. It REALLY will!

Arizona State Student Shows Ignorance Of Low-Carb

Arizona State University Web Devil satirical columnist Katie Kelberlau posted this article about her experience on Atkins and, as is typical in most media circles these days, she exposes her ignorance of what livin' la vida low-carb is all about.

Describing her experiment doing the Atkins lifestyle as "meat week," Kelberlau was doomed to fail from the start because she had a perverted concept of what all it entails because she obviously did not read the book. Despite popular belief, Atkins is not a meat-only diet. While meats are certainly acceptable on low-carb, most of us low-carbers enjoy a lot bigger variety of foods than just meat.

While Kelberlau admits a lot of Americans are doing "the low-carb thing" and many restaurants are offering "low-carb renditions of their classic meals," she claims she could never succeed on Atkins because she loves pasta, bagels, potatoes and ice cream too much to give them up.

Uh, hello. Have you been hiding under a rock over the past few years as low-carb versions of these foods have hit the supermarket shelves? Some are good, some are not so good, but there are choices that are readily available to people who need them.

Again showing her ignorance about what low-carb is, Kelberlau proudly proclaims with her tongue firmly implanted in her cheek, "any diet in which a brick of cheese is in the 'good' category sounds like it just might be doable."

Gimme a break. Her not-so-veiled insinuation that eating cheese is unhealthy because it of the amount of fat contained therein is just what I would expect from someone who has not educated herself fully about what low-carb is all about. Will we ever overcome the fat phobia mania that pervades this country?! And what are they teaching the students at Arizona State University?!

Kelberlau details in her "meat week" diary what she ate during her attempt at doing Atkins:

Day One

Starting my day with an un-sweetened iced coffee, I am not really hungry enough to miss my ritual morning gooey pastry and Frappuccino.

But by lunchtime, however, I am beginning to realize that it is nearly impossible to buy quick, cheap, easy food that is both edible and Atkins-friendly. A Burger King burger sans bun does not really appeal to the senses, so I decide on a Chicken Caeser salad at Einstein's, minus the croutons.

It's a big, filling salad, but merely an hour and a half later, in class, my stomach starts rumbling again. Obviously, big meals with a lot of protein are filling, but there is no place on campus that sells grilled salmon with steamed broccoli.

And if there were, I'm not so sure I would trust it.

I understand she's trying to be funny, but people like this just don't understand Atkins. There are plenty of options for low-carb if you get creative with your food selection. If your mentality is for low-carb to not succeed even before you start, then you are destined for failure.

Day Two

I thought better of going without breakfast again, instead starting my morning with carton of plain yogurt and a sugar-free vanilla latte.

I have made it through four meals without cheating. But today I have a cold and I can't justify it to myself to abstain from orange juice. So, after a short ethical debate, I spend what seems like my life savings on a carton of Naked juice, chug it quickly so no one will see my transgression and throw it away.

For dinner tonight, my boyfriend and I go to The Melting Pot, a meal we had planned for weeks. The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant with four-course meals. The first course is cheese fondue with vegetables -- cheat free!

The second is a salad - no croutons, so I am still good. The third is a variety of meats and fish, dipped in a boiling pot of red wine, garlic and green onions. Up to this point, the whole thing is surprisingly Atkins-friendly.

But then comes the dessert course -- a big pot of melted dark chocolate with a platter of berries, pineapple, bananas and various pieces of pastry.

My incredibly limited self-control flounders as I stick my fork in for a chocolate-covered strawberry."

Actually, having a cold is no excuse for getting off Atkins. You can drink a low-carb juice and get the same benefits. As for the eating out, if she had those strawberries in sugar-free chocolate, then it would have been a great low-carb meal.

Day Three

Today, I swear to myself I will not cheat. Not once. I have to be able to make it through a day without munching a piece of bread or popping a piece of candy.

So, to resist temptation, I go home for lunch. Searching my fridge, I decide to heat up some frozen peas and toss them with butter and parmesan cheese, and pair them with a Morningstar black bean burger minus the bun. It was surprisingly tasty, filling and satisfying.

For dinner, I eat shrimp cocktail and broccoli, with frozen berries for dessert. Yes, I know berries are not exactly part of the Atkins plan, but at least it's not chocolate cake.

Okay, if you're already talking about cheating on day three, then you definitely aren't cut out for the Atkins lifestyle. But Kelberlau has obviously NOT read the Atkins book since she ate high-carb foods such as peas and beans, thus preventing her body to reach ketosis so her stored fat can be burned. And although she laments eating berries because they are allegedly "not exactly part of the Atkins plan," these delightful fruits are indeed acceptable on an Atkins lifestyle.

Day Four

I follow the guidelines during breakfast and lunch, but by dinner, I am pretty much over it. That cinnamon raisin bread in my cabinet looks mighty appealing, so I toast up a couple pieces. Figuring this means I am pretty much done with the diet attempt, I heat up some leftover spaghetti and plop down on the couch.

Okay, this entire article was a lame passive aggressive attempt at expressing anger towards the low-carb lifestyle. Kelberlau proclaims it is a "doable" way of eating, but believes it is too hard to come up with a "quick, easy meal" she can eat and carry with her to school. My only response to that is she's not thinking hard enough as there are a plethora of quick option for low-carbers if they so choose. Examples abound on many low-carb web sites, so I won't repeat them here. But there are many.

"Like so many other diets or, excuse me, 'lifestyle plans,' cutting carbs means putting out more effort to get those lost nutrients elsewhere," she concludes. "Pardon me if I simply stick with pastries and Frappuccinos."

Go ahead Kelberlau and keep eating all that sugar and caffeine. You may not have to worry about carrying around extra weight now while you are young and thin (as evidenced by your picture), but there will come a day when you will clamor to find the secret to weight loss. When you reach that point in your life (maybe after having a couple of kids and in your early 30's) you will find livin' la vida low-carb is the way to go. Until then, you've got a lot to learn!

Low-Carb Potatoes Are A Freak Of Science

News-Medical.Net offers a strange new offering for people wanting to fulfill their craving for a traditionally high-carb food while doing a low-carb lifestyle -- a low-carb potato! That sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?

After first introducing these genetically-altered low-carb potatoes in January, University of Florida researchers went back to the drawing board to offer low-carb consumers an even bigger and better-tasting potato they can sink their teeth into. This new potato is expected to release to the marketplace next month.

With 30% less carbs and 25% less calories than a "normal" potato, these low-carb wonders of science have a yellow instead of white flesh tone. But I warn people who are livin' la vida low-carb about eating these so-called low-carb potatoes.

Since an average potato has 19 grams of carbohydrates, these new spuds only drop the carb total to 13 grams each. Say it with me now: THAT IS NOT LOW-CARB ENOUGH FOR ME ON MY LOW-CARB LIFESTYLE! It's not. When people are trying to lose weight on low-carb, a potato offering 13 carbs is detrimental to your cause.

I'm not a big fan of these fake foods that scientists cook up in their lab or in their personal guinea pig gardens. While it's nice to have alternatives to those foods we thought we couldn't live without, they really have become unnecessary for most of us doing the low-carb lifestyle.

There's a better way to get the taste of potatoes without all the extra carbs associated with them. Have you tried cauliflower? If you mash it up and put butter, cheese and sour cream on it, I bet you couldn't tell it wasn't potatoes! It's little things like this that make the low-carb lifestyle work. You lose your cravings for those foods you thought you couldn't live without. YOU REALLY DO!

If you feel like you need these new "low-carb potatoes," just remember not to overindulge and that there are better alternatives that will give you the taste you desire.

'The 3-Hour Diet' Is Nothing New Under The Sun

Is THIS really the next weight loss fad to sweep America?

Contra Costa Times published a reprint of a New York Times article detailing the alleged latest and greatest diet book to hit bookstore shelves this year and one that is expected to be, according to the publisher, the bestselling diet book in 2005. Oh really. I can't wait to hear why.

It's entitled "The 3-Hour Diet" (now with a title like that, it sounds like this diet is just another "fad" waiting to happen!) by a San Diego-based fitness freak named Jorge Cruise. His "8 Minutes In The Morning" workout books have been moderately successful and allowed him to appear in the media many times over the past few years.

Interestingly, the subtitle of Cruise's book caught my attention much more than the title -- "How Low-Carb Diets Make You Fat and Timing Makes You Thin."

Okay, so Cruise is yet another anti-Atkins mouthpiece, but he's come up with some kind of eating plan regarding "timing" that makes people lose weight. I was somewhat intrigued to see where he was going with this, so I decided to look into this "diet" he was recommending that was supposedly so much better than livin' la vida low-carb.

Basically, Cruise says people can still eat carbs, fat and sugar and lose weight on his diet. The so-called secret to the diet is protecting the body against starvation by eating a light to moderate amount of food every three hours.

Sound familiar? You got it, that's exactly what Dr. Atkins recommended people who follow his plan to do. In fact, eating often is encouraged strongly as part of a low-carb lifestyle. It keeps your body satisfied and you never get hungry.

If you allow your body to go several hours without eating anything, then it will start storing up body fat to protect itself from starvation. Cruise's answer to this is for people to eat every three hours. Yet, he also recommends they eat less than 1500 calories a day in multiple small-portioned meals of various ingredients and proclaims this way of eating will help them lose 2 pounds per week. No doubt. He even offers his readers a journal in his book to keep track of their calories while doing his diet.

Does this new "hot diet" sound like something you may have tried before? Do we REALLY need ANOTHER low-calorie/low-fat diet book telling us we are doomed to eat nasty rabbit food or limited portions of our favorite foods just to lose and maintain weight loss? This concept is NOTHING new under the sun and looks strikingly like the portion-controlled concept Weight Watchers has used for many years.

At a whopping $25.00, "The 3-Hour Diet" book is a huge ripoff for people looking for a lasting way to weight loss and improved health. Cruise has not really come up with anything that most of us haven't heard before many times while dieting. His publisher and he are hoping the hype and buzz about the book will make it fly off the shelves. And it probably will.

But here is what a New York nutritionist named Mindy Hermann said about Cruise's diet and how it's no different that what's been out there for years.

"In the end, it's all about calorie control for all diets; it's just the path that the person can take to get to calorie control that varies," she said. "There's always a promise, always a hook or a gimmick. There's got to be some way to lure some person in."

She makes a good point that most diet books out there make "a promise ... hook or a gimmick" to get people to buy them. However, I strongly disagree with Hermann's assumption that less calories automatically equates into weight loss.

I probably ate MORE calories than I ever have as I was losing 180 pounds on Atkins. While calorie control is absolutely necessary for every other diet out there because they are mostly based on portion-size and calorie intake, Atkins did not have these restrictions on calories, fat or portions. Eventually, though, as your body begins to get smaller and smaller, you find that you don't need as much food as you used to eat. The body automatically adjusts to your smaller size and your food intake follows suit. That's why a low-carb lifestyle works and all of these other methods failed for me in the past.

If this is the next big thing in weight loss, then I would HIGHLY recommend you go back to what is considered the Bible of real lasting weight loss -- "Atkins New Diet Revolution."

Don't be fooled by the slick marketing campaign being given to Cruise's book just because he's a nice-looking, tanned spokesman for a low-calorie/low-fat lifestyle. Neither he nor his publisher have your good health in mind with this book. They only hope to line their own pockets with gobs and gobs of money by joining the "anything but low-carb" line of attack that is so prevalent in the media today.

One final thought. Isn't it interesting that of all the weight loss plans out there, Cruise chose to mention "low-carb" by name in the title of his book? Hmmmm. Me thinks he knows it works and is trying to lure obese and overweight people away from the success they would have on low-carb. It won't happen if you don't fall for it!

Obesity Pill Promises Pie In The Sky

If you are trying to lose weight, then I must warn you of a new weight loss drug called Acomplia.

A much-heralded study was recently released by European researchers that found a group of 1,500 obese or overweight people lost more weight taking this pill than those who took a placebo. Supposedly their waist size got smaller, cholesterol dropped, triglycerides went down, became insulin resistant, and other health benefits after taking Acomplia.

But they also had their calorie intake reduced, which means less food for the participants. Everyone knows you can LOSE weight by taking in less calories. What nobody wants to talk about is how you can't keep eating that way without ALWAYS feeling so hungry. It's the dirty little secret about low-fat, low-calorie that you never read about in the media.

Even the researchers aren't so sure this new miracle weight loss drug will last over the long-term.

"How this finding will translate into prolonged weight loss in clinical practice has yet to be determined," the researchers write in their report.

Manufactured by the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the world Sanofi-Aventis, Acomplia is not yet available for consumer purchase. Tests are still being conducted about the drug's effect on the brain since it blocks appetite control receptors.

My concern about this new weight loss drug is that it does nothing to address the root cause of obesity -- bad eating habits! Unless your lifestyle changes to keep the weight off, people who take this drug will see all of that weight pour right back on them and then some. It's the problem with any weight loss measure that doesn't have a long-term plan for maintaining weight loss.

That's what is wrong with low-fat and it is definitely what is wrong with this pill. This pie in the sky mentality by the drug company will leave a lot of people getting even fatter along with the wallets of the drug company. They know the lure of weight loss is BIG BUSINESS for them!

For me, I'd rather be livin' la vida low-carb and not worry about things like side effects and weight gain after getting off the diet or pill. Why do so many people want to make losing weight akin to rocket science?! The answer: DO LOW-CARB!

Play The Great Atkins Sugar Hunt

Have you seen the latest contest our friends at Atkins.com have created to help spread the word about all the hidden sugars found in the so-called health foods on grocery market shelves today? It's called "The Great Atkins Sugar Hunt" and the winners get a free eDiets membership for Atkins counseling! WOO HOO!!! Wouldn't that be a great thing to have if you're just starting out livin' la vida low-carb?!

There are so many products on supermarket shelves today that claim to be healthy, but are anything but that because of the excessive amount of sugar contained in them. This includes virtually all of the "low-fat" foods, energy protein bars and even some allegedly "low-carb" foods.

Did you know a chocolate peanut butter Powerbar Performance bar has 20 grams of sugar because of the high fructose corn syrup and juice concentrate additives? That is double the amount of sugar that is in a Krispy Kreme doughnut!!!

On a low-carb lifestyle, sugar is one of your primary enemies and I address and entire chapter in my upcoming book to this subject. I think you'll like the name of the chapter I came up with. But more on that when the book comes out.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American consumes 158 pounds of various sugars annually. WOW! That's a lot a sugar clogging the inside of our bodies. What's most disturbing to me is that the average is probably a lot higher than that for a lot of people since people doing low-carb consume little to no sugar at all. That means there are some people out there eating upwards of 300 pounds of sugar in a year! Do these people keep a sugar-IV on them or what?!

It is a known fact that sugar is one of the primary reasons we have an obesity problem in the United States today and is likely the culprit in the rapid increase in diabetes and other health ailments. But even when you are doing the low-carb lifestyle, you have to be careful about the hidden sugars manufacturers don't want you to notice on the "healthy" versions of their products.

This new contest will help you understand the importance of reading food labels and recognizing when there are hidden sugars found in so-called healthy foods. You need to hurry because they are only giving the free three-month eDiets.com subscription to the first 1000 people who can identify no more than 10 food or beverage products that make claims like "low-fat," "low-carb" or "healthy" and add up to at least 50 grams of sugars (based on a per-serving count) in total.

If you get stuck and need some assistance with this endeavor, you can visit Atkins University to study a course in "Reading Labels" to educate yourself further about how to do this.

I would like to personally thank Atkins Nutritionals for providing this reminder that we need to constantly be on guard when we are shopping for foods we can eat while engaging in a low-carb lifestyle. Hidden sugars are a detriment to your ultimate goal of losing weight and keeping it off. Take advantage of this opportunity to educate yourself and win a great prize that will help you along the way! If you are one of the winners, then post a comment here and let us know!

We're Now On Google and Yahoo!

It took a few days, but now "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog posts are starting to show up on both Google and Yahoo! search engines.

What does this mean? Well, first and foremost, the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb will reach even more people than it does now. Each time I post a new commentary debunking the myths and outright lies about Atkins, these stories I post along with my comments will show up in the Google search engine for anyone to find using keywords, such as "low-carb" or "Atkins."

I have long said that the best way to convince people of the life-changing message that the low-carb lifestyle has to offer them is to provide ample evidence that renders the arguments against it null and void. This is accomplished through continuing education about what low-carb is (and also what it is not!). That's the main purpose of this blog in a nutshell.

And I'll throw in some encouragement for those of you struggling from time to time, too! I've been where you are and know the pain you feel. Hang in there because better days are coming for you. I promise!

If you've found this blog via Google or Yahoo! searches, then welcome. And prepare to find out the truth about livin' la vida low-carb.

Dr. Atkins' Widow Defends Low-Carb 'Lifestyle'

The Lexington-Herald Leader has a superb article today on the widow of the late Dr. Robert Atkins named Veronica Atkins.

On April 17, 2003, Dr. Atkins tragically died from a slip and fall injury in New York. There was speculation afterwards that the "father of low-carb" was fat when he died, later proven to be inaccurate at best. But since he had dealt with numerous lies about his health during his life, why should his death be any different?

Ms. Atkins is working behind the scenes funding research that validates the low-carb "lifestyle," as she likes to call it, as effective for losing and maintaining weight loss. She resigned from the board of Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. so she could pursue this endeavor without anyone accusing her of skewing the research.

"I have nothing to say. That would not be fair," Ms. Atkins retorts. "I want to stay out of it and let everybody else learn it. I resigned from the (Atkins Nutritional) board because I didn't want any conflict. The (Atkins) foundation is very important. I want to conquer diabetes and I will collaborate with people that can help me with it."

The Atkins Foundation was created to provide grants for more research on the health benefits of low-carb, including treating and preventing diabetes and even cancer. There are currently 38 studies being conducted and funded by the Atkins Foundation.

Veronica Atkins should be applauded for continuing the work of the man we have all come to love and cherish for his insight and passion for an alternative to low-fat eating. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed and that's what is scaring the heck out of the anti-Atkins crowd. They know her influence in the health debate is strong and they will do whatever they can to silence her voice even if it means trashing her husband's memory to do it. We must stand with her in this fight because we know what livin' la vida low-carb has done or is doing for us.

Professional Golfer Slims Down On Atkins

The British newspaper Glasgow Sunday Mail reports that European golf professional Colin Montgomerie is a big fan of the Atkins lifestyle and has used it to slim down his formerly rotund figure.

Although the story refers to Atkins as a "no-carb regime" (when will these people ever learn?!), it's got some great quotes from the man golfing fans affectionately refer to as "Monty":

"I have this mantra - nothing in this world tastes as good as slim feels," Montgomery remarked. "And I know nothing tastes as good as the way people perceive me now."

Now there's a man proud of his weight loss. And he should be. Monty said his wake-up call was when he recently saw a picture of himself after winning a tournament a few years ago and he said "it didn't look good" and was concerned that he was "too heavy for a professional sportsman."

"Atkins works - at least it works for me," he added. "I can have sausage, bacon and eggs for breakfast, Caesar salad with chicken on top for lunch and steak for dinner. I just watch the portion control and it really does work."

Well, let me be one of the first people to officially welcome Monty to the livin' la vida low-carb club. It's nice to see someone of his stature taking his health serious enough to choose an excellent alternative to the low-fat lie we've been forced to swallow for so many years.

But what about other golfing professionals? I wonder if John Daly or Craig Perry on the PGA tour have thought about starting Atkins. I know, I've got a great idea! We could create a golf tournament called the Atkins Invitational where only those golfers who are doing a low-carb lifestyle would be allowed to enter the tournament. Wouldn't that be a hoot?!

Sarasota Columnist Jealous Of Atkins Success

This commentary from the Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, FL by an opinion writer named David Grimes is yet another example of the growing public disdain in the media shown for the Atkins lifestyle.

His all-too-obvious smug comment that he is "the only living American who is not currently on the Atkins diet" shows just how jealous so many in the media have become about the incredible success experienced by us low-carbers.

Choosing to eat foods recommended by the so-called new and improved U.S. Food Pyramid, Grimes states: "Unlike the Atkins diet, on which it is perfectly fine to swallow an entire cow but nibbling a Saltine is grounds for deportation, the Pyramid encourages you to eat a variety of foods. The Pyramid also suggests the types of food and number of portions you should eat each day. I'm a pretty big guy, so I decided to base my diet on the maximum number of portions."

Like so many other foolish people who have no idea what they are talking about in regards to the Atkins lifestyle, Grimes unveils his ignorance in such a way that he looks just plain silly. While consuming an entire cow is indeed possible on a low-carb lifestyle (although nobody could or would want do it!), so is the single Saltine cracker which only has about 5 net carbs. While I would not personally waste any of my daily allowable carbs on something like that, it certainly is an option for people livin' la vida low-carb if they so choose.

While you can eat an alleged "variety of foods" using the Pyramid's recommendations, I would argue that you will not be able to sustain that way of eating for a very long period of time without going absolutely out of your mind. This low-fat-only mentality is so prevalent in our society that suggesting any other way leads to ridicule and disdain. We low-carbers know all about this, don't we?!

Feel free to let Grimes know how you feel about his degradation of the Atkins lifestyle by sending him an e-mail. Tell him Jimmy Moore from Livin' La Vida Low-Carb sent you. In fact, I'm sending him this message today.

Rave Reviews For Livin' La Vida Low-Carb

Although this blog has only been online for just a few short days, the response I have been getting from readers has been nothing short of pleasantly overwhelming. I am both humbled and honored that this is a place people would want to come to read and learn more about the low-carb lifestyle. Hopefully this is just the beginning of many great things to come and I hope to hear from more of you via e-mail at musicbuyer@aol.com or by leaving a comment at the end of this blog entry.

Here's just a sampling of some of the comments I have received:

Doug writes: "I have surveyed your site and find it very interesting. You are obviously very passionate about your weight loss success and the low carb approach. Quite frankly, you are the first person I have found that is as obsessed about low carb as I am."

Sharon writes: "What a fabulous success story! Congratulations to you. I was very impressed with your blog site and have cross-linked your post to the Low Fat vs. Atkins debate (on AOL) ... there are a few there that knock this way of life so badly, they need to hear it again from a fresh voice! Keep up the great work!"

Lynne writes: "I love your web site - thanks. We could use you over at the debate board (on AOL) as well. If you can stand up to some of the anti-low carb BS that is! Please join us!"

Ruthie writes: "I checked out your blog, great job by the way!!! Congratulations on your success!!!!"

Danielle writes: "I made your blog a hyperlink and sent it out to a few of my friends. Once again, very inspirational. It was nice to see a picture also.
Good luck on the book!!! I hope OPRAH calls."

Sheila writes: "What an absolutely fabulous concept for a blog! After taking a glimpse at all of your valuable information and links, I will certainly not only be visiting 'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb' regularly, but will recommend it to those looking for up-to-date low-carb news and Atkins inspiration. I cannot believe what a gorgeous job you have done with this blog - well done!! Reading through your blog and comments, I was so pleased to see that we are much in agreement and we are about not only low-carbing and Atkins, but how not to low-carb (i.e., attempting to incorporate low-fat fare). Your writing is incredibly impressive; do keep up the good work, as you are certainly inspiring so many people in helping them discover that there is weight loss hope for them yet. God bless you."

Linda writes: "I am so excited for your book to come out. Atkins needs a huge shot in the arm and I feel you are the one to do it. :)"

Linda Marie writes: "I will buy your book! I have so much weight to lose. I don't know where to begin. Ugh. I weigh 363 lbs. I am 46 and desperate. I need to be taught what to do."

Jim writes: "Enjoyed your blog and the success of your low-carb way of eating. I started @ 385 pounds 20 months ago ... haven't maintained constant adherence to low-carb, but recommitted to it 30 days ago ... I'm down to 295 as of this morning. The lightest I've ever been as an adult is 225 ... at 5'11" higher than the weight charts, but then again these are designed by the same folks who push low-fat, high carb eating day in and day out."

Lisa writes: "Wow!!! Congrats, Jimmy, I've only glanced at your blog and I'm already excited! I didn't realize you'd written so many articles on low-carb living, and I'm definitely going to use those many links provided. The only bummer is, I found out I'm pregnant this past January, so I'll need to have the baby before I can get back to some serious low-carbing. But I'm not giving up! Anyway, congrats again on all the recognition and the great blog. I'll be visiting frequently!"

Tanya writes: "I need a little inspiration right now! Things are really tough for me right now with the low-carb lifestyle. Ever since I started working 48+ hour per week, my eating schedule is all messed up ... and so that has thrown me way out of whack! Unfortunately I am up 10 lbs up from my lowest weight. I know it don't seem like much, but my clothes definitely tell me different! LOL! I look forward to reading your book! ;)"

Tommy writes: "Great site! I really enjoyed it."

Obesity Doctor Spreading Misinformation

This Dover, New Hampshire-based Foster's Online article about a supposedly new weight-loss program called Bariatrics took an unfair swipe at the low-carb lifestyle that I would like to address.

In the article, a doctor at Physicians Healthy Weight Center in Hampton, NH named Jennifer Warren along with her husband opened the anti-obesity center in March 2004 and have had great success at helping people lose weight. In fact, their patients have lost an average of 17 pounds each. Not bad and a laudable effort on their part.

As a former overweight person, Dr. Warren says she understands what it is like on both sides of the health spectrum. That's why she uses prescription drugs, exercise, diet changes and lifestyle changes to help her patients lose weight. Again, this seems to be a great endeavor for them to pursue.

But what she says specifically about her patients who have been on the Atkins diet and failed angered me to no end.

"I call them Atkins survivors. They come in and are afraid of carbs. If you're on a really strict Atkins you can't eat more than 28 grams of carbs a day. That's not enough to exercise and then you’re shooting yourself in the foot because if you can't exercise you'll never be healthy," she says. "I have to reeducate people that not all carbs are bad. High-fiber carbs are absolutely necessary for them to be healthy … You got to go beyond reading artificial labels."

With all due respect to Dr. Warren, she could not have mischaracterized what eating a low-carb lifestyle is more if she tried. Let me break down why she is wrong.

First, people who do not succeed on Atkins cannot blame the program for their failure. The plan works if you stick to it by the book. Even a little deviation from what Dr. Atkins wrote about in his books will cause people to have less success than those of us who went by the book. Call them "survivors" if you want, but I call them cheaters for not doing low-carb the right way.

Second, people who are on low-carb are not "afraid of carbs." In fact, I love my carbs and try to eat the right amount for me every single day. Contrary to popular belief, Atkins does not mean "no carb," but rather controlled-carb. Find the amount of carbohydrates that your body needs to lose or maintain weight and stick with it.

Third, I don't know many people who do Atkins who have to stay at "28 grams of carbs a day" as Dr. Warren suggests. In fact, each person has a different Atkins Carb Equilibrium (ACE) number that they can get to and still remain in ketosis. For some that number can be as high as 100 carbs per day. For others, it COULD be as low as 25-30, but that is not the norm. Her comments prove she does not know what she is talking about.

Fourth, Dr. Warren believes people who do Atkins can't exercise because they allegedly don't get enough carbs for energy. That's just plain hogwash! I have been a daily exercise freak since I started Atkins and never have a problem with being able to exercise. She is correct that you can't be healthy unless you exercise, but doing Atkins does not prevent you from taking advantage of this health benefit as she suggests. Again, my own story proves she is wrong!

Fifth, she talks about having to "reeducate" her patients that not all carbs are bad for you, but fails to acknowledge that the Atkins plan does not look at all carbs the same either. Dietary fiber and sugar alcohols are not counted in the carbs allowed each day because they have little to no effect on your blood sugar. In fact, getting an adequate amount of fiber is essential when you are on Atkins. But I didn't hear Dr. Warren mentioning anything about this in her diatribe against it! She says, "High-fiber carbs are absolutely necessary for them to be healthy." And that's exactly what Dr. Atkins recommends people eat on his program!

Finally, Dr. Warren exclaims "you got to go beyond reading artificial labels" as her final jab at low-carb. I tell people all the time that they've GOT to read food labels and be smart about it. Too much sugar and salt is much worse for you than too much fat. Watch your net carb intake (total carbs minus dietary fiber and sugar alcohols) and you will lose weight and restore your health. I'm living proof!

I don't blame Dr. Warren for her ill-advised and ignorant comments about the low-carb lifestyle. It echoes what many in her profession spout off about Atkins without a notion of any facts to back up their claims. That's why you need to constantly educate yourself about the low-carb lifestyle and countering this kind of disinformation with the truth. If you are going to be livin' la vida low-carb, then prepare yourself to encounter this often. And I'll be here to help clear the air when it starts to get polluted with this garbage. :-)

April 25, 2005 UPDATE: The journalist who wrote this story sent me an e-mail today informing me she would pass on my reaction to the comments by Dr. Warren about the Atkins lifestyle to her. I'll keep you informed if I hear anything from Dr. Warren.

Book Review: Hart Smart Living by Hart Oldenburg

I got a new book in the mail today from a man in Canada who claimed to have found the secret to ending the diet rollercoaster and returning to good healthy living. The following is a book review I wrote about this book on CommonVoice.com. In the meantime, I wanted my readers at Livin' La Vida Low-Carb to catch a sneak peek of what I wrote. You might be surprised to find how remarkably close to a low-carb lifestyle this guy promotes! ENJOY!!!

Book Review: Hart Smart Living by Hart Oldenburg

I have to admit I am very skeptical of any book about health these days because you just can't trust most of them to give you good, sound advice about how you should eat and live. And when I received my autographed copy of the book "Hart Smart Living" by a man named Hart Oldenburg, I already had my mind made up that I would cautiously heed any so-called "advice" he would give me about improving my own health.

Well, I can tell you I was pleasantly surprised by what I read. His matter-of-fact style and innocent ignorance of basic writing skills gave the book an authenticity rarely seen in books of this genre. It was a refreshing change of pace I did not expect, but enjoyed for its anarchist-mentality towards the health industry.

As an 80-something year old, German-born, Canadian-living, former traveling salesman turned "reluctant writer," Oldenburg makes no scientific claims in his book and describes himself as a "layman" in this debate about health.

His main concern is with the alleged health "experts" who espouse a vegetarian diet through the food pyramid. Interestingly, he blames the obesity problem in North America on pasta, but he also points the finger at the health food industry which is ironically owned by most of the major food manufacturers as well.

If you read this book, then be prepared for 69 chapters in 166 pages. In fact, Oldenburg wrote his book like it was his very own blog on the Internet with just a few short paragraphs of random ramblings in most of the chapters.

And if the short chapters don't get you, then his profanity-laden writing style most certainly will. I assume this is the way Oldenburg talks, so it probably doesn't even phase him in the least. A self-proclaimed "devout agnostic," Oldenburg does make a few valid health points that I most certainly agree with him about.

Besides being critical of health studies by so-called experts and the food pyramid, Oldenburg also believes North Americans eat too much fast food, drink too many sodas and consume too much white flour and sugar. He says, "Common sense tells me that the recommended overdosing on carbohydrates is the root cause of obesity." I couldn't have said it better myself.

This fellow Capricorn also advocates regular exercise as part of healthy living, especially his favorite game of golf which he devotes several pages to in the book. And he should know being an active senior citizen debunking every health myth ever created by man.

I had to laugh when I read that he includes plenty of his favorite beverage as part of his healthy eating lifestyle: homemade beer! Oldenburg says to "listen to your gut" and you can eat exactly what you need to eat to stay healthy.

The book was borne out of a series of letters to the editor Oldenburg wrote to his local newspaper about his health ideas and his honest desire to let more people know what he thinks about the mixed messages coming from the health industry. He brags about only going to the doctor twice since 1951 and that he never takes vitamins or prescription drugs. Oldenburg says he doesn't worry about getting a physical check-up and believes his body has done very well without the added expenses associated with doctors and the health care industry.

Oldenburg reminds me a lot of American literature icon Henry David Thoreau who advocated a similar back-to-the-country approach to healthy living. However, unlike Thoreau who was an excellent writer as evidenced by his masterpiece "Walden," Oldenberg has to take little breaks from time to time to go putt a few golf balls to get the writing juices flowing again. He also allows the reader to take a break by giving them a sneak peek into his life doing whatever he was doing at the time of writing this book in a series of "Interlude" chapters.

One interesting idea Oldenburg floats out there is for a national holly-week when nothing happens for an entire week in the media, TV, radio, press, movies, sports or churches. Wouldn't that be a refreshing week?!

He even details a few close encounters, criticisms and cheers for some famous people, including Deepak Chopra, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Cher. He doesn't have any kind words for people who take steroids, either. And if you are a glutton, Oldenburg blames you for heart ailments and for committing "the deadly sin" (hey, I thought this guy was an agnostic!).

All in all, Oldenburg, despite his lack of any literary prowess, conveys his message in such a way that makes you love his passion for healthy living. Whether you agree with everything he ascribes to or not, you certainly cannot have anything but respect for a man willing to go against the grain and do it his own way. If he lives to be 100 years old like George Burns, then I am confident he'll still be banging the drum of Hart Smart Living for everyone to follow. I wouldn't expect anything less.

-- Written by Jimmy Moore, April 23, 2005

April 24, 2005 UPDATE: Hart Responds To My Book Review!

The following e-mail from Hart Oldenburg has been "cleaned up" for clarity:

"What a pleasant surprise, Jimmy Moore! Caught me choking on the new USDA food puzzle. (I'm try to designate a new factual word for it!) Don't they know that fat people have to take elevators?

My morale has been high for all of thirteen food related years and your review gives it that extra boost! Thanks.

I owe you an update--my GP and I, we seldom meet--(The one on page 160) He is curious, puzzled about my welfare and food regimen. Anyway, when I presented a small skin irritation he ordered tests, eight this time! The result---boring--- eight times it came back normal. I forgave him, he bought one of my books!

Excuse me, J.M., profanity-laden? I looked it up. Wouldn't 'outspoken' be a better description of my non-style?

I am self taught, two weekly hours of English instruction in the middle of WW II were meaningless, never had a sit-down job, still can't type

Keep in touch----------------Hart---------------

CommonVoice Article About This New Blog

I just posted the following article at CommonVoice.com about this new blog:

"Low-Carb Lifestyle Blog Created To Encourage And Educate"

If you just found this blog for the first time after reading about it on CommonVoice.com, then welcome to my little low-carb domain on the Internet. I hope you will find some interesting information about livin' la vida low-carb while you are here. Feel free to click on the links at the bottom right hand side of the page and leave your comments here if you have any questions or feedback you would like to express to me about anything and everything low-carb. I am here to serve you and help you along in your own low-carb journey to better health.

I look forward to meeting a lot of new friends through this forum.

Don't Mix Low-Carb With Low-Fat

Now here is an interesting article from Reuters about low-carb:

"Weight Drops on Low Carbs with More Fat or Protein"

It compares people who do a high-fat, moderate-protein eating plan with those who do a low-fat, high-protein one. According to the study of Australian researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, they found no measurable weight loss difference between the two groups over a 12-week time period.

Now I have a problem with this "study." Mixing low-carb and low-fat is not a recipe for weight loss you want to attempt to do. These two methods for losing weight simply were never meant to be combined. I DO NOT recommend doing this and HIGHLY recommend you stick with low-carb as outlined by Dr. Atkins. You will only get discouraged because you will be hungry all the time and you will quit in a very short amount of time due to frustration and exasperation!

The story continues, "However, many questions about low-carb diets remain -- including whether the eating plans keep the weight off and whether they might have ill effects on health in the long term."

This is the same old garbage we keep hearing in the media about the so-called questions regarding the "long-term effects" of eating a low-carb lifestyle. Well, I can tell you that I have not had any negative effects on my health since losing 180 pounds on low-carb and I have kept the weight off for 4 months. I fully intend on eating this way for the rest of my life and proving these people wrong!

Again from the article: "Some experts worry about the eventual effects on the heart and blood vessels, particularly when people follow diets that are heavy in saturated fats from meat and dairy products. In addition, the metabolic effects of high-protein, high-fat diets may deplete minerals in the bones or stress the kidneys."

What these "experts" fail to realize is that people on low-carb NEED fat in the foods they eat to burn as fuel and to help them feel satisfied between meals. These claims about potential health problems in the future are merely scare tactics they are throwing out there to prevent people from livin' la vida low-carb! These bombastic claims are unfounded and should be ignored because there are countless examples like me who can vouch for the merits of doing low-carb the way it was meant to be done.

Finally, though, there was some sense of sanity in this article: "However, as [University of Adelaide professor Dr. Peter M.] Clifton pointed out, neither diet was 'radical,' with each being relatively low in the saturated fat and balanced in nutrient content. 'Either diet would be sustainable in the long term,' he said."

Dr. Clifton is right. Low-carb lifestyles are good for long-term weight loss success. That's the story of my life over the past year and a half and my book will detail the specifics regarding what all I did to lose the weight. Keep reading this blog to learn more about the low-carb lifestyle and to read my reaction to media reports about low-carb. Together we will tear down the wall of lies built up by those who oppose the low-carb lifestyle.

Before & After Weight Loss Photos

Here are my BEFORE & AFTER pictures from "Ralph's Incredible Shrinking Ton" contest that I won last year on Newsradio 1330/950AM WORD in Greenville/Spartanburg. The photo on the top is when I weighed in at 382 1/2 pounds on January 31, 2004 and the photo on the bottom shows me at 245 1/2 in November 2004.

Click on the picture to enlarge:

GRIZZLY ADAMS!

LIVIN' LA VIDA LOW-CARB MAN!

And be sure to check out the rest of my BEFORE and AFTER photo gallery!

My Alma Mater Writes About My Success

I was thrilled to have my graduate school alma mater, Regent University, feature my low-carb weight loss success story recently. Here is a link to that article:

"Moore is less; Regent alum wins radio weight loss challenge"
http://www.regent.edu/news/moore_jimmy.html

My weight loss success story was also supposed to be featured in the May/June 2005 issue of Low Carb Living Magazine, but the editor of the magazine informed me a couple of weeks ago that the magazine is closing its doors. :-(

Oh well, I'm still holding out hope that The Oprah Winfrey Show is going to call me before the end of the year. I sent them my story a couple of months ago and have not heard anything yet. I assume they are booked many months ahead of time and will not bother contacting potential guests until they are almost ready for them to appear. Keep your fingers crossed for me! :-)

Links To Low-Carb Articles I Have Written

"382 1/2!"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1301

"Obesity Is A Choice, Not An Illness"
http://www.wirestaurant.org/news/obesity/76.htm

"Atkins Study Misses the Point"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1638

"Low Carb Beats Low Fat for Successful Weight Loss"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1764

"The Demise of Atkins Is Greatly Exaggerated"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1791

"Anti-Atkins Crowd Just Doesn't Get It"
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/guest/2004/jm1_1207.shtml

"Make Atkins Your New Life Resolution"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1810

"New Dietary Guidelines Fail To Address Weighty Problems"
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/guest/2005/jm_0113.shtml

"Doing Atkins: 15 Months Later"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1898

"I'm Writing A Book"
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=1950

Welcome to Livin' La Vida Low-Carb

This blog was literally birthed out of the tremendous outpouring of requests I have received around the world for help from people who have struggled with losing weight as I once did.

After losing 180 pounds on Atkins in 2004 and keeping it off with a continued low-carb lifestyle, I am embarking on a mission to help as many people as I can to do the same for themselves. If I can do it, then so can you!

In fact, I am in the midst of writing a book about my success which I hope to have out by the Fall. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, I am happy to answer any questions you may have about low-carb. Feel free to e-mail me at musicbuyer@aol.com or leave a post.

Now it's time for me to get back to livin' la vida low-carb!!!

Disclaimer For Livin' La Vida Low-Carb

LIVIN' LA VIDA LOW-CARB™ IS PROVIDING THIS SITE AND ITS CONTENTS ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THIS SITE OR ITS CONTENTS. LIVIN' LA VIDA LOW-CARB™ DISCLAIMS ALL SUCH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN ADDITION, LIVIN' LA VIDA LOW-CARB™ DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE VIA THIS SITE IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE OR CURRENT.

The statements made about products and services have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.). They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Please consult with your own physician or health care specialist regarding the suggestions and recommendations made at livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com, LowCarbNewsLine.com, CommonVoice.com, CarbWire.com, TheLivinLowCarbShow.com and LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com web sites, as well as any other such sites which distribute the content therein.

Except as specifically stated on this site, neither Livin' La Vida Low-Carb nor any of its authors, contributors, or other representatives will be liable for damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this site. This is a comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all damages of any kind, including (without limitation) compensatory, direct, indirect or consequential damages, loss of data, income or profit, loss of or damage to property and claims of third parties.

This blog provides services such as information on weight loss, low-carb, health, and nutritional information. As such, use of this service implies your acceptance of the terms described herein.

You, user of services provided by Livin' La Vida Low-Carb, understand that certain services are provided by Livin' La Vida Low-Carb.

You understand that a private citizen without any professional training in the medical, health, and nutritional field is providing the services. You understand that these services are provided without a health examination and without prior discussion of my health condition. You understand that in no way will Livin' La Vida Low-Carb provide medical advice, and that no medical advice is contained within this site or the services provided.

You understand that these services are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a licensed healthcare practioner, such as your physician. Before you begin any weight loss or fitness program, or change your nutritional regimen, you will consult your physician or other licensed healthcare practioner to ensure that you are in good health and that these services will not harm you.

If you experience any unusual symptoms after following these services, you will stop performing the exercise(s) and consult with your healthcare practitioner immediately.

You understand that the information and content of these services should not be used to diagnose a health problem or disease, or to determine any health-related treatment program, including weight loss, diet, or exercise.

You understand that there are risks associated with the use of these services. Use of these services implies that you assume all risks, known and unknown, inherent to exercise, workout programs, nutrition programs, and physical changes and/or injuries which may result from the use of these services.

Benefits: Participation in a regular program of physical activity has been shown to produce positive changes in a number of organ systems. These changes include increased work capacity, improved cardiovascular efficiency, and increased muscular strength, flexibility, power, and endurance. Additionally, studies have shown following a controlled-carbohydrate diet provides benefits to your health, including weight loss, among others.

Risks: You recognize that exercise and diet changes can carry some risk to the musculoskeletal system (strains, sprains) and the cardio-respiratory system (dizziness, discomfort in breathing, heart attack). You hereby certify that you know of no medical problem that would increase your risk of illness and injury because of participation in a regular exercise program, or you will not use any service related to an exercise program. Additionally, your decision to begin a diet program is yours alone and Livin' La Vida Low-Carb nor any of its authors, contributors, or other representatives will be liable for damages arising out of or in connection with the use of the information provided at this site.

Any correspondence received via e-mail or otherwise becomes the property of Livin' La Vida Low-Carb and may be published at the author's discretion. By sending me e-mail correspondence, you agree to such terms and conditions.

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.

You hereby release Livin' La Vida Low-Carb from any liability related to these services to the fullest extent permitted by law. This includes any damages, costs, or losses of any nature arising from the use of these services and the information provided by these services, including direct, consequential, special, punitive, or incidental damages, even if Livin' La Vida Low-Carb has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Your use of these services confirms your agreement to the above terms and conditions. If you do not agree, you will not utilize these services.