Carb-Free Olive Oil Relieves Aches And Pains

Paul A.S. Breslin recommends carb-free olive oil to ward off headache

A revolutionary new discovery by a group of scientists reveals yet another healthy benefit of olive oil that will have you reaching for it instead of the pain-relieving drug ibuprofen the next time you have headache pain, according to the September 1 issue of the Nature science journal.

Paul A.S. Breslin from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along with several of his fellow chemists from the University of Pennsylvania, The University of the Sciences also located in Philadelphia, and Firmenich Inc., found that olive oil contains a special compound which produces a similar pain-relieving reaction as ibuprofen.

This special compound is called oleocanthal and is found in newly pressed extra-virgin olive oil. Breslin and the other researchers observed a similar stinging feeling in throat that also occurs with ibuprofen, which indicated to them that both of them sharing similar "pharmacological activity."

Breslin noted that he noticed "oleocanthal acting as a natural anti-inflammatory compound that has a potency and profile strikingly similar to that of ibuprofen."

Further tests on several different kinds of olive oils confirmed these findings, including on synthetic versions of olive oil. They concluded that oleocanthal is a major active ingredient found in all olive oil products.

The oleocanthal in olive oil inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes to block the onset of a headache from occuring, according to the chemists.

While 50 grams of olive oil daily is only equivalent to approximately 10 percent of what a dose of ibuprofen provides, the scientists conclude that there are likely many lasting health benefits of olive oil consumption.

"Our findings raise the possibility that long-term consumption of oleocanthal may help to protect against some diseases by virtue of its ibuprofen-like COX-inhibiting activity," Breslin wrote.

The most important part of this study is the fact that olive oil is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent that works naturally with your body to provide this pain-relieving benefit.

This is outstanding news for those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb. Guess how many carbs are in olive oil? ZERO! None. Zippo. If you haven't already been cooking with this great and healthy oil, then you have been missing out on a tasty way to make your meals that much better. If you are a low-fat dieter, then you can't enjoy the benefits of olive oil. That's too bad! Of course, you could start livin' la vida low-carb like most everyone else enjoying successful weight loss and weight maintenance so you can eat a lot better tasting foods than you ever will on that low-fat diet of yours.

I state it often in my upcoming book and have said it many times at this blog, we have to get over our fear of fat in this country because more and more research is coming out just like this one which concludes that consuming fat is a healthy way to eat. This is undoubtedly the biggest sticking point for people who are considering the low-carb lifestyle. Get over it already people! Fat is necessary and that's that.

Once you get over the fat phobia, the low-carb lifestyle is a breeze. Fat is not the enemy of your weight loss. I didn't lose 180 pounds cutting down my fat one bit. And whatever you do, don't mix low-carb and low-fat together. You'll be miserable and it's just not a pretty sight!

Olive oil, anyone?

Welcome Readers Of Spartanburg Herald-Journal

If you happened to stumble upon this blog today after reading about my 180-pound weight loss success story in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal newspaper, then let me be the first to welcome you to "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." My name is Jimmy Moore and I hope you will stick around for a while and check out everything at this blog which can help you if you decide to choose the low-carb lifestyle for yourself. I have put in many hours of work into this web site since it launched in April 2005 and I am sure you will find something to enjoy while you are here.

There are LOTS of BEFORE and AFTER pictures for you to look at as well as some of my more popular previous posts on a wide variety of topics in the world of low-carb located at the right-hand side of this page. Low-carb eating really is a healthy alternative to the failed low-fat/low-calorie/portion-controlled diets we have been forced to endure for far too long. Livin' la vida low-carb has radically changed my life and it can change yours, too!

When you are finished looking at my blog, be sure to check out the the top five low-carb links I recommended in the story for even more information about the low-carb life:

Low-Carb Eating
Low-Carb Newsline
Low-Carb Freedom
Weight of the Evidence blog
Atkins Official Web Site

There is also a mention of my favorite books and movies in the story. You can check them out by clicking on these links:



I REALLY appreciate your taking the time to visit today and hope that you will make this blog a regular part of your daily reading schedule. It is updated at least once per day and is unabashedly supportive of the truth about low-carb. I applaud and thank Teresa Killian from the Spartanburg Herald-Journal for writing this column about a low-carb weight loss success story (although I was hoping to provide an online link to it for my regular readers who do not live in Spartanburg, South Carolina).

There are many more people just like me out there across the United States and around the world who are quietly going about living their life following a low-carb way of eating and are simply ignoring the doom and gloom news about low-carb that you hear on an almost daily basis from much of the media and from so-called health "experts." You're gonna quickly find that I don't tolerate these unfounded criticisms and challenge them directly with the truth right here in this forum.

I would love to have your comments or questions about my blog, my weight loss, or my upcoming book. Feel free to e-mail me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. You can also leave me any comments by clicking on the comment link below. God bless you and thank you again for visiting today!

South African Pleads For Weight Loss Help

My heart is genuinely touched every time I hear from someone who is struggling with obesity and wants to know what I did to finally beat that albatross that plagued me for so many years. I got an e-mail today from someone in South Africa who requested my help and encouragement about what to do about weight loss.

Here's the e-mail:

Hi,
 
I've read your BLOG and it's quite informative, and a very nice read... and can't wait for your book to be released (wonder how long it will take before it's available in South Africa).
 
I want to start doing Atkins, but at the moment I'm unable to as I'm in a foreign country, where everything is difficult and expensive to obtain. I'm currently weighing 286lb's and my goal is to lose 88-110lb's and to keep it of. I'm 27 years old now, and have always been obese.... and it's truly affecting me emotionally.
 
I was just wondering if you can give me an idea of the exercises you've done and an example of your meal plan you had during induction, and also the supplements you used. Believe me, I've tried quite a few "programs", even did Body-for-Life for 6 months, Have to admit that I lost 35lb on that program in the first 3 months, but then I hit a brick wall, and I didn't lose anything for the 3 months following the initial loss. As you can imagine, after that disappointment I gave up.
 
Well, thank you for being an inspiration to me.
 
Rgrds
Marcel Visagie
 
PS: Every person I inform that I'm planning to do Atkins has negative things to say about it, in fact, while typing this e-mail I received this message from a friend of mine with some more people busting the myth of low-carb eating.

Here was my response:

Hey Marcel,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for writing to me. I really appreciate your appreciation for my blog and people just like you are exactly why I created it. You deserve so much to have the same thing happen to you that I was able to experience by livin' la vida low-carb.

My book will be available from Amazon.com, but I don't know what their policy is about shipping to South Africa. You might check online to find out more about that. Your questions were quite interesting because I address ALL of them in my book.
 
However, when your options are limited regarding food, just try to eat the foods that you can obtain that are in the Atkins book. If you have not read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, then that is certainly your first step before continuing on. There are other low-carb books out there, but choose one and stick with that plan.

You can easily lose 100+ pounds and you are at a good age to be doing this. I lost 170 pounds when I was your age, but it was on a low-fat diet and I eventually gained all the weight back because I was always hungry. I know how this can play on your psyche and you need to be strong to endure in this journey.
 
Exercise is whatever you can do to get your body moving and make it sweat. Find a fun activity to do or just walk around your neighborhood. The key is to make it REGULAR and OFTEN. This is an important part of livin' la vida low-carb.

Supplementation should include a variety of vitamins, but let's get you started on a multi-vitamin to begin. You can add the others I detail in my book later.

Let me be honest with you. It doesn't matter which weight loss program you choose, there will be a time when you "hit a brick wall" and don't lose any weight. That's just a part of the process that you have to know will happen going in. My weight stopped for a while, too, but you press on. My book details how I got through that trying time. It wasn't easy, but it is a turning point where so many people fail.

As for the critics of this way of eating, they seem to be everywhere don't they? Again, I address ten common objections to low-carb that you will face and how to answer them in my book. These people will do all they can to discourage you. But don't let 'em. Laugh at them instead and you'll have the last laugh when you lose and maintain your weight.

Marcel, THANK YOU! Getting e-mails like your reminds me why I do what I do. I pray you will continue to take your weight problem seriously and do what you need to do to bring it under control. God bless you, my friend.

Jimmy Moore, "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man"
livinlowcarbman@charter.net
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com

Marcel, hang in there! YOU CAN DO IT! If you would like to encourage Marcel in this exciting journey of livin' la vida low-carb, then feel free to post your comments below. The impact of your positive encouragement may give Marcel the strength needed to do this once and for all this time. KEEP ON LIVIN' LA VIDA LOW-CARB!

Introducing CarbSmart Magazine

You know the name, now read the magazine!

Unless you've been livin' la vida low-carb under a rock over the past few years, then you have very likely come across the name CarbSmart in your local grocery store aisle. Take a look at just a few of the namesake products that carry the CarbSmart name proudly which have undoubtedly crossed your lips at one point or another:



See, I told you that CarbSmart brand name products have been a part of your life. If you are like me, then you know these are a real godsend because they are very high quality products that appeal to those of us enjoying the low-carb lifestyle.

But what you may not know about is an excellent resource produced by CarbSmart -- it's the CarbSmart Magazine. This online magazine has been around for quite a while helping to educate the public about the tremendous health benefits that low-carb offers them. They were on the frontlines of the low-carb debate long before I even knew what a carb was many moons ago when I was lost in the diabolical world of morbid obesity and low-fat diet. All that has changed now.

Describing me as "the author of the Internet's best low-carb weblog" (WOW, what a compliment! THANKS!), President and CEO of CarbSmart Andrew DiMino has asked me to be a part of his writing team for CarbSmart Magazine.

Since I am already write quite a few columns at this blog already, many of my posts will be reprinted at CarbSmart Magazine for the readers who visit there. But, there will be one original column from me that will only appear at CarbSmart Magazine once a month that will feature a controversial topic regarding low-carb that you will not want to miss. Of course, I'll let you know when that column appears and provide a link to it for you when it is published in CarbSmart Magazine.

In the meantime, I encourage you to browse around the CarbSmart web site which features lots of great low-carb products to help you on your low-carb lifestyle.

Also be sure to check out these companion sites from CarbSmart: to satisfy that special sweet tooth you have go to LowCarbChocolates.com and for people with sensitive food allergies there's GlutenSmart.com. You'll have such a hard time figuring what to try first! ENJOY and let me know what you think about CarbSmart Magazine.

Young Writer Buys Into The Lies About Low-Carb Hook, Line And Sinker

The Fredericksburg, Virginia-based Free-Lance Star published this op-ed piece today from someone with a lot of opinions about youth and dieting in America today. Not surprisingly, her description of livin' la vida low-carb is just a wee bit off base.

Talking about the eating habits and perceptions of how teenagers should look these days, the author of this column said there is an "obsession with weight loss" everywhere you look these days with diet programs and exercise equipment blaring across our televisions.

Now don't get me wrong. Being healthy and fit is wonderful. But it has gone too far.

Well, the packaged version of "healthy and fit" has gone too far. The little things that people can and should do have not gone far enough. Education, education, education.

Then the writer of this story starts to lay into what is perceived to be the worst diet on the planet. Can you guess what it is?

"With the Atkins Diet, people were eating tons of meat and very little else. How is that healthy? Didn't anyone inform Dr. Atkins that red meat causes heart problems? And that it is possible to ingest too much protein?

I feel like I'm repeating myself, I feel like I'm repeating myself. Well, probably because I AM. I have address the meat-only and healthiness issue here and the impact of eating more protein as part of the low-carb lifestyle on your heart health here and here. This person has no idea what they are talking about in regardings to livin' la vida low-carb.

But the article does say that the Hollywood image of beautiful by being as thin as you can possibly be at any cost is way overrated and I could not agree more.

"Television and movie stars do nothing but make the problem worse. Stars like Lindsay Lohan set the example that it's OK to be a walking skeleton, and nothing is done."

What is the recipe for staying "fit and healthy" according to this columnist?

"Exercise three to four times a week and eat three well-balanced meals."

Not necessarily. While we should exercise a MINIMUM of 3 times a week, some people can get away with a little less and others will need a whole lot more. There is no set standard for everyone because we are not all the same.

As for the "well-balanced meals," what the heck does that mean? My low-carb foods are much more "balanced" than the ones I used to eat when I weighed 410 pounds. Some may say it's just not healthy eating a low-carb diet. My only response to them is to show them a picture of what I used to look like before I started eating this unhealthy way. Most people change their minds.

"You don't have to starve yourself, eat nothing but red meat, regurgitate your meals or take diet pills. All you have to do is pay attention to what you eat and walk around the neighborhood a few times a week. Next time you're thinking about losing weight, don't worry about what pills are available, how many carbs you're eating or how many ribs you can see when you inhale. Just eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in a healthy dose and go running or walking. It's the safest, easiest way to stay healthy and fit. And that's important, because no one should want to look like a famine victim."

I would suspect the author of this article is a young girl in her late teens/early 20's who is trying to help her peers deal with this issue. I applaud her for that. But it would lend greater credibility to her arguments if she would just do a little bit of research about what she writes about in regards to the Atkins diet and low-carb eating. She's bought into the hype the media has thrown at her and that's such a shame.

A message to the author of this story: Hey, how about coming by the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog the next time you need information about the low-carb lifestyle. I'd be happy to share with you THE TRUTH about low-carb rather than the lies the media continues to spread on a daily basis!

Otherwise, you'll continue to buy into the lies about low-carb hook, line and sinker!

Repercussions From 'Fat' Post Still Being Felt

I knew when I wrote this blog post that some people were going to misconstrue what I wrote regarding the lawsuit involving a New Hampshire doctor calling his patient obese that was all over the news last week. I even heard from this person who felt that MY comments were too unnecessarily harsh towards people who are overweight and that I should be ashamed of mysef for making fun of fat people.

With all due respect, I have NOT engaged in fat bashing and do not ever intend to. As someone who has been in that category for most of his life, that would be tantamount to me slamming myself, many of my friends and my family. I still consider myself a kindred spirit with anyone who considers themselves overweight or obese because I know what it is like to be in those shoes.

I care about people suffering with obesity which is why I started this blog. I apologize if anyone was offended by how I wrote the article, but I make no apologies for what I wrote because it is the truth. We have got to start being honest with each other about this very serious weight problem that will not go away on its own.

Even still, the comments keep coming in about how cruel I am being to overweight and obese people. Someone using the name Raven posted this comment at 4:35am today:

Criticising people in this way about their weight can be very damaging. I work for Eating Disorders Association UK and am aware that many sufferers started out on their illness because they were unhappy about being overweight. Often the trigger is a tactless comment like this doctor made. As anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness I don't think this should be laughed off. I think Moe should be congratulated for her work on supporting people's self esteem.

And here's my response:

Hey Raven,

Thank you for coming to my blog today to post your comments about the doctor who told his patient she was obese. However, I have not and never will advocate ANYONE to CRITICIZE others about their weight problem. As a former 410-pounder myself, that is the WORST thing you can do to try to help someone get their weight under control.

However, the role of your doctor is to give you his professional opinion regarding your health and welfare. If he believes your obesity is causing a decline in your health, then it is his RESPONSIBILITY to tell you. Otherwise, we'll be seeing lawsuits in the coming years from overweight patients who will try to sue their doctor for NOT warning them about the dangers of their condition.

I appreciate where you are coming from and the wonderful work that people like yourself are doing, If someone has an eating disorder, then that is serious business that must be handled quickly and appropriately. It's a shame the people can get to that point, but weight can literally weigh on your physically and emotionally. Again, I know because I was there. You're preaching to the choir on this one.

By the way, I'm not laughing at anyone who is suffering from obesity. I am simply pointing out that THEY are the ones who are in ultimate control of whether they do something about it or not. Nobody can lose weight for them. They have to invest the right kind of eating habits and exercise that will bring them closer to the point where they can LIVE again.

As for Moe, I do congratulate her for helping other overweight and obese people try to survive all the hate-filled tactics of people who would truly criticize them for their weight. But that's not what I did.

Rather, I noted that the mentality that you can't improve upon your health and weight problem is just wrong. Interestingly, I used to think the exact same way as Moe. I thought I was destined to be fat for the rest of my life and that no diet in the world was really helping me. I even gave up on caring about how I ate for a long time (obvious by my hefty weight). But I turned the corner when I decided to start livin' la vida low-carb.

The rest, they say, is history. And I'll never be the same again. THANKS for your comments and I hope this helps clarify some of the confusion about what I wrote. God bless you in your work in the UK and come back to see us again soon. Take care!

Jimmy Moore, "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man"
livinlowcarbman@charter.net
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com

The topic of obesity and how to get it under control will be around for many years and decades to come. People are understandably sensitive to this subject, but something needs to jolt them into reality. Living with obesity cannot and should not be an option. Again, I'VE BEEN THERE! I know what I'm talking about. We can and must do everything we possibly can to give people the information they need to make the right choices about how to get their weight under control. For me, the low-carb lifestyle has been that answer. And my life will never be the same again.

Scottish Researcher To Study The Effect Of Low-Carb On The Brain

Dr. Alex Johnstone will observe the brain activity of people on low-carb

A new research study is set to begin in Scotland by a researcher who wants to take a look at the brain responses of people who are livin' la vida low-carb so she can determine what brings about successful weight loss.

Dr. Alex Johnstone from the Rowett Research Institute is hoping to offer people a healthy way to lose weight and cut down on the unnecessary snacking that usually leads to obesity problems.

She is looking for men in the UK who are age 50 or older to take part in a nine-week residential study. During the study, participants will be placed on a variety of diet plans and will have their brains scanned at the University of Aberdeen to see if there are any differences in brain activity.

To sign up to be a volunteer for this important study, then you will need to fill out this online registration form as soon as possible.

"Many scientists now accept that weight loss on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets is because people satisfy their hunger after eating less calories than they would normally eat," Johnstone said regarding the reason for her study. "This has stimulated our interest in the mechanisms that control appetite and the feeling of being full. We know that when people eat low-carbohydrate diets, within a relatively short time their body has to switch from using glucose as a fuel to using a by-product of fat metabolism called ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are appetite-suppressing and this may be because they affect the appetite centres in the brain."

I am excited about the prospect of this study's findings. While the notion that low-carbers lose weight only because they cut their calories exists, it is simply unfounded. When I ate a low-fat/low-calorie diet, I restricted myself to about 1200 calories per day. However, since I started livin' la vida low-carb, I probably get 2-3 times that amount of calories every single day. Low-carb has revolutionized the subject of nutrition and health, but too many people are still in denial about what we have learned about this incredible weight-controlling method. I applaud Dr. Johnstone for stepping forward with this kind of research even as the media is trying to turn the public against low-carb.

"The scans we take during this study will show if the appetite centers in the volunteers' brains respond differently depending on the weight-loss diets they are eating," added Dr. Andy Welch who will conduct the brain scans at Aberdeen University. "This in turn will indicate whether the carbohydrate levels in the high-protein diets are important."

We'll be watching for the results of this survey when they become available to the public.

Interestingly, Dr. Johnstone's study is being funded by the Scottish government (Scottish Executive) and their version of the Department of Health (Chief Scientist Office). Can you imagine the outcry in the United States if President George W. Bush authorized the use of tax dollars to help fund research on low-carb? The media would have a field day. Kudos to the Scottish government for recognizing this important need for additional research. Are you lawmakers up on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. paying attention to this?

Is Tingling, Depression And Rage Caused By Low-Carb?

One of my blog friends named Debi Gerbino brought up an interesting subject regarding the low-carb lifestyle the other day in an e-mail that I haven't personally experienced nor have I heard anything about it previously.

She said when she has tried the Atkins diet, her tongue started having a tingling sensation. Has anyone else either experienced or heard about this before? It was news to me. She went to see her doctor about it who referred her to a neurologist to have an MRI taken. But the doctors couldn't find anything that would cause this odd physical reaction to occur.

"When I got off Atkins 6 months ago, the tingling sensation went away (but I never thought anything of it) - until now. As you know, I started Atkins again one week ago today. About two days ago, the tingling sensation returned ... it's awful. I make a connection (I think) and wondered if it could have anything to do with my 'diet' and the huge metabolic change that occurs."

I'll throw the door wide open on this one. Does anyone have any insight they would like to share with Debi about her condition? Is this something you too have experienced and were able to overcome with your low-carb lifestyle? Click on the comments section below and please share your thoughts with us.

Debi also mentioned that she suffers with depression and referenced this article from April 2004 printed in Psychology Today. Debi said she had a co-worker who told her that people who are depressed should avoid livin' la vida low-carb because it allegedly lowers serotonin levels in the brain which can lead to depression.

I admit that I do not suffer from depression and never have. However, my wife Christine does and I have seen the way she is when she doesn't take her Paxil and Wellbutrin. In other words, I am not diminishing those of you who do have clinical depression because I realize it is a very real condition.

With that said, reading through that story I just didn't relate to it at all. It claimed that low-carb programs such as Atkins and South Beach have show "unusually high feelings of anger, tension and depression."

“It’s called the ‘Atkins attitude,’” says Judith Wurtman, director of the Women’s Health Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Adara Weight Loss Center, both in Boston. “It’s very well-documented.”

Excuuuuuuse me? What attitude? I'll show you attitude if you want attitude, but you ain't seen an attitude yet?! LOL! Seriously, what do you make of this? It's "well-documented" according to this so-called health "expert." But not in my experience. What made me have an attitude was when I stayed hungry all day when I was on a low-fat diet. That will really make you irritable and unpleasant to be around.

When I lost weight on low-fat in 1999, I was probably not the best person to be around. My frustration with that failed diet plan, despite losing 170 pounds, eventually caused me to give up on it altogether and gain all the weight back. I talk a lot about my experience on a low-fat diet in my upcoming book because it perfectly illustrates the very clear difference between the low-fat diet and the low-carb lifestyle change.

Wurtman is a very strong low-fat advocate and said her study of lab rats proves serotonin levels decrease when they are put on a low-carbohydrate diet for three weeks. When they got off the diet, Wurtman claims these same rats "binged" on high-carb foods. She added that the depression leads to sadness and eventually rage.

“People feel very angry, and their antidepressants don’t work well, either,” she says.

I guess all of us low-carbers ought to be walking around like psycho maniacs according to Wurtman. Labeling low-carb as "dangerous" to people who are depressed just sounds fishy to me. Am I wrong? Have I totally missed something about livin' la vida low-carb that has never even crossed my mind before?

Thankfully this column also quotes people who are skeptical about Wurtman's findings -- namely low-carb success stories who have never been happier and the doctors who observe those positive change in their patients who lose a lot of weight on low-carb.

My family doctor has seen such a change in my health that he has transformed from being a skeptic into a firm believer in livin' la vida low-carb. The enormous difference that has happened in me from the time I first saw him three years ago until now has been dramatic. He has commented that everything about my health is better now than it was before and the benefits will continue on for many years to come. ALL OF THIS THANKS TO LOW-CARB!

What do you make of this claim that low-carb makes you angry and go into fits of rage? Is there any truth behind this? Do you know anyone who has stuck with the program for more than a couple of months who is emotionally more distraught than they were before they started livin' la vida low-carb? Again, please share your comments with us below. This is new territory for me that I haven't a clue about. Feel free to share any stories about yourself, a friend, or a family member whose attitude has changed for the better or worse since they began their low-carb lifestyle.

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb' Book Set To Release in 6-8 Weeks

Hey there! I am in the process of reading the final draft version of my upcoming book, "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb," today and will not have time to do a lot of blogging. I want to make sure what I send to my publisher is exactly what I want to appear in print because this is the point of no return. Whatever I send to them when I am finished editing this version of my manuscript is what will be in the book itself. Therefore, I will be pouring over the manuscript ONE LAST TIME all day today to make sure everything is as perfect as it can possibly be.

With that said, I am so excited to announce to you that I am less than two months away from releasing my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" book to the world and wanted you to be the first to know about it. By late October, this dream of authoring my very first book will be a reality and orders will begin shipping to those of you who have been patiently waiting for it to come out. A link will be provided for you at this blog very soon to be able to place your order directly with the book manufacturer so you can be one of the first to purchase and own your copy of this project I have poured my heart and soul into for the past seven months.

THANK YOU as always for your loving support because each of you make this blog and my book a worthwhile venture. I have met a lot of new friends through this forum and look forward to meeting many more in the days, months and years ahead. Your kindness towards me is greatly appreciated and your thoughtful words of thankfulness for what I do here do not go unnoticed. God bless each of you as you are livin' la vida low-carb and we'll keep sharing with others the education and encouragement they need to begin following the healthy low-carb lifestyle for themselves.

By the way, be looking for that long-awaited local newspaper article about my weight loss story coming this Wednesday. The journalist who wrote the story said this is one of the best columns of her career. It will be a real treat and I will share it with you in just a few more days. SEE YA!

'Doughy White Guy' Blog Takes A Humorous Look At A Serious Subject

The Doughy White Guy created a blog about his desire for weight loss

I thought my friend Adam "Diet King" Wilk was a bit, well, let's just say interesting. But as quirky as Adam's humor and writing style is, I think I've met someone else who is even better (or worse depending on your perspective) than Adam at strange observations of a dieter desperately seeking to lose weight.

His name is Brian Edwards, a 41-year old entreprenuer who likes classic movies and real music (not this syrupy packaged music we get these days). But he likes to be referred to as "The Doughy White Guy" at his blog. No joking! In fact, that's his picture at the top of this post. LOL! Well, that may not be his actual photograph, but I'm sure that's how Brian feels he looks sometimes as many of us who have been overweight or obese can attest.

Nevertheless, I like his positive attitude about his weight which will serve him well regardless of how he chooses to lose it.

I received an great e-mail from Brian the other day talking about his attempts to do the low-carb lifestyle:

"I did Atkins before and it worked, but then when I tried it again…it didn’t …in part because my thyroid quit working.  Am working with my doctor to adjust life, diet, exercise, etc."

Well, all of us here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" wish you the very best in your pursuit of ultimate permanent weight loss, Brian. Your jovial spirit and desire to make something happen for yourself will go a long way towards helping you reach the goals you have for yourself. I hope you will consider us friends to your cause and we wish you the very best at becoming a big loser!

How about sending Brian "The Doughy White Guy" Edwards an encouragement e-mail at thedwg@aol.com (tell him "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" sent you). And be sure to visit his blog if you need a good laugh from the messed up mind of a self-proclaimed doughy white guy!

Lockyer's Warning Label Push Against Junk Food Neglects Personal Responsibility

Bill Lockyer going after food companies, but ignoring individual choices

In what is likely to be a precursor to a renewed effort to blame fast food and junk food companies on the obesity epidemic, a state attorney general sought a court order on Friday against nine major food manufacturers and distributors primarily of French fries and potato chip products demanding that they put warning labels on them.

Just last month, a public advocacy group pushed to have warning labels placed on sugary soft drinks because of the health dangers overconsuming those products could cause. But now California Democratic Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued this press release on Friday stating his concern over the existence of a chemical called acrylamide commonly found in food products that are fried at high temperatures. Lockyer claims he has scientific data that states this chemical is known to cause cancer.

“In taking this action, I am not telling people to stop eating potato chips or french fries,” Lockyer remarked. “I know from personal experience that, while these snacks may not be a necessary part of a healthy diet, they sure taste good. But I, and all consumers, should have the information we need to make informed decisions about the food we eat. Proposition 65 requires companies to tell us when we’re exposed to potentially dangerous toxins in our food. The law benefits us all, and as Attorney General, I have a duty to enforce it.”

Proposition 65 is the California state law that was enacted by public ballot in 1986 to protect the citizens of that state about the chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals. An annual list of known carcinogens is published by the Governor.

At first glance, it appears Lockyer has established a pretty solid case for filing a lawsuit against the likes of food giants Burger King, Frito-Lay, PepsiCo, KFC, McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Wendy's and others in Los Angeles County Superior Court for violating Proposition 65.

But he touched on something in his quote above that is very telling. While he doesn't want to tell individuals that they should stop eating products like French fries and Pringles, Lockyer would much rather go after the companies that make these products. Huh?

If Lockyer truly cares so much about the health of the citizens of California, then he needs to call for an immediate cessation of business for all fast food restaurants that sell fried foods, grocery and convenience stores that sell potato products, and manufacturers of these products in that state. If the people of California are in such grave danger because of this substance which has been in foods for many decades, then why hasn't he taken this seemingly necessary emergency action?

Why hasn't Lockyer done this? Because he knows his hyperbolic media show on Friday was nothing more than a politician propping himself up as some big health superhero for his own personal political gain. In fact, Lockyer gave himself an easy out for when he fails in this effort by including in his press release that he doesn't want to cause any "undue public alarm and unnecessary warning signs" about eating these foods. Then what in the world do you think filing a lawsuit against all those companies has done?

People will open the newspaper or at a web site to read the headline about this story and have one of two reactions: 1) Ignore it and keep on eating fast food and potato chips as they always have, or 2) Stop eating these products completely. Why would there be any middle ground on this? If you believe Lockyer is right about these products, you certainly wouldn't want to put any of these products in your mouth again. You can make rat poison taste very good, but you still wouldn't eat it, right? And if you don't believe the warning labels are necessary, then your current habits will go unchanged.

But here's a dirty little secret Lockyer conveniently neglected to mention in his rampage against fast food -- French fries and potato chips aren't the only products that contain acrylamide. Here are some of the other popular foods, especially among children, which contain this supposedly dangerous substance (I bet you've had some of these products before):

Gerber baby food, Tyson chicken, Boca burgers, Pepperidge Farm breads, Sara Lee bagels, Cheerios cereal, Lucky Charms cereal, Raisin Bran, Orville Redenbacher microwave popcorn, Snyder's Veggie Crisps, Smucker's peanut butter, Keebler Town House Crackers, Hershey's Cocoa, Nabisco Teddy Grahams, Maxwell House coffee, Folger's Coffee, and Lipton Recipe Secrets soup & dip mix, just to name a few.

Again, if these products are causing adults and children the imminent danger that Lockyer is purporting, then why isn't he going after all of the manufacturers of THOSE products, too? Do they not have the same responsibility to adhere to the law as well?

By the way, looking at that list of foods above, do you notice something that is glaringly obvious to me? Do you see anything in common about all of those products? You guessed it. That's right! THEY'RE ALL LOADED WITH CARBOHYDRATES!!!

NONE of those products should be consumed when you are livin' la vida low-carb. If you are on a low-carb lifestyle, then you need not worry about Lockyer's warning because you're not eating those foods anyway. See, yet another BONUS reason why you should be following a low-carb program. It will protect you against the danger of harmful, toxic cancer agents found in foods. :-)

Although this does not affect me directly because I don't live in California and I don't eat these products, it is still interesting to see how people want to keep blaming everyone else except for the individual who puts that garbage food into their mouths. We have the freedom to make our own choices, good or bad, and must live with the consequences of our actions. We don't need a politician who is trying to boost his public image so he can run for governor someday telling us what foods we should be avoiding. That is a choice that you and I must decide for ourselves.

All I know is eliminating sugar, white flour and starch from my diet in 2004 was the best thing I could have ever done for my body. Losing 180 pounds was incredibly gratifying and now I'm as healthy as I have ever been in my entire life. That's a great feeling that nobody can take away from me or try to make me feel guilty about (yes, some people do!).

If you learn nothing else from this story, then remember this. You are the one who decides what needs to go into your body to give you the energy to live while trying to keep your weight in check. People like Lockyer are not legally able to force you to eat a certain way, but they would if they could. How about making that choice for yourself? Start living the low-carb life today. I'll be happy to give you a helping hand along the way at my blog.

PETA Accuses Meat Eaters Of Being 'Cannibals'

A couple of extremist PETA activists were arrested in downtown Peoria, California on Wednesday for disorderly conduct because they stripped down to nothing except their underwear. Twelve police officers took control of the situation immediately and took into custody 24-year old Eric Deardorff and 28-year old Melissa Sehgal. However, the two were released hours later pending a court hearing in September.

Their plan was to pretend they were slabs of meat by wrapping themselves in a life-size meat package complete with plastic covering with a "FLESH" label on them. I guess they wanted everyone to know the pain that big juicy steak suffers being locked inside that package at the grocery store! If it doesn't suffocate inside the plastic container, then that mean evil man who is salivating over it will surely bring death and destruction to such an innocent life when he eats it.

Don't laugh, this is EXACTLY how these people from PETA think. Don't believe me? Check out this quote from the campaign coordinator for PETA, Chris Link.

"This was quite surprising," Link said. "The officers didn't give us any warning or say we were doing anything wrong. They just started throwing blankets" to cover the activists.

"Quite surprising?" A representative from PETA thinks what his group was doing was somehow okay? No wonder these people are going off the deep end in their desperate attempts to destroy the meat industry and I believe the United States of America. Look at the propaganda they are trying to pull with these publicity stunts.

A sign exclaimed, "Only cannibals eat animals. Go vegetarian."

Cannibals? Did that sign really call 99 percent of the world's population cannibals? You have got to be kidding me.

According to Dictionary.com, a cannibal is a "person who eats the flesh of other HUMANS" or "an animal that feeds on other OF ITS OWN KIND" (my emphasis).

The last time I checked, I'm not a cow, pig, turkey or chicken (although I have been called each of these names at one point or another in my life - LOL!). None of these animals are HUMAN and God placed the animals beneath humans on the food chain. So for PETA to call people who eat meat (which includes many who are livin' la vida low-carb) cannibals is just sensationalism to the highest degree.

Do you know what PETA and its whacked-out members are? They are domestic terrorists plain and simple and should be treated as such. The actions they are taking are as unAmerican as they can possibly be. While they want the whole world to hug an animals and become vegetarians, they have no problem with abortion. I have never understood how a human being can care so much about the life of a cow or chicken, but could not care less about a baby's life. Can somebody explain that one to me?

Groups like PETA must be stopped before they destroy this great land of ours. There is an organization called The Companion Species Coalition, which helps promote human-animal relationships without trying to push an out-of-the-mainstream agenda against meat. Check out their efforts if you sincerely care about the welfare of animals.

I'm sure many people who join PETA think they care so much about animals and have all the right motives. This group has long worked to create that false image into people's minds to get them to join their organization. But PETA is all about destroying anything and everything that supports eating meat. So I guess that means you and I as low-carbers have a big bullseye on us and PETA will not stop their tactics until they get us to change. I'm not changing and neither should you.

Let Jody Gorran and his PETA friends suck on celery sticks and carrots all day! But leave the rest of us happy and healthy meat lover's alone!

8-27-05 UPDATE: As if there was any doubt about the veracity of my statements regarding PETA and their delirious followers, looky what I got in my e-mail box from one of their most enthusiastic supporters with a subject line "SUHT UP ABOUT PETA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!":

I'm asuming that you put this web site up so SHUT UP ABOUT PETA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are here to pevent and to make people aware of animal CRUELTY. they also inform people that the animals that they are eating had to be scalded and have its head cut off so they could have chicken for lunch. please take al the anti peta stuff down

sincerely,

peta protester

Yu noe, I tryed to becum a vejetariann 2da butt I fownd I wuz getteng 2 stoopid. So then I started eating meat again and all was better. See what I mean folks?

Fast Foodies Experiment Curious About Low-Carb

Two Chicago marketing professionals are in the midst of a self-imposed fast food diet for thirty days to help add their voice in the debate over the healthiness of fast food.

I guess we can blame Morgan Spurlock for starting all of this mania about fast food. I loved his movie, but I think we've got a monster on our hands now with people like Merab Morgan describing a low-calorie fast food diet a healthy way to eat and live.

But then I get this comment from the Fast Foodies (aka Heather & Shannon) at my blog on Thursday inquring about what I think about an all fast food diet:

"We are currently doing a 30-day fast food diet to see how healthy we can eat at fast food establishments. We'd love to hear your insight on fast food based on your dieting experience and low-carb research! Thanks!"

Ooooooookay. Let me just tell you my opinion of fast food up front. I hate them (or at least what they have become) and do not go to fast food restaurants too often although I used to visit 10-15 times a week before I started livin' la vida low-carb. I'm sure I could make virtually any meal that I wanted low-carb by throwing away the bun and ordering a salad. But what's the point? There are so many healthy and nutritious foods out there that are cheaper than fast food that I don't feel the need to get my fix from them anymore.

Of course my friend Carla Gray has a book called The Low-Carb Fast Food Diet and would certainly disagree that you should avoid fast food restaurants altogether. Get this book if you want an invaluable resource for eating low-carb at the most popular fast food restaurants.

I think this focus on fast food has been unnecessarily hyped up because of the lawsuits that state fast food makes people fat. No, bad choices about food make people fat and it is their own fault for shoving those "obesity-on-a-stick" French fries into their mouths like there is no tomorrow. My best advice is to make good food choices based on a sound program (might I recommend low-carb?) and the rest will fall into place.

And some people thought MY food choices were bad! Let's keep this in the proper perspective people. What do you think about fast food as part of a low-carb lifestyle?

'Large And Lovely' Editor Labels My Comments About Obese Woman 'Frustrating'

M.E. Wood describes this blog post as "frustrating"

When I wrote a blog entry on Wednesday entitled "Get Over It Lady, You're Fat!," I knew I was going to spur some responses from my reader and boy did I ever!

Actually, most of it was SURPRISINGLY positive. From comments at the Big Fat Blog as well as Blog Critics, where this topic jumped into the Hot 5 under Culture and stayed there all day long, it seems everyone had an opinion in support of the doctor.
 
But not everyone was happy with what I wrote. A woman by the name of M.E. Wood (or "Moe" as she refers to herself at the Yahoo! Group called donttellmewhatsizeimustb was very upset with what I wrote at my blog. Wood just happens to be the editor of BellaOnline's Large and Lovely page, which advocates overweight and obese people to be content with the way they are because there is nothing wrong with them. As I looked around her web site for a few minutes, I came across this article by Wood about a 400+ pound guy like me who thought dieting was the pits. This gave me a precursor about the thought pattern of people like Wood and her readers.

Describing my blog post as "frustrating," Wood must have felt I was being too harsh on the woman taking action against a New Hampshire doctor for calling his patient obese. I can certainly understand having sensitivity about your weight as a former 410-pounder myself, but a doctor telling his patient the truth is not going to irreparably harm them. Sure, it may hurt our feelings or make us feel bad, but there are choices we need to be making for ourselves to begin accepting personal responsibility for our actions. That includes keeping ourselves from gaining an excessive amount of weight.

Here is an e-mail I wrote to "Moe" in response to her concerns about my blog post:

I am sorry you found my comments at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog regarding the woman who is seeking action against her doctor for calling her obese "frustrating." As a former 400+ man, I can certainly understand how embarassing it may be to hear those words from the lips of a professional. But the truth sometimes hurts and people can use that to motivate themselves to finally do something about their weight and get it under control for their health. I am glad that you feel perfectly fine with the way you look and feel, but being overweight or obese is not the best thing for your health. Again, I meant no offense by the words I wrote at my blog on Wednesday. I would value any feedback that you may have for me regarding this subject.

If she responds to me, then I will post her comments here. However, I think something needs to be said regarding this notion that fat people should just accept the way they are as their lot in life. I obviously could not disagree more.

Before I lost 180 pounds on the low-carb lifestyle in 2004, I used to think the same thing. There's nothing wrong with me. I feel good for the most part and haven't been sick. Additionally, I stay active and don't mind carrying around a few extra pounds. I'm not hurting anyone. I'll be just fine living this way for the rest of my life.

WRONG!

That is such a sickening form of rationalization for overweight people who think this way that they ought to be ashamed of themselves for telling such lies to themselves. The truth of the matter is that being overweight or obese is NOT good for you and you know it. You don't want to admit you have a problem because then you will have to deal with it. That's not easy for me to say because I have been in your shoes and know how angry I would get hearing those kind of comments from a complete stranger when I was morbidly obese. But too many people are abdicating their personal responsibility to take care of themselves by allowing their obesity to continue. I've been there and know the pain you are going through physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The problem, as we learned this week, is only getting worse. With all due respect to people like Wood, nobody who is fat likes being that way. Yeah, they may put on a good face and tell you how happy they are, but they're not happy. Deep down inside they are wishing (begging!) for a way to get their weight under control. This is something that haunts you every moment of every day, especially if you are morbidly obese as I once was when I weighed 410 pounds. If you deny this fact, then you are simply lying. Stop the lies and begin the healing before it is too late to do anything about it.

My heart aches for people like Wood because they have reached a point where they have stopped caring about how they look and feel. This facade that everything is okay may last for a little while, but the reality of a very real weight problem will soon rear its ugly head in many ways. My hope and prayer is that people who feel like there is no hope for them to ever lose weight can be inspired by stories of triumph over obesity like mine to spur them on to their own success.

You can send M.E. Wood encouragement e-mailing her at largeandlovely@bellaonline.com.

8-25-05 UPDATE: Well, no sooner than I saved this post, I got a response from "Moe":

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for your email. I've been trying to come up with a response for the last half hour. I don't seem to be having a good week with communicating with people but here I go anyway...

Embarrassing? You can't embarrass someone into doing something you want. Chances are they are just going to avoid you. I also think this doctor's lack of tact is a perfect example of why a lot of obese people avoid doctors. Fat people know they're
fat. If telling them so would help motivate them to lose weight then fat people everywhere who've grown up being called "Fat so!" and "Fat Pig!" would be slim by now. It's not the case.

When you go to the doctor for a specific ailment and get told you're fat and need to lose weight it's degrading. Many overweight people are not being examined for their ailments because the first thing the doctor seems to see is the fat. I'm sure
the doctor in question meant no harm and was seeing things as he saw them. I've worked with many doctors in that age bracket and what they lack is tact. Not to mention there's is the intimidation facter. Telling people they're fat and won't be able to find a mate is not the way to go about encouraging good health.

What bothered me about your blog entry was your support for the doctor and lack of support for the woman who was offended. Starting with the title, "Get Over It Lady, You're Fat!" For someone who says he's been in similar shoes I don't see
the support. You've lost the weight and now it seems you're showing the same disgust other thin people emit. I think it's wonderful that you've lost weight and are now perfectly happy. I'd like to talk to you again in 10 years to see if you've kept the weight off.

All the best,
Moe

Moe, I have no ill will towards this woman and her state of obesity. What I do have a problem with her about is the fact that she is causing so many problems for this doctor who did nothing more than his job to help his patient. I have a GREAT deal of support for people who are obese which is why I do what I do every single day at this blog. But it's time to stop the blame game and to start taking action to get this obesity problem under control. Am I happy now? You betcha! But I was a happy fat person, too. This is not about happiness per se, but about making good choices for the sake of your future.

Do I think I'll keep my weight off by the year 2015? No. By that time, I'll have lost another 30-50 pounds. Haven't you heard, I'm livin' la vida low-carb now and this permanent lifestyle change is the best thing I could have ever done for myself and my family. I highly encourage you and anyone else who wants to find a lasting way to lose weight to give the low-carb lifestyle a chance. You haven't got anything to lose except excess pounds and a depressing attitude. Thanks for writing and come back and see me soon!

9-01-05 UPDATE: The feedback on my comments about the obese woman and her doctor's remarks to her continue...

I can see both points of view.  At the end of 2002, I was seriously ill in hospital with a breast cyst.  Now this is not caused in any way by being obese (which I am), and did necessitate an operation to drain.

The resident Dr, however, completely ignored this surgery (which he was supposed to be checking on) and kept hassling me to have stomach stapling surgery.

This was as I was in bed recoving from the operation to drain and, quite frankly, was so muzzy that I couldn't even focus to look at a magazine, let alone discuss health issues!

It was compounded when, after being let out of hospital, I was booked to have the surgery wound checked by the Dr (normal procedure - to ensure it's healing OK, etc).

Same Dr.  He refused to even look at the wound - but again tried to get me to have stomach stapling surgery.

I know that I'm fat - I also know that cause (which, BTW, in my case isn't overeating or bad eating (I also live the lo-carb life) - I'm one of the thousands of people with an endocrine disorder)-BUT when I go to the Dr with a particular ailment - I want THAT treated.

The Dr has no right to refuse to treat the ailment I'm there for.

So I can see the point of view of the lady in question - the Dr had to treat her ailment, and then, as a good health professional, should have offered advice about healthy diet, lifestyle, etc.  It SHOULD have been done in a tactful way (there is no excuse for hurting somebody's feelings).

No - she should not be sueing the Dr (in my opinion, this is yet another example of USA sue-mentality gone crazy) for telling her the truth - but the Dr should have been a little less arrogant about it.. 

As a "former 410 pounder" you would be aware that people seem to think that larger people have no feelings, and that they are unaware of their size.

Perhaps Political Correctness should turn back into common politeness - it works better in the long run.

Negativity only breeds negativity - I wish in your original column you had supported both sides - the Dr's right to tell his patient and the patient's right to feel that the Dr was insensitive. 

Yes - she was fat - but she also has the right to be treated with courtesy.  If you look at how anorexia patients are treated by Dr's it is always with sensitivity (eg:  you have a serious illness and need help).  Obesity is always treated as "it's totally your fault and you have to do something about it".

Perhaps if the world treated Obesity as an illness, like it treats anorexia nervosa and bulemia, then the obesity problem would be a long way to being solved. 

Megan McConnell
(who is also a Bellaonline editor - and was once the Large and Lovely editor myself).

I never advocated that a patient be treated in a cruel manner. Instead, I simply stated that a doctor should have no qualms about telling his patient that he/she is obese. If that hurts their feelings, which it will to some sensitive folks, then they should use that energy to propel themselves to lose weight. Whatever it takes to get people to take their obesity problem seriously is absolutely needed.

In fact, I believe even MORE doctors should be telling their patients they are obese (if they truly are) to bring the reality of their health condition to the forefront. But those same doctors need to also stand ready to recommend viable weight loss methods which include livin' la vida low-carb. That's another obstacle that will need to be overcome if progress is going to be made with obesity.

And then I got this e-mail as well from another reader:

Hey, I think it's pretty ridiculous that she decided to go after the guy. If I was offended by my doc talking to me about being overweight, I'd go to a different doctor. I doubt that any other doctor worth his or her salt would totally ignore the fact that the woman is obese, but maybe they'd have a better bedside manner about it.

THAT SAID, I did find some of your comments offensive, Jimmy. First of all, your comment that "Was it Bennett's fault that she ate and ate and ate, likely with very little exercise, and put herself in a position to become obese?" This is perpetuating a stereotype that fat people are fat because they eat a whole lot more than skinny people. Now, as someone who's followed a LC WOL, you know darn well, a calorie is NOT a calorie is NOT a calorie, and the types of food you eat can (and do) affect people in different ways. Maybe this woman had been told to eat a "healthy low fat diet" (which means eat lots of carbs). I know from experience, that's a prescription for disaster. It is one of the reasons I got so big myself, until I started low carbing.

Yes, the woman was overly sensitive and it's stupid to make such a huge deal about this. The apology she got from her doc should have been enough. But blaming her for becoming obese is a little off the mark. YES there is personal responsibility, but if you've been told by all the "experts" for your whole life, that the way to lose weight and be healthy is in fact the way for YOU to get fatter and fatter... and perhaps is enough to make you simply throw your hands in the air and surrender to what's going to happen anyway. That's what happened to me until I learned about the low carb way of life.

True, eating a lot of food by itself is not necessarily going to make you gain weight. What I should have said that I just assumed people knew what I was referring to is consuming large amounts of SUGAR and other unnecessary carbs is what led her to becoming obese. I stand corrected. THANK YOU!

Miracle Muffins Come From Low-Carb Heaven

Regardless of which diet plan you are on, including Weight Watchers, Atkins, GI diet, South Beach or Sugar Busters, have I got a product for you that will knock your socks off! They are called Miracle Muffins and I can't say enough about these delicious treats.

The muffins that contain a mere 5.3 net carbs, 6.6 g of fiber, and 9.2 g of protein per serving are made without using any sugar, flour or added oils. They are made from the finest ingredients, including wheat bran, oat bran, inulin, psyllium husk, vital wheat gluten, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, isolated soy protein, lecithin, Splenda, cinnamon and green tea.

The key to any product that claims to be good for you is the taste. So what do these Miracle Muffins taste like?

After baking up the mix which you add water to for 20 minutes, you need to allow the muffins to cool for a couple of hours before consuming. I made a carton of the banana flavor muffins in a bundt cake pan and was pleasantly surprised when I took my first bite. The taste is not so overwhelming that you cannot enjoy it like so many sugary foods are these days. I decided to add a pat of real butter and even a little whipped cream to mine after heating a slice in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Oh my goodness, this product is sooooooo good and perfect for diabetics! And something unexpected happened after I ate my serving. I was full for a very long time. Not only are they delicious, but they also provide you with satiety which is extremely important when you are attempting to lose weight or have to go a long time between meals.

The instructions for making these wonderful Miracle Muffins are super easy to follow and they are also very thorough. The founder of the company, Ramsey Makar, is so confident you will be satisfied with his product that he is will to replace or refund your purchase price if you didn't like them. But you will if you place an order for Miracle Muffins today. Tell them that "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" sent you.

Feel free to post your comments about Miracle Muffins at this post if you try them yourself. Happy eating!

The 'Jimmy Moore Low Carb' Web Site?

I guess I should feel honored that somebody would take the time to create a "Jimmy Moore Low-Carb" web page dedicated specifically to a Google search of my name and "low-carb," but this is a little creepy. :-~

They even have this one with the terms inverted (the "Low-Carb Jimmy Moore" web site).

But I do appreciate the exposure to my comments and columns about the low-carb lifestyle by this web site called GetAtkinsInfo.com. But couldn't they put even ONE link to my blog somewhere on this web site?

Get Over It Lady, You're Fat!

Just when you think you've heard it all, along come a story like this one that will literally make you shake your head in disgust, especially if you are somebody who has ever been overweight or obese and/or suffered from physical problems associated with carrying around excessive weight.

Dr. Terry Bennett, a 66-year old Rochester, New Hampshire physician who graduated from Harvard Medical School, loves antiques, and completely despises HMOs, is under investigation by the New Hampshire Board of Medicine because one of his patients got offended by one of his infamous "obesity lectures for women" where he urged her to lose weight for her health and for her long-term well-being. Bennett regularly warns his clients that obesity can and will very likely lead to such debilitating conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux, heart attack and stroke.

"I told a fat woman she was obese," Bennett says. "I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you."

While it might have been a little blunt for Bennett to share his opinion about his patient's condition the way that he did, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a doctor expressing his medical assessment that one of his patients is obese and should probably do something about it. While it may anger her to hear her doctor tell her something she didn't like, she needs to use that anger to motivate herself to finally do something about a very real problem. If we cannot rely on our own doctors to tell us the truth about our physical health, then who is going to do it?

In the interview I gave recently to my local newspaper about an upcoming article they are writing about my 180-pound weight loss, I shared with the reporter a story from my soon-to-be-released book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" about a 7th grade boy who made a similar comment that Bennett did to his patient.

I was substitute teaching at a local middle school just a few months before I started livin' la vida low-carb and this pudgy little boy waited until my back was turned to class as I wrote some instructions on the chalkboard to exclaim, "Mr. Moore is fffffffaaaat!" Predictably, the entire class burst into raucous laughter and even I laughed to try to keep from crying about the truth in that statement. Those words rang in my head months afterward and got me to seriously assess my weight and health.

Should I have sought legal action against that 12-year old rug rat for stating the obvious to me? Heck no. In fact, that kid did me a BIG favor by shaking me into reality about my morbid obesity and very likely rescued me from a heart attack or worse -- an early grave. How people respond to criticism about their weight will determine whether they will be successful at losing their weight permanently or not.

I just have just five words for this woman who is seeking action against Bennett (in the infamous words of Jack Nicholson from the movie "A Few Good Men") - YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

Ironically, everything that Bennett told this woman about her health nearly one year ago has come to pass since he told her she was obese. She has not only gained additional weight, but she has also become diabetic, has acid reflux and experiences frequent chest pains.

Bennett did the gentlemanly thing when he found out she was "offended" and penned a personal apology letter.

"That should have been the end of it," Bennett said.

Actually, though, it was just the beginning. The New Hampshire Attorney General's Administrative Prosecution Unit was dispatched to investigate and bring resolution to the complaint. They recommended Bennett attend a medical education course and admit wrongdoing. Not surprisingly, Bennett refused.

"I've made many errors in my lifetime. Telling someone the truth is not one of them," Bennett said.

You go boy! There is nothing for Bennett to apologize for because he has done absolutely nothing wrong. Nevertheless, this issue has not been laid to rest. A public hearing has been scheduled about what to do with Bennett. But what is there to talk about? What did Bennett do that is so wrong that his stellar career is now being jeopardized and tainted because of a psychotic patient who is living in some fantasy world if she thinks she is immune from being offended?

Wake up lady! I know you don't like it, but YOU ARE FAT! Your health is going to pot and you will very likely die a premature death if you don't get your weight under control as soon as possible! I wish more people would be willing to be that blunt about obesity. Then maybe we could get more people to get off their duff and take personal responsibility for themselves.

Bennett's attorney says this whole fiasco is (quoting Shakespeare) "much ado about nothing" and Bennett will not "roll over on this, he is going to fight."

"If the board wants to get into policing how doctors talk to their patients, they are going to be very busy."

Expressing his concern that one of his patients was angered by his comments, Bennett said this incident is "very disturbing" and he only wanted to help her "change her life" for the better.

Many of Bennett's patients have rallied around him in support of his methodology by signing a petition and will testify at the public hearing that he helped them get back on the road to healthy living with his honest feedback.

"Is he a fortune teller? No," said one of Bennett's patients. "He was a man trying to do his job. Whether I wanted to hear it or not, he was telling me the truth."

There's something missing in this story and that is the fact that this woman who was so offended by Bennett's comments about her obesity is the one who put herself in that position to begin with. Was it Bennett's fault that she ate and ate and ate, likely with very little exercise, and put herself in a position to become obese? Absolutely not! It was her own fault and hers alone. We each have to take responsibility for our own actions and need to stop blaming anyone else for our shortcomings.

This is not the first time Bennett has been the subject of a frivilous complaint. In a property lawsuit that went in his favor, Bennett was awarded nearly $200,000, half of which was for emotional distress. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets punitive damages awarded in this case, too, if it goes to trial.

The best possible outcome from this unfortunate turn of events will be if the woman drops her complaint, then drops her weight, and finally comes back to Bennett in about a year to apologize and thank him for giving her the inspiration to lose well over 100 pounds. Now wouldn't that make a happy ending to such a disturbing story.

Meanwhile, Obesity Rates Keep Going Up And Up

This Reuters story reports on a public health advocacy group who warn that the obesity statistics across the United States are getting worse and worse and immediate action needs to be taken to stop this upward trend.

In a report released on Tuesday by the Washington, D.C.-based Trust for America's Health, a non-profit, non-partisan organizatin attempting to make disease prevention the goal of every community, they quoted new statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which found there are currently an estimated 119 million, or nearly two-thirds of the population, of adults who can be classified as either overweight or obese in America today.

Even more frightening than that is the number is expected to get even worse as the percentage of obese adults grew from 23.7 percent in 2003 to 24.5 percent in 2004. Some medical researchers are even now predicting that obesity rates will reach 100 percent by the year 2044 for children and 2058 for adults. This crisis is real and needs immediate action.

The report from Trust for America's Health found that people who live in the southeastern part of the United States were most likely to be obese, with Mississippi boasting the most obese citizens at 29.5 percent of their population. Conversely, the state of Colorado had the fewest obese citizens by percentage -- only 16 percent.

Shelly Hearn, who serves as executive director of the Trust for America's Health, said this proves obesity is "a crisis of poor nutrition and physical inactivity in the U.S. and it's time we dealt with it."

"It's simple math out there -- we're eating more and exercising less, and it's time that we deal with it in a much more systematic and realistic way," she exclaimed.

Well, welcome to the bandwagon, Ms. Hearn. I've been banging that drum at my blog since I launched it in April after successfully losing 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004. As a former 410-pounder, my heart aches for people who think there is no hope for their weight problem. I know better and have attempted to share my positive weight loss experience with the millions of people who suffer from obesity today.

Unfortunately, obesity isn't just about weight problems, but also many health issues as well. Physical ailments such as diabetes, heart attack, and stroke cost hardworking Americans billions upon billions of dollars annually on healthcare. This obesity epidemic will not go away on its own either.

I have said it many times that obesity is problem that we need to start taking more seriously. Our government and healthcare leaders should take a look at every option for tackling obesity and give the general public better information to make informed decisions about what to do if they are overweight or obese.

The recent increased focus on sodas in public schools as well as sugar's role in the obesity problem is an excellent start. But we must continue to build on this if we are ever going to see those obesity rates begin falling again.

What Is Considered Healthy Low-Carb Eating?

Should my friend Levi Wallach be concerned about my low-carb menu?

One of the most grafifying aspects of writing at this blog are the extremely wide range of opinions people have about livin' la vida low-carb. An open conversation about anything and everything that has to do with the low-carb lifestyle is what I have hopefully encouraged in this forum in its few months of existence. I believe it is extremely helpful for people who are new or skeptical about low-carb and can provide further insight for those of us who have been doing this for a while.

With that said, I received some intriguing comments today from my friend Levi Wallach, an avid low-carber who was concerned when he read about my typical daily menu of low-carb dining. While he applauds my 180-pound weight loss and acknowledges that what I am doing has obviously worked for me, he was concerned that I am sending the wrong message to people about low-carb by seemingly advocating eating so many processed foods.

Here's what he wrote in his first set of comments:

"I must admit, I cringed a bit too at all the low-carb products you've listed as part of your usual daily menu. Plus the 9 diet sodas. I know you are a big guy, and you eat a lot and exercise a lot. And hey, if this all works for you, then who am I to judge. But I think the way to convince the 'experts' that eating low-carb is healthy for you is to show them that eating low carb can also mean eating a diet of whole foods. After all, eating only unprocessed whole foods would, I think, make even the most idiotic nutritionist think twice about condemning it over a diet of highly processed low-fat junk."

Those are fair comments and I can address them. While I do not eat as much whole foods as some other devoted low-carbers do, I believe we each have our own needs and desires in that regard. While I am not chomping down on celery sticks, raw broccoli and artichokes all day long, I am certainly paying very close attention to the number of carbohydrates that I put in my mouth. This is the method I used to lose the weight and it is the way I have kept the weight off for the past eight months.

This leads to an even bigger and deeper question: What is considered healthy low-carb eating? This topic is very debatable, even within low-carb circles, and that's why I wanted to write and discuss this subject today.

As someone who used to be a very big, fat slob weighing in at 410 pounds, I think I know a little something about the turnoff of most diets. People can get discouraged by the perception that a diet is excessively and unnecessarily rigid. That's exactly why I despised low-fat diets so much. There were too many don'ts and not enough cans. Low-carb, on the other hand, offered freedom of choices that ran the entire food spectrum, including low-carb versions of bread, pasta and candy. In other words, you don't feel like you are dieting when you are on this way of eating.

Is anyone going to try to argue that they think the way I ate during my weight loss and the way I still eat today is NOT healthier than the way I used to eat prior to my low-carb lifestyle? You don't even want to begin to look at what my typical menu was like before low-carb. But when you read my book, you will be astounded! Let's just say I ate a lot of sugar, covered in sugar and washed down with many glasses of fresh sugar! There is little doubt in my mind how I ever got as big as I did.

So the question is not whether I am eating healthy, but rather whether I am eating AS healthy as I could or even should be. Is that what we are debating here? If so, then I don't have any arguments with that. I could very well be eating even healthier foods than I am today, but I am still in the midst of a process where my mind and body are in sync about what I can eat to help keep my body weight maintained. If I can maintain my weight loss throughout 2005, then that will be an accomplishment that I have never done in my entire life.

Keep in mind that I only recently lost the 180 pounds in 2004 and it has been just eight months since I lost that weight and kept it off. This is the longest I have ever gone after being on a "diet" without gaining back the weight. I intend to keep it that way for the rest of my life, but that may mean that I eat a few more processed and sugar-free products in the meantime than some of my low-carb friends would have me to consume. I don't have any problem eating this way because I have successfully maintained my weight by doing this.

Will my food choices begin to evolve to other choices at some point? I have no doubt in my mind that they will. By taking incremental steps towards the goal of eating more whole foods, drinking less diet sodas and consuming less sugar-free candy in due time, I believe I will get there someday over the next few years. As long as my body weight remains constant or decreasing, I do not sense an urgency about drastically changing my current eating and drinking habits overnight. The changes will come, but give me some time. Now that my health is no longer in immediate danger from being morbidly obese, I think I have the time to decide what is best for me to eat in the coming decades.

If someone is overweight or obese, I think it is much more important for them to make that all-important decision to change the way they eat. If you can get someone who is in that condition to just start watching their carbohydrate intake as I did, then that is essential to getting them on the path to better health and healthier eating. It may take a few years before they start eating more of the whole, unprocessed, natural foods that are considered healthy, but it will eventually happen. Let's get the weight off of them first and then worry about tweaking their eating habits a little more later on.

My friend Levi added a few more thought-provoking opinions in another comment at my blog:

"You may indeed feel like you have been helped by the availability of these [low-carb processed] foods. But do you think you could have lost your weight without them? Everyone's different so it's very possible that you couldn't have done this. Others here have avoided these products and not had a problem sticking to the overall program. But everyone's an individual. I realize you say this already in so many words, but many of these products are too easy a target for critics of low-carb. If they came to the conclusion that everyone was eating whole foods, but just more meat than what they consider healthy, a big part of their argument is empty."

That's the beauty of livin' la vida low-carb, Levi. We don't all have the same way of doing it. For some people, they don't mind eating a meat all the time. For others, they get full on delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Still others swear by the so-called Frankenfoods and couldn't live without them. The funny thing is that no matter how you do your low-carb lifestyle, it works. Keeping your carbohydrate intake down is effective for weight loss and weight maintenance no matter what kind of scare tactics and outright lies the media and health experts want to throw at it. Millions of people stand and testify to this fact by livin' la vida low-carb every single day.

As long as someone keeps a close eye on their net carb intake and keeps it within a range where their body will not gain weight, then I believe that can be described as healthy low-carb eating. Comments? Feel free to share them below.

'Skinny Chef' Supports Low-Fat, But Loves This Blog

Meet Australian attorney and low-fat cook Jeff aka "The Skinny Chef"

You never know whose path you are going to cross out in the wonderful world of blogdom, but today "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" was graced with the presence of someone who calls himself Jeff "The Skinny Chef". This Aussie native (just like my friend Duncan Margetts) left the following comments on my blog this morning:

"Dude, I love your blog. It is good to see a person who knows so much about low carb diets. I've included a link to your blog in mine, as I have been briefly touching on that topic. Cheers."

After that kind greeting, I decided to check out Jeff's blog called (what else!) The Skinny Chef's Blog. In a blog post about livin' la vida low-carb entitled "Low Carb Proponents Strike Back!", Jeff said he is not personally opposed to low-carb plans and would be "willing to give it a go as a diet booster." This is an interesting comment, especially considering his blog is considered the "blog voice of www.Delicious-Low-Fat-Recipes.com," where he creates low-fat recipes that are "so delicious ... you won't believe they're good for you!" I wonder if they are as good as the low-carb recipes over at Kalyn's Kitchen. :-)

Anyway, Jeff has been discussing the subject of low-carb lately despite receiving some criticism from his low-fat fans who do not care a bit in the world about low-carb. Nevertheless, Jeff has kept an open mind about the low-carb lifestyle and even included a link to this blog post I wrote recently which included some of the "misconceptions" or LIES as I refer to them about low-carb.

However, Jeff may have noted the wrong article because this one only lists 2 of those lies, not 10 as he notes at his blog. In looking through my other recent articles, here is one of my blog posts that lists 9 lies about the Atkins diet and another one where I explain my top 10 reasons why I don't do a low-fat diet. But this subject is in just about everything I write, so look around a while and you'll see what I think about the negative publicity that low-carb receives on virtually a daily basis.

I am very appreciative that Jeff has enjoyed looking around at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" and welcome the feedback of his readers about what I write here. Jeff said he finds my blog "refreshing" for people who are "sick of reading negative stuff about low carb diets." Thank you, sir! I count it a privilege to do what I do each and every day.

Who said people who support low-carb can't get along with people who support low-fat? Aren't we all in the business of trying to help people lose weight no matter how they do it? That's my philosophy and I fully support anyone taking that all-important first step to doing something constructive if they are overweight or obese.

If the low-fat lovin' "Skinny Chef" gets it, then why can't the media and health experts figure it out, too?! Be sure to tell Jeff that "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" said hello when you visit his web site. If you need a word of encouragement, then feel free to contact me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Weight Loss Web Site With A 'Godfather' Flair

Have you ever wondered what a discussion board about healthy eating would look like if someone from The Sopranos or The Godfather did it? Well, fuhgeddaboutit because it's already been done in a web site called LowCarboNostra.com!

The brainchild of Galatea DeLapp, who just happens to follow the Atkins W.O.E. (that's "way of eating"), LowCarboNostra.com is a place for low-carb or low-fat dieters to come and discuss the issues they have with their lifestyle choice in a humorous way to help relieve the stress that can be associated with losing weight.

If you are looking for a support group to help "cheer you on...and cheer you up," then bada boom, bada bing LowCarboNostra.com may be just the place to check out for yourself. Of course, that's what I do at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog for people following a low-carb program, but it'll be nice to check out what the mobsters over at LowCarboNostra.com are up to from time to time.

The Don of this joint DeLapp shares his personal philosophy about the weight loss plan that helped him lose 70 pounds.

“Low-carb has had its ups and downs in the past few years,but it is a safe and easy way to lose weight for many dieters - especially for life-long yo-yo dieters and the seriously obese.”

YOU GO BOY! Tell the truth unashamed so everyone will know that low-carb is anything but a fading fad as the media would have us believe. For many of the nearly 30 million people following a low-carb lifestyle, this is our way of life from now until our time on earth is no more. It is something the media and health "experts" are going to have to come to grips with sooner or later.

For those people who like to watch their caloric and fat intake, DeLapp said LowCarboNostra.com is a great place for them, too!

“Many people at our site are also having great success following lower calorie plans like Weight Watchers - we have an equal mix of low carb dieters and low calorie/low fat dieters. We support all plans.”

Yeah, they support all weight loss methods which I think is absolutely wonderful. But isn't it interesting that the URL contains "low-carb" and not "low-fat" or "low-cal?" Hmmm. Regardless, this bulletin board at LowCarboNostra.com provides a festive place for discussing and sharing your weight loss experiences.

Be sure to check out the "Witness Protectin Program," aka before and after pictures. There is also a recipe section (of course, not as good as Kalyn's recipes), research articles on diets, exercise, food, and other weight loss topics of interest. You need to register with LowCarboNostra.com to participate in the discussions.

Commenting that his membership is smaller than some of the other diet discussion bulletin boards out there, DeLapp said he likes to make it more personal with the people who join his group since negative emotions have led many people to make poor choices about eating in the past. That's why there is a "Boom Boom Room" for people to come laugh about life, but also share intimately about what they are feeling deep inside while trying to drop excess pounds.

I guess you could say the members of LowCarboNostra.com are one big happy family, participating in activities with each other including birthdays, new babies, and even donating to a worthy cause. A current weight loss challenge involves sending $1.00 for every pound lost to help purchase a cow for an African family to eat through an organization called Heifer International. You certainly don't see things like this happening at most of the diet bulletin boards across the Internet.

DeLapp concluded: “It's a unique atmosphere. We're like a family – which is why we chose the Godfather theme. We came together through our choice of diet, but have bonded well beyond that. There's more to life than losing weight … and we have the best of both worlds at LowCarboNostra.com.”

Check out LowCarboNostra.com today and tell them "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" sent you. And be sure you come back here when you're done doing that thing you are gonna do with 'dem. Don't make me put out a hit on you! LOL!