Herbalist States Low-Carb Causes 'Irreversible Damage'

Gina Lindhardt argues that livin' la vida low-carb is "toxic" to your health

One of the more interesting aspects of this blog for me is reading what people think about the low-carb lifestyle from every angle possible. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I actually revel at the opportunity to read the incredibly ignorant comments from people who claim to have all the answers about what good nutrition should be. My enjoyment comes in breaking down the ludicrous assertions these people make by just sharing the truth about low-carb.

This Hurricane (UT) Valley Journal story by a woman named Gina Lindhardt certainly fits the bill. Bless her heart, Lindhardt thinks she has got the low-carb lifestyle pegged with her little op-ed column. I hate to burst her bubble, but she is probably one of the most extremist opposers to livin' la vida low-carb that I've seen with the lies and misinformation she communicates in this story.

Who is Gina Lindhardt? She's a Hurricane, Utah-based natural foods store owner who is a strong supporter of natural herbs for health and well-being. She obtained her Master's Herbalist degree and oftens shares with her customers about how eating organic food products can help them improve their quality of life.

With a background like that, you would think Lindhardt would be open to a lifestyle program that shuns processed foods and sugar. Instead, Lindhardt had some pretty harsh statements against livin' la vida low-carb that need to be addressed.

Declaring the "infatuation with low carbs and high protein" as being "finally over," Lindhardt wrote that the low-carb lifestyle has "fallen out of flavor" and that people should be glad that it is gone.

I hate to break the news to you Lindhardt, but low-carb is anything but gone. Have you checked out the latest numbers showing how many people are currently on a low-carb lifestyle? Tens of millions! MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS! Did I mention there were MILLIONS of people on low-carb?!

This belief that low-carb will -- POOF! -- go away just like that is silly. While I agree low-carb is indeed evolving since Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection, this way of eating is anything but dead.

Lindhardt admits that for her and "a billion other people on this continent," losing weight is "always a constant struggle" and causes them to try any and every diet out there.

"Who hasn’t tried the high protein craze?  Too often we overlook the real cause of weight gain at the expense of our health, not being concerned about the long-term effects, because being skinny is healthy—no matter what the cost, right?  Wrong!"

If I hear Lindhardt correctly, is she asserting that someone who remains morbidly obese and continues to perpetuate their own health problems by remaining that way is somehow better off than someone who chooses to lose weight any way they can do it? Yikes! No wonder we get such twisted thinking as this!

Can we all agree with the premise that bringing your weight down with whatever method works best for you is better than staying overweight? I don't think there will be much of an argument on that point. Claims that weight loss programs such as low-carb, high-protein will somehow cause "irreversible damage," as Lindhardt contends, is an overzealous embellishment of reality. What's the alternative for someone who couldn't bear the thought of trying yet another hunger-producing low-fat/low-calorie/portion-controlled nasty-tasting diet plan all over again? Well, it's the latest trend in dieting: weight gain!

Is Lindhardt really trying to tell me and every other low-carber out there that eating doughnuts, french fries, pizza, sugary snacks and sodas, and more without any remorse is somehow a healthier way of living than controlling the number of carbohydrates you put in your mouth? Have we really forgotten how unhealthy our eating habits are when we eat "normal?" I know there is no way I'd ever be able to keep my weight down eating that way again. Livin' la vida low-carb has given me the freedom to eat a lot of the foods I love with only a few minor changes here and there. I AM healthier now because of the low-carb lifestyle and I resent the fact that someone would claim otherwise.

None of this seems to matter to Lindhardt. She says people may lose weight on low-carb initially, but a person quickly "runs out of carb fuel to burn." Huh? Your body doesn't need carbs to burn, it needs FAT to burn. That's why low-carb plans encourage participants to consume fat so your body can kickstart your fat-burning capacity into high gear. Low-fat, on the other hand, requires people to cut their fat and increase their carbs to lose weight. This is a clear difference in philosophy between low-fat diets and the low-carb lifestyle. You can lose weight on both, but which one is more sustainable over the long-term? If you've done them both, then the answer to that question is abundantly clear.

Arguing that ketosis, or the fat-burning mode when you restrict your carb intake, is dangerous to your health, Lindhardt said your lungs, kidneys, heart, and joints are all at risk when you are livin' la vida low-carb.

"These ketones escape through the lungs and out through the kidneys, which puts a terrible strain on them, resulting in irreversible damage.  Remember, there is no cure for kidney failure.  Consuming high amounts of animal protein is largely responsible for kidney stones and a high level of uric acid, which has been tied to cardiovascular disease.  The uric acid levels on a meat-centered diet might be forced so high that the acid could start crystallizing in one’s joints, triggering gout, an arthritic condition.

Sigh. What do you say about such nonsensical reasoning as this? I will respond with my own experience since I started livin' la vida low-carb. When I weighed 410 pounds, my breathing was extremely shallow and getting worse. Guess what? I don't have any problems with that anymore. As for my kidneys, it's funny how drinking 1-2 gallons of water per day helps keep them functioning just fine thank you very much. I am not worried about them failing me because of low-carb. Regarding meat consumption, GET OVER IT ALREADY! Low-carbers can eat meat. Period. End of story.

Why aren't people like Lindhardt standing in front of their local steakhouse or around the meat counter at their grocery store if they are so opposed to meat? They act like people on low-carb are the only ones who eat meat. No, we're just the only ones who don't eat a big fat baked potato and dinner bread with our meat. Instead, we enjoy a nice salad and green beans as we sink our teeth into a tender and juicy piece of God's greatest food -- STEAK! I had the best prime rib steak last night that I'm still thinking about today. Mmmmmm. But I digress. If you don't like people eating meat, then maybe you can join these PETA idiots who think we're all a bunch of "cannibals."

Getting in another snide remark about low-carb, Lindhardt said it is "so seriously deficient in nutrition" that you have to take vitamins. Does a natural foods expert like Lindhardt believe vitamins are not a vital part of a healthy weight maintenance program? Really? WOW! She laments that low-carb does not allow "the healthiest foods like fruit and starch-based vegetables," but there are plenty of both of these food items that you can enjoy when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Claims to the contrary are just not true.

Let's take a look at the top 10 ways Lindhardt recommends people get "thin, healthy and feel well":

1. "cut calories"

Calorie reduction will help you lose weight, but frankly you don't have to worry with counting calories when you are livin' la vida low-carb. I have not paid any attention to my caloric intake over the past two years and don't plan on starting. Sure, my calories have been reduced from what I used to eat, but there has not been a conscious effort to doing it. I've eaten the low-carb foods that I want in the quanties I want without any of the guilt that comes from low-calories diet plans.

2. "exercise more"

I can't disagree with exercise being a part of a healthy low-carb lifestyle.

3. "eat less fat"

Why would I do this? Fat restriction has been found to make you fatter and your satiety is nonexistent. Eating fat is not the enemy it has been made out to be for the past three decades. We must overcome our fat phobia if we are ever going to move forward in this debate over what is healthy and what is not. We really need to be looking at lowering and/or eliminating our sugar consumption instead of anguishing over fat.

4. "eat more fruits and vegetables"

A low-carb eater can have lots of great fruits and vegetables, including cauliflower, green beans, salads, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and much, much more. The argument that livin' la vida low-carb is devoid of fruits and vegetables is unfounded. So why is it that they keep repeating the same lie over and over again?

5. "eat more whole grain breads and even whole grain pastas"

Whole grains are great, but you have to watch your carb content in these foods. Overconsuming foods with whole grains in them can be just as damaging to your weight loss and weight maintenance efforts as eating an ice cream sundae! Don't overdo it!

6. "stop eating all that processed, canned food"

Amen, amen and amen! Your body doesn't need it!

7. "decrease your meat consumption"

Why would I do that? Meat has unnecessarily gotten a bad rap because of low-carb. What do people like Lindhardt have against meat unless she and others are vegetarians who oppose anybody eating meat anytime? You're not gonna change my mind because I'll keep eating all the chicken, fish, pork, turkey and beef that I want to. My weight and health are not adversely affected by this decision one iota!

8. "eat starchy potatoes and green leafy vegetables"

I'll eat the green leafy veggies, but I think I'll skip the starchy potatoes. Your body will only convert the starchy foods into sugar which will cause a spike in your blood sugar and you begin the endless cycle of spike and crash that leads to physical and emotional issues that are only corrected when you eliminate those foods from your diet. Don't put your body through that!

9. "cut your consumption of cheeses and high-fat dairy products"

While dairy products such as milk are good to reduce your consumption of because of their high-carb content, I would actually recommend people eat MORE cheese. It is a healthy product for people who are livin' la vida low-carb and by all means don't get the low-fat versions. The full-fat cheeses are the most succulent and lip-smacking products to complement your low-carb lifestyle. In fact, melt a big chunk of cheese on top of that burger with bacon on top and dip it in real mayonaisse. Now we're talking!

10. "try butter instead of margarine"

Again, you get no arguments out of me on this point. Butter just tastes better, too!

While her advice is not all bad, there are some areas where Lindhardt could stand to learn a little more about the healthy benefits the low-carb lifestyle offers the millions of us who have chosen this way of life for ourselves. Unless these negative premises are challenged, people will begin to believe they are the truth. We'll keep holding their feet to the fire and correcting the lies and misinformation that continues to pervade in the media and from self-proclaimed "experts" like Lindhardt.

You can e-mail your comments about what Gina Lindhardt wrote in her column by writing to publisher@hvjournal.com.

'The Biggest Loser' A Big Winner For Weight Loss

Stimulating stories of personal triumph over weight from the popular TV show

If you're one of the millions of fans of the hit NBC television reality weight loss show "The Biggest Loser," then undoubtedly you have become personally acquainted with names like Ryan, Kelly, Mo, Dave, and Drea from Season One as well as Matt, Dr. Jeff, Suzanne, and Suzy from Season Two, just to name a few.

You probably feel like you know these people intimately because you have watched them work so very hard on your television sets each week to tackle a commond problem -- what to do about their obesity. Their commitment to doing something positive and permanent about their weight is indeed inspiring and educational for a home viewing audience, two-thirds of whom have a weight problem of their own that they need to deal with and don't know what to do about it.

That's where The Biggest Loser book steps in. Set to release on October 24, 2005, this book is based on the popular television show and allows you to read more about the contestants from the show to learn how they have been able to be victorious over their battle of the bulge while also communicating important principles to apply in your own life to help get that fat monkey off your own back for good.




The Biggest Loser is a beautifully crafted book full of colorful pictures, personal stories from cast members, advice from the show's trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, a thorough explanation of "The Biggest Loser" diet plan, a 12-week exercise routine, scrumptuous recipes including personal favorites from the contestants, motivational remarks from those who went through the most dramatic weight loss change, and the secret tips about how to make weight loss and healthy eating a permanent part of your life.

Cheering you on to become the "biggest loser" that you can possibly be, The Biggest Loser book asks the simple question, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the body you want -- slender, toned, fit, and healthy -- and have it for life?" Who among us who has struggled with weight loss would respond back with anything but a thunderous YEAH BABY?!!! This dream can become a reality when the steps outlined in The Biggest Loser book are applied.

Read about the struggles that each contestant had with weight prior to their television experience and how "The Biggest Loser" show literally changed their lives forever. As someone who has lost over 180 pounds, I can certainly relate with their stories of heartache and frustration about what to do about being overweight. It's not a fun experience and you just feel so hopeless. But once you read The Biggest Loser, you will find that while it won't be an easy road to restore your health, there is definitely a way to rise to the occasion and gain victory over weight problems once and for all!

There's a unique section in The Biggest Loser book called "From Reasons to Resolutions" which will get you to visualize and think about why you want to lose weight and what will happen if and when weight loss occurs. Getting your mind in the right frame of reference will get you started off right and make your eventual success that much more likely to happen.



In a nutshell, "The Biggest Loser" diet consists of limiting your caloric intake to seven times your body weight. For example, when I weighed 410 pounds in January 2004, I could eat 2,870 calories according to this plan. At my current body weight of 225, that number of calories per day drops down to 1,575, which is probably a little bit less than what I consume on my low-carb lifestyle but not too far off. There's a creative "4-3-2-1 Biggest Loser Pyramid" which shows you which foods you should eat and in what quanties, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and "extras." Guess which one you eat the least of?

You also are encouraged to drink lots of water, use artificial sweeteners sparingly, eat 4-6 planned meals, portion-size your foods to avoid overeating, read labels like a hawk (there even a neat "translation" guide to help you figure out what certain terms mean on a nutrition label), and steer clear from certain appetite-stimulating foods. It's all explained in great detail in The Biggest Loser book.

I really enjoyed the "Take A Cue" blurbs at the bottom of the pages which feature one- or two-sentence words of wisdom from the cast of "The Biggest Loser." You really feel like they're talking directly to you and rooting for you as you turn page after page of The Biggest Loser book. I also was attracted to the recipes section towards the back of the book, which included some excellent low-carb ones including Dave's chicken salad, Ryan's portabello pizza, Suzanne's grilled salmon burgers, and Drea's turkey wrap. My mouth is watering just thinking about all these delicious recipes.

While I don't personally adhere to all of the advice provided in The Biggest Loser book, I am encouraged to see many of the contestants giving superb advice to would-be losers: stay away from sugar, get more water consumption, eat often enough to ward off hunger, skip the dinner bread and eat a salad first at a restaurant, replace television watching with exercise (except to watch "The Biggest Loser," of course!), eat healthy carbs found in fruits and vegetables, and much more. You can really learn a lot about good basic habits that you can incorporate to make weight control a long-term part of your life.

There is also a section in the book which urges local communities to conduct their own "Biggest Loser" challenges to help people deal with this very real problem. They include step-by-step instructions about how to organize it and replicate what so many have seen on television, including stunts and races to give the contestants an incentive to continue on. Applying these recommendations will make your local "Biggest Loser" challenge a huge success.

A special "where are they now" section gives an update on all 26 contestants who became winners by becoming big losers thanks to "The Biggest Loser." You will be amazed by how far these contestants have come and how their lives have been literally turned upside down for the better. I can relate and hope and pray many will be uplifted and have a fire lit within them to lose weight and keep it off for good after reading The Biggest Loser.

Be sure to look for The Biggest Loser Workout Volume 1 coming to stores on December 20, 2005 just in time for Christmas and New Year's resolutions.

Also, you can get a RISK FREE TRIAL of "The Biggest Loser Club" to help hold you accountable while losing weight. Click on the image below for more information.




Be sure to check out all my previous columns about "The Biggest Loser" by clicking here.

Everyone Who Tried Low-Carb Didn't Fail

Do you want to know why the Atkins diet and other low-carb programs failed people who tried to lose weight on them but couldn't? Well, besides the fact that EVERYONE didn't FAIL to lose weight and keep it off on low-carb, that's the question this Medford, Massachusetts-based Tufts Daily article sought to explain and answer.

Staff writer Kelly Ferro said the popularity of low-carb hit college campuses in 2004 with a bang as many students tried livin' la vida low-carb to lose weight and get healthy. But now that low-carb has "fallen out of fashion" (do these people change diets like they change clothes?), low-carb products have begun to disappear and bread consumption is on the rise again.

Comparing the alleged demise of the low-carb lifestyle with previous fad diet trends, Ferro quoted several "experts" who sought to answer the question of why the low-carb lifestyle was such a dismal failure. We'll have to see what kind of excuses they came up with and respond accordingly.

1. Too restrictive to follow long-term

Does anybody know what they mean by "long-term?" Is it at least six months? Or a year? I've been livin' la vida low-carb for nearly two years. In 2004, I lost 180 pounds and this year I have maintained my weight, increased my muscle and dropped my body fat total. Yeah, I guess this is just too restrictive for me to follow for the rest of my life. In a word, PUHLEEZE!

Here's what the "expert" said:

"People tire very quickly of being told what they can and can't do, like being told you can't have bread, pasta and pizza," Marcia Mogelonsky, a senior marketing analyst at Mintel International, told the Monterey Herald.

Why can't you have bread, pasta, and pizza? There are some excellent low-carb versions of each of these products for people to enjoy who want them. Livin' la vida low-carb is not about being told what you can and can't have. It's about freeing you up to make better choices so your weight and health will improve. It's the only "diet" I have felt this way on while other diets kept me locked up in a 4-foot cage with no room to move. Low-carb is ANYTHING but restrictive and you can make it your permanent lifestyle change.

2. Not a clear definition about what constitutes low-carb

This is a major problem in the low-carb industry that must be addressed. I wrote about this subject in my book and believe it will need to come to light very soon to prevent the continuation of what happened with "low-carb" products last year. There are no standards in place to define exactly what the term "low-carb" means. It's frustrating to me for people who try low-carb for weight loss and want to know why they're not losing weight eating some of these low-carb imposters. I urge people to read nutritional labels very carefully.

Here's what the "expert" said:

"This industry has a lot of misleading and misinforming tactics which makes it difficult to have a brand with any credibility," said Tufts Economics Professor Lynne Pepall, who has studied branding. She cited a recent lawsuit against Kentucky Fried Chicken for marketing their products as "low-carb" as an example.

I wouldn't say the low-carb industry has a credibility problem for those companies who are in it to truly serve the low-carb community. But it is those companies that tried to make a quick buck off of a hot trend by producing "a cheaper product" that may not have necessarily been considered low-carb that created the glut of poor products that hit supermarket shelves last year. Pepall said this direct competition is what led Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. to file for bankruptcy in August.

3. You can't eat all you want and still lose weight

When I used to weight 410 pounds, I could put away some food (see how much food I recently ate on a Sunday after church in this blog post). But now that I'm in the 220's, I can still put away a lot of food when I want to. This notion that you must watch your calories and portions is archaic-thinking in my opinion. Does this mean I gorge myself on all kinds of low-carb foods day after day? Don't be ridiculous. But if I feel like eating a larger meal or even more of the 6-8 smaller meals I eat in a day, then that is my prerogative while I'm livin' la vida low-carb. The miracle and beauty of this way of eating is you can eat more and still lose weight.

Here's what the "expert" said:

"It sounded great! People could eat all the forbidden foods and lose weight," said Tufts' Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging Alice Lichtenstein, who added that Atkins Diet allowed large meat portions that would supposedly help the body burn fat.

If by "forbidden foods" she means butter, meat, cheese, eggs, etc., then YES you can eat all those foods and still lose weight. This goes against everything we have always heard nutritionally. And why are these foods considered "forbidden?" It is most likely because of their fat content which drives low-fatties insane when they see us low-carbers eating these foods.

One student followed the popular South Beach Diet, which was described as "similar to Atkins" in this story. Uh, no it's not. There are some major differences in the nutritional philosophy of these two programs. Anywho.

The student said she was "moody and hungry" during the first two weeks of Induction on South Beach. Well, I guess she was since you can't have ANY carbs at all during that time. At least with the Atkins diet you can eat 20g net carbs daily. You are not "cutting out entire food categories" as this story suggests. After three months, this student said she fell off the bandwagon and "decided it wasn't worth it."

Check out what she ate in a typical day and you'll see why she gave up:

A typical day in the life of Helms' diet plan looked like this: breakfast was eggs with vegetables and Canadian bacon. A mid-morning snack followed, which usually consisted of celery and low-fat Laughing Cow cheese. Lunch was often a lettuce wrap filled with tomato, cheese and dipping sauces. Apples and peanut butter were common afternoon snacks, and a chicken breast or pork chop with vegetables was a usual dinner.

For the most part, the food choices were good except for the low-fat cheese and the apples with peanut butter. I'd love to know what vegetables she ate and whether the "dipping sauces" contained any hidden sugars.

She added that she "was always hungry" on this plan because the portion sizes were too small.

Uh, yeah. So eat MORE! More food, more often, more satisfied. That's been my take on low-carb. If you are hungry, then eat. Don't allow yourself to starve just because you think that will make you lose weight faster. EAT, EAT, EAT! This notion that you could ever get hungry on a low-carb lifestyle is laughable to me. If I even feel the inkling of my stomach starting to growl, then I will eat something low-carb to satisfy me. It has worked and I haven't had to portion control one thing...EVER!

Of course, in a story about how awful low-carb is, you knew they were going to quote some "expert" who said the secret to losing weight is "cutting calories." Gee, what a surprise that I didn't see that one coming!

This same "expert" said people were too easily "snookered" by the low-carb lifestyle because they saw an "easy fix."

It was easy once you got into it and I am so glad I was personally "snookered" into doing it. My life will never be the same again thanks to the wonderfully delicious feast of foods I can enjoy while I'm livin' la vida low-carb. This is the life, baby!

Kid's Food Pyramid Was A Big Waste Of Time

Kid-friendly Food Pyramid uses computer games to confront obesity

In a blog post earlier today, I told you that the government was going to release a new plan to deal with the growing childhood obesity crisis in the United States. Now we know exactly what that plan is: a new Food Pyramid for kids!

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this new kid version of the government-endorsed Food Pyramid is aimed at reaching children between the ages of 6-11 by enticing them with a rocket ship-based computer game and cartoon graphics. They're trying to make it cool for the kids so they'll get excited about health, nutrition and fitness.

Our friend Sally Squires from The Washington Post chimed in on this new development in the government's war against childhood obesity with a column of her own.

Squires writes in her story that this new kid's Food Pyramid has some familiar themes regarding nutrition and fitness.

"It urges kids to fill up on fruit and vegetables, grab whole grains instead of more processed cereals, bread and pasta and to 'get your calcium-rich foods,' such as milk," she wrote in her Washington Post column. "Youngsters are advised to pick up protein -- not the greasy fast food burgers, fatty hot dogs and deep-fried chicken nuggets that are often a staple of children's diets -- but rather beans, nuts and sunflower seeds as well as lean meat, poultry without the skin and seafood."

That's not bad advice, especially regarding eating more of certain fruits and vegetables, staying away from processed and junk foods, consuming more protein that comes from all kinds of meats, and snacking on nuts and seeds. But I still think children could stand to stay away from high-carb foods such as bread, pasta, and milk. There are plenty of low-carb versions of these that would satisfy the nutritional needs kids have. The younger we can start kids on a healthy low-carb lifestyle, the greater chance obesity can be nipped early to prevent the onset of weight-related health problems.

In regards to fat, Squires said the kids Food Pyramid promotes the good fats found in fish, nuts and olive oil which can help boost the physical and mental capacities of a growing child. And when it comes to exercise, the recommendation is to have an hour a day minimum, something Squires states "few children now meet."

Part of the problem is that physical education and recess are all but obselete in grade school now and nonexistent in middle and high school. A couple of years ago, I was a substitute teacher in my local school district and worked with a variety of students ranging from 4-year-old kindergarten all the way up to seniors in high school. Whenever I filled in on the elementary level, I was amazed the kids only got about 20 minutes maximum for recess just 2-3 days per week. That's it!

I remember when I was growing up in the 1980's that we stayed out on the playground for about an hour playing all sorts of games like kickball, dodgeball, and more. The ran us ragged and I'm sure our moms and dads were grateful for it when we slept like babies at night. But those days are gone. Is it any wonder why obesity rates in children has jumped so dramatically?

Complaints about this new Food Pyramid for kids being on the computer are centered around the fact that parents and children will have to seek out the information on the Internet to learn more about it. Although there is a lot of publicity about it at the moment with news stories popping up all across the media in the next few days, what's going to happen in the weeks, months and years ahead? Will the interest in a web-based kid's Food Pyramid going to continue to pique the interest of the people who need to learn more about it? Not likely.

The adult version of the new Food Pyramid that released earlier this year has seen its numbers fall off considerably with a large number of people viewing it as something negative (42 percent) compared with the people who saw it as a positive thing (37 percent) according to a BuzzMetrics survey of consumers who surf health web sites. The other 21 percent were unsure what they thought of it. An analyst for Buzzmetrics said the Food Pyramid "is barely a blip on the public conscience."

So why do a kid's version of it if the adult one has fallen flat on its face? Do you expect to breed success out of such dismal failure? Oh, I forgot, we are talking about the United States government here. All sense of rational thought and common sense are thrown out the window. They're the same ones who have been telling us for three decades that a low-fat/low-calorie/portion-controlled diet is the only way to lose and maintain your weight. As Dr. Phil would say, "how's that working for you?"

As for the interactive computer game that involves a rocket ship, Squires writes it "serves as a visual reminder of how well kids are doing for the day. "

"When healthy food and more activity are recorded the rocket ship gets fueled. Put in enough of the right kind of fuel and it can take off. But put in food and drinks high in fat or added sugar such as sodas and the rocket ship could sputter on the launch pad, spewing black smoke."

That's cute and all, but does anybody else see the irony in this? Here is a new health program designed to get kids to become more active and eat right and what is it encouraging them to do? Sit in front of a computer screen and play this silly little game all day! "But mommy, I don't want to go outside and play, I want to sit here and stay fat while I play this computer game!" Was anybody thinking when they came up with THIS idea? Oh yeah, we are still talking about the government. Enough said.

Efforts are underway to help market this new kid's Food Pyramid in public schools, but to what end? What difference ultimately will this campaign and emphasis on a child version of the Food Pyramid make on the childhood obesity epidemic? If you ask me, it's a big waste of time, energy, and tax dollars. It's back to the drawing board because there's got to be a better way.

But we're missing the bigger question that needs to be asked. Until parents take a more pro-active role in getting their own weight problem under control, how can we expect their children to do any differently? Mothers and fathers who are the examples for their children to follow need to show their kids what good nutrition and fitness is all about by doing it themselves. We cannot and should not expect the government to play this role for us.

Whatever it takes to make it happen for you, then you need to do it. I've been in a situation where I allowed myself to become morbidly obese. I know the pain and the agony of trying and failing on diet after diet. But there is something out there that will work for you. For me it was livin' la vida low-carb and it has helped me lose weight and keep it off now for almost two years after I was on my way to an early grave. Do it for you kids and they'll thank you for it when they become adults.

Since You Lost Weight, You Look...Um, Er, Uhhh

Etiquette expert Judy Bowman says to use tact when complimenting someone's weight loss

I came across this Salem (MA) News advice column today which inquired about the best way to acknowledge someone who has lost a tremendous amount of weight.

The columnist is Judy Bowman from Protocol Consultants International, which has been in business for over 12 years offering training and consultation services to help people strengthen interpersonal skills and effectiveness in both their business and social relationships.

The specific question posed to Bowman wanted to know about the best approach to someone who has changed so dramatically since losing weight that they no longer look like they used to.

"If someone loses weight so noticeably that they are almost unrecognizable, how do you tell them they look great without risking insulting them by inferring that they used to look like a completely different person?"

When I read that question, I just had to laugh out loud. As someone who has lost 180+ pounds thanks to livin' la vida low-carb, I could not wait to read what Bowman's answer to that question because I guess it can be a touchy subject for some people.

Bowman said people who have lost a major amount of weight "are acutely aware of the difference between their former versus present selves and will most likely be thrilled if someone acknowledges the difference."

You got that right! My biggest thing was how long it took before people even noticed ANY weight loss. For me, the compliments didn't start happening until I had lost 100 pounds. Going from 410 down to 310 was finally getting people's attention. It was slow at first with people making comments like, "Are you losing weight?" When I responded that I had lost 100 pounds, most of them were shocked probably because that first 100 pounds came off in just a matter of 4 months or so. Those reactions to my weight loss pumped me up and motivated me to keep it going.

Recommending that people share "more positive energy focused on the initial greeting," Bowman said people should keep their comments brief until the person who lost the weight makes it abundantly clear that they welcome more praise from you.

"For example, if the person says, 'My wife looks at pictures of me when she fell in love and married me and photos now, and she begs me to continue my new regime,' you know you have an open invitation. Otherwise, 'Fred, you look great and really happy. Everything seems to be agreeing with you' is never wrong.

I personally got stoked whenever anybody mentioned ANYTHING positive about my weight. I write about this in my upcoming book (available in mid-October) that I even started getting comments from people I knew of but didn't really know that well at work, at church, and in the community. It was really weird because these people talked with me like I was an old buddy since I had lost weight. I still get that to this day from people who knew the "fat" Jimmy Moore and now know the "skinny" Jimmy Moore. Losing weight to the point that you change how you look completely will definitely have an affect on your social life.

But Bowman rightfully warns people that "weight is an extremely delicate topic for many individuals" whether they are overweight or even underweight. You may not know the reasons why someone is in that condition and you must be "sensitive to be aware of reacting" to differences in weight, Bowman added.

That's some pretty sage advice that I agree with for the most part. However, I think it is the responsibility of close friends and family members to be an encouragement and accountability partner for people who have a weight issue. That doesn't mean to nag them about their weight, but to lovingly agree to help them overcome it.

My wife used to gripe and even resort to emotional crying to get me to lose weight, but she finally stopped doing that for a year or so before I began my low-carb lifestyle change. She was thrilled when I finally took the step on my own without any coersion on her part to do something about my weight beginning on January 1, 2004 and she instantly took on the role of my accountability partner. And the rest, they say, is history! Christine said she stopped nagging and started praying for me. It worked!

You can e-mail Judy Bowman at judith@protocolconsultants.com.

Surreptitious Form Letter Seeks To Discredit Atkins

Two weeks ago I exposed a huge scam being perpetrated on the readers of hundreds of newspapers across the United States via a mass letter-writing campaign being conducted by those who are against the Atkins diet and the low-carb lifestyle in general.

For those of you who haven't seen this bogus letter that has gotten past many newspaper editors across the country, here it is:

‘Old Abe’ was right after all: “You can’t fool all the people all the time.” And the company founded by diet guru Robert Atkins, after subverting America’s best nutritional consensus, wound up in bankruptcy court Aug. 1.

The Atkins high-protein diet craze peaked in early 2004, when over 9 percent of United States’ adults subscribed to such diet, according to market research firm NPD Group. That figure declined gradually to 2.2 percent last month after a consumer advocacy group released a medical examiner's report showing that Atkins was overweight and suffered of heart disease.

Over the past three decades, a dozen expert panels reviewing thousands of diet and health studies concluded that Americans should replace meat and dairy products in their diet with vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains. None reached the opposite conclusion.

As consumers, we need to be constantly vigilant for entrepreneurs who exploit our obsession with physical appearance to promote their profit-driven agendas. The price we pay, beyond an inflated food bill, is life-long chronic afflictions and a curtailed life span. Let’s hope that this lesson does not come too late for victims of the Atkins diet.

As you can imagine, such a vitriol, hate-filled message defaming the very program that has helped me lose 180+ pounds and restore my health got my attention. When I saw this exact same letter showing up in many other newspapers all over America, I knew something fishy was going on and sure enough I was right.

After discovering this major faux pas on the part of newspaper editors who allowed this phony letter to be printed from local readers who claimed it was their original words and thoughts and blogging about it, I personally wrote an e-mail to every editor who printed it to let them know that they've been duped. Of the over 100 e-mails that I sent, I have only heard back from three of them. Of those three, two of them admitted the mistake and said they would look into it. The third was incredulous and responded that they did not "knowingly" print a chain letter.

The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune responded and invited me to write a response to the fake letter. I certainly wasn't going to pass up this opportunity to challenge the anti-Atkins zealots.

Here's a link to my letter: Surreptitious Form Letter Seeks To Discredit Atkins

I want to thank the editor at the Columbia Daily Tribune for having the courage to admit his mistake and being willing to print the truth about what this letter was all about.

The other newspaper that responded positively to my e-mail was The San Francisco Chronicle. The reader's representative contacted me back this week and said a letter like this can slip through from time to time. They are trying to track down the origin of this letter and may write a news story about it. He asked me for my comments about the suspicious letter and, of course, I told him my theory about who is behind the attacks against Atkins and livin' la vida low-carb.

We'll keep you abreast of any further developments in this story and will also provide you a link to the San Francisco Chronicle story if and when it gets printed. We've got to hold these people who want to destroy Atkins and the low-carb lifestyle accountable for their unscrupulous actions. As long as I'm around, we will!

Don't Expect The Government To Lose Weight For You

This MSN Money story states that the United States government is set to unveil a new strategy today for dealing with childhood obesity in America.

According to the story, the government-led plan is "the latest weapon in the battle" and includes "a version of the country's new 'food pyramid' of recommended dietary intake."

Have we not learned anything at all about the ridiculous new U.S. food pyramid? If people could lose weight and keep it off for good by following that method, then we'd be a country full of skinny people. But that isn't happening.

Instead, the drumbeat of low-fat/low-calorie/high-carb/portion-controlled meals continues on. When is the government going to recognize the value of low-carb in helping with this obesity crisis we face? But, you know what? I really couldn't care less if the government never gave proper credence to livin' la vida low-carb. It's not their battle to fight. It is ours.

People who have allowed themselves to become overweight or obese are the ones who are ultimately responsible for getting their own weight under control by whatever means necessary. Don't wait on a government program to come in and solve your problem without investing in yourself with time, energy, dedication and discipline to get 'er done! YOU have the power to make that happen today and only YOU can decide what is best for your particular situation.

Otherwise, you might be waiting a while or get frustrated with the "answer" you are waiting for from the government. When have they ever come up with a social plan that has solved anything. Most of this nation's problems have been resolved by people who take responsibility for themselves and their communities and taking action. Government can't be your mommy or daddy and hold your hand while you try to lose weight. Find it within yourself that this is what you want and need to do and it will happen.

If one in five children and two out of three Americans overall are overweight or obese, then shouldn't we be encouraging anything and everything that could help solve these problems? I think we should and allow the individual decide which program suits them the best.

A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT: Provide people with choices and stop monopolizing the nutritional information provided to American citizens. If people knew the truth about low-carb rather than the propaganda that is allowed to pervade every aspect of our society, then maybe the obesity rates would start to fall. Until you realize how much harm you are doing by exascerbating the obesity problem, there will not be any progress made on reversing the current trend.

I don't expect them to listen to one man who just so happened to lose 180+ pounds on low-carb. But the collective voice of the tens of millions of low-carbers out there can. Make your voice count and stand up for the low-carb lifestyle at every opportunity.

'Corn'y Idea Or Modern Scientific Breakthrough?

Dr. Daniel Gallie found a way to make corn high-protein and low-carb

A University of California-Riverside professor of biochemistry has conceived a way to double the amount of protein and oil found in corn while simultaneously slicing the number of carbohydrates nearly in half.

Dr. Daniel Gallie presented his findings before a congressional seminar in Washington, D.C. on September 23 that was sponsored by The National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research.

This new discovery is certainly GREAT news for people who are livin' la vida low-carb and/or are on a high-protein eating program. Increased consumption of protein has been found in studies to be the secret to low-carb's success. For low-carbers who enjoy the taste of corn but have had to forgo it since beginning their low-carb lifestyle, Gallie's research is welcomed.

While nearly two-thirds of corn production in the United States is used to feed animals for meat production, the rest of the corn is used in a variety of ways, including creating the extremely unhealthy high fructose corn syrup that shows up in sugary soft drinks, producing alternative fuels such as corn ethanol, and, of course, the corn you can buy in the grocery store or your local farmer's market.

The corn industry should absolutely welcome Gallie's research with open arms as a way for them to grow sales and reach a market of consumers who have shunned corn because of its high carbohydrate content. I know I haven't had one single kernel of corn since I started livin' la vida low-carb in January 2004. I personally love the taste of corn, but it is just not worth putting that food in my mouth when I knew it would sabotage my efforts to lose and maintain my weight.

Gallie said his new high-protein, low-carb corn will be beneficial globally as people in poor and underdeveloped countries without any meat production capacity will be able to be nurished with the essential protein their bodies need.

“Nearly 800 million people in the world suffer from protein-energy malnutrition, which is a leading cause of death in children in developing countries, many of which already produce corn as a major cereal crop,” said Gallie. “The new corn we have developed has two embryos in its kernel, which is what doubles the content of protein and oil and reduces the starch content. It could provide a good source of protein for those that depend on grain as their primary source of nutrients.”

These two embryos, Gallie explains, are allowed to survive at the same time whereas previously one of the sister flowers would be aborted. Instead, now the two flowers for every kernel of corn are fused together to add greater nutritional value to the crop.

“Despite the fusion, the kernels are not bigger,” Gallie said. “It’s basically the same corn, except that it is protein-rich and starch-poor – something that, if applied to sweet corn, would appeal to a large number of weight-conscious people in this country who are interested in low-carb diets and who normally avoid corn in their diets.”

Yeah, I know a few people who will be pleased with this new corn. But let me caution people on a low-carb lifestyle about this new corn. While it is indeed LOWER in carbs than traditional corn, that does not mean it is necessarily "low-carb." According to Nutri-Facts, one ear of raw, sweet, yellow corn has 27g of carbohydrates and 4.5g of protein. Gallie's corn would therefore have approximately 13.5g of carbs and 9g of protein. While that's better, it is still slightly higher in carbs than what I would have allowed in my mouth while I was losing weight on my low-carb plan.

Cutting the carbs found in corn in half is certainly a good start, but people who are still losing weight on a low-carb program shouldn't go running out to buy this new corn right away. However, once you enter the maintenance phase and can increase your carbohydrate total for the day, then the new corn would be an excellent choice to add protein and fiber to your diet.

Send a congratulatory e-mail to Dr. Gallie for his "corn"y idea that truly is a modern scientific breakthrough. His e-mail address is daniel.gallie@ucr.edu.

Platkin Is Back: Low-Carb Not For Long-Term

When the enemies of low-carb (and there are many) allow their criticisms of this incredible lifestyle change encompass their entire purpose in life, then all sense of objective thought and reason are thrown out the windown.

That's exactly what has happened to a man who calls himself "The Diet Detective" -- Charles Platkin.

You remember Platkin's reaction to my blog when he went totally berzerk after reading this blog post in June.

He claimed in his rant at the time that low-carb "is ridiculous because diets don't work."

"If they did we would all be thin—right? If any of those diets worked why would we as a nation be getting fatter and fatter (or you dispute the figures as well)," Platkin exclaimed at the time.

Well besides the fact that people in the media and so-called health advocates like Platkin have chosen to slam livin' la vida low-carb at every turn, too many people feel like they are getting conflicting messages about what is best for them to get their weight under control and to restore their health.

To his credit, Platkin attempted to bring some clarity to the issue of long-term "weight stability" in this Rednova story.

He mentions that there are many ways discussed to lose weight, but very few that show you how to keep it off.

"Weight maintenance is significantly more important and more difficult than losing weight," Platkin wrote.

He's right and wrong. I will agree that weight maintenance is something that is absent in many "diet" programs out there today. Too often people view their "diet" as having a beginning and an end. I always did before I started livin' la vida low-carb. When I lost 170 pounds on a low-fat diet in 1999, once the weight loss was over I went back to "normal" eating again. You can guess what happened next.

But this time I decided to make the low-carb lifestyle my permanent way of eating so I would never weigh more than 400 pounds again! Nine months after losing all that weight, I can proudly say that I have kept the weight off successfully by enjoying the healthy benefits that low-carb has to offer. It's a lifelong change that will add many years to my life.

Yet I believe Platkin is wrong about maintaining your weight being "more difficult" than losing weight.

Platkin quotes a psychiatry and human behavior professor in his column who said weight maintenance is too "routine" and "boring" to be as exciting as the weight loss experience. Therefore, it is that much more challenging to keep the weight off.

As someone who has been through this process personally, I can only share my own anectdotal stories about this. For me, once I started in the routine of eating low-carb it got easier and easier as the months progressed. After eating this way for about six months, I noticed it was so deeply ingrained in me that I didn't really have to think about it too much. Ever since, I have a gauge within me that knows exactly how many carbs I have eaten at all times. It just happened.

What has motivated me in 2005 to maintain my weight after losing so much weight in 2004? While it was indeed gratifying and motivating to see that scale moving down week after week last year during my weight loss phase, I have to tell you that watching the scale stay at the exact same number has been just as thrilling to me. For the first time in my life I am MAINTAINING my weight. This is huge.

I spoke with my dad on Saturday and he commented to me that this is the longest I have ever gone after losing weight without gaining it back. And it's true! The difference is livin' la vida low-carb IS my lifestyle change because I never looked at it as a diet that I would start and then stop. It just became a part of who I am and will stay that way forever.

Creating a list of 8 key principles to help you once you maintain your weight loss over the long haul, Platkin believes these principles are necessary for preventing future weight gain. Given Platkin's stated opposition to the low-carb lifestyle, I'll look at these individually with careful scrutiny:

1. It's not as hard as you think.

Platkin says the old adage that only 2 percent of people who lose weight can keep it off is based on a studies that are "decades old." He quotes someone in the story that says the number is ten times that -- or 20 percent. That means you have a 1 in 5 chance of keeping your weight off after losing it. Those are pretty good numbers that can continue to go up as people find a lifestyle change they can live with.

2, Create practices you can live with -- forever.

Again, excellent advice. Don't look at your weight loss method as a "diet" and it will be easier to transition it to just the way you eat. When anyone asks me if I am still "dieting," I immediately respond, "Do you mean am I still eating low-carb?" After the look of bewilderment on their face begins to subside, I gently explain that this is my permanent way of eating that I will be doing for the rest of my life. It's the only way I will ever keep my weight under control.

3. Have a "5-pound warning system" to keep yourself accountable.

For me, it has been 10 pounds, but the point is you need to set a maximum weight limit that will set off alarms inside of you if you exceed it. DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! :-) Seriously, if you see the scale get to a certain level, then you need to tighten the belt and get your weight back down to where it needs to be. Since I reached 230 pounds in January, the highest my weight has gotten up to was 251. But today when I weighed myself, I was 227. I don't mind the weight fluctuating as long as I can be around my lowest weight within a week. So far, so good thanks to continuing the low-carb way of eating.

4. Do some kind of calorie-burning exercise.

I could not agree more. I cannot imagine going a day without some kind of cardiovascular exercise. My favorite is the elliptical machine at the YMCA. In fact, just yesterday I burned 1100 calories in about 75 minutes on it! WOW, what a feeling! It was great and I LOVED it! That may sound strange to someone who feels like they barely have enough energy to roll out of bed in the morning, but you'll get there. Start off slow and work your way up to where daily exercise is desired. It can happen and will help you keep your weight under control.

5. Make your diet automatic.

This is the concept behind Platkin's book and the idea certainly makes sense. Get into a regular routine or pattern about how you are going to eat so you don't even think about it. As I stated earlier, it took me about six months to reach this point. Now it is such second nature to me I really don't think about what I can and cannot eat. I just know.

6. Be consistent in your eating patterns.

We've all told ourselves that we'll be really good on our "diet" during the week so we can eat whatever we want on the weekend. Or how about during the holidays? It's family, so I have to eat up, right? WRONG! Your family will certainly understand if you decide to stay on your low-carb program during your time with them. In fact, when I visited my mom and siblings last Christmas, they were VERY accomodating to my low-carb needs. My mom even got me a slice of low-carb cheesecake for my birthday while everyone else has one that she made herself. Don't feel pressured to "relax" your way of eating because it will come back to haunt you later.

7. After maintaining for a few years, it gets a whole lot easier.

I tell people all the time who want to know how I lost weight and kept it off that I don't believe I have accomplished anything until I can keep the weight off for 3 years. That means, come January 1, 2008, I will be holding a HUGE anniversary party (low-carb, of course) to celebrate my weight loss and weight maintenance success. I have my skeptics, Platkin included, but I will make it to that date and beyond.

8. Eat a low-calorie, low-fat diet instead of a low-carb diet.

Why is this not surprising? Despite the fact that Platkin wrote in his comments on my previous column that his "recommendations are NOT low fat," that's exactly what he is promoting. While I don't have a problem with people who choose that dieting method, I think it is haughty and condescending to look at anyone who choose another way, such as low-carb, as being wrong. Guess what, Mr. Platkin? Do you realize that I am a part of that National Weight Control Registry that you often quote in your columns? While much of their research has featured people who lost weight on low-calorie/low-fat diets, I am bucking that trend with my data input. Let's just see how much longer the effectiveness of the low-carb lifestyle is ignored before people like yourself acknowledge you were wrong. I'll be waiting for your apology.

Nice try, Mr. Platkin. While I appreciate much of the information you provided about how to maintain your weight long-term, your blinded bias against the low-carb lifestyle makes it difficult to take you seriously.

World Heart Day Advances Weight Loss, Exercise To Reduce Obesity-Related Health Problems

Did you know that today, September 25, 2005, has been deemed by the World Heart Federation to be World Heart Day? There hasn't been much publicity about this day dedicated to a crisis that has been ignored at worst or mismanaged at best.

With obesity now a global problem that every nation in the world is having to deal with, the theme of "Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape" is being promoted to underline the severity of the obesity epidemic and to encourage people to "start a lifestyle change" to get their weight under control and to improve their health because of the dangers associated with cardiovascular disease.

There are some good and some not-so-good changes being proposed by the World Heart Federation for people to implement into their lives. Nevertheless, the effort is certainly worth highlighting because it at least gets people focused on taking action about their weight problem to prevent future health problems because of heart disease.

I am very pleased that they are recommending regular exercise, restricting sugar and salt intake, encouraging breakfast consumption, avoiding sweets and junk food, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, staying away from fried foods, drinking plenty of water, surrounding yourself with people who will support you, and being prepared for temptation. This is all excellent advice that I often share with others about why I have been so successful at losing weight and keeping it off.

But...

It should not be surprising to anyone that they are also recommending lowering your caloric intake, eating a "balanced diet," avoiding "fad diets" that "offer unrealistic results and encourage eating (or not eating) specific foods" (a subtle derogatory reference to livin' la vida low-carb), losing weight gradually, and eating low-fat or fat-free products as well as lean meats. While these suggestions may sound good and we've heard them for most of our lives, they have been found to be totally unnecessary for some people who are trying to permanently control and maintain their weight, especially those of us who are on a low-carb lifestyle.

It has been determined that extra weight, especially in the abdomen are, significantly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke as well as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. But livin' la vida low-carb can help with all of these conditions and allow you to take your life back.

One excellent measuring stick for seeing how well you are doing to get these risk factors under control is not necessarily in your total weight, but rather in the size of your waist. Men who have a waist size of 40 inches or more and women who have a waist size of 35 inches or more are at a greater risk for heart problems.

The World Health Report 2003 found that 29 percent of deaths worldwide are as a result of cardiovascular disease and they link that to people who are overweight or obese. Just a minor loss of weight can pay big dividends in reducing your chances of getting heart disease.

A mere 10 percent weight loss (which is only 25 pounds for someone who is 250 pounds or 35 pounds for someone who is 350 pounds) may be all that is needed to lower your blood pressure, drop your LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, raise your HDL "good" cholesterol, and help you feel better than you ever have in your entire life. Too often people look at trying to lose a massive amount of weight all at once and it can indeed be overwhelming. Don't do that to yourself!

Do you know what I did? I started off my weight loss efforts by saying I wanted to lose 30 pounds. Then I did it. Great job, way to go! Then I challenged myself to lose another 30 pounds and did it again. You go boy, keep it up! From there on out, I celebrated every time I lost 10 more pounds and 10 more pounds until I hit that golden weight of 230 pounds after one year. WOW, WHAT A FEELING! But I never looked at it as HAVING to lose 180 pounds. Instead, I took it in much smaller increments which kept me focused on a lot of little goals along the way to bring me ultimately to my BIG one.

By the way, my weight has started to go down again in recent weeks. I currently weigh 227 pounds and my body fat percentage has dipped from 29 percent right after I lost 180 pounds in January down to 24 percent as of September (My body fat percentage WAS 54 percent when I weighed 410 pounds before starting my low-carb lifestyle!). All those strength building exercises have increased my muscle mass while helping me lose more fat although the scale has not shown any significant changes. Plus, I still have 10-15 pounds of excess skin hanging from my belly area and waiting on Oprah or Maury to call. :-) They both have requested my weight loss story and pictures, but I have not heard from the producers of either show yet. We'll keep hoping and dreaming, right?

The concept of World Heart Day is fantastic. People really need to put the problem of obesity on their radar screen. This condition is not an inevitable part of our lives if each individual stands up on behalf of themselves and their family and commits to doing something about it in their own sphere of influence. If you need to lose weight, then do it and be an example for others to follow. If a family member needs to lose weight, then muster up the courage and loving support it is going to take to help them deal with their problem. We need to stop making excuses for why we are overweight and deal with our weight head-on.

This isn't about who's right regarding calories, fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Instead, this is something we all must face one-by-one, one day at a time, taking one step forward towards eradicating obesity. We can do this is if and when the misinformation that is spread about healthy weight loss and lifestyle change options is stopped. Only with the acceptance that there are multiple answers to the obesity problem can a lasting solution be implemented to bring about a significant change.

Let World Heart Day be the day when this all begins!

Eberstein Sets The Record Straight On Low-Carb

Jacqueline Eberstein says "lifestyle change" only way to lasting weight loss

An article appears in today's edition of the New Jersey-based Express-Times that asks the question, "Has low-carb had its day?"

Well, considering all the attention that is still being paid to it long after the media has declared it dead on arrival, I would have to say the answer to that question is apparently not. And statistics show that tens of millions of Americans are STILL on a low-carb lifestyle despite all the negative publicity it has been getting.

In fact, the latest Opinion Dynamics Corp survey from August 2005 states that 13 percent of the U.S. population is on some kind of controlled-carb approach to weight maintenance. THIRTEEN PERCENT! Where else are you hearing about this number? Much of the media likes to quote the NPD statistics that show low-carb's popularity is down to "just" two percent.

But whether it's 2, 5, 10, 13, or 20 is irrelevant. Regardless of whose numbers you believe are accurate, that's still a LOT of people livin' la vida low-carb today. Anywhere from a low of 6,000,000 to as high as 60,000,000 are enjoying the healthy benefits of the low-carb lifestyle today. No matter how you slice the numbers, that is a significant participation rate regardless of the numbers you use. In other words, it looks like low-carb is not dead or "had its day" after all.

This story written by a reporter named Kat Main points to those sales racks full of "low-carb" foods as evidence that "the low-carb diet going the way of the dinosaur, the grapefruit diet or the cabbage diet."

But thankfully Main interviewed the director of nutrition information for Atkins Medical & Health Information Services and co-author of Atkins Diabetes Revolution Jacqueline Eberstein. As a professional assistance to Dr. Robert Atkins for nearly three decades, Eberstein (who I recently named one of my top ten low-carb movers & shakers) arguably knows more about how the Atkins diet has worked and continues to work for people all these years after it was first introduced in the early 1970's.

Just as I have stated previously at this blog regarding these so-called "low-carb" foods that came out over the past few years, Eberstein proclaimed that there is no tie-in to the failure of those products and the low-carb lifestyle.

"Just because they're marked low-carb, doesn't mean they are. There really is no definition of low-carb," she said.

She is right. With no clear understanding of what "low-carb" means, too many companies went haywire pushing every product imaginable on the market to take advantage of a growing market trend. But the problem was these products were either too high in carbohydrates or were of such poor quality that genuine low-carbers shunned them. I know I did and I warn people in my book that they need to be very discerning when they purchase anything that purports to be "low-carb." READ THE LABELS!

Eberstein, who was kind enough to do a professional review of my book and provide a quote for the back cover, said too many people tried to do Atkins or some other low-carb program without really "doing their homework" about what this way of eating is all about.

I have run into this problem a lot. Someone who knows I have lost a lot of weight on the Atkins diet will come up to me and let me know they they started "Atkins" or "low-carb" for themselves. I congratulate them on making that important step towards improving their health and then I ask them, "So, which book did you read about how to do low-carb correctly?" I would dare say 9 out of ten of these people just stare back at me as if I had just spoken a foreign language they've never heard of before.

If people are just making up their own low-carb program based on what they have "heard" about low-carb, then that's a BIG problem. Why would you do that to yourself? You wouldn't go to work as a doctor unless you had properly studied and researched all the information you would need to begin practicing medicine. The same should go for your choice of diet. READ THE BOOK is what I tell people. Whether it is the Atkins New Diet Revolution or whatever plan you choose to do, make sure you are following a program that has already shown to work when adhered to as prescribed. If you are confused about which plan is right for you, then might I recommend Jonny Bowden's Living The Low-Carb Life which gives an overview of the various low-carb programs available and helps point you in the right direction to do the one that suits you best.

Eberstein adds that people who expect a quick-fix diet so they can get back to their "normal" lives are just kidding themselves.

"There is the idea that there is one magic diet, that's never going to happen. The important thing for people is to embrace this fact. You have to be committed to making a lifestyle change if you really want to lose weight," Eberstein says.

For me, it was the lifestyle change I had been looking for my entire life. When I weighed 410 pounds, I never thought I would ever be thin. That was part of my problem at the time. I didn't believe there was a way out of the mess I had allowed myself to get in. It wasn't until I stopped moaning and groaning about my situation and decided to take action that the positive momentum began shifting in the direction of not only doing something about my immediate weight problem, but also keeping that weight off for good. Livin' la vida low-carb gave me my life back when I was on a one-way ticket to an early death from health-related problems that would have resulted from my morbid obesity.

Besides weight loss, Eberstein said the low-carb approach can also help with migraine headaches, high blood pressure, diabetes, premenstrual problems (TMI!), and other conditions. I even shared with you recently that it helps with indigestion, too.

"People don't realize how much diet can increase symptoms that we have day to day," she says.

One final thought that Eberstein shares with the reporter in this story that I am glad was printed is the subject of exercise. I will keep saying this until I'm blue in the face, but YOU MUST EXERCISE if you want to lose and maintain your weight. There are no cutting corners on this and actually you will learn to love it, too. Believe me, I would have thought that was crazy before I started livin' la vida low-carb, too, but now I crave exercise like I used to crave chocolate cake. Don't laugh, I REALLY do!

Eberstein explains why exercise is so crucial to your low-carb success.

"Exercise is essential as we age, you have to maintain body muscle, it's what keeps the metabolism cooking," she says.

An organized low-carb program such as Atkins combined with a purposeful exercise routine is the way to make livin' la vida low-carb work for you. SO WHAT YOU ARE WAITING FOR? Don't let the negative media attention towards this way of eating deter you from dealing with YOUR weight problem! Make today the first day of a lifetime commitment to the low-carb lifestyle.

Send your comments about this column to Kat Main at Express-Times by writing her an e-mail at kmain@express-times.com.

A Low-Carb Book Even 'Dummies' Can Appreciate

This is a low-carb book that even the "dummies" say luhks perty guhd!

You gotta love the Dummies books that have become so firmly ensconced into American culture that nobody is ever offended by them and actually flock to these books like ants to a lollipop! With over 150 million books in print covering over 900 topics, it should not be surprising to learn that the Dummies books are the world's best-selling reference series of all time with their signature yellow and black covers (They remind me of the old Cliff's Notes books I used to see people using in high school when a book report was due on Shakespeare. Really, it was other people, not me. Honestly. Trust me. Well, maybe once!).

But the latest in this famous series of books is about a subject near and dear to my heart -- low-carb. Can you believe it?! The book is called the Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies and was written by freelance writer, recipe guru, and low-carb lifestyle enthusiast Jan McCracken. You really ought to get to know this engaging woman who will make you laugh at the simplest things while sharing with you the knowledge she has gleaned from her more than a quarter century of cooking experiences.

"Change Your Mind … Change Your Heart … Lose Weight for LIFE!" That's the motto McCracken lives by and it is evident throughout this entire book how much she genuinely believes in that.

Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies, like all of the Dummies books, is very easy to read and is designed to come back to time and time again for a refresher on various topics which are conveniently outlined at the beginning of the book. McCracken summarizes what the low-carb lifestyle is all about, how you can incorporate healthy and delicious recipes that are sure to please even your finicky eaters, tips on how to make low-carb living an easy transition, as well as over 100 very unique and absolutely tantalizing low-carb recipes to sink your teeth into while maintaining your weight.

Whether you have been livin' la vida low-carb for years or if you're a low-carb newbie, Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies is sure to have something in it that will useful to you in your low-carb lifestyle. Many of the basic concepts McCracken shares in this book completely dispels most of the rumors and lies about this way of eating that are too often repeated in the media and by so-called health "experts." With a grin and the truth, McCracken shares information that will help people be able to stay on low-carb for the rest of their lives as a permanent change in the way they eat and live. That's the secret to lasting weight loss and McCracken gets it as a 10-year veteran of livin' la vida low-carb.

As a 180-pound low-carb weight loss success story, I am always looking for new and exciting recipes to try to keep my low-carb program fresh and vibrant so it never gets boring (that's another lie the media often tells about low-carb!). Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies contains plenty of recipes to keep you busy for a while. I am always telling people who are on the low-carb lifestyle to try at least one new recipe a week to spice up their menu. McCracken has so many to choose from in this book you'll have a hard time deciding which one to try first!

I like the fact that McCracken advocates exercise as part of your low-carb lifestyle change because it is so important for people who may think they only need to eat foods low in carbohydrates to lose weight. While that is technically accurate, your body craves exercise (as strange as that sounds!) and wants to be moved. It is something that anyone who has been successful at keeping their weight under control will tell you is vital.

However, there is one point I personally disagree with McCracken about and that is portion control on your low-carb plan. She believes you should watch the size of your meal as well as your calories and fat to do low-carb right. While I agree we shouldn't be eating "platefuls of high-fat meats, foods dripping in fatty oils, tons of calories, or lots of highly processed foods" as McCracken writes in her book, I don't think obsessing over the fat grams, calories, or amount of food is necessary when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Throughout my weight loss in 2004 and in my weight maintenance ever since, not once have I paid attention to fat grams, calories, or food portions as part of my method for controlling my weight. Just the carbs. Maybe I'm weird, but doing that has worked wonderfully for me and I'm not about to change that method now.

Much of Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies is filled with all those delicious and easy "real food" (as she calls them) recipes, including gorgeous color photos of many of these dishes. It'll make you wanna jump in the kitchen right away and start cooking all day! McCracken would be proud of you for making that all-important first step in a low-carb journey you will travel on for the rest of your life.

See, even "dummies" can appreciate a low-carb book like Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies. Hee hee!

The 'No-Diet' Diet Is Dead From The Start

This Toronto-based Globe And Mail story takes a look at the latest thing in the realm of weight loss. It's called the "no-diet" diet and can be potentially devastating to the already poor obesity statistics we are seeing today.

The thinking behind the "no-diet" diet is that because there are so many fad diets on the market today recommending you do this or that to lose weight and none of them work, why don't you just eat a "sensible" meal plan and exercise so that everything will be okay?

Don't you just love how simple and easy they make that sound?

NEWSFLASH: If it was THAT easy, then we wouldn't have an obesity crisis and fad diets wouldn't exist because everybody would be doing it!

Okay, thanks for indulging me in a moment of angry outrage due to my sadness from being fat for most of my life. LOL! I'm glad I got that out of my system.

But seriously, think about it. Haven't we always been told that we just need to eat right and move our bodies more to make our weight fall into line with "normal" people? Of course, what they mean by "sensible" eating is a low-fat/low-calories/portion-controlled diet consisting of foods that you would rather not eat if you didn't have to. Is that really how YOU want to live the rest of your life? If so, then yippy skippy for you. But not for me and the millions of people who have found solace in the low-carb lifestyle full of a buffet of scrumptious delicacies that will tickle your tastebuds and putting a smile on your face while the pounds melt away.

Oh, but don't mention livin' la vida low-carb to these no-diet advocates because they'll rail you so fast you won't know what hit you!

Describing the Atkins diet and other low-carb programs as "fads" (gee, where have I heard THAT before?), this story claims that books like French Women Don't Get Fat have been the "death knell" to low-carb. You know, if something is dead or dying then why does it continue to stick around? Is it like the movie Night Of The Living Dead (call this one Night Of The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb! -- EEEEEEEEK! Run for your lives! Hee hee!)?

The "no-diet" diet says people should stop obsessing about what food they eat and just EAT whatever they want in "small portions" (just like this diet suggests) while using your two feet to get you from Point A to Point B. But how will you have the energy to walk around everywhere when you're so hungry from limiting your food intake to these small portions? Hmmmm?

Eating "healthy" does not mean you have to give up the wonderful foods you can and should enjoy when you are livin' la vida low-carb. And if you feel like eating more of these delicious low-carb foods than you ever have on any "diet" program you've ever been, then GO FOR IT!

That's exactly what I did when I was in the midst of losing 180 pounds in 2004 on the low-carb lifestyle. I ate as much as I wanted of the low-carb foods I decided to put in my mouth. As long as I stayed within my carb limit (which was around 25-30 carbs for me), the weight came off and I NEVER got hungry. Anybody who tells you that you MUST limit your food portions is lying to you.

Now, is it a good idea to gorge yourself on every single meal, regardless of the carb content of the food? Don't be ridiculous! Your food choices and the amount of food you consume will gradually go down on its own. But I can still put away a LOT of food when I want to. Just last Sunday I went to a local restaurant after lunch that has a home cookin' buffet and I ate (hold on to your hat when you read this!):

4 grilled chicken breasts
4 servings of green beans
4 servings of tomato pie (without the crust)
4 diet sodas

I know some low-fatties and low-carb traditionalists will at that meal I ate in utter amazement and wonder how I ever lost weight and maintained it eating like that. The answer to that question is simple: BECAUSE I CAN! My weight has remained unchanged even after eating a meal like that. When I want to, I can still eat a LOT of food.

Remember, I used to be a 410-pound behemouth monster! I didn't get that way without having an appetite. While I'm just a shadow of the man I used to be, the way I got there was by carefully selecting foods that I could eat without gaining weight. This isn't difficult to do as long as you know what you are putting in your mouth and can keep your carbohydrates limited. That's it!

And you DEFINITELY don't have to portion control what you eat if you don't want to. I'm tired of being fed that lie from so-called health experts who think they know what they are talking about. If I listened to their advice, then I probably would have given up on low-carb a long time ago from food deprivation. Thankfully, I have just ignored their recommendations and just started livin' la vida low-carb. That's what helped me lose 180 pounds and now keep it off for the past nine months.

I do agree with the notion that exercise is an integral part of the low-carb lifestyle, though. The key to exercise is getting started on a regular routine and sticking with it. I discuss how I did this, struggled early on, but then eventually made it such a part of my life that now I can't live without it. Amazing? Yes, but anybody can (and SHOULD) do it.

This story described the Atkins diet as "the biggest fad of all" because it "fosters a hankering for bacon and cheese, but you eat a roll and, well, the magic alchemy goes out the window."

Do they really think people are THAT stupid to believe a description of low-carb as silly as that? Apparently so, but real low-carbers know that there's more to low-carb than bacon and cheese (although I personally like both bacon and cheese as part of my healthy low-carb eating program). The obvious obsession the media has for ridiculing low-carb is simply dumbfounding.

Acknowledging people can struggle with the "no-diet" diet because it "can lack structure," the story said that people should learn and understand the importance of portion control and making good food choices that are healthy.

Who decides these things? Health experts? Nutritionists? Dietitians? I don't think so. And what is "healthy" eating anyway? The point is that there are a variety of methods for controlling your weight available to people today that nobody can claim a monopoly on what is best for everyone.

I have never claimed that low-carb is the only way to lose and maintain your weight. If someone is able to find permanent success losing weight for good on another program, then I am happy they were able to find something that works for them. But many people have tried their entire lives to lose weight and keep it off and NOTHING has worked for them. Perhaps livin' la vida low-carb is the lifestyle change they've been looking for.

It certainly beats a diet like the "no-diet" diet that is dead from the start!