Golf Legend Says Avoid Atkins Diet 'At All Costs'

This London Telegraph story about professional golf legend Gary Player included a disturbingly opinionated comment from him about livin' la vida low-carb that I could not believe came out of his mouth.

Celebrating his 70th birthday on Monday, the South African-born Player stands at 5'7" tall and 150 pounds. He's not what you would describe as someone who has to worry about his weight. Nevertheless, that didn't stop him from making a very blunt personal statement about what he thinks of the weight loss program developed by the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins.

"Stay away from it at all costs," Player is quoted in this column as saying about the Atkins diet.

As an avid fruit and vegetable eater, including the extremely high-carb bananas, Player said he recommends people to "under-eat and over-exercise."

Translation: Eat less calories than you burn off in exercise. In other words, calories in vs. calories out.

Sigh.

I guess Player hasn't seen what livin' la vida low-carb has done for fellow professional golfer Colin Montgomerie, who has slimmed down and greatly improved his play ever since.

It would have been nice to know why Player was so adamant that people "stay away" from the low-carb lifestyle like it was the plague. I wonder if he's just reading all the negative information being disseminated throughout the media about the Atkins diet. That is such as shame because it leads to poor conclusions about livin' la vida low-carb relying on other people's opinions about it.

If a public figure like Gary Player expresses his thoughts about low-carb living so nonchalantly, then people may believe what he says is true. But I urge Player and any other celebrity in the world of sports and entertainment to learn more about the exciting low-carb lifestyle and realize what a tremendous impact it is having on millions and millions of people to help them lose weight permanently and take back their health.

Had it not been for livin' la vida low-carb, then I would likely be pushing 500 pounds and on the verge of a heart attack, stroke, or even death because of my morbid obesity. Thankfully, low-carb shed over 180 pounds off of me and I am a healthy, active, and VERY energetic man today. That's the difference low-carb made for me.

Had I chosen to "stay away from it at all costs," then I would never have been able to enjoy the superb health I have today. I'm sure Player meant well, but he is just wrong about the Atkins diet and low-carb living.

You can inquire with Gary Player about why he dislikes livin' la vida low-carb by filling out this contact page at his web site. Let me know if you get a response from him or a representative about why he opposes the low-carb lifestyle. I'll update you if I get an answer (but I don't expect to get one).

11-4-05 UPDATE: Several of you have heard back from a representative for Gary Player who provided the following general response:

Thank you for your recent message to Mr. Player with regards to his comments on the low carb diet. Please know that Mr. Player is currently traveling outside of the country on business and will not be returning until mid-November. At that time, he will be given your message for his review and reply.

We apologize if you have been offended and can assure you that Mr. Player will see your message. If I can be of any further assistance at this time prior to Mr. Player's return, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Debbie Longenecker
Director of Administration
Gary Player Group, Inc.

If anyone else receives a response from Debbie on behalf of Gary Player, especially when he explains why people should "stay away from (low-carb) at all costs," please forward that to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS!

Halloween Makes Obesity Problem Worse

Participating in Halloween doesn't mean sugar has to be involved

The day that children of all ages anticipate every year has arrived today -- HALLOWEEN!

But it is very unfortunate that the #1 ingredient that is promoted on this day is something that the body could live without. We all want to do something about the obesity problem in the United States, but we fail to recognize how sugar is perpetuating the problem.

I can hear you now...

"Aw, come on, Jimmy, it's just a little fun on Halloween! Lighten up a little and enjoy this day with the children."

You know, before I started livin' la vida low-carb a couple of years ago, I would have agreed with you entirely. Unfortunately, though, that kind of thinking is exactly why I was fat kid who grew into an even fatter teenager and young adult, and eventually ballooned into the 410-pound morbidly obese man I was prior to January 1, 2004.

It's hard for me to say this, but people have become way too irresponsible about the nutritional decisions both for themselves and for their children. Sugar has become so culturally acceptable that nobody is alarmed by these gobs and gobs of candy that will be distributed to children tonight.

In fact, my church is having an event called "Truck or Treat" tonight where members will line up the trunks of their cars along the edge of the parking lot and let the trick-or-treaters come through dressed up in their costumes to get all the candy they could ever want. The coordinator of this event pleaded with people, "We need as much candy as we can possibly get." While I knew what she meant, those haunting words are still ringing in my head.

What are we doing people? Are we just telling people that sugar is not harming them and go on about our business like there is nothing wrong?! I believe so strongly about the dangers of sugar on our society that I devoted an entire chapter on the subject in my book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." It is way too important for us to bury our heads in the sand and become oblivious to reality.

So what do you do for the kids and even adults who NEED a sugar-free/low-carb option?

Here are just a few suggestions:

- Small packages of mixed nuts
- Sugar-free chocolate candies from Russell Stover
- Individually-wrapped sugar-free hard candies
- Sugar-free gum
- Non-candy items such as a small toy, school supplies, or crayons
- Cinnamon and Splenda pork rinds
- Cheese sticks (who doesn't like these?!)
- Slim Jims
- MUCH MUCH MORE!!! (See this list of other sugar-free options from Connie Bennett)

Speaking of Connie, she posted a story today at her SUGAR SHOCK! blog about how each child who goes out to trick-or-treat tonight will receive an estimated $31 worth of sugar-laced candy! WHOA! She warns about how the overabundance of high fructose corn syrup in many of these products is mindboggling.

Yes, Halloween is a fun day for kids and some adults and I cannot and will not stand in the way of that. But it is my duty as someone who lost over 180+ pounds and knows how harmful sugar was to me and my health to inform you of my concerns about all of this candy that is so readily available to us especially on the day of Halloween.

Wouldn't you just love to see the reaction of the candy companies if NOBODY bought their products just one time during the Halloween season, arguably their make-or-break holiday? You would see the price of their candy drop so low that they'd almost be giving it away! Halloween is a very profitable time for these companies and they will continue to feed the need as long as people keep turning a blind eye to the negative effect sugar is having on themselves and their children.

One last note of encouragement: I know it is going to be hard at the office today and then tonight with all the activities of Halloween going on. But whatever you do, RESIST the urge to splurge on sugary candy. If you are livin' la vida low-carb, you don't need it. It is not worth derailing your weight loss efforts for just a moment of sweetness. Once that moment subsides, you'll be craving another, and another, and another...

BREAK THE CYCLE of sugar addiction and enjoy the freedom that the low-carb lifestyle brings instead. When you do, you will shun sugar forever. And that is a VERY good thing!

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb' Book Tour Coming To A City Near You

With the release of my new book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb", I am traveling around the United States to share with others what the low-carb lifestyle has done for me. It has been an amazing experience for me to meet so many new people through my weight loss and I look forward to meeting many more in the coming months as I come to a city near you talking about livin' la vida low-carb.

Here are the upcoming public appearances and book signings that have been confirmed:

Thursday, November 10, 2005
Pine Street YMCA
Spartanburg, SC
6-8pm

Saturday, November 12, 2005 (with Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies author Jan McCracken)
CarbSmart Low-Carb & Sugar-Free Market
Huntington Beach, CA
1-4pm

Monday, November 14, 2005
Pic-A-Book
Spartanburg, SC
6-8pm

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Middle Tyger YMCA
Duncan, SC
6-8pm

Friday, November 25, 2005
Heaven & Earth Christian Specialty Stores
Chesapeake, VA (inside Greenbrier Mall)
12-3pm

Friday, November 25, 2005
Heaven & Earth Christian Specialty Stores
Hampton, VA
5-8pm

Saturday, November 26, 2005
Heaven & Earth Christian Specialty Stores
Virginia Beach, VA (Kemps River Shopping Center)
12-3pm

Saturday, December 10, 2005
OK-Carbs
Columbia, SC (252 Harbison Blvd #Z)
803-732-0122
3-5pm

Saturday, December 10, 2005
"The New You Show" LIVE radio interview
Listen online at Live1053.com
Dallas, TX
6-7pm

Thursday, December 15, 2005
LIVE tele-seminar interview w/Connie Bennett
The Fast-Track, Kick-Sugar Countdown Program™
New York, NY
8:30-9:30pm

Friday, January 6, 2006
Low-Carb Central
Milwaukee, WI
7-8pm

Saturday, January 7, 2006
Low-Carb Central
Milwaukee, WI
1-3:30pm

**Click here for a full itenerary of Milwaukee media appearances**

Thursday, January 12, 2006
Ivey-O'Sullivan Chiropractic
Spartanburg, SC
7-8pm

Friday, January 20, 2006 through
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Nutritional & Metabolic Aspects of Carbohydrate Restriction
Brooklyn, NY
Appearing at all events

Thursday, January 26, 2006
Barnes & Noble
Spartanburg, SC (Next to the Dorman Centre Shopping Center)
Local Author's Book Signing
6-8pm

For more information on any of these events or to inquire about hosting a speaking or book signing event near you, please send an e-mail to Jimmy Moore at livinlowcarbman@charter.net to discuss the details. Contact me soon as dates are filling up fast. This list will be periodically updated to reflect new dates and events.

Losing Weight Could Reverse Heart Disease, Australian Researchers To Study

Wittert says weight loss for heart patients could save millions on healthcare

The Advertiser reports on a brand new study currently underway in Australia where scientific researchers there are seeking to prove the theory that weight loss can actually reverse the adverse effects of heart disease in patients who have experienced varying levels of damage due to poor diet and exercise habits.

Researchers from the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the University of Adelaide announced their exciting new clinical trial study at the Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity conference in Adelaide, Australia on Saturday.

Led by endocrinoligist and medical professor Dr. Gary Wittert, the results of the study will not be available until 2008 but could change the way doctors treat and diagnose heart disease in the foreseeable future.

The two-year study will look at 80 overweight and obese men using state-of-the-art MRI technology to look at the heart muscle and blood vessels of each of the participants who are "significantly overweight" both before and after they lose weight. Each of the men in the study will be require to lose a minimum of 10 percent of their initial body weight through meal replacement bars, diet, and exercise.

Dr. Wittert is hopeful that his team of researchers will discover that even a moderate loss of weight in patients susceptible to heart damage and other cardiovascular problems will see improvements in their health without expensive prescription medicines.

"Treatment for heart disease and related illness currently requires substantial medications at a huge cost to the health system and individual," he stated. "Can you imagine the savings that could be made if the treatment is weight loss - if we can prove that losing weight can reverse the damage?"

So far there has only been "anecdotal evidence" in support of this theory but "no proof" from the medical science community as of yet, Dr. Wittert explained. That is what this new study hopes to uncover.

Nearly three out of every four Australians between the ages of 55 and 64 are either overweight or obese right now because they have simply done nothing to improve their health or waistlines which has put their cardiovascular health at great risk.

"If we can try to understand the relationship between obesity and weight then we can redefine treatment for these people," Wittert concluded.

As someone who successfully lost 180+ pounds, I cannot even begin to tell you the enormous turnaround in my health from so many vantage points. Besides the obvious weight load I am no longer carrying around, especially in my midsection, my breathing is better, my cholesterol numbers have greatly improved, my blood pressure is stable, my activity level has increase dramatically, my energy level is the best it has ever been in my entire life, the nagging aches and pains I used to deal with are gone forever, my strength is better, and my overall health could not be any better than it is right now.

It is amazing how even a little bit of weight loss can produce such a dramatic difference in your health. A 10 percent weight reduction is only 30 pounds in a 300-pound man, and yet it can help improve your health more than you could imagine. If that 300-pound man just committed to losing 10 percent of his body weight each year for the next three years, then he would be a much healthier 219 pounds by 2008. That doesn't sound impossible to do, does it?

By that time, Dr. Wittert and his professional team of obesity researchers will have the results of their study concluded and ready to shock the world with what they find. Then the debate will shift from the fact that people need to lose weight to reverse heart damage to HOW they can lose weight. This is where people who have been successful on and support livin' la vida low-carb as the best weight loss solution will need to make their voices heard loud and clear for the whole world to hear.

You can send an e-mail to Dr. Gary Wittert at gary.wittert@adelaide.edu.au.

Veronica Atkins: Low-Carb Could 'End The Diabetes Epidemic'

Atkins says obesity and diabetes "can literally be stopped" with low-carb

This October 2005 Diabetes Health Magazine story features a revealing interview from none other than the widow of the late Dr. Robert Atkins who popularized livin' la vida low-carb worldwide. What she says about the low-carb lifestyle may very well surprise you!

Veronica Atkins certainly needs no introduction to people who follow low-carb living. Since the untimely death of her husband following a freakish slip and fall incident in New York City a little more than two years ago, she has been actively defending the great work her husband invested his life in to help people realize how incredibly beneficial the low-carb way of eating can be for them if they are overweight, obese, or suffer from a variety of adverse health conditions.

One such disease that has rapidly become a major concern primarily for people who are overweight and obese is diabetes. As mounting evidence continues to pile up in favor of a low-carb approach for diabetics to lose weight and get their condition under control, Mrs. Atkins has got to feel somewhat vindicated on behalf of her late husband for the undue heavy criticism he received for promoting his diet which is high in protein and fat. It turns out he was right after all!

“I think it is possible to end the diabetes epidemic,” Mrs. Atkins stated emphatically in her interview with Diabetes Health.

Her philanthropy through the Robert C. Atkins Foundation has allowed over $12 million to be invested into further research to look at how low-carb living can help people who suffer from obesity and diabetes.

Mrs. Atkins believes very strongly that type 2 diabetes can be completely eliminated and obesity conquered if people would give livin' la vida low-carb a fair chance to work for them without worrying about the constant negative media hype surrounding this healthy lifestyle.

"Personally, I want everyone to know that although diabetes is currently an enormous problem, it doesn’t need to be. It can literally be stopped," she exclaimed. "Can you imagine eradicating diabetes? It can be done. Dr. Atkins had great success proving that it can be cured."

In fact, the article notes that more and more doctors are prescribing a low-carb lifestyle for their diabetic patients to help them control their condition. A whole lot more research on a larger scale is forthcoming and could be a turning point for validating low-carb as the best way to deal with diabetes. Atkins believes that is what her husband would be doing if he were still around today.

She discussed in the Diabetes Health interview what drove him to do what he did to put low-carb living on the map.

"He started studying more about a lower-carb diet, and started applying it to patients. He saw the positive results and finally wrote a book about low-carb diet and lifestyle," she said in the interview.

As someone who enjoys livin' la vida low-carb herself, Mrs. Atkins didn't mind cooking for her husband some of his favorite meals.

"He usually ate eggs for breakfast and bacon or some sliced tomatoes with coffee," she explained about Dr. Atkins' eating habits. For lunch, he would have grilled chicken and a tomato salad and cheese. For dinner he would have a salad, some protein—lamb was his favorite— and some cooked vegetables. Sometimes he would have a few berries for dessert."

But Mrs. Atkins said each individual needs to find "their own level of carbs" and not "play around too much" with that number to see maximum results. She also encourages people to exercise as well.

Describing enriched white bread as a "poison (that even) rats wouldn't eat," Mrs. Atkins explained that most people who eat carbs are consuming way too much white flour and sugar. She said people need to be educated about how they can get their energy from protein and vegetables rather than empty carbs that come from these carb-loaded foods.

When times got difficult because of the criticism the Atkins diet was receiving, Mrs. Atkins said it bothered her that the media and health "experts" were calling her husband's work "dangerous" and "counterproductive" to weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

"Bob never wavered in his beliefs, every morning, starting around 7:30 a.m., he saw patients. He saw their positive results and this reinforced his theories which ultimately improved their lives and health," she recalled.

In fact, Dr. Atkins put himself on a low-carb diet because he wanted to lose weight and hated being hungry all the time on those "other" diet programs that restrict your fat, calories and portion sizes.

"About 40 years ago, he was reading a medical journal article about low-carb eating, and thought, 'I can do this.' So, he tried it," Mrs. Atkins recalled.

The rest they say is history.

You might be interested in knowing what Mrs. Atkins thinks about the bankruptcy announcement by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. in August.

We have nothing to do with the food product company, since it was sold shortly after Bob’s death," she revealed. "The Atkins food product company was created initially to help Bob’s patients and to allow Bob to eat low-carb ice cream, which he loved and missed on the lifestyle. The product company grew into a large and successful business as a result of the acceptance of low carb by the general public. When Atkins started out, there were about 60 low-carb products in the marketplace. Last year, there were over 10,000."

Acknowledging the satiety of the low-carb lifestyle makes it easier to stick with than other weight loss programs, Mrs. Atkins said she completely avoids processed sugar and flour products.

"And I don’t like potatoes," she noted. "I think you need fatty acids more than sugar for certain brain functions. I love olive oil because it’s very healthy, as well as vegetables, salads and berries. Fiber is also very important. I also consider the glycemic index in various foods. If you’re going to have fruit, take berries over a banana."

She also said people should have butter instead of margarine.

"Once and much to his dismay, [Dr. Atkins] looked inside his mother’s refrigerator and found margarine. He said, 'How could you?' and she said, 'Because it doesn’t splatter,' and it was what the government and health organizations were recommending. When a [health] organization gets behind a certain product, it’s amazing what people will believe," Mrs. Atkins declared.

In a nutshell, Mrs. Atkins describes the Atkins diet as a program designed to "reduce the sugar intake and eliminate or reduce the intake of certain types of 'bad' carbs" so that the body will become "an efficient, fat-burning state" that is safe and healthy for virtually everyone who does it.

What an incredible woman Veronica Atkins is! I am so privileged that she personally reviewed my new book Livin' La Vida Low-Carb and was not disappointed with what I wrote about the impact her husband's work had on my life. In fact, she would not have expected anything less than success.

For more information about how the Atkins diet can help cure diabetes, please read Atkins Diabetes Revolution.

Don't Let Life Cause Your Weight Loss To Taper

This week has been pretty much hellacious (is that a word?) for me. I've been working my regular full-time job, actively promoting my book, and trying to keep up with my reputation for regularly contributing to this blog. Add to all of that the fact that I took on a part-time job two months ago at a popular party store that just happens to be selling Halloween costumes right now when everybody and their momma is looking for one and you've got a recipe for exhaustion!

As I am writing this post just before midnight on the East Coast right after getting home from that job, this gives me an excellent opportunity to address an issue of great importance when you are livin' la vida low-carb and trying to stay on track with your weight loss.

It would be very easy to just rationalize to yourself, "Indulge yourself a little, you deserve it. It's been such a hard week and you should be able to savor whatever you want without having to stick so strictly with low-carb." Has anyone ever let their mind do that to them? If so, then I've got two words for you: STOP IT! :)

Life has a funny way of doing that to us, doesn't it? We easily rationalize in our minds every area of our life to the point that there is no responsibility for the actions we are taking. When you are losing weight, this mentality can cause your weight loss to taper and even go in the opposite direction. Not good.

But when you are resolute and steadfast in your commitment to livin' la vida low-carb no matter how much pressure is placed upon you, there is nothing that can stand in your way. There will be temptations, like the gobs and gobs of candy just sitting around at work this time of year with Halloween next week. No matter how good that chocolate bar or candy corn looks, don't give in.

It is just not worth going backwards in your weight loss efforts to give in to even a fleeting moment of sugar-laced pleasure. You will be so glad you withstood the test and resisted the urge to splurge. Your body wouldn't know what to do with all that sugar anyway (I'm sure my body would go into shock if I ate any sugar now!).

My body is extremely physically tired at the moment after a long day of working. But I was also hungry when I got home from work and needed to eat before writing this post and then hitting the sack. Did I stuff my mouth with garbage junk food such as soda, chips, or fast food? Yeah right! Nope, instead I ate foods high in protein and fat, but with very few carbohydrates. It's my way of life now and I don't even think about it anymore.

When you realize ahead of time that life has a conniving way of convincing us we need something when we really don't, then and only then have you reached a point in your life when you have regained control of your life and the decisions that can affect your health and well-being. It is a great feeling you when get there and you never want to lose control again.

YOU CAN DO IT!!! Keep livin' la vida low-carb, my friends. Good night and God bless you (pray for me on Saturday as I work 9am-6pm with all those frantic parents and kids looking for that last-minute costume -- AAAAAAAACCCCK! -- Calgon, take me away!!!!!!).

A Fruity Diet With Incredible Results

As someone who has lost over 180 pounds naturally through diet and exercise, I have grown to love and admire anyone else who has been able to do the same for themselves.

That's why I was so anxious to read Roger Troy Wilson's story about losing an unbelievable 230 pounds in his new book called Let's Do Lunch. As a low-carb weight loss success story myself, I just HAD to know how he lost his weight and kept it off for many years now.

Well, what I discovered was the most peculiar and unique "diet" plan I think I have ever seen in my life. It's definitely NOT low-carb, low-fat, low-calorie, or portion-controlled. None of those ever worked for him no matter how hard he tried to lose weight on them. I don't know where Wilson came up with this way of eating, but it helped him shed the pounds and keep it off. Anything that can help you do that is worth taking a look at.

In Let's Do Lunch, Wilson not only shares his story about ballooning up to a "5-foot waist" (my waist got as big as 5'2"!), but also the many letters of thanks he has received from those who have enjoyed his special program. The enthusiasm these people have after losing weight is contagious and makes you want to know how the Let's Do Lunch plan works.

As a very successful businessman, Wilson knew he had a problem with obesity but ignored it for many years. As many of us former 400+ pounders will attest, the rollercoaster ride of lose, gain, lose, gain was ruthless. Trying time after time to find that one way of eating that will sustain us for the rest of our lives was challenging and draining. Surely there had to be a better way to control your weight?!

For Wilson, there was. And actually he can thank his son for getting him started on the greatest achievement of his life. When they say the old phrase "out of the mouth of babes," it was definitely true for Wilson.

His son had put some grapes in the freezer to have as a refreshing and delicious treat later in the day. But when Wilson found the grapes in the freezer, he immediately thought they were ruined and started blaming everyone for it. He went to his wife first, but she said she didn't do it. So then he calls his son and I'm sure he responded something along the lines of, "Chill out, Dad, it's cool. You've never tasted grapes this good before!"

And so Wilson tried one of these frozen fruits and was just amazed by how incredibly delicious they were. So he kept eating and eating them. He did the same thing the next night and the next night beginning a pattern that eventually led to the basis for the Let's Do Lunch program that helped him shed those pounds.

While Wilson makes it clear this is not a fruit diet, fruits of all kinds are highly encouraged to eat in the quantities of your choice. Besides the fruit, most of the rest of the Let's Do Lunch plan is fairly close to livin' la vida low-carb -- eliminate sugar, starches, and unnecessary carbs and consume more protein for satiety. As for the high sugar content in all of that fruit he endorses, Wilson said he doesn't think that sugar is fattening although the sugar found in candy bars and sweets is fattening. Hmmmm.

I chuckled when I read about how the "thin" version of Wilson is getting so much attention these days because I can personally relate to that experience. You life really does change after losing such a dramatic amount of weight. But I am envious of Roger Troy Wilson. He got his tummy tuck after losing weight and is so happy with it. This is a struggle for so many of us who have lost weight, but now have the hanging skin to look at every single day. Someday it will happen, someday. Wilson said it has made all the difference in the world how he sees himself when he looks in the mirror.

In a nutshell, the Let's Do Lunch weight loss plan calls for four things: eat fruit, make lunch your priority meal of the day, eat less fattening foods that you enjoy, and have corn, beans, and peas instead of bread, pasta, potatoes or rice. That's it. Do those things and you are well on your way to losing weight the way Wilson did it.

Of course, you will want to read Let's Do Lunch to get a better understanding of the who, what, where, why, when, how of this new way of eating. His "Helpful Tips" chapter answers all of those nagging questions you may be having about dieting in general and how Let's Do Lunch works to melt away the fat from your body. You'll have to turn to page 55 to see how often you should weigh yourself. It's not what you think.

Wilson also helps you deal with the inevitable cravings you will experience, what to do when you feel the desire to cheat, how to order when you eat out at a fast-food or sit-down restaurant.

But I know you are wondering about that little word known as exercise. Am I gonna have to sweat myself to death on this diet? In a word, nope! Wilson said exercise is not required on his program, but it will most certainly enhance the weight loss and health benefits you will enjoy if you do. Your body will also become more toned, energetic, and active. When you shed over 100 pounds off of your body, you cannot help but start moving faster and faster in every activity that you do. I am more active today than I have ever been in my entire life. And I'm sure Wilson is as well.

There is a structured 14-day eating plan for people who need to be told how to eat. Follow it strictly if you need guidance about doing the Let's Do Lunch plan. Wilson even provides a handy grocery shopping list about what you can and cannot buy to eat on his program. And in case you were wondering, what would a book about weight loss be without throwing in a few favorite recipes at the back of the book?

Wilson has made the Let's Do Lunch so user-friendly that you won't have any trouble reading it from cover to cover in one sitting. What an amazing story of weight loss triumph and success Wilson has to share. While my path to becoming skinny was very different from his, I have great respect and admiration for anyone who can get their obesity under control for good.

Won't you be the next Roger Troy Wilson to change your life forever? If so, then Let's Do Lunch.

Read My Book? Then Write A Review For Amazon

My book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" is starting to get more and more attention across the United States and around the world now that it is listed on Amazon.com. While the front cover of the book has still not been put on my Amazon page, there is an area for people who have read the book to post their personal reviews.

If you have read my book and enjoyed it (or even if you didn't enjoy it!), then can you do me a favor and write me a review? It is SUPER easy and I've even provided you with the link here that will take you directly to the page where you can upload your review. It simple and quick and your review appears within a day or two.

While it may not seem like much to you, a lot of people base their decision about getting a book on the opinions of others who have already bought and read the book. I would be honored and grateful if you could do this for me.

Of course, you can also post your reviews in my special Blog Readers Reviews section if you want to share your comments at my blog.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for continuing to be an inspiration to me on this incredible ride. SEE YA!

Health-Hack Names 'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb' Their Book Of The Month

Kevin Kennedy-Spaien over at Health-Hack.com today announced on his web site that my new book, "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb," is their featured Book of the Month for November.

Here is what appears on the front page at Health-Hack.com:

One of our readers, Jimmy Moore, has written a book detailing the powerful story of his 180 pound weight loss. We are featuring it as our Amazon Pick of the Month for November.

There is an affiliate link that appears for people to order "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" directly from Amazon.com.

Special THANKS to Kevin and the crew at Health-Hack.com for honoring me and my book in this way.

Are you featuring my book at your web site? Then let me know at livinlowcarbman@charter.net so I can recognize you at my blog. THANKS!

I'm Lovin' It: McDonald's To Print Nutrition Info On Food Packaging In 2006

McDonald's to reveal the nutritional content of their foods on packaging

If there was ever a clear sign of the impending apocalypse, then this is it.

The Washington Post is reporting that fast food giant McDonald's agreed on Tuesday to begin printing the nutritional information about their foods directly on the packaging beginning in March 2006, including the fat, sodium, carbohydrates, protein and calories.

Lisa Howard, a McDonald's spokeswoman, said their customers are becoming more and more health-conscious and have requested the nutritional information be readily available to them when they visit the world's #1 fast food restaurant chain.

She noted that the new packaging will be "simple to understand, easy to use, easy to access."

While I applaud McDonald's for being willing to share the nutritional content of their foods directly on the packaging, I think most people who visit the Golden Arches know that most of what is sold there is unhealthy for them to eat. Whether it is the excessive sugar content of the hot fudge sundaes or the carbohydrate-loaded french fries, there's just not a whole lot of foods that most people would consider "healthy" at Mickey-D's. There's just not.

Of course, you could pick up this book if you absolutely MUST eat at McDonald's or any other fast food restaurant. It contains helpful suggestions about what is good for you to order and what you should stay away from. And there are examples of people who are trying to prove it is possible to survive and even lose weight on just fast food. Uh, I think I'll pass.

One thing I will applaud McDonald's about is the big posters they have had hanging up in their restaurants for years that provide the nutritional information for all of their foods. In fact, this information is even posted at their web site now, with a special area called "Simple Steps To Controlling Your Carbohydrates." I bet you didn't know that was there did you? I sure didn't.

But of the 23 million customers who visit McDonald's each day, a mere 700,000 log on to the official McDonald's web site. And of that number, how many are actually seeking out the nutritional information about the foods? Ten percent at the most, maybe? That's only about 70,000 out of that 23,000,000 researching the foods they are putting in their mouths, or .003 of all McDonald's consumers -- barely even a drop in the bucket!

But even still, some say the nutritional facts should be posted directly on the menu along with the product description and prices. Say what? It's been a couple of years since I've been inside of a McDonald's restaurant, but I remember how cramped the menu was WITHOUT this extra information. There is no way anybody is going to stand there with dozens of people waiting behind them to review all the nutritional information about what they are going to order.

If you are concerned about how healthy your food selections are going to be for you, then there are plenty of ways to do that ahead of time so you can make the best choice when it is your time to order. And, no, the Big Mac (47g carbs) and Large Fries (70g carbs) with a Coke (86g carbs) and M&M McFlurry (96g carbs) is not one of them! How do you like that 300g carbohydrate meal?! That's more carbs than I used to eat in a week and a half while I was losing weight!!!

Restaurant industry leaders say most people simply ignore the vast array of information that is available to them when they eat at a fast food chain because frankly they are not changing their eating habits one bit. But they believe McDonald's is saving face by caving in to pressure by consumers to make the nutritional content readily available. And McDonald's no doubt is hoping this one simple act will silence those who want to blame them for the obesity epidemic in the United States.

I don't think this lets McDonald's and other fast food companies off the hook, but it is a better step towards educating the public about what they are putting in their mouth. But ultimately it is the consumer who makes the final decision about whether they put that purchase the food or not. The onus cannot be put on these companies who are simply providing consumers with what they want.

I don't necessarily agree with some of the marketing tactics used to convince people to buy their products, but restaurants have every right to do business however they see fit to make money. That's capitalism and is what makes America the greatest country in the world. I will never stand in the way of business people making good economic decisions to better themselves financially.

But there does come a responsibility to provide the buying public with the nutritional they need to make informed decisions. Adding a few salads to your menu does not make the entire menu safe for consumption. And neither does adding the nutritional content on the product packaging. Again, it all falls on the person who is ordering the food, paying for the food, and then eating the food about whether that was a healthy eating decision or not. Like Bob Harper from "The Biggest Loser" said in his interview with me recently, fast food is "killing us as a nation." We must blame ourselves for holding the shovel and digging the grave.

Currently legislation is underway in various states to require restaurants to post nutritional information on their menus. Predictably, the restaurant industry is complaining about costs and how tedious and challenging it would be to transition all that information into their menus.

McDonald's even test-marketed putting the nutrition facts about their foods on their menu and the customers found it "confusing," which is why they decided to place it directly on the food packaging.

Interestingly, as more and more nutritional data has become available to consumers, the move has been to the next "big" thing. Do you think we'll be seeing one of these in a McDonald's before long? Don't laugh, that day may be here sooner than you think!

Nutritional info or no nutritional info, I'm not going to McDonald's ever again. There are just too many bad memories of that 410-pound man that I used to be before I started livin' la vida low-carb. No thank you! I'm not making that mistake again! In fact, after I lost 170 pounds on a low-fat diet in 1999, guess where I went when I gave up on that "diet." M-C-D-O-N-A-L-D-S!!! You can read about how I gained back all my weight and then some before I found a better way to control my weight in my new book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."

The new packaging will make its world debut at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, in February.

I wonder what Morgan Spurlock thinks about this move by McDonald's, hmmm?!

Low-Carb, Exercise Lowers Total Cholesterol

Gary Schultheis is living proof that low-carb lowers total cholesterol

This Evansville, Indiana-based Courier & Press story about a man who didn't accept the inevitability that he would have to take statin drugs to control his high cholesterol for the rest of his life.

To that I say, YOU GO BOY!

When Gary Schultheis, a licensed marriage counselor and family therapist in Evansville, Indiana since 2000, got the shocking news from his doctor last year that his total cholesterol had reached 270, he knew he needed to do something about it fast. But, like so many other patients all across the United States, his doctor was strongly pushing him to start taking a statin drug such as Lipitor or Crestor to bring the numbers down.

But the then 49-year-old Schultheis didn't accept the fact that prescription drugs was the answer. Instead, he tried to lower his cholesterol the natural way -- through good diet and exercise.

At first he attempted to lower his fat and exercise on his bike to lower his cholesterol, but it only brought his cholesterol down to 228. His doctor was not pleased and again wanted Schultheis to take a statin drug.

That's when Schultheis started on a low-carb lifestyle. In the story they say he didn't try the "Atkins diet," but rather began a "high-protein, low-carbohydrate weight-loss diet." Uh, okay, so what's the difference?

I realize there are many different low-carb programs out there, but everyone who talks about a "low-carb diet" automatically calls it the "Atkins diet" just as we describe a soda as a "Coke" or a tissue as a "Kleenex." Whether Schultheis knows it or not, he was doing the Atkins diet, or as I like to call it, he was "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."

Again, while the story notes that he "didn't cut out carbohydrates," Schultheis did shun sugar and while flour as well as sodas and beer. Instead, he ate more whole grains and nuts while exercising on his bike even more.

That sounds a whole lot like he was low-carbin' it to me. Low-carb living does not "cut out" carbs, it just keeps your carb intake at a level where you are not gaining weight. Eliminating sugar and white flour from his diet alone was probably more beneficial to Schultheis' health than anything as well as the regular exercise.

Thanks to the miraculously wonderful way of eating known as low-carb, Schultheis successfully dropped his total cholesterol down to 178 with an increase in his HDL "good" cholesterol and a descrease in his LDL "bad" cholesterol and his total number has not been above 190 since.

Kudos to Schultheis for not buying into one of the biggest money-making scams being perpetrated on the American people known as statin drugs. Studies are already underway to see what the long-term effects of taking these drugs will have on the health and well-being of the people who take them.

I know from personal experience and with the results of my own blood work this month that your HDL levels can go way up without taking any drugs as mine did (currently at 71, up from 26 in December 2003) while your LDL levels and total cholesterol come down naturally on a high-protein, low-carb plan. Studies are confirming this is a fact.

We owe Schultheis a great debt of gratitude. While his act of defiance against the pharmaceutical companies who are pressuring doctors to shove these statin drugs down the throats of the American people will not be recognized as prominently as the heroic feat that the late Rosa Parks did 50 years ago on the back of a segregated bus, I believe people everywhere who have improved their health and cholesterol numbers while livin' la vida low-carb should stand up and cheer for Schultheis because he bucked the trend and proved the "establishment" all wrong.

Ironically, the name of his therapy practice in Evansville is called "A Place For Change." That's a perfect description for this great man who may have singlehandedly changed the way many people react to the news that they have high cholesterol!

You can send Gary Schultheis a congratulatory e-mail at gary@aPlaceForChange.com.

10-26-05 UPDATE: I received this very nice e-mail response from Gary Schultheis about my blog post:

Jimmy,

Your story is quite impressive. Congratulations on your success. I'm also impressed that you got the article so quickly. Keep up the good work.

Gary

Again, THANK YOU, Gary! You have inspired me today that I will never again take statin drugs to control my cholesterol as long as I've got the low-carb lifestyle to help me keep it under control.

'The Biggest Loser' Is On The Phone For You

Diet and workout tips from "The Biggest Loser" for your cell phone

With the tremendous popularity of Season Two of NBC's hit weight loss reality show "The Biggest Loser," you just knew something like this was going to come along to capitalize on its success.

"When we created 'The Biggest Loser' we always envisioned it as a multi-platform lifestyle brand in and of itself, and this service will provide our audience with another opportunity to further interact with the show and make healthier lifestyle choices," said "The Biggest Loser" co-creator Ben Silverman.

On the heels of a very successful launch of "The Biggest Loser" book comes an exclusive partnership with GoldPocket Wireless to bring people advice and tips from the show to their mobile telephones.

"'The Biggest Loser' is again attracting a large nationwide audience, and we're excited to extend it to the mobile platform," said Stephen Andrade, Vice President of Interactive for NBC. "Using GoldPocket Wireless's content management and distribution platform, we were able to quickly and easily set up this service for access by virtually all wireless subscribers."

Yeah, honey, "The Biggest Loser" is on the phone for you!




GoldPocket Wireless is an industry leader in this technology and is poised to provide subscribers who pay just $2.99 per month with frequent text messages of encouragement and helpful hints from "The Biggest Loser." These messages can be stored and accessed anytime to provide people with the motivation they need when they need it the most during their weight loss endeavor.

"We are delighted NBC is using our technology to provide this value-added service to their viewers," said Stephen Leonard, President of GoldPocket Wireless. "The Biggest Loser Mobile Subscription service is yet another example of how mobile campaigns extend the reach of television by giving viewers new ways to become involved with their favorite shows. The wireless subscription model has proven to be a very successful way for content providers to reach consumers anytime, anywhere."

To sign up for this offer, fans of the show need to text the letters "BL" (for "Biggest Loser") to 62288 (NBCTV). This new service is accessible from virtually any cellular telephone using every major wireless carrier in the United States. The minimal charge will appear on your cell phone bill and there is no extra charge for signing up.

Even if you are livin' la vida low-carb, any tool that can help keep you on track and focused during your weight loss is worth using. If this is something you think can help keep you accountable and encouraged while dropping the pounds, then I urge you to sign up for this TODAY! Be inspired and invigorated by the positive energy that comes from knowing you are doing something constructive to improve your health. If those contestants on "The Biggest Loser" don't move you to start your own weight loss program, then ain't nothing gonna get you going!

If you want to be inspired right now by one of the trainers from "The Biggest Loser," Bob Harper, and you missed my recent exclusive interview with him about the show and about losing weight, then you can click here to read it.

**11-26-05 UPDATE: Check out these incredible photos of the contestants from Season One of "The Biggest Loser." WOW!!!**

"BIGGEST LOSER" PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.COM:

British Book Distributor Making 'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb' Available Worldwide

Ever since my new book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" released on October 11, 2005, a lot of good things have happened to help get my inspirational story out to people who need to be encouraged and given hope in their weight loss efforts.

Continuing the incredible buzz that preceded its release, "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" quickly became a bestseller at my publisher's web site, Booklocker.com. In fact, the e-book has sold very well so far because it provides fast delivery without any shipping charges and costs just $9.95.

Of course, people wanted to get a taste of the book before they buy it, so my publisher agreed to post a FREE sample chapter of the Introduction to "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" to fill this need. It also became available for purchase from both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble as well as wholesale orders for low-carb stores and bookstores desiring to carry my book.

In fact, one low-carb store, CarbSmart in Huntington Beach, CA, is making autographed copies of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" available to its customers following the November 12th book signing. I hope to see many of my friends from the West Coast for this event that is sure to be a blast! I also just confirmed more book signings for January in Spartanburg, SC and in Milwaukee, WI. Stay tuned for more details!

My very first review of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" has already been posted online and many of my blog readers wanted a place to write their own reviews. Click here to post YOUR review of the book.

But most exciting to me is the fact that "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" is in the database of Ingram Book Distributors. This is the company that everyone who purchases books for retail sale gets them from. But a subsidiary company of Ingram Book Distributors in the UK called Lightning Source is now carrying "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" and making it available for people who want my book in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and worldwide!

Housed in this building in Milton Keynes, England, Lightning Source ships directly to retailers with affiliated distributors or wholesalers as well as supplying books for key online stores such as Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com. There are even a few online retailers who have already begun putting my book on their web sites promoting "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" and naming Lightning Source as their distributor.

Check out this one, for example, from Japan. I still can't get over seeing my book on these international book web sites. That is just too weird!

Thanks to companies like Ingram and Lightning Source, my little book of hope and inspiration may get into the hands of a lot more people than I previously expected. My wife Christine is saying that I'll know my book has "arrived" if they start translating it into other languages. How do you say "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" in Japanese anyway?! LOL!

THANKS to all my international blog readers for your support for my new book, too! You can visit the bookstores where you live and encourage them to carry "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" from either Ingram or Lightning Source. THANKS so much!

MUCH Needed To Battle Weight Loss Scams

The US, Canada, and Mexico make up the Trilateral Cooperation

Weight loss scams on the Internet have been an issue with global consequences not just to waistlines, but also to the pocketbooks of people who are desperately trying to lose weight. But there is a group of government leaders from the United States, Canada, and Mexico who are trying to do something about it.

Member agencies of a group called MUCH (Mexico, United States, Canada Health Fraud Working Group), consists of regulatory officials from health, consumer protection and competition agencies in Mexico (Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), Office of the Federal Attorney for Consumer Protection (PROFECO), the United States (Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration) and Canada (Health Canada, Competition Bureau).

These three countries form the Trilateral Cooperation, signed in 2003, and announced on Monday that nearly 730 compliance actions have been taken against various companies who have attempted to sell useless weight loss products to consumers all across North America.

Dr. Murray Lumpkin, who serves as the Deputy Commissioner of International and Special Programs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said these kind of ads are having a negative impact on the physical and economic health of our society.

"False and misleading claims can have significant health consequences for those who use these products that do not produce the desired results," said Dr. Lumpkin. "The collaborative efforts of all three countries have contributed to these enforcement actions and we look forward to continuing our trilateral initiatives to make North Americans healthier and able to make better informed health care decisions."

Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh added that too many consumers are "particularly vulnerable" because they find it difficult to decipher fact from fiction regarding weight loss product claims.

"They want to lose weight, and they want to believe that a product will work for them," Dosanjh stated. "Now, through the Internet, these claims are not just coming from our own country, but from elsewhere. The work of the Trilateral Cooperation is a direct response to that."

With obesity on the rise in all three countries, coordinating the efforts against these bogus weight loss scams has been the right thing to do.

As a result, there have already been prosecutions, recalls, seizures, import refusals, warnings and other enforcement programs against false and misleading weight loss advertising and labeling, as well as the promotion of voluntary industry compliance. Additionally, compliance and enforcement actions are complemented by a comprehensive education and public outreach program to help consumers, industry and advertisers to identify which types of claims are deceptive and misleading.

In fact, you have got to go to this creative web site to see how easy it is to be duped by a weight loss scam. Start clicking and watch what happens!

I applaud the Trilateral Cooperation for standing against these criminals because as someone who used to battle with his weight, this is not something you play around with casually for the sake of making a buck. There are real people out there who are hurting because they are carrying around 25, 50, 100, or 200+ pounds of extra body weight they just don't need. They are desperately looking for a way to lose weight fast and permanently.

I was there less than 2 years ago and know the pain of being obese. It's not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual. Your desire to lose weight seems to be pie in the sky (and you want to eat that, too!). That's why these weight loss scams have been so successful. They prey on innocent people who are just wanting to do something about their weight. Unfortunately, the hard reality is that it takes more than a wonder pill or program to make it happen. These ladies apparently haven't learned that lesson yet.

But when I saw what the three countries were recommending to people who need to lose weight, I just had to shake my head:

"The only way to lose weight is to follow a sensible, well-balanced diet that lowers caloric intake and/or increase physical activity," according to a press release from the FDA.

They go on to lead people to this page on their web site about making these "healthy" choices to eat a low-fat/low-calorie/portion-controlled diet with moderate exercise.

Do you ever get the feeling that we've got a bunch of robots working in the FDA? With obesity rates going through the roof, they still want people to believe they need to watch their fat, calories, and portions to lose weight. And if you are a non-exerciser, how the heck are you supposed to know what "moderate exercise" is?!

Sometimes I think these people in Washington don't have a lick of common sense in them. I know they mean well and they think they are making an impact on the health of the citizens of the United States. But the dismal failure of the low-fat diet over the past few decades should make them change their tune to look at a variety of options for battling obesity, including livin' la vida low-carb. There are real people who are losing weight on this way of eating and it should not be shunned as it is now.

Kudos to the Trilateral Cooperation for taking down these filthy rotten scoundrels who are peddling junk to hopeless consumers. I highly encourage all of the countries involved to continue promoting healthy living and to start incorporating a controlled-carb approach into that line of thinking. Watch what happens to the obesity rates when that happens!

Survey: Vegetable Consumption Doubles On A Low-Carb Diet

Active LowCarber members studied by SUNY researchers

Preliminary results from a new research study that began in August looking at the habits of people on low-carb shows some very promising results for the low-carb lifestyle.

Dr. Richard Feinman, a biochemistry professor at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, was interested in finding out how low-carb living works in the real world and not what they discover inside a research facility. To that end, he asked the members of a popular low-carb support forum at Active LowCarber Forum to participate in a survey about their eating lifestyle changes since beginning a low-carb program.

After receiving more than 2,000 answers to the survey questions over the past two months, Dr. Feinman said he is "very grateful" for the responses he has received and is in the process of writing an upcoming article for a family medicine journal. While the full results of the survey will not be released for several more months after they undergo peer review, Dr. Feinman felt it was important to provide the "broad outlines of the results" to give people a "general drift" about what they discovered about people who are livin' la vida low-carb.

According to the survey results, more than half of respondents consulted with their doctor before and during their low-carb lifestyle. Additionally, more than half of these respondents noted that their health professional was supportive of their low-carb program.

Close to 30 percent explained that their physician “did not have an opinion but were encouraging after seeing results” while just 7 percent said their physician was "discouraging even after I showed good results.”

Dr. Feinman said these numbers indicate that family doctors are much more "open minded than official agencies and media experts" about the low-carb lifestyle.

"It is for this reason that we hope to publish the results in a journal that is read by family physicians," Dr. Feinman explained.

Nearly half of respondents said they saw improvements in their lipid values, including total cholesterol and LDL. Only 12 percent indicated an increase in their LDL values and a microscopic 4 percent saw their triglycerides rise.

Dr. Feinman said it was "somewhat unexpected" regarding the decrease in both total and LDL cholesterol levels because these do not automatically improve on a low-carb diet.

Among the items of greatest importance to the respondents with their low-carb lifestyle, "avoiding sugar" and "avoiding starch" were the top two responses followed by "drinking water," which Dr. Feinman said was "unexpected."

"We don’t know why this was so or what people had in mind and would be glad to hear any opinions," Dr. Feinman quipped.

Contrary to what the media and health "experts" say regarding the low-carb lifestyle, the fourth most important issue to a low-carber is "eating vegetables," which most respondents said "increased greatly (at least double usual consumption).” The most popular vegetable eaten by those on a low-carb lifestyle is green vegetables and lettuce/salad greens.

Almost one-fifth of respondents also noted that their consumption of beef, butter and bacon "increased greatly" when they began livin' la vida low-carb while about a third of the respondents said their consumption of these foods stayed "about the same."

Finally, the survey asked if there were any foods that you "consistently crave" and nearly one-fourth of respondents noted there were no cravings anymore while a little more than that said they missed eating bread.

The survey had a free form narrative question which allowed respondents to submit anything they wanted about the low-carb lifestyle. Dr. Feinman stated that the responses were "enthusiastic and somewhat detailed or personalized" about what low-carb living has done for them.

Dr. Feinman said he is "grateful" for the responses he received and "will provide more information as our paper progresses."

We will update you with further results from Dr. Feinman's study on low-carb when it becomes available.

Spuddy Character Cloaks Unhealthiness Of Potatoes

Spuddy is the Ronald McDonald of the potato industry

This Twin Falls, ID-based Times-News op-ed story by Steve Crump takes a look at the rebirth of a fun-loving icon of the potato industry that went away for a while but has recently publicly returned since Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in August.

His name is Spuddy and he was the creation of the Idaho Potato Commission. Although this mascot for the potato industry may be a cute representative for their product, it still does not diminish the fact that eating too many potatoes is just not a good idea when you are trying to manage your weight. They are an unhealthy part of any low-carb weight maintenance program and should be avoided if possible.

According to their own nutrition label at their web site, just ONE medium-sized Idaho potato contains a whopping 26g of carbohydrates for a 5.3 ounce potato. That's more carbs than what many people who are livin' la vida low-carb are allowed to consume in an entire day while they are in the weight loss phase of low-carb! While potatoes might be as American as apple pie (and you shouldn't eat that either!), they are definitely not going to help you reach weight loss success in your low-carb lifestyle. Your body doesn't need 'em!

But the potato industry doesn't care about this fact. They want you to associate happy thoughts about their product which is why they created the little Spuddy character. I liken Spuddy to Ronald McDonald (who recently got a "healthy" makeover of his own as we learn in this Julia Havey blog post) which has been used for decades to attract children to the extremely unhealthy junk food offerings provided by the Golden Arches. But kids of every age see Ronald McDonald and just go wild. Kids gotta have their Happy Meals!

In fact, Morgan Spurlock, whose Super Size Me documentary about McDonald's was a huge hit in theaters a couple of years ago, noted that more kids recognized Ronald McDonald than even popular U.S. presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, or even George W. Bush. This is a sad commentary that shockingly reveals our children don't even know who some of the most famous past and present leaders of this nation are, but also on the culture as a whole which seems to glorify images such as Ronald McDonald and Spuddy all for the sake of entertainment and profit margins.

It should make us very suspicious of the government-indoctrinated U.S. Food Pyramid we're being told to follow for "healthy living" (as well as this new kids version of it that just released!). Why is the government so gung-ho behind promoting the healthiness of products such as potatoes and sugar? Why do these industries donate so much money to the campaign coffers of politicians who seem to conveniently turn a blind eye to the negative health consequences of people consuming these products? And they wonder why more and more Americans are getting obese?

Crump kinda wonders that very question out loud in his op-ed column when he discusses seeing a picture of two Spuddy dolls in the hands of none other than our very healthy president, George W. Bush, along with other Idaho politicians.

The marketing campaign featuring Spuddy began in earnest in 2000 when Gov. Dirk Kempthorne appeared in nationwide television spots on behalf of the Idaho Potato Commission. Crump said the governor even appeared at the Salt Lake City Olympic games with Spuddy to promote "unbridled carbo-loading."

But then Spuddy suddenly became uncool in 2004 when the Atkins diet hit the height of its popularity before the media started attacking it on a daily basis as they do nowadays. Spuddy went away momentarily, but they're slowly trying to get him back out there with politicians to once again fool kids and adults into believing eating potatoes is a "healthy" way to live.

I don't have anything personally against people who grow potatoes for a living (just as I have said about the sugar industry), but even they know overconsuming their product will cause people to become overweight or obese.

As a former fan of potatoes, including french fries, mashed potatoes, potato chips, potatoes au grautin and baked potatoes, it was difficult at first to give up this food I enjoyed so much. But nearly two years later, I can tell you that I have not missed my spuds one bit and have even found that mashed cauliflower is just as good!

The best thing of all about eliminating potatoes from my diet is the fact that my weight is a lot better now in the 220's than it was when I weighed 410! Had I not given up potatoes along with sugar and white flour, then I would have never become the healthy man that I am today. Believe me when I say you will not miss potatoes because you will become so enamored by the other delectable foods you can enjoy while livin' la vida low-carb. That's been my experience and I am sure it will be yours, too.

You can e-mail Steve Crump about his very funny column at scrump@magicvalley.com.

Low-Carb A Perfect Fit For College Students

College students and the low-carb lifestyle go hand in hand

It has not been that long ago since I have been in college and one thing I remember about college students is how incredibly unhealthy they can eat! I ate my fair share of ordering pizzas to the dorm, making trips to the doughnut shop at 2 o'clock in the morning for a "study break," and eating on the go all the time. Life in college is just so fast-paced, how can you possibly even think about eating "healthy."

That's the topic of this story written by Illinois State University student newspaper columnist Abby Gabrys for the Daily Vidette. Unfortunately, Gabrys fell into the same trap that this student journalist did recently by making erroneous assumptions about livin' la vida low-carb. Let's see if we can't straighten her out just a bit!

In the article entitled "A fresh look at healthy eating, dieting," Gabrys writes that the literal barrage of diet plans on the market today makes it "difficult for students to determine what is truly healthy and unhealthy for their bodies."

She quotes a couple of ISU health professors who proclaims the same old mumbo jumbo about calories in, calories out and getting an adequate enough exercise while following the government-recommended food pyramid.

"People often get caught up in fad diets, but in the long run they aren't effective in keeping weight off," said one of these health "experts."

So far there's nothing "fresh" about this look at healthy eating and dieting. The old ways of limiting your calories, fat grams, and portion sizes just don't hold true as a lot more people than watch the popular Fox-TV show American Idol have found a healthy and permanent alternative in the low-carb lifestyle.

But Gabrys points her criticism directly at the Atkins diet and "similar high-protein" programs in her column first. She asserts that these programs claim to "alter a body's metabolism so it will burn stored fat while building muscle mass" (which studies have proven that it does), but then chastises them for encouraging people to "consume too much fat" while shunning "fruit, vegetables and whole grains."

One of her "experts" again chimes in with this ridiculous quote: "Carbohydrates are a wonderful source of energy for the body. If you are exercising, your body needs them in order to perform. You won't have energy and people often get tired of the [low-carb] diet because they can't eat much variety of foods."

I have a question for Gabrys that she needs to provide an honest answer to. Which is worse for your body -- fat or sugar? Her answer to that question will let me know if she has truly done her research on this subject or if she is merely buying into the warnings we have heard for far too long in the media.

Fat is not the great enemy people! This nation is eating way too much sugar (Gabrys does not even mention the subject of sugar in her column on healthy eating and dieting...hmmmm) which is causing the obesity rates to rise as rapidly as they have in the past decade.

Continuing her assault against livin' la vida low-carb, Gabrys write that people who restrict their carbohydrate intake enter "ketosis, a condition that causes the body to produce high levels of uric acid" which "may be a risk factor for gout and kidney stones."

Yadda yadda yadda. We've heard all of this before, Ms. Gabrys. Again, there is NOTHING "fresh" about this column you wrote. But to help you and others understand the purpose of ketosis, it is not a "condition" (that makes it sound like some kind of disease or something!), but rather a wonderful physical state when you are eating low-carb that allows your body to become a lean, mean fat-burning machine. Without ketosis, there would be no weight loss on low-carb.

I've been eating low -carb for nearly two years while losing over 180 pounds and keeping it off. I don't have gout or kidney stones and don't plan on having either one of them. All I know is I have never felt as healthy and vibrant as I do at this very moment in my entire life! I attribute that to the miraculous physical change that has happened to me thanks to livin' la vida low-carb.

The rest of Gabrys' column focuses on the importance of eating dairy products for strong bones (low-carb eating strengthens you bones, too!) and eating fruits and vegetables.

Despite what you hear about the low-carb lifestyle in the media, we DO eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. But not all fruits and veggies are the same, so you have to be discerning about which ones you put in your mouth. I love to eat raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, fresh salads, green beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, low-carb whole grain breads and much, much more as part of my low-carb living. These are important foods that have helped me lose weight and keep it off as part of a controlled-carb approach to eating.

The mindless reporting to the contrary is just a purposeful way to mislead the public that is truly dishonest and malicious if you ask me. Why does the media continually lie about low-carb? What is their motive for doing so? I really would like to know the answer to that question because you would think the media would be falling all over themselves to celebrate the amazing success that people like me have had on it. I just don't get it.

Despite the label that this story would be a "fresh look at healthy eating, dieting," Gabrys just had to include a reference to eating a "balanced" diet. That's the same advice that this young writer wrote about in her recent column against low-carb. That phrase has become so cliche now that nobody really knows what it means.

I would contend that my low-carb eating plan is MUCH more "balanced" than the typical American diet. The majority of people could stand to cut back on the carbs (especially sugar, white flour and starchy foods), increase their protein and fiber consumption, and eating with a purpose rather than stuffing their mouths with whatever is in front of them. That would be a healthy "balance" that will get their weight under control for good!

One of the health "experts" did say some positive things that college students and anyone for that matter should follow for weight management that I want to highlight:

- Don't skip meals (especially breakfast)
- Watch your body mass rather than your weight (my body fat % went way down)
- Don't take diet pills (do I really have to explain why?)
- Start making good eating habits now (and make it your lifestyle change)
- Exercise 30 minutes per day doing whatever activity you enjoy
- Maintain your weight during the holidays, just don't gain
- Don't deprive yourself of foods you want (you could plan a splurge every once in a while)

Gabrys and her fellow classmates at Illinois State University as well as college students all across the United States should take a closer look at low-carb to help them maintain their weight during college. The stress of tests, late night studying, social activities, and lack of time to get anything done may sound like an excuse to not worry about eating healthy while getting that degree. But livin' la vida low-carb is tailor-made for this kind of busy lifestyle and very easy to implement.

Send Abby Gabrys an e-mail encouraging her about how the low-carb lifestyle is adaptable to her life as a college student. Educating college students about how low-carb can help them now can help them carry those healthy characteristics into the future when they are in their 30's, 40's, or 50's and living life. Don't waste half your life trying to figure out how to lose weight permanently when the answer is staring you in the face. Start livin' la vida low-carb today!

Truestar Offers Excellent Weight Loss Advice

This Christian Post column gives some pretty good weight loss advice from a group called Truestar Health that I thought was worth sharing with you.

The article notes as I did in this earlier blog post that recent studies confirm skipping breakfast makes you four times more likely to be obese than if you ate breakfast regularly and that mindlessly ordering off restaurant menus can cost you in your waistline.

Four food guidelines that are "guaranteed" to help you lose and maintain your weight are provided in the story:

1. Eat a moderate size breakfast, a larger lunch and a small dinner. In addition, include one small snack daily either in the morning or in the afternoon. By doing so, your blood sugar will be regulated all day long making you crave less and lose weight.

I like this suggestion because it gets your day started right and keeps your metabolism fueled for energy throughout the day. This mirrors my own eating plan of having a lot of meals throughout the day so you ward off hunger and allow your body to function at the highest level of energy and productivity. Just stay away from the sugar, white flour, and starches!

2. If possible, stop eating by 7 PM. By practicing this step and this step alone, you will quickly drop five pounds. If you must munch in the evening, make it a healthy balanced snack such as hummus (chickpea dip), veggies, yogurt, fruits and nuts.

I don't eat much after 7pm unless I am just particularly hungry or if I work late at my part-time job and hadn't eaten since lunch that day. It is better if you can stop eating early to give your body time while you are sleeping to burn fat while you are in ketosis. But sometimes life doesn't afford you that luxury, so try to eat a light to moderate low-carb snack after 7pm.

3. Make sure all of your meals and snacks contain all three macronutrients - proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Most people “overdo it” on the carbohydrates and are deficient in protein. In order to achieve your goal weight, protein is essential.

This is going to come as a shock to people who oppose the low-carb lifestyle, but I agree with this suggestion. GASP! But I thought low-carbers didn't eat carbohydrates?!?!?! Can you believe I still actually have people come up to me and ask how I live without eating any carbs at all?! I look at them like they're crazy and politely explain that I eat lots of carbs, sometimes as many as 100g per day now. They are stunned when I tell them this and I go on to explain that low-carb doesn't mean NO carb. But eliminating unnecessary carbs is what livin' la vida low-carb is all about.

As for protein, I could not agree more with the suggestion to get more in your diet because it helps your body burn fat, increase your bone strength, and be satiated. Protein is the power food of the future if the negative press about meat and low-carb would stop their bias for just a moment to see the wonderful research confirming this fact.

4. Include calorie-light, nutrient-dense foods into your daily diet such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lentils, lean proteins (chicken, fish, soy, egg whites) and good fats (olives, nuts, seeds, flax and fish oils).

While I appreciate that healthy fats and other foods are promoted, you really need to be careful about which fruits, vegetables and lentils you put in your body. Not all of them are low enough in carbs because of their sugar and starch content. Eat up on the meat and better fruit and veggie choices as well as whole grain breads. That's the fun part of livin' la vida low-carb and should be savored bite after delicious bite.

There are some excellent meal suggestions included at the end of this article that are perfect when you are livin' la vida low-carb. It is certainly worth a peek for those of you who struggle with what to eat on your low-carb lifestyle. Get started on the right foot with these suggestions and then tailor it to your own tastes and desires. Enjoy eating right and getting healthy -- the low-carb way!