But I Thought Low-Carb Was A Goner?

I have enjoyed being on vacation this week in Virginia Beach, Virginia spending time with my wife's family and generally relaxing from the stresses of normal everday life. It's been great having the opportunity to blog as much or as little as I have wanted over the past few days.

But today as we were driving along Virginia Beach Boulevard, I came across this sign which I couldn't help but take a picture of with my new digital camera:



I was turning at a red light when the big bold letters LOW CARB caught my attention. I pointed to the sign and told my wife I just had to take a picture of it! You're never gonna believe where this "new" low-carb menu promotion is at:



Yep, it's Burger King, baby! I'm not a big fan of fast food restaurants since I started livin' la vida low-carb, but I have to admit I admire any restaurant willing to cater to the needs of the low-carb consumer.

In fact, I found this excellent list of low-carb suggestions at the BK web site for people who are watching their carbohydrate intake.

Among their "carb cutting tips" Burger King suggests:

1. Hold the bun
2. Skip the ketchup (and save 3g carbs per packet!)
3. Avoid sugar by drinking diet soda, water, or unsweetened coffee or tea
4. Go green by ordering a side salad in lieu of french fries

Burger King is DEFINITELY a friend of the low-carb lifestyle and is not ridiculing those of us who enjoy it for weight loss and health like Jack in the Box is with their ridiculous "Bread Is Back" television advertising campaign. How about we all go out and buy one of these in support of BK? Tell Jack where he can stick his Ciabatta bread.

While the restaurant industry trend this year has been to run away from the low-carb consumer, I have to tip my hat to Burger King for ignoring the fallacy that low-carb is dead and providing low-carbers with real options. Congratulations for bucking the trend, BK! You're decision not to shun people who are livin' la vida low-carb is respectable and will not be forgotten by those of us who have made this our lifestyle choice.

My friend Carla Gray who wrote the book "The Low-Carb Fast Food Diet" is undoubtedly proud of BK, too!

Hey, who knows. Maybe BK could make me their Jared to help advertise their new low-carb menu. LOL! Just kidding. That would be a hoot, wouldn't it?

Use Your Brain: Whole Grain Craze Is Insane

This Pueblo (CO) Chieftain column features a haughty bread store owner basking in the glory of the alleged demise of the low-carb lifestyle.

"It's so 10 minutes ago," proclaimed Cindy Gershen referring to low-carb in the vernacular of her kids.

As the owner of Sunrise Cafe and Bakery, Gershen took a pretty significant hit because of the Atkins diet and other low-carb programs which have helped millions lose weight and restore their health.

But now she claims that bread is back (she sounds like this opportunistic baker!) because it is so much healthier now with the whole grains that have been added to the mix.

Oh, really? While whole grains are indeed a "healthier" option for people seeking to live a healthy lifestyle (and yes, even those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb!), but how can you call products like "banana chocolate bread" or "pastries" as healthy when they are LOADED with gobs and gobs of sugar? Hmmm?

Using this logic, why don't we add whole grains to french fries at McDonald's? Or, better yet, let's put whole grains in Krispy Kreme doughnuts! That'll make 'em healthy, won't it?

Give me a break, people! Do they really think we are THAT stupid and gullible that we're going to suddenly believe a product is better for us just because they've added whole grains? That's the biggest marketing ruse being perpetrated in our society right now that whole grains by itself suddenly makes everything better for you.

WRONG! While adding whole grains will certainly improve the quality of products such as cereal, bread, and pastries, you still have to contend with all those carbohydrates that are LOADED in these products because they will be converted in your body into sugar to go along with the sugar they have added to these products. If you've read my book, then you know that I refer to sugar as rat poison! Do you think they make whole grain rat poison?! :-O

But this Gershen lady thinks people are tired of the low-carb lifestyle because it only worked in the short term and nobody could possibly eat this way forever.

"They lost 10 or 20 pounds on Atkins, but couldn't keep it off and they were hungry," she opined. "My sense is that people want to stop dieting and just eat well."

Isn't it obvious this bread lady hasn't got a clue? As bread companies continue to bite the dust because of the tens of millions of us who are STILL on the low-carb lifestyle, we've got idiots like this woman out there running her mouth about something she clearly has no first-hand knowledge about.

Guess what, Ms. Gershen. Not only have I lost more than 180 pounds on a low-carb diet, but I have kept that weight off now for nearly a year because I am NEVER hungry nor do I get tired of the delicious foods I get to enjoy with this way of eating. I agree people should "stop dieting and just eat well." That's why I'm livin' la vida low-carb.

As an 80-pound weight loss success by eating a low-fat/low-calorie diet along with exercise, Gershen of all people should be thrilled for people like me who have overcome a lifetime of weight problems. She even has her own locally-televised cooking show in Walnut Creek, California called "Cindy Says: Healthy Cooking Made Simple" where she espouses the virtues of eating healthy.

Good for her, but why is she slamming low-carb? I have said it many times that it doesn't matter to me HOW someone loses weight, but rather that they DO SOMETHING about their weight before it is too late. It amazes me that people like Gershen would rather discourage a would-be dieter from even TRYING the low-carb lifestyle by scaring them away from it for foolish reasons than to wish them well in their weight loss journey. That is reprehensible and irresponsible of any health advocate if you ask me!

The column did quote one low-carb lifestyle advocate named Kevin Carpenter, co-owner of the San Ramon (CA) Castus Low-Carb Superstore (the article incorrectly called it the "Cactus Diet Center"). He noted that sales at his store have been brisk despite the fact that many other low-carb stores have had to shut down. As I have stated previously, any business (low-carb or otherwise) that wants to remain viable has to change with the market by being innovative and flexible to meet the needs of the customer.

Carpenter gets that.

"We have lots of people who come in here who do Atkins, who do South Beach, who do Weight Watchers," he said. "It's like diet center nirvana."

Lots of people depend on low-carb stores such as Castas, CarbSmart, LO-CARB U, and Kick The Carbz, just to name a few, to provide them with the products to complement their low-carb lifestyle. And, yes, they all have great-tasting low-carb and ZERO-carb breads available, Ms. Gershen! It's even made with whole grains but, unlike your products, doesn't contain added sugars and unnecessary carbohydrates.

Swift business at Castus, Carpenter states, is evidence that low-carb is still prospering.

"We have people who drive from as far away as Sacramento on a regular basis to the store," Carpenter said. "We have people come in here all the time and say, 'You have to stay open.' We couldn't close, because what would we eat?"

You can write to Kevin Carpenter to thank him for standing up as an ambassador of low-carb in this column by e-mailing him at castus3@sbcglobal.net.

Luscious Living Cheesecakes Are The Perfect Low-Carb Christmas Gift

In September I introduced you to a company called Luscious Living when I blogged about the best low-carb cheesecakes on the market today.



Luscious Living founder and CEO Jason Wachob was kind enough at the time to let me try his cheesecake as part of my column and here is how I described his low-carb cheesecake in that post:

"I like a cheesecake with a little zing to it. Upon my first bite of the Luscious Living cheesecake, that is just what I got! Oh my goodness, this cheesecake is out of this world. I was simply amazed that something could taste that good and still be low-carb! WOW, WOW, and WOW again!"

Jason was kind enough to quote this blog's comments about his product on his press page at the Luscious Living web site. :)

The 18-ounce Low-Carb New York Style Cheesecake from Luscious Living is packaged in an extremely unique collectible tin and serves 4-6 people. It retails for $19.99 for a single cheesecake, but you can get some pretty good discounts when you order multiple quantities.

Nutritionally, the Luscious Living Low-Carb New York Style cheesecake contains either ZERO or two net carbs, depending on how you calculate it. Regardless, it is well worth getting that special carb-conscious someone on your Christmas list a treat they will LOVE you for.

And I just happen to know someone who is livin' la vida low-carb who would absolutely LOVE getting one of these mouthwatering cheesecakes for Christmas. Hint, hint, hint. LOL!

When you order your cheesecakes for all your low-carb friends, be sure to tell Jason that "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" sent you! :)

Click here for more info on Luscious Living's Low-Carb cheesecake.

Injections Can Be A Pain In The Butt

Researchers say injections in the rear for people like this are futile

While the above picture may be a bit extreme to make the point of this Daily Mail story, it doesn't diminish the findings of Irish researchers who say traditional shots in the buttocks are virtually ineffective on people with a lot of fat in that area.

Lead researcher Dr. Victoria Chan from the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Dublin, Ireland said some injections for vaccines and other medicines are ineffective because the needles cannot penetrate through the excessive amount of body fat to get to the muscle where the drug is needed. Interestingly, women have this problem more so than men.

Even before I started livin' la vida low-carb, I've never had a particularly big butt. I guess it's the curse of the Moore genes. None of us Moore boys suffered with it more than Nathan.

My younger brother "Nat," who lost a significant amount of weight on the low-carb lifestyle a few years back, used to have problems wearing pants growing up because his belly would stick out profusely. Yet he didn't have a big bum to hold up the backside of his pants, so they'd keep slipping down until you could see his crack.

We laugh about that now that we are grown up, but this new finding is nothing to laugh about. Medicines that are injected through the behind are necessary to help the patient with whatever ailment they have.

Dr. Chan theorizes about why she believes butts have gotten bigger in recent years.

"There is no question that obesity is the underlying cause," she concluded. "We have identified a new problem related, in part, to the increasing amount of fat in patients' buttocks."

Can we really blame it on obesity, Dr. Chan? While an increase in overall weight CAN result in a larger rear end, it's not automatic. Just as my brother and I were obese and didn't have big butts, there are some examples of people with large behinds but are anything but overweight.

Might I remind you of this prime example of what I am referring to:



Of course, that's the beautifully blessed bombshell beauty Jennifer Lopez sporting her signature big bottom. Would anybody accuse HER of being overweight or obese? Hardly! And yet this Dr. Chan wants to blame obesity for large butts. That's just narrow-minded thinking and doesn't look at other factors (such as genes) that can contribute to it.

Dr. Chan looked at 50 male and female patients aged 21-87 by injecting a small air bubble into their buttocks using a standard hypodermic needle to examine how far the needle could penetrate. They used computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis areas to determine where the air bubble was.

Nearly six in ten of the men received the injection into their muscle as it should. But surprisingly, only 8% of the women received the injection correctly. Overall, just under one-third of the participants in the study had their injections delivered to the correct place where the medicine could do what it is supposed to do.

To remedy this problem, Dr. Chan said it may create the need for longer needles.



"Our study has shown that 68% of intramuscular injections do not reach the muscles of the buttock. The amount of fat tissue overlying the muscles exceeds the length of the needles commonly used for these injections," Dr. Chan revealed.

I don't know about you, but just the sight of a needle regardless of the size looks like a telephone pole to me. I hate needles with a passion and, yes, I'm a big baby with them. When I had my blood work done last month, I told the lady who was taking blood from me that I hated needles and she assured me everything would be fine.

But when she said "uh-oh" in the middle of poking me, I knew I was in trouble. Of all the people to have an "uh-oh" to happen to, it HAD to be me! It turns out the need was faulty and wasn't sucking the blood out like it needed to. The nurse said she could pull it out and put another one in, but I balked. If she pulled it out, there was no way she was sticking me again! Eventually the defective needle got the blood she needed. This didn't make me like needles any better! :-~

So Dr. Chan's suggestion that we may need LONGER needles can't sit well (no pun intended!) with those who have larger bottoms. Maybe they can think of better ways to get the medicine in your system without resorting to shoving a longer piece of metal of your backside! What say you?

NBA's Anthony: I Never Want To Do The Atkins Diet Again

NBA star Carmelo Anthony claims Atkins diet made him sick and tired

With all the challenges of performing at optimum levels in professional sports these days, athletes want to find the upper hand to help themselves get into the best shape possible to help their teams win and extend their careers. That will undoubtedly entail many of them dealing with a weight problem brought on by a variety of circumstances.

This Philadelphia Enquirer story details the experience of one of the National Basketball Association's rising stars as he attempted to lose weight in the offseason.

He is former University of Syracuse and current Denver Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony. Although he had the unfortunate timing of entering the NBA as a rookie in the same year as this guy named LeBron James (who's being hailed as the "next Michael Jordan"), the man had a great first year in the league.

But he put on some weight last year and decided he needed to drop those excess pounds to get his game back to where it needed to be. Instead of going on a strict low-fat/high-carb diet that athletes have been suckered into believing is best for their bodies, Anthony gave the Atkins diet a try -- well, sort of.

Instead of reading Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution or any other low-carb book, Anthony decided to make up his own version of the low-carb lifestyle by only eating fish and nothing else.

"No steak," Anthony boasted. "I was on the fish diet. No carbs."

As someone who DID read the Atkins books and DID follow it as prescribed, I can tell you that what Anthony did was NOT the Atkins diet. Calling the "no carbs" eating plan that Anthony did the Atkins diet is like describing the street players on the local playground stars in the NBA. It's not even close!

But that didn't stop Anthony from mindlessly spouting off his mouth about how bad the Atkins diet is just like this legendary athlete recently did.

"I never want to do that again," the NBA star proudly stated regarding his so-called Atkins diet experience.

Well I guess not, Melo! If all I had to eat was fish, fish, and fish, then I would "never want to do that again" either! But that's not the Atkins diet.

If you want to do the Atkins diet the way it is supposed to be done, then you should really try to balance out what you eat with the wonderfully delicious and nutritious selection of fruits, vegetables, cheese, eggs, and meats available to you when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Eating any other way cannot be described as low-carb living in the sense that those of us who enjoy this lifestyle change do.

Then, to make matters worse, Anthony's blatant arrogance came shining through when he openly ridiculed and blamed low-carb for making him lose too much weight too fast (say what?!) and cause him to become sick and tired.

"I was kind of slow on my feet," Anthony claimed regarding his experience on his own version of the Atkins diet. "I felt like I was one step behind."

Unbelievable! Well, for one thing, Melo, you weren't eating ENOUGH carbs! It's fine if you want to eat fish on your low-carb lifestyle, but you do need to eat some foods with carbohydrates in them as well to keep your body in tip-top shape. You can shun the sugar, white flour, and starchy foods and still get an adequate enough carb intake to go along with your protein and fat.

But check this out -- HE STILL LOST WEIGHT! And while I am sure his body went through an adjustment period early on as he detoxified his body of the excessive carbs he was eating, that minor period of fatigue passes and your body become energized like never before. This business that low-carb slowed him down is silly and misleading.

All the latest research shows that athletes who incorporate a high-protein/low-carb eating plan with their workouts will see better results than any other way of eating.

Regardless of the ignorant opinions of athletes like Anthony, livin' la vida low-carb is and will always be the best way to lose weight, get healthy, and change your life for the better. At least is was for me.

Anthony concluded in the story that this could be his "breakout year" in the NBA. Maybe so. But next time he needs to keep his big mouth shut about low-carb because it is all too obvious he knows nothing about the subject whatsoever.

Yo, Melo! Got a deal for ya! I promise not to slam dunk if you stop pretending you know the ins and outs of the low-carb lifestyle. Ya feel me?

Send your thoughts and comments about Carmelo Anthony's ill-advised comments on livin' la vida low-carb directly to the Denver Nuggets by e-mailing them at nuggetsmail@pepsicenter.com.

UK Simon Says This Blog Is 'Puntastic'

Meet Simon from the Minor 9th blog in the UK

I picked up another fan of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog today and he hails from the UK. As you can see from his picture above, he definitely doesn't need to lose any weight and seems to be a vibrant young chap eager to take on the world.

He is 22-year old Simon and he has a blog called the Minor 9th (dum dum dum dummmmmmmmmmmm) that he's been posting at for the past five years.

A quick perusal of his web site reveals quite an eclectic taste of a variety of topics, but check out who made his "linklog ♪ striking a note on the web":

Livin' la vida low carb :: Not sure I agree with the philosophy of low carbness, but I thought the title was puntastic...

Puntastic?! Now that's a pretty nifty word. I'm not sure how Simon found out about my blog, but I'm glad he at least liked the title of it.

Hey Simon, you might want to know I also use that name for the title of my book about my 180+ pound weight loss as well. It's a fun play on words and I enjoy using it to capture people's attention.

But next time, Simon, stick around a while and we'll show you why the "philosophy of low carbness" is the best thing to ever happen to the millions of us who are livin' la vida low-carb. THANKS for the mention, buddy!

11-28-05 UPDATE: Well, as quickly as he had my blog listed among his linklog, Simon has since pulled it from his Minor 9th blog. He must be shy and doesn't like all the attention. That's okay, Simon. I still appreciate your mention of my blog. THANK YOU!

New Hollywood Strategy: Reach The Obese

Is "Just Friends" Hollywood's attempt to reach out to the obese?

Ordinarily I wouldn't cite an MTV story at this blog, but this one was just too compelling to pass up.

It discusses the not-so-subtle move by Hollywood movie executives to reach out to an audience of people who comprise at least half of the country -- the overweight and obese.

With the recent release of the movie "Just Friends," which is about an overweight guy in high school who had google eyes for a cute blonde loses over 100 pounds and comes back years later to see if she'll have him now, Hollywood sees dollar signs by capitalizing on the theme of weight loss bringing about positive experiences.

I will admit to you that when I saw the trailer for this movie, I couldn't wait to see it. Ever since I lost over 180 pounds thanks to the low-carb lifestyle, I am so compelled by stories of weight loss victory, real or fictional. There is no doubt in my mind that many moviegoers will live vicariously through the lead character played by Ryan Reynolds in the hopes that they too can win the affection of that high school crush who wouldn't have them because they were overweight or obese.

But the MTV story goes even deeper into this issue of making movies about fat people and makes a keen observation that they usually star someone who is anything but fat.

"While a hefty half of Americans are now overweight, it's another element of our society that's not realistically portrayed in films. Obesity is usually played for laughs or tears; either it's the chubby, comic-relief co-worker/best friend or the dangerously heavy victim. You're unlikely to see an overweight actor above the title unless it's part of the plot. And even then, the actor might not fit the part.

You know, the writer of this story is right. Think about the last time you saw an overweight person playing in the lead role of ANY film that did not make an issue of their weight. Hmmmm? Need more time to think? None coming to mind? I couldn't think of any either.

The columnist listed the ancient actor Dom DeLuise from the 70s and 80s and I thought of Danny DeVito from the 80s and 90s, but neither of these men were pitted for lead roles in movies. They were always the fat sidekick used for laughs. In fact, it was DeVito's rotund figure that made him the perfect choice to portray The Penguin in the Batman movie.

Everyone remembers this recent movie:



Who did it star? The ultra-thin actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Who did she play? A 300-pound woman. While I will again admit I LOVED this movie because of the overriding message it contained about loving people for who they are regardless of their size, it is such a shame they had to put a fat suit on Paltrow rather than use an obese actress for the part.

Again, the author of this article points out this fact and believes the producer missed out on a golden opportunity to prove they do not have a double standard on the issue of weight.

"But what's more sinister is the cop-out casting of Paltrow as both Skinny and Fat Rosemary. Almost every other character in the film that's viewed askew by Hal is played by two different people: a traditionally attractive actor and what we've come to call a 'character actor' (a Hollywood euphemism that usually means 'not good-looking enough for lead roles')."


A "fat" Gwyneth Paltrow laughs it up with the Farrelly brothers

He concluded that the "fat" Paltrow is not realistic enough for the audience to connect with the obese person she is playing because everyone knows Paltrow has the sexy curves that she does.

"By burying Paltrow under latex and makeup, the film not only gives us an unconvincing obese girl, it lets the audience off the hook: We're not forced to truly deal with our attitudes toward obesity because we know Gwyneth the actress isn't fat. If Rosemary had been played by someone like, say, Camryn Manheim, the film would've carried far more weight (no pun intended)."

Why isn't Hollywood using real actors and actresses to play the overweight roles in these movies? If half the nation is overweight or obese, then surely there is a good percentage of up-and-coming actors and actresses who are carrying around some extra pounds, too. So use 'em already! Why do we need to hire fat suit makeup artists when the real McCoys are out there?

And when you do give them a role, don't make them these sad basket cases who have no sense of self-worth at all. Many overweight and obese people are strong people who have endured years of physical and mental torture, yet they keep on smiling and living life just like everybody else. They have a real story to tell if their voice is allowed to be heard.

Instead, Hollywood feeds us Eddie Murphy as "The Nutty Professor" or Julia Roberts in "America's Sweetheart." These people wouldn't know what it's like to be a fat person if it smacked them up side the head! That's what makes it so insulting to those of us who have lived the life of an obese person and we KNOW they don't understand.

"To the overweight person sitting in the [movie] audience, the experience must be similar to a black person watching an old blackface minstrel show. When the character is presented as mean-spiritedly as Mike Myers' Fat Bastard character from the 'Austin Powers' movies or scary-thin Courteney Cox-Arquette's Fat Monica from flashback episodes of 'Friends,' it becomes outright torture."

Once again, the MTV writer nails it. The negative stereotypes of fat people continue on because of these kind of characterizations that become such a part of our culture that people believe them whether they are true or not.

Regardless of WHY a person got fat, I believe this form of obvious discrimination is uncalled for in the United States of America today. Telling them to "just lose weight" is a copout because everyone's circumstance and reason for getting that way is different. Why do we stand for this blatant disregard for human life by allowing fat people to be mocked and scorned because of the size of their waistlines? Is this not the same thing that other races fought against during the civil rights era? Can somebody please explain to me what the difference is?

So what should we make of Hollywood trying to suck up to the obese? Are they being sincere in trying to connect with an audience that has grown tired of storylines featuring grossly thin actresses falling for the hunky Hollywood leading man? There's no telling what their motive is, but you can bet they are hoping to cash in on this genre of movie.

If "Just Friends" is successful, then look for even more "fat" feature films in the future. Maybe they'll try using REAL actors and actresses sometime. Gee, that'd be a novel concept! Let me know what you think about "Just Friends" if you have seen it.

11-29-05 UPDATE: A link to this post appeared on a blog called Big Fat Deal by someone who goes by the name "piegirl."

Here's a picture of her eating a cookie:



She describes "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" as "the king of the self-promoting blog." Uh, okay. Call what I do here what you want, but it made you come here didn't it, piegirl? :)

"Pie Girl" was gracious enough to write back to clarify her comments:

"Hi! It was meant very affectionately, by the way. The picture of me eating a cookie is hilarious. Love it."

THANKS, Pie Girl! I appreciate your support and welcome you back here anytime!

'My Life As A Fat Person' Debut Column

The more I write at this blog and hear from real people who struggle with their weight, I have grown a sense of love and respect for overweight and obese people like never before. Because God has been so gracious to give me my gift of weight loss and improved health, I cannot help but reach out to these people and share with them the wonderful blessings I have been given to encourage them in their weight loss journey.

That is why I created a new article series entitled "My Life As A Fat Person." These periodic columns will be written by real people who have struggled their entire lives with their weight and feel like there is no hope for them. From the e-mails I receive from people like this, the feelings of desperation and exascerbation consume them to the point that they almost can't even function as human beings anymore.

I've been there, too. It is a paralyzing position to be in that state of mind, but it is real. Some people don't want to admit they ever got in that mindset, but if you have been overweight or obese at any point in your life, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

It's not a place you want to stay either because it can lead to depression which brings on more eating which causes your weight to keep going up and the ruthless cycle is never broken.

The following column is from someone who has reached her breaking point. She is morbidly obese and is tired of people telling her she needs to lose weight. She's been fat her entire life and has endured the ridicule and shame her weight has brought upon her. It has had a tremendous effect on every aspect of her life and, if you read carefully, you will notice that being big has been the center of her life whether she wanted it to be or not.

I appreciate her willingness to be open and honest about how she feels and encourage others who would like to be a part of the "My Life As A Fat Person" series to write to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I promise to keep your name anonymous and will only print your feelings as you express them to me.

I may make minor changes for clarity, but the message your share will not be diluted. I want people to know what it's like to live inside the body of a fat person.

You might want to get some Kleenex before you start reading this one:

I know there are lots of "types" of overweight people. Some didn't gain weight until adulthood while others had babies and never lost the weight. Some people are like me who have had weight issues their entire life. I can only speak for myself, but consider my experiences to make my point.

Imagine being 4 years old and your life is going along swimmingly until another little 4 year old says to you, "My name is Betty and I take dancing lessons but you can't because you are too fat!"

Up until that moment, you never thought anything about yourself was different from any other person and you don't really understand it. So you go to your Mom (who has spent her lifetime struggling with weight issues and is the daughter of a woman who did the same). You ask her if you are fat and she is a bit surprised.

So you tell her what happened and she says, "Well, you can take dance lessons if you want, but I am not sure they make leotards big enough to fit you."

Ooops! Not only are you hit with the fact you are suddenly different, but maybe you don't "fit" in with the rest of the world.

From that point in your life forward, imagine every time you eat a meal -- make that 3 times a day, 365 days a year, for however many years -- it becomes a value judgment on yourself. Whether it is your parents or grandparents, you may recalling hearing them say something along the lines of these statements:

"You shouldn't eat sweet stuff for breakfast, it will make you gain MORE weight." At the same time your so-called friend across the street with the dancing lessons says, "My Mom says I shouldn't skip breakfast and the doctor told her even if I eat cake or pie for breakfast I need something in my stomach." This translates to you as, "Betty gets to eat pie for breakfast every day and I have to suffer and eat crappy cereal or eggs."

Or how about this?

"When you buy your lunch at school, don't get rolls and butter because they make you fatter." It seems like everyone in the whole school is eating clover leaf rolls and a pat of butter but you.

And who could forget this one?

"You will sit at this dinner table and eat every bite on your plate. I don't care if you cry all night, you are going to eat those lima beans and corn. There are starving children in Africa who don't get to eat like you do." You cry and you spend what seems like hours at the dinner table until you eat as many beans as you can and you want to vomit.

But then, ironically, the subtle insults from your own mother are uttered:

"Honey, I made cookies for you and your brother as an after school snack but just eat one because you are really too heavy to have them anyway." Huh? It is now no longer a treat but a way to make me feel bad again. I have one cookie, my brother has 3 or 4 -- that's not fair!

Then you go outside and there is you-know-who across the street with a whole box of animal crackers. What is it that I do wrong or different from other kids that makes me have to have all these restrictions? What is causing me to be fat?

I have to eat less than any other person I have ever met. The kid across the street doesn't run and play for 3 hours longer than I do and burn off all the calories? She eats lots more than I do and bad stuff too.

I sit for hours at the table to manage to swallow nasty vegetables and yet still I am fat. Why is she skinny and gets to take dancing and I don't? Why should someone who is 7 or 8 years old by now even have to know about calories and be judged as a good or bad person by what they eat?

Then, when you try out for band in the 8th grade and don't make it but not because you haven't practiced your heart out -- again, it's because you are too heavy!

You switch schools in 9th grade and try out again -- and AGAIN you don't make it. You die inside because you want to wear one of those cute band uniforms so badly and to be a popular kid.

Then suddenly, two days later, your mother tells you they have decided to add a few more people to the band and you and a couple of other girls (who weren't very good) make it. You are so happy, but you have a sneaky suspicion inside that maybe your parents and others complained enough to the band director that he reluctantly relented and let you in.

But then the band director makes you stay after band practice every day with the few other fat girls to practice marching because you "jiggle" too much! Duh! That doesn't fool me one bit! Just tell me that I am too fat, but there are a couple of other girls in the band who are just as overweight as I am. Obviously you have now become the laughing stock of the band and embarrassed to be singled out.

By the time high school rolls around, you realize you should even bother to try out again to avoid the negative attention.

In college, when you are 5' 7" and about 155 lbs, you go out on a blind date. But not only does he not speak to you the entire evening, but he continuously oinks like a pig the whole time. You are with another couple who are both very nice to you but your date still oinks like the pig that he is. Instead of standing up for yourself and telling the guy he is a jerk and to take you home, you suffer through the entire evening because you have not learned how to stand up for yourself -- yet. Worst of all, you never want to go out on a date again.

Then "the real world sets in" and the advice from the well-meaning comes unsolicited yet again.

"You better lose some weight before you go to that airline job interview because they will never hire you with the way you look now."

Nevermind the fact that you graduated top in your class from airline computer school. Despite the negative comments, you are 5'7" and weight 144 lbs and are smaller than you were in high school or college. What gives?

Life as a fat person feels as if you are constantly being judged as being different from everyone else. Eventually you start to believe it is true and start beating yourself up before every putting every morsel of food into your mouth.

No wonder a fat person's self esteem doesn't exist! Finally, you become a 50+ year old adult and you just flat out give up! No hope, no motivation, who gives a flying you know what!

So, in conclusion, all of this ranting and raving I just did is to explain why sentences like "consider allowing yourself to have a breadstick" bug the heck out of me now. Why not "have a breadstick" vs. "consider allowing yourself to have a breadstick?" There is a HUGE difference between those two statements.

Anyway, that's my life as a fat person...

Comments or feedback? Click on the comments section below or e-mail me.

Indiana Reporter Left Hanging After Weight Loss, Too

Dan McFeely understands my dilemma with hanging skin

This Indianapolis Star story written by Dan McFeely gets into the reality of life after weight loss -- namely, hanging skin.

McFeely had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 which "saved my life," but is now contemplating surgery of another kind -- the abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck."

He said he wants to have the $6500 procedure done to "look better and feel better about my body."

I can certainly relate. After losing over 180 pounds thanks to livin' la vida low-carb in 2004, the hanging skin is probably the only physical reminder left on my body that I have of the man I used to be. I share openly about this in Chapter 10 of my book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."

In a way it is good because I never want my belly to get that big again. But in another way it is that final piece of the puzzle in a happy story that has yet to be completed. Whenever I stare at that mesh of flesh in the mirror, it pains me that I have to look this way.

I'll NEVER go out in public without a shirt on until this gets taken care of, but I'm about to show you what hanging skin looks like (WARNING: Massive skin alert! For the first time ever, this is what my stomach looks like as November 27, 2005):





EWWWWW! I know, I know, it's pretty gross looking. But that's what I stare at day after day before I put on my shirt in the morning.

While it does make for an interesting freak show to entertain my wife with, it's not something that I want to live with for the rest of my life.

And lest anyone think I am ungrateful for my weight loss, don't get me wrong. I am VERY happy to be at the weight I am now compared with the 410 pounds I used to be. Even if I NEVER get the excessive skin taken care of, I know that I have done something VERY GOOD for my health and body by losing the weight.

However, with that said, people like McFeely and me are not alone. Over 100,000 people were able to have some sort of body sculpting procedures done last year which was a significant increase since 2000. In fact, my friend Roger Troy Wilson, who lose 230 pounds on his special diet plan, said getting the abdominoplasty surgery done "has made all the difference in the world how he sees himself when he looks in the mirror."

But a lot of us who want to have it done cannot afford to have it done.

As I have blogged about before, insurance companies so willingly pay for the gastric bypass surgery, but they don't give a flip about helping people who have hanging skin get the surgery to take care of that issue. Since I did my weight loss naturally, one would think they would at least pay for that considering all the money I will be saving them over the long term as a result of dealing with my obesity now before serious (and expensive!) health problems come in the future.

But nooooooooo! It's cosmetic and nothing more, they say. Unless I have a rash or bumps or some other idiotic nonsense, they're not paying a penny. Yadda yadda yadda.

So for now McFeely and I are stuck with what he calls the "flapper," which amounts to about 15-20 pounds of skin in my abdomen and inner thigh. My wife Christine calls it Play-Doh because of how squishy it is. I know, TMI, but it's true! My weight loss would be in excess of 200 pounds if all that skin were taken care of.

My doctor said the elasticity in my stomach is so far gone that doing 100 ab crunches a day won't do much to help with it. I tell people I've got a six-pack underneath all that skin! If you press on my stomach, it is solid as a rock. The only thing is your fingers feel like they are engulfed by marshmallows when you poke on my tummy to feel. Sigh.

McNeely went from a size 60 pants when he weighed 460 pounds down to a size 44 on his 268-pound body now. For me it was size 62 pants when I was 410 pounds down to a loose size 40 pants now at 225 pounds. We could both easily wear 2-4 pant sizes smaller if we had the "tummy tuck" surgery performed.

A clergy-friend of McNeely said getting this done for him would be "another step toward mentally removing myself from my old life."

WOW, what a great word illustration. And that's what I'm referring to about this being the final step in "the change" that has happened to me. I can then move on to the bigger and better things that life has in store for me after closing this chapter on my life for good.

While McNeely said the 2-5 hour abdominoplasty surgery will cost him $6500 to have done, I was quoted $12,000 PLUS missing three months of work while I healed from the incision. That's a HUGE sacrifice for people who are not as financially secure as others.

As for McNeely, he's still losing weight so it may not be a good idea for him to do it just yet. But for me, I don't see myself losing much more weight over the next year. This is a dream of mine to have done and I will not stop hoping that it will happen for me. I sent my weight loss story to Oprah and Maury and will never stop believing that I will be able to have that surgery done -- someday, someday.

You can e-mail Dan McFeely at dan.mcfeely@indystar.com.

11-28-05 UPDATE: I got this GREAT e-mail back from Dan McFeely today:

Hey Jimmy ... thanks for the note and the blogging. Sounds like you have had an incredible journey yourself. Maybe some day you and I will win a lottery and be able to pay for twin tummy tucks!

Since I don't play the lottery, I doubt that'll ever happen. But maybe I can sell enough books to make it happen! :-) You can get it by clicking here. THANK YOU!!!

I Enjoyed Signing Books In Virginia

My "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" book tour stops in Virginia this weekend were fantastic. Since I lived in the Hampton Roads area for eight years of my life, went to graduate school here, met and married my beautiful wife Christine here, and made lots of cherished memories I will never forget, this place has a special place in my heart.

It was so neat to see so many people I had not seen in a while and, needless to say, they were VERY surprised (in a good way) by the changes that have happened to me.

In fact, this photo (taken with my new digital camera by the way) of me in the KempsRiver Shopping Center Heaven & Earth store in Virginia Beach, VA on Saturday was a little surreal:



You see, it was 10 years ago THIS WEEK that I started working part-time at that very store during the Christmas holiday season while I was earning my Master's Degree. Now, a decade later, I'm one of the authors with a book on the shelf. That's still so strange to me! :)

Of course, my darling wife Christine was right there with me for the book signing despite the fact that she has been fighting a cold since we came to VA:



It was a lot of fun seeing some familiar faces and meeting new friends during the book signings, too. I've gotten into a pretty good routine now about asking for the person's name and how to spell it when I'm signing books:



Kudos to Rick at Heaven & Earth at KempsRiver (in the picture below) and all the great management and marketing team for making this weekend's book signings a great success:



I also appreciate Anne Verebeley (pictured with me below), the station manager for The Current. That radio station has come a LONG way since I was a disc jockey with them back in the early to mid-1990s. They had a live remote at two of my book signings and I appreciate their support:



There is one more special photo I wanted to share with you about a man named Bob Tureman:



Like me, Bob has struggled with his weight for his entire life. He (and several other friends from my old church Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA) decided he cannot deal with being obese any longer and has chosen to have the gastric bypass surgery.

As someone who has thought about having that done in the past before livin' la vida low-carb saved me, it is NOT an easy decision to make. But it has helped so many people, including my friend Beth Badore and her husband.

Bob, for example, has lost over 100 pounds in that picture you see above. He was a mammoth man who had trouble with even the simplest everyday tasks, including standing up long enough to catch up on old times with a friend.

But praise God Bob is a changing man because of his decision to get serious about his obesity and turn his life around. He already has a pacemaker and takes a handful of medications and vitamin supplements to help him. With the right mindset, Bob is well on his way to restoring his health for the sake of his two twin teenaged boys.

Are you like Bob and I used to be and have allowed yourself to get bigger than you ever thought you would be? Do you feel like there is no hope for you now because you've messed up too much? Be of good cheer, my friend, because weight loss can and will happen for you just as it happened for me and is happening for Bob.

Commit yourself today to JUST DO IT (that may sound cliche, but it is what you need to do) and watch how amazing transformations will happen to you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Remember, I am always here available to edify and encourage you if you need to be strengthened. I know the hurt and pain that being fat delivers. It's not any fun. But I am confident that YOU CAN DO IT just like I was able to do it. Pray for God to lift you up and help you triumph victoriously over your weight problem. He is big enough to make a miracle happen for you!

Write to me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Dutch Reader Cheers 'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb'

Reader from The Netherlands shows appreciation for my blog

The worldwide impact of this blog has been something I would have never dreamed about before I started writing in this forum in April 2005. Readers from every corner of the Earth visit my place in the blogosphere each day and I am so grateful to each of them for making this a regular place they come to learn more about the low-carb lifestyle and to be encouraged in their weight loss.

Today I received a VERY kind e-mail from a gentleman in The Netherlands who was gracious in his comments about me and my blog. I thought I would share this e-mail with you:

Hello Jimmy,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you with your fabulous success with the low-carb nutritional approach. I fully can understand your enthusiasm about it. In fact, I lost nearly 200 pounds myself in less than 18 months, even without exercise. I exercise because I can ... a little factoid the "experts" often forget.

It is great and encouraging to see that even more people live and enjoy the great benefits of a low-carb nutritional approach. And it's high time this information gets into the mainstream media. I am certain that your blog absolutely will make a difference. I have been reading a lot in your blog and enjoyed it very much. Your well-informed, easy-to-read and informative blog is a delight and refreshing. In a world where King Sugar and Prince Lies reign with an iron fist, the truth needs all the help it can get.

You are doing a truly wonderful job and a great service to mankind. I also am happy that the life's work and research of the brilliant Dr. Atkins, another courageous and intelligent soul like you, is now finally no longer ridiculed and ignored. People are starting to listen and take notice. It is high time.

All that's needed now is the final push that will topple the ivory towers from which the low-fat gospel has been forced upon us for decades. Your blog, book and other activities will definitely contribute to that. Soon, hopefully very soon, the low-fat lie (because that is what is and always has been) will no longer echo in the sacrosanct halls of our academia, government and media.

We have never met, Jimmy, but for your good work and spreading the good word the way you do, you will always have my deepest respect. My hats off!

Keep up the good work!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for those incredibly gracious remarks about me, my blog, and my book. WOW! I'm just your average everyday man trying to live life like everyone else and to read these kind of comments from someone I have never met is humbling and gratifying. It must mean I'm doing something right! :)

I am appreciative of everyone who comes to my blog and want to personally thank you for extending to me your love and appreciation for what I do. And, of course, if you don't like what I'm doing, I'm sure I'll hear from you, too. That's okay! As the kids these days say, "It's all good!" As long as we can get people to talking about livin' la vida low-carb, I am confident that the TRUTH will shine through.

Feel free to write me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Fuggedaboutit : One In 5 NYers Are Obese

This Syracuse Post-Standard story reveals that one in five of New York City residents are clinically obese and yet very few of them know it or will admit it.

City health officials say there are now over 1 million obese people residing in the New York City area, but a recent survey of those who are classified as obese found that 40 percent of them describe themselves as "very overweight," but not obese.

The stigma that comes from being called "obese" must be THAT bad if a New Yorker doesn't even want to be called one. Fuggedaboutit, I don't have a problem. When I weighed 410 pounds, I knew I was a big guy, but I never stopped to think about whether I was obese or not. And yet everyone around me already knew.

When an overweight or obese person denies they have a serious weight problem (as this reader did in an August post), people think they are being irrational and cannot understand why they won't just lose the weight. Since I've been there myself, I disagree with that thinking.

Instead, you have to know that there are a lot of emotional mind games that go on in the head of a person carrying around a lot of weight. The desire to lose weight is there, but that feeling of hopelessness sets in and causes people to rationalize away the size of their belly. I admit it. I did it, too!

But praise God I was able to start livin' la vida low-carb in 2004 and today I weigh 225 pounds. That weight didn't come off without a little hard work and a desire to see myself improve physically, mentally, and spiritually. Those four in ten New Yorkers who deny they are "obese" have to reach the point where they want to lose weight so bad that nothing will stand in their way of success.

I spoke with a lady at one of my book signings on Friday who had about 10-15 health and weight loss books in her hand browsing through them. When I looked into her eyes, I could see this woman was at her breaking point. She was overweight and now was desperately seeking answers.

She noticed me signing my book and inquired about my weight loss. I told her about how the low-carb lifestyle changed my life and that it was arguably the easiest and best-tasting "diet" I had ever tried. As I shared my story of being a former obese man, tears began to well up in her eyes and she knew she found a kindred spirit who understood her pain.

Seeing her cry like she did, it was difficult to keep my own composure, but I did. I proudly shared with her all the changes that have happened to me because of the weight loss and that those things could happen to her, too! She thanked me for sharing my story and said she was seriously committed to doing this. I encouraged her to keep that attitude and she can't help but be successful.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden would say that people who are obese need to eat less calories and exercise more.

"Obesity is directly related to getting too little physical activity and consuming too many calories," Frieden commented. "Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week can literally save your life."

Yes and no. Yes, you need to get the 30 minutes of exercise a day for your heart health and weight management. But no you don't need to cut your calories to do it. As I lost my weight on the low-carb lifestyle, not once did I, have I, or will I ever count my fat grams, calories or portion control my food. The burden of doing that is lifted off of you so you don't have to worry about it anymore. YOU'RE FREE!

But getting that heart rate up and making your body sweat is essential. Getting active in SOME way is the key and work your way up to longer workouts. Over one-fourth of the survey respondents said they are actively involved in some sort of physical activity for 120 minutes per week. That same survey showed nearly another one-fourth of respondents watch a minimum of FIVE HOURS of television per day.

Yikes! Whadyawanna bet they're not watching workout videos? LOL!

Whether you live in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, or anywhere in between, the first thing you need to do if you have a weight problem is admit it. Just admit it to yourself and resolve that you will commit to doing something about it. You don't have to wait until January 1, 2006 to make this happen. You can do it NOW!

If you need some encouragement to begin this weight loss journey and see someone who overcame a lifetime of struggle, then pick up a copy of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" book. I poured my heart and soul into that book because I have been there and want to help others get out of the obesity hole once and for all. God bless you.

'Biggest Loser' Contestants Keep The Weight Off

With the exciting 2-hour LIVE season finale of the hit reality television show "The Biggest Loser" airing this Tuesday night from 8-10pm EST, many are waiting to see whether it will be Matt, Seth, or Suzy who will lose the most weight as a percentage of their starting weight to become one quarter of a million dollars richer and be deemed "The Biggest Loser" for Season Two.

Also, there will be a battle among the eliminated contestants to see which one amongt hem will triumph to win the $100,000 consolation prize. It will certainly be fun to watch and they are all winners for investing in the hard work it has taken to bring them this far.




But for fans of the show (and I am one of them!), I bet you are wondering what happened with those contestants from Season One of "Biggest Loser" show? How are they doing with their weight now one year after being on the ranch? Wouldn't you like to see what they look like today?

Now you can! I thought you might like to have an update, including before and after photos, of the contestants from Season One of "The Biggest Loser":


RYAN BENSON

Ryan Benson was the original "Biggest Loser" and should be proud of what he has accomplished. He works out every single day and manages his 122-pound weight loss with the low-carb lifestyle. How cool is that?! You can check out what's happening with Ryan at his web site, RyanCBenson.com.


AARON

This is a man who now weighs less than 200 pounds and credits exercise for his success. In fact, he said he doesn't mind cheating on his eating habits because he knows he can work it off enough in the gym with exercise. Aaron is down to 11% body fat (hey, that's something we have in common!) and has never felt better. There's another thing he and I have in common as well -- Aaron's writing a book "because it really makes you get inside your own head and it also keeps me motivated." Amen, brother!


DREA

I always admired Drea because of what she did in accomplishing that physical challenge walking up a gazillion flights of steps. The look on her face when she was the winner of the challenge showed me that she was serious about her weight loss and that nothing would stop her from there on. According to her web site, she is staying plenty busy speaking about her weight loss and proudly, too. Man she's looking strong and healthy! She was the biggest female loser from Season One and has a smile that would light up any room. Her uncanny ability to motivate others is what has led her to become a fitness trainer. Do you think she ever thought she'd be doing that?! Way to go, Drea!


DANA

Although she didn't have a lot of weight to lose, Dana has certainly made the most of her experience on the show. She is a team leader for MSN.com's Losing Weight With Family and will be entering a bathing suit contest for a tanning company called Planet Beach. WOW! She looks great and credits cutting out sugar from her diet along with cardio workouts. Good going, Dana! You look mahhhvulous!


DAVE

The winner of the $100,000 from Season One for losing the most weight of the contestants who got cut, Dave made healthy eating and working out a "normal" part of his life. He said people stop him in the street and tell him how much they inspired them in their weight loss. It's a neat feeling, isn't it, Dave? I get that a lot since I went from 410 down to 225.


GARY

Eating "big salads" along with fresh fruit, Gary said he let his weight get "too low" while he was working on the show. He weighs 160 pounds today and says the key to his weight loss maintenance success is "cardio, cardio, cardio." Do you sense a theme here anyone?


KELLY MAC

Also crediting 1-hour workouts for six days a week, Kelly Mac also keeps a food journal and has inspired her parents and roommate to lose weight. She's still a stand-up comedian and loves the fact that guys ask her for her telephone number now. Check out what Kelly Mac is up to (including her tour schedule) by visiting KellyMacfarland.com.


KELLY MINNER

Being an example for her students, Kelly Minner says she has learned to relax more since leaving the ranch and doesn't worry about messing up. However, she made it very clear she will not eat white rice. Good girl! She, too, has felt the call in her life to help others in their own weight loss journey (when you lose weight and see such a dramatic change in your own life, that's only natural -- I've felt the same way!). She was on the front cover of Women's World magazine in May 2005 and is approaching 100 pounds lost since starting the show. You can see what Kelly Minner is up to at her web site, KellyMinner.com.


LISA

Using cardio workouts and dance classes to stay in shape, Lisa said her boyfriend gets jealous now because other guys are have google eyes at her. Nice problem to have, isn't it Lisa? Crediting "The Biggest Loser" for helping her get her life back, she described what life would be like today had she not gotten motivated to lose weight. "I would probably be in a wheelchair with a whiskey on the rocks in one hand and a double cheeseburger and fries in the other!" What a visual! Can anyone relate? :)


LIZZETH

She runs five miles a day and never cheats to keep her weight off. Lizzeth said she regained her sense of self-worth because of the show and has a goal to wear a 2-piece bathing suit before she reaches the age of 40. She's trying to get her family to do what she did by encouraging them to "start today" on doing something about their weight!


MATT

Another low-carber, Matt says he has cut out most of his carbs, eats lots of salads, chicken, and healthy fruits. He does portion control, but he says that helps keep him on track to maintain his weight loss. Matt also has three one-hour cardio workouts a week as well as sit-ups and push-ups. He says to "live fabulous" by enjoying life with a rum and Diet Coke!


BIG MO

Everybody loves Mo! What a super guy he is with a big heart that matches his once gargantuan body. But Mo is a changed man now who is working to get down to 235 pounds. Although he still weighs 350 pounds, Mo is confident his goal is "attainable" and uses the 1 1/2 hour workouts 5 days a week to help him get there. He said all the fried cookin' his momma used to make him has been replaced with baked now, so he's eating healthier. He even beat out television talk show icon Oprah Winfrey to be the Tennessee spokesperson for the Department of Health. Good going, Mo! You can do it, buddy! You've got a lot of people rooting for you to get to that goal of yours. Don't EVER give up!

So, that's what the contestants from Season One are up to now. Guess what is next in line for "The Biggest Loser" franchise -- A WORKOUT VIDEO!!!

Coming on December 20, 2005 is a special exercise video called The Biggest Loser Workout Volume 1 featuring "The Biggest Loser" fitness trainer Bob Harper and contestants from both Season One and Season Two joining him, including Gary, Drea, Suzy, Matt, Andrea, and Seth. From what I have seen of the video previews, there will be various workout levels to meet you at your level to go at your pace. That's a good way to do it!


Click here to order your copy TODAY!

By the way, NBC made it official today when they announced they have decided to renew the contract to bring back "The Biggest Loser" for a third season. Although the ratings are slightly down from the summertime Season One version of the show, producers and network executives are impressed with the numbers from the past couple of weeks which have been in excess of 10 million viewers. If the increased traffic to my site in that time period is any indication of the popularity of the show, then I'd say NBC did a smart thing renewing this lifechanging television show for yet another season.



Check out all my "The Biggest Loser" columns by clicking here.