Low-Carb Helps Even The Most Reluctant Dieter

David Schipper has seen some ch-ch-ch-changes thanks to low-carb

Okay, imagine this scenario for a moment.

You're a 26-year old 5'9" tall man who has allowed his weight to creep up to 231 pounds. Technically, you're obese! At the same time, unbeknownst to you until a blood test at the doctor's office, you have been considered among the millions who are walking around pre-diabetic and your health is much worse off than you ever thought possible. Add to all of this the fact that you are engaged to be married to a gorgeous woman in just three months, but now you are worried about whether you will even have a future.

AAAAAAACK!!!

As nightmarish as that story sounds, it was the painful reality for David Schipper. Oh, by the way, did I mention David is one of the editors at Men's Health magazine, too (the same magazine that features another editor who supports low-carb living)? That's right, David is not just some bum off the street, he actually works directly in "the biz" of weight loss and fitness. But that scenario I described is exactly what he faced earlier this year.

You can read all about it in this column he wrote about how he was able to overcome that bleak circumstance he found himself in. You see, David ended up losing over 30 pounds and a total of 5 inches off his waist in just three months!

Wanna know how he did it? Can you say livin' la vida low-carb? YEP!


Dr. Berkowitz is the man who helped turn David's life around

By the way, David's wedding went fantastic, his blood work is now closer to normal than it was previously, and he has a newfound appreciation for the wisdom of a man named Dr. Keith Berkowitz from the Center for Balanced Health in New York. His name may sound familiar to you because I recently interviewed his wife Valerie here at my blog. She played a vital role in David's weight loss success, too, and we'll share how in a moment.

Dr. Berkowitz looked at David's blood tests and noticed his triglycerides were about DOUBLE what they should be for "normal." Additionally, David was found to be "insulin resistant" because his body was making ten times the amount of insulin his body needed. In other words, he was on a one-way ticket to some major health issues if he didn't change--FAST!

"Can you say "instant motivation?"

Uh, yeah! I'm sure all of us who have once been overweight or obese can relate to that feeling. It's funny how something like that can move some people like David into action while others just yawn on go on about their life (my 600-pound brother Kevin comes to mind). If you don't have the want to, then you can never expect the results. Muster up the desire and success won't be far behind.

When Dr. Berkowitz told David he wanted to put him on a "controlled-carbohydrate diet," his intial response was one of "horror." But that was until he learned what the process of livin' la vida low-carb actually entailed.

"That doesn't mean cutting out carbohydrates altogether. Rather, you restrict the types that significantly raise your blood sugar and thus your insulin levels -- for instance, those found in soda, candy, and foods made with flour."

For the carbs he was allowed to eat, David revealed they included delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables. But he was skeptical about whether he could give up his "regular, carbohydrate-laden diet" for this new one.

"I wasn't sure I could stick with it."

To help with this, David got a heaping helping of encouragement and support from Valerie Berkowitz who gave him suggestions about how to do the low-carb lifestyle and keep it interesting and fun so he could lose the weight.

"She helped me create an eating plan that was user-friendly and required no calorie counting. Basically, my instructions were to eat only when hungry and to the point of fullness, incorporating five simple rules. I could eat as much meat and vegetables as I wanted, and was allowed 3 to 5 ounces of cheese and two servings daily of low-glycemic fruits -- berries, melons, peaches, plums, apples, oranges, and kiwis. I was also advised to drink 80 ounces of water daily."

Go read the Men's Health article for the full details about the five rules, but they are in a nutshell:

1. No more junk carbs that spike your blood sugar.
2. Increase your consumption of non-starchy veggies.
3. Eat protein throughout the day.
4. Don't be afraid of eating fat while reducing carbs.
5. Skip the processed foods.

You certainly can't argue with the success he had either--33 POUNDS GONE FOREVER! David was nice enough to post ALL 85 DAYS of his menus while livin' la vida low-carb, which included some minor "cheats" here and there. Yet he was STILL successful. See what he actually ate and read his commentary about what it was like going through this experience with thoughts from his food journal.

If the editor of a popular health magazine can get serious about his weight problem and find the answer in the low-carb lifestyle, then I think just about anyone should be able to do the same. Perhaps this once-skeptical man will now begin championing the low-carb cause a little more enthusiastically since it worked so well for him. Let his example inspire you to achieve the weight loss success you so desperately desire. YOU CAN DO IT!