Do you miss TheOmnivore? Get all the best Colpo articles in this e-book!
When you've got what is arguably considered one of the most highly successful and best health web sites of all time on the Internet and then suddenly decide to pull that web site's content virtually overnight, without warning, forever and ever, then you're gonna have quite a few people start to miss the great information that they took advantage of having readily available to them.
That's exactly what happened to TheOmnivore.com when its author Anthony Colpo decided to shut it down for good back in June 2006. Ever since that time, though, Colpo has received dozens of e-mails from his devoted fan base asking him to make his well-researched articles available again in some format. Please?
Thus was born the idea for "The Best Of The Omnivore" e-book. For everyone who complained that Colpo was being too selfish for pulling the wonderful content from his site, then here is your opportunity to step up and buy your own direct access to all your favorite articles again for less than five bucks!
That's right, these 266 pages of classic Colpo feature your favorite columns, memorable articles, heated e-mail exchanges, and so much more. And your total cost for this invaluable e-book compilation? ONLY $4.99! As in FOUR DOLLARS AND NINETY-NINE CENTS! Are you kidding me, Anthony? THAT'S ALL YOU WANNA CHARGE?!
WOW, can you get any more dirt cheap than that for such high-quality content that is backed by solid scientific evidence? I can't think of ANY good reason why everyone who supports what this man has done on behalf of all of us believers and supporters in livin' la vida low-carb wouldn't shell out what amounts to pennies per column for content that is easily worth hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.
Colpo invested countless hours of much of his life over the past three years researching, writing, refuting, and doing the dirty behind-the-scenes work to prove all these health claims we have had hammered down our throats for decades are as wrong as wrong can be. He did all of this without one single dime of payment from any special interest groups so he could uphold the independent integrity of his research. Can't we say THANK YOU to Anthony Colpo by buying his e-book now?
Even more impressive to me is the fact that Colpo wants to help benefit a fine organization with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of his e-book. He has agreed to donate 20 percent of each of the e-books he sell to the good work being done by a group called The International Advocates of Health Freedom.
Following on the heels of his critically-acclaimed debut blockbuster book "The Great Cholesterol Con" as well as his brand new web site called LowCarbMuscle.com, this new e-book should take away any and all excuses that people have about Colpo's decision to no longer make the content on his web site available publicly. JUST GET THE E-BOOK ALREADY!
Colpo's obviously not going to make a ton of money off of this, so the least people who have supported his efforts with TheOmnivore.com can do is buy this e-book. And it really is fantastic with all your favorites from Colpo, including:
- "Why the Low-Fat Diet is Stupid and Potentially Dangerous" - "LDL Cholesterol Does NOT Cause Atheroscierosis or Heart Disease" - "Why Diabetics Should Avoid High Carbohydrate Diets" - "The Ties That Bind" - "The Dietary Delusions of Dean Ornish" - "The China Study: More Vegan Nonsense!" - "Stop The Insanity!" - "Just How Low Will The Anti-Low-Carb Crowd Go?" - "It's official: Statin proponents have lost their minds!" - "'Brainless is Better' If You're a Statin Researcher!" - "Cholesterol Drugs Can Cause Impotence" - "How to Become an Easily-Brainwashed Sucker in 5 easy steps!" - "If Everybody Believes the Same Thing, It Must Be True, Right? Wrong!" - AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
PLUS, you'll get Colpo's infamous "Straight Out of My Inbox!" responses to some of the rather odd and peculiar feedback that Colpo received from his skeptical readers over the past three years. He also responds to the "Health Authorities" as well as "The Critics" in a way only Anthony Colpo could.
Most people who support livin' la vida low-carb will never forget those three years from 2003-2006 when TheOmnivore.com offered so much to the field of health that quite literally shook the entire medical establishment to the core. Colpo questioned everything that had ever been taught regarding healthy living and ripped it to shreds! From cholesterol to saturated fat to drugs and the monopolized low-fat diet, "The Best Of TheOmnivore" has it all for YOU!
Colpo was literally a one-man show telling it like it is, never backing down from a challenge, always giving it to you no-hold-barred, take it or leave it because he KNEW he had the TRUTH on his side. And to this day, NOBODY has been able to refute any of the sound research that Colpo has presented. NOBODY!
So, don't delay! Pick up your copy of "The Best Of TheOmnivore" by Anthony Colpo exclusively available for download from Lulu.com TODAY!
If the reality of sugar addiction wasn't such a serious problem in the United States, then this Times-Picayune story would be hilariously funny. It's still pretty amusing, but is yet another example of just how damaging sugar has become.
The story notes that 20-year old Bryan Perrilloux was arrested on Monday night because he broke into a closed convenience store at 11:30 at night looking for doughnuts and Danishes. I'm not kidding! He punched a hole in the glass to get inside and cut himself all in his quest for the sugary pastries that his body apparently needed as bad as a drug addict needs his fix.
Perrilloux's sugar withdrawals led him to take criminal action to get the hit he needed. He even admitted as much to the police officer who asked him why he did this. The response he gave was that he "just wanted some pastries."
If this story is not a microcosm of the reality of sugar addiction in this day and age, then I don't know what is. As much as sugar leads to obesity in so many people, it's these other side effects to eating sugar that cause people like Perrilloux to do what he had to do to get it!
Despite our desire to eating pounds upon pounds of sugar annually, the plain and simple truth is that sugar CANNOT be a part of a healthy lifestyle! PERIOD! End of story! Praise God I was able to overcome my sugar addiction in 2004 when I started livin' la vida low-carb and my life has improved so much since I kicked the habit. Of course, losing 180 pounds was a nice bonus, too! :D
Because the American diet has changed so much in the last fifty or so years, we have a bunch of heavily-addicted people running around everywhere capable of doing what Perrilloux did on Monday night. Now I'm not say that ALL sugar addicts will turn to a life of crime to get their sugar fix, but this demonstrates how controlling this substance can be when you go long periods without having it. This DEFINITELY includes the equally-problematic high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as well.
That's why it is and always will be RAT POISON to me and my body. I don't need, don't want it, don't crave it--GOOD RIDDANCE! Even the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending sugar alternatives to help people get off of sugar for good for the sake of their weight and health.
What's the lesson learned from this story? If you want to regain control back from sugar that has completely overtaken your body, then wean yourself off as soon as possible. For those people who don't think they're addicted to sugar, just try going without ANY for a month...heck, just do it for a week. You'll feel it, my friend, TRUST ME! That was the worst part of beginning my low-carb lifestyle, but it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.
Otherwise, we might be reading about YOU breaking into the Krispy Kreme doughnuts joint to get YOUR sugar fix. EEEK!
8-31-06 UPDATE: Read what my friend Suzanne from the "Waisted In The Wasteland" blog had to say about this story that happened in her local area.
For the first time since my blog came online in April 2005, I am having to do something that I REALLY didn't want to do, but now I have no choice. Beginning August 31, 2006, I have now implemented comment moderation. Frankly, I'm surprised it took 18 months for me to do this, but after what happened last night it was the right thing to do.
While I used to allow any and all comments to be posted at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, I quickly found that certain people and "spambots" used that as an opportunity to post a FREE AD or link to their commerce web site. To me that was unethical and definitely the WRONG way to market your web site to a potential customer base. That's when I began using the "Word Verification" feature on the advice of Blogger. That has been working for about a year now, but the spam is happening again.
At first, it was just one here, one there...no big deal, right? Well, last night I got 36 comments from someone using the username "diabetes diet pre1" on every single diabetes post I have written here. ALL OF THEM! What was the message?
As much as I love blogging, this aspect of it royally bites. But I'm not going to give this numbskull or any of the others just like him another FREE opportunity to post his or her little link to their ridiculous web site.
I actually went to the site to see if it had any merit and it's one of those automated web sites with a whole bunch of Google ads on them with very little content from a "real" person. You've seen 'em! Sickening!
People that know me are well aware that I'm MORE THAN HAPPY to do a link exchange with anyone who offers content related to health, diet and livin' la vida low-carb. We're all in this together trying to help educate the masses to get healthy.
But leaving comments that just say "GO TO MY WEB SITE" without making a comment about the blog post in question is irresponsible. If you post a comment on my blog, then it is your responsibility to make a point and move on. I certainly don't mind people like my friend Rob from ZERO CARB DAILY who faithfully shares his opinions about what I write about here and rightfully puts a link back to his site. That's cool.
If you have a diet or low-carb blog that you want to feature in that manner, then GO FOR IT! And if it's not listed among my Blog Friends, then just let me know in an e-mail. I am grateful to give you a plug and maybe even feature your blog in a post and certainly appreciate a link back here. We all reach different audiences of people and spreading the information around helps us all continue to grow and create a strong community of support.
Because of all of this, as of today, your comments will not be posted until they have crossed my eyeballs first. For those of you who are frequent commenters, you will probably not notice too much of a change because I will quickly approve of your posts. But for people like this "diabetes diet pre1" character who has nothing better to do than to post a bunch of links to my blog at 3am in the morning, your days of leeching off of my blog are over. Call me the Blog Nazi (a la the "Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld)--NO POSTS FOR YOU! LOL!
THANK YOU to everyone for your understanding about this. :)
Did incoming CBS News anchorette Katie Couric drop 20 pounds instantly?
We're only days before CBS-TV will begin using former "Today" show host Katie Couric as the anchor of the CBS Evening News beginning on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 6:30pm EST. But, as you can see from the picture I posted at the top of this blog post, CBS is apparently trying to manipulate the image of their incoming perky star.
The picture on the left (Media Bistro featured a blurb about this along with the original picture at their web site on May 18th) is the one CBS used to pre-promote Couric back in May this year when she was gleefully announced as the replacement for long-time, yet heavily embattled CBS news anchor Dan Rather. You might recall that Rather was publicly scorned for his role in what has been referred to as Memogate (aka Rathergate) in 2004 when he tried to smear President George W. Bush's reelection bid with a fake story about the Republican president's service in the National Guard.
Well, now Couric seems to have her own scandal of sorts with what I am dubbing Weightgate because of what CBS has done with that same photo of her in the September 2006 issue of their publication called Watch! magazine, which has a circulation of about 400,000 copies that are distributed to CBS employees and on American Airlines flights.
CBS made Couric the cover story for September's Watch magazine
If you download this PDF version of the magazine, then you will see the newly doctored photo of Couric that is at the right at the top of this post.
Two of the EXACT same photos that are obviously VERY different!
HOW AND WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN?
Well, according to this Washington Post story, it was the fault of "an overzealous employee in its publicity department" who got PhotoShop-happy to help improve Couric's physical appearance.
A CBS representative said neither CBS News management nor Katie Couric herself knew about the altered photograph. CBS News President Sean McManus even expressed to the New York Daily News that he was "surprised and disappointed" about this unfortunate mishap. In the end, though, both McManus and Couric laughed it off as a good joke.
"There is more of me to love," Couric remarked about her weight.
Katie Couric is starting off her career at CBS News with a bang
What are we to make of all this? Sure, CBS News and Couric say that they were oblivious to this seeming faux pas. But somebody HAD to know the picture was changed all for the sake of presenting Couric in a certain image that fits the mold of what Couric SHOULD look like. This goes back to the warped image of what a woman should be I have blogged about before. It's sickening that even someone as famous and recognizable as Katie Couric isn't good enough to just be herself, but that even she has to have a creative nip and tuck done with her picture. Can you imagine how that makes HER feel?
Sheez! How much more degrading can you get? "Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Couric, you were WAY too fat in that original picture, so I just wanted to spruce it up and make you look, um, better!" The person that did this unbeknownst to anyone (HA! If you believe that, then I've got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn, NY!) should be given his walking papers and publicly humiliated immediately for what he or she did. This is part of what's wrong with our society we live in.
Pretty soon, the expectation level of "the look" we are all supposed to have will become too unreasonable and unattainable if we aren't there already. Just ask this NBC actress about this issue after she was asked to lose weight after her pregnancy. It's inescapable in our culture and we need more people rejecting the notion that you have to weigh a certain amount or look a certain way to be accepted. That's just WRONG WRONG WRONG!
I heard CBS wanted to make Katie Couric's tenure in her anchor position a new, daring, and risk-taking adventure. But with Weightgate looming large over their heads right now, it certainly looks like more of the same from them (They don't call it "C"..."BS" for nothing).
Good luck to Katie in her new position, but she better watch that weight of hers or else CBS might be putting her on a diet soon. But then she could start livin' la vida low-carb! :D You're welcome to join us anytime, Katie!
Health Affairs journal prints my impassioned letter over obesity
After blogging about this new study that found tripling Medicare costs was the direct result of the doubling in obesity rates among Medicare recipients, I received a very kind reply from the lead researcher Dr. Kenneth E. Thorpe from Emory University.
"Congrats to you on your leadership in this," Dr. Thorpe wrote in an e-mail. "I am doing several talks on this in DC this month to drive home the message. Key here is absent a clear understanding of what is driving up the growth in spending, it becomes impossible to effect meaningful change in Medicare or the growth in private insurance."
Dr. Thorpe was so pleased with my enthusiasm and concern over this issue that he forwarded my comments to Andrea Zuercher, managing editor for the journal that Dr. Thorpe's study was published in called Health Affairs. You can view the full text of the study by clicking here.
Zuercher said she discussed with her editorial staff about having me draft a letter in response to be posted on the Health Affairs web site.
"We'd like to invite you to submit an eLetter in response to his article, for posting on our Web site," she wrote to me.
I'm never one to let an opportunity to share my opinion on such an important subject pass by, so I agreed. You can view the entire response letter that was based on my blog post from the other day with a few additions here and there by clicking here.
Here's are a few brief excerpts from my letter:
"Why do we think anything will change if we keep giving the same lifestyle advice that has been hammered down the collective throats of the American people for decades? Obviously, something is not working, or we wouldn't be in the mess we are in. The answer may not necessarily lie in more of the same, but rather new, fresh approaches to educating the public about what constitutes a healthy diet and fitness program." ************************************ "If you genuinely want to bring about effective change in the hearts and minds of the American people regarding healthy living, so they don't come into the Medicare system as a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode and suck every last dollar out of the Medicare budget, then you need to begin urging government officials and medical leaders to immediately start educating people about other alternatives to the low-fat diet approach. Sure, this will anger some of the hard-nosed bureaucrats who don't want to hear the truth, but our current dietary recommendations have done nothing but exacerbate the obesity problem and make it worse than it has ever been." ************************************ "What we need now more than ever are genuine bold new leaders on this issue to stand courageously in the face of the staunchest critics and declare, "This is the right thing to do." Who will these brave and honorable leaders be? How about members of Congress? Medical professionals? Is there anyone ready to take me up on my recommendation that Americans be given the facts about many different weight-loss plans so they can decide which one is best for them?"
I hope my letter is read by the policymakers and health officials who need to see it. We are at a point in the history of the world where if we don't start changing the way we're doing things regarding health recommendations and information, then the United States of America could very well eat its way to destruction. To some that sounds preposterous, but this problem with Medicare is JUST the beginning.
The people who are preventing the average American from getting the information they need to make lifestyle choices for themselves need to look into the not-too-distant future and see what the unintended consequences of their actions will cause. It's not gonna be pretty unless SERIOUS changes are made about what we call a "healthy diet" in this country.
Do you have an opinion about this and would like to respond to the Health Affairs journal with your comments? You can submit your letter by clicking here and following the instructions provided. If the editorial staff approves of your letter, then it will be posted within a few days.
Today is the BIG DAY that the "Health Hacks Podcast" debuted to a world in dire need of reliable news, information, and commentary about healthy living in a fun and unique format.
While I gave you two small samplings of what you could expect from this brand new health-oriented show featuring contributions from Chris Brogan, Reinhard Engels, Kevin Kennedy-Spaien, and yours truly with this and this, the "Health Hacks Podcast" is a well-produced show that will keep you captivated from start to finish. You'll laugh, you'll learn, and hopefully you'll be motivated to start living a much healthier and fit lifestyle after listening to the "Health Hacks Podcast."
Have you heard the highly-anticipated debut episode yet? If not, then you are in for a real treat. Just push play on the online podcast player below to listen to Episode #1 of the "Health Hacks Podcast." I promise you will LOVE it (yes, I'm a little biased because I'm a part of it, but listen anyway!):
Health, Fitness, And Inspiration - In Your Ear!
So, what did you think? Did it live up to the hype I gave it? Wasn't it GREAT?! I am so proud to be associated with such an incredible new project like this and look forward to sharing much more information about livin' la vida low-carb to an audience who may or may not be exposed to what this way of eating is all about. Don't ya know I'll tell 'em all about it! :D
Wanna keep up with the latest "Health Hacks Podcast" shows? Then CLICK HERE for the RSS feed or you can even download the show directly from iTunes for your iPod. Cool huh? You WON'T want to miss a single episode of this engaging, exciting and entertaining new show!
Share your thoughts and reactions to the show by using the Contact Page or by calling our Comment Line at 978-416-BE-OK (978-416-2365). If you do, then you might even have the opportunity to HEAR YOURSELF on a future "Health Hacks Podcast!" WOO HOO! Be sure to tell 'em how much you LOVE that "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" guy Jimmy Moore. HA! Just kidding! LOL!
What I DO want you to do, though, is express your comments about the first show by clicking here. Good, bad, or ugly, tell us what you HONESTLY think of the show so we can make it better and better. Executive producer Kevin Kennedy-Spaien has put a lot of long hours of hard work and creative effort into making the "Health Hacks Podcast" a top-notch program with content for people at every level of health and fitness.
And don't miss the exciting second episode coming up next Wednesday at HealthHacksPodcast.com!
Why Do People Have An 'I Don't Care' Attitude About Their Need For Weight Loss?
Right now as you are reading the words I have written for this blog post, there are quite literally tens of millions of people all around the world who are sitting at their desk at work, watching television, eating in restaurants--living life--and yet they have something that is just about the most destructive thing anyone could possibly have.
Is it AIDS? Nope! How about cocaine addition? No again. Could it be cancer? Wrong answer.
As bad as all of those things are, the number of people I am referring to is impacted on a much grander scale than the people who suffer from the above issues COMBINED! What am I referring to?
Call it apathy, call it discontent, or whatever fits your lexicon. But the "I don't care" attitude about weight loss that is exhibited by the two out of every three people in the United States and I would suspect worldwide is doing more damage than we are willing to admit.
WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE THIS ATTITUDE ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS?
As a man who used to be one of those morbidly obese people who walked around this world fat and without any reason for ever trying to lose weight, let me give you some of my insights on the answer to that question.
Weighing over 400 pounds is something that didn't just happen overnight. It was a series of poor choices and decisions that I made in the way I ate, how much I ate, the kinds of foods I ate, and why I ate. Additionally, exercise was nonexistent so there was no calorie-burning happening in my body aside from the day-to-day activities of life.
After trying and failing on so many of these low-fat, calorie-restricted, weigh every ounce of food diet out there, you get frustrated and come to the conclusion that being overweight of obese is your lot in life. There's absolutely no reason to try to lose weight because you'll only end of failing. This mentality is fueled by the continual trial and error that happens when you go on a diet. Up and down, up and down your weight goes and you just throw your hands up in the air.
This hopeless and helpless feeling more than anything else is why people say "I don't care" about their need for weight loss. That's why I try to encourage people who are where I once was to realize there are better ways to lose weight than all those "healthy" tips we have heard over the course of our lifetime. Start educating yourself about radically different nutritional approaches, such as livin' la vida low-carb, and you will find much of what you thought you knew about losing weight was 180 degrees WRONG!
The emotional pain that comes from being overweight or obese cannot be diminished either. As much as people who are fat want to put on a good front and a happy face, the truth is they are longing deep down inside to be "normal" again and getting their weight under control. They rationalize that they are "big-boned" and was simple "destined to be fat forever." UGH! What lies we tell ourselves when we have allowed such thoughts to enter our heads.
Although people might say they don't care, the fact is that they do. Everyone who has a weight problem will have to come face-to-face with the reality that their weight will sooner or later begin causing health problems that may not be treatable. When everything else has failed to work to bring about weight loss, that's when you turn to something new to make it happen. That's the beauty of the low-carb lifestyle and precisely why I keep doing what I do here day after day after day.
If you are one of those people who hides behind the facade that you just don't care about weight loss, then listen to me when I say this from the bottom of my heart. STOP IT! STOP LYING TO YOURSELF! THE GIG IS UP AND IT'S HIGH TIME YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT NOW! NOT TOMORROW! NOT NEXT WEEK OR NEXT YEAR! RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT!
When I weighed 410 pounds in January 2004 at the beginning of my low-carb lifestyle, I had no idea that by the end of that year I would drop 180 pounds, lose 20 inches from my waist, be in the best physical shape of my entire life, and begin a lifelong journey to be healthy and help others get there, too! But that's EXACTLY what happened and it can happen for anyone willing to give low-carb living a chance to change their life just like it changed mine.
Those feelings of apathy are certainly natural, but let them instead motivate you to take action. Who knows, you might be looking back a year from now wondering how in the world you lost 50, 100, or even 200 pounds! That's the miracle that awaits you if you are willing to invest the time, effort and energy into livin' la vida low-carb. Of course, if you need any help along the way, I'm always available to assist you at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Put the "I don't care" attitude aside and GO FOR IT! :)
Everybody and their momma's looking for information about shirataki
Over the past week at my blog, I have noticed a sudden exponential increase in the number of people looking for information about the amazing Japanese low-carb noodles known as shirataki as a result of a feature story in the First For Women magazine. As my regular readers already know, I have written many articles about this miracle yam-based pasta alternative that is low-fat, low-calorie and low-carb. WOO HOO!
So, as a service to all of those new people (Hey there and WELCOME TO MY BLOG!) who are looking for all things shirataki, the following is a listing of the columns I have written about shirataki noodles, including reviews of the House Foods and Konjac shirataki brands, TONS of delicious recipes including the ones that were submitted to me during my "Livin' La Vida Shirataki" recipe contest, where you can buy shirataki noodles for yourself, and so much more. ENJOY and come back again soon!
Attorney Mark Jay Krum has agreed to take on the personal injury lawsuits filed against Pfizer, Inc. over the negative physical effects that Liptor has allegedly caused those who have taken the drug. This class action lawsuit continues to grow and Krum is encouraging people who have experienced lingering symptoms after taking Lipitor to contact him using his Lipitor Litigation contact page or via e-mail at markjaykrum@aol.com.
The lawsuit specifically accuses Pfizer of deceiving the public with their marketing of Lipitor as a "safe drug with minimal health risks." Krum says Pfizer had a responsibility to give adequate warnings to both physicians and the patients who were prescribed Lipitor to lower their cholesterol of the more dangerous side effects such as severe muscle pain, nerve damage, memory loss, extremely vivid nightmares and other issues involving the brain and central nervous system while taking the drug. The lawsuits specifically state that Lipitor is poorly created and patients are not given complete information about all of the possible side effects.
Statin drugs like Lipitor have long been criticized for causing negative reactions in people which led the University of California San Diego (UCSD) to create a research project called the Statin Effects Study which I participated in since I have had problems after taking Lipitor and Crestor in the past.
Here are just a few of the new plaintiff's Krum is representing:
1. A pilot from Virginia who says he has permanent muscle and nerve damage from taking Lipitor which has kept him from flying because he can no longer pass the required physical.
2. A former professional soccer player from Amherst, New York has had trouble on Lipitor.
3. A dentist in Long Island, New York is also experiencing issues with the cholesterol-lowering medication.
4. The widow of a former New York Congressman started taking Lipitor in 1999 and now has developed several irreversible health problems such as damage to the peripheral nervous system damage (peripheral neuropathy), short-term memory loss and depression, among others. She recently came off of Lipitor, but still has issues with memory, balance, tingling in her extremities, confusion, and chronic fatigue. Her doctor says she has cerebral atrophy not associated with Alzheimer's disease.
5. Former UK soccer player and vice-president of a public company in Long Island, New York began taking Lipitor to bring his cholesterol down on the advice of his doctor and noticed that he has nerve damage in his hand, elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles" which has made his workout routine "excruciatingly painful and impossible to carry out."
These are just a few of the many examples of people who are upset with Pfizer to the point that they are willing to join this class action lawsuit against them. It's hard to avoid seeing a Lipitor commercial these days because hundreds of millions of marketing dollars have been poured into pushing this drug with massive sales exceeding $12 BILLION dollars in 2005 alone. This is a BIG moneymaker for Pfizer and they would like nothing more than to see these lawsuits just go away.
In response to the lawsuits, Pfizer took out several full-page ads in some major national newspapers extolling the safety and effectiveness of their product. But Krum said it's not about the effectiveness, per se, but the safety for some people is questionable at best.
"These lawsuits charge that Pfizer failed to adequately warn both doctors and consumers of the drug's more serious and sometimes permanent health risks -- risks that Pfizer was well aware of in its own clinical studies of statin usage," Krum stated. "Pfizer has apparently engaged in a campaign of misinformation, designed to downplay and cover up Lipitor's more serious and irreversible side effects, and is willing to promote the drug at any cost."
As much as cholesterol problems have been given such prominence in today's society as a health "crisis," the fact is that cholesterol is a non-issue as defined by the medical standards in place. Anthony Colpo's "Great Cholesterol Con" addresses the reasons for this and is an excellent resource for anyone who has been prescribed a statin drug like Lipitor to artificially lower your cholesterol. CHECK IT OUT!
Can you believe it has already been one month in the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge? WHOA, this thing is FLYING by! But that's good because it means so many people are shedding the pounds and getting healthy--all because they are livin' la vida low-carb!
If you haven't visited the "30-In-30" blog, then you are missing out on a lot of comments from people who are not only trying to making this low-carb thing work, but they are DOING IT! WOO HOO! I am so very proud of what these men and women have accomplished so far and I KNOW they will be successful losing those 30 pounds in 30 weeks.
I LOST ANOTHER POUND for a total of SIX pounds lost now. That's still ahead of my pound-a-week pace and I am thrilled with it.
For Week 5, I have something very special planned to see if we can't get the scale to move down into the 220s for me in the next week or so. I can't tell you what it is just yet, but if it works this could be the birth of an amazing new weight loss program that EVERYONE will be clamoring to do. I can't say much more about it right now, but you will know when the time comes.
Dr. Thorpe says "primary prevention" needed for Medicare recipients
This Asbury Park Press story about a new study reveals the disturbing fact that obesity among Medicare beneficiaries has more than doubled while Medicare costs to treat the obesity-related diseases of these patients has tripled.
Lead researcher Dr. Kenneth E. Thorpe, chair of the Department of Health Policy Management at Atlanta, Georgia-based Emory University, looked at Medicare data from 1987 through 2002 to analyze spending on healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries as well as rates of obesity.
In the 15-year period, Dr. Thorpe found that the number of Medicare beneficiaries who were considered obese rose from 11.7 percent in 1987 to 22.5% in 2002--NEARLY DOUBLE! Additionally, healthcare spending over that same time period for those specific Medicare recipients jumped from 9.4 percent to a whopping 24.8 percent--NEARLY TRIPLE!
Dr. Thorpe's intial reaction to his study results was one of immediate and effective action.
"What this study tells us is that we need to aggressively put in place interventions to deal with obesity and chronic disease prevalence among the elderly to control spending," Dr. Thorpe concluded.
Yes indeed, Dr. Thorpe, but that's a lot easier said than done. When you have such poor dietary advice being given to patients about what they need to do to lose weight and get healthy, it makes the ultimate goal of bringing costs down that much more difficult. Sadly, this problem will NOT be going away anytime soon as obesity rates keep going up and up.
Additionally, Dr. Thorpe found that our senior citizens who are entering the Medicare program are already carrying around excessive weight and have developed problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. This is a point that policymakers have neglected as they seek to reduce spending on Medicare costs.
Dr. Thorpe notes that most of the increases in the Medicare costs from 1987 to 2002 were a direct result of new Medicare recipients entering the program with pre-existing obesity-related diseases.
The results of this study appear in the August 22, 2006 issue of the health policy journal Health Affairs.
One of the scariest statistics in Dr. Thorpe study was the revelation that the number of Medicare patients being treated for FIVE OR MORE medical conditions went up from about a third (31 percent) in 1987 to OVER HALF of the recipients in 2002! Even more startling is the realization that payments for these Medicare patients accounts for more than three-fourths of all the spending on Medicare in the year 2002, up sharply from the 52 percent in 1987.
Suggesting a plan of action is needed to not only improve the health of these Medicare patients, but also to relieve the financial pressure being placed on the Medicare system, Dr. Thorpe suggested an immediate change or else the integrity of Medicare could be permanently compromised.
"We need to recognize that we need to do much more in terms of primary prevention - diet, exercise and nutrition - not only among the existing Medicare beneficiaries, but among the near-elderly, those 55 to 64," he said. "These people will be entering Medicare with rates of chronic disease disability that we have never seen."
You know, that sounds all well and good, Dr. Thorpe. But why do you think anything will change if we keep giving the same lifestyle advice that has been hammered down the collective throats of the American people for decades. Obviously, something is not working or we would be in this big mess we are in. The answer may not necessarily lie in more of the same, but rather new approaches to educating the public about what constitutes a healthy diet and fitness program.
As someone who used to weigh over 400 pounds, I know how frustrating it is to feel like weight loss and health issues only come in one box. Generally, this has been the low-fat, low-calorie, portion control line of thinking that has ALWAYS been considered the only real healthy way to eat. Unfortunately, that way of eating does NOT work for everyone which is why many people are bucking the advice they get from their government and doctor to try the low-carb lifestyle.
That was the best decision I ever made regarding the future of my health and now I am 180 pounds lighter as a result. If you genuinely want to bring about effective change in the hearts and minds of the American people regarding healthy living so they don't come into the Medicare system a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode and suck every last dollar out of the Medicare budget, Dr. Thorpe, then you will begin to urge government and medical leaders to begin educating people about other alternatives to the failed low-fat diet approach as soon as possible.
It will anger some of the hardnosed bureaucrats who don't want to hear the truth, but our current dietary recommendations have done nothing but exascerbate the obesity problem and make it worse than it has ever been. The downward spiral we are currently experiencing shows no sign of stopping unless serious and meaningful changes are implemented to allow a variety of obesity-treatment options to be given unabeted access to the American people.
Do we REALLY care about the health and wellbeing of the overweight and obese in this nation? That's two out of every three people these days who need to find the hope that permanent weight loss is within their grasp. They may find it outside of the traditional means someday, but why not open the door of opportunity NOW so we can bring those obesity numbers and the associated healthcare costs back within a reasonable range.
The government and special interest groups need to stop protecting the interests of their friends in the food manufacturing industry who stand to take a hit if livin' la vida low-carb goes mainstream. Is it more important to keep the wallets of these big companies fattened while the nation's obesity rate quickly approaches 100 percent?!
Enough with the talk about helping people change because it is way past time for petty chatter about this serious issue. Are we ready to FINALLY take the next step forward or will we continue to allow the old way of thinking rule the day? Dr. Thorpe, we need leaders on this issue to stand boldly in the face of critics and declare, "This is the right thing to do."
Will you be that brave and honorable leader? How about members of Congress? Medical professionals? Is there anyone ready to take me up on my recommendation that Americans be armed with the facts about many different weight loss plans so they can decide which one is best for them? I promise you we will see a meaningful turnaround in obesity in America as we set the example for the rest of the world to follow. Can we make this a reality in the United States?
8-29-06 UPDATE: Dr. Kenneth Thorpe kindly responded to my concerns about this very important issue with Medicare in an e-mail today:
"Congrats to you on your leadership in this. I am doing several talks on this in DC this month to drive home the message. Key here is absent a clear understanding of what is driving up the growth in spending, it becomes impossible to effect meaningful change in Medicare or the growth in private insurance...
Dr. Thorpe was also kind enough to pass along a link to this post to the Health Affairs journal where I was asked to submit a response letter for posting. I will be doing that and will post a link to it here when it is online.
WE MUST HELP DR. THORPE DRIVE HOME THIS POINT. Change is not just an option, but it MANDATORY if we are going to recapture control spiraling obesity rates and the costs associated with obesity-related diseases on a crippled Medicare system.
8-30-06 UPDATE: Health Affairslinked my letter in response to this study at their web site today.
I recently told you about fellow Atkins diet weight loss success story Kent Altena, who lost over 200 pounds on this way of eating, starting a new series of online videos to help educate others about what livin' la vida low-carb is all about.
Well, Kent has been hard at work and has already posted a couple of new videos that I'd like to share with you:
AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT WHO KENT ALTENA IS
The next video features the subject of "Induction" which Kent explains at his blog is vital to making this lifestyle change take deep root in your life so you will never go back to your old ways again.
"Having a successful Induction phase of Atkins is so much more than just losing weight. It is about getting your eating under your control again, getting your blood glucose levels stabilized, starting to learn new healthy habits with food, and finally to experience the magic of ketosis to the person needing to lose weight. Take the time to learn how to do it right."
Here's the video:
HOW TO DO ATKINS INDUCTION - PART 1
You can read more about what Kent is hoping to communicate through this video by visiting his blog post about it. Feel free to provide Kent with any feedback you might have about his videos in the comments section of his blog as well.
I'm glad Kent is focusing on the most important part of the Atkins diet--INDUCTION--first because you cannot underestimate how crucial it is to learn what this way of eating is all about. Nothing gets you prepared for low-carb living better than 14 days of 20g carbs. It only gets better from there on.
Keep up the GREAT work you are doing, Kent! Just as I attempt to spread the good news of livin' la vida low-carb with what I write about here at my blog, you are going to reach an audience of people who need to know the truth when it comes to low-carb living. I'm personally looking forward to your future videos and encourage all of my readers to keep checking your blog often to see what you are up to. Take care, my friend!
I just love it when another one of these so-called "expert" dieticians start badmouthing the Atkins/low-carb nutritional approach because it gives me an opportunity yet again to expose them for just how ignorant they really are about diet and health. In fact, just in case you've missed any of my previous blog posts about dieticians, here's a list of them for you:
As you can see, I like to have fun with these dieticians because they are generally very adamant in their opposition to livin' la vida low-carb. And this Independent Online story is no different.
Featuring commentary from a registered dietitian named Nancy Kazakis who was helping out some dieters walking through the grocery store wondering what to buy for their healthy weight loss plan. Unfortunately for them, though, the tips she was providing them were horrible for anyone trying to improve their weight and health.
Here's what I mean:
According to the story, Kazakis avoids any foods where over a third of the calories come from the most hated of all macronutrients--FAT! And God forbid you eat any saturated fat from animals "which raises cholesterol" or trans-fats.
“If more than half of what I’m eating is calories from fat, then I’ll put that right back on the shelf,” she said.
Are we EVER going to get past this saturated fat thing already? Saturated fat can be very good for you despite the claims by the media that this study proves otherwise. Baloney!
Regarding trans-fats, most people are very aware of this worst of all fats because it has been villified (rightfully so!) as dangerous to your health. But Kazakis like so many of her fellow dietitians throws ALL fats in with the bad which is highly irresponsible for someone providing nutritional information to the public.
After she finished with her fat tirade, Kazakis then turned her attention to the Atkins diet which she erroneously defines as a way of eating that "advocates zero carbohydrates and plenty of protein." Other than people like my friend Rob on the Zero Carb Path, I don't know anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb and going completely without carbs in their diet. NONE! The fact is the Atkins diet is at the VERY MINIMUM during the first two weeks 20g carbohydrates and then most people move up to 30-50g during their weight loss.
Kazakis then made the boneheaded comment that while the "dissolving" Atkins diet "worked for many," it has "never helped people maintain their weight once they took it off."
Where do these people come up with such idiotic claims about low-carb?!
Of course, like every dietitian I know, Kazakis then goes into a lecture about how the body needs carbs that you can only get from cereals and bread to help YADDA YADDA YADDA! Like a broken record that keeps playing that bad song with a skip on it, that's what these nutrition experts keep sounding like in all of these columns.
Oh, then you MUST see this list of 7 grocery tips Kazakis offered the dieters (poor people!) and what she recommends they should eat during their weight loss:
1. Consume 3-4 eggs per WEEK
HA! I eat AT LEAST that many per DAY! It is a great source of protein and delicious, too! In fact, a study showed people who eat eggs actually consume less calories during the day. That's reason enough for me to eat eggs ALL the time!
2. Eating low-fat cheese
Uh, no. How about if I eat DOUBLE fat cheese because it'll taste better. Kazakis recommends eating string cheese because it is made with low-fat milk. Nah! Eat it because it's low-carb, but don't worry about the fat.
3. Choose vegetable oil-based margarine
Yikes! I haven't put margarine in my mouth knowingly for close to three years now. Butter is SO much better for you and should be used in any food you eat that needs a flavorful burst of a healthy fat. And the real stuff tastes so much better, too!
Other than the FDA allowing spray-on viruses to be put on deli meats, I cannot disagree that deli meats should be a part of your grocery shopping list. However, forget about the low-fat versions because they tend to have more sugar and salt in them than you really need. Keep the fat in and enjoy some good ham, turkey, roast beef and more!
6. Substitute ground turkey for ground beef
Why would I want to do that?! There's nothing wrong with eating beef and it tastes so good, too. The supposed benefits to eating ground turkey (less fat) are not worth the sacrifice in taste when there is nothing wrong with eating a good hamburger. Don't forget the cheese, baby!
7. Eat lots of high-fiber, low-calorie veggies
Okay, I'm all for vegetable consumption which actually doubles when you start livin' la vida low-carb. But you must be discerning about what KIND of vegetables you eat because many of the ones that are starchy or contain high amounts of sugar in them are NOT good for you. Green beans, cauliflower, and salad greens are just a few of the many EXCELLENT choices for you to eat on your low-carb lifestyle. Stay away from potatoes, arguably the most unhealthy vegetable ever!
At the end of the story featuring these comments from Kazakis, she raves about how awesome the 100-calorie snack craze is because "it’s all about control.”
"It’s a smaller portion, but isn’t that the whole idea of our diet plan?” Kazakis exclaimed.
No, it's not. I don't want or need any sugar in my diet, no matter how small the portions allegedly are, Ms. Kazakis. While I agree that portion sizes have gotten out of control, the answer is not in pre-packaged servings that contain 100 calories. Low-calorie diets aren't necessarily healthy and making better overall food choices helps people more than anything control their weight and get healthy.
At the end of the day, Kazakis is just another robotic dietician attempting to influence the people she counsels with archaic dietary advice that will keep them unhappy and unhealthy for many years to come. Hey Ms. Kazakis! How about joining the 21st century and telling people about how livin' la vida low-carb will radically change their life for the better? Oh, I forgot, you can't do that because YOU ARE A DIETICIAN!!! ARGH!
The world's most famous low-carb chef has a beef with Jimmy Moore?
When you talk about the most influential names in the world of low-carb, nobody will argue that television chef George Stella is near the top of the list. This amazing man has done more to share the message of livin' la vida low-carb with our culture than just about anyone aside from the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins because lives are being changed for the better as a result of what he is doing.
To say I'm a fan of the star of the hit Food Network television show "Low-Carb And Lovin' It" would be an understatement. I had nothing but great things to say about his "Eating Stella Style" book and even wrote a feature blog post on his fantastic "Stella Style" web site. My relationship with the Stella family has been one of mutual respect for our respective weight loss successes following a low-carb lifestyle and we had exchanged several very friendly e-mails.
What did I type in that post that would have George Stella so mad at me? Well, it appears the subject of that particular blog post, Kelley Keener's inspiring low-carb weight loss success story, was already appearing on the "Stella Style" web site. Actually, I had no idea it was there until well after I had written my blog post.
Let me back up for a moment and tell you how I got Kelley's story.
One of my faithful blog readers here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" is a lady named Kay Witt, the loving and proud mother of Kelley. Kay had been telling me about Kelley's progress on her weight loss for a while on the "Stella Style" program and would send periodic updates with pictures for me to see. As a proud mother who was pleased to see her daughter get her weight under control at last, she was so excited to share this with me.
About three weeks ago, I received an especially enthusiastic e-mail from Kay telling me how much Kelley had changed and she sent the breathtaking before and after pictures for me to see. When I saw them, my initial reaction was, "WOW! She looks incredible!" Since I am all about encouraging people to lose weight here at my blog, I asked Kay and Kelley if I could have permission to tell her amazing story to my readers. Of course, they both immediately agreed and sent me pictures via e-mail as well as a synopsis of Kelley's story in her own words so I could write my column.
However, it seems George Stella saw my blog post featuring Kelley and it infuriated him based on some assumptions he made about it. I received an e-mail directly from him demanding that I immediately remove Kelley's story I had written from the Internet because I had essentially stolen it from his web site.
I WAS REQUIRED TO FORCIBLY REMOVE THIS QUOTE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA) BECAUSE GEORGE STELLA COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THIS POST
Well, first of all, I don't just go around trying to fill this blog with content. I have PLENTY of material to work with in the media, with new products, interviews with people in health, highlighting new blogs and web sites, etc. There is NEVER a shortage of things for me to discuss here. But I didn't seek out Kelley's story, her mom came to ME with it! What's the big deal about sharing a weight loss success story in multiple places anyway, George? Aren't we all supposed to be on the same team helping others shed the pounds and change their lives forever?
Unfortunately, Stella would have nothing of it and asked me to take down the blog story about Kelley immediately and to stop using likenesses from my site.
Why would I take something down that both Kay and Kelley have said they enjoyed very much? I put a lot of time and effort into writing that column and I don't appreciate being accused of taking anything from anyone when that story was offered to me as a possible future blog post directly from the person I wrote about. If anyone deserves an apology here, it's ME for being wrongfully accused of doing something unscrupulous and conniving. As you can see, I clearly did nothing wrong.
Interestingly, another problem Stella shared was my use of the phrase "livin' la vida low-carb" in my post about Kelley.
I WAS REQUIRED TO FORCIBLY REMOVE THIS QUOTE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA) BECAUSE GEORGE STELLA COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THIS POST
Say what? Are you SERIOUS, George? Regular readers of my blog know that I use the phrase "livin' la vida low-carb" in virtually EVERY SINGLE BLOG POST I write. It's my signature phrase which is why I had it trademarked. Just because I referred to Kelley as "livin' la vida low-carb" does not mean she followed some low-carb plan I came up with. In fact, I explain what I mean by that phrase in this blog post. It's just my way of referring to the low-carb lifestyle. Nothing more, nothing less.
Even still, I clearly attributed Kelley's weight loss to "Stella Style" in my column about her and even provided a link to Stella's web site where people could purchase more of Stella's products and services. Was this not generous enough on my part? What more should I have done? Why is George Stella making such a proverbial mountain out of a molehill here?
Because of my great respect and admiration for George Stella, I decided to respond to his concerns about this misunderstanding in a return e-mail addressing his specific objections and asking for a resolution to this.
"George, I greatly admire what you have done as an ambassador for livin' la vida low-carb in the mainstream, but I think what you are asking me to do is unreasonable since I was given explicit permission by both Kelley and her mother to write about her weight loss success story and they both enjoyed what I wrote immensely. In other words, I didn't do ANYTHING wrong here and don't know why I am being chastised for it.
I will certainly honor your request if both Kelley and Kay ask me to remove her story from my blog. This situation truly saddens me, George, and I certainly hope this does not create any bad blood between you and I as a result. My intention was not to cause harm to anyone in this and I sincerely apologize if you feel that is what I have done to you in this matter. I assure you there was no malicious intent with my blog post about Kelley and that I had no idea you had her story featured at your web site prior to today. At this point, what can we do to resolve this impasse?"
By the way, Kay and Kelley asked me NOT to remove the post as George wanted because they enjoyed it very much. That's why it is staying up. Unfortunately, this didn't sit well with George Stella as you will see from his final response to me.
I WAS REQUIRED TO FORCIBLY REMOVE THIS QUOTE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA) BECAUSE GEORGE STELLA COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THIS POST
Okay, I have done as I see fit and decided NOT to remove the column, George. It's the right thing to do since that is what Kay and Kelley BOTH want. As for the profits that I make off of featuring stories on my blog, now we're getting into the nitty gritty of what this is all about. It appears that George Stella thinks I'm making a killing off of the products and services I offer at my blog. HA! Don't I wish!
For someone like Stella who has made this his career--in other words, it's how he makes his living--then I can see how he would get upset from someone taking something from his web site and making it their own. But that is clearly NOT what happened in this case as he so ardently believes.
Furthermore, it seems he didn't like the way I improved the flow of Kelley's story from the one he has posted on his web site. I'm a writer and, as such, I enjoy making stories like weight loss success come to life for others to help motivate and inspire them to do it for themselves. I didn't change anything about Kelley's story that made any part of it less truthful than the one on Stella's web site. Like I said previously, both her and her mother were THRILLED with what I had written.
So, what about this whole soap opera between me and George Stella? What do you think about it and does he have a point? Or am I doing the right thing by keeping the post about Kelley's weight loss up and running to help others who are overweight and obese to find some real encouragement and inspiration? Is there anything more I should do?
One thing I DON'T want to do is discourage people from taking advantage of the great services that George Stella is offering at his fabulous StellaStyle.com web site. Despite his false accusations against me, I have no hard feelings for George Stella because he is a wonderful man for what he has been able to accomplish in terms of weight loss success as well as television and publishing stardom. Many low-carbers love and admire him for what he has done and rightfully so. He has raised the banner high for people who are livin' la vida low-carb helping them lose weight and get healthy. Nobody can ever take that away from George Stella.
Perhaps you can get George Stella to explain why he is so mad at Jimmy Moore over this issue by sending him an e-mail at george@stellastyle.com. I'm just wondering what I COULD have done differently to prevent this squabble from ever happening in the first place. It's baffling to me and frankly I'm pretty hurt by it. Let me know if you hear back from George. Of course, I welcome George Stella to provide any additional insight into why he reacted the way he did by e-mailing me directly at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I hope to get some answers to this mystery.
8-28-06 UPDATE: Unfortunately, rather than addressing my concerns about this, I received another e-mail from George Stella today about the way I put this issue out in the open.
I WAS REQUIRED TO FORCIBLY REMOVE THIS QUOTE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA) BECAUSE GEORGE STELLA COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THIS POST
I'm not at "peace" George because you were WRONG about the accusations you made about me and you are STILL trying to make me feel bad for what I wrote.
Like I said, I support what you do helping others overcome their weight struggles. But the way you have reacted to this issue is an even bigger problem that perhaps needs to be worked on in your own life, my friend. I wish you the best, too, because this kind of attitude is unbecoming of someone in your position. Take care!
You may have noticed a few glitches here and there at my blog over the past few days. That's because I recently switched to Blogger's new beta format that has a bunch of new features to help me make your experience at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog that much better.
But, it is still a beta program and the Blogger folks are working out the kinks as we speak. There are a couple of things I noticed that aren't working correctly that I thought I would bring to your attention:
1. The search feature at the upper lefthand corner of the blog does not work. Until Blogger can fix that, use this Google link to search my blog. You can type in any keywords after the "site:livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com" in the search box to find what you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for the columns I wrote on the subject of "Shirataki Noodles," then you would get these results when you type that into the site search field.
2. The archives are not accessible. If you click on any of the monthly archives in the list on the lower righthand side of my blog, then you will go to a page with the following message:
Page Not Found
The requested URL was not found on this server. Please visit the Blogger homepage or the Blogger Knowledge Base for further assistance.
Again, if you will use Google to search my blog for anything specific you are looking for, then that will help you until Blogger can fix this bug in their beta update.
THANK YOU for your patience during this switch. I have already noticed a lot of neat new features with the new version of Blogger that will make my job bringing you the best in low-carb news and information that much easier. Sweet! SEE YA!
Featuring inspiring stories of triumph, timely sources of information, and educational resources from some of the most qualified field of experts on the subject of diabetes today, dLife is devoted to arming diabetics with exactly what they need to better understand their disease and how to deal with it in a variety of ways.
This weekly broadcast airs on the cable news channel CNBC on Sunday evenings at 7PM EST and is jam-packed with the very latest news and information about diabetes research and treatments that will keep diabetics abreast of how to best control their condition. The dLife show also includes many delicious recipes (most of which are perfect for people who are livin' la vida low-carb!) and tales of real people living with diabetes in today's world.
What an amazing opportunity for diabetics to get connected with everything they need to make the best of their disease! I highly encourage you to watch some past episodes online, read some of the expert answers to some common questions regarding diabetes, and join the free forum to interact with other diabetics who are dealing with the same issues that you are.
Dr. Howard Wolpert and Dr. Richard Bernstein face-off on dLife
For diabetics interested in the low-carb treatment option for dealing with diabetes, something that is becoming more and more commonplace these days because of the latest studies, you won't want to miss this recent debate on dLife between Dr. Howard Wolpert from the Joslin Clinic in Boston and Dr. Richard Bernstein, author of "Diabetes Solution" and a world-renowned diabetes expert focusing on natural low-carbohydrate dietary solutions to diabetes.
Be sure to read Regina Wilshire's take on this debate between Dr. Wolpert and Dr. Bernstein in two recent blog posts she wrote at her fantastic low-carb blog "Weight Of The Evidence" found here and here.
One of the highlights of the debate was when Dr. Bernstein was asked by dLife host Howard Steinberg about a point made by Dr. Wolpert regarding diabetes patients on a dietary treatment plan feeling discouraged and defeated. Dr. Bernstein hit the ball out of the ballpark with this poignant response.
"Very rarely have we lost patients. Getting a person to switch to a low-carbohydrate diet, which is essential, there's no way to control blood sugars on a high-carbohydrate diet. You have to do it fast, all at once, otherwise it takes forever. Those where you change them immediately they lose the cravings and you forge ahead and they see the results. When patients see the payoff, they stick with it."
KABOOM! That was an AWESOME answer from Dr. Bernstein. But, not surprisingly, Dr. Wolpert said it takes an especially motivated patient to follow such advice which is ridiculous. Sure, it's not easy, but neither is trying to lose weight. The bottom line is IT CAN BE DONE and livin' la vida low-carb can get you there.
Don't miss the rest of the debate by clicking here and be sure not to miss a single episode of dLife on Sunday nights at 7PM EST.
Fresh uncooked tomatoes make this unique pasta recipe memorable
Tomatoes are an interesting food for people who are livin' la vida low-carb. While they are not real low in carbs, they are certainly chock full of healthy vitamins and goodness as a refreshing way to add something new to your low-carb lifestyle.
While the debate over whether a tomato is a vegetable or a fruit will never end (and who really cares anyway?!), one thing there isn't any argument over is how much fun it is to cook a new recipe featuring this tasty food that the good Lord has provided for us to eat and savor.
This recipe compliments of our friends at Low-Carb Connoisseur contains a unique uncooked tomato sauce that provides a twist to the usual cooked traditional tomato sauce dishes. Plus, this pasta dish is made with the awesome Dreamfields pasta that is perfect for people who are eating a lower-carb diet (which is most of you who are reading this blog!).
So, go ahead and mix it up with this delightful recipe featuring your favorite tomatoes along with fresh lemon, feta cheese and, of course, low-carb pasta, baby! ENJOY!!!
TOMATO LEMON FETA PASTA
3 medium tomatoes (about 18 ounces), cut into 1/2" dice 1 small red onion, chopped 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 8 ounces Dreamfields Fettuccine or Penne 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1. In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, onions, zest, salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with feta. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Last week I told you about an exciting new project I am proud to be a part of called the Health Hacks Podcast which will feature a weekly audio broadcast of tips and commentary about diet, nutrition and fitness. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear many different voices in the discussion of health and I am pleased to help motivate others to begin a weight loss plan for themselves using this new format.
The first official Health Hacks Podcast is set to debut this Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at the HHP web site, but here's another taste of what the show will sound like courtesy of Chris Brogan and his "Fat Guy Gets Fit" blog:
Let me know what you think! Executive producer Kevin Kennedy-Spaien is still interested in speaking with anyone who would like to join the Health Hacks Podcast Posse. Click here to inquire about joining the crew.
I cannot wait for people to start hearing these podcasts. They are very professionally done and will feature a lot of great information for people desiring better health for themselves and the people they love.
It's funny how often people confront me about my support for the low-carb lifestyle as if I'm some alien from outer space who has landed on this planet for the first time spouting something they've never heard of before. Nevermind the fact that I lost 180 pounds and have maintained that weight loss for close to two years now. Some people just refuse to give any credit to livin' la vida low-carb whatsoever.
On the other hand, my passionate desire to tell people about low-carb living is sometimes misinterpreted as a monopolistic ideal whereas no other nutritional approach can help people lose weight and get healthy. But most of my readers know I do not subscribe to the "low-carb only" camp. If you want to lose weight and get healthy, then make up your mind you want to lose weight, find a plan that will work for you, implement that plan to the letter, and then keep doing it for the rest of your life. If you can't do that with the diet of your choice, then find another plan. PERIOD!
Now there's a new web site that was just created to help people sort out what really works from what doesn't work. Because the subject of diet and health is becoming more and more crucial in this ever-expanding society we live in (just see the "Fat Clock" to view how quickly we are gaining weight as a society!), it's a literal war out there to capture the hearts and minds of those who desperately want to lose weight but don't know what to do.
That's why "Diet WarZone" was created. The creators of this site, which includes a special forum to feature "lively dietary debate," are not taking a position on any of the diet plans out there. Instead, they want people who have an opinion to share from their own experience or from someone they know to feel uninhibited to express how they really feel about the nutritional approach they believe in the most.
"Consumers spend millions of dollars every year on diet books, diet plans, gym memberships, exercise gadgets.....the list goes on and on. Everyone seems to have an opinion on these subjects, even if they don't actively exercise or diet. There are many sites and forums dedicated to a particular diet or exercise plan so I thought it would be a great idea to have a site where information and ideas on all types of diet and exercise programs could be exchanged."
Excellent idea! While the title of my blog sometimes turns people off to ANYTHING I have to say because, "Oooh, he does that dangerously unhealthy low-carb thing," I can see this "Diet WarZone" web site reaching a lot of people who are sincerely curious and interested in hearing ALL sides of the debate.
The forum will be something to keep an eye on and participate in often. You will need to register, but feel free to express your ideas openly without fear of being silenced or having your comments banned unless your remarks become "excessively profane and distasteful."
Regarding the hopes and desires for what will happen with the "Diet WarZone," the creator of this new web site has issued an open invitation to people who support low-carb, low-fat, vegetarian, calorie-restriction...ANYBODY with an opinion about diet.
"Some folks are unyielding in their support for a particular diet, others have tried them all and don't know where to turn. That's what these forums are all about: healthy debate based on your knowledge and experience. Have fun and remember, try to refrain from profanity."
Show your support for livin' la vida low-carb on this new forum and don't be ashamed of this miraculous way of eating, especially if it has worked for you as well as it has worked for me and so many others. While I am sure we will have our naysayers within the confines of that forum, the fact that they are giving a voice to low-carbers is certainly a step in the right direction in the battle over weight and health.
Are you ready to enter the "Diet WarZone." Click HERE to enter!
Dr. Mary C. Vernon answers your low-carb questions on new blog
If you have been reading my blog for at least the past few months or so, then you have undoubtedly heard me talk about one of the strongest voices backing the low-carb nutritional approach out there today. Here name is Dr. Mary C. Vernon!
Dr. Vernon was kind enough to let me interview her in June 2006 about how the Atkins diet is continuing to be proven as an effective treatment for both weight management and the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. In fact, she presented the results of a landmark study with Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association a few months ago about how simple changes in the diet can lead to vast improvements in the health of diabetes patients.
Now, in conjunction with a man named RIchard J. Rothstein, Dr. Vernon stands ready to answer any question related to diet, nutrition and health that you may have as it relates to livin' la vida low-carb at a brand spankin' new blog aptly titled "Ask Dr. Vernon." Be sure to read this introductory post to find out more about why they decided to do this at this time.
With all the misinformation floating around out there about the Atkins diet, Dr. Vernon is dead serious about offering honest answers to questions in the same manner the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins would give if he were still around today.
"She does a spooky job of channeling Bob Atkins, applying his rigorous and passionate standards to the evolving body of nutrition research in preventive and therapeutic medicine," Rothstein wrote in the introductory blog post. "We will do our best to answer as many of your questions as possible."
WOW, what an opportunity for average people to get their questions answered by a real live low-carb expert. Dr. Vernon has been seeing patients in her clinic for a very long time and knows from whence she speaks. She has been helping patients and providing solid scientic research in the field of controlled-carbohydrate nutrition as long as anybody, so she is immensely qualified to answer virtually any and all questions you may have about livin' la vida low-carb.
So, I suppose you are wondering how to ask Dr. Vernon a question, eh? I thought you'd never ask. The e-mail address to send your questions to is available by clicking here. But Rothstein noted that you should be aware that not everyone who sends an e-mail will necessarily get a response posted at the blog.
"Email us and we'll answer questions as soon as is humanly possible," he explained. "Keep in mind that there are only two of us for now, so there may be a few days' delay in getting to your questions, but all reasonable questions will be answered."
That's fair, wouldn't you say? After all, they do have a life outside of this blog (and SO DO I! LOL!). But if you have a burning question that you've been dying to ask someone about low-carb living, then Dr. Vernon is the one who can answer it for you!
Rothstein warned people to be ready to accept the truth even if it is not what they wanted to hear. This is especially true for anyone who thinks the Atkins diet is nothing more than eating all the meat, eggs, and cheese that you want. UGH!
"The Atkins Diet is not about cheeseburgers, bacon and big juicy steaks: that is one of the outrageous myths fostered by certain segments of the commercial food industry and the medical and nutrition communities that felt threatened economically and professionally by Dr. Atkins' belief in whole foods and his contempt for most processed and refined foods," he explained. "Additionally, contrary to the many myths about Atkins, many of his successful patients were practicing vegetarians so this is a site for all people who eat."
Oh, I KNOW I'm gonna LOVE reading this blog, I can tell already! :D Of course, I love seeing people stir the waters of debate because it gets all points of view on the table for consideration. And in the great debate over the various nutritional approaches for dealing with obesity and diabetes, among other conditions, livin' la vida low-carb deserves just as much of an opportunity to be heard as the rest.
So, go ahead! Share YOUR questions with Dr. Vernon TODAY. Tell 'em "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" Man Jimmy Moore invited you.
