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Sunday, December 31, 2006
Jimmy Moore's 2007 New Year's Resolutions
When I made the decision to start the Atkins diet on January 1, 2004, it was probably the first time I ever made a New Year's resolution that I intended to keep. Why do put ourselves through all the efforts involved in making resolutions if we're not going to follow through on them? Human nature can be a strange thing sometimes.
But thankfully I was able to not only keep that resolution, but see it through to the end--losing 180 pounds by the end of 2004. Now it's three years since the day I began my low-carb lifestyle and I've been able to keep that weight off with relative ease now for two years. Unbelievable and amazing all at the same time!
While I don't think I'm out of the woods yet until I can keep the weight off for a minimum of three years (which will be one year from now on January 1, 2008), I do think I've proven that livin' la vida low-carb is indeed a long-term solution to obesity. There's no denying it based on my own experience. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't walked a mile in my shoes.
With all that said, I believe there are areas of my health that still need some additional work and I'm willing to resolve to work on them in 2007. That's right, I am making a list of New Year's resolutions for 2007 to improve my health even more.
After a good deal of thought, here's what I want to do:
1. Get below 200 pounds
Currently I weigh 220 pounds and I've been unable to go below 215 pounds since my weight loss in 2004. While I am certainly NOT bemoaning my situation because at least the weight is staying off, I'd personally LOVE to get down to 199 just to say I'm back in the 100's again (or that coveted ONE-derland!). I haven't been at that weight since the 5th grade! Yeah, I was pretty chunky as a kid, but not anymore. Considering I've lost 20 pounds since August, I don't think losing 21 pounds in 2007 is unreasonable. That's less than two pounds a month. It's doable and I'M GONNA DO IT!
2. Get my body fat percentage down to 6%
When you weigh over 400 pounds with a body fat percentage in excess of 50%, you don't really care too much about it. There's just no concept in your mind of what single-digit body fat would be like. But now that I've been livin' la vida low-carb for a few years and have kept my weight relatively stable, I'd like to focus on reducing my body fat significantly. The last time I had it checked, my body fat percentage was 11 percent. I am in the process of having that checked again and working closely with a well-known trainer to reach my goal of 6% body fat. It's gonna take some work, but I'm willing to do what it takes to get there.
3. No more diet sodas
Yep, it's time for me to give up one of my last remaining vices in the world. While I still believe drinking diet soda is MUCH better for you than regular sugary soda, I've reached the point where I no longer feel like I have to have that in my life. This is HUGE for me considering I used to guzzle a case and a half of regular sugar-filled soda before my low-carb lifestyle and consumed my fair share of diet soda over the past three years. But when I committed to giving up aspartame a few months back, I knew it was time to eventually wean myself off of all diet sodas. In fact, I've actually given myself a head start on this one and went cold turkey on them since Wednesday. Yes, I miss them, but I'm committing to drinking even MORE water than I do already. So far, so good.
4. Consistency with cardio workouts
Everyone who knows me will tell you I am a workout fiend. Since I began my low-carb program, I have committed myself fully to walking on the treadmill, getting on the elliptical machine, playing volleyball at my church and many other aerobic activities that get my heart rate up and makes me sweat. I LOVE cardio workouts tremendously! But I noticed in 2006 that I'd allow myself to slack off to only 30 minutes per day and sometimes skipping a day or two here and there. It's not a big deal, but enough for me to want to resolve to be more consistent with my cardio in 2007. I will be!
5. Get serious about resistance training
I have to admit, I HATE lifting weights. I tried it for the first time in 2006 and did it for about two months before I just gave it up. Sure, I felt somewhat better while I was doing it, but I guess I got bored. I would much rather go run on the treadmill. But, resistance training is important in the grand scheme of health and I KNOW I need to get serious about it. I'm working with a trainer who will help me develop a fun plan for getting solid. If my loose skin doesn't get better after all of this weight lifting, then I KNOW I will be having a tummy tuck done.
So that's it! Those are Jimmy Moore's 5 New Year's Health Resolutions for 2007 and I fully intend to do them all. I'm all about incremental changes and believe in my heart that NOW is the right time to do these things for myself. Of course, you know I'll keep you informed about my progress on each one at my blog and will share with you my success as it happens.
There's no doubt I'll hit the weight loss goal with the focus on reducing my body fat and lifting weights. I should be able to hit my body fat percentage goal as well and remaining consistent on the cardio. While it will be tough, giving up diet sodas shouldn't be that hard either. The most difficult one will be the weight lifting. I'm PUMPED to do this, so I think I'll be ready to show off my improved physique before the end of 2007. Again, I'm skeptical about it doing much for my loose skin, but here's hoping!
That's my New Year's resolutions for better health in 2007. What are YOURS?
2006 Was Awesome For Low-Carb, But 2007 Is The Comeback Year
It's good to reflect and remember at the end of the year on the dawn of a new year. Personal reflection on the previous twelve months keeps you grounded and causes you to think about how your life has changed over that period of time.
Last year at this exact same time, I was looking back on 2005 with great fondness about the quick success of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog reaching 20,000 pageviews per month and the release of my debut book about my weight loss. Little did I know that I was merely scratching the surface of what was to come.
Building on the success of 2005, the traffic at my low-carb blog in a year when low-carb was supposed to be as dead as a doornail continued to soar higher and higher than I could have ever imagined. Swelling to 30,000 pageviews in January, 50,000 in April, over 66,000 in August, and nearly 100,000 in September, I am now averaging close to FIVE TIMES the number of monthly readers that what I was one year ago today and there are no signs that this trend is going to end anytime soon.
The positive message of livin' la vida low-carb is attracting literally tens of thousands of brand new readers each month which I am so grateful for. This only motivates me to continue striving to provide the best content than I can to earn your trust and faithfulness. I cannot THANK YOU enough for your support of this blog and my mission to encourage and educate people about the low-carb lifestyle.
What a thrill it was to be named by FOXNews.com as one of the top health bloggers on the Internet today. WOW! I never in a million years would have thought I would be writing articles about diet and health that people would actually WANT to read. But when you lose as much weight as I did, I suppose people want to hear how you did it so they can help themselves, too.
Speaking of my weight loss success, that book I wrote entitled Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year has now sold in excess of 2,000 copies which isn't bad considering I self-published it. I'm itching to write another book soon which may include a collection of my best blog posts since beginning this blog. With almost 1500 columns to choose from, that'll be hard to whittle it down to less than 100. But it will be a way to celebrate when I hit one million pageviews sometime in early 2007. WOO HOO!
I have several other projects in mind for 2007, including collaborating on a low-carb cookbook, recording my book as an audiobook with updated and revised chapters, and several other ideas I'm still thinking about right now. Let's just say I won't be sitting idly by, I will be keeping quite busy.
In 2006, I started writing for CarbWire.com in addition to the other sites I was already a part of, including my blog, LowCarbNewsline.com and CommonVoice.com. In August I began my "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge to lose 30 pounds in 30 weeks and urging others to join in. This has been more successful than I could have ever imagined and has helped me get my weight back down when it started to creep up.
As if all of this doesn't keep me busy enough (sleep? what's that?!), I am set to begin writing as the low-carb contributor at Charles Platkin's DietDetective.com web site, which averages over 100,000 monthly pageviews, early in 2007.
There's so much more I could say about the year 2006, but I really don't want to bore you with statistics, highlights, and memories. As we begin a new year in 2007, I am overjoyed with the anticipation that this really is going to be the comeback year for livin' la vida low-carb. All indications are that low-carb will be back on the map again as new scientific research will continue to be released proving the efficacy of this healthy lifestyle change (something researcher Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University believes will happen sooner than later!).
When the good news about low-carb releases, you KNOW I'll be there to report on it even if nobody else in the media does. We live at a strange time in the history of the world with tens of millions of people suffering from such physical problems as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and so much more. The work we are doing to help educate people about how they can defeat each and every one of these ailments will not be in vain as long as we always remember we have the truth on our side.
While most people will be thinking about weight loss in the coming weeks, we know that livin' la vida low-carb is so much more than that. It's about improving lives through better health that comes from low-carb living. You're not hearing people talk about how much better off we are because of the low-fat diets because the fact is our health is MUCH worse than it has ever been. We must lay the responsibility for this directly at the feet of those who advocate this failed nutritional approach.
That's why the door is wide open in 2007, as Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades told me in an exclusive interview earlier this year, for low-carb to be stronger than it has ever been. The evidence supporting this lifestyle will be impossible to ignore and the media along with the so-called health "experts" (like low-fat supporter Dr. Dean Ornish who said in my interview with him that the burden of proof falls on low-carbers to demonstrate the studies) will be hard-pressed to keep sweeping the science underneath the proverbial rug. It's time to clean the house!
So, we bid a fond farewell to the year 2006 which was an awesome year for low-carb. But 2007 is gonna be even better! Get ready, get set, because the new year is coming! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
The influence of blogging and those handful of people who are behind the blogs are actually making a genuine impact on modern culture as evidenced by Time magazine collectively naming them the 2006 Person of the Year. But blogs are not just about people's personal lives, politics, entertainment, and sports anymore. Weight loss has gotten in on the act, too.
That's the premise behind this Galveston (TX) Daily News story about the rise of blogging as an effective tool for losing weight. Sally Squires from The Washington Post wrote about weight loss blogs and whether they really work in a column in July.
Blogs have received a bad rap from much of the established media because they tend to look down on those of us who choose to make writing about what we are most passionate about because we are only mere amateurs in their eyes. To be honest, though, bloggers don't care about acceptance by the mainstream because blogging has never been about that. Instead, it has been a way for those of us who have struggled with our weight to be held more accountable so we can be successful.
With that said, there are at least SOME media outlets recognizing the work of health and weight loss blogs to educate and encourage the public. One of the highest honors my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog received in 2006 was being named one of the Top 10 health blogs on the Internet by FOXNews.com. I was totally surprised by that, but appreciated the recognition for the efforts I had put into this "amateur" web site. :D A recent Pew Research poll confirms that blogging is a trend that's here to stay.
In the Galveston newspaper story entitled "Bloggers take dieting online" written by Sara McDonald, she discusses the rise of weight loss blogging as a tool for people who want to lose weight. Thanks to my friend Connie Bennett from the SUGAR SHOCK! blog, I was interviewed extensively by Sara for this story as was Connie. Sara cites both of us--LOW-CARB BLOGGERS BY THE WAY!--in her story. Sweet!
Here's a little of what Sara wrote in her column:
[Jimmy] Moore, the dieter behind the blog "Living La Vida Low Carb" lost 180 pounds in 2004 and began writing columns about his weight loss journey for another online publication.
When he reached his goal weight, he started the blog to offer support to other dieters trying to do the same, offering support, tips and feedback.
That alone has helped him keep the pounds off.
“It’s kind of hard, when 100,000 people visit your blog, to gain it back,” he said. “Now that I’m helping people, it’d be hypocritical to gain it back. So far, it’s worked.”
But Moore warned dieters not to jump on the blogging bandwagon if they aren’t serious about being held accountable.
“Only do it if it is a 100 percent commitment,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re wasting your time and other people’s time.”
Sara quoted me a couple more times in her column and was extremely receptive to everything I talked about regarding weight loss blogging in our interview on Thursday afternoon. You might even want to check out what Connie had to say about Sara's column at her blog today, too. I think it's pretty amazing of all the literally tens of thousands of weight loss bloggers that Sara could have chosen to include in her story that she selected two low-carb ones out of the bunch! YOU GOTTA LOVE IT!
Send Sara McDonald a note of appreciation for writing this story by using this contact page link. Creating positive news stories about livin' la vida low-carb is something worthy of praise, so let Sara know about it, okay? And be sure to share her fantastic column with others who need to lose weight in the new year!
12-31-06 UPDATE: Connie Bennett from the SUGAR SHOCK! blog sent me the following e-mail about the story written by Sara McDonald that featured our blogs.
Jimmy,
Congrats on being featured extensively in Sara's article on blogs helping dieters. Glad she followed up on my lead!
It's always interesting to me to see how we present two different takes on the same topic--in this case, Sara's great article. I always enjoy reading your point of view, too.
Have a happy and sweet new year--the same goes to all of your readers, too!
THANK YOU, Connie, for helping spread the word about how devastating sugar is to the weight and health of millions. Have you checked out her new book SUGAR SHOCK! (read my review) since it arrived the day after Christmas? If not, then go order it at Amazon.com RIGHT NOW! :) You'll be glad you did!
Starting January 1st, we'll have a week's worth of daily podcasts
After a brief sabbatical from podcasting over the Christmas holidays, it's time to get "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" podcast rockin' and rollin' again when 2007 comes on Monday. And we will!
After racking up nine exciting episodes at the end of 2006, we're gonna start off the new year with a bang with FIVE BACK-TO-BACK PODCASTS that will provide solid information about low-carb to people who may be curious about this way of eating. I've already got most of the shows recorded and I can't wait for them to be aired each day this week beginning on New Year's Day!
Here's just a sneak peek at what I'll be talking about:
MONDAY--It's my 3 year anniversary of starting low-carb! TUESDAY--My top 10 tips for starting low-carb the right way! WEDNESDAY--Don't neglect Induction and definitely read the book! THURSDAY--The body doesn't need carbs and can survive just fine! FRIDAY--Low-carb is an amazing nutrient-dense diet, but not for everyone!
The influx of brand new readers to my blog as well as listeners to my podcast show is already happening and I expect this upcoming week to attract a new round of people interested in making livin' la vida low-carb their preferred method for losing weight as part of their New Year's resolutions.
If you are one of them, let me officially say WELCOME to you and invite you to stick around for lots of education and encouragement. That's what I'm about after losing over 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004. Please e-mail me your questions about this lifestyle change anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Be sure to tell your friends and family who have made it their New Year's resolution to lose weight on Monday to begin reading my blog and to listen to this special week's worth of podcasts to get them started off the right way. If we can get just one person to stop buying into the low-fat lie, then all of the efforts will have been worth it to me. :)
THANK YOU to the thousands of you for showing your overwhelming support for my podcast show in 2006 and I look forward to many more great episodes of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" in 2007. This is gonna be quite a ride, so hold on tight!
One of the pitfalls of blogging that I've noticed since I started doing this nearly two years ago is the fact that there are brand new readers who find out about you for the very first time each and every day. Quite literally, tens of thousands of new readers stumble upon and read the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog each month and I am extremely grateful for that.
But what inevitably happens is someone will read a single column that I have written without knowing who this Jimmy Moore fella is and the context of the more than 1,400 blog posts I have written since April 2005. Many of these critics wonder how I came up with my opinions and sometimes misunderstand what I have written. It happens ALL THE TIME and I've really come to expect it.
Generally I kindly reply back to the person who e-mailed me providing links to other blog posts I have previously written as well as clearly explaining where I am coming from. Do I HAVE to do this? Of course not. Yet in the context of sharing ideas and attempting to educate people on my perspective, I cheerfully do it.
Today I received another one of these kind of e-mails from a man who is obviously a brand new reader since he said he "spotted" my blog post from Thursday about a McDonald's restaurant closing down because of competition from the neighborhood farmers' market. To answer this critic and help educate the public, I will individually respond to each of his criticisms about my column much in the same way I would in a typical e-mail reply.
"I don't know you but I am having difficulty understanding why you seem to have so much hostility toward McDonald's."
Hello and THANK YOU for sharing your feedback with me. I enjoy reading comments from people who come across my blog for the very first time. Welcome to the debate of ideas about diet, health, nutrition, weight loss, and, of course, low-carb. Please feel free to navigate around my blog and read the more than 1,400 blog posts that have come before the one you cited.
Regarding your assertion that I have "hostility toward McDonald's," nothing could be further from the truth. My regular readers will tell you that I am all for letting a business do what it has to do to turn a profit. That's the American way and NOBODY should force a business to do anything that would stand in the way of their economic success.
I believe in the power of a democratic society without the use of strong-arm tactics like unnecessary government-forced rules and regulations. For example, I was opposed to the recent ban of trans fats in New York City. Does this mean I approve of the use of trans fats in the food served at places like McDonald's? Not hardly. Instead, I am a strong proponent of personal responsibility for weight and health problems rather than blaming it on a disease or making it the fault of fast food companies.
"I read that you lost a lot of weight. Congratulations on that accomplishment but the rancor in your article gives me the impression you blame McDonald's for being overweight."
THANK YOU for your compliments about my low-carb weight loss success which I chronicled in my 2005 debut book release Livin' La Vida Low-Carb. However, where was the "rancor" in my article? If you have read any of my previous blog posts then you will quickly discover that I generally write in a very direct manner fueled by the personal experiences I have encountered as part of my miraculous weight loss experience. My intense passion should not be mistaken for opposition.
I make no apologies for my writing style and can't be held responsible for your misinterpretation of what I wrote. With that said, I can without a shadow of a doubt tell you that I don't blame McDonald's for my obesity or anybody else's. Again, it goes back to my philosophy that the individual has the power to change.
When there was a move earlier this year for McDonald's and other restaurants to cut back on their portion sizes and calories in their menu items, I stood up for them against such a movement. Additionally, when they voluntarily decided to put the nutritional information on the packaging, I applauded their efforts. I'm not anti-McDonald's from a business standpoint and believe they could be a good company for people living a healthy lifestyle. All it would take is for them to provide better and healthier choices for their prospective customer base.
"The last time I visited McDonald's there were salads, fruit, low fat yogurt, grilled chicken, orange juice and milk. So, what is your real problem with the brand?"
LOL! Now that's funny! Do you think all of that makes McDonald's a "healthy" place to eat? Okay, I'll give you the plain salads and grilled chicken (although, even THAT is suspect!), but clearly the rest of their so-called "healthy" menu is loaded with too much sugar and carbohydrates to be deemed good for you.
Fruit? Oh, do you mean those little apple slices that come with a container of caramel dipping sauce just LOADED with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)? Oh yeah, that's REALLY healthy! Many of the salads at McDonald's have sugar in them, too, which make them decided unhealthy for people who are livin' la vida low-carb.
Low-fat yogurt? You've got to be kidding, right? OJ? Milk? Have you looked at the carb counts in these lately? It's not a pretty picture. I provided McDonald's with a few examples of some excellent low-carb menu offerings in this recent blog post. We'll see if they take me up on my suggestions.
"I can't believe I am actually writing to you about this but in your glee over the closure, you overlook the 27 employees that are being 'displaced.' You seem elated about this and I can't understand why. I suspect these employees are 'local town folk' too as are the truck drivers, repair people and other vendors that support any restaurant."
I'm really glad you did write to me because you allow me the opportunity to address your concerns directly. Again, I wouldn't say I have "glee" over this McDonald's closing down, but rather it's not surprising considering the economic dynamics of the area.
As for the employees who worked at that store, the article I quoted very clearly said they would be offered positions at the nearby Plymouth McDonald's location if they want it. Don't be so smug and crass to think I'm "elated" over anyone losing their job. I went through that a few months back and wouldn't wish it on anyone.
But you move on with your life. You find something else to do to make a living and support your family. That's the way it works in a free society economy, especially in the high-turnover restaurant industry. Many of the people employed at the McDonald's that shut down would have moved on in the next six months or so anyway and they can do so much better for themselves than Mickey D's. This very well may give them the impetus to get out there and find an even better job with higher pay and benefits.
Yes, it's sad when a job is lost, but it's not the end of the world. Perhaps these ex-McDonald's employees could look into working at the Tavistock Farmers' Market? If they put forth enough initiative and energy into selling fresh produce and meats like they did Big Macs and French fries, then I have no doubt they will be successful. But they shouldn't expect a job to come running to them. Work is there for the taking with low unemployment rates around 4% right now.
"You could also check this out with experts but I suspect the chances of getting a food borne illness is probably greater buying food at a local farmers market from some unknown source (not all of the items are organic as many believe) than from a national chain since the chains require their suppliers to meet certain national standards for food safety."
Oh yeah, that's worked out real well, hasn't it? Try telling that to Taco Bell or Olive Garden, hmmm? There's not one shred of evidence to back your claim that food sold at a farmers' market will make you sick. Now who's showing "hostility" and "rancor?" Are you sure you're not on the board of directors for McDonald's? Hey, I gotta ask!
"I do not expect you to reply but I hope I have given you some points to consider. Happy New Year!"
Well, that's where you are wrong, my friend. You not only got a reply from me, but I even devoted an entire blog post to your e-mail. Don't you feel so special? :)
I appreciate the feedback and the attempt to share your thoughts and opinions with me about this subject. Hopefully this blog post can serve as a springboard for looking closer at the issues both you and I have raised. This is the kind of synergy that is needed to help further the education of the public. THANK YOU for sharing and feel free to write to me again anytime.
Rev. Steve Dyar is a big man with a bigger heart who needs our prayers
There are very few people in the world that you meet who leave an indelible mark on your life. Sadly, most of us have such casual surface relationships with other people that we hardly let anyone get to know who we are much less share our own lives with others to learn about them. Sometimes, though, there are certain special people who enter our lives and we never forget the lasting impression they have made.
One such man in my life is Rev. Steve Dyar. My nickname for Steve is "big guy" because he's one of the few people in this world who actually makes me look small, even when I weighed over 400 pounds a few years back. His 6'7" height, broad shoulders, and gigantic muscular build give him such an empowering presence when he walks into a room that you can't help but notice him. He is a commanding figure, that's for sure!
But behind that burly stature is one of the kindest and most gentle men you will ever meet. He has genuine compassion, love, and respect for everyone he comes across regardless of who they are. The Christ-like qualities that Steve possesses have been on full display for so many to see in his role as Minister of Music in various local churches in the Upstate of South Carolina. He was so much more than a man who waved his arms and sang a few praise songs on Sunday mornings, though.
Steve was on staff at my local church a few years back during a difficult time when we were without a senior pastor, youth minister, and children's minister for an extended stretch of time. With God-given strength and constant messages of hope for the future, this man helped hold the congregation together at a time when most churches might have disbanded altogether. But time and time again, it was Steve who stood strong and played the role of pastor to so many in our church when we needed him the most. I don't think anyone at our church will ever forget the sacrifices he made on our behalf.
When I started livin' la vida low-carb in 2004, I remember Steve often chided me for choosing a diet that included so much meat and fat. You see, he is a strong advocate of The Hallelujah Diet by George Malkmus, a low-fat, vegetarian-styled diet rooted in Biblical foundations regarding health and nutrition. I usually agreed to disagree with Steve about his opinions on nutrition because I was doing what was right for me while he was doing what worked for him. As I lost 180 pounds in one year, he told me how impressed he was by the results I experienced even though he still didn't think I should be eating low-carb.
I even gave him an autographed copy of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" book about a year ago so he could find out more about this way of eating that changed my life forever. Steve graciously accepted my gift and I encouraged him to read it to learn more about what low-carb is really all about rather than the things he had heard about in the vegetarian books he read.
Although Steve moved on with his ministry a little more than a year ago to focus on a gospel recording career to travel around to churches around the country, the influence he had on our church (which incidentally now has a senior pastor, youth pastor, and children's minister in place) will not soon be forgotten. So it is with great sadness to hear the grim health-related news right before Christmas that Steve has cancer in his esophagus which has already started to spread into his liver.
This man who has been there for so many people going through the uncertainty of cancer and other health problems over the years is now dealing with it himself. If you believe in the power of prayer, then I would ask you to please lift Steve Dyar up to the Lord to heal his body of this cancer in the power of Jesus' name. We expect a miracle to be performed and our hope is that this true man of God will once again be able to sing the praises of the One who gave him breath to breathe, a heart that beats, and a love for people that is such a rare commodity these days.
Please visit the Steve Dyar CaringBridge web site to learn a little more about this man who has made such a difference in my life and the lives of thousands more. He is having trouble eating right now because of the large tumor in his esophagus which doctors hope to be able to shrink with chemotherapy and radiation treatments which will commence within the next week.
When I saw Steve about a week after the diagnosis, he had already lost a noticable amount of weight and looked physically weak. But talking to him face-to-face reminded me why I admire and love him as much as I do. Despite the bleakness of his situation, his faith right now is as solid as a rock and the man knows his life is in the hands of God. He has resigned himself to the Lord's will and refuses to feel sorry for the situation he has found himself in. That's the kind of spiritual maturity most Christians only dream of having.
Our choir will be participating in a special New Year's Eve concert with national gospel recording artist Lordsong and others with the proceeds going to Steve to help offset some of his medical bills. Steve and his trio were supposed to sing at this event and he still wants to try to do it. Pray that God would lift the pain from his body even for a few moments so he can lift the name of Jesus as we ring in the new year.
Can you do me a favor? Although you probably don't know Steve Dyar personally, could you sign his guestbook to let him know you are praying for him at this time? Steve, along with his wife Susan and two sons Stephen and Sterling, have been encouraged by the outpouring of love and support from so many people as they are going through this difficult time. Even if your comment is as simple as "I'm praying for you," I KNOW it will mean a lot to the entire Dyar family. God bless you!
Nobody ever wants to go through something as devastating as cancer, but it is a sad reality these days. Until a cure can be found for this deadly disease, the only hope for survival is to rely on the Great Physician for healing. Write down the name Steve Dyar somewhere in your Bible, on a piece of paper, or something and pray without ceasing that God's will be done in his life. THANK YOU so much for supporting this man who has helped shape me into the man I am today.
There's another graduate from the Dr. Robert C. Atkins School of Nutrition I'd like to introduce you to today. His name is Dr. John P. Salerno and he worked directly with the late great one at The Atkins Center For Complementary Medicine beginning in July 2002 until Dr. Atkins' untimely death in 2004. But the indelible impression that was left upon Dr. Salerno is stronger than ever as we approach 2007.
Dr. Salerno started his own holistic clinic imploring changes in diet and nutrition called The Salerno Center For Complementary Medicine where he uses the training he learned from Dr. Atkins to provide the highest quality of healthcare using a low-carb dietary approach along with the right mix of vitamins and minerals, detoxification methods, and all-natural hormone therapy. With 15 years of experience, which includes some teaching at the prestigious Yale Medical School, Dr. Salerno has the credentials and the expertise to provide solid information about livin' la vida low-carb.
That's why I'm thrilled to introduce to you his new blog called The Salerno Strategy. Dr. Salerno helps patients deal with such issues as chronic fatigue, weight loss, depression, anxiety, autism, anti-aging, diabetes, heart problems, toxins in the body, yeast infections, and so much more. And he wants to answer YOUR questions about any of these subjects, especially if you have a difficult question regarding the Atkins/low-carb nutritional approach. Dr. Salerno is an authority on the subject and more than happy to respond directly to your inquiries.
Dr. Salerno has committed his life to helping others learn the truth about how to keep themselves healthy. Just like other Atkins disciples such as Jackie Eberstein, Valerie Berkowitz and her husband Dr. Keith Berkowitz at the Center For Balanced Health, and Dr. Mary C. Vernon, he is still sharing the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb with people who desperately need to heed the lessons of the man who deserves to be praised for what he did to truly revolutionize health and nutrition forever.
If Dr. Atkins were still around today, he would be saddened by the rapid decline in health that's happening in the United States of America and around the world. That's something that gravely concerns Dr. Salerno, too, but he realizes the answer is not just nutritional. Air pollution and environmental toxins are just as damaging to the health of human beings as eating the wrong foods. This was something Dr. Atkins often preached in his practice, Dr. Salerno noted, although he was too often pegged for his low-carb "diet" plan.
Recognizing the obesity epidemic is due in part to those millions of Americans who live on doughnuts, bagels, cheeseburgers, potato chips, pizza, soft drinks and other junk food, Dr. Salerno said this has led to a direct decline in health while doctors attempt to cover up the real cause of the problem with expensive prescription medications. There's no concept of treating these conditions with preventative measures, including changes in diet and physical activity levels. This is an issue South Beach diet author Dr. Arthur Agatston is hammering hard right now as well.
Dr. Salerno said he is excited to have the opportunity to help educate the public about the health benefits of livin' la vida low-carb at his new blog and hopes people will avail themselves of this resource for reliable and trusted information.
"This blog will take and answer many of your questions and provide the latest news on solutions and issues," he said. "And I dedicate it to the memory and pioneering work of my friend and hero, Dr. Robert C. Atkins."
I can think of no greater tribute to the man who has inspired millions to lose weight and get healthy. In fact, I would not have been the 180+ pound low-carb weight loss success had it not been for the Atkins diet. My only regret is that I never had the opportunity to meet Dr. Atkins while he was still alive. But his memory and the amazing work he did to further low-carb living to the masses still lives on in people like Dr. Salerno.
Share YOUR questions about livin' la vida low-carb with Dr. Salerno by e-mailing him at AskDrSalerno@aol.com.
This BBC News story is a gentle reminder that the whole world hasn't gone completely off the deep end nutritionally just yet.
When the world's most recognized restaurant chain decided to infiltrate the community of Tavistock, Devon in the UK back in 1999, they had high hopes that it would produce high profits as people became addicted to the decidedly unhealthy menu offerings. McDonald's thought it was going to be able to add another achievement to its neverending quest for worldwide domination.
But they didn't expect this at all.
In less than seven years, this once-promising bastion of junk food glory has been a total bust for Mickey D's. Why? Well, it seems the local town folk like the food they can get from their friendly neighborhood farmers' market a whole lot better than the garbage they serve at McDonald's.
In fact, that local business--Tavistock Farmers' Market--was recently named South-West "Britain's Favorite Farmers' Market Award" by Country Life magazine in October 2006. This quaint little marketplace held on the second and fourth Saturdays each month in front of Town Hall features 22 stallholders offering such exquisite foods like buffalo meat, salmon pâté, ostrich meat, emu eggs, fresh-grown produce and so much more.
To add to the ambience of the Tavistock Farmers' Market experience, there is a jazz band, harpist and silver band that keeps the patrons entertained while they fill their baskets full of delicious and nutritious foods. Country Life describes it as "a shop window for the high-quality ingredients available in the South-West and has established itself as a fortnightly social occasion that brings the whole community together."
Hurray for Tavistock Farmers' Market! What an amazing business success story! Needless to say, sales are BOOMING while the local McDonald's has seen stale and stagnant customer counts and increases in their bottom line at best. Why should they expect anything different when the competition is demolishing the best-known fast food chain in the world?! You know that's gotta be embarassing!
Not surprisingly, McDonald's is blaming the changing demographics for their failure in this community.
"With 1,250 restaurants across the UK, it's essential that we continue to have the right restaurants in the right places," a McDonald's lackey exclaimed. "Since the restaurant opened in 1999, the trading patterns of Tavistock high street have changed and as a result we have taken the difficult decision to cease trading at this site."
Oh, that's just too funny. Here's the translation: We're getting our butts whipped by a company that offers its customers real, high-quality food in an engaging and fun environment so it's time for us to cut our losses and get the heck out of here before anyone notices just how badly we were beaten at our own game.
You won't see me crying a single tear over this. While I strongly believe McDonald's has the right to do business wherever it wants, this story should be a solid lesson in what happens when you allow the economic market forces to work. The people of this community rejected the idea that they HAD to eat at McDonald's and simply chose to eat healthier by shopping the farmers' market insteady. GOOD FOR THEM!
So, how do we make this happen in small town America? Perhaps some of the farmers' markets across the United States could learn a lesson or two from the Tavistock Farmers' Market model in the UK. I'm sure they'd be happy to share their "secrets" with anyone who sent them an e-mail at info@tavistockfarmersmarket.com.
Tavistock spokesman John Taylor responded to the news that McDonald's was leaving town by saying this doesn't surprise him in the least.
"It just goes to show that the food is so good here we have seen them off. Because of the quality of our local food, McDonald's has not been able to compete," he concluded. "I think there is definitely a link. We have made every effort to make Tavistock a haven for local food and McDonald's wasn't local food, so they suffered."
In this round of healthy vs. fast food, it's HEALTHY 1, FAST FOOD 0.
With the release of a Harvard Medical School report on the heart health benefits of a low-carb, high-protein diet this week, the timing for Dr. Agatston's book could not have been fortuitious. But it's something most of us who have been livin' la vida low-carb for a while have known already.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Agatston has a deep-seeded passion for sharing with his patients what they can do to prevent having a stroke or heart attack. In fact, he states in 2007 alone that over 600,000 Americans will suffer from a stroke while more than 1 million more will have a heart attack! YIKES!!! And these numbers are not coming down because the strategies for confronting heart disease have clearly been ineffective at best with their focus on making money on expensive surgery rather than natural prevention methods.
That's why Dr. Agatston and advocates for livin' la vida low-carb are attempting to get the word out about preventing these health calamities BEFORE they hit by using the latest medical knowledge and research to educate the public on the steps they can take in their own life to protect themselves. Millions of people have already experienced the lifechanging impact of the South Beach diet approach on their weight and health, so The South Beach Heart Program is merely an extension of that.
There are four specific areas that Dr. Agatston recommends:
1. Heart-healthy low-carb eating 2. Regular aerobic and core-strengthening exercises 3. The latest diagnostic testing (like the VAP test) 4. Heart medications when necessary
Other than that last one, which Dr. Agatston is a proponent of popular cholesterol-lowering drugs like the joint-jarring Lipitor (UGH!), I think he makes some valid points that unfortunately are being ignored by most doctors these days. It's not totally the fault of the members of the medical community, but there needs to be a better way to deciminate information to the physicians on the frontlines treating patients.
In fact, just the OPPOSITE is true! If you want to do something GOOD for your heart, then try livin' la vida low-carb. That's what Dr. Agatston is promoting in his new book and it's high time people start paying attention to this. What we are doing currently is the definition of INSANITY--doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result! Nothing is going to change until WE change our mindset about what to do.
I was pleased to see an essay by Dr. Agatston entitled "What Size Is Your Cholesterol?" on Amazon.com. The whole idea that your total cholesterol number is all that matters is already considered a stone age way of looking at heart health. Additionally, when you are on the low-carb lifestyle, your cholesterol numbers are looked at differently than when you are on a high-carb, low-fat diet. Dr. Agatston discusses this more in his engaging essay.
There's a pretty neat little deal going on right now at Amazon.com when you buy this book. Place an order for The South Beach Heart Program and you will receive a FREE immediate one-month trial membership to The South Beach Diet online as well as The South Beach Diet Fitness Club online (both are a $32.00 value). Cool!
Slowly we are moving the mainstream towards the low-carb solution to the ever-growing obesity, diabetes, and heart disease epidemics that plague the health of literally tens of millions of people in the United States each year. While I wish the learning curve was quicker, I am encouraged to at least see it moving in the right direction with this book from Dr. Agatston. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.
Hey "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" readers! Today I turn 35 years old and I'd like to ask you to indulge me today as I take a break from blogging for most of the day.
It serves two purposes:
1. HEY, it's my birthday, so I deserve a day off! :) 2. I'm driving back to South Carolina from Virginia.
I think about how much better my weight and health is now at the age of 35 than it was at 30, 25, 20, or even 15. While I admit I still have a lot of areas I need to work on (more of that coming in 2007!), there's no denying I am in a lot better physical condition than I have EVER been. And that's a good feeling to know.
Sing this song of "Happy Birthday" for me today:
Happy low-carb birthday to you, Happy low-carb birthday to you. Happy low-carb birthday dear Jimmy, Happy low-carb birthday to you.
Awwww, THANK YOU! I could hear every off-key note in that song! :D
This is the age when people older than you talk about how "young" they were and people younger than you talk about how "old" that is. LOL! To me, I feeling YOUNGER than I did previously, but I suppose my 180+ pound weight loss has a little something to do with that. We'll blog at you later as we approach the new year!
Kimkins Weight Loss Success Spotlight: Natalie Shed 85 Pounds In Just 5 Months
The post that appeared here has been removed for not promoting the low-carb community in the professional manner I have come to expect from myself. THANK YOU!
So, did you have a great Christmas? It's unfortunate that some people get so worked up about Christmas that they stress themselves out to the point that they NEVER enjoy it. Wassup with that? Christmas is supposed to be joyous and magical--anything else ISN'T Christmas!
But, I realize today is the beginning of the letdown for a lot of folks. We have all this big buildup of emotions and expectations leading up to Christmas Day. Yet, December 26th rolls around and...POOF! It's all gone. As the song from the early 90s said, "Back to life, back to reality." 8-O HOW TRUE, HOW TRUE!
Some people will attempt to drown out their sorrows with alcohol, others with drugs. But the mind-numbing, pain relieving choice of millions more is the sedating effect that comes from stuffing your mouth full of big chunks of sugary, high-carb comfort foods. We've all done it, too!
Grabbing a great big bowl and scooping out about a gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, smothered and covered with Hershey's syrup, gooey caramel, crushed-up Oreo Cookies, those Rainbow sprinkle thingys, lots of whipped cream, and don't forget the cherry on top! Sound familiar anyone?
The truth is we ALL get down in the dumps whether it's after Christmas, following the loss of a loved one, losing your job, going through a difficult circumstance in your marriage...I think you get the picture. Sorrow and hurt are all around us, but how do we keep from turning to food when life seems to be unraveling?
Find out how I have been able to maintain my 180+ pound low-carb weight loss and resisted the temptation to use food as a drug by clicking here.
In August I warned you to brace yourself for it. Then, a couple of weeks ago I implored you to be ready for this moment and now it has arrived. What is it?
Now that it's Tuesday, December 26, 2006, today marks the long-awaited worldwide debut book release from Connie Bennett entitled SUGAR SHOCK!: How Sweets And Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life--And How You Can Get Back On Track! (read my review of this book). Stop RIGHT NOW and GO GET THIS BOOK TODAY or you can ORDER IT NOW from Amazon at a special price around $10 for a limited introductory promotional price. It won't stay at that low price for long, so get it while you can and you'll even qualify for FREE SUPER SAVER SHIPPING, too!
SUGAR SHOCK! has been several years in the making and will be well worth every penny you invest in this labor of love that Connie has put into it. You'll find page after page of informative, educational, and uplifting messages of hope and inspiration that a life without sugar can be a sweet ride indeed.
Start thinking about the people in your life who are addicted to sugar. Maybe it's YOU or your husband, kids, a co-worker, that friend from church...ANYONE who needs serious help overcoming their love affair with sugar which has left their weight and health in shambles. SUGAR SHOCK! will help them pick up the pieces and guide them on the path to success in a nonthreatening and sometimes humorous manner.
The thing I like most about Connie Bennett is her honesty. She doesn't sugarcoat (ALL PUN INTENDED!) her own experiences because she wants people to know about the process of feeling like you can't live without sugar into someone who describes herself now as a "sugar shrew no more!" SUGAR SHOCK! points you in the right direction for shunning sugar forever.
Above everything else, Connie is one of us. She supports livin' la vida low-carb and gives credit to the low-carb lifestyle throughout her book. Unlike some "other" books about sugar that are out there (ahem, no names here!) which SLAM low-carb living as quackery and unrealistic, Connie Bennetts lays the TRUTH out there for everyone to see and is unashamed of her stance. I admire that about her and feel her embracing of genuine low-carb living merits a closer look by those of us who advocate this incredible way of life.
With New Year's resolutions coming next week, what better time to START thinking about kicking your sugar habit than on January 1, 2007? Go get SUGAR SHOCK! TODAY so you will be armed and ready to make that commitment in earnest by this time next week. I promise you it will be all worth it.
Actually, January 1st will be my three year anniversary since I totally quit sugar cold turkey and it's a decision I have NEVER regretted. Today, just the thought of putting sugar in my mouth absolutely repulses me. It's disgusting to even think about, let alone actually do it. Let SUGAR SHOCK! show YOU how that can happen in your life, too.
Let's rally behind Connie Bennett's SUGAR SHOCK! and send that book soaring up the bestseller charts. People need to know the truth and Connie gives healthy doses of it in her spectacular debut!
You've got some Christmas cash, so get this book in a flash! I know Connie will be eternally grateful for your commitment to her book as you share about it with others who desperately need to learn from it. They're definitely going to be in for the SUGAR SHOCK! of their lives!
The old Walt Disney classic melody says, "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are." So, in that spirit I want you to make a wish. You heard me, imagine for a moment that you were granted just one wish for the entire world (no wishing for infinite wishes, though!). What would it be?
Think long and hard about this because your answer is going to join what is hoped to be a total of one million comments to The Million Dollar Blog Post: Your Internet Wishing Well as part of the blog Gifter.org. This is an amibitious undertaking, but the people behind this effort are 100% committed to making it happen.
So again, let's go back to the question at hand:
If you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?
There's no right or wrong answer, just say what you feel. Is there something wrong about the world now that you would change? Then share it! Could the world be made better with the idea you have in mind? Don't hesitate to reveal what it is. Who knows, you may start a chain reaction of ideas from people with your suggestion.
The best part of this endeavor is the fact that for every single wish that is posted, the folks at Gifter.org will make sure $1 is donated to charity. WHOA!
1 comment=$1 to charity 1,000 comments=$1,000 to charity 1,000,000 comments=$1 million to charity
WOWsers!!! Can you imagine the impact of something like this if a million people would go and leave their wish at this blog?
Here's the stated purpose of this effort:
"Do it as a way of coming together with others, to show you care about everyone else around you. Do it to demonstrate your generosity and hopefulness," according to the Gifter.org blog.
The organizers are confident that with enough word of mouth about what they are doing, they will be able to garner the million comments to generate the million dollars. But they do need your help.
"Help us spread the word by blogging about this project. Tell everyone you know. Read other people's wishes. Get a feel for people's hopes and dreams for our world. Build a great community. It's as simple as that."
Simple as that! In fact, go ahead and leave your wish right now, it'll take like one minute or less to do. If you feel so inclined to donate money to the charity of your choice, then there's a way for you to do that, too.
The overall purpose of this project is to create a community of people who can share positive ideas with each other about how to make the world a better place to live.
"Share the ideas, spread the word - if you believe in these ideas then they will gain power. As each person shares, the ideas become stronger. Can a few ideas change the world? We believe so. We invite you to believe with us."
I came across this Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter story about a retired man who literally saved his life from where it was on Christmas Day 2005 after he finally woke up and realized he needed an attitude change about his diet and health.
His name is Bob Carriveau, 65, who had actually reached the point in his life when he was thinking about giving away all of his belongings to friends and family last Christmas. That's how bad it had gotten for him because life had become extremely miserable rolling around tanks of oxygen with him everywhere he went never knowing if today was the day he would die. Who can live like that?
Because of congestive heart failure, which needed surgery to help him survive, Carriveau was hanging on by a thread and simply unable to do even the simplest of tasks like walking short distances which would make him lose his breath. That was the miserable life he endured at that point.
Deep down inside, though, Bob Carriveau knew he needed to do SOMETHING about his ailing health or his thoughts about an early death would become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
And so he did and the results have been amazing.
Following surgery on his heart and a change in his medications, Carriveau also decided to make major changes in his diet and started exercising which helped him lose 50 pounds mostly in his belly, which has shrunk six inches in the past year.
Although the article mentions that he "counts calories, avoids fat," that's not exactly true according to a quote from Carriveau himself.
"Now, I look at nutrition labels," he said. "I'm limited on calories and carbohydrates."
Sounds to me like he's watching his calories and CARBS, not the fat like this columnist contends. People who are livin' la vida low-carb have gotten used to this kind of bias against our way of eating by now. But it's still annoying when reporters do this.
Sure, Carriveau bemoans eating, as the writer of the story puts it, "fat-laden sausages" and his "favorite dinner entree" of a well-done steak tenderloin. But he was probably told these were unhealthy choices for him by his heart doctor. They clearly are not.
Fat is not the enemy, it's the sugar, refined carbs, and processed foods that are. People should stop fearing fat because they NEED fat in their bodies for various functions, not the least of which is to burn as fuel. At the same time, people should begin shunnning sugar and excess carbs if they ever hope to lose weight, stabilize their blood sugar to stave off diabetes, and give themselves a fighting chance. We need to give carbohydrates the fat treatment, but where are people going to hear this message?
Yet, I'm quite intrigued where Carriveau heard about watching his carbohydrate intake. Did his heart doctor tell him about this? Keep in mind he didn't say he was watching his calories and fat, but rather his calories and carbs! This is mind-blowing stuff for a man who one year ago didn't know if he'd be alive to talk about it. Perhaps there is a slow turning of the tide going on beneath the surface that nobody is willing to admit? We can only hope.
"We used to eat a lot of hamburger helper meals, but no more," Carriveau's wife Shirley chimed in.
I'm sure many families can relate to eating these kind of high-carb meals because they are cheap, quick and easy to make. My family and I ate these like they were going out of style when I was growing up because you could get two boxes for a dollar back then. It's still less expensive than eating healthy today, something Shirley readily admits.
"It is more work and more money to eat healthy," she added.
This is true, but what price can you put on health and the length of life for Bob? The arguments against healthy eating are easily shot down when you look at how much money you actually save on healthcare costs and the fact that you get to live longer. Plus, can you REALLY put a price on having your loved one with you for 5, 10, or 20 years longer? There no debating it.
This heartwarming story just goes to show you that it's NEVER too late to do something about your health and weight if you are not satisfied with where you are. Whether you are 20, 40, 60, or 80 years old, YOU hold the power to alter your habits and improve your life. This story should prove that to anyone struggling with their weight and health.
The healthy lifestyle change that Bob Carriveau has made in the past year has also spread to Shirley who dropped 20 pounds while supporting her husband's new diet program. They are set to celebrate 45 years of marriage in September 2007 and both are committed to living out the rest of their days happily and healthily.
He's been given 20 years to live out the rest of his life and Carriveau intends to make the most of it to spend lots of quality time with his children, grandchildren, and even a few great grandchildren that he hopes to see graduate from high school!
As long as he remains committed to livin' la vida low-carb and watching his calories like he has been doing, there's no reason why Carriveau shouldn't be able to enjoy these special moments with his family. He and Shirley were able to spend Christmas Eve together and hopes to have many more in the coming years.
This man has now changed his life for the better and the low-carb lifestyle is one of the reasons why he has radically changed for the better.
"My quality of life is twice as good as it was last year at this time...and, hopefully, it will get a lot better," Carriveau exclaimed.
It will, my friend, and CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so proud of you for making the tough decision to begin a new path in your life that will pay big dividends for you in the years to come. What an inspiring story of hope on this Christmas Day 2006 knowing that a life has been saved because of livin' la vida low-carb!
Matthew used to hate Christmas before losing 230 pounds
It was so good to be back in my old home church today in Virginia Beach, Virginia while on Christmas holiday vacation with my in-laws. Seeing old familiar faces is what makes Christmas so much fun and today was no exception.
You may recall last year I told you about a friend of mine named Bob Tureman who had gastric bypass surgery over 1 1/2 years ago. When I saw Bob today, the difference was unbelievable! To date, he has lost nearly 150 pounds and still has a long way to go. But I am so proud of him and you could tell he feels so much better than he did.
I also got to see another friend from my church who had the gastric bypass surgery the week after Thanksgiving last year. When she walked in my direction today, I almost didn't recognize her she was so skinny! WHOA!!! It's funny, I was telling my wife Christine today that for the very first time I got to feel what it was like for others to see my weight loss difference and the "shock" of it all. LOL! GREAT FEELING!
There is one person I KNOW who is thankful for his weight loss this Christmas. His name is Matthew Vander Plow. This 33-year old Zeeland, Michigan native used to weigh over 500 pounds before he decided to finally do something about his weight in 2004. Today, as we are about to celebrate Christmas in 2006, Matthew is 230 pounds lighter. WOW!
He was pretty much incapacitated when he weighed that much, but today he is doing things he never thought he could do again in his life. Check out this video he made on YouTube:
Amazing story, isn't it? Hanging those Christmas lights and sledding down a snowy hill must make it all worth the effort Matthew has put into losing weight these past two years. CONGRATULATIONS, dude! You are an inspiration and I'm so proud of you for changing your life forever! God bless you, my friend, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you.
Be sure to check out more of Matthew's Phattening Philms MySpace page. This man has a lot to share with a story that will help change the landscape of the obesity debate in America today. Keep on shining the truth in 2007 and beyond!
May all your Christmases be "light." :D Get it...light...GRRRR! Merry Christmas!
Thanks to my blogging friend Suzique from the "Waisted In The Wasteland" blog as well as the "Low-Carb Lab" blog (who I recently named one of the Top 10 Low-Carb Bloggers of 2006 on my podcast show), I am now officially a part of an active game of blog-tag! Since it's Christmas weekend and I'm game for having a bit of fun, I'll gladly take Suzique up on this.
Here's how it works:
1. Come up with 5 little-known facts about yourself 2. Post a blog with those nuggets of truth 3. "Tag" others to join in the fun
So, here's my chance to reveal some deep dark secrets about Jimmy Moore. HA, as if! No, I don't have too many things you DON'T know about me because my blog is a virtual open book into my life and gladly so. If it's helping people change their lives by permanently losing weight, then my mission has been accomplished.
Okay, so what can I share with you about me? Hmmm...
1. I had perfect attendance in school from 7th-12th grade. Not one sniffle, cough, fever, sneeze, or puke. TMI, I know, but I didn't get sick. Achoo! At least not enough to stay home from school. Yes, I was a nerd! Go figure that one!
2. I graduated college in three years. Less than a month after graduating high school in 1989 just a few months after my 17th birthday, I stepped on to the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin to begin my college experience right away. Again, I was a NERD, so I craved knowledge (and still do!). Taking a full load of classes (22 hours of classes in one semester!) and working as much as 70 hours a week in various restaurant jobs straight through, including summers, until May 1992, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English (yes, a DOUBLE major) at the ripe old age of 20. I was the youngest graduate in my class and didn't have a single dime of debt because I worked my own way through. My mom was so proud because I was the first person in our family with a college degree (my sister Beverly would become the second one just three years later!).
3. When I was in the 8th grade, my advanced English teacher announced the annual school poetry contest to the class. As soon as I heard about this, my mind kicked into high gear as she began lecturing that day on Shakespeare or something. Within 15 minutes I had finished the rough draft of my poem and by the end of that class, I turned in the polished version of my poem entitled "The Cheetah." Guess what? That poem not only won a prize, it was named the GRAND PRIZE winner as the BEST POEM in the entire school that year!
I remember it well because I got to attend the district poetry contest dinner with my mom where for the very first time I got to try filet mignon. I didn't know bacon wrapped around a slab of steak could taste so good, but it did! No, I didn't win anything at that competition, but I never forgot the experience.
Incidentally, my 8th grade English teacher wasn't impressed with my writing skills. She recommended that I be placed in a regular English class when I got to high school. UGH! I was so bored in that class that the teacher (Ms. Huhn) asked me if I would like to be in her advanced English class. Um, do pigs like wallowing in mud? You bet your sweet bippy! I remained in advanced English classes throughout high school and then got a degree in English with a 3.9 GPA in college. Do you think I was out to prove a point with that 8th grade English teacher? That old hag didn't know who she was messing with. :D
4. I've been through seven marriages. Yep, it's been quite an experience in life with all the weddings and divorces. What's that? Oh no, silly, NOT ME! I'm talking about my parents. Ah, yes, I grew up in the typical "dysfunctional family unit" that the media loves to talk about so much. Let's see if I can track for you those seven marriages I have been through in the course of my life.
My mom and dad got married one month before they were supposed to graduate high school (#1), but then divorced when I was less than 2 years old. They both then remarried to different people. My mom's second husband Jerry (#2) raised Kevin and me as well as his daughter (my half-sister) Beverly for most of our childhood. Meanwhile, my dad's second wife Dora (#3) had a son (my half-brother) Nathan who went on to be one of my inspirations for starting the Atkins diet after his success on it in the late 1990s. Less than 10 years after their second marriages, both my mom and dad had divorced their spouses. Are you still with me?
A few years of experimenting with new potential mates, they both landed new ones--Faye (#4) for my dad and Frank (#5) for my mom. Frank got upset about something and divorced my mother, but then came back to her (#6) wanting a second chance which she gave him. I'm happy to announce that both my mother and father have now been married for over 20 years to their current spouses which is longer than any of their previous marriages lasted combined. WOO HOO!
What about marriage #7, you ask? Well, that's the one and only marriage that I'll EVER have in my life with the beautiful and lovely Christine. We are in our 12th year of wedded bliss and have no intentions of letting the "d" word come into our vocabulary. In fact, when we got married, I told her that I had seen enough divorce in my life that it will not be an option and we cut that word completely out of every dictionary we own. So far, so good!
5. And finally, in honor of Suzique who "tagged" me for this game, let me tell you what happened when my family went to the Mardi Gras in Nawlins' (that's New Orleans for those of you who don't speak Southern!) when I was about 7 years old. We were up on a tall ledge as the floats were coming by with beads, coins, rubber snakes, and more flying through the air. If you've ever been to the Mardi Gras, then you know what I'm talking about.
I was watching all this stuff flying over our heads where a gathering of kids my age were scooping up all the good stuff. My mom said I could go down there as long as I stayed behind where they were. So I enthusiastically ran down there and was making out like gangbusters. I even got a rubber snake! COOL!
When the parade slowed down a bit, I looked up and didn't see my mom. Where'd she go? So, I looked around and nothing was familiar to me. In my quest for gathering up the good stuff that went over the heads of the people on the high rise, I had apparently lost where my family was. What does a 7-year old do when he loses his mommy? You guessed it--I started bawling like a baby! WAH WAH WAH!
But, even at that age, I had the presence of mind to go to the only person I could trust at the time to help me out--the police. We were staying with a New Orleans police officer and I immediately recognized the uniform when I saw a man directing traffic. I went up to him, tugged on his shirt, and said, "Mister, I want my mommy." He dispatched a police car to come pick me up (I thought I was being arrested!) and they took me down to the station.
While I was there, I told them about the man we were staying with who they recognized from my description and they immediately contacted him. He was able to get in touch with my mom so she could come pick me up. In the meantime, the officers at the station were super-nice to me, fed me lunch and let me look around the place. This was way more fun than the Mardi Gras was...until my mom arrived.
I can still see the look on her face to this day (I have nightmares about it sometimes--hee hee!) as she walked up to me saying, "I don't know if I should hug you or whip you, so I guess I'll just hug you for now." That was the best mommy hug I ever got! And this experience makes for a great story to tell some 30 years later.
That's it, no more revealing secrets about ME! But now it's YOUR turn. If you read through this post about me, then consider yourself "tagged" if you are a blogger (and even if you don't have a blog, this gives you a reason to START one!). It's kinda fun when you think about all the things that your readers may not know about you. Believe me, there was a LOT more I could have written on my list.
So what about you? If you decide to play, then let me know! Send me the URL to your post and I'll put it here. This was so much FUN, so give it a try.
TAG, YOU'RE "IT"!!!
12-23-06 UPDATE: Apparently, blog-tagging is chic these days. Check out this Salinas, CA-based KSBW column by staff writer Rick Ellis. He gets in on the action and even reveals the genesis of the explosion in popularity of blog-tag came when Jeff Pulver started this thing about two weeks ago! Again, if you read my blog, then consider yourself tagged. E-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net if you play the game! Don't forget to tag others in your post. :D
12-23-06 UPDATE: My regular reader Calianna decided to play along with the blog-tag game today at her "Calianna's Cottage" blog. THANKS for joining in on the fun and opening yourself up a bit in the process. Anyone wanna join me and Calianna in blog-tag? You're gonna LOVE it!
12-23-06 UPDATE: Now Wanda has gotten in on the action. So you liked the idea, EH Wanda? Hockey, really? I can't get into that sport too much, but I suppose it's more of a Canadian thing than American. THANKS for playing along. Isn't this a neat idea? :D
I'm gonna flip if my digital camera takes better pictures now
One of the very best investments I made last year was getting up real early on the day after Thanksgiving to buy a brand new digital camera. Although my Kodak Z760 Easyshare Digital Camera is over a year old, I still LOVE it as much as I did on the day I bought it. For anyone with a blog, it adds so much!
I've had some fun with my digital camera this year showing my "obese body," revealing for the first time my loose skin following my 180-pound weight loss, reacting to the various flavors of Sweetriot, and so much more! Yes, I'm a ham when it comes to being in and taking pictures and proudly so. :)
But with Christmastime this weekend and all of the millions of pictures that will be taken, did you know there was a neat little trick you can do to make them look even better? Especially those of you with a lot of "old people" (is there a better euphemism for this than "seniors?") among your yuletide clan, check this out!
According to this Yahoo story highlighting a tip from DigitalCameraU.com, all you need to do to take better pictures of your loved one's faces is TURN YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA UPSIDE DOWN! Say what?! Sounds strange, but there's a logical explanation that makes sense when you stop to think about it.
Think about where the flash is located on your camera--it's at the top, right? Well, when the light source comes from above, guess what that does to the pictures of those good-looking family members? Exactamundo! Shadows, wrinkles, and sometimes black eyes.
But not anymore!
Do the flipperoo with your camera this weekend and now the flash will produce light from below rather than above which will completely negate any of those issues with the flash above. Of course, it's awkward at first using your thumb rather than your index finger to take the photo, but you'll get the hang of it.
Why haven't camera companies thought of this before? Whose bright idea was it to put the flash at the top of the camera in the first place, hmmm? Sorry, I just think about these odd, senseless things sometimes.
If you still prefer to take pictures the conventional way (come on, where's your nonconformist spirit?! LOL!), one of the commenters at DigitalCameraU.com had a superb suggestion for you. Here's what he wrote:
"Use a small piece of white paper [over the flash] and it will disperse the flashed light in an equally pleasing manner."
Now there's an idea! Above all, have FUN taking photographs with your digital camera because you are making lasting memories with those kids, uncles, grandmas, and all the other precious people you call family. Isn't that what sharing time together at Christmas is REALLY all about?
Who couldn't use a weight loss buddy to cheer them to success?
Earlier this year I introduced you to a fantastic organization dedicated to helping people wanting to lose weight called Weight Loss Buddy. This phenomenal online resource provides an ample amount of real-life inspiration, expert advice, and the support of a "buddy" who will stick with you through thick and thin in your quest for weight loss success!
I was privileged to be a part of a LIVE online chat (and I'd LOVE to do another one VERY soon!) as well as being named the October Expert Of The Month. This up-and-coming web site is changing people's lives one buddy at a time and people are starting to take notice.
With 2007 only a few more days away and those ever-popular New Year's resolutions to get healthy and shed the pounds for good, what better time than RIGHT NOW to start strategizing how you will do it?! People are signing up left and right to be a part of the NEW AND IMPROVED Weight Loss Buddy because of their track record for producing the results people so desperately desire when they begin a totally different eating lifestyle.
But rather than trying to go it alone on your weight loss plan which has failed you time and time again in the past, why not try Weight Loss Buddy in 2007 and team up with someone who cares about you, wants to encourage you in your efforts, and will be there with you and for you every step of the way until you reach your weight loss goal? They'll be your virtual cheerleader in this pursuit of a better life. With support like that, why wouldn't you succeed?
Have you seen the fantastic newly upgraded web site over at Weight Loss Buddy? WOW, check it out because it looks absolutely incredible! They even let YOU decide who you want your buddy to be. Best of all is this service is 100% absolutely FREE, so you really have NOTHING to lose except those stubborn holiday pounds. :D
Browse around the Weight Loss Buddy site for yourself and let me know what you think about it. This could be the start of a fantastic relationship with a buddy who may very well be the missing ingredient you've been needing to put you over the top in reaching your weight loss goals. Don't wait until the new year to find your buddy. DO IT TODAY!!!
This supposedly healthy supplement wallops you with excess sugar
I enjoy participating in product surveys and personal evaluations of the latest products because I feel like it gives me the ability in some small way to influence what actually comes to the marketplace. While I am the first to admit that I'm not your "normal" person when it comes to evaluating most food and health products because I am livin' la vida low-carb, it most certainly gives me great pleasure to represent those of us who are attempting to live a healthier lifestyle.
Recently I was asked a series of questions about whether I took vitamin supplements or not. HA! Ya think! Of course, as many of you know I take a big handful of pills daily (no prescription drugs, mind you, just supplements!) ranging from a multivitamin to calcium, Co-Q 10 to fiber, fish oil tablets to chromium picolinate and much more!
Yes, I LOVE my supplements and wouldn't think of living another day of life without them. Even if they're as useless to me as a placebo, the fact of the matter is they make ME feel better about my health. And that's all that matters.
When the survey company realized I qualified for their survey about supplementation, they asked me if I would be interested in giving them feedback about a specific product that they would mail for me to try--VIACTIV! Was this some kind of joke? I had never thought much about this particular supplement because it has a slogan that states "Active Nutrition for Women by Women."
Ooooookay, since I'm not a woman, why would I take this supplement? Perhaps that was the purpose of having a male survey participant taking this product to see if they can branch off into the other half of the market to increase their portion of the revenue pie so to speak. Fair enough and I was happy to give them my HONEST feedback. They ALWAYS get that!
So the package arrives in the mail this week and they ask me to stop taking any multivitamins, Vitamin K, Vitamin D, and Calcium supplements immediately and replace it with up to 3 of the Viactiv Calcium Milk Chocolate Soft Chews daily instead. The allure of this product is that you can enjoy a delicious way to get your calcium without the "big chalky pills" that are generally associated with calcium supplements.
There's no doubt in my mind that getting adequate amounts of calcium is important for anyone and everyone living a healthy lifestyle. Some people can get enough of it in their diet, but others of us choose to bump that level up with calcium carbonate supplements. So why not do it using a tasty chocolate soft chew, right? Sounds logical enough.
Well, there was just one problem with the Viactiv: the list of ingredients! As I do with ANYTHING I put inside my mouth these days, I turned to the nutritional label on this "healthy supplement" product to see what I would be ingesting. I immediately got completely bug-eyed at what I saw and decided right then and there that there was no way on God's green Earth I would be taking these Viactiv chews for my calcium intake.
Why? Read my response to the survey people today:
"The first ingredient is corn syrup.
The second ingredient is high-fructose corn syrup.
The fourth ingredient is sugar.
Three out of the first four ingredients are what I consider poison for my body. I am not diabetic, but I am on a healthy lifestyle change where I avoid sugar and corn syrup to keep my body weight low and my blood sugar regulated."
That's right, this health supplement is LOADED with sugar, corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup! EEEEK! Why don't they just tell people to grind up their calcium pills and melt them in the microwave on top of a Snickers bar instead?! It would be just as healthy for them as these soft chews and they'd still get their calcium by golly. Sheeez!
You know, these are the kind of products that make me just wanna hurl when I see them because they fool people into thinking they are doing something GOOD for their bodies because after all "it has calcium in it so you are helping your bones" or they market it as "for those people who care about their health." GAG ME! When the product has as much sugar in it as Viactiv Calcium Milk Chocolate Soft Chews do, then it is anything BUT healthy in my book.
Being the helpful person that I am, I suggested to the survey people that the makers of Viactiv need to consider an alternative to their product that DOESN'T contain sugar. Hmmm, that's a thought!
"Perhaps Viactiv would consider making a sugar-free version of their soft chew vitamins made with sucralose, acesulfame potassium, erithyritol, and/or oligofructose instead of sugar and corn syrup. Just avoid using the sugar alcohol maltitol because it can cause an unpleasant laxative effect.
I'm sorry I could not participate in the survey, but the thought of eating all that sugar was quite repulsive to me. Come up with a sugar-free version and I'm ALL OVER IT! :) THANKS!"
Wanna know what's ironic about all of this? Guess who the parent company for Viactiv is? It's McNeil Nutritionals! Does that company ring a bell with anyone? Come on, think hard. Okay, I'll let you off the hook because you won't believe this when I tell you.
McNeil Nutritionals is the same company that makes, markets, and manufactures the most famous artificial sweetener available today--can you believe it's SPLENDA?! Isn't this so ironic that the same company behind Splenda feels the need to load up their "healthy" vitamin supplement product with sugar, corn syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup?! UGH! What's wrong with this picture?!
Get a clue, McNeil Nutritionals! Start making Viactiv with a Splenda/ACE-K blend and I betcha it'll taste just as good. But even better than that is it will be much healthier for people who are livin' la vida low-carb and diabetic, too!
Don't you wonder sometimes whether these big companies think at all?
Why don't we express our concerns and make our suggestions about Viactiv directly to McNeil Nutritionals by using their contact page. Let them hear from YOU! :)
RIGHT NOW! :) You'll be glad you did!
