Is Rush Limbaugh's Fast Weight Loss From A Low-Carb Diet?
The popular radio talk show mogul boasts of quick weight loss
Losing weight is hard enough for the tens of millions of average, everyday Americans who are either overweight or obese in the United States today. But can you imagine how much harder it is for someone who lives in the constant public spotlight as a well-known celebrity?
Well, just ask radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh whose popular weekday program still dominates the airwaves with a robust 20 million listeners weekly. The most readers I've ever gotten at my blog in one week is 35,000, so I'm certainly envious of Limbaugh's ability to attract an enormous audience with his politically conservative message. But I'm gonna catch up to you someday, Rush. Start quaking in your boots, buddy! :)
Regular listeners of Limbaugh's nearly two-decade long mid-day radio show airing on over 600 radio stations from coast to coast have heard him talk about losing weight yet again recently. Fans of the controversial Republican mouthpiece are all-too-familiar with the constant fluctuations in Limbaugh's weight throughout his career.
I first noticed Rush Limbaugh's weight had really gotten up there yet again recently when he appeared on the new Fox News Channel political satire comedy show called "The 1/2 Hour News Hour." Here's a two-minute opening clip from the inaugural episode featuring Limbaugh as the president of the United States:
As you can see from this clip taped back in January 2007, Limbaugh has gotten rather chubby and noticeably so in the face. But you can't blame him since the man has endured some rather huge life changes in recent years--drug addiction, divorce, a stint in rehab, loss of hearing, etc.--that have very likely led him to use food for comfort. This is what I was referring to in this blog post earlier this week regarding change and its impact on your diet.
But Limbaugh proudly announced in the opening moments of his three-hour radio show on Friday that he has now lost a total of 30 pounds in just the past 40 days. Thumping his chest and exclaiming how proud he is of sticking with this mysterious quick weight loss plan he is following, Limbaugh reported that his friends have been asking him what he is doing to lose the weight.
Avoiding any specific mention of the plan he is using, Limbaugh did state in his opening monologue that he visited a restaurant last night and was offered an alcoholic beverage which he politely declined because it is prohibited on his new diet. He said his dining guests were appalled that they would have to do without alcohol if they wanted to follow Limbaugh's diet.
"Then don't do it," Limbaugh exclaimed on his program on Friday.
So what could this new diet that Rush Limbaugh is on possibly be? He's losing almost a pound a day which sounds very familiar to those of us in the early days of livin' la vida low-carb. I lost 70 pounds in 60 days when I first went on the Atkins diet in January 2004 at 410 pounds. Eventually I went on to lose 180 pounds in one year and have maintained my weight ever since continuing to eat this way.
It's merely speculation on my part, but I think Rush Limbaugh is on some kind of low-carb diet. Avoiding alcohol is important in the early stages of a low-carb weight loss effort (although my friend and fellow author Bradley Scott Cailor may disagree) because alcohol has to be burned off just as carbohydrates like sugar and starch are.
However, Limbaugh previously made some rather direct comments about sugar on his show back in 2005 stating it is not as harmful to health as some are portraying it during a discussion of putting warning labels on sugary soda in schools.
"This is sugar! We're talking about sugar," Limbaugh exclaimed on his July 12, 2005 program. "We're not talking about a killer substance here."
But he did admit at the time that children seem to handle sugar consumption a whole lot better than adults do.
"A kid certainly can certainly drink three cans of Coke a day," he said at the time. "That's when a kid can metabolize. That's when a kid can do things."
Perhaps Limbaugh realized even then that he is now at the point in his life where consuming such high-carb garbage as sugary sodas and other carb-loaded food and beverages may not be the best thing for him as he approaches the big 6-0 in a few years. Livin' la vida low-carb may be EXACTLY what he needs to keep his weight under control while vastly improving his health.
Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and worse are all very real possibilities for people like Limbaugh who have allowed their weight to get out of control and stay out of control for so many years. I sincerely hope that if he is indeed livin' la vida low-carb that he will commit to do it for the rest of his life as a permanent lifestyle change. Otherwise, it will all be for naught.
Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admire that Limbaugh is at the very least taking a step in the right direction to lose weight while he is still able. I know I have added many more years to my life because of low-carb living and it is my sincerest desire to see people just like Rush Limbaugh do the same for themselves.
If you are looking for a way to shed the pounds and get healthy just like me and Rush Limbaugh, then come join the millions upon millions of people who are living the low-carb life and lovin' every minute of it! It's the best thing that ever happened to me and I'll never stop sharing with others about the change that it brought me.
Is Rush Limbaugh on low-carb? If so, then he's at least got that much right! :)
Labels: diet, fat, health, lifestyle change, obesity, Rush Limbaugh, weight loss
posted by Jimmy Moore at
3/23/2007 12:42:00 PM
19 Comments:
Well, this was fun while it lasted. I don't want anything to do with anyone who has ANYTHING in common with Rush Limbaugh - let alone has the nerve to brag about it.
Later Gater - I'm outta here.
PS I'm sending your book back, too.
What in the world are you talking about, SFDukeXXiX? What exactly do I have "in common with Rush Limbaugh" simply because I wrote a blog post about his weight loss? Sheez!
And what did I "brag about" in the column other than the fact that livin' la vida low-carb works? Have we really sunk so low in America that people really throw a tantrum like this just because they're offended by someone they disagree with?
Heck, I don't agree with everything Limbaugh says or does, but that doesn't stop me from acknowledging that the man may be benefitting from the low-carb lifestyle. If that makes you upset to the point that you must leave, then all I can say is good riddance.
When you finally come to your senses and realize how incredibly immature you are acting, let me know. Best wishes to you as you keep on livin' la vida low-carb!
I say good for Rush. He is a ver intelligent man and a great entertainer (yes, that's what he is, an entertainer) and I catch his show as often as I can. I also do not agree with everything he says, but he is a great voice of reason when much of the media are a bunch of idiots.
Oh, and even if I didn't like Rush I wouldn't stop reading your blog because you posted something about him. That is just immature. Keep doing what you do Jimmy and your real fans will keep reading.
Sorry, Jimmy, but I agree with the previous post. There's no proof that Mr. Limbaugh is on a low carb diet so there's really no reason to even write this article - except for the obvious reason that you want to do a puff piece about him based on speculation.
Rush has made his fortune being a misogynist and just pure evil, and I've lost a great deal of respect for you in your promotion of him. I really don't see how I can trust anything you say anymore.
I think I need to leave for a while myself. This article just makes me feel ill. Too bad you had to insert politics where none belongs.
THANKS for your comments, too, Emma. But how is this a "puff piece" about Rush Limbaugh? Did you notice I wasn't exactly ga-ga, goo-goo all over the man in my column?
Just because you obviously greatly dislike the man and what he does for a living (regardless of what you feel about where he stands on the issues and how he conducts himself, Rush is most certainly a great American success story), that does not make him anything more than someone you disagree with.
I'm thoroughly convinced we are now living in a bubble and somebody just forgot to tell me. Like I told SFDukeXXIX, it is incredibly petty to whine like a baby and run away just because your feelings got hurt because I decided to say something about Rush Limbaugh.
Since when did we get so hypersensitive in this country that people have gone off the deep end losing all sense of reason? How does simply writing about the man make me less trustworthy than before? And here's the biggest question:
HOW THE HECK IS THIS COLUMN POLITICAL?!
I never mentioned politics at all! Some people apparently have WAY too much time on their hands that they have to be disagreeable just to hear themselves whine and moan. Get over yourself already.
But, as always, THANKS for sharing your comments! To each his or her own.
What??? After reading some of these comments I now understand why our country is in the shape it's in. We have a society full of cry babies who base their opinions of people by ONE thing, instead of the whole package.
Jimmmy - your blog. Your time. Your perogative. Blog away my friend.. blog away.
Jimmy, some people think that because they believe a certain way they should never be subject to hearing a contradicting opinion. I strongly dislike people like that. That is why I like you so much. You regularly give both sides of given issues. You interview people you strongly disagree with in a very professional manner. This is America and our constitution guarantees freedom of speech for all, not just for people of any particular political affiliation.
Though your article was not remotely political I think that may be the problem that some people see with it. Some people see Rush's name and get their panties all in a bunch without ever listening to anything the man has to say. I used to be exactly the same way when my husband wore his Rush t-shirts, read the books, listened to his show etc. It was reactionary. When I actually listened to the words the man had to say, though he can be a bit over the top, (it is a talk show and he has to get ratings) I found much of what he says is very reasonable. Also as I listen to the calls he takes (many from people who do not agree with him) I notice that he gives people time to state their views regardless of stance and time to defend their point of view. That much cannot be said of many people in a similar position as him on the opposite side of the political fence.
Oh, and since this is YOUR blog, you get to decide if this is the place for discussions about anything and everything you want to talk about. It's called freedom of speech baby!
Well stated, diamondwife! I agree and certainly do not apologize for my post. One of the things I have always been open to is new ideas which is why I was willing to try start livin' la vida low-carb. Had I kept my head closed to anything other the the conventional low-fat diet mentality, then I'd STILL be morbidly obese.
While I certainly don't expect people to agree with EVERYTHING I blog about here, one thing I do expect is for people to share what they believe and why they believe it. I'm just amazed it took 1650+ posts before I finally got under the skin of some people. That's a whole lotta opportunities for offending that went by scott free! :D
I agree completely with Diamondwife. Heck, I would be "guilty" as hell too as I mentioned Winston Churchill a few times in my posts here. So what? I happen to admire the man. I also mentioned Adolf Hitler a few times, as he was a good example of a rabid vegetarian and a total monster. So what should happen to me now? The German Ambassador will sneakily sent me poisonous Bavarian Bierwurst?
Come on guys! One of things the low-carb community in general can pride itself on is the fact that (most) are intelligent, open-minded people that (are able to) think for themselves instead of being mindless sheep following the low-fat pack. We should not react so childishly just because somebody -in this case Jimmy, but it could be me as well- mentioned a person he/she doesn't like.
Jimmy wrote an intelligent, politically completely neutral piece about our low-carb diet. Those are the hard facts and that's no reason to condemn him or his blog.
Let's get real, ok? Let's save our energy for the real enemies that are killing millions upon millions of people every year!
Some people amaze me. There is nothing political in this post. I'm not a fan of Rush. Politically, I'm an independent in that I don't care for either major polical party. I lean more to the old-stlye conservatism instead of the current neo-conservatism. I fully support Rush's right to free speech & free press, whether I agree with him or not.
This post is just a story of someone losing weight. Jimmy never concludes that Rush IS on low carb, but only points out signs that he MIGHT BE. Jimmy has posted stories on Hollywood stars in the past, some of whom, no doubt are liberal. He even posted a story about Kirstie Alley, who lost weight on Jenny Craig. Jimmy is interested in sucess stories, regardless of their political affiliation or even how they did it. If Rush is truely on low carb, he has the potential to influenc a lot of people and that would be a good thing, regardless of his politics. To those who object to this post -- Get a Life.
Emma and sfduke are the ones who politicized this article, not Jimmy. Hopefully they are not so shallow that they abandon low-carb just because a conservative endorses it. But some prefer a lifeless conformism to slavery because they lack the courage to challenge a corrupt status quo.
If Rush is on low-carb, then this shows that he is bold enough to think for himself and not be a slave to any dogma. Now is he bold and free enough to admit and endorse it publicly? For all his common-sense demagoguery, populist speakers like Rush fall into danger when they make unfounded statements like "sugar is not a dangerous substance" based on common sense alone, and not backed up with the medical, research-based reality that sugar is a deadly stealth toxin, perhaps the most pernicious of all. I hope Rush has discovered the truth, and the research which supports it. Maybe we should send him the links.
I'm certainly envious of Limbaugh's ability to attract an enormous audience with his politically conservative message.
I don't think it's a stretch for anyone to say this is political -- how does this NOT mean that Jimmy would like to attract an enormous audience with his politically conservative messages too?
I'm not taking off, but I think we know where Jimmy stands on the political spectrum. I ignore the posts that refer to his views on choice, sexual orientation, and political conservatives, tone out on the references to Christianity and its deities, and just focus on the good low-carb information.
I'd of course prefer he just left it out, but it is his blog.
I'm curious about something, Paula. How exactly am I supposed to check my entire core belief system at the door whenever I write my blog? Is everything you read supposed to be "just the facts" and not from the perspective of what somebody actually thinks according to his or her worldview?
The beauty of a blog is it is more than just information. It's information coming from the unique perspective of the person providing it. Nobody says you have to agree with everything that is written nor would I want you to.
I have taken great pains to provide an engaging blog that gives plenty of MY opinion on just about everything through the lense of low-carb living. I'm not changing who Jimmy Moore is just to placate an audience. What you see is what you get.
As for my desire to attract an enormous audience, I would hope it would be from my common sense regarding livin' la vida low-carb to combat obesity and the related diseases and NOT any specific politically conservative message.
I could be a whole lot more political if I wanted to, but I choose to refrain from doing that. Again, I cannot separate Jimmy Moore the person from the man who lost nearly 200 pounds on the Atkins diet. Nor would most of my readers want me to do that either.
THANKS for sharing your comments and for continuing to read even when you disagree. :)
Jimmy -- I'm a blogger too, and for four years, have written a blog for my employer that has won some awards and received some acclaim. So, yes, you can check your beliefs at the door -- when I write for my employer, I have to be aware of my employer's point of view, and not present something that strays from the perspective I'm being asked to present. So it is possible. You have chosen not to do so, and that's fine, but don't act like it's impossible to do.
Again, I would prefer you stick to low carb, period. I'm not religious and don't care to hear about your faith (spent far too many years stuck growing up with a religious family and was happy to escape), and some of your posts on the topics I referenced above have been offensive to me.
But, as long as I get more out of your posts on low carb than the other posts subtract from your blog's usefulness, I'll read your blog. Every blog I read (and I regularly read dozens and occasionally read hundreds) is subject to the same analysis: do I get more out of reading it than I would if I didn't read it? That's the decision each of your readers must constantly make.
Some of your readers have made the decision that some of your (conservative) posts take enough away from the value it provides that they choose not to read any more. Some are not offended, and perhaps choose to read it more often because they also agree with your political perspective in addition to your views on low-carbing.
If you want to appeal to the widest audience, then you have to decide whether having your blog focused on low-carbing, and leaving your political and religious views out of it (or not), has the effect of increasing your audience or reducing it.
I took your comment about Rush to mean that you wanted to attract a larger audience by sharing your conservative views. I think that would be unfortunate, because I think your large audience is here because of what you say about low-carbing, not your own political and religious views. But like I said before, it's your blog, so knock yourself out.
The key difference is that my "employer" is, well, ME! Therefore, I don't have a reason to dance around pretending to be something I am not. The person you see blogging here is the same person you would meet face-to-face. My mom even said as much the first time she read my blog how much it felt like having her son talk to her.
I can't be responsible for people being "offended" by what I write here. I simply write what comes to mind and let the chips fall where they may. Obviously this doesn't endear me to the greatest common denominator, but I've never tried to be a populist in my blogging style.
Instead, I simply put ideas out there using my language, my beliefs, my knowledge, and my experience so that others can be educated, encouraged and inspired to lose weight and get healthy.
I am not ashamed of or afraid to talk about my faith and belief in God because without His strength and power in my life, nothing I say or do would amount to anything. I realize that scares the living bejeebies out of some people, but again, it is who and what I am. I'm not gonna hide it.
Regarding my "conservative views," I don't make any bones about them either. But I do not make them as explicit as someone like Ann Coulter or even Rush Limbaugh in my blog. If they seep into my posts, then they are merely a reflection of who I am more than an agenda-driven lust for spreading the message.
I do not seek to attract a larger audience here at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog through my conservative viewpoints. I've never made any such assertion. Instead, I will keep doing what has made the blog the success it has become--honest, open, and truthful news and commentary about low-carb living.
Again, I appreciate your feedback and readership despite our differences of opinion philosophically speaking on life in general. Please feel free to express your dissenting views anytime. I welcome it!
The challenge is clear - start a libby-lowcarb blog! The more personal takes on this message, the merrier. Right or Left is completely immaterial to biology.
As a tree-hugging tax-raising dyed-in-the-wool lifelong liberal who think Rush Limbaugh is second only to Bill O'Reilly as candidate for the next Anti-Christ, I have to speak out in Jimmy's defense. I'm here because of a commonality we all have: Low-carb living. I don't give a crap what Jimmy's political stance is. His blog is supportive and informative. Who cares that he ONCE chose to weave a bit of political controversy into the mix. Let it go. Don't go away mad. Don't go away at all. If you don't agree, shrug it off and burn a few ketones to feel better about it. Jimmy, thanks for all the effort. And I thought the Limbaugh article was amusing.
I just thought I'd add my 2 cents. I was walking with a friend this morning and she told me Rush Limbaugh had recently lost weight through diet alone. I went home and searched "Rush Limbaugh diet" to find out what his special "diet" was. I came upon Jimmy's blog, and these comments on this subject. Now, I'm not super familiar with Rush, I know he's conservative etc. but I honestly have never heard his show and don't know much about the man. I've also never heard of Jimmy Moore (sorry). I'm a mother of two who works part time as a hairstylist. I don't keep up with political talk show hosts, I don't follow blogs either.As a matter of fact, I rarely even get on the computer.
The message I got from Jimmy's article was this: here's a guy (Rush)that a lot of people have heard of and know is heavy. He's recently lost weight and has done this through diet. He (Rush) has made a few comments here and there which indicate he might be doing low carb. Jimmy stated the comments which might indicate that. Then the message I got was kind of, in a way, "downing" the fact that if Rush IS doing low carb, he won't even admit it. I didn't get ANY political vibe from Jimmy at all, my take is that Jimmy just wanted to use an example of a person who most people have heard of who has struggled with weight.
Now, as I said before, I have never even heard of Jimmy and have never read any of his other blogs, maybe he's political in his other blogs, maybe not, but in this particular one I didn't get that feel in any way, shape or form!
Again, just my two cents from a non-political, average mother of two, part time hairstylist in Ohio!
P.S. And obviously 2 years behind seeing as the last poster is dated 2007!! LOL!! :D haha
THANKS so much! YOU GET IT! :) We've moved to http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog. :D Hope you can join us there.
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