'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 70: Kimmer, Kimkins Diet On Full Display In Exclusive Interview
Getting it all out in the open, Kimkins defended by founder Kimmer
Okay, it's here! Episode 70 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" brings you Part 1 of a special 5-part series featuring my exclusive interview with the much-maligned Kimkins diet founder Kimmer. I was surprised by how forthright she was in the interview with some especially difficult questions I asked her.
This is the first and only interview I have ever seen Kimmer do and I was appreciative she agreed to let me share her answers to these burning questions from friend and foe alike. If you're curious at all about the real Kimmer and this diet she calls Kimkins, then you won't want to miss this interview.
Click on the PLAY button below to LISTEN NOW:
In Part 1, Kimmer discussed her philosophy on calories, which has been the subject of some controversy among low-carbers, and talks about her days as a member of the Low-Carb Friends Forum in 2001-2002. She admitted to me how difficult it was to endure the criticism of some members who didn't like her approach to low-carb living and the aftermath of getting booted from that site. She was honest in sharing how upset that made her which precipitated the formation of her own web site in 2006.
You can get podcast availability anytime by:
1. Listening at the official web site
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What do you think so far? Kimmer seems to be a very intelligent woman who has an obvious heart for helping people who desire weight loss. Do you believe her more or less now that you've heard her voice for the first time? Tell us what you thought about Kimmer and her explanations about the Kimkins diet so far.
We're just getting started with this interview, though, so be sure to listen to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" again on Monday for Episode 71 and Part 2 of my exclusive interview with Kimmer from the Kimkins diet!
Labels: calories, criticism, diet, health, interview, Jimmy Moore, Kimkins, Kimmer, Low-Carb Friends, podcast, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show, weight loss
posted by Jimmy Moore at
7/19/2007 06:41:00 AM
14 Comments:
My first impressions of Kimmer are that she is not a good liar and that she has a thimble full of weight loss theory based on extreme low calorie starvation dieting that centers on Ketosis. There is nothing but truth in this weight loss theory. It's simple. Starve and (real) Ketosis kicks in and you lose a lot of weight fast. Euphorically might be added as that is what happens when you don't eat and intense Ketosis(real) takes place. Endorphins and adrenaline kick in bringing you to optimum for your food 'hunt' so that you can survive. Some people become addicted to this cycle and it's effects as well as it's original goal of quick weight loss and then get on and live on this roller coaster. Presenting this as "health" and even good and even for diabetics shows its fallacy."Tweaking" or cutting existing diets including Atkins 72 to the bone and calling that simply Kimkins is a fact to be sure but also a fact that calls for careful scrutiny. Kimkins is so blatantly and obviously unhealthy or rather health threatening that it is not worthy of discussion. The selling of this euphoric dream to the american people is in fact the height of gullibility. Getting 'High' and losing weight is not a solution. Rather it compounds a real solution. Kimkins should be presented as a quick and dangerous diet to use at your own risk for short periods of time. To compare gastric surgery diets as comparable to Kimkins does come close. The thing is that we are talking an extreme measure to treat an extreme and life threatening situation. Hence in a life or death situation where there is possibly only one chance to survive, gastric sugery has it's place. Kimkins is the same thing only it is not presented as this. It is presented as a doable diet for quick and ongoing weight loss with great success. There is really no way to unravel this mess, it's just half truths rationalized as whole truths without harm and this just isn't so.
For Kimmer, it's just, Get that weight off! It's easy to say "Do what works for you" when it's all about weight loss. There are many ways to lose weight. However, I'd like to think that low carb plans are better than that.
It's revealing that there is no maintenance plan for Kimkins. I know... it's in the works. Dr. Atkins understood the need to teach the principles of maintenance throughout the entire weight-loss phase. One cannot stay on an "Induction mentality" forever. It takes time to unlearn the destructive patterns that lead to the need to lose weight in the first place. It's not all about speed. It's about developing a lifestyle with a healthy respect for the body, food and exercise. I'm glad it took me 7 months to go from 207 to 165 on Atkins because I have the tools to keep it off.
Kimmer and others like her, would do well to check out Regina Wilshire's "Back to Basics" review where she demonstrates how Induction's rules where meant to be models for permanent weight loss success. A person who regains weight on Atkins, either skipped Pre-maintenance or never really learned the approach to begin with. Those 5 gram steps teach you how to control your appetite and achieve a healthy balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate, in the correct ratio. Without that knowledge, it's just another diet.
Great job, Jimmy and Kimmer! An intelligent and open discussion.
As one who has lost a little over 90 lbs. on Kimkins so far myself, I can honestly say I was in a life-and-death situation, and now I am strong and healthy. I haven't felt this good in decades, my labs are great, and my doctor is absolutely thrilled!
(And, no, I am not 'high' or disordered or addicted to an unhealthy cycle. That is what life on the carb roller coaster was like for me! Not sure I mind losing weight quickly and being at 'optimum', though!)
With all due respect to charles, there is not a reason to ever eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day, which is an induction level of carbs. There is nothing dangerous about being in ketosis.
I've followed Atkins at induction level carbs for over 4 years. Frankly, I think more folks should be made aware of the Kimkins plan. This country, in the throes of the an outrageous obesity epidemic, could use a little instruction in how to cut calories without hunger and maintain the subsequent weight loss without feeling the need to cheat.
That is what "induction level" or lower amounts of carbs will do for a person.
Sorry Charles, but you're wrong. You CAN stay on induction as long as you wish. The body does NOT need carbs, veggies, fiber, or fruits for good health.
I can't take her seriously since she wouldn' agree to a face to face interview. That alone makes it look like she has something to hide.You weren't plannng a video of her so why the secrecy?
She addresses the question of meeting me face-to-face for an interview later in the podcast interview. THANKS for your feedback!
Jeff and J, your argument is not with me, it's with Dr. Atkins. The book, "The New Diet Revolution" states "So remember, Atkins doesn't mean eating zero carbs, eating only steak, bacon and eggs, or eliminating all vegetables and fruits."
There's no danger in NOT being in ketosis either. Dr. Atkins clearly encouraged us to move beyond that stage. Many people, myself included, lost the most weight outside of ketosis. In fact, my ketostix never turned purple and my weight dropped from 207 to 165 in 7 months. And no, I still don't count calories! I'm 5'8, with a 30-inch waist and a six-pack.
In Dr. Atkins books it's well settled that "each person must establish the appropriate level of carbs for themselves." That is the major strength of the "nutritional approach." That's what separates Atkins from a diet.
Let's face it, some people can exist quite well on a higher ACE than you and I. I'm with you! I'm quite healthy at about 30g per day without many fruits and veggies. However, many others can handle 100g per day and maintain their health and weight.
Dr. Atkins, Regina Wilshire and the Paleo folks agree, that it's more about finding and maintaining the highly subjective correct ratio of fats, protein and carbohydrates.
All the major low carb plans, except Kimkins, include this idea in their maintenance plans. It's not put there just to combat boredom. Show me a doctor who's willing to toss out the phytonutrients in low glycemic fruits and vegetables. It has been shown that MORE fruit and veggies in a diet does not have an impact on breast cancer and mortality in women, but the jury is still out as to whether we need any at all. Good luck with that.
I'm sorry---if Kimkins were healthy she would not have people going to her site that are pro ana---(pro anorexia). As for her advice to water fast, use of laxatives among other such nonsense---these are behaviors of someone who has an eating disorder---I know---I've suffered with bulemia for 30 years now.
If you take a pile of crap and wrap it up in a pretty package---it is still crap.
The conflick is not with the meal plans---although they are too low in calories and fat---the problem is the unhealthy mentality Kimer projects when it comes to food.
Obesity itself is an eating disorder---but her advice it too extreme.
Yes we all need to make our eating plan our own---I've done this in my life----also many say you should be smart enough to tweak things and over look the others.
My problem is the sometimes sheep like mentality of people who want to be thin---whatever it takes---but that is their only motivation---just ot be thin---in this society thin=good, obese=bad
Many feel my having gastric bypass surgery was an easy way out---a quick fix like Kimkins---nothing further from the truth. But at least the WLS community does stand for taking pills, laxatives or water fasts.
Wow!
On June 9 I weighed 275 lbs, this was quite a load on my 5'3" frame. I was on high blood pressure medication and to be absolutely frank, I was going to have to consider asking my 14 year old daughter to help me with personal hygiene after using the bathroom because I could barely reach anymore. Gross! I had a doctor's appointment schedule for June 15 where I was going to start the process for lap band surgery to save my life. I have struggled with carb addiction my whole life and have yo-yoed up and down the scale for years.
I decided to give Atkins another go and went out to get groceries. In the checkout, I saw the WW magazine and bought it. After I read the Kimkins article I decided to give it a try. I did a week of Atkins to use up the food I just bought then started my Kimkins journey. Today is 6 weeks since I started, I am 236 lbs, I am off blood pressure medication completely and I can take care of myself in the bathroom, thank-you very much.
It is a good thing, however, that I have people trying to crash the Kimkins program because for some reason they know better than me. I have a masters degree and consider myself a very intelligent person. In Kimkins I belong to a forum challenge group of university educated women professionals. Our goal was to lose 30 lbs this summer. In 5 weeks (half-way to our challenge deadline) we lost a collective total of 900 lbs from 50 people. Wow! The support I receive from these woman is invaluable. We celebrate our successes and support each other through stalls and cheats. I am accountable to these woman and that gives me the courage to take control of my eating.
Our group will stay together past summer, we want to see everyone last person through to goal and then we want to support each other in maintenance. But, I guess we are 50 university educated women who are are too dumb to make choices about our health according to some of you.
Kimmer has been a great support and inspiration for me. Yes, I had some problems with having a bm, so I went right to Kimmer and then asked my doctor. Guess what, I got the same advice! If you are constipated, you need to do something about it. I chose to relieve the situation gently as suggested by Kimmer. I certainly don't gorge on laxatives every night to see a weight loss. If things stop moving, a little herbal tea gets things moving gently. Thanks for the advice Kimmer. Hmm I remember having the same issues on Atkins. (Just so you know, I am not an Atkins basher, I was successful on the diet several years ago and applaud anyone who choses this program and has success).
I feel for the first time in my life that I have control over my eating. My Kimkins forum group shares openly. I am not alone anymore, people feel that same as I do. We have been brutally honest with each other and I have learned about my issues with food and I have seen these woman learn so much about themselves too. I will be equipped like never before we I hit maintenance.
If this diet is as bad as some of you think it is, sit back and relax, because according to you, we should be dropping like flies soon and then you can do your "I told you so dance". Until then, please go on with your life and stop bullying Kimmer (I don't mean the people who have posted above me, I'm all for free speech and sharing opinions) I mean all the other hatred I have seen over the Internet. I do presentations at conferences about bullies and what I have seen over and over is classic bullying behaviour. God help our school systems if these people are parents and this is the example they set for their children. I would not tolerate such vile behaviour from a child. Come on, let's be adults and even though we don't agree, we can peacefully co-exist in the world together. With the threat from terrorists, we don't need any more enemies that we already have. Find the plan that works for you. Support those around you. Have your opinion and express it freely but stop the bullying, it is embarrassing to see adults in a developed country act this way.
Val:
Take a deep breath. I don't think everyone is attacking you or your "university-educated" friends. (As if they taught proper nutrition at universities. I think that's where most of us learned our destructive eating habits.)
Some of us are concerned that when you and your friends (not to meantion the hundreds of non-university educated desperate folks) lose all of that weight this Summer, there will be no maintenance plan waiting for you in the Fall. I, for one, will certainly not do an "I told you so" dance.
Atkins and the other major low carb plans make an effort to teach a person to develop healthy habits while they are losing. Your plan doesn't do that, as evidenced by your leader's own words. These weight loss tactics that we've been hearing about are destructive and don't teach you how to make good nutritional choices once the weight loss ends, if it ever does.
You can't just "jump to Atkins" for maintenance because that only works if you've mastered the principles that lead to maintenance. All I've heard from Kimkins so far is how to lose weight fast. It doesn't take much education to lose weight, but it does take a good deal of education to develop a healthy lifestyle once the weight loss ends. Best of luck to you.
Thanks for you opinion Charles, but it does assume that I am unable to make rational decisions about my eating habits or learn on my own what will work for me. I have learned on Kimkins that eating too many carbs leads me to a carb binge - for maintenance I will need to watch the carbs that I eat. I also learned that I need to watch my fat intake to keep my weight down - maintenance plan - cut down on fats. During the course of doing Kimkins, I am learning to prepare meals that are low in both carbs and fat and are delicious. I am practicing habits I will use in maintenance on a daily basis for the rest of my life.
I also look forward to adding more fruit, vegetable and dairy back into my diet because I will be able to afford the extra carbs and fat once I chose to stop losing. I don't need to practice peeling a grapefruit now in order to peel one on maintenance, I think it is pretty easy. Will I be able to eat chips and Big Macs? No, I am not stupid, I know what got me into this mess. It's like telling an alcoholic that his maintenance plan after rehab is not to drink alcohol . . well, no duh! Kimmer doesn't have to tell me what will work for me in maintenance, I already know and I am preparing for it. To help ensure my success, I have also joined a Kimkins group that is dedicated to supporting each other through the adjustment to maintenance. Will we screw up at times and eat cake? You bet we will but then we will regroup and get back on track.
I know what Kimmer's maintenance plan will be: Lean meat, non-starchy vegetables, fruit and low fat dairy. Starchy foods and high fat/high carb/high sugar junk need to be kept to a minimum. Kimmer gives this maintenance advice all the time at Kimkins but I guess others wouldn't know that. What did you think her plan will be? Some magical food that tastes wonderful with no calories that she is going to magically invent? There is not a person in Kimkins that doesn't know what got them to the weight they are and what they have to do differently. Success is a great teacher and motivator and the people I talk to at Kimkins are having great success.
I have a diet that I will share with others who like having something specific to follow and that I will use once I reach maintenance. It is the G.I. Diet developed by Rick Gallop. I have used this diet and the ONLY draw back was the painfully slow weight loss and I had a lot to lose. Rick's maintenance plan is a perfect follow up for the Kimkins diet. Rick stresses lean meat, non-starchy vegetables, fruit, whole grains and low-fat dairy. Wait a minute, isn't that the advice Kimmer gives our right now for people entering maintenance? OMG it is! Imagine that!
Unfortunately, there will be those that lose the weight and slowly return to old eating habits and regain the weight. That is true of every diet know to man. I know I did on Atkins. Atkins taught me to eat high fat foods and frankenfoods. I was so unprepared for maintenance when I lost the weight that I regained plus more (totally my fault, not the Atkins plan). I learned from that though so all was not lost. From my experience with Kimkins so far (and I am not a Kimkins expert), I would predict that the percentage of people able to maintain their weight loss will be higher than average on Kimkins. Only time will tell. Hey, maybe I will be able to do the"told you so dance". :-)
Chris, I admire your passion for the subject. If you have found a plan that works for you, awesome (assuming you ever needed a plan). Best of luck to you. I would never wish someone ill will who has struggled with weight loss, it is a horrible thing to deal with. With Kimkins I see hope for the rest of my life for the first time. I actually believe that I will live a long life and die a skinny person. No other WOE has ever given me hope like this before.
Val,
”Rick stresses lean meat, non-starchy vegetables, fruit, whole grains and low-fat dairy.”
Good luck with the GI diet above. In my opinion to maintain excellent health our bodies need adequate protein, adequate, good fats (saturated included) and leafy green vegetables, low sugar fruits, and if desired full-fat raw dairy products and complete abstinence of grains whether whole or processed. If you just can’t live without grains then limit their consumption and make sure they are prepared correctly (sprouted, fermented) to limit the damage they can impart on our bodies. Also, don't ditch the fat in favour of wholegrains.
”I actually believe that I will live a long life and die a skinny person. No other WOE has ever given me hope like this before”.
Good for you – if your WOE has given you hope and you actually believe that your life is changed forever then you probably will succeed in maintaining your weight. Hopefully, you don’t die a skinny person but a robust healthy, lean person who derives pleasure from her family and friends and a healthy relationship with food.
Val:
Once again, you are only focused on weight loss, despite what you say. It's evident in your words.
Unfortunately, you're not alone. Too many of us low carbers don't understand the role that fat plays in a healthy diet. There are many studies that show when all other things are equal, such as controlled carb, controlled calories and the like; that fat DOES NOT affect weight.
If you gained weight while supposedly eating too much fat, it's probably because there was too much good carb and not enough fat and protein, or vice versa. When people submit their "menus" it's very easy to tell. Calories do not count if you have the proper balance! Fat and Protein have built-in features that signal satiety. Carbs don't. It's almost impossible to overeat a steak, but it's very easy to eat too much salad. On Induction, Dr. Atkins didn't want you to have to worry about that.
Dr. Atkins only wanted you to have 1 to 2 cups of salad. That's not very much. Why? Because he knew that the good fat that he asked you to eat would make you absorb too much carbohydrate which would affect your weight loss. Thus, the stall.
I know you're not stupid, that's why I bother to write back to you. However, like most of us, you're probably ignorant to the science that our way of eating stands on. It's not all based on how much weight we lose when eating certain types of food. There's a balance that must be maintained over the long term. Failure to learn about and appreciate this balance is what all the medical community is up in arms with when low carb diets are discussed.
You're only getting half the picture. Since you like university-educated people, I'll steer you to the University of Michigan. There, four groups of women consumed varying amounts of fruits and vegetables with a diet of either 30% fat or 16% fat. While some nutrients were not affected by the fat content of the diet, some other extremely important nutrients decreased noticeably on the lower fat diet, including a very important form of vitamin E called gamma-tocopherol which seems to be anti-inflammatory and may even stimulate self-destruction of cancer cells.
On the low-fat diet, gamma-tocopherol dropped by more than 50 percent. We get gamma-tocopherol from pistachios, pecans, walnuts and peanuts, as well as a small amount from avocados.
In other research at Ohio State University, adding some avocado to a fat-free salsa significantly increased the absorption of two important cancer fighting antioxidants, lycopene and beta-carotene.
It turns out that some of the very best stuff in fruits and vegetables are what’s called “fat-soluble”. That means these powerful cancer-fighting compounds need fat in order to be absorbed. If you don’t have some fat in the meal, all these wonderful compounds are missed. Former vegetarians will also tell you that our bodies absorb 80 percent of animal proteins, but only 20 percent from other sources.
The vitamin C in fruits and vegetables is water-soluble, so it is unaffected by dietary fat. But beta-carotene and the other carotenoids, as well as vitamin E, are fat-soluble and require some fat for best absorption from the digestive tract
Your multi-vitamin is useless without enough fat to absorb it!
Val, I don't know if you're athletic, but I've also read some neat studies that show that athletes who consume more dietary fat in their diets on low carb regimens, actually have more endurance than those who consume less.
I know you're a bright and intelligent individual who doesn't like being challenged concerning education, but I'd like you to please take some time to learn about the low-fat dogma. It's not just Kimkins followers who hold these erroneous beliefs.
Dr. Atkins did not "drop the ball" with respect to this. Weight loss was not the only thing he was concerned about. He wanted you to learn how to eat for the long term. So you stalled during Induction a little? So what!
He intended for you to learn how to reach the proper balance of fat, protein and carbohydrate. That's the real key to maintenance, the true way to "keep it off." You only learn that by adhering to the principles and experimenting with your own body to find the right levels.
Unfortunately, you and many others quit long before you got to this. That's why I said previously, we must break the "Induction mindset." Dr. Atkins never intended for us to stay there.
All the best to you,
Charles
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