My Public Apology To The Low-Carb Friends
This is probably the hardest blog post I've ever written in the 2+ years I have been blogging, but it has been on my heart to write about this week. Now is the time.
What I am about to share with you I will admit up front is going to be very difficult for me to do. But, after much thought and prayer, it is the right and honorable thing in light of all the circumstances that have unfolded recently.
When I first started blogging back in April 2005, I really had no idea how many people would actually come here and start reading what I have to say about my low-carb weight loss experiences at the time. But I stand here before you today blessed beyond what I deserve and consider it a real privilege to share my life with you through my blog. In fact, I'm on my way to yet another record-breaking month for traffic!
One thing I learned quickly about blogging is the fact that you are always being watched by someone and it is inevitable you are going to tick some people off as much as you get them excited about what you write about. I suppose that's just the nature of this beast.
With that said, I'm the first to admit I'm not at all perfect. Not even close! Never have been, never claimed to be, and never will be. There has only been one Man who was without blemish and He sits at the right hand of God today--my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Although I cannot achieve perfection here on Earth, I do strive to live my life in such a way that is held to a higher standard because that's what I expect of myself. I fall miserably short of that mark most of the time, but it is my goal in all that I do.
There has been some bad blood out in the various low-carb forums over the past couple of months because of my support for and affiliate relationship with the Kimkins diet. Yes, that banner ad you see at the top of my blog is one of several revenue streams I have to support my family financially. I'm not getting rich by any means, mind you, but every little bit helps.
I didn't think it was some big secret that I got paid when you click on one of my ads since I just assume any banner on a web site I visit makes the person who owns that site some money. If I like the content I read on a web site, then I make an effort to click on the ads that interest me and make a purchase. That person deserves it for providing useful information to me.
Additionally, since I started the Kimkins diet 46 days ago (and have lost 36 pounds and counting!), I have received my fair share of e-mails from people on these forums telling me how dangerous this diet I am on is and that I'm ruining all the work I have done through the Atkins diet these past few years by even associating myself with Kimmer and Kimkins. That's one of the reasons I interviewed Kimmer on my podcast show to clear up these questions.
While I respect and welcome any and all opinions on my blog (as evidenced by the wide array of comments on both sides of the debate I post), the fact is I'm doing this diet for me and me alone. Just as I have done with all my posts about being on Atkins, now I am simply sharing what I have discovered about myself on Kimkins. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nevertheless, it is obvious my actions have caused such pain to some low-carb supporters that they feel varying levels of anger and resentment towards me personally. More specifically, there is one group I would like to highlight that merits my attention--the members, admins, and owner of the Low-Carb Friends Forum.
I have many great low-carb friends (no pun intended!) who are members of that open forum about livin' la vida low-carb and many of them have shared with me how much they have enjoyed being a part of that web site for many years for the support they have received. I too am thankful for places like that where a discussion of low-carb can take place and education, encouragement, and inspiration can take place.
Sadly, though, the past couple of months on the Low-Carb Friends Forum has read more like the National Enquirer and it's partly my fault because of a blog post I wrote back in January. I realize now that perhaps I was a bit too harsh on them for banning members who were being unruly. I understand how challenging that can be.
Plus, with my enthusiasm for Kimkins for over the past year, the fact that I make money off of an affiliate relationship with it, and my subsequent weight loss success on it, I know this has all been under the microscope there. Again, I blame myself for the perception that many have of me there. I'm not proud of it, but I played a role in that characterization I have earned.
I'm not completely sure why there is such emotional angst and frustration at me over this, but I would like to sincerely publicly apologize to the Low-Carb Friends Forum for causing this backlash against me personally. I'm sure in some ways I deserve the criticism and I gladly accept it as the price of putting myself out there.
Please forgive me for anything I have written at my blog that you felt was offensive in any way to you as a low-carber or even personally. It was not my intention to ever cause harm to another low-carb advocate and I am sorry if that's what I did.
In this dog eat dog world of dietary debate, I've got plenty of enemies who are ready to rip my head off for sharing my thoughts about how unhealthy high-carb, low-fat diets are. I certainly don't need people on my side feeling like they should do the same. We can disagree about low-carb issues without being disagreeable, right?
Regardless of what has happened, what's in the past is in the past. I greatly admire and respect the work you all are doing to help others find the answers they need to start livin' la vida low-carb the right way and I applaud you for it! Keep up the great work and know that you have a friend in Jimmy Moore here anytime at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.
I hold no hard feeling towards anyone for what has been said because I am a forgiving man. Life is too short to hold grudges or waste time and energy on unimportant things. There are millions upon millions of overweight and obese people who need our help. Let's agree to band together for the greater cause of the big picture.
THANK YOU for allowing me to share from my heart.
What I am about to share with you I will admit up front is going to be very difficult for me to do. But, after much thought and prayer, it is the right and honorable thing in light of all the circumstances that have unfolded recently.
When I first started blogging back in April 2005, I really had no idea how many people would actually come here and start reading what I have to say about my low-carb weight loss experiences at the time. But I stand here before you today blessed beyond what I deserve and consider it a real privilege to share my life with you through my blog. In fact, I'm on my way to yet another record-breaking month for traffic!
One thing I learned quickly about blogging is the fact that you are always being watched by someone and it is inevitable you are going to tick some people off as much as you get them excited about what you write about. I suppose that's just the nature of this beast.
With that said, I'm the first to admit I'm not at all perfect. Not even close! Never have been, never claimed to be, and never will be. There has only been one Man who was without blemish and He sits at the right hand of God today--my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Although I cannot achieve perfection here on Earth, I do strive to live my life in such a way that is held to a higher standard because that's what I expect of myself. I fall miserably short of that mark most of the time, but it is my goal in all that I do.
There has been some bad blood out in the various low-carb forums over the past couple of months because of my support for and affiliate relationship with the Kimkins diet. Yes, that banner ad you see at the top of my blog is one of several revenue streams I have to support my family financially. I'm not getting rich by any means, mind you, but every little bit helps.
I didn't think it was some big secret that I got paid when you click on one of my ads since I just assume any banner on a web site I visit makes the person who owns that site some money. If I like the content I read on a web site, then I make an effort to click on the ads that interest me and make a purchase. That person deserves it for providing useful information to me.
Additionally, since I started the Kimkins diet 46 days ago (and have lost 36 pounds and counting!), I have received my fair share of e-mails from people on these forums telling me how dangerous this diet I am on is and that I'm ruining all the work I have done through the Atkins diet these past few years by even associating myself with Kimmer and Kimkins. That's one of the reasons I interviewed Kimmer on my podcast show to clear up these questions.
While I respect and welcome any and all opinions on my blog (as evidenced by the wide array of comments on both sides of the debate I post), the fact is I'm doing this diet for me and me alone. Just as I have done with all my posts about being on Atkins, now I am simply sharing what I have discovered about myself on Kimkins. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nevertheless, it is obvious my actions have caused such pain to some low-carb supporters that they feel varying levels of anger and resentment towards me personally. More specifically, there is one group I would like to highlight that merits my attention--the members, admins, and owner of the Low-Carb Friends Forum.
I have many great low-carb friends (no pun intended!) who are members of that open forum about livin' la vida low-carb and many of them have shared with me how much they have enjoyed being a part of that web site for many years for the support they have received. I too am thankful for places like that where a discussion of low-carb can take place and education, encouragement, and inspiration can take place.
Sadly, though, the past couple of months on the Low-Carb Friends Forum has read more like the National Enquirer and it's partly my fault because of a blog post I wrote back in January. I realize now that perhaps I was a bit too harsh on them for banning members who were being unruly. I understand how challenging that can be.
Plus, with my enthusiasm for Kimkins for over the past year, the fact that I make money off of an affiliate relationship with it, and my subsequent weight loss success on it, I know this has all been under the microscope there. Again, I blame myself for the perception that many have of me there. I'm not proud of it, but I played a role in that characterization I have earned.
I'm not completely sure why there is such emotional angst and frustration at me over this, but I would like to sincerely publicly apologize to the Low-Carb Friends Forum for causing this backlash against me personally. I'm sure in some ways I deserve the criticism and I gladly accept it as the price of putting myself out there.
Please forgive me for anything I have written at my blog that you felt was offensive in any way to you as a low-carber or even personally. It was not my intention to ever cause harm to another low-carb advocate and I am sorry if that's what I did.
In this dog eat dog world of dietary debate, I've got plenty of enemies who are ready to rip my head off for sharing my thoughts about how unhealthy high-carb, low-fat diets are. I certainly don't need people on my side feeling like they should do the same. We can disagree about low-carb issues without being disagreeable, right?
Regardless of what has happened, what's in the past is in the past. I greatly admire and respect the work you all are doing to help others find the answers they need to start livin' la vida low-carb the right way and I applaud you for it! Keep up the great work and know that you have a friend in Jimmy Moore here anytime at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.
I hold no hard feeling towards anyone for what has been said because I am a forgiving man. Life is too short to hold grudges or waste time and energy on unimportant things. There are millions upon millions of overweight and obese people who need our help. Let's agree to band together for the greater cause of the big picture.
THANK YOU for allowing me to share from my heart.
Labels: apology, blog, forum, Jimmy Moore, Kimkins, Kimmer, Livin' La Vida Low-Carb, low-carb, Low-Carb Friends
posted by Jimmy Moore at
7/20/2007 02:58:00 PM
50 Comments:
Jimmy,
Thank you for pouring your heart out to us. I still think you're a wonderful person and what you do with your own life is up to you. Diet or no diet, you're still always going to be respected in my eyes.
I think this was a wonderful letter Jimmy. It's hard to admit we are in the wrong sometimes.. but I'm very proud of you for doing so.
Very nice :) Hugs to you and yours!
Here is just one of many reasons people are aghast at your participation with Kimkins.
"And, Kimkins is the perfect diet for type 1 and 2 diabetics! Our program offers superior blood sugar control. In fact, many type 2 diabetes members get off their meds like Glucophage and Metformin!"
Kimkins is going to fold and run when the heat gets to great. Having made millions in the charade.
Thanks for that Jimmy. It takes a lot of guts to apologise. Sometimes we get caught up with what is going on around us and and we react without thinking or fully assessing the situation. You, along with countless other bloggers, have done a lot in bringing the merits of low-carbing to the public and I sincerely hope you continue to do so.
Phooey on them Jimmy. You don't owe anybody an apology, much less people on a silly message board. You were perfectly right to call them out. You did nothing wrong. They can kiss off.
You posted paragrah upon paragrah about you and your blog and other things having nothing to do with the LCF bashing you have done before even getting to your tiny apology. And to post a link to that blog showing the hatefulness you bestowed onto LCF is reprehensible. What you should do is delete it in its entirety. But no, you figure that people will just read your apology and all is fine and well. You don't think people are still reading the blog with you spewing your hatred? You called the LCF admins Nazi's. I can tell the admins on LCF are good and decent people and try very hard to run the site the best way they can. They have feelings and how can anyone read what you said and not feel hurt over what you said about them personally? You don't even know them and said such evil slanderous things. Don't you think it is better to delete all the hate and untrue statements that you posted out of respect for the site you have talked so badly about? If you really claim to be a christian then you would do the right thing because you haven't yet. Shame on you. I am sure you will not post this comment as you are leaving any negative comments off. I just wanted to make you think just a little bit harder about your apology and how inadequate it was.
Tom, keep listening to my podcast interview with Kimmer. I asked her about that very issue regarding diabetics in it. You'll be SURPRISED at her answer. :)
What could any "after the fact" answer have to do with anything. She has already reeled them in and collected there money. Either diabetics themselves or non or pre diabetics thinking that this facade is real and must be healthy and good if it is good for even diabetics. This is "Starvation Addiction" SAED and nothing more, it's rampant and she is feeding off from same along with the more common obesity epidemic. Millions of dollars in law suits will follow. Kimmer is no doubt a "Starvation Junkie" herself and a victim of the same disease she is now propagating!
Jimmy, you really need to disassociate yourself from Kimmer and Kimkins.... she represents fraud (dubious pics, lies, etc.), and very bad and dangerous diet advice. Yes, she does have a sensible plan, the one you are following, but that doesn't change all the rest. She is going down, and sadly, taking you with her.
Jimmy,
I'd have to say that most of the Kimkins bashing is just sour grapes from people who lack discipline. I think people prefer Atkins because there are less restrictions on how they eat, but as you and others have seen, ad libitum eating will keep you fat regardless of the amount of carbs.
Low carb blunts hunger which enables you to eat less calories which enables you to lose weight. Kimkins emphasizes the calorie issue more than other plans. Anyone who read Atkins books will see he even said calories count.
I don't think Jimmy has to apologize to anybody. This blog isn't an Atkins shrine.
...it is the right and honorable thing in light of all the circumstances that have unfolded recently."
"I'm on my way to yet another record-breaking month for traffic!"
"There has been some bad blood out in the various low-carb forums over the past couple of months because of my support for and affiliate relationship with the Kimkins [lame opportunity for a paid affiliate link, huh/]. low-carb diet."
"since I started the Kimkins diet 46 days ago (and have lost 36 pounds and counting..."
"I respect and welcome any and all opinions on my blog..." [no, you don't]
"Sadly, though, the past couple of months on the Low-Carb Friends Forum has read more like the National Enquirer..."
"...perhaps I was a bit too harsh on them for banning members who were being unruly. I understand how challenging that can be." [perhaps it is that now in light of the fact that you've been caught editing "boo's" into "cheers" on LowCarbNewsline (and still owe an apology for) and you also need to support Kimkins banning users for their statements on other venues like LCF, refusing refunds and raiding of members' private messages?]
"my enthusiasm for Kimkins for over the past year, the fact that I make money off of an affiliate relationship with it, and my subsequent weight loss success on it..."
"I'm not completely sure why there is such emotional angst and frustration at me over this..."
"I'm sure in some ways I deserve the criticism..."
This is supposed to be an apology?
To "lowcarb": Wouldn't the Christian thing be to gracefully accept the apology and go on with your life? And be forgiving? I can see who the adult is now... I doubt you will ever forgive Jimmy or forget his transgression. Jimmy, I thought it was a nice apology, said with grace and sincerity. And very public!
Wow..the apology there was pretty underwhelming. It got lost in a lot of talk about you. Just saying.
Good call on clearing the air about the banners though.
On an unrelated note...I've been lurking on your blog for a while now and I would like to say congratulations on all your hard work paying off, and good luck meeting your goal!
I never spent time at LCF at all. I was quite surprised to read all the hateful comments being written over there, and the fact the THOSE comments were not deleted and THOSE members not banned. I think that alone shows a reflection of what the board, and the people running it are like.
Honestly, I've just about given up reading you Jimmy as you've become the Kimmer show as of late. What happened to the unique varied posting that you did before? Links to other blogs, (other then your other blog).
I am curious as to how much you are making from your relationship with Kimmer.
Jimmy,
Your apology was truly heart felt. You are a wonderful person. God Bless You.
Jimmy,
Don't let these naysayers get you down. I've been on Kimkins for 45 days and have already lost at least 54 pounds and feel better than I've felt in YEARS and I have the blood work test results to prove it!
I refuse to listen to anyone who tells me that Kimkins is dangerous. What goes for one, does not neccessarily go for all. We are all individuals. As long as I have the okay of my doctor, that's all that matters.
Stay strong my Kimkins brother.
I don't believe this is about the Kimkins plan at all. If it were, why aren't the LCF Kimmer bashers on the Stillman thread on the same website? Stillman is probably as restrictive, if not more so, than the Kimkins plans.
I agree with viking dan above too that there are a lot of sour grapes around this. People who have probably been struggling for years with their weight because they were unwilling to do what was necessary to lose it and keep it off. Jimmy admitted he had some creep in his weight, and he took action.
But mostly this is about scapegoating a woman who became an overnight success and capitalized on her weight loss. I also think it's because she's a middle-class woman that this is happening. Some of the most hateful, immature, and inappropriate comments I've ever seen on line were made in that LCF thread, many of which were made (and continue to be made) by a few so-called well known and "respected" members of the low-carb community. Talk about unprofessional and inappropriate.
Kimmer must be getting tons of new sign-ups from this negative "advertising," though. More power to her. She'll prevail. There will be other "spinoff" diets from other people that mimic the Kimmer plan. More power to them, too. You don't like it, don't follow it.
Same lynch mob mentality that happened with Atkins. Kimmer will be vindicated here, though. Just like Atkins has been.
Linven,
Thanks for pointing out to everyone what a hypocritical farce those comments were by "Lowcarb". They call Jimmy out for not being Christlike, but at the same time wouldn't know Christlike if it bit them in the duff! Hey "lowcarb", you don't know Jimmy either, so look in the mirror before you tell someone else that they have no right to talk about someone without knowing who they are!
I still say Jimmy did NOTHING wrong whatsoever by calling the forum out for what it is. He owes no apology to anyone.
Jimmy, I've been out of the loop (computer problems) for a few weeks, and have come back to find you right there in the middle of the storm. Seems to be your role, if not in life, at least in the low carb world.
I have no real opinion about the things going on at the low carb friends forum. I only have my own experiences- which are that I credit your blog and the Kimmer's plan with saving my life! I am not starving myself. I've not switched from Atkins to an unhealthy way of eating. I have lost weight, lowered my blood sugar and blood pressure significantly and have a new quality of life that Atkins wasn't giving me. I have also found support and friendship at Kimmers that I didn't find on any of the low carb forums.
I believe everyone is different. Some lose and are healthier on low calorie/low fat. Some of my best friends are having great success on weight watchers. Atkins works for some and Kimmers works for others. I think we should applaud each other's success wherever they find it. I am continually amazed by the venomous reactions we have to each other.
As far as the money thing goes- well, you have to eat, Jimmy. And if Kimmer is helping you reach your goals and you can be helped financially at the same time- why not? After all the good you've done for me, I'd consider sending you some money myself, just to say thanks.
You must follow your heart, Jimmy. And follow the Lord's leading. I do pray for you daily and hope that these mean spirited people will not cause you to question the good you are doing. Keep doing what you do so well- keeping riding out the storms.
You are an inspiration. Peg
Oh come on. After looking over these comments, it's obvious that most of the comments that you are letting through are praising you or Kimmer. This is one of the very reasons why people are questioning your integrity Jimmy. Why don't you get what's going on here? What is it going to take to get through to you?
Dena wrote the following comment:
Oh come on. After looking over these comments, it's obvious that most of the comments that you are letting through are praising you or Kimmer. This is one of the very reasons why people are questioning your integrity Jimmy. Why don't you get what's going on here? What is it going to take to get through to you?
THANKS for sharing your feedback, Dena! I have allowed every comment submitted to this post to be published and have not rejected any of them. What you see is exactly what has come through to my blog. I appreciate you adding your voice to the debate.
One curious question: What exactly have I done and what is it that I need to "get?"
I'm sincere in that question because nobody has come close to telling me what exactly all of this has to do with Jimmy Moore.
THANK YOU to everyone who has shared a comment good or bad. :)
I submitted a comment earlier that has not been posted so you have not been publishing each and every comment. I answered your question about what it is you need to "get" in my previous comment but you chose to ignore it.
THANKS again for your comment, Dena. I have posted every comment--positive or negative--that has been submitted to my blog. I appreciate your voice in this conversation and welcome your feedback anytime. Take care! :)
OK assuming my first comment didn't go through, here's a repost:
I'm not a member of LCF (just an occasional reader) but I am a faithful reader of your blog and I find myself becoming more and more frustrated with you. How could you not understand that constantly blogging positive reviews about companies that pay and/or give you free products to do so would upset some of your readers. It's impossible for us to determine which products are good and which are bad based on your reviews because your 'opinions' of these products are bought and paid for. The same goes for Kimkins. It seems (from the viewpoint of a reader) that you are so blinded by the money that you are making from your affiliate relationship that you can't see the faults in this program and in the creator of the program. Come on Jimmy, we're all rooting for you. We all know you're a good guy. Just open your eyes and redeem yourself.
I would like to thank you for being one of the people who (unknowingly) helped me lose 40 pounds over the course of a month and a half. You seem like a great guy and it's hard to watch you alienate a portion of your readers. Don't let a dishonest person drag you down with her. That's all I have to say about the matter so I'll just go back to being a silent reader.
THANKS for sharing your comment again, Dena! I appreciate your feedback and welcome it anytime. :)
I agree with the sour grapes hypothesis, I do think that some of the criticism of Kimkins comes from a sort of blind allegiance to a certain plan, and to the idea that calories aren't so important.
But, then there's Kimmer and her fake photos, refusal to appear in public, claims of agoraphobia when her blog mentions all sorts of public appearances (parties, movies, etc...), dubious promotion tactics, and on and on and on..
and of course, there are the diet plans that call for extremely low calories. Personally, I don't know how unhealthy this really is, the starvation mode thing could be a myth as Kimmer claims. But what if she is wrong?
and then there is the fasting, the laxatives, etc.
it's more than sour grapes, my friends. Kimmer is just plain rotten.
is this really what you want your good name associated with, Jimmy? the negatives whirling around her far outweightthe positives, and you would be doing yourself a huge favor but severing your ties to her. Keep doing K/E, that is working great. But dump the rest, please!
"One curious question: What exactly have I done and what is it that I need to "get?"
"I'm sincere in that question because nobody has come close to telling me what exactly all of this has to do with Jimmy Moore".
Trust and believe as it pertains to your pocketbook Jimmy -- and you never will!
Does this mean you are discontinuing the Kimmer's interviews?
What purpose would that serve, tolbar? Just wondering.
Lots of lint in my pocketbook, Tom, LOTS of lint. :)
MrFritz, if K/E is working for me, then why can't it work for others? That's my motivation for sharing about Kimkins. As I have stated before and in the rest of my Kimmer interview, she has VERY LITTLE to do with the Kimkins diet at all. It's more about the members and the encouragement they receive from each other than it is about her.
Jimmy you asked "What purpose would that serve, tolbar? Just wondering."
I'm concerned that you'll cave in and discontinue the Kimmer's interviews that many of us are looking forward to.
After all, who cares what diet I use. I use (name a diet); SO WHAT!
For anybody concerned about the well being of others, there are numerous charitable organizations looking for volunteers.
You'll be pleased to know the Kimmer interview is still on schedule on the following dates:
Part 2--July 23rd
Part 3--July 26th
Part 4--July 30th
Part 5--August 2nd
THANKS for your comments, tolbar!
Jimmy I don't have time for all this crap and I suspect you don't either. Just keep doing what you have been doing and ignore the crazies. Your blog encourages me every day.
Sorry to hear about that wackjob Cleochatra, some people never do grow up.
MrFritz, if K/E is working for me, then why can't it work for others? That's my motivation for sharing about Kimkins.
that's really not the point. Of course it works. The problems lie in all that other stuff associated with Kimmer and Kimkins, and now, sadly, you... fraudulent claims, phony and doctored up pictures, potentially dangerous dietary advice. That too, is part of Kimkins.
You really need to cut yourself away from this. I don't know why you can see this?
I still don't see how any of this has to do with me. Kimkins is but one of MANY sponsors. That's all.
Dear Jimmy,
OMG! I knew there were low-carb militants out there, but your success really pulled them out of the closet. This is totally pitiful. I'm just like you. Yes, low-carb works, but for some of us with lofty goals, we get to the point where CARLORIES DO MATTER. Maybe we're striving for a goal our bodies are really unfamiliar with. Maybe we want a little more. My Mom always told me my body had a "set point" and I'd never get below that weight. That's CRAP! I did by low-carbing AND doing low cal. I applaud you for recognizing that Atkin's is really good, but not the "be all and end all". All these accusations for fraud and false pictures are beside the point. Kimmer is right. You get to a point where you have to watch calories to get continued success.
These peopele who are damning you probably are still fat and getting pretty desparate. Maybe, someday, they'll get so close to goal and just can't get there, and then they'll realize that they really need to cut back their food intake. It's no surprise to me. I've been there, done that.
Hang in there, Jimmy. Those of us who REALLY know, applaud you. You are doing what what you need to do for yourself and sharing it with us.
I'm considered by my peers to be a kook and I'm proud to be in your company (no insult intended).
I'me currently 5'3" and weigh 122 lbs. Not bad for a 57 year old who is diabetic (gallbladder disease damaging the pancreasis) who also has a kidney transplant (bad genetics)) and, who, by the way, has totally reinvented herself partly by reading your blog every day.
Keep the faith and keep up the good work.
Sue Biddiscombe
P.S. Frankly, I don't care where you're making money from! I'm just GLAD you are!
Wouldn't surprise me if many of the bashers on the other forums are trying Kimkins out, having success, and playing both sides of the fence on it. Some of those doing the bashing continue to have serious weight problems, if their 'profiles' are to be believed.
A lot of the blame has to go to the websites (ALC and LCF) for allowing a place for such hateful criticism. It really diminishes their standing and reflects poorly on them.
One of my very regular readers shared this:
Jimmy--
Here is my two cents as to why people seem so upset, LCF apology aside (which I felt was sincere, BTW).
While I am well aware that any website with ads gets revenue from click throughs, and you have many diets sponsored on your website besides Kimkins, Kimkins as a topic is receiving a disproportionate share of attention in your blog posts. This is totally unlike even your discussion of Atkins—the plan you lost so much weight on and you barely mention them by comparison to how much you appear to be “pushing” Kimkins in your blog. Remember—perception is often reality, even if you, yourself, don’t see the issue.
However, the fact you receive click revenue is irrelevant--it is the impression or implication that you are getting more out of it than a simple click referral that is objectionable.
As a consultant, my clients pay me well for my objective expert opinion as to solutions for their particular situation based on thoroughly researched information. If I were to suggest a solution to their problems that I get a referral fee for mentioning, my credibility as a consultant would be immediately suspect and a direct conflict of interest would exist between my pocketbook and my clients' best interests.
While you may have started this blog under your 1st Amendment right to free speech to share your personal story with others, you always present yourself as someone who thoroughly researches the diets/diet authors you review
Because of that impression, you have conferred a level of expertise that few of your readers possess.
Given that you are viewed by many of your readers as a quasi-expert, they rely on you for objective, informed information and research. You have always reviewed diets based on the science and safety, not just anecdotal evidence.
As a result, (intentionally or unintentionally) your readers look to you as a trusted advisor, not just a guy who lost a lot of weight expressing his opinion. In effect, you are a consultant to the readers, and there is a perceived conflict of interest by you promoting Kimkins as heavily as you do and in a different way than the standard you set for the last few years of writing this blog.
While I don’t care how you earn your money, what I do care about is providing your readers with real information in the way you have done over the past few years and sticking to those principles of solid, objective and researched reporting. That implies that as a “consultant” or advisor to your readers, you have a responsibility to them to continue in that vein. Whether you do or do not is up to you, but your readers apparently believe that you do have a responsibility to do so. This appears to be the disconnect for many of them—what you have appeared to be over the years vs. the last 6 months of columns, a good many of them devoted to Kimkins.
You demand back up—objective and verifiable results—from all your subjects (including Atkins, The Zone, Dr. Bowden, etc.) but it does not appear that you demand the same from Kimkins on behalf of your readers.
The air of mystery--or suspicion--around Kimmer herself doesn't add much credibility to your blog, regardless of how valid her diet may be. It also doesn't do you any favors to not hold her to the same high standards you have required of other diet authors on your website.
Now, here are MY personal issues with Kimkins:
I joined Kimkins two months ago to get the detailed information I had learned to expect from the Atkins site and I was sorely disappointed to see that the website is as vague with a paid membership as without it. There are no medical advisors on her site, nor are there any detailed instructions on doing Kimkins other than a loose collection of food lists and a diet description for each version of her diets. There is no similarity between Kimmer and Dr. Atkins, who gave out information on how to do the diet freely and completely for every stage of the plan on the Atkins website. I never had to pay money to see what it was all about. Having sunk $60, clicked on every link on the website and printed out a few sheets of paper with food lists on them, I am suspicious as to what substance beyond hearsay and testimony is behind Kimkins.
I personally don't care how you make your money or how you lose weight, trusting that none of those methods are illegal, immoral, dangerous or unethical. I am thrilled for your recent success (I was on Stillman a long time ago and other than being boring, the Experiment version of Kimkins is a carbon copy of Stillman's plan and hardly either original or severely calorie restricted—it does work) and I support you in reaching your goal. When that happens, what plan do you go to in order to maintain?
I was appalled at the lack of an intermediate or maintenance plan on Kimkins. If Kimkins is for rapid weight loss only (as she claimed in the podcast today), how long should a person stay on it? How does anyone transition to a WOE that isn’t focused on lb a day weight loss? What Kimmer eats is also vague—she might have a potato or some fruit occasionally on top of the Kimkins plan. At least Atkins and the Zone and Protein Power are realistic in knowing that you cannot stay on a highly restrictive diet the remainder of your existence.
Anyone can lose weight by lowering calories to at or near starvation levels. That is not proof that the diet is either safe or advisable for the target audience Kimmer claims—“perfect for all” diabetics and others with weight related illnesses. Where are her medical advisors? Where are the research studies and other than anecdotal testimonials that Kimmer's plans specifically are safe? Atkins, Sears, et al, have leading edge medical research behind their assumptions for why their plan works and Kimmer doesn’t.
Kimmer's response to the question about the low calorie plans on your first podcast was anything but reassuring--and I'm paraphrasing here--but "after you take away all the carbs and fat, what you have left are the calories from protein." That is no justification for the ultra low calorie levels of some of the plans she promotes. She didn't say that she used any medical advisors in formulating her plans! Tonight’s podcast was also vague—don’t use Kimkins if pregnant or if you have kidney problems. Or if you are a teenager. Hmmm…At least Atkins’ maintenance plan is safe for pregnant women.
I guess the lesson here for all your readers (including me) is that all blogs should be taken with a grain of salt and are only as reliable as are the author's requirements for thoroughly researched data, verifiability of their sources and information. You are not a consultant, nor a reporter and certainly not a physician. You are a human being who has decided to move down a path that surprised your readers because it is so counter to your previous pattern of providing reliable, verifiable information. Net-net: I will continue to read your column but not presume it to be anywhere near as objective as I believed it to be in the past. And that is sad.
I still don't see how any of this has to do with me. Kimkins is but one of MANY sponsors. That's all.
the problem is that you are heavily endorsing the Kimkins plan. You blog about her constantly, you are actively following one of her plans, and you blog about your progess. That adds up to one big fat heavy endorsement.
The message comming through is that Jimmy Moore supports and agrees with a diet plan that promotes dangerously low calories, daily use of laxatives, extended fasting, is run by a liar who refuses to show her face to anyone, who posts doctored up and phony photos of herself, her alleged success stories, etc. etc....
(the fact that you are following her one and only sensible plan is lost in all the noise. you are, perhaps unintentionally, promoting her, not just the one plan.)
if you really think of her as just another sponsor, then perhaps she is a sponsor you could do without.
I realize the perception is that I promote Kimkins heavily lately because of the interview I did with her, but actually I've written only 54 columns of the more than 1800 blog posts on Kimkins itself. That's less than one-third of one percent of everything I write.
As for my diet, I follow the basic plan that works for me and I will likely blog about this issue very soon.
I don't even know Kimmer beyond the interview I did with her and I am most certainly NOT promoting her. It's always been about the diet and nothing more.
Regarding my sponsor ad, I've got to make a living and grown adults can make their own decisions about what is best for them. If they want to sujpport what I am doing here and they see an ad they like, then they should click on it and make a purchase.
All click-through banners generate revenue pretty much...how people don't know this is beyond me.
Here's the thing:
We're all adults here. We are each responsible for our own choices in life. If you choose to use Kimkins, fine. That's your choice. It's a program that works for you in the short term, and it appears that's what you wanted in the first place. You gained some weight back and wanted to lose it as quickly as possible. It's not the best choice, in my opinion, for a long term solution because, as many have stated, it's a starvation diet. With all due respect to Kimmer (and congrats to her for losing so much weight!) she's not a doctor and there isn't the sort of scientific evidence to back her program as there is for plans like Atkins or the Zone. As a result, I won't use the plan. That's my choice. People can either agree or disagree with it. That's the beauty of being an adult with control over my own decisions... I can take the information presented here and decide which thing works best for me. If we were all able to lose weight using the same plan, there wouldn't be such a multitude of them out there. What works for you might not work for me and vice versa.If someone doesn't agree with your choice of diet plan, then they shouldn't use it. Why they then feel it appropriate to bash you for doing what's best for you is also beyond me.
I have found a ton of information on this blog, and much of it has been very helpful to me. I've lost weight more slowly because that was my choice...I'm trying to lose at a pace that will leave me with less surgery in the end to remove excess skin. The faster you lose it, the more skin there might be. So, I keep my carb intake between 35-40 grams per day, and I've lost 53lbs in 3 months. That's still a huge amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time. I couldn't be happier about it. When I plateau, I drop the carbs to 25, and get things moving again. That's what works for me, so I'm sticking with that.
Since we all know how hard it is to lose weight, we should be a tad more supportive of each other's efforts, no matter what they are. If you are concerned that someone is doing something harmful, fine, let them know, but don't condemn them for doing something you don't like. If you don't like it, don't do it. It's as simple as that.
Just my opinion.
well, good luck to ya Jimmy, imho you are making a huge mistake by not ending your association with Kimkins, but hey, who am I to tell you what to do?
I respect your opinion Mr. Fritz and my time away on vacation this week has given me a chance to evaluate all that is happening around this issue. Look for me to share my conclusions in a post next week about what I will be doing. THANK YOU again for your respectful responses. I REALLY appreciate it!
Nolo.com:
What the definition of Slander?
A type of defamation. Slander is an untruthful oral (spoken) statement about a person that harms the person’s reputation or standing in the community. Because slander is a tort (a civil wrong), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement. If the statement is made via broadcast media — for example, over the radio or on TV — it is considered libel, rather than slander, because the statement has the potential to reach a very wide audience.
What the definition of Libel?
An untruthful statement about a person, published in writing or through broadcast media, that injures the person’s reputation or standing in the community. Because libel is a tort (a civil wrong), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement. Libel is a form of defamation , as is slander (an untruthful statement that is spoken, but not published in writing or broadcast through the media).
What is Defamation of Character?
A false statement that injures someone’s reputation and exposes him to public contempt, hatred, ridicule, or condemnation. If the false statement is published in print or through broadcast media, such as radio or TV, it is called libel. If it is only spoken, it is called slander.
Now this has gone way beyond a few choice comments and actions.
I would advice Mr. Moore see an attorney to put a stop to this.
I am mostly a lurker here and a proud kimkins supporter that lost almost 50 pounds in 4 months. The thread over at LCF is out of control. I dont blame the members as much as the owners for allowing such slander to occur. I have been watching it for several days and pro kimkins/jimmy threads are being deleted, while the slander continues to be allowed. The only solution is to boycott Netrition, and to email them in protest. Like another poster has stated it may take legal action to stop the lies/slander.
I would just like to say that I appreciate those, on both sides, that can discuss this issue like adults. There's been a lot of finger pointing and name calling.. and honestly it gets us no where fast. All it does is cause hurt feelings and bitter words. Most people will come more to taking your opinion on a subject seriously if you do it in a calm and kind way. Think about it. If I told you "Put the twinkie down you idiot!" Do you think you'd want to listen to what I had to say? Or would you be more likely to listen if I said "I know you like twinkies, but I'm not sure that's the best choice. Please think it over before you eat it."
Just some food for thought for us all.
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