Following my appearance last Thursday morning on WBTC LIVE's Dial & Speak radio show with Andrea Fanti, the requests from my readers to hear a rebroadcast of the interview with me have come pouring in. Some were able to hear it LIVE in the New Philadelphia, Ohio area while others listened over the Internet.
But most people were either working or it was too early in the morning on the West Coast to hear the show. I made a recording of the interview using my little portable RCA digital recorder, so I asked the host Andrea if there was a recording available on CD which would have better sound quality. She forgot to have the show taped, so all I have is my recording.
Never fear, though, my trustworthy and talented podcast producer extraordinaire Kevin Kennedy-Spaien will work his magic to make it sound as good as it possibly can for you when my WBTC interview runs in a special two-part series for this week's episodes of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore."
A big time THANKS to WBTC and Andrea Fanti for granting me permission to re-air my interview so my blog readers can hear it. Aren't ya'll just so special for them to do that for me?! YES YOU ARE! :D
Speaking of radio show, there's another one I'm scheduled to appear on in July as it kicks off on the brand new Blog Talk Radio network. It's Connie Bennett's Stop SUGAR SHOCK! show and it is set to debut on July 10, 2007 at 6:00pm EST.
Connie, whose amazing book SUGAR SHOCK recently received a HUGE boost from her appearance on CBS News Sunday Morning, has a full line-up of interviews she is describing as "Gab With the Gurus"TM and I'm her first guest. What an honor, Connie! THANKS for the opportunity to be one of you "gurus" to talk about low-carb living!
She promises the weekly half-hour show will be "lively, provocative, inspiring, cutting-edge" and will give you "rants, raves, sugar news with an edge, helpful tips to trim down or stomp out your sugar habit." SOUNDS AWESOME!!!
Go to the Stop SUGAR SHOCK! show page right now to set up an e-mail reminder to listen. Then, keep this number handy--(646) 716-7312--and use it to call into the show LIVE during the broadcast to share your comments and questions. It's a real live radio show--ONLINE!
Just in case you haven't heard me express it lately, THANK YOU for reading my blog. Without the dedication of readers like you, "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" would be just another among the millions of blogs out there. But it is YOU who makes it special!
I'm often asked how I stay so positive about livin' la vida low-carb when all we ever hear in the media and from those who claim to be health leaders are constant attacks against what you and I hold so near and dear to our hearts. It's a challenge indeed, especially when the ill-informed public only catches a headline (like this recent example) and doesn't bother to find out the facts for themselves.
This becomes all the more difficult and even frustrating when you attempt to share with others the good news that low-carb living has made on your weight and health and they just don't seem to care. That's exactly what happened to one of my readers recently.
Here's what she wrote in an e-mail to me:
Hi Jimmy,
I was talking to a lady I work with today about her diabetes and suggested to her, the best I knew how, to take a look at low-carb eating. I told her about Dr. Robert Atkins and how he helped so many of his patients with their health problems, in that so many got better if not well through this way of eating.
The same old pattern of folks not listening happened again. She indicated that she knew she would die of something and it might as well be diabetes! I realize she, nor anyone else, has to take my advice, but to say something like that! Whew! This I know, I don't want to be diabetic--but if I do become diabetic, I want to be as healthy as possible! My dad was a diabetic and died due to complications from ketoacidosis, so you can see my concern for myself and others.
I guess this is a confession, but I get so tired of trying to say positive things to others about low-carb eating and the health benefits and then have them completely shoot it down. You seem to stay so positive and upbeat in the face of adversity. Please tell me how to stay positive.
Do I just stop telling people about low-carb eating? It probably sounds like I go around talking about low-carb eating to everyone in sight--I don't and really don't hardly ever mention it. It's just that when I do, almost every time people simply will not heed to what could possibly save their lives.
Your blog is always so very informative, encouraging and wholesome. Please keep up what you are doing.
Can anyone else relate? It is perplexing how people refuse to make the right choices for themselves even in the midst of clear evidence and even real-life examples staring them right in the face.
For example, I recently went out to Fuddrucker's with a group of friends from church and the subject of sugar came up. When I explained that I had not consumed sugar in over three years, one of the hefty guys responded back, "Well, if I couldn't eat sugar, then I'd rather be fat for the rest of my life!"
It was a telling response that reminded me that my job is not to stand in judgment of anyone else for the choices they make. After all, it's their life they are destroying with all the carb-age they are eating. It's their conscious choice and it's none of my business to tell them how they should live.
However, it IS my job, especially in light of my nearly 200-pound weight loss, to make myself available to anyone who has questions about how to lose weight and improve their health. I'm always ready to give a listening ear and to share from my own experience if and when the time comes that they are ready.
My brother Kevin is the PERFECT example. I'd been banging my head against the wall trying to help him get his diet and health in order and just about decided he probably would never get it. But he's surprised me and is now traveling down a journey to improving himself. My role is to BE THERE for him now.
To my reader, I say you just gotta stay encouragingly positive and let people decide what's best for them on their own timetable. If you try to push your information on them too quickly, no matter how right it is, then it won't be accepted. It must be on their terms when they are ready. Always be prepared at a moment's notice to help.
Right now, all we can do is share the information we know to be true in a non-threatening manner and then let the chips fall where they may. That's hard, I realize, but keep your head up. Eventually, the truth will sink in! :)
One thing that you might try doing is describing the kinds of foods you eat on your low-carb lifestyle rather than simply calling it "low-carb." I've described this as a stealth low-carb approach to telling others about livin' la vida low-carb, although it's hard for me to do that since EVERYBODY knows I lost my weight eating a low-carb diet.
In fact, just the other day I saw a friend I hadn't seen in a while and she said, "You aren't still eating that crazy diet of yours are you?" Um, if you mean low-carb, then YES, I am still eating that way. Call it crazy or otherwise, but it's helped me lose 200 pounds and I've kept that weight off for good (unlike those "other" diet plans we won't talk about right now!).
Be of good cheer and keep HAPPY THOUGHTS on your mind. Moping through life is no way to live, so how about setting a positive example for others to follow? Who knows, you may just find a receptive ear to your low-carb message after all.
David E. Smith lived a miserable existence at 630 pounds, but...
The three primary objectives of my blog are rather simple: to educate, encourage, and inspire those who are looking for a life-changing experience when it comes to their weight and health. So many of you have written to me over the past few years thankful that I have shared my story of triple-digit low-carb weight loss success and I'm truly humbled by the awesome responsibility that have been given to me.
But today I have what I contend is the most inspiring weight loss story I've ever seen in my life! Except for the unbelievable weight loss journey being undertaken right now by Manuel Uribe, formerly "The World's Heaviest Man" when he weighed in a 1235 pounds in January 2006 and who has shed well over 400 pounds on the low-carb Zone diet, the amount of weight loss produced by an Arizonian named David E. Smith is unprecedented.
Have you heard about this guy yet? He is like Jimmy Moore--TIMES TWO!
It may be difficult to fathom what 630 pounds looks like, but here it is:
Seeing David walking around with no shirt on when he was well over 600 pounds brings back a lot of painful memories for me. Although I was "only" 410 pounds at my highest weight, the body image he had was similar to mine along with the wack-wack-waddle-waddle sauntering about trying to catch your next breath. Seeing those images of himself on video are probably what prompted David to finally get serious about his weight and health for good.
What David has gone through since he finally got serious about losing all of that weight over the past few years runs so parallel to my own experiences following a massive weight loss. It's kinda eerie hearing him talk about his struggles because they almost exactly mirror some of the same thoughts, emotions, and issues that I have or am going through as well. I would be willing to bet these are common themes amongst all of us who have lost more than 100 pounds.
According to his Bodybuilding.com page, this 6'2" tall man has been overweight for his entire life and was "written off by everyone, even myself."
"All of a sudden I woke up it seemed from my despair and I realized feeling sorry about my life wasn't going to solve my problems," David recalled. "I decided to change my existence."
David had a lot of reasons for his obesity, not the least of which was being molested by a friend he trusted when he was only six years old. Then the constant teasing and ridicule from being a loner caused David to sink deeper into his pit of despair that led him to eat just to cover up the pain. This is something that happens under such a cloud of secrecy as People magazine's January cover girl Mary Smith (no relation to David) has shared about her weight issues.
So David sought assistance for his dismal situation and reached out to a local television program called "Good Morning Arizona" to help him do just that. They implored the services of a personal trainer and weight loss coach named Chris Powell who was eager to help David take on the biggest challenge of his life! And the GREAT NEWS is David overcame his demons and HE DID IT!!!
From blubbery to absolutely buff, David has changed his life forever!
Check out this video following David's amazing weight loss:
And then this updated video following some skin removal surgeries:
Is it just me or are these news people who interview those of us who have lost large amounts of weight just plain dopey?! That reporter in the second video who asked if David confronts obese kids on the street now that he's lost his weight could not possibly be serious! Yeah, kid, you're fat, I was, now I'm not, you should lose weight, too. See how well that works for ya!
Ever since I lost my weight, I have had a strong desire to help people who want to lose weight. But you can't compel people who aren't ready. Talking to kids or even adults for that matter and telling them they are fat does nothing for them. However, when they are ready, these kids and adults will know who they can come to for help because they're watching you. David will be thrilled to give it to them, too, as do I.
I'm happy that David used a personal trainer during his weight loss and I'm getting ready to do that myself since I'd like to make my body a little more muscular than it is now. My legs are very strong, but my arms and upper torso need to be "pumped up" like that picture of David at the top of this post. He's done a fantastic job!
Interestingly, Chris only had David exercise three days a week to "prove weight loss could be done without a lot of it." How about that? So, his diet became an important aspect of this journey. What exactly was the diet?
It's something developed by Chris Powell called the STAX Nutrition System. This program is neat because it stores all of your food for the day in a convenient little carrying case with stackable containers of all the proteins, carbs, veggies, and fat you need to consume with a handy little timer that let's you know when it's time to eat. COOL!
See if any of these acceptable STAX foods look familiar:
protein powder, salads, eggs, cheese, almonds, walnuts, blueberries, spinach, butter, polish sausage, olive oil, cream, and even Ezekiel low-carb bread
Hey, that looks like livin' la vida low-carb to me! A closer examination of the meal plan reveals it is a moderate-fat, high-protein, lower-carb plan designed to remove the junk out of your diet. It's portion-controlled, but you eat a lot of meals throughout the day. If it worked for David as well as it did, then obviously it can work for many others, too! Find that plan that will work for YOU!
Losing 400 pounds has a rather unique side effect to it
But, just as I have blogged about quite extensively following my nearly 200-pound weight loss, David has some rather icky looking "loose skin" that makes him feel uncomfortable about going shirtless in public. He even said that he can't feel skinny until all of the skin is removed.
Boy, I couldn't agree more! It's been three years since my initial weight loss on the Atkins diet and I am stuck looking at the drooping and disgusting blob of skin that hangs from my tummy and inner thighs every single day. It CAN be discouraging, not matter how many compliments you receive from people about how good you look. I love to swim, but I can't go shirtless without feeling fat. That's somewhat disappointing.
For the most part, though, I've been able to deal with it because my financial situation does not permit me to have the skin removal surgery like David had. Granted, his problem was MUCH worse than mine as you can see in that picture of him, but I'd like to get that tummy tuck and thigh tuck done myself someday to complete the new me. It would probably make me more excited about resistance training so I can see the results I am producing underneath all that skin. Someday...
Today, David radiates with confidence and is humbled by all the attention he has garnered following his weight loss. He's obviously a shy man who is just now coming out of his shell to take on life in a way he never thought possible. This former morbidly obese 600-pounder is now working at the gym that helped him get his life back and he will now begin helping people who were just like him take their life back, too.
Paying it forward, sharing not just his knowledge but also his invaluable life's experience to give others hope for a better tomorrow. What an incredible triumph of the human spirit that deserves all the recognition and accolades that come the way of David E. Smith. You are my hero, buddy, and I wish you all the best in your long-term weight management and newly radically-transformed life!
Check out David Smith's MySpace page and be looking for his as-yet-untitled book about his weight loss experience. This man is set to inspire so many people that it is NEVER too late to get started on your weight loss plan. He's living proof that it CAN be done...you just gotta DO IT!
Well, you may have noticed my blog's look has changed overnight. This has been in the works for months and I'm happy to unleash it for you beginning today. More changes are to come, including clickable categories to find what you need. Keep reading and feel free to share your suggestions about what you'd like to see with the upgraded site! THANK YOU for your devoted readership! :)
President George W. Bush STILL leading by example on fitness
Regardless of what you think about his performance as the leader of the free world on an assortment of other issues, two-term President George W. Bush is a man who has led by example in regards to living a healthy lifestyle.
He hovers around 190 pounds on his 5'11" frame, has a total cholesterol in the 170s, boasts a body fat percentage around 15 percent, and enjoys a resting heart rate of an astonishing 47 beats per minute. By all accounts, he's as healthy as he could possibly be as he approaches his 61st birthday next week.
CBS morning anchor Hannah Storm asks President Bush about health
CBS News' The Early Show featured President Bush on their program Thursday morning to discuss the current state of affairs regarding weight and health in America. With such hot political issues as the war in Iraq, immigration reform, and the ever-present 2008 presidential race taking precedence, the obesity epidemic is being all but ignored as the serious health issue it has become.
CLICK HERE to watch co-anchor Hannah Storm interview President Bush about his views on diet, exercise, and health.
Obesity has become much worse than we ever thought possible with tens of millions of Americans dealing with a weight and/or health issue as we speak--and the problem is only expected to keep getting worse while burdening our health care system beyond repair. Medicare has been destroyed by skyrocketing obesity and so many people rely on that to help preserve their health.
That's why President Bush has not just talked about getting healthy, but he also tries to actively live it himself along with members of his Cabinet--most notably Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.
One area of health that President Bush is a strong proponent of is exercise.
"I exercise a lot because it's good for my mind and good for my soul," he told CBS. But I hope I set a good example to others that exercise is good for you."
As a devoted mountain bicyclist, the president has influenced the people who surround him in the White House to begin taking their health more seriously by joining him.
"I have wisely convinced a bunch of youngsters in the White House and around Washington to ride with me," Bush revealed. "I've always found that if you play up that you get better."
And he doesn't have much sympathy for people who claim there's no time in their busy schedule to exercise either.
"I don't buy that," Bush exclaimed in response to making excuses for not engaging in physical activity. "I think that you set priorities in life. And if exercise is one of your priorities, you'll figure out time to do it."
When can you fit it in, you may ask? The president has a suggestion.
"You know, sitting down at a big lunch may be someone's priority, but it's not all that hard to shift that priority to exercising at lunch," Bush stated.
He's right about that, you know. When I was losing my 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004, guess when I got my exercise in most often. Yep, it was on my lunch hour at work. I was too sleepy in the morning to go before work and too exhausted in the evening after work. So the middle of the day was perfect and energized me as well as melted away the stress of my job (while helping me shed the pounds, too!).
To his credit, President Bush doesn't think obesity can be solved by exercise alone. He is adamant that American families need to begin choosing a healthier diet as well.
"I also think that since we spend a lot of money on food in the education system, then we should insist upon better food," he said. "A lot of the dietary problems are just obviously what people eat. And so it's not just a lack of exercise...but a bad diet."
Hallelujah that SOMEBODY who has a say in our government is articulating this message. Unfortunately, that same enthusiasm for doing something about our nation's weight problem has not trickled down to such agencies as the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), or the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among others. They choose to convolute and distort dietary recommendations in order to keep people from finding the truth about obesity solutions like livin' la vida low-carb.
Want proof? Well, you've got a representative from the scandalous and corrupt FDA telling a business that sells low-carb products that the low-carb diet is "sheer nonsense" while approving and heralding the new OTC weight loss drug Alli which has some rather icky side effects! Are they trying to tell me this poopy-producing pill is supposed to be better than the all-natural and healthy low-carb lifestyle?
But this is year seven of President Bush's term in office and what has he done from the Oval Office to give people the opportunity to hear the positive and uplifting message of livin' la vida low-carb, hmmm? He talks a good game about the importance of health, but what has he actually done to turn the tide of obesity?
While all the onus isn't just on him (the members of Congress as just as culpable in my eyes for ignoring this issue), President Bush does put himself out there as a leader regarding proper diet and health. So where has he been and what has he done to cultivate an atmosphere of acceptance towards all proven methods for improving weight and health?
President Bush believes good health and fitness "starts with families" and I cannot agree more. But families first need to stop getting mixed messages from our government and health leaders about what a "healthy diet" looks like. If low-carb has been found to be just as effective for weight loss and improved health as low-fat diets (and it has!), then why not recommend both? It seems so simple a suggestion, but it has yet to happen.
Anytime the president or any member of Congress would like to hear the testimony of someone who used to be morbidly obese, was able to lose nearly half of his body weight, and then keep that weight off for several years and counting, then I'd be very happy to share my story of hope, inspiration, and encouragement to show them that there is more to living healthy than their much-heralded high-carb, low-fat diet. They can e-mail me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and I'll be off to Washington, DC.
When are we gonna finally have a candidate for president who not only talks about promoting a healthy lifestyle, but actually becomes pro-active about it when he or she is sworn into office? I'm anxious to see if that will ever happen before obesity takes what seems to be an inevitable toll on our country if we don't make some major health public policy changes soon.
It's something else to consider when you look at all the choices for president from both of the major political parties. Be sure to ask yourself this question: if obesity is not seriously addressed within the next 10 years, then when will it be? It makes your choice about who the future leaders of this country should be all the more consequential. Choose wisely.
During my radio interview this morning on WBTC-AM's Dial & Speak program with host Andrea Fanti in Ohio, we discussed the positive impact my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog is having on the thousands of readers who visit each day. Sometimes, I just don't have any idea until I receive an e-mail or a call from those who share how I have helped change their lives. That's an awesome responsibility I take very seriously.
When I wrote earlier this week about some of the criticism I've been getting from those who oppose my current decision to be on the Kimkins diet, I shared in that blog post that this was MY decision about what was best for ME.
Here's an excerpt of what I wrote on Monday:
"Regardless of what anyone else thinks about my personal decision to begin Kimkins, it really doesn't matter to me the opinions of others. Why? Because this is not about them, it's about ME and my quest to not just maintain my previous weight loss but to produce some additional weight loss to get my weight below 200. As a constant purveyor of individual responsibility as it relates to weight loss and health and finding what's right for you, I'm merely following my own good advice."
That paragraph precipitated a response from a reader from Louisiana who said he is thankful that he found my blog recently and that he too is taking this journey doing it in his own way that's right for him and his family.
Here's what he wrote to me in his e-mail:
Hi Jimmy,
I've been reading your blog for about a month now and really enjoy it. I've thought about writing but held off, figuring you were inundated with emails and one more would just add to your overload. But after reading today's blog, I just had to write to say thank you.
I have been big all my life and have ballooned up to 319 at my largest. Recently I'd been hovering around 305-310, not knowing what to do. I needed inspiration.
Oddly enough I got inspiration from the strangest of places. I was watching the Republican candidate debate on the Fox News channel and was impressed with Mike Huckabee from Arkansas. I decided to do a little research on him and found that he had lost over 100 pounds in less than a year on Atkins.
In studying further about how he did it I discovered your web site, bookmarked it, and subsequently subscribed to the RSS feed to read it every day.
I know that's probably one of the oddest inspirations anyone has ever had, but it worked for me. I felt like if Mike Huckabee could lose weight with the pressure of the Governor's office on him, I could lose weight too! I started reading your blog and many others and chose to begin livin' la vida low-carb!
I'm not following anyone else's plan, I'm just making good choices about every meal based on what I want my body to look like. I tell people I'm not on a diet because a diet is when someone else tells you what to eat. I'm eating what I want to eat...I've just changed my wants!
So far I've lost 23 pounds in a month and it's still coming off! My family is getting inspired and my wife and daughters are joining me. We're having fun experimenting with recipes, looking up fun foods to eat and encouraging each other.
I just wanted to say "thank you" for your writing. I don't know about what others are saying about you, but I've been inspired and encouraged by your writings. Thanks!
When I am pushed down into the ground and kicked by people who just want to see me go away, along comes edification like this that reminds me why I started blogging to begin with.
Yes, there are nasty people out there who will hate me with every fiber of their being no matter what I do. I understand it in some ways, but in other ways it's unfathomable.
But thank the good Lord for the power of a changed life because of something I have written about here. If the impact of this blog is to inspire those who need to lose weight and get healthy, then all the many hours I have poured into it for more than two years has been worth it.
Incidentally, I'm trying to set up either a written interview or a podcast interview with Gov. Mike Huckabee about his weight loss. He's a long shot right now to become the next President of the United States, but so was another former Arkansas governor about this time sixteen years ago.
Wouldn't it be incredible to have the leader of the free world be someone with triple digit success because of livin' la vida low-carb? ;) Wish me luck getting that interview.
6-29-07 UPDATE: The Mike Huckabee campaign caught wind of my reader's testimonial about being inspired by the former Arkansas governor's tremendous low-carb weight loss success today. WELCOME to "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" and stick around a while! :)
Dr. Scott Rigden says low-carb is PERFECT for the "carb-sensitive"
It's sad that today is my 8th and final podcast interview with a bariatric physician from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) obesity conference in Nashville, Tennessee last month. But Dr. Scott Rigden out of Chandler, Arizona brings an end to the series of interviews with a bang by promoting livin' la vida low-carb as a means for weight loss and improved health.
In case you missed any of the previous ASBP interviews, here they are:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 64 [16:46m]: Play in Popup | Download
As a long-time bariatric physician over the past three decades, Dr. Rigden has seen all the weight loss trends come and go. But when it comes down to a healthy dietary approach to dealing with obesity, he knows that the low-carb lifestyle fits the bill and will help the overweight and obese shed the pounds and get their life back!
Try all FIVE ways to listen to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show":
Do you have any reaction to Dr. Rigden's weight loss approach? It's very methodical and purposeful to treat the cause rather than the symptom. Tell me what you think about Dr. Rigden today.
Now that the bariatric physicians interviews are done, we'll be getting back to topical-based podcast shows on Mondays and Thursdays again. Let me know if there are any specific issues you would like for me to address in future podcasts and we'll do our best to get to those. E-mail me your suggestions at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Incidentally, I have been invited to the ASBP obesity conference in Las Vegas, Nevada this fall, so perhaps we'll have more interviews to share again later this year. Plus, I have a few surprise interviews in store for you in the coming months...KEEP LISTENING! :)
Just a quick heads-up and sorry about the last minute notice, but I'm gonna be on the radio in the Cleveland, Ohio area on Thursday morning, June 28, 2007 at 10:00am EST. The station is WBTC LIVE 1540 AM and can be heard in the east central portion of Ohio which covers parts of five counties.
I know that's early for those of you on the West Coast and in the middle of the morning for people on the East Coast. But I hope you can tune in for the one-hour show about Jimmy Moore and "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."
The host of the Dial & Speak radio show I will be on is Andrea Fanti who conducts interviews with all kinds of people and topics ranging from authors and politicians to highlighting new businesses and local agencies, libraries, school systems, and more. It's quite an eclectic program that has a loyal following.
She usually splits the show into two half-hour segments, but wants me on for the full hour to talk about the health benefits of livin' la vida low-carb. This should be FUN! ;)
I hope you get a chance to listen. Let me know what you thought about the show if you get a chance to hear it LIVE in Ohio or online. SEE YA!
6-28-07 UPDATE: Man, that interview was a LOAD of fun! It was so gratifying to articulate the principles of livin' la vida low-carb over the airwaves in Ohio. YEAH! That call from one of my readers in Mississippi was AWESOME and I meant every word I said about the response people have given me about my blog. THANK YOU! :)
Special thanks to Andrea Fanti for having me on her show today and for her graciousness in allowing me to share my perspective to her listeners. She reads this blog daily (HEY ANDREA!) and was very kind to give me such a platform.
For those of you who missed the show, I recorded it using my cheap-o digital recorder. I'll see if it will be available for download or if I can get permission to run it on my podcast show. Let me see what Andrea has to say.
Again, THANK YOU to everyone who listened and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Incidentally, here are some pertinent links to things we discussed:
Atkins Diet Doesn't Lack Butyrate, Increase Bowel Cancer Risk As Study Asserts
Harry Flint from Rowett looks at what happens in the gut on low-carb
There's been BIG NEWS about low-carb diets out of the research community over the past week or so--well, let's just say the media has trumpeted it loud and proud as earth-shattering damnation of livin' la vida low-carb.
Perhaps you've seen some of these dismal headlines:
Oh WOW! Why would ANYBODY in their right mind go on the Atkins diet?! Man, that low-carb must be really bad news if it can cause cancer. Who would even risk doing THAT diet ever again after this research proves it? I'm so glad I read that headline.
You may laugh at that, but I'm telling you that's the exact conclusion and reaction that most uninformed people will make to this news about livin' la vida low-carb. It's just too bad nobody in the media has the courage to do their due diligence and tell the truth about this so-called study.
I've held off long enough on this, so get ready to hear the FACTS about whether the Atkins low-carb diet actually leads to colon cancer. This is the information you just won't get in any of those columns I linked above. If you can't handle the truth, then don't bother reading any further. Let's get started!
First, let's look at the study itself.
Lead researcher Harry Flint, professor in the Gut Health Programme at the UK-based Rowett Research Institute, and his fellow researchers observed a mere 19 "healthy but obese men" who had a BMI ranging from between 30-42 and placed them on intermittent diets consisting of various amounts of carbohydrates over three distinct phases of the study.
Here are those three phases in the order they were done:
PHASE 1--The men ate a very high-carb diet consisting of 400g carbs daily for three days in a row at the beginning of the study. This was the number of carbohydrates that is supposedly "needed to maintain their weight" (don't even get me started on that asinine statement--if I ate that many carbs today, I'd gained 15 pounds by tomorrow morning! EEEK!).
PHASE 2--Then, for the next month the men cut their carb intake down by 60 percent to 160g daily. This was still a high-carb diet, but a little closer to what is deemed "healthy" by most of the government dietary recommendations.
PHASE 3--Finally, the men had their dietary carb intake slashed again for the next four weeks to 85 percent of the PHASE 2 carb allowance and just 6 percent of the original number of carbs consumed by the study participants in PHASE 1. This level of carbs most closely resembles the Induction phase of the Atkins diet of the three phases.
During this 9-week experiment, Flint and his researchers took stool samples from the study participants to measure for bacteria and the level of butyrate, a fatty acid chemical prevalent in the gut that has been found to reduce cancer in rats. What they supposedly found in this research is what precipitated all the news headlines.
According to the researchers, there was a FOUR-FOLD decrease in the amount of butyrate in the study participants after their four-week stint on PHASE 3, or the "Atkins" stage of the research.
Flint was shocked because this change in butyrate was "the largest ever reported in a human dietary trial." This was the first such study on the impact of livin' la vida low-carb on bacteria in the gut.
"The results provide strong evidence that butyrate production is largely determined by the content of a particular type of carbohydrate in the diet that the bacteria in our guts can utilize," Flint explained. "But this doesn't automatically lead to the conclusion that reduced butyrate production causes colon cancer."
Even still, Flint believes his study confirms what previous research has already found.
"Studies in cell culture have also suggested a link between butyrate and colon cancer," he said. "This study is part of a general inquiry into how to prevent obesity in humans."
The researchers acknowledge that the Atkins low-carb diet is "highly effective" for weight loss, BUT...
"In the long run, it is possible that such diets could contribute to colorectal cancer," Flint warned. "It is a preventable disease, and there is evidence that poor diet can increase your risk."
We can only assume Flint believes low-carb fits the description of a "poor diet" since he calls it "extreme" and not good for the long-term.
Sigh. Here we go again with the "low-carb is only good for weight loss in the short-term" argument that has been bantered around by people like Dr. James Hill from the National Weight Control Registry did earlier this year in a teleconference call about the Atkins diet I aired on my podcast show in March. That is such an extraneous and overused point that I'm surprised anyone falls for it anymore.
Flint said his as-yet-unpublished (this is key, by the way!) study is going to render even more surprising results to "give a fuller picture" when it finally appears in a medical journal.
"We would like people to get the best of both worlds," he contended. "That means knowing in greater detail what goes on in the gut when on a low-carb diet."
Go ahead and go on the Atkins diet for "short-term bursts" to boost your weight loss efforts, but don't you dare do it over the long-term unless you want some rather severe health issues to deal with, Flint concluded.
"It should be possible to lose weight by taking out sugar and starch and maintaining some of the fiber that supports bacterial activity in the intestine," he stated.
Flint is convinced that "long-term deprivation of carbohydrate...causes damage to the gut" and that he intends on doing more research on the butyrate/colon cancer connection in humans.
Okay, so there you have it! That's the bad news that is supposed to be making low-carb very unappealing to the casual observer. And if I wasn't really paying attention to all the research coming out about livin' la vida low-carb, then I'm sure I would be scared half to death to even try it, too.
But let's share a few facts that were missing about Flint's "study":
1. It is a small, unpublished, NON-clinical trial study.
This is a vital point. It's one thing to talk about your study, but yet another to have the results of that study examined by your peers to look at the veracity of the results based on other research. Perhaps Flint is working on that, but it's disingenuous for him to take this to the media talking about 19 fat guys who were fed a high-carb diet for over a month before putting them on low-carb. I wonder if the results would have been different if PHASE 3 would have been FIRST! Hmmm?
2. We have no idea what foods the men ate on their "Atkins-like" diet.
As we know, the "Atkins diet" has simply become synonymous with a low-carb diet. This has become all-too-common with people like this woman who appeared in Good Housekeeping talking about being on the Atkins diet when she obviously never cracked open the book by the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins. It would be good to know what kind of carbs were consumed among the 24g that were allotted each day. At this point, it's a mystery!
3. Low-carb INCREASES fatty acids in the blood, not decrease them.
This is a metabolic truth that was completely missed by the "experts" featured in the news stories about this study. The higher the fatty acids in the blood, the less need there is for having them in the colon. Livin' la vida low-carb saturates the body with healthy fatty acids.
4. Ketogenic diets (like PHASE 3) use ketones for nutrition.
Once again, we have another basic metabolic truth that was overlooked (was it purposeful or did they just forget to mention it?). Have they even once told people about how the body can make its own carbs through a process known as gluconeogenesis? Nope, they can't do that because it would blow the lid off of their "the body needs carbs" nonsensical ruse. Ketone bodies are what kept our early ancestors fueled up eating a very low-carb diet.
5. Low-carb diets reduce weight, lower insulin, and increase ketones.
The proof is in the pudding (low-carb, of course!). You lose weight when you go on a low-carb diet and your insulin production is significantly reduced which is why low-carb is an excellent treatment option for diabetics (unlike the ADA-recommended high-carb, low-fat diet!). Those increased ketones energize your body and allow you to burn stored fat while remaining active.
6. Leap of faith to speculate based on only one measure of study.
If I wanted to duplicate this study in the same manner or even in a slightly different manner than Professor Flint did it, then I can't help but wonder if I would come up with a different result (especially if the low-carb diet came FIRST!). It's stretching the imagination to think one unpublished study of 19 men warrants as much ink in the press as this study did, but unfortunately this is part and parcel of what the anti-Atkins media does. If the new sucks for low-carb, then screw what's true and run with it! We've seen it happen before with this study that claimed one saturated fat meal causes damage to the heart. It's DISGUSTING how they pervert the facts like they do on a singular study!
7. Diets that are very low in carbs actually TREAT cancer.
Yep, the more we look at cancer, there's a trend beginning to grow--remove the sugar and excess carbohydrate from the diet so the cancer can't feed off of it and you can reduce your risk of getting a variety of cancers. I've highlighted studies showing the benefits of livin' la vida low-carb for treating and preventing brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer among others. To assert that a low-carb diet comes anywhere close to causing bowel cancer is utterly absurd!
8. High-carb diets may be linked to all kinds of cancers.
Using deductive reasoning, if low-carb diets starve cancer cells and keep them from spreading throughout the body, then it's safe and accurate to say that high-carb diets do just the opposite--they FEED cancer cells and allow them to grow at will to do their damage to the human body. If you want to have a REAL health headline that is both shocking and backed up by growing scientific evidence, then run with that one!
9. Foods on the Atkins diet have LOTS of butyrate in them.
This is the irony of all ironies. While Flint and his gang bemoan the lack of butyrate on this "Atkins-like" plan they fed their study participants, check out the following acceptable low-carb foods consumed on the REAL Atkins diet along with their very high butyrate content:
10. Gut bacteria reduction only happens in the absence of vegetables.
If you are consuming the recommended levels of vegetable fiber in your diet as required on the Atkins diet, then gut bacteria should not be reduced. It's when people attempt to do "Atkins" on their own assuming they know what that means that gets them in trouble. Do yourself a favor and READ THE BOOK! When you're done with it, perhaps you could mail your copy to Professor Flint so he can get with the program!
Speaking of, why not share your feedback with Professor Harry Flint about his study? You can e-mail him directly at H.Flint@rowett.ac.uk.
'The F-Factor Diet' Gets An 'F' For Snubbing Low-Carb While Espousing Its Truths
Dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot says eat your fiber, but don't cut out foods
There's not a doubt in my mind how healthy consuming fiber is as part of my healthy low-carb lifestyle. When I lost 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004, my adequate consumption of delicious sources of fiber was a major part of my success. For people who complain about constipation on low-carb, there's no better cure than big gulps of water and enough fiber to allow your bowel to shake, rattle and roll!
Oooh, the "secret to permanent weight loss" is certainly a compelling a bold claim to make. But nutritionist Tanya Zuckerbrot is convinced she can confidently back up that claim made by her book with the principles she shares in it. And I must say, some of what she writes about is right in line with what I personally believe regarding a healthy weight loss diet.
Here are ten solid examples of where I agree with Zuckerbrot:
1. Eat a moderate-fiber, low-carb diet for first 2 weeks 2. Consuming too many carbohydrates leads to weight gain 3. "Whole wheat" or "whole grains" foods not necessarily healthy 4. Don't skip meals or snacks during your weight loss 5. Fat-free foods with sugar are foolish 6. Adequate protein intake is a must 7. All carbs turn to sugar inside the body 8. Non-starchy vegetables are preferred over potatoes 9. Beware of hidden sugars in so-called "healthy" foods 10. Keep a journal of the foods you are eating
As much as I agree with all of those wonderful things which are contained within the pages of The F-Factor Diet, imagine my disgusted surprise at some of the hyperbolic mischaracterizations of low-carb diets espoused by Zuckerbrot elsewhere in the book. In light of our many areas of agreement, this was utterly shocking to say the least.
Here are ten things Zuckerbrot thinks are true about low-carb:
These are some fundamentally flawed arguments being made about livin' la vida low-carb in this book from someone who is supposed to be more knowledgeable about nutrition than most average, ordinary Americans. That's what disappoints me about this book which could have been a nice addition to my health book collection, but has been incessantly tainted by the blatant unabashed bias against low-carb.
As much as I can appreciate all the wonderful tips and suggestions, delicious recipes at the back of the book, detailed menu plans for the various stages of weight loss and weight maintenance, and all the like in this book, I cannot in good conscience recommend this as a resource for people desiring weight loss and improvements in their health. If she's lying about some things, then what else is she withholding the truth about.
Can somebody explain something to me? Why is it that health experts like Zuckerbrot feel the need to publicly flog and snub their nose at livin' la vida low-carb in their diet books and then turn right around and espouse the very truths that make up that particular way of eating? Hmmm?
Sounds preposterous and hypocritical, but it is happening more and more over the past couple of years. Why not just recommend low-carb by name rather than being so coy about what you believe nutritionally? Millions of us have changed our lives forever on the amazingly healthy and delicious low-carb lifestyle, so stop trying to beat us. Join us instead.
I don't have any problem at all with you advocating the basic principles of low-carb living in your The F-Factor Diet, Ms. Zuckerbrot. I know you are given the unique opportunity to speak about health on both television and in print, so people are familiar with who you are and place their trust in you. So why not flash them those beautiful pearly whites of yours and admit that the low-carb lifestyle fits right in line with the overall message of your book? Is that too much to ask?
No antagonism, no hyperbole, and no more outright lies. Overweight and obese people deserve to have the truth as it relates to a healthy diet, which is what I try to provide them on a daily basis at my blog. Weight loss is hard enough without having to deal with ignorance from those who should know better. I challenge you to remember that the next time you decide to write a book about diet and health.
Someone rather special in my life who I love very dearly has begun doing extremely well on a low-carb diet without really trying that hard. It's the cute and precious woman I call my wife named Christine.
You'll recall Christine FINALLY took my advice to start livin' la vida low-carb in mid-May not to lose weight necessarily, but to get her triglycerides to drop. Although she's on low-carb primarily as a means for improving her health (as so many people like this are discovering!), an interesting side effect has ensued for Christine--WEIGHT LOSS!
I told her that although she doesn't have a lot of weight to lose, she'll notice her clothes getting looser and the scale will move down. I'm not so sure she believed me at first, but she's a BIG believer now!
We have a running bet now that I can get my weight within 75 pounds of hers (considering I used to weigh nearly 300 pounds MORE than Christine, it's quite a feat!). As of today, I weigh 222 pounds and she weighs 144--78 pounds apart. So she's ahead for now--BUT NOT FOR LONG!
Click here to learn more about what Christine is eating on her low-carb diet (it may just surprise you!!!), find out what was making her triglycerides soar, and discover how much the woman I married in 1995 weighed on our wedding day (let's just say she didn't need to diet!). ;)
While the deal was you get 20 percent off of your entire purchase, one lucky winner would be drawn at random to receive an incredible 50 percent off! That winner was chosen today and just happens to be one of my blog readers:
BARBARA F. from Port Orchard, WA!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, Barbara! I know you'll enjoy saving a few extra bucks on your order. I'm glad you were able to take advantage of this special offer from our friends at Low-Carb Connoisseur.
Special THANKS to Elaine for conducting this "Secret Sale" contest.
Despite Brouhaha, Kimkins Diet Generates 25-Pound Weight Loss In First Three Weeks
The post that appeared here has been removed for not promoting the low-carb community in the professional manner I have come to expect from myself. THANK YOU!
Bariatric physician Dr. Caroline Cederquist not very kind to low-carb
It has been my pleasure to present a series of captivating interviews with bariatric physicians on Thursdays over the past couple of months. Most of them have been at the very least respectful of the low-carb lifestyle as a healthy option for weight loss.
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 63 [15:29m]: Play in Popup | Download
It's funny how these self-proclaimed health experts like Dr. Cederquist like to talk the talk, but never walk the walk of their own advice. She and others CLAIM they are in favor of helping people "individualize" their diet to their specific needs, but then they discourage people from even trying low-carb living which is being proven more and more by research like this to be a healthy lifestyle change for the obese. I guess she is all for custom diets as long as they are of the high-carb, low-fat, low-calorie, portion-controlled variety.
Get your low-carb groove on with this podcast show by:
Is it just me or does this Dr. Cederquist smack of just a tinge of hypocrisy promoting the idea of finding what works for you, but then needlessly frightening people about healthy low-carb plans like the Atkins diet? If livin' la vida low-carb is an equally effective plan of action as low-fat for weight loss and improved health, then why all the drama and scaremongering?
Talk about it at the podcast site and share your theories about why the Dr. Cederquists of the world feel so compelled to do this sort of thing.
Coming up on Thursday is my 8th and final interview from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians obesity conference I attended in Nashville, TN last month. You'll get to hear from Dr. Scott Rigden discuss his idea of a "caveman diet" for treating people who are obese. I'm sure you will enjoy it!
Jimmy Moore with INSPIRED: The Movie director Steve Yu
The debate over what the best diet for weight loss and health rages on, but one independent filmmaker is going deeper in his quest to help those two out of every three Americans who are currently overweight or obese in the United States today.
His name is Steve Yu and his upcoming film is entitled INSPIRED: The Movie. You can watch the trailer for this movie RIGHT NOW (you'll notice somebody familiar in it!):
I've been teasing you about this film over the past few weeks since Steve was in my hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina to interview me for his movie.
Steve and his filming crew were top-notch professionals
What an honor and a thrill it was even to be asked to be a part of something like this! With such well-known and highly-respected diet, health and fitness experts like "The Gazelle" creator Tony Little, former pro wrester Diamond Dallas Page, Dr. Jeff Levine from The Biggest Loser: Season 2, Mindless Eating author Dr. Brian Wansink, Harvard University nutritionists, and many others already on board in support of this project, I have no doubt in my mind this will be a HUGE hit when it releases in 2008.
I talked about my blog and podcast show during the interview
You can check out the official blog for INSPIRED: The Movie for special messages directly from the heart of the director as he has taken this journey over the past two years to give people the hope they have been craving so much. This isn't just another movie about obesity. I sincerely believe this film will impact tens of thousands to become inspired enough to begin their own personal weight loss journey, too. I know that's what Steve would like to see happen.
Posing with Steve and his lovely wife Mariah after the interview
You see, Steve and his beautiful bride Mariah are also inspirational regarding the power of a changed life as both of them have transformed their bodies from slightly flabby blobs of flesh into lean mean muscle machines that look absolutely fantastic! When I saw their before pictures, I was floored! They are an impressive duo.
I shared what was on my heart during the interview
While I was sharing my low-carb weight loss success story with Steve, he became quite intrigued by my brother Kevin who at the time I thought had given up on losing weight. In fact, he captured precisely what I was feeling at the moment about Kevin in this brief video clip from INSPIRED: The Movie. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page for more video clips.
Following the interview with me, Steve asked if I thought Kevin would be interested in being in the movie, too. I told him I would ask Kevin and see--not surprisingly, Kevin said YES! But I was also surprised to learn Kevin is now losing weight. Perhaps this experience being filmed in a couple of weeks will be the impetus he needs to FINALLY lose the weight for good. We can hope and pray!
Director Steve Yu listens intently during the interview
While there is creative freedom in making a documentary like this, one of the real challenges is raising the funds to cover the expenses of such an undertaking. INSPIRED: The Movie is no different. If you are as passionate about seeing this movie exposed to the audience that needs to hear it, then consider donating through PayPal or sending a check made payable to INSPIRED: The Movie, 1281 Aalto Main NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30318. A donation of ANY size will be GREATLY appreciated!
Filming my interview for INSPIRED: The Movie in my living room
This is an historic opportunity to be a part of something worthwhile that's bigger and more meaningful than simply going through the motions of life. It's about changing lives, helping people, sharing hope, and, more than anything, giving that despondent dieter a chance to be INSPIRED! What more could you ask for?
65-Year Old Atkins Dieter Says He Must Always Confront His Addiction To Carbs
Whenever I receive an e-mail from someone who talks about their long-term success on the low-carb lifestyle, I am beaming with pride. From a decade-long Atkins dieter to these two prime examples of livin' la vida low-carb, the truth is clear whether you hear about it from the media or not--lots of people are losing weight and getting healthy eating a low-carb diet.
And it ain't just temporary either! Why?
Well, this study explains that when you decide to begin implementing a long-term lifestyle change over at least an 18-month period rather than simply beginning a diet (which means you'll "die" to a "t"!), you are more likely to succeed at weight loss.
It's like I always say--find a plan that works for you, follow that plan until you reach your weight loss goal, and then keep doing that plan FOREVER! It really works if you make it work for you. Weight management is not easy, but it IS possible.
Take it from a 65-year old reader of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog who has been on the Atkins diet since 1998. This gentleman had tried the highly-recommended low-calorie diets and they just didn't work for him.
"The reason reduced calories wasn't even an option for me is that even when my calorie intake was far too high, I was still starving," he explained. "There was no way that I would be able to reduce my calories for any length of time."
He added: "I tried many times and failed badly!"
Man, is he ever right?! One of the things that attracted me to the Atkins diet is the fact that you don't have to count calories like those food-obsessed low-fatties would have you believe! Calories do count, but you don't have to count them if you are eating proper amounts of protein and fat when you are livin' la vida low-carb.
This doesn't mean low-carbers are gorging themselves on these macronutrients, but rather consuming enough protein and fat to satiate their hunger and provide them with the energy to live their life. And if you look up the definition of "diet," then this will close resemble what that word REALLY means.
My reader was spot-on when he commented how utterly clueless most people are about helping someone overcome their addition to carbs.
"The reason well-meaning people will never help anyone regain control of their eating over the long-term is that they know absolutely nothing about addictions," he contended. "I'm not being disrespectful when saying this, but simply stating the obvious!"
It's so obvious to those of us who are living it, that's for sure. I can't tell you how many people just assume I'm keeping my weight off easily now that it's been a few years since I shed 180 pounds in one year. Not hardly. I tell them it is still a daily battle to keep myself focused on eating healthy.
My reader says these people need to walk a mile in our shoes which they cannot do unless they've been obese and then beat it.
"They do not understand the mind of an overeater and I will prove it," he said. "Unless they can personally relate to the following story, they are NOT qualified (even a little) in the area of eating disorders."
Here's his story:
"We had a birthday party recently and were served pizza. Under normal circumstances I would never eat a grain product of any kind. Grains, whether fully processed or not, set off my eating disorder just as badly!
But my lovely wife assured me that after being on Atkins for almost eight years at the time, I should now have complete control over my eating addiction. She suggested that I have two large slices and walk away.
Well, guess what? Ten slices of pizza later (and they were very large pieces, too, I might add!), I walked away from that party even hungrier than before I even started eating!"
Whoa! Now that is one powerful example of the strong grip that food can have even on those of us who have been low-carbing for a while. If somebody can't relate to that experience even in the slightest, then they DEFINITELY don't know how to help someone who is fighting food addiction.
Sadly, my reader concluded, most of the so-called "experts" and even semi-educated lay people would say to him that he need "more willpower" to stop at two slices. But...
"This would be the exact same thing as telling an alcoholic to walk away after only six drinks," he contended. "And Dr. Atkins understood this!"
Yes he did which is why people like me and you have been able to confront our addiction to carbs directly and win that battle. If more people could just realize that effective weight control is about eating low-carb, then perhaps obesity could become a thing of the past.
Mark Sisson helping people learn the importance of good nutrition
Have you ever wondered when you stepped inside of your local drug or health food store and saw all those vitamins and other dietary supplements lined up in such an intimidating display exactly how much of what you really need? Believe me, I have and you can go broke buying the WRONG kind or quantities if you don't know what you are doing.
If anyone knows what proper nutrition and healthy supplementation is supposed to look like, then I would think a former marathon runner and world-class athlete would qualify. That's exactly what Mark Sisson is which explains why he is the perfect person to create a business called Primal Nutrition.
You may recall when I blogged earlier this year about Mark's incredibly entertaining and educational blog called Mark's Daily Apple where he espouses healthy living the low-carb way. Mark and I have a mutual respect for each other since our basic dietary and blogging philosophies are mirror images. You could even sense that when he interviewed me for his blog back in March.
But Mark Sisson is a much more professionally qualified health and fitness blogger than I'll ever be because he was a key player in bringing the triathlon to the Olympic games as an official sport. Yep, Mark is a bona fide athlete who deserves to be heard because he knows from whence he speaks.
When he retired from professional competition, Mark decided he wanted to build upon his own personal health experiences to provide high-quality supplement information and products to the public. He began by publishing numerous articles on fitness, health and wellness which you can enjoy at his blog as well as at my LowCarbNewsline.com web site now (check out his latest column making the "Case Against Cardio"--AN INSTANT CLASSIC!). Additionally, he has been interviewed by the health and fitness media as well as participating as an in-demand consultant in professional sports.
Prior to founding Primal Nutrition in 1996, Mark was the chief operating officer and head of research & development for America's #1 top direct-to-consumer nutritional supplement company. In other words, he has a solid reputation for knowing his stuff as it relates to vitamins and supplements.
As a strong supporter of livin' la vida low-carb, Mark wants to help his fellow low-carbers get the most potent, complete, cutting-edge, premium nutritional supplements available on the market today. He knows you don't have time to research the ingredients in thousands of bottles with stuff you can't even pronounce in them! That's why he created Primal Nutrition.
The first thing you'll notice is the product line is quite small--JUST FOUR BASICS IN ALL! But that's by design. Mark wants people to get what they need to be healthy and then just live their life without worrying about whether they are getting the right supplements or not. Primal Nutrition gives you the peace of mind to know you are.
No matter how young or old you are, these supplements will help with such health ailments as aging, blood sugar control, weight and pain management, mental health, sleep, performance, energy, and more. As a 52-year old man, Mark knows firsthand how important it is to remain healthy as your body naturally matures and goes through the life cycle. He's living proof it CAN be done!
I have personally used the multivitamin packs, omega supplements, and Responsibly Slim products for the past month and would like to share my experiences with each.
DAMAGE CONTROL MASTER FORMULA
Most of you know I have been a big proponent of taking at the very least a multivitamin when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Regardless of your dietary preference, though, a solid multivitamin will help ensure you are getting exactly what you need nutritionally.
This beautifully-packaged product holds a one-month supply of 60 little waterproof packets each containing six capsules (taken twice daily!) with the right amount of 51 healthy nutrients your body needs (you can see a complete listing of these nutrients by clicking here). If you were to try to purchase all of these on your own, you could very easily spend up to $500 for just a one-month supply of products you can't be sure about! Yikes!
I replaced much of my supplementation (except fish oil which I'll discuss in a moment) by switching to the Damage Control Master Formula and feel absolutely fantastic. It sure is convenient just ripping an easy-to-open packet of six capsules in the morning and then again at night instead of opening 8 or 9 different bottles as I have been doing for the past three years. Not anymore!
This literally is a premium multivitamin for anyone looking to get everything they need in one dose. You'll be interested to know that there's also a "junior" version with 42 vital nutrients as well as a basic "budget-conscious" version that is perfect for children and youth. You'll never have to worry about your multivitamin again!
VITAL OMEGAS
I love my fish oil supplements and consider them a key part of my low-carb lifestyle. There are so many health benefits from adding this supplement to your diet that I don't know anyone who shouldn't be taking it. But getting the wrong kind can actually cause damage to your body rather than help it. EEEK!
One of the most common problems with fish oil capsules is most of them go rancid sitting on the shelf in the drugstore or at Wal-mart for months on end. One surefire way of knowing whether your fish oil supplement is rancid or not is if you have fishy burps soon after taking them. Not good!
That's what I have enjoyed about taking the Vital Omegas. No more fishy burps, so I KNOW I'm getting a top-of-the-line fish oil supplement that will help rather than harm me. This is the purest, most concentrated form of fish oil I've seen available on the market today--BAR NONE!
RESPONSIBLY SLIM
When you are livin' la vida low-carb, protein is a crucial part of your weight loss and muscle-building routine. Most protein powders are simply overloaded with sugar and lack enough fiber to be as useful to the people using them. That's what makes Responsibly Slim protein powder different.
It is both high-protein (24g) and high-fiber (8g) to give you a nice one-two punch in your weight loss routine. Responsibly Slim comes in either chocolate or vanilla flavors and tastes fantastic. I've had the chocolate and mixed it with water and ice in a blender for a delicious low-carb snack or meal replacement.
One word of caution for people on Induction or in the early stages of livin' la vida low-carb: Responsibly Slim contains 7g sugar per serving to improve the taste and texture. However, those low-carbers who are in the midst of or near their goal weight with a higher carbohydrate allowance can add this product into their routine.
Take a moment and check out Mark Sisson's Primal Nutrition health supplements for yourself sometime! They will help you become healthier that you ever thought possible!
Forget your typical diet food, how about some low-carb chili dogs?
I'm fully convinced that I've got some of the most clever and imaginative blog readers on the Internet today. If I never researched another topic again and just published all the e-mails I receive on a daily basis (hundreds!), then an entire blog would get filled with all sorts of interesting stuff (hey, that may not be a bad idea creating a "Jimmy Moore's Mailbag" blog or something...I'll think about it!).
One of my favorite kinds of e-mails are from people who want to share something they have done to help them as they are livin' la vida low-carb. I received an e-mail from a Delaware man who came up with the perfect "low-carb recipe for some MAN food." What's that? Well, I'll let him explain it to you.
"Enough of the salads and the stuff the persons of the female persuasion and the rabbits and birds are into," he wrote in his e-mail.
HA! Amen brother! And so this regular reader of my blog passed along the following recipe to share with you that has been the mainstay of his low-carb diet in recent weeks helping him lose 24 pounds in about three weeks. COOL!
Check it out for yourself:
HOMEMADE LOW-CARB CHILI DOGS (aka "MAN food")
2 pounds ground sirloin 1 bag of your favorite chili mix (discard flour and beans) 1 large onion, chopped 1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce 1 8 oz. can of stewed tomatoes with liquid (optional) 1 package of your favorite all beef franks Your favorite cheese
Cook up the ground sirloin in a skillet to your personal preference and then mix in a bag of chili mix only (no flour or beans please).
Next, add a chopped up a Vidalia or any large onion along with the tomato sauce and stewed tomatoes with the liquid. The tomatoes are indeed optional if you want to cut the carbs. Simply use 2 cups of water instead but the tomatoes are better because they don't add that many more carbs to the recipe.
Fry up a couple of all beef franks (Ball Park or Hebrew National are the best!) and spoon the chili over the dogs (without the bun of course). You can even sprinkle some extra chili powder over the whole thing.
Then top it all off with your favorite lower fat cheese--I use and love mozzarella.
That's it and you've got some "MAN food" indeed! Here's how my reader describes this dish he created:
"Man, you'll think you died and went to heaven, trust me on this one my Ol' Skinny Pal. I've been hooked on this dish for two weeks now and don't foresee getting tired of it--ever! Heck, I might eat it for lunch AND dinner from here on out because I'm losing 1/2 pound to 1 pound a day."
Well, he obviously LOVES it, so I encourage you to give it a try, too! Before he ended his enthusiastic e-mail to me, my reader had one message that he wanted to share with the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog readers that I wholeheartedly endorse.
"God Bless everyone who is struggling with their weight. We may fail a thousand times, but that's okay. We just need to succeed ONCE and then we're home free."
I couldn't have said it better myself! :) Now, off to make some "MAN food!"
