There are two ends of the spectrum when people start talking about being on the "Atkins diet"--either they are simply cutting back on their carbohydrates and consuming whatever amounts of meat, cheese, eggs, and bacon they choose to eat or they are following the plan that was written and promoted by the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins in his various books, most notably Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution.
It's amazing how people can get away with describing both of these as the "Atkins diet" when only those people who have educated themselves about this way of eating in the latter group can honestly say that. Even worse, we've got people who try to debate the Atkins diet without ever seeing what Dr. Atkins wrote. Come on, that's just plain ignorant if you ask me. So I'm ready to help do something about this lack of understanding about the Atkins diet starting right here and right now.
In Episode 48 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," my lovely wife Christine and I share about an Atkins Diet Startup Kit that we are making exclusively available to anyone who wishes to learn more about this healthy and delicious low-carb nutritional approach. With all the mounds of misinformation and confusion that has been generated by those so-called health "experts" and the media about this wonderful dietary plan that helped me shed 180 pounds in 2004, why wouldn't you just want to learn more about what it's all about? That's precisely what this 6-item kit will do--EDUCATE!
Learn more about what's in the Atkins Diet Startup Kit in today's video:
Here's a recap of the materials included in this package:
- Why & How It Works video - Staying Slim & Health video - Atkins diet workbook - Atkins meal planner (recipes) - Atkins easy carb gram counter - Basic diet manual
These materials certainly do not replace what you get in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution or any of his other books. But they do complement those books by putting the Atkins diet in clear and understandable language using a 3-part video explanation of the nutritional plan from Dr. Atkins himself, workbooks and information sheets to help you personalize your low-carb Atkins plan, and then practical information on carb counts, recipes, and other essential information to go on the REAL Atkins diet the right way. This is about a $100 value worth of materials that you can't purchase anywhere else and it's all yours for only $25 (plus FREE PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING!).
Yes, you get the two videos, the big workbook, the recipe book, the carb gram counter book, and the basics guide to take when traveling all for the flat cost of $25. This includes your PRIORITY MAIL shipping, so you'll get it quickly when you place your order. Please contact me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and we'll work out arrangements to ship your materials. I want to get these materials about the Atkins diet into the hands of people who genuinely want to learn what this specific diet plan is all about. There are no more excuses for thinking the Atkins diet is just bacon-wrapped-butter-and-brie (maybe Dr. Dean Ornish should buy this kit--HE MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING!).
Give us your feedback on our videos by e-mailing livinlowcarbman@charter.net anytime. We appreciate hearing from you and will possibly use your show ideas in a future video. Watch our previous YouTube videos and join the ever-growing list of people who now subscribe to our YouTube videos. THANK YOU for your support of our video series on YouTube and we'll keep 'em coming!
Is your low-carb diet relying too much on Ketostix?
One of the most interesting tools we have at our disposal when we start livin' la vida low-carb to let us know whether we are doing it right or not is a testing strip that measures ketone levels called Ketostix (there are other brand names for ketone sticks, but this one from Bayer is the most common). Basically, here's how it works: you can check your urine on this testing strip to see how many ketone bodies you are excreting out of your body. Ketones are present when you are in ketosis which is instigated when you keep your carbohydrates at a ketogenic level (usually under 50g carbs daily).
I recently asked a group of low-carb experts the following question--"Is Ketosis Necessary On A Low-Carb Diet?" That seems to be a "well duh" kind of question which is why we use things like Ketostix to see whether we are in ketosis or not. But where people seem to get most confused is with the color of the testing strip. If it's light pink, then I must be doing something wrong. My Ketostix need to be dark purple if I am experiencing "deep" ketosis, right? I get these kind of questions every single week and they miss the point of the testing strips.
In Episode 47 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I seek to better explain the purpose of Ketostix by telling you what they are for, what the various colors actually mean, why showing no ketones on these strips may not be a bad thing, and how you can virtually guarantee your body is in ketosis. I'm astonished by how many people are still so concerned about the results of their Ketostix, but hopefully this video will clear up some of the miscommunication.
Find out all you need to know about Ketostix in today's video:
Noted biochemistry professor Dr. Richard Feinman from SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, New York provided a very succinct explanation for how these Ketostix are supposed to work:
"There is a continuum of ketosis. In fact, one of the features of ketone bodies is that, unlike other fuels, glucose and fatty acids, they can be present in plasma over a wide range of concentrations. What is true is that Ketostix measure ketonuria (ketones in the urine) which may or may not give you an accurate view of plasma ketone bodies. If ketone bodies are used as fast as they are made, you may never see ketosis."
This should give those people who see pink or even beige on the ketone testing strips hope that they are indeed in ketosis even if the tests say otherwise. The bottom line you should remember is that Ketostix are merely a low-carb guide to provide proof that you are livin' la vida low-carb in a ketogenic state, but they're really not that necessary if you are keeping your carbohydrates significantly reduced below 50g daily. When you are doing that, then you WILL be in ketosis. Hopefully this clears up some of the confusion about why some people seek purple and others see pink or beige.
"The Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Isabeau Miller
Also in today's video, Christine and I share about our upcoming trip to Nashville, Tennessee to attend "Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Isabeau Miller's FitCamp. Since landing in the final four last Fall on the hit NBC-TV weight loss reality series, Isabeau Miller has taken her passion for her own personal weight loss journey and is now helping others who struggle with obesity like she once did before Jillian Michaels got a hold of her tail and whipped it into shape. Today she is a personal trainer and is giving me and several of my readers a chance to experience what it was like to be on "The Biggest Loser" over a special two-week period.
The first session of FitCamp in July just concluded and our session in August will commence on August 17th. We will be doing a daily video log of this experience and sharing it on YouTube as part of a FitCamp series of videos. Isabeau said she will not be allowed to be videotaped because of contractual obligations from her stint on "The Biggest Loser." But I'm gonna ask permission from the other people who will be there going through this experience with me to talk about how FitCamp is helping them. I am super-excited about this, especially in light of my recent 30-pound weight gain I've experienced. Perhaps this will get me back to where I need to be. I sure hope so. :)
We LOVE making videos for you and doing them on topics that YOU care about. Tell us your show ideas for future videos by e-mailing them to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Check through all of our previous YouTube videos to make sure we haven't already tackled your favorite subject! While we were away last week, there was a sudden surge of people decided to subscribe to our YouTube videos and now we have well over 600 subscribers! WOW! Join in on the low-carb fun on YouTube and help us spread the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb to the masses!
Don't you know that your body needs carbs in order to function properly?! Come on, you idiot low-carb supporters, how can you tell people to cut down or even eliminate most of their dietary carbohydrate intake from things like healthy whole grain foods like brown rice and pasta and even fruits and vegetables? What kind of reasonable diet would suggest you remove whole categories of foods like this in order to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, hmmmm? Well? WELL?!?! How about it Mr. Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man?!
Siiiiiiiiiiggggghhhhh. That, my friends, is just a typical day in the life of what I put up with in my e-mail box most of the time. People have become so incredibly misinformed about diet and health that they are content with merely repeating back the same old diatribes from those so-called health "experts." It really is a pity that more people can't learn to think for themselves by getting all the facts, analyzing them carefully with the intent on learning the truth, and then applying that knowledge to their own personal experience while sharing it with others. That's what I try to do here at my blog and all my other projects.
It certainly gives you more credibility if you constantly remain a student of health whether you are a doctor, dietitian, nurse, or even a low-carb blogger. I may not have a bunch of letters after my name (although I do have an M.A. in Public Policy...does that count?), I have worked hard to NEVER stop soaking in every bit of information that I can about health so I can share what I discover with you. Then, hopefully you can take that knowledge, apply what is relevant to your own life, share it with someone else, and continue to education further. We live in an age of information and ignorance is no longer a viable excuse--especially on the subject of diet and health.
In Episode 45 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I wanted to share with the YouTube viewers about a word that is inextricably linked to low-carb dieting, but you really don't hear about it much outside the realm of low-carb research. The word is gluconeogenesis and I contend every single person who is on a carbohydrate-restricted or even a zero carb diet needs to know about this word. I've blogged about it and even did a podcast show on it, but this is much too important a concept for people to miss. Although gluconeogenesis (GNG) is rather complex from a metabolic standpoint looking at all the biochemistry that's involved. Check out this T-shirt from The Nutrition & Metabolism Society that illustrates all the pathways involved with GNG:
Order one of these "geeky" shirts TODAY by clicking here
Learn more about gluconeogenesis in today's video:
Since I uploaded this video to YouTube, there has been some confusion about what I shared in it about how the protein is converted into glucose. My friend Charles Washington, the zero-carb half-marathon runner who recently wrote a guest blog post said it seemed like I was saying that ALL protein gets converted to glucose. I certainly don't want to mislead anyone in that direction because it's not a one for one ratio of conversion. Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University says the studies he has seen say for every 2g of dietary protein consumed, one gram of it is converted to glucose/sugar/carbs. So it's about a 2-1 ratio of conversion which could cause SOME people problems who are especially carbohydrate sensitive (like me!).
This is what I was referring to when I said eating too much protein could POSSIBLY stall your weight loss if you are especially sensitive to carbohydrate whether through eating them or through gluconeogenesis. In looking at some of the reasons for my own struggle this year to get my weight back down despite doing all the right things, gluconeogenesis has come up as a possible culprit for my difficulty. Perhaps for me I need to be eating LESS protein than I currently am while increasing my fat and keeping my carbs to a minimum. This isn't a universal thing for everyone and could be genetic in nature. I'll be blogging more with an update about my weight and health situation very soon.
You guys are awesome for watching our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" videos and we appreciate hearing your comments about them and suggestions for future topics at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Don't miss our previous YouTube videos and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube videos if you like what you see. THANK YOU for all of your support and, as always, let us know how we can help you along in this journey to better health. Keep on livin' la vida low-carb! :D
After lots of trail and error, this cheesecake is perfect!
One of the best desserts for people on the low-carb lifestyle is a cheesecake. It's so easy to make this dessert low-carb because pretty much all you have to do is substitute the sugar for an alternative sweetener. Cream cheese is low-carb as are most of the other ingredients in a good recipe. In fact, I shared this no-bake cheesecake recipe a few months back and it was pretty good. But there's something about a baked cheesecake that is so delicious I just had to create one.
In Episode 43 and Episode 44 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I show you step-by-step how we make this recipe in not just one but two videos. It took a while to get this to come out exactly like I wanted it, but this is pretty darn close to perfect. :) I hope you enjoy it!
Watch these videos back-to-back to see this recipe from start to finish:
Here's the recipe in its entirety in case you missed anything:
JIMMY MOORE'S PERFECT LOW-CARB KEY LIME CHEESECAKE
3 eggs whites Pinch of cream of tartar 8 packets of True Lime 3/4 cup of heavy cream 1/2 cup erythritol (or equivalent sweetener) 2 eight-oz. boxes cream cheese 2 large eggs Dash of True Lemon Dash of ground nutmeg Dash of ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl pour the egg whites, cream of tartar and True Lime in it and beat with a mixer for 3-4 minutes until beyond frothy and thick.
Add the heavy whipping cream and beat until thick again. Then add the erythritol or equivalent sweetener and whip into the mixture.
Take the softened cream cheese and slowly incorporate it into the mixture with a low setting on your mixer until this gets really thick. Add 2 whole eggs and mix together. Throw in a dash of True Lemon, a dash of nutmeg, and a dash of cinnamon and beat into cheesecake batter.
Carefully pour the cheesecake batter into a small non-stick pan sprayed with Pam and spread out evenly in the bottom of the pan. Place inside oven and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown along the edges of the cheesecake.
Allow to cool 45-60 minutes before slicing and preferably 4 hours of refrigeration for maximum thickness. Place a dollop of whipped cream on top for a low-carb dessert made in heaven!
The low-carb blogging community has grown by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years as I often highlight the literally HUNDREDS of brand new ones that have been created by people just like you who have gone on a low-carb diet and seen extraordinary improvements in their weight and health that they can't wait to talk about. That's the beauty of this way of eating--you try it, you like it, you see results from it, and then you can't shut up about it! :D That's the power of livin' la vida low-carb, baby!!!
In Episode 42 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I talk about why it is important for low-carbers to start their own blogs and/or YouTube videos in our society hellbent on erroneously portraying the healthy low-carb lifestyle as a dangerous "fad" diet that is gonna kill you. The reality is the government-recommended high-carb, low-fat diet is wreaking more havoc on the weight and health of average, everyday people who think that's the ONLY way to healthfully shed the pounds. We know better and it's high time we share our experiences with others so they can learn the truth about low-carb living. What better way than writing a blog or recording some YouTube videos, right?
Find out why YOU should have your own low-carb blog in today's video:
When I decided to start writing about my experiences on the Atkins low-carb diet in April 2005, I had no idea if anybody would ever actually read what I had to say. That really didn't matter to me as much as having an outlet for simply sharing my experiences with others so they can see what was happening to me. As the readership began to grow and grow, I realized just how important being active in this new media really is in a society where blogs, podcasts, and YouTube videos are where people are getting their information. YOU can be a part of all of that, too, and it's so super simple to sign up for a FREE blog.
If you wanna see a comprehensive list of most of the low-carb blogs out there, then go to my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog and look down the right-hand side panel. There you will find more low-carb blogs than you could ever visit in a lifetime! But these are the trailblazers in my mind because they have chosen to put themselves out there for all the world to see their progress on the low-carb lifestyle. With a united front of low-carb bloggers, we can show that livin' la vida low-carb is indeed here to stay because of the enormous impact it has had on our lives. And that's what low-carb blogging is all about!
Do you have a low-carb blog that you'd like for me to know about? I regularly post links to brand new low-carb blogs that I find while surfing around the Internet, but I don't always catch them all. Send your low-carb blog's URL to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and I will make sure it gets mentioned in my next low-carb blogs update coming soon. And the same goes for low-carb YouTube videos--put yourself out there like these people have and you'll be astonished at the feedback you will get. Let's start a new low-carb revolution and be world changers in the process! :D Who's with me?!
Christine and I appreciate you watching our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" videos and welcome your feedback and ideas at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Check out our previous YouTube videos and join the more than 500 people who subscribe to our YouTube videos so you will never miss a single episode. We appreciate your dedication to the work we are doing and want to THANK YOU for the special uplifting and encouraging notes you send us in e-mails and in the comments section of our videos. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
By the way, how do you like my new blond hairdo as well as Christine's blond highlights? :)
Creating a menu of food choices on the Induction phase of the low-carb lifestyle can be somewhat of a challenge to the newbie. We've all been there wondering what in the world we're gonna eat with those 20 grams of carbohydrates in our meal budget. It can be intimidating if you're not used to eating this way, but with a little guidance about what you CAN eat will make this process a whole lot easier. :)
In Episode 41 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I finish up with our dos and don'ts of Induction series we started in Episode 38, Episode 39, and Episode 40 by giving some last minute tips and reminders summarizing all we've shared over the past few weeks. Then we give you some easy-to-follow Induction-friendly menu planning for people who aren't sure what they're supposed to be eating on this important starting phase of livin' la vida low-carb. This will get you started off right!
Get help with your low-carb Induction menus in today's video:
The main point you want to remember in your menu planning is to eat fat and protein at each meal and keep your carbs to a bare minimum primarily from non-starchy and green leafy vegetables. If you do that, then there's no reason why you can't be a phenomenal weight loss success and experience vast improvements in your health that go beyond anything you could have ever hoped or imagined. Trust me, it WILL happen if you do this right. MAKE IT HAPPEN for yourself and reap the benefits of healthy low-carb living.
THANK YOU for watching our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" videos and we'd love to hear your video ideas and feedback anything by e-mailing us at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Access our archive of over 40 previous YouTube videos and be sure to join the nearly 500 people who subscribe to our YouTube videos so far. There are brand new viewers each and every week, so I hope you become a part of that growing community. You guys are the best and make the work I do such a pleasure. God bless you! :D
Basics, basics, basics! If you don't even know the bare-bones information about the Induction phase of livin' la vida low-carb, then you can never fully experience all the wonderful benefits this way of eating can afford you. It's one of the reasons why I have been dedicated to sharing this information in my latest YouTube videos. While this doesn't replace what you can learn from Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution or Protein Power, for example, hopefully it will get you started the right way.
In Episode 40 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I yet again continue what we started in Episode 38 and then in Episode 39 discussing some more of the dos and don'ts of low-carb Induction. In this episode, we discuss the beverages you can drink during Induction, what vitamins you should take during this phase, whether alcohol is permitted or not, and how much food you are supposed to eat. Whether this is brand new and old hat to you, let this be a great refresher course about low-carb Induction.
See even more dos and don'ts of low-carb Induction in today's video:
We'll be sharing some more tips and advice about low-carb Induction as well as menu planning ideas for Induction in our next YouTube video. Let us know what you'd like to see in future videos in our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" series by e-mailing your ideas to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Check out our previous YouTube videos and subscribe to our YouTube feed. We are thankful for your support of our videos, so THANK YOU for watching! :D
Dr. Julie Kahn tells us about the unique role of diet in fertility
One of the most precious miracles that we are able to witness and experience in our lives is the creation and development of a baby boy or girl inside of a mother's womb. Procreating is arguably the most amazing thing human beings are able to do, but how often do we take it for granted? Are there things we can do even before conception that will enable us to give that soon-to-be baby the best chance at being healthy?
In Episode 141 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," we get the answers to those questions and more from a bona fide expert in the field named Dr. Julie Kahn from The Institute for Progressive Medicine. She is a naturopathic physician with specialization in infertility, gynecology, nutrition, functional endocrinology, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, environmental medicine, and cranialsacral therapy. In other words, she's MORE THAN QUALIFIED to speak about the indelible connection between diet and fertility and we're pleased to offer this interview with her on my podcast today.
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 141:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 141 [30:07m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
Dr. Kahn hit on quite a few topics in this podcast, including what meats are best for fertility, which kinds of carbs are worst for fertility, what is the impact of soy for both men and women while trying to conceive, are supplements required when eating the recommended fertility diet, and ways you can avoid harmful chemicals around the house to eliminate the toxins the can cause problems when attempting to conceive. Considering all that Christine and I went through trying to get pregnant via in-vitro fertilization in December 2007, we thought it would be nice to interview an expert in this field to help other hopeful parents put themselves in the best position possible to start their own family.
I was especially impressed with Dr. Kahn's preference for natural ways to improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy. Too often doctors overlook how important a solid healthy diet and a toxic-free environment is for people wanting to have a baby. She provides practical ways to make your diet better and improving the way you live your life in the day-to-day so you can put your best foot forward in your efforts to conceive. If you or someone you know is trying to have a little one, then you need to listen to this podcast interview with Dr. Julie Kahn! :)
Hear directly from experts like Dr. Julie Kahn anytime by:
What are your thoughts about preconception healthcare as described by Dr. Kahn in my interview with her? Do you buy into the notion that it is necessary to begin changing your diet and lifestyle long before conception? Talk about this issue in the show notes section of Episode 141. What are your experiences in this area? Leave us feedback by calling our comment line at (206) 202-6516.
Coming up on Thursday, we will be sharing my interview with Cracking The Metabolic Code author Dr. Jim LaValle. This low-carb doctor is changing the lives of real people suffering from all sorts of health problems simply by getting them to examine the quality of the food they are putting in their mouth. It will be a fascinating discussion as we continue my interview series on "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore." THANK YOU for listening!
Understanding the basics of low-carb Induction is essential to your success on a carbohydrate-controlled diet. This minimum two-week period where you are transforming your body from a futile carb-burning pariah into a supercharged fat-burning powerhouse is arguably the most important facet of your entire low-carb lifestyle. If you can figure out Induction and do it well, then there's no reason at all why you can't be success livin' la vida low-carb for life!
In Episode 39 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I continue what we started in our previous video discussing the Induction phase of low-carb living. Getting down these basic dos and don'ts of low-carb are essential to your eventual progress in both weight loss and improved health. Today's video is merely Part 1 of a series of upcoming videos we will be conducting on this subject. If you get this, then YOU GOT IT! And when you truly "get it," there's no stopping you! :D
See some of the dos and don'ts of low-carb Induction in today's video:
This video shares some excellent low-carb Induction snack ideas to complement your low-carb meals, explains what the most important macronutrient to restrict is, shows you which fats and oils are preferred, details how to make a great low-carb salad, and reveals which sweeteners are best when you are livin' la vida low-carb. You should reference these videos about Induction over and over again whenever you need a quick refresher course. Coming up in our next video, we'll talk about what you can drink, vitamins, fish oil supplements, alcohol, and SO MUCH MORE!
Watch all of our previous YouTube videos and be sure to join the ever-increasing group of subscribers so you'll never miss the new episodes of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" when we upload them. E-mail us what's on your mind anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and be sure to tell everyone you know about our videos. We love making them, so share 'em with others! :D
Christine's Triglycerides Plummet 55% In Just Six Weeks On A Truly Low-Carb Diet
My wife Christine should be smiling with this great news
It's one thing to share with you the latest research and scientific studies that highlight the healthy benefits of carbohydrate restriction. But today I am overjoyed and jubilant to report to you the amazingly fast health improvements that are happening for the love of my life, Christine. This is absolutely incredible!
You'll recall less than two months ago when I reported to you that despite eating a lower-carb diet, which helped Christine drop 35 pounds last year, her triglycerides actually rose to 293 in March 2008 and opened her eyes to the damaging effect that carbohydrates were having on her health despite the fact her weight had gone down. It was a great reminder that livin' la vida low-carb is not just some quick fix weight loss regimen as it has often been portrayed by the media and those ever-so-present health "experts" out there who think they know how we're supposed to eat. Instead, it is a permanent lifestyle change that will improve virtually every single aspect of your health forever.
And Christine is living proof of that! After seeing nearly 300 for her triglycerides, we put together a solid plan of action to combat this problem head-on. She immediately gave up the M&M's, breaded meats, French fries, and buns she had been eating and replaced them with Atkins bars, low-carb wraps, cheese, and other delicious and nutritious low-carb alternatives to these foods she loves. It was a difficult transition at first, but now she's coasting along well (of course, it doesn't hurt to have a hubby to keep her on the straight and narrow). :D
Nearly two weeks ago, Christine and I went to see Dr. Eric Westman in Durham, NC to have our blood drawn to evaluate our lipids. I was especially anxious to see what impact in just six weeks had been made to Christine's triglycerides. Additionally, her insulin level in that March blood test was at 13--considered on the low end of high. Would there be any measurable difference in her triglycerides and insulin levels in such a short period of time?
Lemme tell you--YEP, YEP, YEPPERS!
Hold on to your hats, people, because this will blow you away. After putting Christine on regular liquid fish oil supplements and requiring her to eat a truly low-carb diet which even included a few "products" that helped keep her away from the real stuff, the results were UNBELIEVABLE!
Check this out:
MARCH 2008--Triglycerides--293 MAY 2008--Triglycerides--132
That's not a misprint! Christine's triglycerides fell sharply by a total of 161 points--that's a mind-boggling 55 percent in only six weeks! Let me reiterate, this does not include the use of any drugs, just diet and fish oil supplements. Her dietitian recommended she exercise by walking as well, but she hasn't done a whole lot of that yet. I do have her doing some light resistance training which she surprisingly loves. I'm so proud of her progress!
Wanna know what's even more amazing about these changes--there was no significant weight loss associated with it. That's right! Christine has only lost about two pounds over that period which is statistically no change. So, despite all the chants from those illustrious health "experts" out there about improving your health just by "losing a little weight," the fact is that's not necessarily true when you implement the appropriate dietary changes into your routine. YEAH LOW-CARB!!!
As for her insulin levels which were previously at 13, they were cut nearly in half falling to 6.7. It was yet another tell-tale sign that livin' la vida low-carb was working to improve Christine's health and the results were immediate. When she saw these numbers for herself, you would have thought she'd just won the lottery she was so happy. And, in a sense, she did win the health lottery by correctly choosing the method that would restore her health to where it needed to be using a simple change in diet to make it happen.
Oh, I have to share with you the story about what happened when we returned to see the dietitian with these results. This was bent-over-in-pain hilarious!
The dietitian said to Christine, "Well, I guess my recommendations are working for you." That's when my dear wife chimed in and said, "No, I'm eating a low-carb diet and taking fish oil." The dietitian stammered a second and then said, "Oh...(awkward pause)...well I guess it's working." Uh, YA THINK?!
When her dietitian asked about exercise, Christine said she's not walking much, but she's lifting some light weights since I was helping her with that. The dietitian replied, "Well, your numbers will drop even more if you just go walking more." UGH! Nevermind the HUGE change in your triglycerides and insulin levels, you had better listen to me (because I know more than you) and exercise. These people seem to be on automatic mode sometimes! ARGH!
Hopefully this story about Christine will encourage you to keep at it with your low-carb lifestyle even if the scale isn't exactly cooperating for you right now. It's all about your health first and foremost and then the weight loss will come. Be encouraged my friends and NEVER GIVE UP! This is a lifelong journey that will includes some bumps along the way. It's not always an easy road, but it is one you'll never regret.
Send your congratulatory notes to Christine at muzikgirl@charter.net. She loves getting e-mails and will be thrilled to read your encouraging comments for her today.
For those of you who are wondering about my blood work, I'll be blogging about it very soon. I can tell you this--it will be shocking to some who believe in the traditional hypothesis regarding cholesterol, but it is right in line with what is considered healthy by the latest research on lipids. As soon as I get the final report with the particle size breakdown of my cholesterol strands, I'll share with you my numbers, too. Get ready to watch the low-fatties faint when they see my numbers!
Aida Mollenkamp has a new show coming to The Food Network
Do you like watching The Food Network as much as my wife Christine does? She's a bona fide junkie and I've actually grown to like many of the shows on there, too. Watching these professional cooking kings and queens do their thing making some of the most delicious food you've ever seen is fun. That's why the channel has been such an overwhelming hit with viewers over the years.
In Episode 37 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I share with you about another brand new show (like this one I recently blogged about) coming to The Food Network beginning on August 2, 2008 at 12:30pm/11:30 CST--it's called "Ask Aida". Featuring the lovely and talented Aida Mollenkamp, the premise of this new show is to let Aida fix your culinary conundrums during her broadcast. She is soliciting people to send her a video of their cooking problems so she can help fix them. She's like a "Dear Abby" for the kitchen!
See my two submissions to "Ask Aida" in today's video:
Wanna see Aida discussing what she's looking for in her new show on The Food Network? Click here to access it now. Also, you can see my eggs video as well as my fried mashed cauliflower video (here's the recipe, by the way!) questions that I am asking Aida to help me answer. The producers are looking for energy, excitement, entertainment and engaging videos with interesting questions. So don't be shy! Give this a try and YOU could be appearing in this brand new television show starting in August. If you have any questions or simply want to submit your questions via e-mail, then send your feedback to AskAida@foodnetwork.com. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Our YouTube videos keep piling up and that's a good thing. If you've missed any previous episode, then don't worry: I've got 'em all compiled for you in one place so you can access them anytime. Of course, you can subscribe to our videos and never miss a future episode of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." Also, let us hear from you with whatever is on your mind. Feel free to e-mail me directly at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I hope you've been enjoying our videos as much as we do making them! :)
Kelly Damron talked with Christine and me about our infertility
Mother's Day is coming up again this Sunday and it's gonna be hard on me and Christine. Why when we both still have our mothers with us? Well, let's blame it on dashed hopes and dreams for parenthood...for now.
As many of you know who read about our failed IVF (in vitro fertilization) in December 2007, our quest to have a baby of our own was a difficult time in our life. In fact, we asked for your input about what we should do and what an incredible response you gave us! If I never said THANK YOU for all of the care and concern that so many of you offered, then please know how much we appreciated the many e-mails and cards. God bless you guys!
Fast forward a little more than four months. It's May and that's the month when we celebrate motherhood followed quickly in June with a similar dedication to fatherhood. While I am all for rejoicing those who have been blessed and privileged to be parents, it can be a difficult time for people like us and others who have not been able to have children and want them. And church is the worst!
I will never forget last Father's Day when the pastor of the church asked all the dads in the church to come to the altar for prayer and recognition. Christine and I sing in the choir and when the pastor made this announcement the entire male section of the choir evacuated the middle seats leaving me and a young unmarried guy. In the middle of the pastor's prayer, I could hear the unmistakable sound of my wife sobbing uncontrollably. When I heard this, I immediately went over to her and held Christine tightly. It's not something I ever want her to go through again.
So, with that said, we won't be going to church on Mother's Day on Sunday or on Father's Day next month. The pain is just too much to bear despite being in church. I wish there was a way churches could still honor mothers while simultaneously giving respect and prayer for those who WANT to be a mother (I've suggested this to my pastor and he said he would consider such changes). Unfortunately, that doesn't exist in a lot of churches right now, so it's just better to avoid those particular days altogether. We'll spend time with each other on Sunday and get back to church next week.
They were fortunate enough to have twin baby girls from their IVF cycle, but their marriage almost didn't make it. Today, they are a strong-knit family raising their gorgeous girls thankful for the blessings they have received knowing there are people like us out there who didn't have a happy ending to our story. And yet Kelly was impressed by how well we were doing so soon after our news when we met with her that she wanted to have us on her podcast show this week. We happily obliged!
You can listen to our appearance on the "Twin Peas Podcast" airing today as we share about all we went through with our IVF cycle that didn't work. We are very open and honest about how we feel, what we endured (especially Christine), how we feel today, and what role children may play in our future during this podcast show. I hope you give it a listen to hear our heart about this sensitive subject. It's as much a part of who I am now as livin' la vida low-carb.
Listen to Episode 5 of the "Tiny Toes Podcast" to hear Kelly's interview with us:
You may notice that Kelly's podcast show is produced by the same person who produces my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" podcast show. She recently joined the Disc of Light family of shows from producer extraordinaire Kevin Kennedy-Spaien. If you have a passion and zeal for something and feel like your voice should be heard on that subject, then let Kevin consult you on creating a podcast or blog. He's the best in the business of the new media (IMHO!), so let him help take you to that next level.
Let me know what you thought about our interview with Kelly Damron. :) Special thanks to her for allowing us to talk about our experiences and encourage others who are going through similar circumstances. Although it's not a happy subject, we realize that God has a greater purpose for our lives right now...without a child. That may change someday, but we have come to grips with our reality right now.
Have you ever wondered what an actual low-carber keeps in his refrigerator, freezer, and cabinets? Better yet, many people have asked me what I keep in my cupboards. So today I wanted to share a peek into where I keep the low-carb foods that go inside my body. This video was a load of fun to make and I think you'll enjoy it, too!
In Episode 35 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I give you a quick tour through our kitchen showing you a sampling of the kinds of foods that make up our low-carb lifestyles. The audio of the video didn't download to my desktop for some reason, so we had to do a voiceover in the studio. Although it wasn't what we originally wanted, I think it turned out pretty good. ENJOY!
Walk through the Moore household in today's video:
The low-carb lifestyle changed my life much more than physically
After you lose weight, a whole lot about your life changes. Besides the obvious physical differences in how you look and feel, there are some rather unexpected emotional and psychological issues that happen whether you know it or not. Some of them are good and others will blindside you if you aren't ready for them.
In Episode 34 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I talk about the amazing changes that happen in your life after experience low-carb weight loss. It's the fun part of going on the low-carb lifestyle being able to reap the rewards of your efforts and basking in the glory of achieving success and accomplishment when so many others have not been able to do the same. Hopefully seeing how our lives have changed following the low-carb miracle will encourage you in your lifestyle change.
See just a few ways our lives have changed in today's video:
In my book Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year, you will see exactly how much my life has changed since I was that 410-pound gargantuan man in January 2004 compared to the man I am today. The changes were dramatic and the way people treated me seemed to suddenly switch, too. To this day, that is the one thing that surprised me the most about my weight loss experience.
The book I wrote about my low-carb weight loss experience
Just a friendly reminder, you only have a few days left to enter my 3rd blogiversary giveaway contest, so be sure to sign up for your chance to win one of 100 great low-carb prizes! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Catch up on all our previous YouTube videos and then go subscribe to our videos for the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" series. E-mail us your thoughts and questions anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and feel free to share a topic of interest you would like for us to cover in a future video. THANK YOU for watching and supporting our YouTube videos.
Jimmy & Christine Moore Coming To Raleigh/Durham, NC On May 4th
We're coming to the Triangle area of North Carolina in early May
If you live in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, then Christine and I would absolutely LOVE to meet you when we come to the area for a visit on May 4-6, 2008. Please contact me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net if you would like to meet for dinner on Sunday, May 4th at 6pm.
We are deciding between two places to eat:
Rio Churrascaria at US1 and 64W in Cary, NC or the Golden Corral at 3800 N. Roxboro Road in Durham, NC. I didn't want to exclude anyone who wanted to come because they couldn't afford the Brazilian steakhouse, so let me know what you preference is for the meetup. I'll e-mail everyone back who plans on attending to let you know where we will be eating. :)
There's a great group of low-carbers in that area who try to meet up every once in a while called the "Triangle Low-Carb Cooking Meetup," so I hope we can have a good crowd show up. It's good when we can get together and exchange ideas about how to make the low-carb lifestyle work in our own lives by learning from the experiences of others. If you live in this area, then I sincerely hope you can come.
I have been invited to speak to the patients of low-carb diet clinician Dr. Eric Westman at Duke University on that Monday night and then check out his clinic on Tuesday morning before heading back a few hours south to my home in Spartanburg, SC. It'll be a fun time to talk about how livin' la vida low-carb has changed my life and I know there are a whole bunch of you who read my blog from the Triangle area.
If you're coming, then I will have a special prize for you as a gift of gratitude for coming out to see me and Christine. It would be a true honor to be able to meet you in person and share how low-carb living has impacted our lives for the better. Remember to e-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net if you are coming along with your preference about where to dine so we can know how many to plan for. SEE YA SOON! :)
Cybercrime is no less invasive than any other crime
These past couple of weeks have been rather interesting to say the least. As I detailed in this blog post last week, a hacker was able to invade and destroy my forum, steal money from my PayPal account, and then sneak a peek at my e-mail account. Violated doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel--angry, exposed, vulnerable, and victimized. What has happened to me should certainly serve as a lesson to anyone who chooses to be a member of the World Wide Web.
In Episode 33 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I talk very openly about all that has happened to us for the past two weeks since this hacker came into our lives attempting to destroy "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." While this person has certainly taken down my old forum for good (and I'm in the midst of having a new safer and more secure one created as we speak), everything else they have done has just been more annoying than anything. Several more things have happened in the meantime since my blog update last week, so watch this video to see what has been going on.
Check out all these "coincidental" events in today's video:
Although we enjoyed a great time at a low-carb conference in Phoenix, AZ last weekend, it was overshadowed by the cowardly acts of a cybercriminal who apparently had something against me personally to spread such vitriolic acts of destruction to my online property. The FBI has been contacted and they are considering opening a case to investigate this crime. The problem with these kinds of criminals is they are very difficult to catch. But if there's a way, you better believe we're gonna find it!
On a positive note, I wanted to remind you to enter my 3rd blogiversary giveaway contest where I have more than 50 great prizes to share with my readers. I was hoping to share these prizes with you this week, but my blog was temporarily suspended by Blogger on April 15th because their robots have identified it as a "spam" one. This usually takes a few days to clear up and I'm hoping to be able to start blogging again real soon. If you are reading this on my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, then you know I'm back up again. It's yet another piece of this wild and wacky puzzle that has been a part of my life these past couple of weeks.
If you want to find encouragement in your low-carb lifestyle, then you'll not want to miss a single one of our previous YouTube videos. Go ahead and subscribe to our videos to get your first glimpse of all the new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" episodes. E-mail us anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net because we love hearing from our viewers. Share your show ideas, feedback, and anything else that's on your mind. THANK YOU for your support!
This low-carb food pyramid kinda defines what low-carb means
Before you can enter a debate of ideas about anything, it's generally a good idea to define exactly what you mean when you say certain terms. One word that is lazily thrown around like everyone KNOWS exactly what it means (kinda like "love" is these days) is "low-carb." But you and I both know the definition of that word can vary greatly from one person to the next. It's part of what makes explaining livin' la vida low-carb to somebody that much more difficult. And let's not even get started on the marketing of "low-carb" products these days.
Find out what the word "low-carb" really means in today's video:
We already know that low-carb is the most nutrient-dense way to eat there is despite repeated claims by the media that the faddish low-carb "craze" is a whacked out way to eat. But you and I both know better because we live this lifestyle change day in and day out with amazing results. Anytime somebody questions my low-carb life, all I have to do is point to my weight loss and vastly improved health--shuts 'em up every time! How can they argue against positive personal experience? They can't!
Interestingly, people ask me "What is livin' la vida low-carb anyway?" all the time. Some wonder if it's a low-carb diet I came up with or what. I smile and say it's my way of expressing how the low-carb diet has radically changed my life forever. We all have our own little tweaks to make it work for us, but the basics are still there--keep your total carbohydrates (yes, even the so-called "healthy" whole grains) to a minimum, make sure you are eating enough fat for satiety and fuel (and whatever you do, don't mix low-carb with low-fat), and consume moderate amounts of protein at EVERY meal (again for satiety and weight loss). That's the template for a genuine low-carb diet that just plain works!
Watch any and all of our previous YouTube videos to get caught up on what we've done before. Make sure you also subscribe to our videos to join the hundreds who have become bona fide fans of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." Let us know what you think and how we can improve our videos by e-mailing us your thoughts at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. We look forward to bringing you some fun videos from the ASBP conference in Phoenix next week. SEE YA!
Delicious Satiatrim wards off hunger by increasing CCK in the body
Although a healthy low-carb lifestyle is an excellent way to naturally reduce hunger and increase the satisfaction you have with the foods you consume while losing weight, Satiatrim is a 50-calorie beverage that will help those of you who deal with getting hungry or have the propensity for overeating. If that's you, then listen up and find out more about this amazing new low-carb appetite-suppressing drink.
In Episode 31 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," the all-new and improved video series (check out the snazzy updated opening to the video along with a change in the format of the video itself--ENJOY!) focuses in on this product called Satiatrim and the impact it has on your body. There's an important hormone in your body called cholecystokinin, aka CCK (that's easier to say anyway!), that regulates how full you feel as you are eating and afterwards. Satiatrim greatly stimulates the production of this hormone.
Learn more about how Satiatrim can help you in today's video:
The good people at Satiatrim have an incredible offer for the readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. In addition to getting 20% off and FREE SHIPPING with any order, they also want to provide another $5 off of your order just by using the coupon code "JIMMY!" As Christine says in the video, my name is actually useful for something now. HA HA! Gee, THANKS honey!
If you could suppress your appetite before meals for around a dollar, then why wouldn't you do it? Try some Satiatrim and become a believer in it yourself, too! It's low-carb and comes in three yummy flavors--Chocolate, Vanilla, and Mixed Berry (our favorite!). Plus, if you're not completely satisfied, Satiatrim offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. But you're gonna fall in love with this stuff as much as we have!
Last week I shared with you about my wife Christine's latest physical which found her triglycerides were elevated despite following a lower-carb diet over the past year. She dropped 35 pounds, saw her HDL increase slightly to 57 and her LDL plummet by 50 points to below 100. All in all based on those numbers, she's in excellent health. There's only one problem--her triglycerides are at 297! EEEEEEK!
In Episode 30 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," we wanted to bring you up-to-date with this story I started in that blog post last week to let you know how our talk with the registered dietitian went, what plan of action we are taking to help bring those triglycerides way down, and to hear Christine's response to some of the comments that have been left about her health. It's good news because we now have a solid method for treating this rather than lamenting on what was done (or not done!) in the past.
Hear the surprising comments from Christine's dietitian in today's video:
We were kinda shocked to hear this dietitian talking about restricting carbohydrates and choosing good omega-3 fats to help lower triglycerides. YEAH!!! Maybe I've been too hard on dietitians in the past and there are a few diamonds in the rough (kinda like Monica Reinagel). While Christine's dietitian did spout the usual "saturated fat is bad for you" mumbo jumbo, she was dead on about carbs. It's a slow start, but I think the positive impact of livin' la vida low-carb among nutritionists is getting there.
My Wife Christine: The Perfect Example Of Why Low-Carb Isn't Just About Weight Loss
How can this beautiful face be anything but healthy?
When most people talk about the low-carb lifestyle, the subject usually centers around weight loss. And naturally so! After all, books like Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, which totally changed my life forever for the better in 2004 when I lost a total of 180 pounds that year, are marketed as "diet" books. And bookstore shelves are absolutely LOADED with author after author touting this plan and that plan to help you lose the blubber.
But when we talk about "diet" in the full context of what that word really means, we're not just referring to weight loss. The simplest definition of a "diet" in my mind refers to "the way you eat." That's it! So, for people on any of the various low-carb diets like Atkins, Protein Power, South Beach, or The Zone, for example, the focus is on the mechanism that happens inside the body when you reduce your carbohydrate intake. And that is what produces the ever-elusive weight loss.
Yes, eating low-carb does indeed result in some rather spectacular weight loss. But the thing that amazed me more than anything about livin' la vida low-carb when I first started on it were the massive improvements in my health. I was taking prescription medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and breathing problems. Within nine months of my low-carb way of eating, I no longer needed those prescription drugs. And I've never taken another pill from a pharmacist since.
People e-mail me all the time wanting to know why they haven't lost weight on low-carb because the scale hasn't moved as fast as they were hoping. My response back to them is usually to remind them that at least they are losing weight and that their first and foremost priority when livin' la vida low-carb is NOT weight loss, but rather it should be their health. This is perhaps the most overlooked aspect of the low-carb life that is simply ignored by people who don't think it's necessarily something they need for their life.
Take, for example, a normal weight person. Most people would look at that individual and conclude that a low-carb diet is unnecessary for them because they're not overweight or obese and, thus, are healthy, right? Welllllll, not necessarily. And the same goes for an overweight or obese person. Just because they are carrying around a few extra pounds doesn't automatically mean they are unhealthy. Of course, the extra weight can lead to health issues in the long run, but it's not a perfect indicator of current health problems.
With that said, I wanted to share with you some rather startling results from a recent physical that my dear wife Christine had at her doctor. She started on a reduced-carb dietary approach about a year ago after her triglycerides had risen to a slightly-elevated 250. Her HDL was over 50 at the time and her LDL was over 140. Of course, the doctor was very concerned about this and wanted to put her on Lipitor, but her husband (that's me!) advised against it. That's why we tried low-carb for her.
In just a few short months, Christine dropped 35 pounds and was feeling a lot better by quitting sugary sodas and eating less carbohydrates than she was. Keep in mind that she has a much higher carb tolerance than I do. I have to keep my carbs below 50g daily or I gain weight whereas Christine can eat around 150g before weight starts to creep up on her. It's the difference in our metabolism and I'm cool with it (although watching her get away with eating more carbs is a bit frustrating...but I get over it!).
Since she got her weight back down by livin' la vida low-carb, Christine has allowed a few bad habits to creep back into her diet again--eating French fries (one of her favorite foods!) when we eat out, having breaded meats, eating sandwiches with the bun, and eating her favoritest candy in the whole widey-widey world--M&M's! Yes, old habits are hard to break, but as long as her weight was in check there wasn't a reason to panic.
Or was there.
Today we got the results of her blood work and one number stuck out like a sore thumb among all the others--HER TRIGLYCERIDES!!! While Christine's HDL rose slightly to 58 and her LDL plummeted to 94 without the use of that statin drug her doctor wanted to put her on, her triglycerides actually ROSE to 293. HOLY COW!!! Needless to say, she was quite upset by this and couldn't understand why her cholesterol improved, but her triglycerides didn't. And here's the crux of why I decided to write this blog post.
Christine is the perfect example of why low-carb isn't just about weight loss. Despite all her best efforts to reduce her sugar and carbohydrate intake from the levels she used to eat and the weight loss success she experienced as a result of doing that, her health in the form of her triglycerides did not see a benefit. Sure, her lipid profile was a positive, but what happened with her triglycerides?
Christine is looking at an anomaly of sorts. On the one hand, her cholesterol numbers are fabulous and keep her from ever having to consider the "s" word to lower them (not that she would!). But on the other hand, now her doctor wants to put her on a risky prescription drug called Lovaza to bring her triglycerides down. Christine got a big bag full of samples for her to try (HOO BOY!) and I am always curious to read the fine print about these wonder drugs.
Check out these disclaimers for Lovaza:
Before you take LOVAZA you should take these steps to control your very high triglyceride levels: modify your diet (YA THINK?!), lose weight if you are overweight, increase exercise and reduce alcohol use. Treatment with LOVAZA has not been shown to prevent heart attacks or strokes (EEEEEK! Then why would you want to take this drug in the first place?!). Burping, infection, flu-like symptoms, upset stomach, a change in your sense of taste, back pain and skin rash are LOVAZA’s most common side effects, but there are others.
Oh, is that all? Sheeez! Reading off all these potential side effects of medications designed to help improve your health is enough to make me nauseous (do they make a pill for THAT?!). As someone who has suffered with the negative side effects of statin drugs, if I can find a way to "modify" my diet to lower my triglycerides, then I will. And that's what we're gonna try with Christine instead of Lovaza.
Starting right now, she is on a strict low-carb diet. No more French fries, breaded chicken sandwiches, or M&Ms until we can get the triglycerides down (and hopefully after that, too!). It's not a weight loss thing...it's a HEALTH thing! And Christine now realizes that her lack of weight gain gave her a false sense of comfort with the way she was eating. How many others are walking around out there thinking they're okay when very clearly they are not? That's the question we should be asking about rather than what diet is good for weight loss.
Christine will go meet with a dietitian on Friday afternoon and I'll be sitting in the room with her during this conversation. We're bracing for the low-fat lecture, but I was encouraged to see on her chart that a 1600-2000 calorie diet consisting of low-glycemic foods with 35 percent fat was recommended alongside a moderate exercise routine. Considering her fasting insulin levels were also slightly elevated, this may be a plan for success. I'll be anxious to hear straight from the horse's mouth on Friday what she thinks about Christine's condition and hopefully it won't have anything to do with taking prescriptions of any kind.
We'll be meeting some of the best and brightest minds in the world of low-carb research next month in Phoenix, Arizona for a Nutrition & Metabolism symposium, so you bet we'll be asking them for their opinion about what Christine should do henceforth. But I open the floor to you my readers to share your comments about this and any personal or professional experience with what Christine is going through. I'm just surprised her cholesterol improved so much and her triglycerides did not. Any thoughts?
