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Monday, June 09, 2008

So Much Moore: Cavuto, Kevin, Oprah, Transcripts, & Forum

I like to keep the focus of this blog on the subject of low-carb and healthy living, but it is a blog written by a real person sitting behind a computer screen typing on a keyboard. So it's impossible for me to separate Jimmy Moore the guy who blogs about low-carb and Jimmy Moore the actual guy who does the blogging. We are as inseparable as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. :D

To that end, I want to share just a little bit Moore (sorry, I've never been able to resist that pun throughout my life!) about what's going on in my world right now. I can't tell you EVERYTHING or I'd have to kill you. Hee hee! Alrighty then, shall we update you on what's happening? Let's do it!

I ALMOST MADE IT ON FOX NEWS' NEIL CAVUTO SHOW TODAY

This morning I received a telephone call from a fellow diet and health colleague of mine (will remain unnamed) who was contacted by the producers of "Your World with Neil Cavuto" from the FOX News Channel about his reaction to the new Dreamworks film starring Jack Black called "Kung Fu Panda" portraying the main character as someone who is obese and everyone makes fun of him. Since this friend of mine was unable to do the show because of a prior commitment, he wanted to know if I would like to take his place. I said I hadn't seen the film yet (and really hadn't planned on it!), but it would be great to share some of my thoughts about the whole ridiculous "fat acceptance" movement that has crept into our society. So YEAH BABY!

I spoke with the producer several times this morning and in the early afternoon anxiously awaiting my chance to be on this popular afternoon cable business show. I even went through a mock interview with the producer to see how comfortable I was sharing my opinions on the phone to her as a gauge to see how I would do on camera. She liked what I had to say and here's just a little bit of my thoughts:

The bottom line in my mind is that obesity has become such an accepted thing in our society now that it's not out of place to make fun of fat people anymore like it is to use derogatory terms about race, sexual orientation, or gender. So a movie that shows a bunch of people making fun of the fat panda is part and parcel of what we expect nowadays. Is it right? Of course not. But that's where we are these days.

It does come down to the parents to make responsible decisions for their children and the actions they allow them to take. Fat kids don't sit around all day just stuffing their mouths with food as the stereotype (and this movie) portrays them. Instead, they probably feel guilty about eating and skip breakfast and probably lunch too and end up eating a hefty supper. Overweight and obese kids are ruthlessly picked on by their peers and that can drive a lot of kids to turn to food for comfort.

In "Kung Fu Panda," whenever the main panda character did something well, they rewarded him with food. Parents do the exact same thing with their kids giving them food as a reward when most children would probably enjoy other non-food rewards like a trip to a theme park, a favorite new toy, or even a trip to the movies. The responsibility for obesity isn't some mysterious disease, but the decision of the person who is fat. When you're talking about kids, though, that onus is on the parents.

Obese kids don't need to be told in a movie that they're fat--they know it already. As a former 400-pounder, I used to be the subject of stares from people who passed judgment on me because of my size. Of course, they had never met me nor had they been exposed to any of the reasons why I got to be the weight that I was at the time. That didn't matter because if you're fat, then it must mean you're a lazy slob who can't take care of yourself. While there may be some people like that, I don't agree that all overweight and obese people deserve to be characterized that way. It's just an unfair stereotype.


I was rip-roaring ready to go when about two hours before I was scheduled to appear on the show at 4:41pm EST, the phone rang and the dejected producer on the other end said she regretted to tell me that the satellite equipment for uploading video from my local FOX affiliate where my interview was gonna take place was busted. WHAT?! You have GOT to be kidding me! Of all the things that could have happened, this is what kept me from being on national television today. Oh well, life goes on.

The producer lady was VERY apologetic and upset that I wouldn't be on the show since I was a new guest they'd never had before and she was looking forward to having my perspective shared with their viewers. Before we hung up the phone, she did say that the next time they talk about something diet, health, and obesity-related, they'll be calling on me. I sure hope so and look forward to the opportunity. :)

MY BROTHER KEVIN IS BACK TO LOSING AGAIN...HOPEFULLY!

The last time I blogged an update on my brother Kevin's battle with obesity and health problems was in February, so I thought I'd share a quick message about what's happening with him. I just spoke with him over the weekend and he sounds pretty good. Since a few people took me to task the last time I blogged about Kevin because I would ask him about his weight, I have purposefully avoided even discussing the subject unless he brings it up. In our conversation on Sunday, Kevin said he's losing weight again. So I felt he was giving me permission to talk about it.

He said his girlfriend of six months recently told him, "You know, Kevin, I'd like you better if you weren't so big!" My brother is quite the sensitive type, so this really hurt him and he told that girl to take a hike. Why wait so long to bring something up like that?! Plus, Kevin revealed he had lost 40 pounds since February. When I spoke with Kevin before, he had gotten his weight down below 335, so I was thinking he was getting closer to 300 now. Nope.

I asked him what he currently weighs and he said he was DOWN to 346. Well, at least he's going down again...hopefully for good. I asked him what dietary approach he's using since the last time he was eating lower-carb. It was quite a shock to hear he went back to the diet his cardiologist put him on right after his heart attacks in 1999. What is he eating for breakfast? Hold on to your hats with this--Whole Grain Cheerios with skim milk, a banana, and a glass of orange juice. Be still my fluttering heart!

When I explained about how everything he was eating would lead to a major insulin response, which is made worse since Kevin is a Type 2 diabetic, he rationalized it and said that at least it was healthy stuff like whole grains and fruit. True, this is better than a McDonald's meal or some sugary pastry to start your day. But WOW! I hope he can stick with his chosen diet this time around because I'm afraid his chances of long-term survival get worse and worse with each passing year his weight remains elevated. That poor heart of his is doing all it can to keep him alive.

Kevin is a 40-year old man who can do what he needs to do for his weight and health. He doesn't need me telling him what he should eat or anything like that. I'll keep loving and supporting him because he is my one and only full-blooded brother. But I really don't want to see him die young either. THANK YOU to everyone who has offered up prayers for Kevin and I know they are what has kept him around longer than anyone expected. I'll let you know if Kevin continues to lose eating his low-fat, high-carb diet.

OPRAH CASTING WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESSES...YOU SHOULD TRY!

My readers are some of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. They send me all kinds of stuff about themselves or articles they've read somewhere. It's a neat community of people who all rally behind this message of livin' la vida low-carb. One of the things I've been receiving quite a bit lately is this link from "The Oprah Winfrey Show" requesting weight loss success stories. That's so thoughtful of people to think of me and encourage me to share my story with Oprah Winfrey. There's only one problem--I already have.

In 2005, right after I lost 180 pounds on the Atkins diet, I sent my story in to Oprah because she frequently features guests who have lost weight on her show. They acknowledged receipt of my request to be on the show, asked for pictures which I mailed to them just like they asked, and then I never heard back from them again except for a letter that said my information is now on file. Okay, great! But it's been three years since then and I've resent my information several times, including asking some friends and readers to mail personal letters about me to the Oprah producers. Nothing.

So, while I am flattered you would think enough of me to send me that link to the Oprah show, it doesn't appear they are even remotely interested in hearing my story. Perhaps my low-carb lifestyle has something to do with it since it doesn't really jive with what Dr. Mehmet Oz and Bob Greene have to say about a healthy diet. That's too bad because I think I have a story worthy of being on Oprah. Whether she chooses to give me a chance to share that story or not is up to her and her staff.

WHERE ARE THE TRANSCRIPTS TO YOUR PODCAST INTERVIEWS?

Several of you have been writing to me in recent weeks to inquire about my string of podcast interviews on "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore." Here's an example of what the e-mails are saying:

I really enjoy your blog, and would like to see/hear some of your podcasts and YouTube things, too. However, I am an antiquated computer-phobe and don't have speakers with my computer. Is there a way to see a transcript of some of your podcasts?

What a GREAT question and there's a simple answer: no. While I am a fast typer and can record interviews with all sorts of people in the world of diet and health, the reality is I'm a terrible transcriber. I remember in 2006 when I did a transcription of my FIRST interview with Dr. Dean Ornish, it took me about a week and a half to write out those 45 minutes of raw audio for my blog. I'm even BUSIER now than I was then, so it would be next to impossible for me to get anything else done if I tried to transcribe two interviews a week. EEEEK!

If I had unlimited resources, then I'd pay somebody to do it. Unfortunately, the work I do isn't making me tons and tons of money, so I'm pretty much a one-man show (except for the production of my podcast show done by my amazing producer Kevin Kennedy-Spaien). Reality is reality--I'm just happy to be able to share interviews in audio format and look at it just like radio. Can you get transcripts for radio? Nope. I hate that because there is some excellent information in my podcasts. Maybe this will be the impetus to get some speakers for your computer and upgrade so you can access the audio content. :)

MY NEW & IMPROVED FORUM IS OFF TO A BLAZING START

Have you been over to see the all-new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum yet? The membership there has built back up very quickly and many more are joining in on the conversation every single day. Most of your old friends and your favorite moderators are back as well, so I hope you come by and make yourself at home. We have some spirited, but respectful discussions there for all kinds of topics related to the low-carb lifestyle. JOIN TODAY! :D

I've got plenty more I could tell you about, but we'll leave it at that for right now. THANK YOU for reading and making the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog a regular part of your day. We'll still be here as long as you keep coming back. SEE YA!

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 108: Former 630-Pounder David Smith Drops 400 Pounds


David Smith from 630 to 229--a 401-pound weight loss!

Sometimes all we need to get us going on our personal journey to better health is to be inspired and motivated by others who have already done it. It's why so many people are attracted to my 180-pound Atkins weight loss success story and I'm all-too-eager to share with anyone who will listen how livin' la vida low-carb has changed my life forever! In fact, I always LOVE sharing other weight loss success stories with you as well and have I got one for you today!

In Episode 108 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" you get to hear about a remarkable man named David E. Smith. This guy used to weigh nearly ONE-THIRD OF A TON and was able to shed nearly two-thirds of his body weight en route to losing over 400 pounds!!! You've probably seen him featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, but we'll tell you all about his eye-popping weight loss success on today's podcast.

Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast:

icon for podpress "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 108 [12:17m]: LISTEN NOW | Download

Needless to say, David Smith was in pretty bad shape when he began his journey at 630 pounds. But thanks to the diet and exercise work of his personal trainer Chris Powell, David started a moderate exercise, lower-carb plan to shed those pounds off his body for good. If anyone thinks they're too big to start losing weight, then the turnaround that David has experienced in his life should prove to you that's dead wrong! Even the former "World's Heaviest Man" Manuel Uribe who started out at 1230 pounds has lost over 400 pounds and counting so far implementing the lower-carb Zone Diet strategies. You're NEVER too big and IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!

Stay inspired and motivated in your low-carb lifestyle by:

1. Listening at the official web site
2. Calling (818) 688-2763 to listen via Podlinez
3. Subscribing to the RSS feed
4. Going to iTunes--Click here to subscribe!

How about this 400-pound weight loss that David accomplished? Do hearing stories like this one get you fired up in your own weight loss journey? Has anyone been YOUR inspiration for losing the weight when you felt dejected and discouraged? We want to hear about it in the show notes section of Episode 108, so let's hear from YOU! Sometimes it only takes a small spark to light a fire within someone to FINALLY get serious about their weight. Let David E. Smith's weight loss success be that spark for you today!

THANK YOU for listening to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore."

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Monday, November 06, 2006

Former 'Fat Actress' Flashes Bikini On Oprah


If you're proud of your body after weight loss, then show it off!

Did you see the electrifying appearance of former "Cheers" star Kirstie Alley on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday? Seeing her flash that sexy body in a bikini in front of the millions of people who were watching was a breakthrough moment for Alley who has made a second career of sorts for herself around her personal struggles with her fluctuating weight on her hit autobiographical reality television series "Fat Actress."

But after losing 75 pounds as the spokesperson for the weight loss support system Jenny Craig, the 55-year old actress who portrayed the beloved character Rebecca Howe on the classic NBC comedy series "Cheers," made good on her promise to come back to visit Oprah wearing a bikini.

"I'm thinking this would be a really good challenge," Alley said several months ago when she appeared on Oprah. "If I don't make it, I'm really sorry. You can all come over to my house and see me in a bikini."

Well, she DID make it and strutted her stuff at her glorious reappearance on Monday. Alley said she mainly wanted to do it to inspire people of all ages to do something about their weight for the sake of their mental and emotional health more than anything else.

"We can decide to change anything -- at any age," Alley exclaimed. "What I hope for all women is they feel good about themselves, they look the way they want to look."

Amen! What an outstanding message for not just women, but men as well! One of the most depressing parts about being fat is the constant feeling of rejection, scorn and intense scrutiny by those who are supposedly "normal." Alley is living proof that you don't have to stay in that condition no matter what point you are in your life. It IS within your grasp to change!

Admitting she once downed a mind-boggling 8,000 calories daily when she "ate with wild abandon," Alley will now take her new-and-improved body and flaunt it some more in a series of television commercials and print advertisements for Jenny Craig. As well she should because the changes are utterly amazing!

A spokesperson for Jenny Craig said they will market Alley as an example of "empowerment for a healthy lifestyle and positive body self-image." CONGRATULATIONS to Kirstie Alley on her dramatic turnaround!

I always liked her on "Cheers." She was beautiful then and she's beautiful now. We need more actual examples in Hollywood that it's okay to have a problem with weight and then finding a weight loss method that works for you. That's the bottom line message of livin' la vida low-carb as well. Refuse to be tied down by the confines of what you are "supposed" to do and simply find what works for you.

If the Jenny Craig diet motivates you to get serious about your weight, then GO FOR IT! I'm completely in favor of people feeling 100% confident in the dietary method that they choose for themselves and to never stop doing those new habits for the rest of their life. Alley won't keep her weight off unless she continues on with the Jenny Craig plan. And I won't keep my nearly 200-pound weight loss if I ever stop livin' la vida low-carb.

It's all about making the right choices and letting them become a part of who you are. Settling into "diet" mode where you lose weight and then go back to eating like you used to is ridiculous. Do you think Kirstie Alley wants to gobble down 8,000 calories a day again! I don't think so!

Be encouraged by her sizzling weight loss success story and let it inspire you to begin taking your weight problem more seriously. Man, woman, boy or girl--THE TIME IS NOW TO LOSE THE WEIGHT! Don't wait until tomorrow, after the holidays, or next year. If you need to lose weight, start RIGHT NOW! Taking an interest in your health is not a luxury you need to play around with. Get your act together and never look back again. It's an experience like no other.

Just ask me or Kirstie Alley!

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Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Sent My Success Story To The Maury Povich Show

Since I haven't heard from the producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show about having me on their show to talk about my weight loss (it's probably because of HOW I lost the weight -- low-carb! -- more than anything), I decided to submit my story to another popular television talk show -- The Maury Povich Show.

The following is what I submitted on the Maury web site today:

Hey Maury,

My name is Jimmy Moore and I lost a grand total of 180 pounds in 2004 by following a healthy diet and exercise program. When I started at 410 pounds on January 1, 2004, I never thought I would get down to 230 pounds in just a year. But now I have a problem that I am hoping you can help me with.

As you have seen in the past with previous guests you have had who have also lost a lot of weight, there is an enormous amount of excess skin that hangs from the stomach and inner thighs. My waist size went from 62 down to 40 during my weight loss. I tell people that my skin had to go somewhere!

But, unfortunately, it's still there and is a huge discouragement to me. I just don't feel like the skinny person that other people tell me I am now because all I can see is a big pile of hanging skin looking back at me every single day when I look in the mirror.

I asked my health insurance company about helping me get the abdominoplasty surgery done and they have dismissed it as cosmetic only. I disagree. Having it done will improve my physical appearance by removing what my doctor says is about 15 pounds of loose skin, but it will also help my mental health by allowing me to appreciate my new body.

Maury, can you help fulfill my dream of helping me look like the skinny man that everyone else sees in me? I have kept the weight off for about 4 months and do not plan on gaining it back! Thanks for your consideration of my story for your show. I hope to hear from you soon!


Cross your fingers for me. I really want and need that surgery, which costs about $12,000 by the way! Other than writing my book, this is my biggest dream since losing the weight. I'm confident it will happen. It's only a matter of time.

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