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Sunday, September 09, 2007
Low-Carb Footprints All Over The Internet
Have you seen all the references to livin' la vida low-carb on the Internet lately? The popularity of this supposedly "dead" diet just keeps getting stronger and stronger as those who advocate this healthy nutritional approach keep spreading the word boldly and proudly more than ever before.
And even those who disparage low-carb are only making themselves look foolish in light of the latest scientific evidence that is coming out about this miraculous way of eating. These people hope to get low-carb supporters down, but it ain't happening! :)
Here are seven tidbits about low-carb I've found online:
1. JUDY BARNES BAKER APPEARS ON KABC RADIO
Friend and fellow low-carb author Judy Barnes Baker, who wrote that fantastic low-carb cookbook called CARB WARS: Sugar Is The New Fat, was a guest on the major radio show "McIntyre In The Morning" in Los Angeles, California back in July. She did a FANTASTIC job talking about livin' la vida low-carb and you can hear the audio of the interviewat her CarbWarsCookbook.com web site. GREAT JOB, Judy!!!
2. AUSTRALIAN LOW-CARBER RAY KELLY CLIMBS BEN NEVIS
My Aussie low-carb fitness friend Ray Kelly, who you will recall trained the winner of the first season of The Biggest Loser AustraliaAdro Sarnelli with a low-carb regimen, was privileged to do something I've always wanted to do--reach the summit of a mountain! You can watch his climb up Ben Nevis on YouTube and ENJOY! CONGRATULATIONS, Ray!
3. FELLOW LOW-CARB BLOGGER AMY DUNGAN TRIES HER HAND AT YOUTUBE
After trying my hand at recording videos for YouTube about the low-carb lifestyle, friend and fellow low-carb blogger Amy Dungan from the "Healthy Low-Carb Living" blog decided it was time to get in on the action. You can watch her first episode on YouTube where she takes on the Frankenfoods that have helped her with her low-carb lifestyle. You did VERY well for your first time, Amy! Get those adorable kids of yours in the next video you make! :D
4. SEE INTO THE FUTURE OF YOUR WEIGHT LOSS WITH WEIGHTVIEW.COM
When you first start out on your low-carb weight loss journey, it may be difficult for you to visualize what will be different about you once you reach your goal weight. That's why I was glad to find a new FREE service at WeightView.com that gives people a picture of how they will look after they have lost unwanted pounds by utilizing technology. It easy to do this: go to the web site, fill out basic information, and upload a current picture of yourself. Within 48 hours, you will receive your picture back in your inbox with what you will look like once you reach your goal weight. COOL! It's FREE for a limited time, so take advantage of this while it lasts. This might be just the thing you've needed to kick your plan into high gear! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
5. OBAID KARKI DECLARES ATKINS IS "CRAP" AND IS GLAD DR. ATKINS IS DEAD
Just when you think the nut cases are at bay, along comes something like this to remind you they're still out there...in more ways than one! This Obaid Karki fella must really love hearing himself talk on just about any subject, but he obviously has no idea about what livin' la vida low-carb is all about. He blame it for the obesity epidemic and made some rather nasty comments about the Atkins diet and its late founder. Both my fellow low-carb weight loss success Kent Altena and I have left comments about this video with a rather intriguing response from Obaid himself. Check it out!
6. "MALE PATTERN FITNESS" BLOGGER LOU SCHULER FEATURES MY STORY
I previously blogged about an excellent blog by Lou Schuler called "Male Pattern Fitness" and he cited me and my weight loss success on the low-carb lifestyle in a post about the obesity crisis last week. He said my weight loss story goes against the popular notion that obesity is simply based on genetics. A worthy read! THANKS, Lou!
7. SIGN THE KIMKINS INVESTIGATION PETITION AND WRITE THE BBB
That's about it for now, but I'm sure there'll be lots more low-carb footprints happening all over the Internet. Whether the media and those so-called health "experts" like it or not, livin' la vida low-carb is here to stay, baby! ;)
If you see something related to low-carb living that's worthy of a mention here at my blog, then please feel free to pass it along to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I'm always happy to hear from YOU!
"Biggest Loser" Australia Adro Sarnelli releases exercise DVD
Less than a month away from the exciting debut of Season Two of "The Biggest Loser Australia," the biggest winner from the first season is ready to launch his very first exercise video with a special BONUS interview by his trainer.
Adro Sarnelli, who won the inaugural season of the hit television reality show "The Biggest Loser Australia" in 2006 after shedding over 130 pounds using low-carb as his nutritional approach, has teamed up with his personal trainer Ray Kelly to produce the most unique exercise DVD you'll ever see called "The Basics."
It's a sad commentary on modern society that most of the current world's population doesn't have a clue about even the most elementary components of physical fitness. We could blame the lack of emphasis in school or a general apathy by the public for why we are so ignorant. Either way, it's important now more than ever to lay the groundwork for what people need to be doing to get into shape.
Adro and Ray didn't want to do just any old exercise DVD, though. You know what I'm talking about. After you play the DVD a few times, it gets kinda boring because you know EXACTLY what the workout is going to be. Yaaaaawwwwwwnn!
But never fear, there's something new here to spice things up! What if you could get a different exercise routine every single time you push play? With "The Basics" DVD, that's what you'll get with expert commentary and advice from Mr. "Biggest Loser Australia" himself Adro Sarnelli!
This is the first release in the new "Losing It" Series and will motivate you to get your heart rate up and your blood pumping just like the contestants do on "The Biggest Loser." These are indeed high-intensity workouts that you can do in the comfort of your own home without the use of any fancy gadgets or weights of any kind. Pop it in your DVD player, clear some room in front of the TV and you're ready to go!
Be sure to bring your enthusiastic desire to be fit and a willingness to make it happen. You will quite literally have an unlimited library of workouts to choose from with this one-of-a-kind DVD that you can use as your personal training session with Adro. This will become a collector's item for fans of "The Biggest Loser," don't get your copy TODAY!
You won't want to miss the BONUS 30-minute interview with Adro conducted by Ray Kelly about what life has been like in the year since his coronation as "The Biggest Loser." Adro deals with a myriad of subjects during the interview, so fans of the show won't want to miss this intimate look into the life of this extraordinary man.
In fact, you can catch a sneak peek of the interview right now:
Because so many of my readers at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog have been so faithful to support Adro since he won "The Biggest Loser Australia" last year, he now wants to give a few of you the opportunity to receive his brand new DVD absolutely FREE.
That's right, if you want to have the chance to win one of three copies of "The Basics" DVD autographed by both Adro Sarnelli and Ray Kelly, then simply send me an e-mail with the following information:
1. Your name 2. Your mailing address (NO P.O. BOXES PLEASE!) 3. In 50 words or less, tell why you need to exercise more
This contest is open to anyone in the United States, Australia or fans around the world, so let me hear from you! The deadline for entering is no later than 11:59PM EST on January 31, 2007. The three winners will be selected at random from all e-mails received.
Only one entry per household please. GOOD LUCK!
Of course, you can also purchase your copy of "The Basics" DVD by clicking here. Special thanks to Adro Sarnelli and Ray Kelly for making this phenomenal workout DVD and for the free giveaways for my readers.
Are you a "Biggest Loser" fan? Then let me hear from you, mate!
The worldwide popularity of the hit NBC television show "The Biggest Loser" has indeed catapulted the show and its contestants into reality show superstardom! Just ask the winner of the Australian version of the show, Adro Sarnelli.
After being declared "The Biggest Loser" in Australia for the exciting debut season this year in that country, he went on a whirlwind media tour that had him running all across Australia nonstop for months! When I was finally about to interview him at my blog in late September, Adro was just wrapping up his appearances and on his way to having surgery to remove the excess, loose, excess skin he had on his body after shedding over 130 pounds to "bring closure" to his weight loss experience.
I asked Adro about that surgery and here's what he said:
"YES, I HAVE HEAPS OF EXCESS SKIN LEFT AFTER THE WEIGHT LOSS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW FAST I LOST WEIGHT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE IT NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE I HAD IT ALL BEFORE I LOST WEIGHT AND WORSE NOW. I AM ACTUALLY GOING IN FOR SURGERY ON OCTOBER 3, 2006 TO HAVE MY FIRST OPERATION WHICH IS THE BODY LIFT. THEN I WILL GET MY ARMS, MAN BOOBS, AND THIGHS DONE ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006. MOST OF ALL, THESE SURGERIES ARE FOR ME TO HAVE CLOSURE ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF NOT BEING A FAT GUY ANYMORE."
I am so envious of Adro for having this done because I too want to have my jiggly skin taken care of as well. While some people claim that there is no such thing as loose skin, but rather bodaciously contend that it is excess fat that still needs to be lost, I am becoming more and more convinced that's a lie because my hanging skin problem is getting worse as I continue to lose weight. When I hit my goal of 199 in a few months, I will be doing a thorough post about this subject.
In fact, Adro believes this is such an important topic along with the whole weight loss, obesity, and getting fit theme that he is working on a new self-produced documentary film and he desperately wants to show it on television to help his fellow Australians overcome their objections to attempting weight loss. This is a passionate dream in this young man's heart right now and I think you and I can do something quite simple to help him out.
To that end, there is a brand new video featuring Adro Sarnelli on YouTube that I would like for you to go watch RIGHT NOW! Stop whatever you are doing (unless you are at work, of course!) and take a gander at this video. This is an important step in the process of helping Adro, so please do your part and watch the video.
It's less than 10 minutes long and features Adro with the cardboard cutout of himself before he started losing weight standing behind him as he talks about his recent surgery to take up the loose skin in his abdomen and chest, the upcoming surgery on his arms to take up the loose skin there (what's strange is my loose skin looks EXACTLY like his!), and a sneak peek at the documentary that is coming soon. In fact, watch the video all the way to the end to find out how you can see a special preview of the documentary.
Adro and his partner Ray Kelly are working hard to get as many views and comments about this video as they possibly can so they can have more leverage with television executives about showing the documentary when it is ready to be aired. This documentary could have the potential to help so many people, so won't you take just a few minutes of your time to check it out and leave a comment for Adro? THANK YOU!
CLICK HERE to show your support by watching the video at YouTube. I know Adro appreciates your help and sincerely wants to help others struggling with obesity to overcome it just as he did. THANK YOU again for your assistance and let's show this fellow low-carber that we do have strength in numbers to help make a difference in the country of Australia and beyond!
There's someone joining my low-carb weight loss blogging friend Kent Altena in making videos on YouTube to help others attain that healthy lifestyle they've been searching for. It's another one of my blogging friends who hails from Australia and his name is Ray Kelly.
This is the fitness trainer who I recently interviewed about his work with "The Biggest Loser" Australia winner Adro Sarnelli is dedicated to helping educate people about fitness and exercise to get their bodies into shape.
Ray has already been doing that with his phenomenal online resource Free-Online-Health.com and now he is making some outstanding videos like the one you'll see below for people to get their fitness program started off the right way.
See what I mean with his latest video on doing a fitness assessment:
WOW, that's some awesome information, Ray! To sign up for regular video updates, you can simply click here. I am sure you will find lots of incredibly useful information from Ray to complement this lifestyle change you have made with your low-carb plan. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, Ray!
While I was at YouTube today, I couldn't help but notice this video:
Ray, do you think you can do anything with this woman? GOOD LUCK!
10-23-06 UPDATE: Ray decided to create a new blog to house his and other videos from YouTube. The blog is called Healthy Video Blog. Check it out!
Watching the contestants when they hit the ranch looking for hope regarding their weight problem, seeing the trainers teach them to move their butts to take better care of their bodies, observing the new good habits they form regarding their diet, and cheering them all on to weight loss success along the way. What an amazing show you can't help but LOVE, especially if you are a weight loss success!
Earlier this year, the wildly popular success of "The Biggest Loser" in the United States spawned a spin-off show in the land down under--Australia! With that country dealing with a huge obesity problem just like the U.S., it made sense to have a show like this help inspire a country to be fit with citizens who live there. That's exactly what it did.
"The Biggest Loser" Australia used the same format that the American version did with a few twists and turns here and there. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels were there as the on-air trainers for the Red and Blue teams respectively. They did run into a bit of controversy from health groups who blamed the show for not teaching good nutrition and "humiliating" the obese. Puh-leeze people! Lives are being changed forever and that's the best you've got?!
That inaugural season of "The Biggest Loser" Australia catapulted one man to instant celebrity status in his own country and he has been trying to catch his breath ever since--Adro Sarnelli! A man of few words, but driven to help as many people as he can get fit and trim while improving their health, Adro is just now slowing down from the whirlwind that hit him when he was declared "The Biggest Loser" Australia winner back in April.
Adro's post-"Biggest Loser" experience trainer Ray Kelly (read my interview with him in case you missed it!) produced this amazing training video of how he helped this young man lose over 130 pounds dropping from 319 pounds down to 187.5! It truly is remarkable what Adro was able to accomplish so quickly!
Despite the demands on his newfound busy life, Adro agreed to an interview with me for my blog and I'm proud to share it with you now. Be encouraged and inspired in your own weight loss efforts by this incredible man named Adro!
1. First of all, Adro, CONGRATULATIONS on being named the very first "Biggest Loser" in Australia. How does having that title make you feel?
THANK YOU, JIMMY! TO BE QUIET HONEST HAVING THE TITLE IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT FOR ME TO DATE IN MY LIFE. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO KNOW THAT I DID IT.
2. As someone who has gone through the process of overcoming a weight problem myself, I understand the many challenges that face those who desire to defeat obesity once and for all. What do you consider the single-biggest reason why you were so successful at weight loss?
THE SINGLE BIGGEST REASON I WAS SO SUCCECCFUL I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IS BECAUSE I HAD HEAPS OF SUPPORT, MAINLY AT THE BEGINNING WHEN YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO WANT TO GIVE UP.
3. Please share a story about any specific moments during your weight loss when you felt like losing weight just wasn't worth it anymore and you wanted to give up. What did you do to push yourself through those times?
THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE I HAD WORKED OUT AND DIETED HARD FOR A WEEK DURING THE TAPING OF THE BIGGEST LOSER AND I ONLY LOST 600G (that's about 1.3 pounds). THAT WAS ALL I LOST FOR A WHOLE WEEK'S WORTH OF VERY HARD WORK? THEN I REASSESSED THE SITUATION AND LOOKED INTO DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR MY DIET AND OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND IT REALLY STARTED WORKING FOR ME. I THINK I JUST NEEDED TO REALLY TAKE CONTROL OF IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.
4. Weight loss is as much mental as it is physical. How did you prepare yourself mentally in the beginning or during the process of losing weight to get to where you are today?
WELL, MY SITUATION WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THEN SETTING OUT TO NORMALLY LOSE WEIGHT. BECAUSE OF BEING ON THE SHOW, I HAD TO PUSH AND I WAS IN THE POSITION WHERE I COULDN’T REALLY GIVE UP. SO I GUESS IN THAT SENSE I WAS A LITTLE MORE SPOILED THAN MOST PEOPLE WHO TRY TO LOSE WEIGHT. BUT I THINK THE BEST PREPARATION IS TO TRY AND LOOK FORWARD AND SEE WHERE AND HOW YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU'RE DONE AND REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T GET THERE IF YOU DON'T GET UP TODAY.
5. Having the help of professional trainers certainly can't hurt people in their weight loss efforts. Why don't you brag a little bit on your experience with your trainers and tell us specifically how they helped you better understand why exercise is so important to weight maintenance?
I COULD GO ON FOREVER ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT BOB (Harper) AND JILLIAN (Michaels) HAD ON ME AND MY WEIGHT LOSS IN THE HOUSE AND THEN RAY (Kelly) OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, BUT I THINK THE THREE OF THEM WERE ALL UNITED ON ONE THING AND THAT IS EDUCATION. TEACHING ME THAT BY DOING THIS I WILL ACHIEVE A CERTAIN RESULT AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE I KNOW THEY WERE ALL 3 GREAT TRAINERS BECAUSE WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON THE BODY THEY WERE HELPING ME SORT OUT MY HEAD AS WELL. I REALLY FEEL THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE THIS EFFORT STAND OUT FROM THE REST.
6. As someone who lost over 180 pounds following a low-carb lifestyle and keeping it off for two years, I know this way of eating works as a permanent method for losing weight. What has your low-carb experience been like and do you think you will continue to eat this way forever?
I WILL DEFINITELY EAT THIS WAY FOREVER! I TRY AND FIND LOW-CARB SUBSTITUES FOR WHAT I CAN AND I CERTAINLY DON'T EVER EAT ANY STARCHY CARBS AFTER MID-DAY. I NOW KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT HOW I GOT AS BIG AS I DID AND I REALIZE THAT THE CARBS HAD A MAJOR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY LIFE BEFORE MY WEIGHT LOSS.
7. Obviously after your enormous weight loss in a short period of time, you had some excess, loose, hanging skin to contend with all over your body. I can certainly relate and hope someday to have it taken care of myself. How about you? What are you doing to deal with this very real problem for those of us who lost a lot of weight?
YES, I HAVE HEAPS OF EXCESS SKIN LEFT AFTER THE WEIGHT LOSS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW FAST I LOST WEIGHT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE IT NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE I HAD IT ALL BEFORE I LOST WEIGHT AND WORSE NOW. I AM ACTUALLY GOING IN FOR SURGERY ON OCTOBER 3, 2006 TO HAVE MY FIRST OPERATION WHICH IS THE BODY LIFT. THEN I WILL GET MY ARMS, MAN BOOBS, AND THIGHS DONE ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006. MOST OF ALL, THESE SURGERIES ARE FOR ME TO HAVE CLOSURE ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF NOT BEING A FAT GUY ANYMORE.
ACTUALLY, I AM MAKING A DOCUMENTARY FILM ON THE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT AND WEIGHT LOSS WHICH I AM SELF PRODUCING AND HOPE THAT IT WILL CLEAR UP A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FEARS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE WEIGHT HAS BEEN LOST. IT WILL ALSO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN STREAMING THROUGH MY HEAD SINCE LOSING THE WEIGHT.
8. You are now committed to helping others who struggle with weight loss and declining health find a way to rise above their problems through your new health clubs called "The New Me." What made you want to start this new business venture in your life and where do you see it taking you in the foreseeable future?
I WANTED TO HELP MORE PEOPLE WHEN I REALIZED THAT I HAD THE ABILITY TO DO IT. MY WHOLE LIFE I WAS MADE TO FEEL AND THINK THAT I WAS FAT AND COULD NEVER BE ANYTHING ELSE. THAT WAS MY RACE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY AND NOW I HAVE SEEN THAT IT'S JUST NOT TRUE. SO I WANT TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE REALIZE THAT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LOSE WEIGHT. I WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO TO SEE THAT IS TRUE ABOUT THEMSELVES AS I CAN. THE NEW ME CENTERS WHEN THEY COME ALONG ARE GOING TO BE THE GREATEST CONCEPT IN LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT THAT HAS EVER HIT AUSTRALIA!
9. Obesity is a problem that does not seem to be going away anytime in the near future. If Adro was in charge of the world's health and had the power to effect change in health policies, especially in regards to obesity, what would you recommend?
WOW, THAT’S A MASSSIVE QUESTION! I THINK I WOULD FIRST START WITH MAKING CLASSES IN SCHOOL THAT ARE LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT AND NOT JUST PHYSICAL EDUCATION. WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTRALIA A VERY POOR EDUCATION SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO FITNESS. THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT IF THEY TAKE THE COCA-COLA OUT OF THE SCHOOLS THAT THE KIDS WILL BE BETTER OFF.
INSTEAD OF MAKING IT A CURRICULUM THAT IS STUDIED SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE HOWS AND WHYS OF OBESITY, I THINK I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO START A BIGGEST LOSER-STYLED COMPETITION FOR ALL THE TOWNS THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND GET THE GOVERNMENT TO FUND THE PROGRAM. AS MUCH AS THEY WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO HIT BEFORE DECIDING TO FIX IT, I REALLY THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT STARTS. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN TRYING TO FIND A CURE AFTER THE FACT. OH, AND I WOULD BAN ALL CIGARETTES!!!
10. Your fellow countrymen and women in Australia as well as millions of Americans are so proud of what you and the other "Biggest Loser" contestants have done to forever alter your lives for the better. Do you think shows like "The Biggest Loser" are making any difference at all in people who need to lose weight or are they just making for feel-good television?
THAT’S A TRICKY QUESTION. I THINK THE SHOW IS DEFINITELY HAVING AN AMAZING IMPACT ON PEOPLE. I GET E-MAILS ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE TELLING ME HOW WELL THEY HAVE DONE WITH THEIR WEIGHT LOSS EFFORTS BECAUSE OF THE SHOW. BUT I ALSO THINK IT IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT TO MANY PEOPLE THEN IT IS AN INSPIRATION TO GET MOTIVATED TO LOSE WEIGHT. BUT IF WE CAN JUST CHIP AWAY AT THE OBESITY PROBLEM ONE PERSON AT A TIME, THEN IT WILL WORK.
11. While your weight loss is still relatively new and you are probably still getting used to the skinny Adro (trust me, it takes a while to adjust to NOT being fat!), can you share any words of wisdom with my readers who are desperate and searching for a way to slay the obesity monster in their life?
HERE IS SOMETHING I LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU COULD TASTE THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS FOR JUST ONE SECOND; THEN I GURANTEE YOU THAT YOU WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO GET IT FOR YOURSELF.
THANK YOU, Adro, and CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss success. Even more importantly, I am so proud to know that someone else who felt hopeless about their obesity is now out there challenging and encouraging others to get healthy, too! Be sure to keep up with what Adro Sarnelli is doing by visiting his web site at AdroHealth.com.
Top Australian personal trainer Ray Kelly with prodigy Adro Sarnelli
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of telling you about a brand new web site from Australian personal trainer Ray Kelly called Free-Online-Health.com. Anyone who can compile so much power-packed and useful information about getting healthy and fit in a FREE web site deserves a medal. Well, how about an interview instead, Ray? :)
After most recently helping Adro Sarnelli become Australia's first "Biggest Loser" winner, Ray is now promoting his personal training services at a brand new web site called RayKellyFitness.com. From the encounters I have had with him this year, I have found this man to be one of the most approachable people you will ever meet. Plus, it helps that he knows a thing or two about getting into shape which is what he will discuss in my interview with him.
1. G'day mate! So glad to have you join us here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog today. We're ready to have a crikey good time today with a certified trainer from Australia named Ray Kelly. Okay, enough of this American boy from the South trying to speak Australian! :D But if you want to know about health and fitness, then this is your man! Ray, give us a little bit of background into how you got interested in exercise, health and diet. Where did it all begin?
I’ve been involved in sport since I was quite young. I started martial arts when I was 4 years old and played many sports right through school. I was quite a small boy though (only weighed 103 pounds at 17 years old!) and always wanted to join a fitness center but was too intimidated. At 19, I had a scrum collapse on me playing Rugby and as part of my rehabilitation I had to join a gym. This is where my love of exercise began. From that point on all I wanted to do was become a trainer.
Since making that decision, I’ve graduated with a Degree in Exercise Science, trained thousands of people, managed Fitness Centers, and trained Olympic and World Champion athletes. It’s been a great journey so far and I feel pretty lucky to be working in an industry I’m passionate about!
2. When I set out to lose weight back in 2004 after I tipped the scales at 410 pounds, I knew I would need not only a solid nutritional plan, but also a solid fitness plan. What kind of exercise do you recommend for people who have never exercised a bit in their life and are looking to lose a lot of weight?
Light exercise! If you’re starting out you really can’t beat walking. Some people find it boring but you can overcome that by listening to music, taking a friend, or walking a different route each day.
For those of you with higher aspirations, I’ve actually just finished writing a ’15 Stage Walk-to-Run Program’. It starts with full weekly exercise programs for those that can only walk for 5 minutes, and goes all the way up to those able to run for 60 minutes. You start at your current fitness level and then move on to each successive stage until you reach the top. I’ll have it on my web site soon!
3. You played an active role in the inaugural season of the hit show "The Biggest Loser" when it came to Australia earlier this year, including mentoring the eventual winner Adro Sarnelli. What was that experience like for you?
It was a great experience because I was already a fan of the show, and I’m also ultra competitive! It was actually a lot like my time working with athletes. The contestants are prone to injury given their size, fitness level, and training load. To overcome this we planned every day of Adro’s life right up to the final weigh in, every training session (6+ hrs per day), and every meal and snack.
The show has its detractors because of the unrealistic training regimen the contestants get put through but on the positive side the show really does inspire millions of people to start exercising. It brings awareness to the problem and that has to be a good thing. Larger people are feeling much more comfortable exercising in public, and it’s also giving those that have never had a weight problem an insight into what it’s like.
4. Now you and Adro have joined forces to create "The New Me" weight loss center to help other Australians lose weight and shape up. How is that going so far and what kind of impact do you expect it to have on the obesity epidemic in your country?
The online program should be up and running in a few weeks but we’re still yet to find the right premises for the center. A lot of people followed Adro through his weight loss journey and they can really relate to him. This puts him in a strong position to educate people, and it’s a role he doesn’t take lightly. We’re both very passionate about this and we have big plans.
5. Before I committed myself to daily exercise, I never realized how truly beneficial it was not only to my physical health, but also mentally and psychologically as a release from the stresses of life. What are the biggest obstacles that you see people have towards exercising? What can be done to help people overcome those obstacles?
The biggest obstacle is their mind. Weight loss is all about perspective. If you think it's too hard, then it is. If you think it's not important, then it's not. If you think you can't do it then you can't. Your perspective is your reality.
Once you put things into the right perspective, these things become a priority and nothing will stand in your way. You know what I’m talking about Jimmy because you’re living proof. I've seen it happen many times and it's an amazing thing to see. Kind of like a fire gets lit inside of someone. Totally awesome! We all have it inside us. It's just that some of us haven't realized it yet!
Many people think that exercise has to always be hard. It doesn’t. In fact you’ll get much better results if you vary the intensity of your training sessions. Sure, you need to push yourself sometimes but you also need to balance the ledger with some lighter training as well.
Another misconception about exercising for weight loss is people think they should be doing loads of push up and sit ups. You’re actually better off spending your time walking. You’d certainly burn more calories and receive greater gains in fitness. When it comes to weight loss, make cardio your priority. You only need to add resistance or abdominal work in for training variety.
6. Some of my readers have written me and asked for suggestions on how to incorporate exercise into their healthy low-carb lifestyle, but they have an injury or are unable to move their legs or arms. What exercises do you suggest for people in these circumstances?
It certainly depends on the individuals circumstances but exercising in a swimming pool is quite good if you have an injury. It doesn’t have to be swimming, you can just do laps with a kick-board, or even just walk. The buoyancy provided by the water will take a lot of strain off the weight-bearing joints.
Also, if it’s their arms that are injured then they could always walk or cycle. If it’s their legs...well you just can’t beat boxing to increase your fitness!
7. How often should people exercise to experience the maximum benefit to their body? Is it possible to get too much exercise?
That depends on how active you are in your day-to-day life. If you have a fairly active occupation then you’re probably doing enough. Unfortunately most people aren’t active enough, so to get the maximum benefit they really should do something every day.
It is possible to exercise too much but that really comes down to a balance between training load (total amount of exercise you do each week), training intensity, recovery (or sleep), and energy. An easy way to overcome this is to:
- Start your exercise program slowly - Increase the load and intensity gradually - Get at least 8 hours sleep each night - Ensure you’re eating enough
8. I know when I was losing weight two years ago, I would sometimes push myself to keep walking on that treadmill long after the signs of physical exhaustionhad hit me. What are the signs that people should watch out for to let them know it is time to stop their workout?
It’s funny Jimmy, the answer to this question is so obvious but many people will continue to push through because they think that exercise is so uncomfortable that this must be normal!
Symptoms such as light-headedness, feeling dizzy, cold or clammy skin, nausea, weak legs, or muscle and joint pain are sure signs that you need to stop for the day. Exercise will feel uncomfortable for many people but you shouldn’t feel like you’re going to die. If you get a well-designed training program you shouldn’t ever have to worry about this.
9. Please address this subject of carb-loading before an exercise routine. Do you ascribe to this theory or do you believe there is a better way to fuel cardiovascular exercise?
This concept was brought about as a means to provide endurance athletes (Marathoners, Triathletes, etc) with sufficient energy stores to compete at a high intensity, for a long period. In my time working with elite athletes I only dealt with their training, because they had a team of nutritionists working on their food intake. I can’t remember coming across any low-carb endurance athletes but Adro trained for 6-8 hours per day on a low-carb, 1200-calorie per day diet.
The human body can store an unbelievable amount of energy and anyone wanting to get the best out of their body during exercise should make sure they are consuming enough food across the whole week, rather than trying to ‘top up’ just before training.
10. THANK YOU again for sharing a few moments with us here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, Ray! Do you have any words of encouragement to share with my readers before you go?
Life really is short, it’s not just a slogan on a T-shirt. You don’t get a dress rehearsal. This is it, life is happening around you and you’re not getting the most out of it if you’re not healthy. Health is everything (ask anyone who has lost it). Improve your health and see how different the world looks. Don’t be one of those people that believes they have to be skinny to be healthy. You can be overweight and healthy, so no matter what your size get out there and start exercising today. You won’t regret it!
Wasn't that an awesome interview?!?! I love Ray Kelly and am so glad that people like him exist in this world. The work he did to help Adro Sarnelli win "The Biggest Loser" Australia was unbelievable and I wish him continued success with helping others lose weight and get fit in Australia. Speaking of Adro, I will be posting an interview I did with him tomorrow! You WON'T want to miss that!
"Biggest Loser" Australia's Adro Sarnelli and Kelly show off their muscles
In fact, if Ray Kelly's name sounds familiar, that's because he was the one who worked with Adro Sarnelli--aka the winner of "The Biggest Loser" Australia--earlier this year. You may remember that Kelly helped Adro realize that livin' la vida low-carb could help him shed the weight and the fat better for his body and the end result made it all worth it.
By the way, I'm still working on getting an interview with Adro and he assures me that will happen once life stops being so hectic for him. In fact, both he and Ray have already collaborated to start "The New Me" to help their fellow Aussie countrymen who struggle with their weight to find success like Adro did.
The 35-year old Kelly has been active his entire life with anything and everything that involves physical movement. He got into the fitness field 16 years ago and eventually started working with athletes to help them maximize their performance. He is also a frequent lecturer and has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
His passion is for people to begin taking their health and weight problems seriously. That's why he invested so much time into making Free-Online-Health.com the best it can be. Kelly is a friend to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and I personally invite you to visit his outstanding web site TODAY! Be sure to check out his lively forum as well for interactive communication with Ray Kelly and others interested in health, diet and fitness.
9-5-06 UPDATE: Hey, I've got some exciting news to share with you. Ray Kelly has agreed to ANSWER YOUR EXERCISE QUESTIONS right here in this forum in an interview with "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog readers. That's right, he would like you to ask your toughest, most spell-binding questions about physical fitness that you can possibly think of.
Think you've got one for Ray? Then send it to me with the subject line "Ray Kelly Question" and I will send it to him for his answer to appear in an upcoming interview. E-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Don't delay, get your questions in today and you could see it answered right here very soon. Take advantage of this opportunity to ask a real fitness expert about exercise.
