Is Low-Carb Just Your Diet Or Is It Now Your Personal Mission?

Earlier this year I told you about a brand new obesity documentary from a filmmaker named C.J. Hunt who is In Search Of The Perfect Human Diet. He's traveling all across the country meeting with some of the most prominent researchers, doctors, nutritionists, and health experts to figure out the answer to that rather daunting undertaking.

But now C.J. Hunt wants to hear from arguably the most well-informed, enthusiastic, and compelling experts yet--YOU!

That's right, he believes that the bread (low-carb, of course!) and butter of his documentary will come from the REAL LIFE stories and examples of REAL people who have made livin' la vida low-carb their permanent and healthy way to eat. You, me, and everyone who has implemented a controlled-carb, nutrient-dense lifestyle change can help shape the direction of this movie, so keep reading to find out how.

Here's a question that I want you to think about:

Is low-carb just your diet or is it now your personal mission?

In other words, are you actively involved in sharing the low-carb lifestyle with those people in your sphere of influence? Have you committed yourself to giving back to others--paying it forward, as such--for the tremendous benefits you have received from livin' la vida low-carb?

For me personally, I think most of you know the answer to that question. It is INDEED my personally mission to help educate, encourage, and inspire others to begin their own journey on the low-carb lifestyle for the sake of their weight and health. That's why I created so many different avenues for sharing that message, including through my blog, book, podcast, YouTube videos, and my new forum.

With such a miraculous and radical turnaround in my weight and health because of this healthy nutritional approach, I can't help but shout it from the mountaintops and continue to carry on the torch that the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins started some three decades ago. And I'm not alone either with literally a new low-carber popping up seemingly every minute of every day. Look at all the blogs and web sites!!!

What about YOU, though? Is low-carb just a personal dieting tool to you? Or has it become something bigger than a simple diet plan to you? If you believe livin' la vida low-carb is something special that merits an investment of your time, energy, and resources, then what kinds of actions are you doing to try to advance it?

Perhaps you know low-carb is the way that most people should be eating to manage their weight and health since obesity and diabetes have gotten completely out of control in this world of low-fat, low-calorie, portion controlled diets, but you just don't have the time nor do you care to get involved in actively promoting low-carb in the mainstream. Why is that and what is REALLY holding you back?

I know I'm getting a little deep and somewhat personal here, but this is something C.J. is sincerely interested in as an angle for his film and he will be monitoring your responses in the comments section below.

I'll assume since you visit my blog that you have some inkling of a vested interest in seeing the low-carb message actively promoted (after all, it's what I try to do on a daily basis and have been for the past 2 1/2 years). So, if you already are or could be involved in furthering the mission, then how would you do it?

How much time do you devote to sharing low-carb with others? Do you have any special talents that could be used to market the low-carb message? What about tapping into some personal contacts who could help in this effort within your sphere of influence? Finally, are you actively supporting through financial contributions those who are on the front lines of communicating the low-carb agenda?

This is a lot to take in, but it all leads to this question:

How can we all collaborate our efforts into one?

It's the big picture focus and one that I've thought about quite a bit since I began blogging here in early 2005. One of the reasons I got involved so actively was because the pro-low-carb voice was being quashed and its active defenders were few and far between.

After Dr. Atkins died, it was as if all the most ardent supporters went into hiding. What's up with that? Be bold, be strong, and trust that you have the right message for such a time as this. I've personally seen a turnaround in my life because of the Atkins diet and I'll be danged if anyone dares to tell me I can't talk about it!

Get excited and motivated because that revolution that began so many years ago is headed for a fresh new revival in a big way. With the new Gary Taubes book coming out next Tuesday and some truly remarkable research about the healthiness of saturated fat coming very soon, the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb is primed for public consumption. That's something C.J. Hunt is attempting to tap into.

One final thought about In Search Of The Perfect Human Diet is this question:

How do you think this film can help you?

If you could communicate ANYTHING in this documentary about the low-carb life, then what would you want the message to be? How do you think a film like this could or should influence the public's perception of livin' la vida low-carb and of the importance of eating in the way we have evolved to eat?

I realize I've just plopped enough questions in your lap that many of you could write a dissertation about it. But this is YOUR chance to make an impression on a movie that could be a part of the driving force to share the genuine low-carb lifestyle to an audience of people who have probably never heard it before.

Submit your comments below or you can e-mail the filmmaker C.J. Hunt directly at cjhunt3@perfecthumandiet.com. This oughta be REALLY good! I can't wait to read what you have to share.

By the way, you can invest in this upcoming documentary if you believe in the mission of what C.J. is trying to accomplish with it by becoming a Film Angel. You can even sign up NOW to get on the DVD Mailing List which you will want to do since EVERYONE who is reading this will want a copy of this movie to share with their friends and family, right? :D

THANK YOU for getting involved and feel free to get as detailed as you would like in your responses. Feel free to take a few days to think about this if you'd like, but something tells me most of you are already locked and loaded on this one!

9-21-07 UPDATE: Well, not everyone is happy with my assertion that people like me are carrying on the torch of the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins because there were defenders of low-carb living PRIOR to him. Here's what was shared in an e-mail:

Err, Jimmy - given what you yourself have posted about the work of William Banting, amongst others - could we please stop the Atkins Deification? I grant you he popularised it LATELY - but he was hardly the first. Or best.

No offense intended, but it's grating, to me, at least, and it makes it hard to take the rest of your posts seriously...

I've never stated that Dr. Atkins was the first or the best defender of livin' la vida low-carb (and I've not deified, only admired the man for his great work). But you have to admit he is the most famous name associated with this way of eating. Plus, I lost my weight and improved my health on the ATKINS diet, so naturally I'm going to give credit to him for MY experience.

Here was my e-mail response:

THANKS for your opinion, but most people are more aware of Dr. Atkins than they are William Banting. But I agree with you that livin' la vida low-carb goes back much further. And even further than Banting, too. THANKS for reading!

If this kinda petty thing irritates somebody that they think it is "hard to take the rest of your posts seriously," then I have questions about their commitment to the message of livin' la vida low-carb in the first place. But that's just me!

I appreciate all the responses so far, so keep 'em coming! :)

How About A Million Pound Low-Carb March?

With the success of my blog has come a flood of e-mails from all kinds of people passing on blog post ideas that they think would interest me. I have to be honest with you and let you know that most of these go right into File 13. Sure, I'll hang on to them for a while and consider whether they need to become a blog post or not. But most of the time, they become trash.

However, I have to admit one of my readers who wishes to remain anonymous had the most creative idea regarding livin' la vida low-carb that I've seen in a very long time and I felt it was more than worthy of your attention. By that person's permission, I present to you a brief of the concept he describes as the "Million Pound March." I have added "low-carb" to that idea so that people will understand what we are marching about.

Here's the brief for the "Million Pound Low-Carb March":

Summary
The concept of the “Million Pound Low-Carb March” popped into my head tonight. I’m passing it on to you to use or publish as you see fit. I prefer to remain anonymous, however.

The idea is to organize a central repository for as many low carb stats as possible. The goal of the project is to document a million pounds shed by low carb lifestyle changes. Once the goal was reached, the project would continue ad infinitum.

While the term “march” could signify the march towards healthy weight, the project could also start an annual parade. Imagine ten thousand skinny people waving signs of their former obese and dying selves.

Background
The Atkins diet worked incredibly well for me three years ago. I lost over 60 pounds, felt great, and checkups showed good cholesterol readings and perfect health. Now I see the detractors are still at it while millions of Americans are suffering, losing productivity, and dying. Corporate America is fulfilling its duty to its stockholders of maximizing the return on their investment.

I feel, however, that a lot of shortcuts are being taken to get market share at the expense of our nation’s collective health and longevity. Sugar and simple carbs are inexpensive additives that promote over-eating, are addictive, and adversely affect the mental state and health of the consumer. Most consumers choose food based on taste and how the food satisfies. They don’t realize that carb loaded food makes them feel progressively worse and will kill them because the word is not getting out. Our country is getting fatter, sicker, and less productive as a result.

Rationale
While probably not more numerous, I think the detractors are better placed, and probably in part financed by outside parties. What the low carb movement needs is a unified front of some sort – a mass of undisputable evidence that the detractors can only moan about. Evidence so abundant and compelling that potshots at the low carb lifestyle would do nothing more than destroy the credibility of the originator. This would save lives, improve productivity, improve the quality of life and even the economy. If even one percent more of America’s obese could become permanently lean and healthy, think of the overall cascading result.

Expansion
The database could be as simple or advanced as ambition and funding allowed. A truly well designed professional database might be of use to the medical community to see trends in other aspects of health as large groups of people adopt this lifestyle. Sponsors will probably fly out of the woodwork if this was well organized.

Arguments
This would be an organized front. It is appealing on several levels. It would save countless lives. The Average American would know the truth. Freedom of choice doesn’t exist when you’re addicted to carbs and every “expert” or “Dr.” you see on television says that sugar in moderation is fine and one serving of bread per day is healthy eating. Or when every trainer in the gym preaches that you need your carbs for energy and that that fad diet you are on will kill you.

In later years you’ll be hearing that hypertension, uncontrollable cholesterol and a dozen prescriptions are just part of growing old. Balderdash. This is creating a need and providing a solution, both at a profit. Sales 101 taken to a high-stakes level that kills. Why should healthy eating be labeled as a “dangerous fad” that will “ruin your health?” The tail is wagging the dog.

Closing
For every person that hears about Atkins and takes the life saving steps away from simple carbs, there are probably a dozen who stay on the couch because all they know about low carb is the FUD.

It’s time this country started a course change from the dysfunctional and misnamed “disease management” system and towards true health care.

So, what do you think about this well-organized and intriguing idea for a "Million Pound Low-Carb March?" Do you think it would catch on as my learned reader thinks it will? If so and if you think it's a worthwhile venture, then what can we low-carbers who have been postively impacted by this nutritional approach do to help make it a reality? Who should lead this effort?

Let's talk about this one and see if we can't make it happen...SOON!