Were You A Winner In My 3rd Blogiversary Giveaway? Find Out NOW!

I'm announcing the WINNERS of my blogiversary contest!

I just celebrated the third anniversary of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog last month with an extensive list of 100 great prizes for you to win. It has become my annual tradition and I'm happy to oblige my wonderful readers who like to win stuff by giving as many of you as possible a good chance. And this year's contest was no different with a record-breaking number of entries from the United States, Canada and around the world.

Before I share who the winners were, I wanted to make a few comments about the people who entered. A total of 37 of the 50 states were represented with California leading the pack followed by Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington, Tennessee, Michigan, South Carolina, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Florida. I was surprised North Carolina wasn't better represented since I have a lot of readers in that state. And Virginia came out of nowhere with a boatload of entries unlike in years past. Also represented in the entries from overseas was Poland, the UK, Ireland, and Canada.

One interesting thing that came to light in the entries was my question about which plan you are following and for how long. This was totally fascinating to me since the people who entered represent a large cross-section of the thousands of people who read my blog each day. Wanna take a wild guess at which low-carb plan most people follow?

ATKINS ruled the roost with 63 percent of the people on it. But the second place low-carb plan was a shocker--MY OWN PLAN. It garnered 13 percent of the vote putting it ahead of South Beach (6 percent), Protein Power (5 percent), and Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Diet (3 percent). Other plans receiving votes included Somersize, Barry Groves, the TNT Diet, Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet, Weight Watcher's "core" plan, Mary Enig's Coconut Diet, and Dr. Mercola's No Grain Diet. Clearly, low-carb is not dead and there are a variety of plans to choose from based on these responses.

How about the length of time people have been following the low-carb lifestyle? This way of eating can't possibly be attracting new people with all the constant negativity from the media and health "experts" about it, can it? Well, according to these results, the answer is an unequivocal YES! A full 41 percent of the respondents have been on their chosen low-carb plan less than a year. This means people are STILL finding out the truth about low-carb living and are giving it a whirl. Over one-third (34 percent) have been low-carbing for 1-3 years and one-fourth are long-term low-carb veterans by livin' la vida low-carb for more than three years. These numbers don't lie--low-carb is here to stay!

I decided to do another trivia scavenger hunt challenge with this year's blogiversary since it went over so well last year. But I was surprised to see so many people get hung up on the following questions (I've provided a link to where you could find each of the correct answers):

a. Which low-carb doctor did I nominate for Diabetes Educator Of The Year in 2007?

ANSWER: Dr. Mary C. Vernon

b. In what city did the 2007 Eastern Regional American Society of Bariatric Physicians and Nutrition & Metabolism Society meeting take place?

ANSWER: Nashville

c. What is the name of the world's fattest man who has lost over 500 pounds on a low-carb diet over the past two years?

ANSWER: Manuel Uribe

d. Name the low-carb recipe I accidentally created after mixing a ChocoPerfection bar and coconut oil together and poured it on top of ice cream.

ANSWER: "Magic Shell"

e. Who wrote and released the bestselling health book Good Calories, Bad Calories under a cloud of controversy in September 2007?

ANSWER: Gary Taubes

Although everyone got c. and e. right, the others gave some people trouble. The most often missed question was a. In their haste to find the answer, most people neglected to read the most important word in that question--NOMINATED! So to all of you who answered "Barbara Odom," I gotcha! Of course, I benevolently gave each of you a second chance and everyone got it right the second go around. The answer to b. was also a trick question because I just got back from the Western Regional ASBP conference in Phoenix, so the key word in that question was EASTERN. This one tripped up a fair share of people, although not as many as a. did. For d., I got a few answers like chocolate dipped strawberries, but most people got that one right.

These contests are always fun and I'm glad to see so many of you take advantage of participating. Okay, well THANKS so much for reading and we'll be seeing you around...what's that? What do you mean I haven't announced the winners...OH YEAH! That's what you've been waiting for, right? Duh, silly me. I'm happy to let you know EXACTLY who won what prize in the contest at my brand new and improved forum.

Just click on this thread link and all 100 winners are already listed there for you to see. While you are there, I'd love to have you sign up to join in on the conversation about livin' la vida low-carb with your fellow readers. It's a fun and loving place and this new format is incredible! I really think you'll enjoy the experience and hope you give it a chance sometime soon.

THANK YOU again to everyone who entered as well as all the generous prize sponsors who donated these so that you could win some neat stuff! Please allow 4-6 weeks for your prize to be shipped and CONGRATULATIONS to all my winners. Keep reading for your chance to win even more loot in the future. If I haven't said it to you lately, THANKS so much for your support of the work I am doing here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." :) I appreciate you more than I could ever express. SEE YA!

3rd Low-Carb Blogiversary Prize Package #5

La dee da dee da! It's another glorious day and even more prizes to share with you in my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. Are you getting excited about it yet? Well, you should be because there's an EXCELLENT chance you're gonna win something when I draw the winners next Friday. The entries are still pouring in from your fellow "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog readers and I'm happy to see so many people getting in on the action. I CAN'T WAIT TO PICK THE WINNERS! :)

For those of you who HAVEN'T entered yet, let me offer one bit of advice about answering the questions for the contest--READ THEM CAREFULLY! The most missed answer has been a. followed by b. and then d. Nobody has missed c. or e. yet, so I guess those would be the "well duh" questions of the giveaway. Slowly read the questions and you shouldn't miss any of them. Just so you know, the people who missed questions were given a second chance to correct their answers. Everyone given a second chance has submitted the right ones. :)

CLICK HERE right now to enter the contest and take a look at all the prizes you'll have a chance to win here, here, here, and here.

Here is the final list of prizes that could be coming your way:

81. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
82. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
83. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
84. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
85. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
86. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
87. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
88. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
89. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM
90. 27-PACK CASE OF SATIATRIM


One of my latest sponsors of my blog is a wonderful product called Satiatrim. I did a YouTube video on this hunger-controlling product that comes in three delicious flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Mixed Berry. The ten winners of this prize package will receive 9 boxes of each flavor to try and enjoy on your low-carb plan. THANK YOU Satiatrim for your donation to my blogiversary contest.

91. PROTEIN POWER AUTOGRAPHED BOOK COLLECTION


You can't talk about livin' la vida low-carb in 2008 without mentioning the incredible work of Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades from Protein Power fame (check out my encouraging blog interview with them from 2006). They are both outspoken proponents of the low-carb lifestyle for weight and health management, so the winner of this prize will receive solid information about how to make this lifestyle change permanent. Autographed copies of some of the most popular Protein Power books will be included in this giveaway. THANK YOU for all that you do on behalf of low-carb living, Drs. Mike and Mary Dan!

92. AQUAFINA ALIVE PRIZE PACK
93. AQUAFINA ALIVE PRIZE PACK
94. AQUAFINA ALIVE PRIZE PACK
95. AQUAFINA ALIVE PRIZE PACK
96. AQUAFINA ALIVE PRIZE PACK


Aquafina is an industry leader in the bottled water market because they are constantly creating innovative products for your healthy lifestyle. That's why I was thrilled to try their new Aquafina Alive products for myself. Lemme tell you...these are AMAZING! Satisfy is fortified with fiber, Protect contains essential antioxidants, and Energize contains caffeine and Vitamin B. I was pleased to see these are sweetened with Splenda and ACE-K (instead of NASTY-tame!) and they are a refreshing way to finish your workout or sipping throughout the day. The five winners of this prize package will receive a special limited-edition Aquafina Alive backpack filled with lots of goodies, including a long-sleeved t-shirt. THANK YOU Aquafina!

97. BLACKBERRY PATCH DIET SYRUP GIFT PACK


Nothing tastes better than freshly-made syrups that are created from real low-glycemic fruits with no added sugars other than the natural goodness that is contained within. That's the mission of Blackberry Patch, a gourmet Georgia-based company dedicated to delivering high-quality jams, jellies, and fruit syrups. I've personally tasted these for myself and they are far superior to any other sugar-free syrups that are on the market. My favorite part are the little chunks of fruit in the syrup which authenticate that these are made from real berries. The winner of this prize will receive the following syrups: Sugar Free Maple Praline flavor, Sugar Free Roasted Pecan flavor, No Sugar Added Wild Blueberry, No Sugar Added Whole Raspberry, and No Sugar Added Whole Blackberry. These are PERFECT as a topping on cheesecake, ice cream, and anything else you want to infuse with berry-liciousness!

98. EAT SMART NUTRITION SCALE


Have you been caught in the kitchen cooking with a food that you have no idea what the nutritional make-up is? Sure, we all have. That's why I was so happy to find out about the EatSmart Nutrition Scale and this gizmo is absolutely stunning for what it does. With the touch of a few buttons in only a matter of seconds, you can find out EXACTLY how many calories, carbohydrates, fiber and so much more are contained within a given food you are weighing. This takes the guess work out of what you are putting in your mouth and one lucky winner in my blogiversary will own one of these for themselves. THANK YOU to William from EatSmart for donating this awesome prize!

99. BIG GREEN EGG GRILL GIVEAWAY


When Christine and I attended the HPBA Expo in Atlanta, GA back in March, we came across what is arguably the most unique grill I think I've ever seen in my life. It's called The Big Green Egg and the porcelain shaped into a big green egg makes this grill stand out above the rest. And now you one of you will win a Medium EGG package (including the EGG grill, Nest, and a Bag of Charcoal--CLICK HERE to take a look at this beautiful grill!). What an INCREDIBLE PRIZE for one lucky reader! THANK YOU Big Green Egg!!!

100. HASS AVOCADOS FROM MEXICO GUACAMOLE PARTY PACK


The last prize, but certainly not the least, in my 3rd blogiversary contest giveaway is for one of the most beloved low-carb foods out there--avocados! And there's no better avocados than the ones from Hass Avocados from Mexico which are very low in carbs and rich in healthy fats. The winner of this prize will be in avocado heaven! The guacamole kit comes with fresh avocados, limes, a lime juicer, Mexican dishes, and matching napkins. You can have an avocado party (ooooh, can I come?!) with this one-of-a-kind prize package. THANK YOU Hass Avocados from Mexico.

So, there you have it--100 BIG PRIZES that you can win as part of my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. You can't win, though, if you don't enter, so be sure to ENTER THE CONTEST soon. The deadline is next Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 11:59PM. Winners will be announced next weekend. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE and THANK YOU for reading the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.

3rd Low-Carb Blogiversary Prize Package #4

Did you think I was finished sharing prizes in my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest? Not by a long shot! There are so many people entering this contest that I wanted to make sure a good many of you will win SOMETHING. I really wish you could all win a prize, but you do have an excellent chance with so many up for grabs.

For those of you who haven't entered yet, you'll be pleased to know I extended the deadline for entering through May 1, 2008 at 11:59PM. The winners will be chosen at random on Friday, May 2nd and announced at my blog soon there after. CLICK HERE to find out how to enter TODAY so you'll get your name in the hat to win some truly remarkable gifts from the sponsor companies who support the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. You can see the prizes I have already highlighted here, here, and here.

Let's take a look at the latest set of prizes:

61. $25 NETRITION.COM GIFT CERTIFICATE


Compliments of our friends at Netrition.com, we are pleased to offer a $25 gift certificate to the reader who wins this prize. Netrition has a full line of products to help you on your low-carb lifestyle, so check 'em out the next time you have a need for low-carb foods. Special thanks to Tom for his generous donation to my blogiversary contest.

62. $25 LO-CARB U GIFT CERTIFICATE
63. $25 LO-CARB U GIFT CERTIFICATE
64. $25 LO-CARB U GIFT CERTIFICATE
65. $25 LO-CARB U GIFT CERTIFICATE


Jason at LO-CARB U is another one of the fine low-carb retailers out there today. He specializes in shirataki noodles and other such niche, hard-to-find low-carb products, so be sure to see what he has to offer you for your low-carb lifestyle. THANKS for donating four $25 gift certificates to my contest, Jason!

66. $50 LOW-CARB CONNOISSEUR GIFT CERTIFICATE


Finishing up the low-carb retail giveaways is this $50 gift certificate to Low-Carb Connoisseur. My friend and fellow South Carolinian Elaine Payne has one of the longest-running online low-carb retail stores that I'm sure you will absolutely fall in love with if you try them out. Elaine will personally take care of your low-carb shopping needs and I can vouch for the excellence she brings to her job. THANK YOU for your gift to my blogiversary giveaway, Elaine!

67. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
68. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
69. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
70. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
71. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
72. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
73. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
74. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
75. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK
76. TRUE LEMON GIFT SET SAMPLE PACK


One of my newest sponsors in 2008 is True Lemon. This unique crystallized lemon, lime and orange product allows you to take citrus goodness with you wherever you go and have a need for a fresh lemon, lime, or orange flavor in your beverage or food. There are so many uses for True Lemon products as Christine and I demonstrated in this YouTube video. My favorite thing to make is this tempting True Lemon cheesecake that is yummy, slap-your-momma-silly delicious! And don't forget you can order free samples and help the troops in Operation Gratitude in the process. THANK YOU for your generous donation of ten True Lemon Gift Set Sample Packs which include a full box of True Lemon, a full box of True Lime, and a full box of the brand new, hard to find True Orange. This is an amazing product and I encourage you to go request your FREE SAMPLES right now with no obligation. :)

77. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE INFLAMMATION FREE DIET PLAN


One of my most popular podcast shows this year has been an interview I conducted with nutritionist Monica Reinagel. Unlike most of her fellow colleagues in dietetics, Monica understands the role of inflammation and its connection to health and disease. Visit her Inflammation Factor web site to understand more about this phenomenon and get the full scoop on this subject in her outstanding book The Inflammation Free Diet Plan. Monica has so wonderfully donated an autographed copy of her book to one lucky reader, so good luck! THANK YOU Monica for your outstanding giveaway.

78. 5 BOTTLES OF LIPTON DIET PEACH PAYAYA WHITE TEA
79. 5 BOTTLES OF LIPTON DIET PEACH PAYAYA WHITE TEA
80. 5 BOTTLES OF LIPTON DIET PEACH PAYAYA WHITE TEA


We've all tasted tea, but have you have the new White Tea from LIPTON yet? First discovered in the Fujian province of China, this white tea product is plucked by hand from the tips of young tea buds before the leaves blossom to preserve the natural goodness of the whole leaf with a rich concentration of protective flavonoid antioxidants. No further processing takes place so it maintains its delicate flavor and a clear liquid color. The light taste of white tea blends well with the other natural flavors, like tangerine, peach or raspberry. Three of you will get to try the Peach Papaya flavor with five bottles of the LIPTON product to try for yourself. THANKS for your prize donation, LIPTON! I've tried these and they are absolutely amazing.

So, am I done sharing all the prizes NOW? Not by a long shot! I told you there would be enough for a whole lot of winners and I wasn't lying. In fact, some of the best prizes are still to come, so keep checking back at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog to see even more in the coming days. Don't wait to get in on the action, ENTER TODAY to become eligible as so many of your fellow readers have already done. We're gonna have well over 100 prizes to give away before its over, so don't miss out!

3rd Low-Carb Blogiversary Prize Package #3

Prizes, prizes, and more prizes are available for you to win in my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. If you haven't entered yet, then you need to CLICK HERE to find out how. It's very easy and I've already shared some pretty amazing giveaways here and here.

We've got more to share with you today:

41. THE ESSENTIAL JONNY BOWDEN COLLECTION


You can't talk about livin' la vida low-carb without mentioning the incredible Dr. Jonny Bowden. His impact on the health and weight loss community is unmatched and I am honored to call Jonny a friend. Meeting him at the Nutrition & Metabolism conference in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago was a real thrill and he is such a neat guy. If you missed my podcast interview with him in February, then click here to check it out. The winner of this prize will get Jonny's two latest books: The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth and The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth. THANK YOU for your generous donation, Jonny!

42. TWO NIGHT SMOKY MOUNTAIN CABIN GETAWAY


Back by popular demand for this year's blogiversary is a two-night stay at the VERY luxurious "A Glimpse of Heaven" cabin. Christine and I had the privilege of staying at this cabin not just once, but TWICE last year and it was amazing. Click here for my pictures and memories from our first visit to "A Glimpse of Heaven" in the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. You haven't experience the Smokies until you stay in a cabin. Special thanks to Roger & Cheryl for generously donating this amazing prize to my anniversary contest. Check out their web site at HeavenlyCabins.com for more information about ALL of their incredible cabin getaways. YOU'LL LOVE IT!!!

43. $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CARBSMART.COM


Longtime supporter and friend of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog Andrew DiMino from CarbSmart.com has again stepped up and offered a $100 gift certificate on the low-carb products of your choice! Whether you want GoLower bars, DaVinci syrups, or NexGen muffins, this should take care of everything you'd like to stock up your low-carb pantry. CarbSmart is one of the industry leaders in customer service and delivery, so I know you'll be taken care of by their top-notch staff. Wanna hear from Andrew himself? Check out my exclusive podcast interview with him to hear about what's going on in the world of low-carb products. THANKS for your donation, Andrew!

44. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
45. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
46. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
47. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
48. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
49. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
50. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
51. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
52. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS
53. SWEETRIOT CACAO NIBS GIFT PACKS


A couple of years ago, I was introduced to a pretty neat company called SweetRiot. They have one of the most unique products for people who LOVE chocolate--cacao nibs! Until you've actually tried cacao, you have no idea what you're missing. Let's just say you can't eat very much of it because the intensity is incredible. They have so graciously agreed to donate 10 gift packs to my readers who win, so you'll see exactly what I mean. Visit the official SweetRiot web site to learn more and sneak a peek at their corresponding blog, too.

54. 24-PACK MIXED SAMPLE OF ZEVIA DIET SODA
55. 24-PACK MIXED SAMPLE OF ZEVIA DIET SODA
56. 24-PACK MIXED SAMPLE OF ZEVIA DIET SODA
57. 24-PACK MIXED SAMPLE OF ZEVIA DIET SODA
58. 24-PACK MIXED SAMPLE OF ZEVIA DIET SODA


We all know that The Coca-Cola Company is currently pleading with the FDA about approving the supplement stevia as a sweetener so they can manufacture a stevia-sweetened diet soda. But why wait on that when there's already a company out there doing just that--Zevia! Available in natural cola, lemon-lime, and natural orange flavors, Zevia is committed to providing an all-natural diet soft drink that they think you'll enjoy without the use of any artificial sweeteners. Each winner will receive a 24-Pack Mixed Sample of Zevia to try for themselves. You can order some for yourself to try, including a special FREE SAMPLE offer (pay only shipping), by visiting the Zevia online store.

59. DIET DETECTIVE'S FOODTEE PRIZE PACKAGE
60. DIET DETECTIVE'S FOODTEE PRIZE PACKAGE


My friend and fellow diet and health writer Charles Stuart Platkin (aka "The Diet Detective") recently started a new line of products that allow you to show off your food choices in a unique way. He calls them a FoodTee and they're really cute! That one with the broccoli with the caption "Veggin'" is one of my favorites, but you may find another one that suits your fancy. The two winners of this prize package will be able to choose 2 FoodTee products of their choice from the FoodTee Market.

So, do you think I'm done sharing prizes yet? Not by a long shot because there are still a BUNCH more to go. You'll just have to keep reading and entering the contest for yourself so you can take advantage of these amazing prizes. I am so grateful to all my blogiversary sponsors for their incredible donations. There's gonna be a lot of loot to win this year and I can't wait to give it all away!

Because of the craziness with my blog being down for much of the past week, I have decided to extend the deadline for entering the contest to Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 11:59PM. Winners will be chosen at random from all the entries on Friday, May 2, 2008 and announced at the blog soon thereafter. Now is the time to enter and be sure to encourage others to enter to win, too! I've only shared 60 prizes so far with a lot more to go. THANK YOU for reading "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb!"

My 3rd Blogiversary That Almost Didn't Happen

Oh, it's so good to be back blogging again! :)

What a crazy nightmare these past two weeks have been with a hack attack on my forum (which I hope to have the brand new one going within the next week), a series of strange "coincidences" that happened within days of each other, and then Blogger locking my blog for nearly a week because they identified it as a "spam blog."

WHEW!

Who knew whether today, April 21, 2008, I would be able to actually celebrate my third blogiversary or not? Thankfully, I can and I will. And YOU can join in on the celebration by entering my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. We're celebrating three years, 3 million pageviews, and more memories than this Southern boy can shake a stick at.

How do I fully express what your readership of my blog means to me? When I started this thing three years ago, I couldn't have imagined it would blossom into the success it has become today. It just goes to show you the power of having a passion for something and committing yourself 100 percent to it day in and day out. That's what I've tried to do with sharing about the healthy low-carb lifestyle and you have rewarded me with your presence here. THANK YOU!!!

Looking back at last year's blogiversary post, I can see how much the blog has grown from then and it makes me very excited about the future. We now see 200,000 pageviews a month and the trend is still going way up as brand new readers are finding out about "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" daily. Whether it is through my podcast show or my YouTube videos with Christine, the low-carb movement is still going strong if my sites are any indication of it. And the funny thing is, low-carb is supposed to be dead and gone as some passing "fad" or something. I guess none of us got that memo. :P

For now, we'll just keep on livin' la vida low-carb, doing what we know works for us to help us shed the pounds, control our blood sugars and diabetes, and becoming healthier than we ever could on that high-carb, low-fat diet. What so many people fail to realize is that we're not against a low-fat diet for anyone who wants to do it and can find success using it. Instead, we are in favor of people finding a plan of action that has been proven to work when nothing else has. That's what low-carb is for so many of us and it's why we support the use of it for others we see struggling.

If there's one thing you'll always get out of Jimmy Moore and "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb," it's this--enthusiastic, uplifting, and encouraging support for the lifestyle change of your choice. If you are being pro-active in getting your weight and health under control so you won't be a burden on your family, your community, or your country, then I have nothing but applause and admiration for you. As a former 400-pounder who was able to find his way out of morbid obesity, I know how hard it is and it takes a lot of courage to make the necessary changes. But you CAN do it!!!

As I head into my fourth year online, good things are certainly happening that I can't wait to share with you. Some of them aren't finalized yet or I'd tell you now, but let's just say they're HUGE opportunities if they actually happen. In light of my recent comedy of errors with my various platforms, I'd like to ask you to pray for me regarding these things that could help give the low-carb lifestyle a much larger platform. I know attacks against me and the work I am doing must mean I'm doing something right and I welcome the challenge to rise above adversity and come out of it stronger than I was before. Your faithful support has been a tremendous rock through these difficult circumstances. Again, THANK YOU!!!

I'm always here for you anytime you need me, so don't hesitate to e-mail me your questions and comments at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. For three years of blogging bliss, I salute you for sticking with me and allowing me to share in your struggles, celebrate in your victories, and always giving me a reason to come back each and every day to talk about low-carb living with a fresh new perspective. That's what gets me up in the morning and motivates me to keep going on. THANK YOU just doesn't seem adequate enough to tell you how much I love you all and how grateful I am for giving me a reason to blog. God bless you and keep on livin' la vida low-carb!

3rd Low-Carb Blogiversary Prize Package #2

Excitement about my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest has grown and grown with entries galore flooding my e-mail box. I LOVE IT because it means there are people excited about the opportunity to win some truly great prizes!

After all, YOU deserve to win some really cool low-carb stuff because without your support for the work I do, there would be no "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." I cannot thank you enough for being a part of my life and I wish you all the very best in your own personal journey to weight loss and improved health the low-carb way. Hopefully these prizes will give you the incentive to keep on livin' la vida low-carb. ENTER NOW to become eligible to win a prize.

Here is the second group of prizes in my blogiversary contest:

21. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE DIET DELUSION"
22. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE DIET DELUSION"
23. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE DIET DELUSION"
24. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE DIET DELUSION"
25. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE DIET DELUSION"
26. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE DIET DELUSION"


Unless you've been living on a remote desert island for the past year, then you've undoubtedly heard about the book Good Calories, Bad Calories by award-winning science journalist Gary Taubes. He spent over five years going back through the old research into the high-fat, low-carb diet hypothesis to find evidence that this way of eating was widely considered healthy before the high-carb, low-fat diet was forced on to our culture by a small minority who fooled the powers that be into making it the epitome of "healthy." GCBC was released in the United States in September 2007, but it didn't release in the UK until January 2008 under a different title--The Diet Delusion. These half dozen rare autographed copies of the British version of GCBC (the content is exactly the same between the two books) will be a great collector's item for anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb!

27. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "REAL FOOD: WHAT TO EAT AND WHY"
28. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "REAL FOOD: WHAT TO EAT AND WHY"
29. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "REAL FOOD: WHAT TO EAT AND WHY"
30. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "REAL FOOD: WHAT TO EAT AND WHY"
31. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "REAL FOOD: WHAT TO EAT AND WHY"


After interviewing Nina Planck for my blog in December 2007 about her fabulous book Real Food: What To Eat And Why, I just knew this would make for a great prize giveaway in my blogiversary. And Nina was kind enough to donate five autographed copies of her book for my contest. This is a book for people who believe it's time to reject the high-carb junk food that so dominates our culture in favor of more real, whole foods.

32. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "SLOW BURN"
33. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "SLOW BURN"
34. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "SLOW BURN"
35. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "SLOW BURN"
36. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "SLOW BURN"


Ever since I was introduced to Fred Hahn and his unique "slow burn" technique for bodybuilding, I have been a BIG FAN. While most personal trainers put their clients through agonizing amounts of physical torture by making them do endless repetitions and sets of weight lifting that are potentially harmful, Hahn has developed a better way to build muscle that is even more effective than those conventional measures. That's what The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution is all about and I'm pleased to offer five complimentary autographed copies of this book for the winners of this prize. But I have a special offer for people who live in the New York City area--Fred Hahn has agreed to offer a complimentary "slow burn" session at his Serious Strength gym located at 169 West 78th Street on the Lower Level in NYC. Just mention that you read about this on the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and ask for Fred Hahn by name and you'll be able to train with Fred directly. How cool is that? THANK YOU for your generous offer, Fred.

37. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE PERFECT BODY DIET"
38. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE PERFECT BODY DIET"
39. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE PERFECT BODY DIET"
40. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE PERFECT BODY DIET"


It was so great seeing my friend Cassandra Forsythe at the ASBP/Nutrition & Metabolism Society conference in Phoenix, Arizona last weekend. This University of Connecticut doctoral student recently finished a book for Women's Health magazine called The Perfect Body Diet. As you know, Cassandra works with noted low-carb researcher Dr. Jeff Volek, so livin' la vida low-carb and a healthy intake of glucomannan (like shirataki noodles) is a big part of attaining the "perfect body" as she details in this fabulous book. Check out Cassandra Forsythe's blog by clicking here. THANKS for sharing four autographed copies of your book with my readers, Cass! :) I look forward to interviewing her about this new book very soon at my podcast show.

There you have it--20 more prizes available to you in my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. I've got plenty more to share with you, so keep reading!!! If you haven't entered already, then you gotta go find out how to register your name to become eligible to win a prize. We want everyone to have a chance to win something, so make sure there is only one entry per household please. THANK YOU!!!

3rd Low-Carb Blogiversary Prize Package #1

I promised to share with you the prizes in my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest and I'm ready to deliver by sharing with you some awesome ones that you can win just by entering to win. The people and businesses who have donated these prizes generously did so to reward the people who so faithfully read and support the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. For that, I am very grateful to each of them for their generosity.

The trivia contest aspect of entering the giveaway drawing has been interesting so far with a good majority of people missing the answer to a., a few more missing b. and only a handful missing d. So far, everyone has gotten c. and e. correct. If you miss a question, then I'm happy to give you another chance. Just read the questions slowly and carefully and you shouldn't have any trouble at all coming up with the right answers. :)

This is only the first of a series of blog posts detailing all the prizes you can win in my blogiversary contestn. Remember, the deadline to enter is April 26, 2008 at 11:59pm, so don't delay and ENTER TODAY. You have a GREAT chance at winning SOMETHING, so GOOD LUCK!!!

Here is the first group of prizes in my blogiversary contest:

1. STEVEN RAICHLEN BEER CAN CHICKEN KIT


Compliments of our friends at The Companion Group, you'll enjoy this incredible BBQ cooking kit from the master of grilling himself--Steven Raichlen--who I had the distinct privilege of interviewing in 2007 at the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Expo (HPBA) in Reno, Nevada. The winner of this prize will have all the tools you'll need to make some mouthwatering chicken recipes on top of a sizzling hot grill.

2. GRATE CHEF GRILL CLEANING KIT
3. GRATE CHEF GRILL CLEANING KIT
4. GRATE CHEF GRILL CLEANING KIT


Another great grilling vendor I met at this year's HPBA Expo in Atlanta, Georgia was Grate Chef. This company has some truly fabulous products to help you keep your grill spic and span clean and this prize gives you the whole kit and caboodle. Included in this prize are Grill Wipes, Stainless Steel Wipes, Steaming Grill Brush and a Fire Starter. Three lucky readers will win this fabulous prize package.

5. 3-PACK OF BACON SALT
6. 3-PACK OF BACON SALT
7. 3-PACK OF BACON SALT


What if you could make everything you eat taste like bacon? Yeah, baby! That's exactly what Bacon Salt is all about. Sure, you could fry up bacon as part of your low-carb lifestyle, but sometimes you don't have time to do that. This is when Bacon Salt can help flavor your beef, chicken, veggies--ANYTHING! Dash some on your cheeseburger for a bacon cheeseburger and throw some on top of your chicken Ranch melt for a bacon-y shot. Three readers will have the chance to try all three flavors--Original, Hickory, and Peppered.

8. EDITION 1 DIET SODA LOVER'S KIT

9. PENGUIN DIET SODA LOVER'S KIT


If you haven't tried the Soda-Club machine yet, then you are in for a real treat if you win one of these two outstanding prizes. The Edition 1 kit comes with the soda maker, 2 Alco2Jet® Carbonators, 2 carbonating bottles, and all the Splenda-flavored diet soda mixes they make. The Penguin (named for the unique shape of the machine) kit comes with the sparkling water & soda machine, 2 Alco2Jet® Carbonators, and 2 glass carafes, along with the Splenda-sweetened diet soda mixes. I've owned the Edition 1 for about a year and enjoy making my own sodas within minutes. It's easy-to-use and so much fun, too! THANK YOU Soda-Club for donating these superb prizes!

10. CHOCOPERFECTION/LLVLC BAR LOVER'S 3-PACK
11. CHOCOPERFECTION/LLVLC BAR LOVER'S 3-PACK
12. CHOCOPERFECTION/LLVLC BAR LOVER'S 3-PACK


What more can I say about my absolutely favorite sugar-free low-carb chocolate bars in the entire world--CHOCOPERFECTION!!! From the first time I bit into these European-styled chocolate bars, I was hooked. They truly are the best-tasting low-carb chocolate bar on the planet and I am pleased to offer three prize packages for my readers to win and enjoy. The 3-pack includes one dozen milk chocolate, one dozen dark chocolate (my favorite!), and one dozen of my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar" made with raspberry dark chocolate (here's a YouTube video about my chocolate bar). Prepare to be in chocolate heaven if you are one of my winners of this delectable ChocoPerfection prize.

13. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "DIET FAILURE...THE NAKED TRUTH"
14. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "DIET FAILURE...THE NAKED TRUTH"
15. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "DIET FAILURE...THE NAKED TRUTH"
16. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "DIET FAILURE...THE NAKED TRUTH"
17. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "DIET FAILURE...THE NAKED TRUTH"


One of my most popular podcasts of 2008 has got to be the one I conducted with international health author and speaker Phoenix Gilman. To complement what she is already doing with her book and speaking engagements, Phoenix recently started writing a blog which includes this amazing post damning the low-fat diet for "fueling" the obesity epidemic. You gotta love Phoenix Gilman and she was generous enough to donate 5 autographed copies of her amazing book advocating low-carb living entitled Diet Failure...The Naked Truth. Prepare to be energized and motivated like never before if you are one of the winners of this prize.

18. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "CARB WARS: SUGAR IS THE NEW FAT"
19. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "CARB WARS: SUGAR IS THE NEW FAT"
20. AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "CARB WARS: SUGAR IS THE NEW FAT"


One of the neatest people I had the privilege of meeting in the past year or so was Judy Barnes Baker, author of the incredible low-carb recipe cookbook called CARB WARS: Sugar Is The New Fat. Judy has a regularly-updated blog you should check out for lots of low-carb tidbits and advice. And her recipes are absolutely divine which is why I am glad to see that three of you will be able to savor these dishes for yourself real soon with this low-carb cooking classic!

This is only the first 20 prizes available to you in my 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. If you haven't entered already, then you gotta go find out how to register your name to become eligible to win a prize. We want everyone to have a chance to win something, so make sure there is only one entry per household please. THANK YOU!!!

Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Celebrates 3 Million Pageviews In Three Years

Can you believe I'm coming up on three years of low-carb blogging?

It's already halfway through April and many of my regular readers might be wondering to themselves one question--Is Jimmy gonna have another big blogiversary giveaway contest this year like he has every single year since he started the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog? The answer is a resounding YES and I apologize it comes a little later than usual. Life has been very busy in a good way and I have been working diligently behind-the-scenes to compile some truly amazing prizes for you like I have in the past (see what I gave away in 2007 and 2006 for my first two blogiversary contests).

This third blogiversary coming up on Monday, April 21, 2008 is even more special this year because I not only celebrate three years of low-carb blogging, but also surpassing a major milestone in the history of my blog--3 MILLION PAGEVIEWS! It was just 6 months ago when we passed the 2 million pageview mark and the blog just keeps growing and growing despite all the claims in the media that low-carb is dead (ummm, somebody forgot to tell that to the 200,000 monthly readers who come here!). That's a whole lotta people who are being impacted with the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide you with enough reasons to keep coming back here to read my blog day in and day out. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of your support and dedication to my mission here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."

To that end, I once again want to share some truly incredible prizes with you to let you know just how much you are appreciated. I could never repay each of you all that you are worth to me in my life, but a few of you will receive a golden opportunity to win some cool stuff thanks to the generosity of the businesses and individuals who have partnered up with me in this endeavor.

Today I am introducing the 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest and you can start entering beginning RIGHT NOW. Like last year, I've got a boatload of prizes to tell you about and it's gonna take a few days to fit them all in. But I will get to them all so you can see what you have the potential of winning during this contest. Look for those prize posts to be coming over the next several days.

I'll be conducting the drawing for the prizes on April 27th and announce the winners on Monday, April 28, 2008. So, what do need to do to win? Last year's scavenger hunt was so popular that I decided to do that again with some new questions. :) Here are the easy instructions about how to enter YOUR name in this drawing (only one entry per household please):

1. Your full name/full mailing address (NO P.O. Boxes please!).

2. Which low-carb plan are you on and how long have you been on it?

3. The blogiversary scavenger hunt (answers easily found on my blog!):

a. Which low-carb doctor did I nominate for Diabetes Educator Of The Year in 2007?

b. In what city did the 2007 Eastern Regional American Society of Bariatric Physicians and Nutrition & Metabolism Society meeting take place?

c. What is the name of the world's fattest man who has lost over 500 pounds on a low-carb diet over the past two years?

d. Name the low-carb recipe I accidentally created after mixing a ChocoPerfection bar and coconut oil together and poured it on top of ice cream.

e. Who wrote and released the bestselling health book Good Calories, Bad Calories under a cloud of controversy in September 2007?

Like I said, all of the answers to these questions can be found at my blog from over the past year and I'll give you a hint--Google is your friend! :P E-mail your answers to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Be sure to label the subject line "BLOGIVERSARY CONTEST" so I can easily identify it as an entry in my contest. NOTE: I MUST RECEIVE YOUR ENTRY NO LATER THAN 11:59PM EST ON APRIL 26, 2008 for you to be eligible to win a prize! Hurry and enter so you can have a chance to win the prizes I'll be sharing with you in the next few days.

For those of you who are concerned about sharing your name and contact information with me, I promise I will NEVER mention your full name, address or e-mail address to anyone or at my blog. It will only be used to mail your prize to you in the event you are chosen as a winner. Remember, please limit your entry to one person per household to give everyone a fair chance to win a prize and there will be plenty of prizes for everyone to have an EXCELLENT chance to win. Winners will be selected by random drawing on Sunday, April 27, 2008 and announced at my blog on Monday, April 28, 2008.

THANK YOU again for three glorious years of low-carb blogging bliss. It is such a pleasure waking up daily knowing that my blog is making a difference in the lives of real people like YOU who have been changed forever by the healthy low-carb lifestyle. If I haven't said it lately, I'm so proud of you guys for making the necessary changes in your life to improve your weight and health. KEEP AT IT!!!

And be sure to tell all your friends and family about the 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. This is gonna be fun because it's celebration time, baby! :D

Check out the list of prizes available for you to win:
- PRIZE PACKAGE #1
- PRIZE PACKAGE #2
- PRIZE PACKAGE #3
- PRIZE PACKAGE #4
- PRIZE PACKAGE #5

ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED: Because of the Blogger lockdown on my blog over the past week, I have decided to extend the deadline for entering my blogiversary contest to Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 11:59PM. The winners will be chosen at random on Friday, May 2nd and the winners will be announced at the blog soon thereafter. THANKS to everyone who has so enthusiastically entered and shared some amazing comments about how my blog has touched your life. THANK YOU guys! :)

Massive Blogiversary Contest Lifts Low-Carb Blog To New All-Time Traffic Records

I enjoyed celebrating my two-year blogiversary so much in April which culminated with many of you winning some GREAT prizes that it's the proverbial icing on the cake that I also happened to set another new all-time high monthly traffic record.

The new record set in April 2007 was 137, 218!

Holy moley! That completely obliterates the previous record set in March 2007 of 126,002 pageviews and the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog just keeps growing and growing.

Seriously, I keep thinking the traffic has got to slow down at some point, but it just keeps chugging along. In fact, I also broke my all-time single day record on April 23, 2007 with an eye-popping 10,915 pageviews in that day alone! WHOA, where'd that come from?!

Sometimes the outreach of this blog simply astounds me and it reminds me of just how important the work I am doing here really is. I never take for granted the people who make this a regular part of their day because it is a responsibility I cherish and have invested my life into fully. Sure, I like to have fun, but the message of livin' la vida low-carb is too important to be flippant.

I can never tell you enough how grateful I am for your devoted readership, so I hope you never get tired of me thanking you for coming here. I'm just your average, ordinary guy who was able to through the power of the low-carb lifestyle transform himself into a lean, mean, hunka hunka burnin' love, baby! HA! That's me, warts and all.

There are some amazing changes set to happen at the blog very soon. You will notice a full upgrade to the look of the blog that I KNOW you are gonna LOVE, which includes an FAQ section for those burning questions so many of you have and so much more. I've even got a graphic artist working on the final touches of my very first logo for the blog that is out of this world! I LOVE IT and so will you!

Plus, my schedule is busy with a trip to Nashville, TN this weekend for a major low-carb research conference where I hope to interview several of the researchers for my podcast show. I recently finished an interview with a Korean television crew about my weight loss with an audience of 5 million people. Hey, people in Korea need to know about weight loss, too!

There is also a new weight loss documentary interested in interviewing me for their film meant to motivate and inspire people to accomplish great things. I'll tell you more about that project as the movie gets closer to release.

As always, I'll keep doing my thing blog, blog, blogging away trying to find new and unique topics that I think will interest you as it relates to livin' la vida low-carb. Keep on reading and telling others about what I'm doing here at my blog. I get e-mails from people all the time who said they found me from a family member, friend, co-worker, etc. who told them about "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."

I consider that the highest compliment you could ever pay me. THANK YOU!

Big 2nd Blogiversary Giveaway Contest Winners

When I decided to celebrate my two-year anniversary at my blog (which I commemorated on April 21st) throughout the month of April with a special giveaway contest, I had no idea that so many companies would be as incredibly generous as they were. WOW! Those prizes are absolutely amazing! I wish I could win some of these prizes! :D

Then, the response from so many of you to participate in my contest was overwhelming. Although a few people complained that the scavenger hunt questions were too hard (um, they could have been MUCH more difficult than they were), most people did swimmingly well with them without a hitch. Of course, my hints were helpful to those who struggled. These aren't cheap-o prizes, so you oughta have to work just a little bit to earn them, right?

One of the most interesting part of the contest was reading about which low-carb plan my readers who entered the blogiversary contest were following. There was one clear-cut winner by an overwhelming percentage--ATKINS!!!

Here was the breakdown:

Atkins--64%
My own low-carb plan--13%
Kimkins--9%
South Beach--7%
Protein Power--6%
Other--1%

The results of this unscientific survey may be shocking to the media and the so-called health "experts" who think nobody in their right mind is following the Atkins diet anymore. WRONG-O! The results speak for themselves--TWO-THIRDS of my readers are on that particular low-carb plan. Get that through your thick heads all you naysayers!

The other low-carb plans are good, too, but this just goes to show you why the antagonists continue to rail against the Atkins nutritional approach. It is still VERY popular and for good reason--IT WORKS! That's it, pure and simple.

Entries into my contest came from 47 of the 50 U.S. states and I even had one entry from Brampton, Ontario in Canada (and that person won a prize, too!). Predictably, California led the pack with the most entries because they are the largest state by far. But the states represented below them were a bit surprising as you can see for yourself:

1. California
2. Minnesota
3. Washington
4. Missouri
5. Michigan
6. Iowa
7. Texas
8. North Carolina

Even in my home state of South Carolina, I only had one entry from a dear lady in Greenville, SC (and she happened to win a prize, too!). THANK YOU to everyone who participated and I want you to know how much I appreciate your readership and involvement in what I am doing at my blog.

I'll let you know right now that everyone who entered the contest is gonna receive something in the mail from me soon. Even if you won one of the many outstanding prizes listed below, you will get this prize, too. It's the least I could do to reward you for taking time out of your busy schedule to look up the answers to my questions and submit your entry. The prize isn't anything fancy, but just a small way for me to show my appreciation to you.

I know what you're thinking...GET ON WITH IT ALREADY! Okay, okay, I know you want to know who won what, so let's do it by the list of prize bundles first and then the GRAND PRIZE winner of that amazing Vermont Castings grill will be announced at the end. Here goes (click on the prize bundle link to see a complete description of the prizes):

PRIZE BUNDLE #1

CHOCOPERFECTION--Janelle L. from Minnesota
CHOCOPERFECTION--Jennifer M. from Nevada
CHOCOPERFECTION--Vickie A. from California

EGGLAND'S BEST--Chuck D. from Iowa
EGGLAND'S BEST--Brenda S. from Michigan
EGGLAND'S BEST--Barbara M. from Vermont
EGGLAND'S BEST--Ryan N. from Alaska
EGGLAND'S BEST--Vickie E. from Utah

ALSOSALT--Michael W. from Tennessee

CARB WARS--Margaret N. from Oklahoma

KIMKINS--Tom O. from Minnesota

PRIZE BUNDLE #2

SUGAR SHOCK!--Nicole S. from Washington
SUGAR SHOCK!--Marshall R. from Washington
SUGAR SHOCK!--Kevin M. from Connecticut

DREAMFIELDS--Jennifer S. from Vermont

VIVA LOW-CARB GIFT CERTIFICATE--Francine D. from Ontario
VIVA LOW-CARB BREAD--Christina R. from Texas

STEVIVA--Janet L. from New Hampshire

OUT LADY OF WEIGHT LOSS--Cheryl S. from California

PRIZE BUNDLE #3

JIGSAW HEALTH--Joseph M. from Florida

OLIVADO AVOCADO OIL--Elizabeth K. from Illinois
OLIVADO OMEGA PLUS OIL--William B. from Missouri

KAREN RYSAVY/FIBERFIT--Pete C. from Michigan

DR. RICHARD BERNSTEIN--Jay K. from New Jersey

NEXGEN MUFFINS--Brandi H. from North Carolina

PRIZE BUNDLE #4

SMOKY MOUNTAIN CABIN TRIP--Rhea K. from North Carolina

"ULTIMATE CHEF" FROM DEL MONTE--Rick P. from North Dakota

DIABETES MINE--Samantha H. from the District of Columbia
DIABETES MINE--Sarah C. from Washington

BBQ QUEENS--Rita S. from South Carolina
BBQ QUEENS--Lisha A. from Indiana
BBQ QUEENS--Michelle S. from Nebraska
BBQ QUEENS--Melinda S. from Virginia
BBQ QUEENS--Marie S. from Minnesota

CARBSMART--George C. from New York

PRIZE BUNDLE #5

NANO O2 AIR PURIFIER--Lisa E. from Illinois

DIET DETECTIVE--Teresa F. from Maine

FUZE SLENDERIZE--Diane S. from Alabama
FUZE SLENDERIZE--Kay W. from Virginia
FUZE SLENDERIZE--Peggy O. from Alaska
FUZE SLENDERIZE--Benjamin B. from Massachusetts
FUZE SLENDERIZE--Dennita H. from Texas

ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING--Gayle O. from Oregon
ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING--Matthew H. from California
ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING--Tania G. from Louisiana

CAL-CARB CLICKER--Cindy P. from Colorado
CAL-CARB CLICKER--Guy J. from Washington
CAL-CARB CLICKER--Tom B. from Minnesota
CAL-CARB CLICKER--Pat C. from California
CAL-CARB CLICKER--Terry B. from Wisconsin

And the winner of the GRAND PRIZE Vermont Castings Deluxe Grill in the 2nd Annual "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" Blogiversary Giveaway Contest is:

AMY D. FROM MISSOURI

YEAH!!! WOO HOO!!! YIP YIP YIPPEE!!! (are you excited, Amy?!)

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who won a prize in my contest. I will be contacting the companies over the next few days with the names and addresses of the winners so you can claim your prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your prize to be mailed to you. If you do not receive it by mid-June, then please contact me to let me know.

Enjoy your prizes and tell everyone you know to read the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog for more opportunities to win some really great stuff. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone for making my 2nd blogiversary one to remember. SEE YA and have a great day!

Two Years Of Low-Carb Blogging And Counting

The date April 21st on the calendar will always be a special day in the life of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog because that is the day back in the year 2005 when all of this low-carb, weight loss, and health talk began in earnest. I was already writing opinion columns since 2001 at a web site called CommonVoice.com when I lost 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004.

But on April 21, 2005 at 11:57am, I created my blog and wrote my very first blog post not knowing exactly what was going to happen in the months and years to come. Here's an excerpt from that brief blog post to kick off what would become the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog:

This blog was literally birthed out of the tremendous outpouring of requests I have received around the world for help from people who have struggled with losing weight as I once did.

After losing 180 pounds on Atkins in 2004 and keeping it off with a continued low-carb lifestyle, I am embarking on a mission to help as many people as I can to do the same for themselves. If I can do it, then so can you!

I am happy to answer any questions you may have about low-carb. Feel free to e-mail me...or leave a post.

Now it's time for me to get back to livin' la vida low-carb!!!

And so it began! Because I already had a few readers who had been following my writings at CommonVoice.com, I also posted this column there to share with them about this new venture in my life. It brings a smile to my face when I read the title of that column: "Low-Carb Lifestyle Blog Created To Encourage And Educate." Two years later, that's still the EXACT same mission that I have for my blog.

Here's just a snippet of what I wrote in that CommonVoice.com column about why I needed a blog:

I decided that there needed to be an outlet for me to comment more often about low-carb on the Internet than I am currently able to do. Oftentimes I have wanted to respond to negative media accounts regarding the low-carb lifestyle, but I just haven't had the time to write a full CommonVoice article about it. Also, since CommonVoice tends to focus more on politics and government, I do not believe this is the forum for presenting these ideas (unless, of course, the government comes out with some ridiculous new health standard that needs to be addressed!).

For that reason and because I wanted a way to interact on the web with people trying to learn more about low-carb, I created a new blog entitled "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" where you can learn about how I was able to lose weight and read commentary from me about the latest low-carb news. This is an exciting venture for me because I have never done a blog before.

My heart literally goes out to people who struggle with losing weight. I have personally been there and know the heartache it brings to people desperate to get their weight problem under control. It's not a fun place to be and I want to help people like that overcome their struggle any way that I can.

I am always available to answer any questions from people about living the low-carb lifestyle. My personal mission is to encourage and educate people about this amazing way to lose weight and keep it off permanently. Hope to hear from you soon at my new blog!

Had I known THEN what I know NOW regarding just how popular my blog would become, then I don't think I would have ever believed what I am doing here would have made such an impact on so many lives. The amazing thing to me is that this thing just keeps growing and growing beyond anything I could have asked or imagined. It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my first blogiversary. Oh how time flies!

Thousands of you visit daily now and I'm now averaging well over 125,000 pageviews each and every month as well as attracting tons of new people all the time. In fact, April 2007 is on track for yet another traffic record. WOW WOW WOW! That's all I can say about it. It's unbelievable!

In March 2007, I surpassed the 1 million pageview mark in less than two years and am on a pace to hit 2 million before the end of the year. I keep thinking the traffic is gonna have to slow down at some point, but it hasn't. You won't see me complaining about it, though. :) New people write to me every single day!

All those eyeballs means more and more people are being exposed to the positive message of the healthy low-carb lifestyle. Whether they've been livin' la vida low-carb for 2 days, 2 months, or even 20 years, I try to provide information that everyone can use to be educated, encouraged, and inspired to keep doing what they're doing to control their weight and health. That's really what this blog is all about--helping people help themselves become the success they so desperately desire.

So, on my two-year blogiversary today, I simply want to say to you THANK YOU! I never want to take YOU for granted with anything that I do. Sure, much of what I write about here I do tend to personalize because this blog is the story of my weight loss success and living my life ever since. But if you didn't find what I write about useful in your own life, then you wouldn't keep coming back. I must be doing something that you find valuable and I consider your presence here a compliment.

My wife Christine and I are humbled to know that so many lives are being changed for the better because of this blog. I hear it from the literally hundreds of e-mails I receive each week (my wife Christine keeps them all and is putting them in a scrapbook for me!) with all the questions, comments, praise, and concerns shared by real people looking for someone who cares. Isn't that what all of us who have struggled with our weight for most of our lives are looking for?

The fact is I do care because I've been there, done that, and yes, I've even written the book about it! LOL! Although I definitely enjoy blogging and try to have fun with it, I am dead serious about all that I do in this regard because it is not a laughing matter.

Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and worse are all very clear and present dangers to modern society and much of it is self-inflicted because of our poor dietary choices. That's why I not only need to keep doing what I am doing to spread the good news about livin' la vida low-carb, but I need many more of you to join me in this effort. I've listed many of the excellent resources for people who desire to learn more about low-carb at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog and I'd LOVE to add your blog or web site to that list, too!

You might be wondering what's next for the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog? I really don't know what's gonna happen over the next year and beyond, but I do know my mission and reasons for blogging will NEVER change. Too many people are hurting for me to stop doing what I'm doing.

I'm just gonna keep living my low-carb life, sharing my experiences, exposing the hypocrisy of the naysayers, sharing the invaluable research that is flooding the scientific community, and always offering a hand of comfort and guidance when I'm asked. It's the least I can do for the miracle that God performed in my life through this low-carb weight loss experience.

Please feel free to e-mail me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. With the increase in traffic, my ability to respond as quickly as I have before has been diminished. But if you take the time to write to me with a question about low-carb, then I WILL write you back. That's my promise to you for having the courage to share what's on your heart and being willing to admit you don't want to stay where you are.

Be looking for some major changes to the look of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog coming VERY SOON to help you navigate through all the information I have for you. The content won't change, just how it is presented to you. I think you're gonna enjoy the changes, so be looking for that in the very near future. I can't wait!

Also, if you haven't signed up and entered your name in my 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest yet, then you have just a little more than a week left to put your name in the hat for the BIG drawing next week for the GRAND PRIZE--Deluxe Vermont Castings Grill as well as tons more prizes you can see here, here, here, and here. So many have entered, but we've got room for YOU, too!

Again, I cannot fully express to you how much you mean to me personally and professionally with your presence here day in and day out. It's an honor and a privilege to be a part of your life, even in some small way, and I will never take that for granted. God bless you and be with you as you continue to make low-carb living your permanent healthy lifestyle change on your way to improved weight and health. You guys really are the greatest! SEE YA!

Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #5

It seems like I've been announcing all the FREE PRIZES you can win in my 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest for weeks, but it's only been a little more than one week. And today is the last bundle of fantastic prizes you can win just for being a reader of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog as I celebrate two years of blogging about diet, health, and low-carb.

Just in case you missed all the other prizes, here they are again:

- Our GRAND PRIZE--A Deluxe Vermont Castings Grill
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #1
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #2
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #3
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #4

Special thanks to all of these companies who totally blew me away by so willingly providing these prizes for all of you to enjoy. I am amazed by their generosity and sincerely hope you will show your appreciation to them for supporting my blogiversary celebration. Here are the last five prize packages that you can win in the giveaway:

FREE NANO O2 SUPRA AIR PURIFIER SYSTEM


Cleaning the air in your home will make you healthier

Are you worried about how clean the air is in your house? Then you will be so excited to be able to win this fantastic high-quality air purifier from a company called Pharmatropic--the NANO O2. I own this unit myself and wrote a glowing review of how well it really does clean the air in your home. It's AMAZING! Now you can win the SUPRA model for yourself if your name is drawn for this stupendous prize! Please visit the NANO O2 web site for more information about this unit.

COMPLETE AUTOGRAPHED DIET DETECTIVE LIBRARY


Charles Stuart Platkin is known as "The Diet Detective"

You've read his nationally-syndicated column in your newspaper and recognize him as "The Diet Detective." His name is Charles Stuart Platkin and he is one of America's foremost authorities on diet, health, and fitness. Although I have had my disagreements with him regarding his diet philosophy, we both agree obesity needs to be addressed in practical ways whether it is with low-fat, low-carb, or whatever. Platkin was kind enough to donate an autographed Complete Diet Detective Library, including Breaking The Pattern, Breaking The Fat Pattern, Lighten Up (Teenagers), and The Diet Detective's Count Down (which I recently reviewed). You won't want to miss more from Platkin and other leading voices in the weight loss world at DietDetective.com.

AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE


The FUZE Slenderize line is a deliciously low-carb drink

I just found out about the fantastic Slenderize line of low-carb beverage products called FUZE earlier this year. They've been out for a while, but are mostly a regional drink not widely available nationwide. Well, all that's about to change now that The Coca-Cola Company has signed up to distribute this outstanding product to a store near your. Check out my personal review of this product that five of you will have a chance to win an entire case of to try for yourself. Be sure to visit DrinkFuze.com to learn more about this awesome low-carb beverage.

AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING
AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING
AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING


Nechama Cohen has some superb kosher low-carb recipes

Shalom! I just love recipe books and three of you will win an autographed copy of a great big one that I reviewed last year called EnLITEned Kosher Cooking by Nechama Cohen. This book is fantastic for low-carbers and diabetics alike and will be an excellent prize for the winners. Learn more about Cohen and her recipes at JewishDiabetes.org.

2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND


Lindee Lee Bingham and Sandy Martucci invented Cal-Carb Clicker

Finally, I'm pleased to offer the Cal-Carb Clicker to five people in my blogiversary giveaway contest. I just reviewed this little gadget this week and was very impressed with this invention by sisters Lindee Lee Bingham and Sandy Martucci. Now YOU have an chance to win two of these--one for you and one to give away to a friend or loved one. Keep track of your calories, carbs, and water intake with this handy-dandy little clicker. Find out more at CalCarbClicker.com.

That's it everyone! No more prizes to tell you about. But there are PLENTY of them to go around that you have an EXCELLENT chance at winning SOMETHING during my 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. Be sure to get me your entry soon so you can become eligible to win. GOOD LUCK to everyone who enters! And thanks for reading the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. I appreciate you guys so much! :)

Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #4

Have you joined the hundreds of people who have entered my 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest yet? If not, then you are definitely missing out on a golden opportunity to rack up on some of the nicest prizes you'll ever be able to win from a blog I can assure you of that! I sought out the best of the best because YOU DESERVE IT!

Our generous Grand Prize donation--that Vermont Castings deluxe grill--could not have been made possible without the fine folks over at CFM Corporation. Do me a favor and send a THANK YOU e-mail to the Grills Category Manager Tim Kuhn for being willing to provide such an amazing prize for my contest celebrating my second anniversary at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.

But as nice as that grill is, only one person is going to win it! Never fear, though, there are tons more prizes that await you if your name is drawn for them at the end of the month. You can see some of these outstanding giveaways by clicking here, here, and here. There ain't no chintzy prizes in this contest and I'm so happy to give you a real chance to win!

Yo, I'm not done sharing all the prizes with you yet! Here's some more:

TWO-NIGHT CABIN STAY IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS


Catch a "Glimpse Of Heaven" on vacation in the mountains

Special thanks to one of my readers named Cheryl who owns a Smoky Mountain cabin rental company, you and your family may be going on vacation in a luxurious cabin located near Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN called "Glimpse Of Heaven." This cozy two-night stay with an absolutely gorgeous view of the Great Smoky Mountains will be going to one of you just for entering my contest. Keep in mind this cabin is very popular and may be booked up for 2007, but you can discuss the dates you are available with Cheryl. In the meantime, go visit HeavenlyCabins.com to learn more about these incredible cabins and contact Cheryl directly by e-mail if you have any questions or would like to place a reservation to stay in their amazing facilities.

"THE ULTIMATE CHEF" PRIZE PACK FROM DEL MONTE

What an incredible prize I have for you compliments of our friends at Del Monte Foods! This "Ultimate Chef" prize features the brand new cookbook by Oprah Winfrey's personal chef Art Smith, a bunch of Del Monte canned foods, cooking equipment, and so much more! Check it out:


Back To The Family cookbook by Chef Art Smith


Tons of Del Monte canned goods


A Todd English MIXXO


Hard Anodized Cookware for healthier cooking


Kids apron and chef hat


A gorgeous canvas tote from The Company Store

Yep, all of those prizes will be going to ONE LUCKY WINNER!!! Be sure to visit DelMonte.com for more information about our generous sponsor.

DIABETESMINE.COM T-SHIRT/KNOW YOUR NUMBERS BOOK
DIABETESMINE.COM T-SHIRT/KNOW YOUR NUMBERS BOOK


Amy Tenderich provides a diabetes two-fer prize

Fellow blogger and diabetes extraordinaire Amy Tenderich has donated prizes for two winners: a complimentary DiabetesMine.com T-shirt and an autographed copy of her brand new book Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes. If you've never visited Amy's blog, then you'll want to drop by DiabetesMine.com for an engaging and fun blog about living with diabetes.

2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS


Two copies of "Weeknight Grilling"--one for you, one for a friend!

Do you remember my interview with BBQ Queen Karen Adler on my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" podcast last week? When I asked her which of her grilling cookbooks was the best for people who are livin' la vida low-carb, she immediately said Weeknight Grilling With The BBQ Queens. So here we are giving 5 of you the chance to win not just one, but TWO copies of this fantastic book so you can keep one yourself and give the other away to someone else. Be sure to visit BBQQueens.com to learn more about them and check out PigOutPublications.com for a full selection of BBQ books to choose from.

$100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CARBSMART.COM


Low-carb retailer CarbSmart.com is a popular online store

Finally, we have an very lucrative prize from our friends at CarbSmart.com--a $100 gift certificate! You can spend it just like cash in one of the best online low-carb retail stores around. Look around and find some excellent products to help you along in your low-carb lifestyle. And if you missed my exclusive podcast interview with the founder and president of CarbSmart.com, Andrew DiMino, it's worth checking out!

Do you think I'm done sharing prizes in the 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest? Nope, not yet! I have at least one more post with a few more goodies to share that you could win! But you gotta get your entry to me to become eligible for a prize. Don't miss out on your chance!