Get Dependable Diet And Fitness Facts Weekly From 'Total Health Breakthroughs'

Total Health Breakthroughs promoting alternative health concepts

It can be intimidating trying to scour the Internet looking for solid, reliable information you can trust on just about any subject. But it's that much more difficult when you are talking about being healthy and staying that way.

That's why I'm glad I found a new weekly health and wellness newsletter that is delivered directly to your e-mail box ABSOLUTELY FREE from Total Health Breakthroughs. Unlike much of the diet health advice you receive from people who insist you must eat a high-carb, low-fat, low-calorie, portion-controlled, whole-grain-filled diet, you will immediately notice the more than 20 professional experts have an entirely different approach from the norm. And that's a GOOD thing!

They specialize in providing ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS to the same problems that have been afflicting us for generations since they have not been answered by conventional wisdom from the the traditional health and medical community. Total Health Breakthroughs is committed to giving you a straight-forward delivery of the latest health news and information so you can make an informed decision about what's best for you.

The newsletter addresses a variety of topics, including fitness issues, healthy nutrition, men's and women's health concerns, medicinal alternatives, and even some moving stories of motivation and inspiration to kick your health plan into high gear.

One of the things that attracted me to Total Health Breakthroughs is the fact that they aren't afraid to take on the difficult and controversial issues, including many of the diet and health myths that pervade our society. Everything is explained in clear language that is understandable to virtually anyone with the desire to better themselves.

With such an eclectic group of contributors, you are sure to find some unique and thought-provoking health columns from the leading alternative health authorities out there. This weekly newsletter will arm you with a fresh amount of practical information you can begin applying to your own health routine immediately.

In fact, you'll probably recognize a couple of these experts because I've blogged about them many times here at my blog: Dr. Jonny Bowden, author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth and Living The Low Carb Life as well as Anthony Colpo, author of The Fat Loss Bible and The Great Cholesterol Con.

And there are many more just like them to provide unbiased and honest information about YOU and YOUR HEALTH. Go ahead and check 'em out for yourself today. You can sign up for the FREE Total Health Breakthroughs newsletter and begin gleaning wisdom and knowledge every week from trusted and reliable sources in the world of health.

Let me know what you think about this newsletter and spread the word! :)

Lend Your Support To 'Perfect Human Diet' Film

Independent filmmaker C.J. Hunt is "In Search of the Perfect Human Diet"

Okay, low-carbers, are you ready to lend your support to something worthwhile that could very well impact the health of litterally hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions of people? If so, then you need to learn more about a brand new documentary coming out from an ambitious independent movie producer named C.J. Hunt. The name of this film is "In Search of the Perfect Human Diet" and it's everything that you've ever wanted to see in a movie about the health crisis we face not just in America, but around the globe!

"In Search of the Perfect Human Diet" is still in the process of being filmed right now, but this phenomenal project is going to attempt to come up with the ultimate solution to the biggest health threat of our generation--OBESITY! What a noble cause this is and I want to invite you to be a part of the process because livin' la vida low-carb will be a prominent part of that solution. More about how you can join the effort in a moment.

Interestingly, you'll be pleased to know there are many well-respected and legitimate experts interviewed in the film, including Marion Nestle from New York University, Dr. Michael R. Eades who wrote Protein Power, Dr. Barry Sears who authored The Zone Diet, Dr. Abby Bloch from the Atkins Foundation, Dr. Jay Wortman from the Canadian Inuit Diet Research, Dr. Steve Phinney who has done extensive work on low-carb diets and physical performance, Mrs. Veronica Atkins, Dr. Mary C. Vernon from the University of Kansas, Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University...and the list just goes on and on!

On a personal note, I am thrilled that Hunt asked me if I would share my low-carb weight loss success story on camera, so he will be filming me at the end of this month. What an exciting and humbling opportunity to be in this film with some of the true giants in the diet and health industry! We need more people to get engaged in sharing with the world about what "the perfect diet" is all about because obviously what is being recommended right now isn't working very well.

This remarkable film has an ambitious distribution plan in place, too--Hunt wants to show it on PBS stations all across America, release it to movie theaters before the end of the year, and then release it on DVD in 2008. This is a dream project for people who have been wanting the truth to be told in a compelling format like a documentary film, but there's only one thing keeping that from happening--MONEY!

As you can imagine, something of this magnitude doesn't just happen automatically. In addition to the tenacity to craft the message in a compelling format that interests the general public, it also requires a bit of sacrifice and faith in the overall mission of what is attempting to be accomplished.

Hunt has quite literally poured his heart and soul into making "In Search of the Perfect Human Diet" the most professional and thorough film in support of examining what a healthy diet REALLY looks like. And I'll give you a hint...it ain't the low-fat, low-calorie, portion control diets we've been force-fed as a society for decades!

Watch this film demo to get a taste of what Hunt is doing and at the very least get on the mailing list for the DVD so you can own a copy of this monumental groundbreaking investigative documentary exposing what's keeping the population fat as soon as it is available.

Earlier in this post, I told you that you could lend your support to something worthwhile and join this effort--so here it is! Become a FILM ANGEL for "In Search of the Perfect Human Diet." What's that, you ask? Very simply, it's a way for you to sow a seed of confidence and appreciation into this film to insure it will be seen by those who need it the most and make the kind of lasting impression that Hunt and his team are expecting it to in our culture.

Whether you can give $1, $100, $1,000 or even a lot more than that, the message of this film is much too powerful and vitally important for those of us who are passionate about healthy living to sit on the sidelines and watch this opportunity just pass us by while obesity keeps getting worse and worse. We literally need to put our money where our mouth is and give generously to this noble project. The funds are sorely needed in the upcoming months to help offset the post-production costs such as film editing, distribution, and the PBS broadcast fees (you can't imagine the costs involved with putting this on public television!). Won't you consider donating something TODAY?

In fact, Hunt has put together a special incentive package for donations of $100 or more:

Your name will be in the credits on the film

A complimentary special edition DVD which includes an additional special features, a personal message from executive producer C.J. Hunt, and specially shipped directly to you in a limited edition commemorative case in late 2007

Your name will be credited on the official website

A FILM ANGELS commemorative DVD case

First notice of the film's theatrical premiere

An individualized FILM ANGEL "thank you" certificate

Click here to become a FILM ANGEL or send a check or money order to:

The PHD FILM ANGELS
c/o CJH3 Productions, LLC
P.O. Box 460951
San Francisco, CA 94146-0951

Be sure to tell C.J. Hunt in the comments section or in your snail mail letter that you heard about "In Search of the Perfect Human Diet" from Jimmy Moore at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. He's a big fan of the work I am doing with my various web sites and podcast show and greatly respects the readers and listeners who have faithfully supported what I am doing on a daily basis to spread the truth. Now he is asking for your help with his documentary.

You've been looking for a way to show your support for livin' la vida low-carb in a way that can have a very real effect on the people around you and across the country. Well, here it is, folks! Please sign up to become a FILM ANGEL as soon as possible and let producer C.J. Hunt know you are behind his efforts to share the truth about diet and health. We've been needing something like this for decades and it looks like 2007 is our time! Let's make it happen people!

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 19: The Hidden Health Agenda Of The NIH

LISTEN NOW to Episode 19 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" by clicking on the PLAY IN POPUP link below (You DON'T need an iPod to listen!):

 "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 19 [12:38m]: Play in Popup | Download

Those so-called health "experts" are back at it again trying to tell us what we need to do to lose weight and get healthy in 2007. Unfortunately, despite convening a panel and coming up with strategies for addressing the obesity epidemic in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is STILL clueless about how to actually resolve this ever-growing problem because the low-carb solution continues to be ignored. UGH UGH UGH!

Check out my show today and let me know what you thought about it. As always, you can also call our listener comment line anytime day or night at (206) 203-4192.

You can check out the podcast many different ways:

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

Are you tired of the so-called health "experts" continuing to get it wrong year after year with no accountability for it? If you could give those nuts at the NIH a piece of your mind, then what would you say to them? Leave your comments here and don't hold back. We must unite our voices together to stand up to this garbage they are spreading that will do NOTHING to solve the problem.

Come back on Thursday when I will outline several specific reasons why the low-fat, low-calorie diet is a failed dietary approach and why livin' la vida low-carb has got it beat hands down! You'll be inspired!

THANKS as always for listening. If you've never commented on the show but have enjoyed it, then PLEASE share a quick comment with us this week. It would mean more to me than I could adequately express. Take care!

Obesity Solutions Should Be 'Reasonably' Realistic

Sir George and Dr. Gruer create list of what we should "reasonably do"

This Times Online story about a new report from health leaders in the UK detailing their proposed list of actions for dealing with the ever-increasing obesity problem proves yet again that the people making these decisions about our weight and health are completely clueless about why obesity even exists in the first place and what to actually do about it.

Professor Sir George Alberti, the national director for emergency care in the UK and emeritus professor of medicine at Newcastle University, as well as Dr. Laurence Gruer, director of public health science at NHS Health Scotland, led a team of health experts who sought to come up with their own solutions to the obesity epidemic that were published in a report called "Obesity—can we turn the tide?" in the December 16, 2006 issue of the British Medical Journal.

This panel of so-called health experts came up with what they think are realistic ways to help people deal with obesity. As I was reading through these suggestions from supposedly intelligent people involved in the education and promotion of health in Great Britain, I couldn't help but shake my head at how ridiculous and unrealistic most of these ideas actually were.

Here is what these health officials came up with to fight obesity:

IDEA #1: Call 1-800-HELP-IM-FAT emblazed on all "big" clothes

Look out big & tall stores! You're the target of this proposal to print an obesity-assistance telephone number on all clothes sold with a waist size of 40+ inches for men, 37+ inches for boys, 35+ inches or size 16 for women, and 31+ inches for girls. As humiliating as shopping at a specialty clothes shop or the "big" section of your favorite garment store already is, I do not see what the benefit of rubbing more salt into that wound would create with this idea.

If I'm overweight or obese, then seeing a hotline number to help me with my obesity is NOT going to make me feel better about my weight or get me to do something about it. In fact, just the opposite will happen because it would likely make me even angrier! Those clothes already cost TWICE as much money as regular clothes, so don't tell me about what I don't want to hear. Trust me, if I saw that on my clothes when I weighed 410 pounds, I would have been highly offended and it would not have done a thing to help me lose weight.

When I was ready to finally lose weight, then I made the decision on my own to start the plan of my choice--as you know, I'm livin' la vida low-carb! So, exactly what are these people on the other end of the hotline number going to tell people they need to do to lose weight? Can you say low-fat, low-calorie, portion-controlled diets? UGH! Hoo boy, now we're back to the drawing board again!

IDEA #1 gets a big fat NO WAY from me!

IDEA #2: No more sugary or fatty snacks by the front registers

Under this proposal, the marketing and placement of any snack containing sugar or fat by the front register would be prohibited. Additionally, these products would not be permitted to be placed on a shelf where children can see them so as to avoid the temptation for the young shoppers to pick that product up and take it to mommy to purchase. Again, this is a VERY BAD idea.

While I personally do not like all the candy bars, potato chips, and other junk food that just about every store places by their front register, what right does a health entity have to tell a business owner how to run his business? The answer is he DOESN'T and should mind his own business.

If a parent doesn't want their kid to have that bag of M&M's, then he or she has the final say about whether they buy it for little Johnny or not. At the same time, nobody is forcing an adult to succumb to the temptation to pick up these "impulse" items as they are checking out. That's PRECISELY why they are placed there at the point of sale to provide quick, inexpensive add-ons that increase the profitability of the business. That's just brilliant marketing and should not be forced to cease.

IDEA #2 gets a NO from me, too!

IDEA #3: Higher sales tax on high-sugar, high-saturated fat foods

In what many have called the "fat tax" or the "sin tax," this proposed solution to the obesity problem would require additional taxation be added to foods that contain what these health experts believe is too much sugar or too much saturated fat--in other words, the ones that supposedly MAKE YOU FAT! I have mixed emotions about this one, but again hold firm in my belief that businesses and companies that promote high-sugar or high-saturated fat food should not be penalized for the products they create and sell to the public. If they weren't meeting consumer demand, then they would go out of business.

My concern is who gets to decide the limits on these things? How much sugar is considered "high?" 5g? 20g? And what about saturated fat which is not as unhealthy as these health experts believe it is? What limits are we going to have placed on them to reach the maximum threshold? 2g? 10g? NOBODY KNOWS and that's the problem! Plus, who gets to make that decision which will directly impact the companies that create those products. Questions abound regarding this proposal.

IDEA #3 seems too intrusive to me!

IDEA #4: Health check-ups given to students upon leaving school

Before a 5th grader is sent up to junior high, that child would be required to complete a thorough health examination. The same goes for a high school student about to graduate. Before that student even receives his high school diploma, a health physical would be provided with a full report provided to the student and parents.

I can remember receiving periodic health check-ups at school when I was growing up, but I don't recall anything ever coming of them besides the "you really need to lose some weight" advice that virtually went in one ear and out the other. It sounds like a good idea to show students and parents where they stand healthwise, but what good is that information if nothing is done about it? Is it worth the cost of providing this data if it is simply ignored?

Also, what about regular check-ups with a family doctor using the health insurance of the parents? I understand there are some people who don't have health insurance to cover the cost of a physical for their child and I am not opposed to these children receiving the examination at school. But without any meaningful follow-up about what to do with the information, what's the point of it all?

IDEA #4 is a good start, but we need so much more!

IDEA #5: New roads will be required to include bicycle lanes

All new road construction must include a lane for bicycles to go with the flow of traffic. Okay, that's great and all, but how does this help with obesity exactly? Do you think the reason why fat people don't exercise is the lack of facilities for doing so? Yeah right!

In this day and age of countless numbers of gyms, parks, walking trails, and other recreational facilities, the pathway to fitness is as close as a stone's throw for most people. The problem isn't the need for MORE bicycle lanes, but for people to actually use what's already there for them. The "if you build it they will come" mentality does not apply in this situation.

Before I lost my weight, thinking about doing ANY kind of physical fitness activity was not at all on my mind. I wanted to know when my favorite television show was coming on, what high-carb meal I was going to eat for dinner, how close I could park to the front door at Wal-mart, and when to go out and buy the next size up in my pants and shirts. Exercise was what "other" people did because they have the energy to do it. Of course, I changed my mind about that when I started livin' la vida low-carb and the rest, as they say, is history.

Building bike routes on new roads? IDEA #5 takes a dive!

IDEA #6: Creating a Department of Obesity in the federal government

Oh great, just what we need is MORE government bureaucracy! This final proposal is to create another Cabinet position in the executive branch of the federal government whose sole purpose is to study and evaluate the subject of obesity and come up with ways to tackle it that will bring the rates down. As much as I despise the creation of any new government agency, I think something like this COULD be positive.

But the people who would comprise this group would need to be representatives of all nutritional factions, not just the ones like we have see in the Food & Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture who protect the economic interests of their corporate buddies in the food industry. Big sugar, big corn, and other strong lobby groups in Washington, DC would need to be ignored while REAL solutions are hammered out by people who genuinely care about the overweight and obese.

Representatives from vegetarian, low-fat, low-carb, diabetic, and other dietary factions should be allowed to voice their input into what can be done to educate people who need to lose weight on the various options available to them without the monopoly that currently exists with outdated food recommendations by our government. If this Department of Obesity is truly objective and open to input from all sides, then it could potentially be a GREAT idea.

IDEA #6 could possibly be a part of the fix.

The report says these ideas are just the beginning of the "inadequate reponse to obesity" for people to simply "pull yourself together, eat less and exercise more.” AMEN! I've been saying that ever since I started this blog and will continue to say it until the message is finally heard. People need more concrete instructions about what they need to be doing, not a generalized "eat better" or "eat a healthy, balanced diet." What the heck is that anyway?

Sir George and Dr. Gruer believe overweight people need to be given help, advice and sympathy for them to overcome their poor eating habits and weight problem.

That's partially true. They do need help if they are willing to receive it and they also need advice if it is tailored to their specific situation, not just another "diet" that will fail them. But sympathy isn't needed as much as hope, inspiration and motivation from people who have been where they are at and eventually overcome it. The power of an example can go a long way towards changing how people think and feel about their own situation. I see it all the time.

While I'm sure these medical experts are all fine men in their field of study, I highly doubt any of them truly understands what it feels like to be morbidly obese. Unless you've walked a mile in the shoes of someone who has struggled with the agony of constantly ripping the seat of his pants, dealt with the stares and finger-pointing of people amazed by how big you are, or even felt the pain of being an outcast even among your family and people who claim to be your friend, you have no idea how to help someone cope with the physical and emotional scars that never really leave you. NEVER EVER leave you!

People who are ready to make that decision to lose weight and seriously want to make it happen for themselves once and for all should seek out someone that has already overcome their weight problem. It really doesn't matter who that person is, but find a confidant who will provide you with encouragement and positive vibes as you go through this process. That accountability along with setting an acheivable goal will have you well on your way to success better than any of these proposed ideas for dealing with obesity from the experts could possibly have.

Even scarier than those proposed ideas is their conclusion that obesity-fighting prescription drugs and even risky weight loss survey is needed to reduce obesity. ARGH! NO, NO, NO! That is NOT the answer. Not now, not ever!

Also, they put the onus on those in the medical profession to lead the way in this battle.

“Medical practice must adapt to the current epidemic of obesity and nutrition-related diseases," the report concluded. "The profession must unite the forces of public health and acute services to generate sustainable changes in food and lifestyles: matters at the heart of our cultural identities. Furthermore, training in public health medicine should urge all doctors to contribute towards bringing changes in the food industry and in the environment that will lead to a more physically active, healthier and happier population."

HA! As much as doctors would love to play a role in dealing with obesity, the sad fact is many of them are not adequately educated themselves in the latest nutritional research and studies supporting what a healthy diet is. To most of them, eating healthy means cutting out the fat, trimming down the calories, and exercising regularly. There's no concept of things like cutting out sugar, reducing carbohydrate intake, and eating adequate amounts of healthy fats. Are doctors REALLY the best means for getting the message out to the obese?

One final thought from the panel of experts was regarding the monetary impact of allowing obesity to keep going up and up.

“As the prevalence and costs of obesity escalate, the economic argument for giving high priority to obesity and weight management through a designated coordinating agency will ultimately become overwhelming," the report showed. "The only question is, will action be taken before it is too late?”

Action should DEFINITELY be taken, but what action? Do we go with these meaningless solutions that are outlined in this report and others by well-meaning, but misguided government and health leaders or do we FINALLY get serious about obesity and allow the public to receive a muliplicity of nutritional choices to help them make the best decision about what to do about their own personal situation?

That is the real question of the moment and it will take a lot more courage for health experts and doctors to embrace than anything else that's been presented to combat obesity. It's a realistic solution that we should "reasonably do" if we ever want to "turn the tide" of obesity around "before it is too late."

You can e-mail Dr. Laurence Gruer at Laurence.Gruer@health.scot.nhs.uk.

Kellow's Yellow Journalism On The Atkins Diet

Dietitian Juliette Kellow is obviously not a fan of the Atkins diet

It's that time of year again when those who think they know what diets people need to do and not do so freely share their opinions about what they think is healthy, nutritional, and safe. Of course, at the same time, they are just as eager to blab on and on about what diets they think are decidedly unhealthy, lacking in nutrition, and even allegedly dangerous. As I have said in the past, you should be very wary of any "expert" weight loss advice because the source may not be very reliable.

Furthermore, do I even need to tell you which ones a typical dietitian thinks are good versus the one ones that are supposedly bad? No, I don't because the examples of the intense and bitter feelings against livin' la vida low-carb have been evident with just about every dietitian who has ever written about or uttered an opinion on this amazingly healthy lifestyle. Click here to see just a few examples of this kind of stupidity from these self-proclaimed health "experts" that I have highlighted at my blog. The concerted effort by these people to not just maim but completely destroy all remnants of low-carb from modern-day life is as clear to see as the protruding stomachs of a majority of the world's population.

Well, even still we've got another dietitian and health columnist today from Mirror.co.uk who continues with the Atkins-bashing party. Her name is Juliette Kellow and her bio describes her as a "bright and bubbly" professional who seeks to help people lose weight with her "wealth of experience in health, food and diet." HA! What you will quickly find is that Kellow shares more of the same old garbage information about low-carb because it is simply mindless and ridiculous attacks against the low-carb lifestyle. Will these people ever grow up and get a brain for once? We can only hope...SOMEDAY!

In the article entitled "A Decade Of Diets But Which Should You Try," Kellow gives her own personal lowdown on the most popular diets from the past ten years including Weight Watchers, The Food Combining Diet (never heard of!), Low GI Diet, South Beach Diet, Detox Diet, Blood Type Diet, Atkins Diet, and The Zone Diet. As you can see, half of these are considered "low-carb" plans. However, Kellow was not afraid to tell you quite explicitly which one she thinks was the worst among them: The Atkins Diet!

My blogging friend and fellow triple-digit Atkins diet weight loss success story Kent Altena wrote a letter to the editor of Mirror.co.uk to express his concerns about how Kellow so blatantly distorted the truth about what the Atkins diet is about in her column. Kent did such an outstanding job with it that I'd like to share with you what he wrote. It is a fantastic, fact-filled response that exposes the malicious lies that Kellow tried to get away with! Not gonna happen!

Here is the classic masterpiece response that Kent wrote:

I would urge your health correspondent, Juliette Kellow, to actually research the topics before actually writing about them. I am of course referring to her recent "Decade of Diets" article where she reviews the popular diet plans. Her review of the Atkins Diet was chock full of misconceptions and gaping holes about this way of eating that were so large a truck could drive right through them!

I am an avid follower of the Atkins way of eating and have lost over 200 pounds on the diet. Because of the gross misrepresentation that Kellow made with her column, I would like to respond to each of her points individually to share the truth:

"HOW IT WORKS This high-protein diet cuts out carbs so your body begins to burn fat. Bread, potatoes, pasta, milk and fruit are off-limits but you can eat meat, fish, cheese, cream and butter."

There is not a single phase of the Atkins diet that cuts out carbs altogether. Her statement simply ignores the fact that there are four distinct phases to the diet and she conveniently leaves out the fact that vegetables included even in the Atkins diet. In fact, during the Induction phase people are encouraged to eat six servings of vegetables per day, which is considerably more than the average person eats. The purpose of the Atkins diet is to simply get people to take back control of their eating first and foremost and then begin adding back foods that are healthy for them long-term.

THE PROS You lose weight quickly - around 6-10lb in the first two weeks, slowing to 1-3lb a week after this.

No argument here, but let's not forget that the point of the Atkins diet is not to lose weight but to learn how to eat healthy.

THE CONS Research shows this diet is unhealthy. A high fat intake increases the risk of heart disease, a lack of fruit, veg and fibre are linked to cancer and excessive protein may cause kidney problems. Side effects include bad breath, fatigue, nausea, constipation, headaches and insomnia. And veggies can forget it.

Boy, there's a lot of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) being spread in those statements, Ms. Kellow! Most of the current scientific research is showing how beneficial to your health a low-carb dietary approach really is. I eat more vegetables today than I ever did before I went on the Atkins diet. Additionally, Dr. Atkins recommended in his books for people to eat vegetables high in fiber rather than ones high in starch. I don't know where you are getting the notion that the Atkins diet is lacking of vegetables because it is certainly not from the Atkins books! Certainly some of the side effects you mention can happen when you are first getting in a state of ketosis, but I'll take them over obesity and diabetes any day! Atkins or obesity: Which do you think is more dangerous, Ms. Kellow?! The good news is that most of the side effects you mention are gone after the first few days of Induction.

JULIETTE'S VERDICT There are lots of healthier diets. If you must, follow it for two weeks and make it healthier by choosing lean meat, grilling rather than frying and skipping butter and cream.

Skipping butter and cream for trans-fat-loaded margarine or flavor-free skim milk? Umm, NO THANK YOU! Why would I follow the Atkins diet for just two weeks and then leave just as the results are beginning to happen? I would highly encourage Ms. Kellow to simply admit that she doesn't know one single fact about the Atkins diet and how it really is more than just eating meat, cheese, and bacon for three straight meals!

WOO HOO, YOU GO GET 'EM, KENT! Man, I must be rubbing off on you with a response like that! LOL! I enjoyed the way you broke down each point one by one because it really was loaded with factual errors that an "experienced" health writer should not be making. But we know why she wrote what she did and it has to do with her low-fat/low-calorie/portion control agenda. There's no doubt about that.

Just look what Kellow said about Weight Watchers:

Eat or drink whatever you like, providing you stick to your daily points allowance. Points are based on the calorie and saturated fat content of foods so ultimately you're following a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. Counting points takes away the need to tot up calories or fat. And it's a good way to learn about healthy eating.

Says who?! What makes Weight Watchers "healthy eating" and the Atkins diet NOT, Ms. Kellow? The senile subjectivity of a "healthy diet" is something that people who are livin' la vida low-carb have had to deal with from day one of their plan. The pervading myth that low-fat is inherently good and low-carb is obviously bad must stop if we are ever going to move forward with getting a handle on obesity. What happened to rational thinking and open-mindedness, hmmmm?

She got in more comments in her review of the other low-carb plans:

- GI Diet--"When combined with a low-fat intake, the GI diet is a great way to lose weight."
- South Beach Diet--"The first two weeks are similar to the Atkins diet - this means you won't get your five daily portions of fruit and veg and may suffer similar side-effects. This diet is more flexible than other low-carb plans and requires serious willpower only for the first fortnight."
- The Zone--Trying to work out how to make each meal and snack meet the 40:30:30 ratio is almost impossible, unless you have a degree in nutrition or plenty of spare time. As with all low-carb plans, this is likely to be lacking in fibre and certain nutrients. There are loads of easier diets.

"Easier?!" Is that what losing weight is all about, Ms. Kellow? Nobody ever said weight loss was going to be easy, but frankly speaking on a personal level, eating a low-carb lifestyle has been one of the easiest diet plans I have ever followed in my life! Too bad I can't say the same about my low-fat diet experience. Talk about a hard diet to follow and to keep following over the long-term. I pity those who have fooled themselves into believing that they HAVE to eat that way for the rest of their life to be healthy. It's simply not true and the proof is in the fact that people like me and Kent have lost 200 pounds each and kept it off for several years now.

Special thanks to my friend Kent Altena for sharing his impressive response to Kellow's misguided remarks about the Atkins diet. We all need to openly challenge the status quo health "experts" when they make these kind of ridiculous comments about livin' la vida low-carb in places where people can be influenced such as a newspaper column. I try to find them and respond when I can, but YOU should be on the lookout for them and reply when appropriate as well.

If we ever hope to change the hearts and minds of people concerning low-carb living, then it must begin with our staunch and undying support for what we believe in. Even if that means taking on the "experts" like dietitians. Don't be intimidated to tell them they are wrong about livin' la vida low-carb because they usually are!