Aida Mollenkamp has a new show coming to The Food Network
Do you like watching The Food Network as much as my wife Christine does? She's a bona fide junkie and I've actually grown to like many of the shows on there, too. Watching these professional cooking kings and queens do their thing making some of the most delicious food you've ever seen is fun. That's why the channel has been such an overwhelming hit with viewers over the years.
In Episode 37 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I share with you about another brand new show (like this one I recently blogged about) coming to The Food Network beginning on August 2, 2008 at 12:30pm/11:30 CST--it's called "Ask Aida". Featuring the lovely and talented Aida Mollenkamp, the premise of this new show is to let Aida fix your culinary conundrums during her broadcast. She is soliciting people to send her a video of their cooking problems so she can help fix them. She's like a "Dear Abby" for the kitchen!
See my two submissions to "Ask Aida" in today's video:
Wanna see Aida discussing what she's looking for in her new show on The Food Network? Click here to access it now. Also, you can see my eggs video as well as my fried mashed cauliflower video (here's the recipe, by the way!) questions that I am asking Aida to help me answer. The producers are looking for energy, excitement, entertainment and engaging videos with interesting questions. So don't be shy! Give this a try and YOU could be appearing in this brand new television show starting in August. If you have any questions or simply want to submit your questions via e-mail, then send your feedback to AskAida@foodnetwork.com. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Our YouTube videos keep piling up and that's a good thing. If you've missed any previous episode, then don't worry: I've got 'em all compiled for you in one place so you can access them anytime. Of course, you can subscribe to our videos and never miss a future episode of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." Also, let us hear from you with whatever is on your mind. Feel free to e-mail me directly at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I hope you've been enjoying our videos as much as we do making them! :)
Have you ever wondered what an actual low-carber keeps in his refrigerator, freezer, and cabinets? Better yet, many people have asked me what I keep in my cupboards. So today I wanted to share a peek into where I keep the low-carb foods that go inside my body. This video was a load of fun to make and I think you'll enjoy it, too!
In Episode 35 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I give you a quick tour through our kitchen showing you a sampling of the kinds of foods that make up our low-carb lifestyles. The audio of the video didn't download to my desktop for some reason, so we had to do a voiceover in the studio. Although it wasn't what we originally wanted, I think it turned out pretty good. ENJOY!
Walk through the Moore household in today's video:
Here's your chance to be in a new Food Network series
Ever since we got cable back in our household about a year ago, my wife Christine has gone through phases of watching one particular channel at a time. At first, it was her favorite cable channel of all-time, the Sci-Fi Channel, and she got her fill of space aliens, ghost stories, and all things otherworldish! Then she switched over to the Discovery Channel for hours upon hours of Dirty Jobs, Cash Cab, How It's Made and Mythbusters. Great shows indeed!
But lately she's been in a cooking mood and you know what that means--THE FOOD NETWORK. Yes, our home has now been overtaken by Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Emeril, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, and so many more. I like walking by and seeing what is being made if it is particularly low-carb (and many times it is or can be adapted to be low-carb!). Watching those professional cooks on The Food Network makes me wonder if maybe someday somebody I know will have a chance to appear on one of their shows.
Well, that might just happen sooner rather than later!
Right now, The Food Network is looking for what they describe as "amazing stories for a groundbreaking new series." Here's a brief set of questions detailing specifically what they are looking for.
"Do you or someone you know have an amazing food related story to tell? Do you know someone who has gone from being homeless to the owner of their own restaurant, makes pop art out of pineapples, or eats nothing but peanuts? Do you know someone who is battling food fears or phobias? Has food helped to cure an illness, changed the course of your life, or helped to inspire you in some dramatic way?"
If you can say YES to any of these questions, then this may be your big opportunity to appear on a national cable television network to share your story. They want a wide variety of stories to share, including ones that are "odd or humorous" so they can be featured on this new television series for The Food Network. If you have a strange or interesting food-related story to tell, then let them hear from you.
Casting us now underway and submitting your information is super-easy. Just send a brief description of your story, the best-looking photo you have of yourself, and all your contact information and e-mail it directly to Michael Raptist at michaelraptis@alroker.com. You can also call Michael at 646-723-9848 if you would like to be considered for the show.
I called Michael last week about this opportunity and shared with him about my 180-pound low-carb weight loss success story. He asked me all kinds of questions about my life, including how long I've been married, how many kids I have, why I want to do this, etc. At the end of the conversation, he wanted me to send him an e-mail with more information, so wish me luck! And I hope it works out for some of you, too! Let us know if you get chosen to be on the show so we can look for you.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! The Food Network--this is HUGE!
"Slow Burn" trainer Fred Hahn offers up 20 fat-burning ideas!
After reading and reviewing his fantastic book entitled The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution in January, I was not just enamored by the overall fitness philosophy of personal trainer Fred Hahn who advocates lifting weights slowly as the safest, most effective way to build muscle. But after interviewing him at my blog and realizing he promotes a solid controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach to work in tandem with the "Slow Burn" program, I knew Fred was somebody I wanted to hear more from in the future.
In fact, my favorite quote from that interview is what Fred Hahn recommends as the perfect post-workout meal:
A juicy bacon cheeseburger (no bun) with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and avocado, or steak and eggs with sliced tomatoes.
YEAH BABY!!! Now that's what I'm talking about! :D If you like that kind of honest opinions and information about what to do regarding your own health and fitness routine, then you'll want to bookmark Fred Hahn's blog and visit often. He is always posting some interesting thoughts, so visit early and visit often. There's never a dull moment with Fred in the blogosphere! ;)
Today I have a very special surprise from our friend Fred Hahn. As part of his Slow Burn Fitness System--a special combination of insulin-controlled diet and strength training exercise--he has graciously provided me a list of 20 of his most effective fat loss tips to impart to the wonderful readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. This program has been proven to be highly efficient at helping its participants begin burning fat, gaining strength, improving their health, and becoming more energetic and youthful than they have ever been in their entire lives.
To complement what you are already doing as part of your healthy low-carb lifestyle, Fred recommends the following 20 tips to boost your fat loss results. ENJOY!
1. DRINK A GALLON OF REFRIGERATED WATER A DAY
A gallon of cold water will burn around 150 calories of energy to heat the cold water to body temperature for voiding! (And it's good for your skin and hair too!)
Note from Jimmy: I would only caution you to watch your body temperature if you decide to do this tip because I used to drink my water cold until a doctor told me I was freezing my insides. I was drinking upwards of 1-2 gallons a day and was ALWAYS cold. Even now, when I drink large amounts of TAP water, my hands get as cold as ice.
2. BEFORE YOU CHEAT, DRINK WATER AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH
If you get hungry and feel you're going to cheat, quickly drink a big glass of cool water and brush and floss your teeth. While doing so, think this thought: "There is no food that tastes as good as being lean and strong feels!"
Note from Jimmy: This REALLY works and you'll be surprised how well it does, too. If you aren't in a position to brush your teeth when the craving comes on, then pop a sugar-free mint or piece of mint-flavored sugar-free gum. In those very rare occasions when you don't have access to those things (always keep them handy!), eat something high-fat to ward off the sugar/carb cravings. Works every time!
3. TAKE A CASUAL STROLL 30 MINUTES AFTER DINNER
A half hour after dinner, take a casual stroll for 15-20 minutes whenever possible. Do not walk fast or jog. Just take a pleasant, easy stroll and enjoy your time outdoors. This keeps from from snacking after dinner.
Note from Jimmy: If you make this stroll a regular part of your dinnertime routine, then it will also keep you from stuffing yourself too full because you'll be too uncomfortable even for a casual stroll around the block. What a perfect opportunity to get in some quality time with your family in the process, too.
4. AVOID SUGAR/STARCHY CARBS BEFORE BEDTIME
Avoid eating sugar or starches a few hours before bedtime. This can decrease growth hormone release at night and store unwanted calories as fat.
Note from Jimmy: Better yet, why not avoid sugar and starches ALL THE TIME? Sounds like a plan to me! :D
5. GET A SOLID EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT
Get a full 8 hours of sleep as often as possible. Avoid TV and other distractions as much as you can at night. Deep sleep is when your body is regulating and upgrading your hormonal tone. So get some rest!
Note from Jimmy: And just laying in bed doesn't count as sleep. I know there are some nights it can take me 2-3 hours to get to sleep because I'm thinking about things in my life, worrying about upcoming events, or just so exhausted and tired that sleep evades me. Try to leave all that stuff outside your bedroom and use every moment for tremendous restful sleep. A good workout a few hours before bedtime can help!
6. DRESS AND SLEEP AS COOL AS YOU CAN
Dress and sleep cool. The cooler you stay, the more heat your body must produce to keep you warm and this means more calories burned. Feeling a bit on the chilly side means you are a fat burning dynamo! Always keep as cool as you can when you are exercising. Sweating is overheating and staying cool is much better for exercise performance as well as for fat loss.
Note from Jimmy: I showed this tip to my wife Christine as a reason for running the fan at night in our bedroom. But when she started shivering and her teeth were chattering, I had to stop. Instead of wallowing in the blankets now, I try to sleep with as little cover as possible to stay cool. Working out, though, is another matter. I still sweat quite a bit during exercise, especially when working with my trainer. Every time I feel the sweat dripping down my face, I tell my trainer I'm overheating (as per what Fred said in this tip). My complaints are usually ignored as I'm instructed to continue the workout. Isn't it ironic that you can burn more fat staying cool rather than dripping soaking wet with sweat?
7. EAT SLOWLY AND STOP WHEN HUNGER CEASES
Eat slowly and stop when you are no longer hungry before you feel full.
Note from Jimmy: This is an important tip because most of us eat all the way until we are full. But try going through a day where your purpose in eating is to simply take away your hunger. For some people, this could be as little as just a few bites. Savor each bite and you'll probably feel more satisfied than if you "hork" (thanks for sharing this GREAT word, Christin!) it all down in just a few minutes. You may end up eating every 2-3 hours as the hunger bug returns, but that's okay, too. Let your body tell you when to eat, not the time on the clock.
8. DON'T EAT OUT AT RESTAURANTS
Make and take your meals with you. Refrain from eating out. There are tons of hidden calories in most restaurant foods. (You'll save lots of money too!)
Note from Jimmy: Boy, is Fred ever right about this one! When you go out to a restaurant to eat, you can never really know what they're putting in the food. From IHOP putting pancake batter in their omelets to hidden sugars injected into the steaks at Applebee's, you're just better off making the food yourself at home. It'll save you a lot of heartache on the scale later on if you just make all of your own food.
9. POST MEANINGFUL REMINDERS AND INSPIRATIONAL SAYINGS
Pin notes on your refrigerator, front door, bedroom mirror, etc. with phrases such as "Take your lunch!" "Drink your water!" and "I will succeed!" Anything that will remind you of what to do and why you are doing it is a very potent motivational tool.
Note from Jimmy: Most of us who have allowed our weight to get out of control have issues with self-esteem and feeling worthy. So writing things like "You are AWESOME!" "I'm so proud of what you are accomplishing!" and "NEVER GIVE UP!!!" are an essential part of keeping yourself uplifted and inspired in your daily struggle to lose the weight and get healthy. Don't underestimate the power of such a simple act because it can reap BIG DIVIDENDS for you with constant positive reinforcement on a daily basis.
10. NEVER SKIP A MAJOR MEAL
Never skip breakfast or any main meal. Thinking you will lose fat faster by skipping meals is a huge step in the wrong direction. Huge! Your body need to feel "satisfied" and requires adequate nutrition to shed body fat and build muscle.
Note from Jimmy: There was a 10-year study published in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association that concluded eating breakfast leads to lower body mass index compared to those who skip breakfast. And it's true! You need to fuel up for your day with a hearty high-fat, moderate protein meal to give your body the energy it needs to get through the day. That's why I like to begin my day with some delicious eggs cooked in butter along with a side of bacon or sausage. Mmm mmm--a nutritious way to start your day!
11. PURCHASE A GOAL OUTFIT AND TRY IT ON WEEKLY
Select a piece of clothing that you want to fit into again and try it on once a week.
Note from Jimmy: Actually, I did this when I weighed 410 pounds. My wife Christine and I went to JCPenney's in January 2004 and at the time I was wearing size 62-inch waist pants. So, imagine the surprise on Christine's face when I picked up a pair of 42-inch waist khaki pants! Yep, she was shocked to say the least. But I put those "goal pants" up on the wall and dreamed of being able to fit into them by the end of that year. In early November 2004 after losing around 165 pounds, I tried them on and they FINALLY fit me (albeit, they were tight, but they got around me!). It was such a thrilling moment in my weight loss journey and those pants went on to become very loose on me by the end of the year. WOO HOO!
12. READ ONE HEALTH-RELATED BOOK A WEEK
Read a book a week that is health related or motivational in nature.
Note from Jimmy: Because I run a diet and health-focused blog that gets a fair share of daily traffic, access to the latest health and motivational books is easy for me. The ones I think are the best get featured at my blog, so be on the lookout for my posts featuring books that may help you in your healthy lifestyle. Some blog posts where I have featured new books on nutrition and fitness can be found here, here, here, here, and here.
13. AVOID ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITH EMPTY CALORIES
Limit or avoid alcohol. Drinks can be very high in calories so beware!
Find a hobby that keeps you occupied in the evening. You're less likely to snack if your hands are busy and you may be surprised what you can accomplish!
Note from Jimmy: I can think of a few things to do...at night! ;)
15. EAT HIGH-FIBER VEGGIES, LOW-SUGAR FRUITS
Eat fruits and veggies instead of cakes and sweets and when you think fruit think berries. The higher the fiber content in the food, the better.
Note from Jimmy: I happen to think the generic recommendation to "eat more fruits and vegetables" is a big fat copout by those who claim to care about the weight and health of overweight and obese people. As I stated repeatedly to Dr. Dean Ornish during my recent interview with him, the KIND of fruits and vegetables is extremely important when you are talking to people about what's good for them and what is not. Fried potatoes, which dominates the "veggie" intake of nearly half of kids and one-fourth of adults, is very clearly NOT the kind of vegetable people should be eating. Non-starchy veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach, and kale are excellent choices. And Fred is so right about fruit--stick with the berries!
16. AVOID THE BREAD, EAT A SALAD, DRINK LOTS OF WATER
If you must eat out, send the bread basket back once it arrives. Order a salad as your appetizer and an appetizer as your main course. Keep that ice water coming!
Note from Jimmy: Whenever I eat out somewhere often enough, the servers KNOW not to bring me crackers or bread with my meal. If they forget and bring it to me anyway, I simply look at it and state, "I won't be needing that, thank you!" It's better not to even have it on the table with you so you'll never be tempted. If you do decide to order a meal from one of the main courses, keep in mind the portion size may be much bigger than your body actually needs to get rid of your hunger. Don't be afraid to take some food home in a carryout box.
17. COMPLETELY AVOID ALL FOODS TOUTING "LOW-FAT"
Avoid purchasing and eating foods that are labeled as "low fat" or "no fat."
Note from Jimmy: Wanna hear a dirty little secret about these so-called "healthy" low-fat or fat-free foods you see in the stores these days? When they remove the fat from them, guess what they have to ADD to them to make them taste at least halfway close to the original (yeah right!)? SUGAR!!! And many times it is in the form of high-fructose corn syrup which is even worse. Why do that to yourself? Just eat the full-fat foods with confidence and let the low-fatties suffer eating fat-free cheese that tastes like cardboard and the watery skim milk!
18. PRACTICE DAILY VISUALIZATION OF THE NEW YOU TO COME
Try to visualize your leaner, stronger, healthier self a few times each day. See yourself as you wish to be. Imagine that new you and think everyday you are one step closer to achieving your goal. Care about yourself. You're worth it!
Note from Jimmy: You just don't realize how powerful this is! As I previously stated, most of us have a self-worth that is next to nothing when we began our low-carb weight loss journey. It's difficult enough trying to lose weight, but then we pile on all this extra baggage from the circumstances in our life that it's almost impossible to ever imagine life as a thin and happy person. But that's exactly what you must do to prepare yourself mentally for the BIG CHANGES that are to come. Believe me, getting your mind to believe in what is to come makes it that much easier to accept the new physical you when it gets here. Start thinking you look good NOW!
19. RESIST THE URGE TO OVER-EXERCISE
Avoid excessive amounts of exercise. Too much exercise makes cortisol levels rise which in turn causes muscle wasting and can aid in fat storage. You do not receive benefits from exercise when you are exercising. You receive the benefits when you are resting and recovering from the exercise. If your eating habits are proper, you do not need to try and burn off additional fat via exercise. You'll save yourself from orthopedic problems as well.
Note from Jimmy: It seems logical--the more you exercise, the more calories you can burn off and weight loss will happen. And yet there is the risk of inflammation from doing too much exercise and the cortisol issue as Fred explained. This is a controversial recommendation since most people don't get nearly ENOUGH exercise. But I've seen the workaholics in the gym who spend hours upon hours beating their bodies to a pulp trying to salvage every last bit of energy out of themselves thinking that's gonna make them a lean, mean fighting machine. In a word, NOPE! Get in a solid workout, eat healthy low-carb meals with plenty of fat and protein, and let your body do the rest. It's no more difficult than that!
20. GET REAL WITH YOURSELF
BE REALISTIC. This is perhaps the most important tip of all. Do not try to avoid every bad food in the whole world everyday. Do not expect your program to transform your physique into a Greek god or goddess. We can't all look like movie start--but we can all dramatically change our bodies for the better and live long, healthy lives following the very simple and extremely efficient Slow Burn Program.
Note from Jimmy: Fred is right! Livin' la vida low-carb isn't about what you CAN'T have as much as it is what you CAN. I challenge anyone to tell me that this way of eating isn't the most luxurious, delicious "diet" plan you could possibly go on and still lose body fat while vastly improving your health. It truly is a miracle and I'm thrilled to be eating this way for the rest of my life. Combining low-carb living with the "Slow Burn" resistance training developed by Fred Hahn will have you looking better than you ever thought possible. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
With food everywhere on a cruise, how do you eat low-carb?
It's back to real life again after a fabulous cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. WOW, what a time getting to meet so many amazing people who have been a part of my life through this blog and my forum! I'll be posting lots of pictures of the people who went and some of the things we did together while on board in another post, but I wanted to share with you pictures of exactly what I ate while I was on board the ship for the five-day cruise.
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to keep on livin' la vida low-carb when you go on a cruise as long as you keep that steadfast resolve to make better choices for the sake of your weight and health. That's exactly what I did on this cruise as you will see from the pictures of my food for the week. I'm pleased to announce I did not gain a single pound while I was gone and I ate VERY well, too! Kudos to Carnival for offering a low-carb cheesecake and sugar-free chocolate cake for people following a sugar-free lifestyle. WOO HOO!
Click on the date to see a detailed description of the foods featured in these photos as well as a recap of that day's worth of meals from my menus blog:
Anyone who thinks I was depriving myself on this cruise doesn't know what they're talking about! I LOVED every morsel I put in my mouth and would not have wanted it any other way. Even when I ate a very small bite of chocolate cake on the last night, it was so gross to me because it was WAY too sweet. I was happy with the way I ate and will DEFINITELY eat low-carb anytime I go cruising again in the future. The bottom line is yes, you CAN eat low-carb while enjoying yourself on a cruise.
We'll be doing another cruise in January 2009 as a "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" one, so stay tuned for more details about that coming in May or June. Hope you can join us next year! :D
Request True Lemon samples and give a soldier a nice care package
Ever since I partnered up with an up-and-coming company called True Lemon in January and brought them on as a sponsor, I have been extremely pleased with the way they conduct their business. From their stellar customer service to their commitment to providing a quality low-carb product to flavor your foods and beverages, True Lemon is indeed the real deal and I'm proud to be working with them to get the word out about their products.
As I shared in these YouTube videos, the possibilities about using the True Lemon, True Lime, and True Orange in your low-carb lifestyle are limitless. My favorite recipe has been that incredible True Lemon Cheesecake I came up with and I have that quite often as part of my low-carb lifestyle.
Even when there are concerns over the quality of the product that some have experienced, the True Lemon team has swooped into action and vowed to take care of the problem immediately. And I can personally attest to this because I had some "clumpy" True Lemon product and they sent a replacement box within just a few days at no charge. They are INDEED devoted to YOU when you become a customer of True Lemon.
True Lemon has teamed up with Operation Gratitude
Today, I am so thrilled to be able to share with you a new joint venture that True Lemon is doing with a non-profit group called Operation Gratitude. As our brave men and women in the armed forces serve our country so valiantly in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are people here in the United States putting together some amazing care packages for these soldiers willing to sacrifice so much. To date, around 320,000 of these packages have been placed in the hands of troops who have desperately needed to hear from home.
But now Operation Gratitude is getting ready for their big Patriot Drive in May 2008 and here is where YOU can help. It won't cost you a a single dime of your money, but all you need to do is REQUEST YOUR FREE TRUE LEMON SAMPLES and 10 packets of True Lemon/True Lime will be provided to Operation Gratitude. Yep, that's it! Sign up for samples and tell all your friends and family to do the same and you will receive two packets of True Lemon, a packet of True Lime and a packet of True Orange along with a coupon. In turn, you will be sending 10 packets of True Lemon products to our fine servicemen in a care package.
SOUNDS LIKE A NEAT IDEA, RIGHT?!
In all, True Lemon would like to donate 1,000,000 packets over the next two months before the Patriot Drive commences! That's just 100,000 people willing to take about 2 minutes to fill out a request for FREE SAMPLES. I've never seen an easier way to provide something meaningful to our fighting men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan than this, so why not do it today? And invite your friends and family to do the same. The more people we can get to sign up, the more troops who will be given an opportunity to have some True Lemon for their water.
Remember: THIS COSTS YOU NOTHING, but it means the world to those service members who need our support at this time. I KNOW they will appreciate the fact that you took the time to do this for them, so why not request your free samples TODAY?! Let's rally behind this and show the low-carb community truly does care about the troops. THANKS everyone!!! :)
Hardee's one of the few restaurants still catering to low-carbers
You can literally count on one hand the number of restaurants in America who care enough about people who are livin' la vida low-carb to offer them their very own menu: Cracker Barrel, Captain D's, and Hardee's. That's pretty much it!
Of course, you can always make your own "low-carb" meal regardless of where you dine out as I demonstrated in this recent blog post, but it's kinda nice having a restaurant understand the needs of your diet and offering menu items that fit within that criteria. It makes me feel special as a customer and I'm more willing to spend my money at a place like that than one that forces me to try to come up with my own dishes. Am I the only one who feels this way?
With restaurants running away from the low-carb consumer like Ruby Tuesday and Subway, I think it's very appropriate for us to reward those restaurants who show a commitment to our lifestyle change and not thumbing their noses up at us. We have needs just like all those people on a low-fat diet do. And yet virtually EVERY major restaurant chain has "low-fat" menu offerings. Where's the equality with low-carb, hmmmm?
That's why I was so happy to find this Hardee's web site advertising their Low Carb Thickburger. If you are a diehard low-carb fan like me (and most of you who visit here are!), then you are gonna eat this site up! It's got so much humor and facts about the healthy low-carb lifestyle, you'll not believe it's from a major fast food restaurant chain. And yet it is! Somebody in the corporate headquarters for Hardee's has GOT to be a true blue low-carber and I wish I knew who it was!
Anyways, there's a video on that site promoting the Low Carb Thickburger with a Goldilocks and the Three Bears spoof that I wanted to share with you here:
TOO FUNNY! Gotta love that devotion to low-carb living--NO PORRIDGE FOR ME because "I'm not going back to that lifestyle again!" HA! I do believe I'll be grabbing me a Hardee's Low Carb Thickburger real soon! How about YOU? :)
It's fried chicken done the livin' la vida low-carb way!
I love to cook and so many people have been begging me to share some of my favorite recipes in a book. I'm certainly considering a "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" recipe book because I have some favorites as part of my menu repertoire! Today I wanted to share one such recipe with you that so many people have asked about--low-carb fried chicken!
In Episode 25 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I take the show outside the studio using our new FLIP camera which I absolutely love! This tiny little camera takes truly STUNNING video and makes very good videos with little shaking at all. I LOVE IT and think you will too.
It was fun playing cameraman and trying to make this recipe with one hand. Christine came in and helped me as I got going with it and the chicken turned out pretty amazing. See for yourself and give it a try if you enjoy good fried chicken. You'd never know this was low-carb!
Watch us cook up our fried chicken recipe in today's video:
With our new FLIP camera, you'll be seeing our list of YouTube videos expanding. Be sure to subscribe to our videos and support the work we are doing on behalf of low-carb living on YouTube. As always, please don't hesitate to e-mail us your video suggestions anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Your faithfulness to me and livin' la vida low-carb simply amazes me. THANK YOU!!!
But here I go creating yet another new blog called "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Menus" that will chronicle exactly what I put in my mouth on a daily basis. I have backdated the entries all the way to December 14, 2007 so there's already well over a month's worth of daily menus for you to see (plus, you can see how I ate through the holidays--it IS possible to stay on low-carb!). Anyone who wonders what a long-term low-carber actually eats won't have to wonder anymore.
Now I realize there will be a small minority of people who will disagree with what I choose to put in my mouth and that's fine. It's my body and my life, not theirs. I have no problem eating the way that I do because for the first time in my life I am able to manage my weight and health while enjoying what I eat in the process. It's so liberating when you are able to FINALLY find what works for you and then executing that on a daily basis. That's what this exciting new blog will illustrate.
In addition to my diet, I've also included any cardio or resistance training exercise (which I have been doing for about a month) in the daily timeline as well. You'll be able to see exactly when I ate and how much exercise I participated in every single day and I encourage you to check it out often. At the end of each day's entry, I include a "NOTE" that provides some commentary about that particular menu. As you know, life can sometimes provide some interesting twists in what goes inside your mouth, so I tell you about that for context.
I'm pleased to offer this new blog for so many of you who have long asked me to share more menus. Well, now all you have to do is go to my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Menus" blog to check it out! Let me know what you think and if you have any other suggestions to improve it even more.
Are you constantly thinking of food on your low-carb diet?
One of the reasons why so many of us got to be overweight or obese in the first place is we were always anticipating our next meal and making it the focal point of our lives. It may not have been a conscientious thought process, but it was there whether we admit it or not. Food, and specifically sugary and starchy high-carb food, was our reason for living because we had a deep, deep hunger.
But when you start livin' la vida low-carb, those feelings of hunger and dwelling on what you are gonna eat next go away, right? Well, not exactly if you don't follow your low-carb plan EXACTLY as prescribed by the author of that program. That's what I talk about in Episode 104 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" to help you pinpoint why you may be feeling hungry on your low-carb diet. It ain't normal, so tune in to today's podcast to find out why and how you can remedy this.
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 104 [12:38m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
I'm not sure where people got the notion that they should suffer in their weight loss, but that's precisely what most people think. Being hungry and craving food are just a part of what it takes to shed the pounds (so they think!). But when you are livin' la vida low-carb, all that conventional wisdom is thrown out the window and you discover a way of eating that is both delicious and nutritious that helps you burn body fat and feel better than you ever have in your entire life!
Never get hungry for low-carb news and info again by:
Have you experienced hunger on your low-carb lifestyle? If so, then what did you do to remedy it? Eat more fat? Eat low-carb meals more often? Or are you STILL suffering from hunger? Tell us your experience in the show notes section for Episode 104.
I snapped a picture of the new South Beach packaging at Sam's Club
One of the most common themes I talk about is how you can't just go on a low-carb "diet," but that you must make it your permanent and healthy lifestyle change. That's why I use livin' la vida low-carb instead of "low-carb diet" to describe this way of eating for me. It's all about the "living" and the makers of the bestselling South Beach line of products are finally embracing this concept in their marketing.
This Cape Cod Times story explains why Kraft Foods, manufacturer of the popular low-carb food line prominently using the name of Dr. Arthur Agatston's famous diet plan, has changed the name from "South Beach Diet" to the new and improved "South Beach Living." Sure, it's merely semantics but the word "diet" has almost become taboo now. Lifestyle change or "living" is a kinder, gentler way of saying the same thing.
According to the article, consumers have become increasingly agitated by the use of the word "diet" and would prefer to be pursuing healthy "living" instead. After all, it's better to be living than the alternative (which just coincidentally happens to be the first three letters of that "d" word we no longer like!). Or is this much ado about nothing by some back room marketing executives?
The story goes on to site other examples of this move away from the use of "diet" in the marketing of products, including the much-heralded Coke Zero--a new version of Diet Coke that is sweetened with the overly-used sugar substitute aspartame (or as I call it NASTY-tame!) and the sweetener-enhancing acesulfame potassium (ACE-K). The Coca-Cola Company credits the absence of "diet" in the name of their product to its early success (no, it couldn't have anything to do with the fact that every other commercial on television was advertising Coke Zero when it came out, couldn't it? NAH!).
They say young men (hey, I'm still pretty young at 36) wouldn't buy Diet Coke because it was a chick thing. For me, it wasn't about anything other than taste. Regular Diet Coke is disgusting to me which is why I prefer Diet Coke with Splenda (sweetened with Splenda and ACE-K) or the caffeine-free Diet Rite which is also sweetened with Splenda and ACE-K).
I think these marketing analysts get a little too caught up in their own little world to really know why anyone buys their product. It probably has a lot less to do with how offensive the word "diet" is on a product and more about the quality that "diet" product offers. I'm personally disgusted by aspartame and try to avoid it as much as possible in the diet sodas and other products I consume. Give me good quality alternatives (which includes diet sodas sweetened with the plant-based stevia) and I'll show you a consumer base that will clamor for your products.
Getting back to the South Beach product line for a moment, a Kraft representative says they want to "broaden the appeal of the brand and fuel its growth" by implementing this name change. Since more people are looking to eat healthy rather than losing weight (something I discussed in a recent podcast show), they wanted to put that message on the 70 South Beach products that line supermarket shelves. And "South Beach Living" fits the bill.
I blogged about the tremendous success of the South Beach Diet food products in early 2006 which was the "primary growth driver" for Kraft. In a market that doesn't have much competition, South Beach has great name recognition and fits a niche market. The tens of millions of South Beach Diet followers are a built-in consumer base for these products, although I highly suspect most who have read Dr. Agatston's books don't currently buy the products. That certainly opens the door for creating a wider customer appeal by marketing it for healthy "living."
Although the popularity of The South Beach Diet books was at its highest in 2003, there is still great interest in it as well as general low-carb in 2008 thanks to the resurgence in this way of eating that has happened over the past couple of years within the researcher community and with a big boost most recently by the release of Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories. One criticism I have about the South Beach products is that they contain some ingredients I wouldn't necessarily put in my mouth (sugar, flour, and the like) and have a higher carb count (double-digit carbohydrates for a bar is NOT good) than I feel comfortable with on my low-carb lifestyle. But that's just me.
That said, I know people who swear by these products and love 'em! Good for them and I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from using these South Beach Living products if they work for you. CONGRATULATIONS on making this "diet" your new way of "living" for life. In the end, that's all that really matters if you have found a way to be healthy.
Does this name change from "diet" to "living" make you more likely to buy Kraft's South Beach products or does it really matter at all? Share your feedback about this in the comments section below.
The True Lemon products are a low-carber's dream come true
I'm excited to introduce you to something you may not even be aware of for your low-carb lifestyle--but you will be now. It's called True Lemon and is one of the most amazing new low-carb products I've seen come out in years because it has ZERO sugar, carbs, calories, and sodium and will add so much dynamic flavor to the foods and drinks you consume as you'll see in a couple of YouTube videos my wife Christine and I recorded about it.
True Lemon is a crystallized substitute for three specific flavors: Lemon, Lime, and Orange. These products are 100% all-natural and made from the juice and oil of the various citrus fruits. Since those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb need to stay away from these high-sugar fruits for the most part, the True Lemon products enable us to add the flavor of lemon, lime, and orange to just about anything we eat or drink.
In Episode 21 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" as well as Episode 22, Christine and I had a little bit of fun with True Lemon products by taking our cameras to what Christine calls our "one butt kitchen." Yesiree, we had some fun making all sorts of recipes with these outstanding new low-carb flavoring substitutes.
See the True Lemon creations we came up with in today's videos:
In case you want to make these recipes we featured, here they are:
LEMONADE, LIMEADE, AND ORANGEADE
3 8-ounce glasses of filtered or bottled water 6 packets of True Lemon, True Lime, and True Orange 6 packets of Splenda or stevia to taste (optional) Ice cubes
Pour water into three glasses and add 2 packets of the True Lemon, True Lime, and True Orange products. If you desire more sweetness, then add Splenda or stevia. Drop some ice on top for a refreshing beverage anytime!
Break up chocolate in a bowl, scoop out the coconut oil, and then sprinkle True Orange on top. You'll want to microwave on high for about a minute (make sure you don't overcook or the chocolate will burn). Stir this liquid for about a minute until all the chocolate chunks have melted. Can be pour on top of your favorite low-carb ice cream immediately for a "magic shell" effect or you can refrigerate or freeze for a delightful orange chocolate treat in about an hour.
DIET RITE WITH LIME
1 can of Diet Rite or other Splenda-sweetened soda 1 packet of True Lime
As an alternative to the diet sodas made with lime that contain aspartame (aka NASTYtame!), open a packet of True Lime (or even True Lemon if you like that flavor) and pour in the bottom of a glass. Slowly pour the diet soda on top being careful about it fizzing up on you too quickly. When it dies down, pour the remaining contents of the diet soda on top and enjoy a different flavor to your diet cola.
SUPER SIMPLE LEMON PEPPER CHICKEN
2 tablespoons of butter 2-3 frozen chicken breasts 3 tablespoons of Nutiva brand coconut oil Shaker bottle of True Lemon Black pepper
On medium to medium-high heat, melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet until melted making sure it fully coats the skillet. Place the frozen chicken breasts into the butter and allow them to begin cooking. Scoop out a tablespoon of coconut oil and spread across the top of each chicken breast (still frozen). Then shake desired amount of pepper and True Lemon on top. Allow the chicken to continue cooking until golden brown on the bottom and then flip. Add additional pepper and True Lemon on the bottom and cook until fully cooked. Serve and enjoy!
LOW-CARB TRUE LEMON, LIME, OR ORANGE CHEESECAKE
1 8-ounce whipped Philadelphia cream cheese 4 packets of True Lime, Lemon or Orange 6 packets of Splenda or stevia Heavy whipping cream Whipped topping 1 packet of True Lime, Lemon or Orange
This will be the fastest cheesecake you've ever made. Empty the contents of one container of the cream cheese into a bowl, add your favorite True Lemon flavor on top along with the sweetener and as much or as little heavy whipping cream that you desire for the desire thickness. Stir until smooth and creamy. Pour into dessert dish and put a dollop of whipped cream on top. Sprinkle one packet of the same True Lemon flavor of your cheesecake. Eat up!
So there you have my five recipes and the possibilities are truly endless. I encourage you go use the TrueLemon store locator to find out where this incredible product is available in YOUR area because you'll want to add it to your low-carb lifestyle. I LOVE this stuff and I know you will too. Be sure to request your FREE SAMPLES so you can try all three flavors for yourself. You WON'T be disappointed!
I was happy to get the YouTube video series out of the studio with these True Lemon videos, although it was pretty funny lugging around my iMac into my kitchen. One of these days I'm gonna get me a digital camcorder to start recording videos anywhere. I'd love to be able to do that when I'm a little more financially able to. If you missed any of our previous YouTube videos, then check 'em all out here anytime at my links blog. We'd love to have you subscribe to our videos and e-mail us your feedback at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS for watching!!!
How To Eat Low-Carb At Your Favorite Casual Dining Restaurants
Last week I was interviewed by my local newspaper here in South Carolina--Spartanburg Herald-Journal--for an upcoming feature story about how I've turned my weight loss success into a business and an interesting topic of conversation came up that coincides with a blog post I've been working on for a while. I told the freelance writer who was interviewing me last Friday that we were just on our way out the door to go to lunch at Denny's and she said, "Well, you can't eat anything healthy there, can you?"
Opportunities to educate never end. :)
I explained how with just a few substitutions of key ingredients that inevitably end up on all the dishes (in the case of Denny's, that would be pancakes or French fries), you can have a very nice low-carb friendly meal that will keep you on the straight and narrow as you pursue a healthier lifestyle. She was surprised because conventional wisdom is that the large portions and high calories served when dining out will prevent you from eating healthy. Not necessarily, as I'll SHOW you today.
After I shared this YouTube video about which restaurants are good for low-carbers, I decided to start taking pictures of the foods I order so you can visualize exactly what I'm getting when I go out. These were taken at various times over the past few months and are a good representation of the kind of things you can order when you visit your favorite casual dining restaurant (I may hit fast food in a future blog post, but I'm not a big fan of it).
In no particular order, here's what I ate at various places:
Christine and I really love to go to Denny's because they allow you to make reasonable substitutions with all of their meals to make them perfect for anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb. As long as you avoid the starchy (hashbrowns and French fries) and the sugary (French Toast and pancakes) menu items and choose better options instead, you'll be good to go.
Here's a sample of what I recently ate on our trip to Denny's:
This is the Meat Lover's Scramble and I substituted mixed veggies consisting of squash, broccoli, peppers, and green beans for the hashbrowns and a side salad with Ranch dressing for the pancakes. You get two slices of bacon, two sausage links, and a ham, sausage, bacon, egg and cheese scramble with it as well. One thing's for sure, you WON'T leave hungry after eating this meal!
TOTAL COST: $7
Here's what Christine had for her meal at Denny's:
A simple two chicken breast meal with mixed vegetables and a side salad (not pictured) is plenty of protein and non-starchy carbohydrates to keep you satisfied for hours. Adding some butter to your mixed veggies will give you some much-needed extra fat to make this meal tastier and healthier.
There's one meal I must get when I go to Ruby Tuesday:
The Mini-Burgers & Salad Bar deal is one of the best things around for someone following a low-carb lifestyle. You get unlimited trips to the fresh salad bar where I get a bed of spinach leaves piled high with cheese, eggs, sunflower seeds, bacon, and dried cranberries with Ranch dressing on top to start off. Then I order the mini-burgers without the buns and eat them with mayonnaise and pickles. Add a bowl of mashed cauliflower (YES!) with a couple of dollops of butter and this meal is to die for when you are livin' la vida low-carb!
TOTAL COST: $9
I know what you're thinking--wait a minute, Jimmy, are you saying I can eat at Olive Garden on my low-carb lifestyle? Yep, as long as you can avoid the temptation of those hot buttery garlic breadsticks (a tall order to ask of low-carb newbies, but not too bad once you've ditch the carbs for a while). Load up on some of their famous salad (sans the croutons) and don't forget to put lots of cheese on top, too! But please avoid the "no sugar added" dessert sham they have to offer at the end of the meal. Not good!
Here's a wonderful dish I ordered at the Olive Garden:
A delicious grilled salmon steak with a touch of lemon and seasoning that is oh-so-yummy and full of healthy omega-3 fats along with a generous portion of non-starchy veggies (mostly broccoli) that I ate with butter to increase the fat content of the meal. You'll never eat this low-carb (about 2-3g carbohydrates) in an Italian restaurant!
TOTAL COST: $13
I got excited about Applebee's when they introduced world-famous chef Tyler Florence into their marketing efforts to spruce up their menu in late 2006 with a fabulous covert low-carb dish called the Crispy Brick Chicken. So imagine my surprise when Christine and I went there recently and they've removed it from their menu. GASP! Why do they always remove the GOOD stuff?! Oh well, it was hard, but we found something to eat there.
Here was my choice for a meal from Applebee's:
I adore shrimp and always have since I was a kid, so imagine my delight when I got to choose a salad made with spinach leaves--my favorite low-carb veggie--along with some almond slivers, diced tomatoes, a little cheese from Christine's salad, and I substituted Ranch dressing for the warm bacon vinegarette (too much sugar in this dressing!). Not too filling, but the full-size version of this meal is a refreshing low-carb dinner.
TOTAL COST: $12
Not to be outdone with my salad, here's what Christine ordered:
A spicy chicken breast cut up into bite-sized pieces on top of a bed of salad greens, cheese, diced tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and Ranch dressing. The chicken was quite savory with a hint of spiciness to perfectly complement the cool salad ingredients. Not too shabby for a low-carber to order and enjoy!
I ordered something off Cracker Barrel's dinner low-carb menu:
Smothered Grilled Chicken Tenderloins with a side salad and a double portion of green beans (with butter on top, of course!) made this a wonderful low-carb meal. I'm a big fan of cheese and bacon, too, and you get plenty of it with this menu item. The green beans are those sweet kind that have a little bit of crunch to them--but what else would you expect from Cracker Barrel?"
TOTAL COST: $9
So there you have it! Suggestions about how you can eat low-carb at your favorite casual dining restaurants. This is by no means a comprehensive listing of what you can order when you eat out, but it gives you an idea about what you can do to make virtually ANY meal a low-carb one. Steaks and salads are ALWAYS acceptable, although be careful about hidden carbs in sauces, toppings, and dressings.
Livin' la vida low-carb need not be difficult or inconvenient to follow. When you make this your permanent lifestyle change, adapting to what fits YOUR life is important. And that will include the occasional visit to restaurants.
The worst two months of your weight loss journey is here
It happens the same time year after year. Technically, it begins on Halloween and runs all the way through New Year's. Yes, it's the holiday season with all the temptations that come with it. You know what I'm talking about--food, especially very high-carb ones, are EVERYWHERE this time of year and it can seem overwhelming to your low-carb lifestyle.
What is most disappointing about this is how people rationalize eating whatever they want during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays because they want to feel a part of the festivities and to not make grandma upset because they didn't have a slice or two of pecan pie. It can be difficult, no doubt, but what's more important--appeasing your family temporarily by eating what you shouldn't or refusing to give in to the temptations for the permanent improvements to your weight and health.
In Episode 13 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" today Christine and I hit this issue head-on and offer some suggestions about how you can stick with your low-carb lifestyle and get through this all-out assault on your low-carb diet in November and December. You know it's coming, so GET PREPARED WITH A PLAN to deal with it NOW. :)
Watch our YouTube video for tips and suggestions on how to do it:
Need some help finding some low-carb alternatives for the holidays:
Still need a pep talk about some practical ways to beat the inevitable holiday season weight gain? Check out this blog post I wrote a couple of years ago with my own personal advice about how you can overcome the cravings, refuse to give in to temptation, and begin 2008 feeling GREAT about your weight and health. As good as that little sugary dessert may look, it can't even come close to how amazing you will feel for refusing it by the time January gets here. Share your low-carb holiday tips at Episode 13 at YouTube and help your fellow low-carbers triumph over the holiday weight creep.
DON'T FORGET to enter my 100th podcast contest for your chance to win 38 incredible low-carb prizes. The contest is open through Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 11:59pm. Winners will be announced on Friday, November 16, 2007. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!
Have you seen all our YouTube videos yet? If not, then get to watching:
- Promo video--A half-minute promotion of the new video series - Episode 1--Introduction of Jimmy & Christine Moore - Episode 2--What kind of fruits can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 3--What kind of veggies can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 4--What does a low-carber do for something sweet? - Episode 5--Why is fat so healthy for you on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 6--Which restaurants can you go to on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 7--What are the best new low-carb books you need to read? - Episode 8--Why should you be eating a lot more eggs? - Episode 9--If you're gonna do Atkins, do it by the book - Episode 10--What supplements should you take while low-carbing? - Episode 11--What are some of the foods you eat on your low-carb diet? - Episode 12--How should you respond when you weight loss stalls?
We recorded this video early this week and will likely do another BONUS one at the end of the week because my podcast show is on hold right now since my producer was in a bad car accident last week. Pray for Kevin Kennedy-Spaien because he's in a lot of pain right now and has some broken bones. In the meantime, ENJOY the extra YouTube videos!
Subscribe to our videos if you haven't already and you'll never miss a single episode. In fact, you'll be the first to see 'em just like all the other subscribers. Don't hesitate to send me your comments and suggestions at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. We appreciate you watching "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." SEE YA! :D
