Charles Washington makes a compelling argument for zero carbs
Oftentimes people who are unfamiliar with livin' la vida low-carb mistakenly describe it as a "zero-carb diet." Anyone who has ever read Protein Power, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, or any of the other respectable books about low-carb dieting knows that NONE of them advocate NO carbs. Not a single one. It just doesn't exist despite that pervading stereotypical view of what this way of eating is all about. But today's guest not only eating zero carbs, but he is also an active athlete running in half marathons.
In Episode 162 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," we hear from Charles Washington, one of my moderators at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum, and he's proudly zero-carbing and loving it. After following the low-fat diet dutifully and losing a good amount of weight on it, Charles gained it all back when he started lifting weights. That's what drove him to learn more about low-carb nutrition, led him to my blog, and put him on a learning path that has him doing what he is doing today.
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 162:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 162 [31:10m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
There's one thing about Charles Washington that you cannot deny--he backs up everything he says with the facts from researchers, authors, and people who survived and thrived on basically a zero-carb diet. For someone who has not been trained in medicine or nutrition, he articulates his point of view clearly and logically. That can be difficult to pull off when you are suggesting something like eating only meat for your diet, but Charles does it.
He's been sharing his views on the zero-carb path at my forum with quite a response--it's the #1 most-read thread at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion!" Today's podcast is the first time many people will hear Charles talking about eating this way, why he chose zero-carb over low-carb, how Gary Taubes' book Good Calories, Bad Calories changed his life, what he does to prepare for a half-marathon eating no carbs, his response to Dr. Mike Eades' recent blog post stating that calories count on a low-carb diet, and so much more! I've been dying to share this interview with you and now it's here.
Hear all kinds of perspectives on low-carb living anytime by:
What's your impression of Charles Washington and his zero-carb diet? Were you persuaded that perhaps eating no carbohydrates is possibly a healthy way not just to live, but also a preferred method for runners and athletes looking for maximum performance? Tell us about what you think in the show notes section of Episode 162. Read more from Charles Washington by visiting LivinLowCarbDiscussion.com.
Coming up on Thursday's podcast--another one of my moderators at my forum named Christin Sherburne. This former cover girl in Woman's World magazine last year is one of the central characters in the continuing Kimkins diet scam saga and she wanted to provide an update about what is happening with the continuing lawsuit against Kimkins founder Heidi Diaz. You'll enjoy hearing from Christin pouring out her heart and soul about how this entire experience has changed her life.
So Much Moore: Cavuto, Kevin, Oprah, Transcripts, & Forum
I like to keep the focus of this blog on the subject of low-carb and healthy living, but it is a blog written by a real person sitting behind a computer screen typing on a keyboard. So it's impossible for me to separate Jimmy Moore the guy who blogs about low-carb and Jimmy Moore the actual guy who does the blogging. We are as inseparable as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. :D
To that end, I want to share just a little bit Moore (sorry, I've never been able to resist that pun throughout my life!) about what's going on in my world right now. I can't tell you EVERYTHING or I'd have to kill you. Hee hee! Alrighty then, shall we update you on what's happening? Let's do it!
I ALMOST MADE IT ON FOX NEWS' NEIL CAVUTO SHOW TODAY
This morning I received a telephone call from a fellow diet and health colleague of mine (will remain unnamed) who was contacted by the producers of "Your World with Neil Cavuto" from the FOX News Channel about his reaction to the new Dreamworks film starring Jack Black called "Kung Fu Panda" portraying the main character as someone who is obese and everyone makes fun of him. Since this friend of mine was unable to do the show because of a prior commitment, he wanted to know if I would like to take his place. I said I hadn't seen the film yet (and really hadn't planned on it!), but it would be great to share some of my thoughts about the whole ridiculous "fat acceptance" movement that has crept into our society. So YEAH BABY!
I spoke with the producer several times this morning and in the early afternoon anxiously awaiting my chance to be on this popular afternoon cable business show. I even went through a mock interview with the producer to see how comfortable I was sharing my opinions on the phone to her as a gauge to see how I would do on camera. She liked what I had to say and here's just a little bit of my thoughts:
The bottom line in my mind is that obesity has become such an accepted thing in our society now that it's not out of place to make fun of fat people anymore like it is to use derogatory terms about race, sexual orientation, or gender. So a movie that shows a bunch of people making fun of the fat panda is part and parcel of what we expect nowadays. Is it right? Of course not. But that's where we are these days.
It does come down to the parents to make responsible decisions for their children and the actions they allow them to take. Fat kids don't sit around all day just stuffing their mouths with food as the stereotype (and this movie) portrays them. Instead, they probably feel guilty about eating and skip breakfast and probably lunch too and end up eating a hefty supper. Overweight and obese kids are ruthlessly picked on by their peers and that can drive a lot of kids to turn to food for comfort.
In "Kung Fu Panda," whenever the main panda character did something well, they rewarded him with food. Parents do the exact same thing with their kids giving them food as a reward when most children would probably enjoy other non-food rewards like a trip to a theme park, a favorite new toy, or even a trip to the movies. The responsibility for obesity isn't some mysterious disease, but the decision of the person who is fat. When you're talking about kids, though, that onus is on the parents.
Obese kids don't need to be told in a movie that they're fat--they know it already. As a former 400-pounder, I used to be the subject of stares from people who passed judgment on me because of my size. Of course, they had never met me nor had they been exposed to any of the reasons why I got to be the weight that I was at the time. That didn't matter because if you're fat, then it must mean you're a lazy slob who can't take care of yourself. While there may be some people like that, I don't agree that all overweight and obese people deserve to be characterized that way. It's just an unfair stereotype.
I was rip-roaring ready to go when about two hours before I was scheduled to appear on the show at 4:41pm EST, the phone rang and the dejected producer on the other end said she regretted to tell me that the satellite equipment for uploading video from my local FOX affiliate where my interview was gonna take place was busted. WHAT?! You have GOT to be kidding me! Of all the things that could have happened, this is what kept me from being on national television today. Oh well, life goes on.
The producer lady was VERY apologetic and upset that I wouldn't be on the show since I was a new guest they'd never had before and she was looking forward to having my perspective shared with their viewers. Before we hung up the phone, she did say that the next time they talk about something diet, health, and obesity-related, they'll be calling on me. I sure hope so and look forward to the opportunity. :)
MY BROTHER KEVIN IS BACK TO LOSING AGAIN...HOPEFULLY!
The last time I blogged an update on my brother Kevin's battle with obesity and health problems was in February, so I thought I'd share a quick message about what's happening with him. I just spoke with him over the weekend and he sounds pretty good. Since a few people took me to task the last time I blogged about Kevin because I would ask him about his weight, I have purposefully avoided even discussing the subject unless he brings it up. In our conversation on Sunday, Kevin said he's losing weight again. So I felt he was giving me permission to talk about it.
He said his girlfriend of six months recently told him, "You know, Kevin, I'd like you better if you weren't so big!" My brother is quite the sensitive type, so this really hurt him and he told that girl to take a hike. Why wait so long to bring something up like that?! Plus, Kevin revealed he had lost 40 pounds since February. When I spoke with Kevin before, he had gotten his weight down below 335, so I was thinking he was getting closer to 300 now. Nope.
I asked him what he currently weighs and he said he was DOWN to 346. Well, at least he's going down again...hopefully for good. I asked him what dietary approach he's using since the last time he was eating lower-carb. It was quite a shock to hear he went back to the diet his cardiologist put him on right after his heart attacks in 1999. What is he eating for breakfast? Hold on to your hats with this--Whole Grain Cheerios with skim milk, a banana, and a glass of orange juice. Be still my fluttering heart!
When I explained about how everything he was eating would lead to a major insulin response, which is made worse since Kevin is a Type 2 diabetic, he rationalized it and said that at least it was healthy stuff like whole grains and fruit. True, this is better than a McDonald's meal or some sugary pastry to start your day. But WOW! I hope he can stick with his chosen diet this time around because I'm afraid his chances of long-term survival get worse and worse with each passing year his weight remains elevated. That poor heart of his is doing all it can to keep him alive.
Kevin is a 40-year old man who can do what he needs to do for his weight and health. He doesn't need me telling him what he should eat or anything like that. I'll keep loving and supporting him because he is my one and only full-blooded brother. But I really don't want to see him die young either. THANK YOU to everyone who has offered up prayers for Kevin and I know they are what has kept him around longer than anyone expected. I'll let you know if Kevin continues to lose eating his low-fat, high-carb diet.
OPRAH CASTING WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESSES...YOU SHOULD TRY!
My readers are some of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. They send me all kinds of stuff about themselves or articles they've read somewhere. It's a neat community of people who all rally behind this message of livin' la vida low-carb. One of the things I've been receiving quite a bit lately is this link from "The Oprah Winfrey Show" requesting weight loss success stories. That's so thoughtful of people to think of me and encourage me to share my story with Oprah Winfrey. There's only one problem--I already have.
In 2005, right after I lost 180 pounds on the Atkins diet, I sent my story in to Oprah because she frequently features guests who have lost weight on her show. They acknowledged receipt of my request to be on the show, asked for pictures which I mailed to them just like they asked, and then I never heard back from them again except for a letter that said my information is now on file. Okay, great! But it's been three years since then and I've resent my information several times, including asking some friends and readers to mail personal letters about me to the Oprah producers. Nothing.
So, while I am flattered you would think enough of me to send me that link to the Oprah show, it doesn't appear they are even remotely interested in hearing my story. Perhaps my low-carb lifestyle has something to do with it since it doesn't really jive with what Dr. Mehmet Oz and Bob Greene have to say about a healthy diet. That's too bad because I think I have a story worthy of being on Oprah. Whether she chooses to give me a chance to share that story or not is up to her and her staff.
WHERE ARE THE TRANSCRIPTS TO YOUR PODCAST INTERVIEWS?
Several of you have been writing to me in recent weeks to inquire about my string of podcast interviews on "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore." Here's an example of what the e-mails are saying:
I really enjoy your blog, and would like to see/hear some of your podcasts and YouTube things, too. However, I am an antiquated computer-phobe and don't have speakers with my computer. Is there a way to see a transcript of some of your podcasts?
What a GREAT question and there's a simple answer: no. While I am a fast typer and can record interviews with all sorts of people in the world of diet and health, the reality is I'm a terrible transcriber. I remember in 2006 when I did a transcription of my FIRST interview with Dr. Dean Ornish, it took me about a week and a half to write out those 45 minutes of raw audio for my blog. I'm even BUSIER now than I was then, so it would be next to impossible for me to get anything else done if I tried to transcribe two interviews a week. EEEEK!
If I had unlimited resources, then I'd pay somebody to do it. Unfortunately, the work I do isn't making me tons and tons of money, so I'm pretty much a one-man show (except for the production of my podcast show done by my amazing producer Kevin Kennedy-Spaien). Reality is reality--I'm just happy to be able to share interviews in audio format and look at it just like radio. Can you get transcripts for radio? Nope. I hate that because there is some excellent information in my podcasts. Maybe this will be the impetus to get some speakers for your computer and upgrade so you can access the audio content. :)
MY NEW & IMPROVED FORUM IS OFF TO A BLAZING START
Have you been over to see the all-new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum yet? The membership there has built back up very quickly and many more are joining in on the conversation every single day. Most of your old friends and your favorite moderators are back as well, so I hope you come by and make yourself at home. We have some spirited, but respectful discussions there for all kinds of topics related to the low-carb lifestyle. JOIN TODAY! :D
I've got plenty more I could tell you about, but we'll leave it at that for right now. THANK YOU for reading and making the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog a regular part of your day. We'll still be here as long as you keep coming back. SEE YA!
Weeks after a hacker took my forum, the new one is ready!
A little more than three weeks ago, a ruthless and cowardly hacker breached my forum and took it down for good. But despite this rather bleak and depressing incident, I refused to give up. Thanks to the encouragement of so many members of my old forum, I've been working diligently behind-the-scenes with my public relations company to create a brand new and improved forum--and now it's ready to go public!
Check it out now at LivinLowCarbDiscussion.com. You'll notice it is a lot more user-friendly with less categories for easier use. Many of the same faces from the old forum are back here again for the new one, including most of the moderators you loved and enjoyed such as Charles, Linda, Christin, Lisa, Amy, Deni, Valerie, Mary, and ME! :) They and others have been working over the past few days adding lots of great content ready to go right now waiting for you to continue the discussion that we started before.
I have been working with my PR company to make this new forum as hacker-proof and secure as possible by installing all the latest security software with daily backups. This is costing me a pretty penny, but I think it will be worth it so that you can have the best possible experience at a low-carb forum. THANK YOU for your incredible patience as I've been working on getting this web site back...and now it is!
Special thanks to Amy at the Eating Low forum as well as Tom at the Low-Carb Friends forum for opening the doors to their respective sites over the past few weeks to my forum members who were going through withdrawals without their favorite forum. For that, I am so grateful to them and sincerely appreciate their generosity towards me and so many of you. It warms my heart that the low-carb community can band together for the greater good.
So, go ahead and dip your toes in the water of the new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum. Hope to see you there early and often as we talk about anything and everything that deals with the healthy low-carb lifestyle. Lemme know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about how to make the forum even better. E-mail me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Aggressive Hacker Attack On My Forum, PayPal, And E-mail Is Obviously Personal
Somebody out there must really be mad at me right now. I don't know what I said or did to deserve any of the things that have happened to me this week, but whatever it is I apologize. Since Monday, I have been under a daily barrage of hacker attacks on my forum, PayPal account, and e-mail account from someone who no doubt is holding a grudge against me since they are doing their best to make my life a living Hell.
Here's a brief timeline of events that have taken place this week:
MONDAY, APRIL 7 My discussion forum was taken over by a hacker who replaced all the low-carb threads with ones about marijuana, cocaine, and pornography. The hacker totally disabled my administrative access to the forum as well as to all my moderators. Additionally, this person began posing as other people on the forum, including me, claiming that I didn't want to talk about low-carb anymore because "we all know you need carbs" and that I'd rather talk about drugs instead.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8 My PayPal account which had a good amount of money in it was hacked in the amount of $81.93 made payable to a digital video download company called Movielink, LLC. Since I had never even heard of this company, I thought this was one of those fake PayPal "phishing" expeditions that sucker people into giving their username and password to crooks. But when I went to the PayPal site to inquire, I noticed my balance was reduced. I immediately contacted both Movielink and PayPay to report this unauthorized charge and transferred all of the money that was there to my checking account. Around midnight, the Admin of my forum told me it was back up again, but he said we lost about 6 months worth of posts and subscribers.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 When I logged in to my e-mail account this morning, I noticed several of the "new" e-mails in my box had been marked as "read" because they were no longer bold. I immediately got on the phone with Charter and changed my password. Additionally, a PayPal debit card was created in my name without my authorization. The $81.93 charge was refunded to my PayPal account. But worse than all of that, the hacker got the forum again (just hours after it came back) and sent the following message to the entire member database at my forum posing as me:
You must click the following link in order to recieve our new information on the forums. Nobody can be trusted as we have lost everything and only the few of you loyal members will receive the information on our new whereabouts.
Here is the link. Open it on your computer and you will be asked to enter a code. After that it will give you the link to the new website. This way the hackers cannot follow us.
Sincerely Yours, Jimmy Moore
DON'T CLICK ON THIS LINK! IT IS A VIRUS FROM THE HACKER!!!
So, how's YOUR week going so far? Can you believe the audacity of someone to put together such a string of nuisances in the span of just a few days? Well, it's happened now and at such an inopportune time since I am leaving out of town today for that trip to Atlanta and then Phoenix (I'm already running late so I could write this post). And I can't help but think the timing is almost TOO perfect.
While I don't have any specific proof yet about who is doing this obviously personal attack against me and the people who support me this week, I have my suspicions that it is related to a now infamous diet scam artist who has her reasons for wanting to come after me. Again, this is just a gut feeling, but I don't really know yet. All I do know is that person had access to my username and password at her web site and made the connection to my forum, PayPal account, and e-mail account. I have since changed all my passwords everywhere.
As I previously wrote in this blog post, if you were at all affiliated with that web site in any way, then you need to take precautions to protect yourself against an attack like this, too. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS and get protection from companies that guard your personal information. Thankfully I had already done that with my credit months ago.
What happens next? Well, stay away from the forum until I can sort out how to place more protective measures on it to keep it safe from hackers. My public relations company says I should probably start over from scratch with a brand new site and I may just have to do that when I get back early next week. In the meantime, there are some EXCELLENT low-carb forums out there and you can find links to them at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog.
When I am finished writing this blog post, I will be contacting my local police department to advise me about how to proceed forward investigating this crime which I believe is "terrorism." That may sound like a strong charge to make post-9/11, but this person is doing their darndest to terrorize and bully me with these cowardly tactics. Too bad for them, it ain't working. I'm not going anywhere, so you might as well get used to seeing and hearing from me early and often.
Please feel free to e-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net if you have any information to share with me about prosecuting the person or persons who have perpetrated this crime against me this week. If I can prove who did it, I will bring charges against them to the fullest extent that the law will allow. This is uncalled for and I do not take it lightly. The person who did this doesn't know who they're messing with.
THANK YOU to everyone from my forum who alerted me about the virus message today and I do apologize for that. Please delete that message immediately and I'll communicate to you through my blog when we are ready to relaunch the forum. One thing's for sure--you can't say this low-carb lifestyle thing is boring anymore, can ya? :) Take care everyone--it's time for me to hit the road! SEE YA!
Sometimes it takes a singular event to shake people back into reality when the lines between fact and fiction become blurry and unclear. That's precisely what has happened in the last six weeks since the hottest health book of the year Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes was released to the public with all the unconventional, counterintuitive information contain therein that was gathered from more than five years worth of research. And the evidence is speaking for itself as people are finally being told the truth about carbohydrate restriction and how eating fat, even saturated fat, is indeed an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
Best of all, real lives are being changed for the better because of this remarkable new book. Take a look at the following e-mail I received from a reader whose shared how her life was forever changed for the better as a result of reading Taubes' masterpiece. Here's what she wrote to me in her e-mail:
Dear Jimmy,
I have never written on a blog or to a blogger before in my life. But, as I recently found your blog site and have been reading through your posts, I wanted to share my story with you.
I have ALWAYS bought into the low-fat hype as gospel, ever since I was 19 and went through a depressed period in my life that caused me to develop anorexia. Now, granted, most people don't take the low-fat diet to that extreme (I am 5'4" and at my LOWEST was 85 pounds!), but the bottom line is that because I was combining such a low calorie/low fat diet with obsessive exercise, it was relatively easy for me to lose weight and keep it off. Of course I use the term 'easy' in the loosest definition imaginable. I was starving myself to death because of emotional issues - trying to stay healthy was the furthest thing from my mind.
It didn't help that my family is made up of emotional eaters - my mother and two of my sisters are very overweight and my other sister is like me - starving herself to stay in control of her life.
Even later, through my early to mid-twenties as my weight stabilized around 105 to 110 or so, I was able to stay at that weight while eating extremely low fat/high carb food. But, again, I was physically hungry all the time, not to mention pretty NUTS - planning out my meals by the minute, counting calories obsessively, refusing to let even a sliver of anything that might have fat in it past my lips. I thought if I didn't make it to the gym on a particular day, I would surely wind up gaining weight.
As I got older, I was able to work through a lot of my issues regarding food (although I was still a control freak about it) and even gained enough weight to be considered pretty normal looking. I got married and had my son (thank GOD my body recovered from the abuse I put it through in order to be able to carry my baby.) But, still even after having him, I was able to lose the weight pretty quickly with a low fat diet. Still obsessing over whatever I put into my mouth, though. Still angry with myself if I couldn't exercise every day and avoid gaining weight from the tiny sliver of pie I might have allowed myself the night before.
Now, I am 33 and divorced and for the first time in my life, I was suddenly having difficulties with my weight (like, I am up to 127 - the horror!). So alarming for someone like me - who has remained in strict control of my weight and my life for so long. I had recently starting dating (and cooking) for someone I cared about tremendously and I realized that my diet had changed dramatically to include many more carbs than I was used to eating on my own. You know the way to a man's heart is his stomach, right? :-)
My mother sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago about the Gary Taubes book. At first, I dismissed it - the whole idea about it was so crazy - eat a lot of fat to get skinny? Aerobic exercise is meaningless for weigh loss? I would be challenging the very foundations of my identity by even entertaining these notions. But, whether it was my recent inability to lose weight or just the timing - I bought the book to check it out.
I started reading everything I could about Taubes and his opinions and his research. And, it was like someone suddenly pointing out to me that the only reason I thought the sky was blue was because everyone on TV and in magazines and on the radio was telling you so. There was actually a good possibility that it was green. It was literally blowing my mind to think that I (and most of the health gurus) had been totally wrong. That all this low fat stuff was based on shoddy research and corporate agendas. And, as I read through the book IT MADE SENSE.
I started eating the low carb/high fat way (which was REALLY REALLY hard for me....) a few weeks ago. And, I feel better than I have in months. But, although I have not lost a tremendous amount of weight (I feel slimmer due to the water weight, definitely), probably because I really don't have a lot to lose to get to my ideal weight, I no longer feel like a slave to my emotional food demons. Or to the gym. Yeah, now I have to worry about carbs a bit - but the food I am eating is real, solid, satisfying food. I am no longer hungry - physically or emotionally. And, the more I read about Taubes and his research (and related research by others), the more confident I am that I am doing what is good for my health, too.
My point is that if someone who was as crazy and obsessed about the low fat/high carb diet dogma as I was can change their ways, then ANYBODY can do it. Please share my story on your site as you see fit and feel free to respond! As an avid writer and recent low carb convert, I think your forum is phenomenal.
This is the kind of transformational story you WON'T be hearing about in the mainstream press. But this woman is merely one example of how Good Calories, Bad Calories is changing the way people think about what a healthy diet really is. If the past three decades has taught us anything, then it should be that fat-phobia is indeed foolish. Fat is your best friend and it is the excessive amount of refined and even those highly-touted whole grain carbohydrates that you should be leery of. That's the clear-cut message that Gary Taubes delivers throughout his book.
I've been keeping you up-to-date on all the latest news regarding Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories book and you can access those previous posts by clicking here. There's still so much happening with the book that it's time to give you yet another update about what's going on. ENJOY!
TAUBES RESPONDS TO 'CLASSIC JUNK SCIENCE' STUDY ON GLYCEMIC INDEX
Examples of the kind of bad research that Gary Taubes wrote about in his book abound and actually are easier to identify now. Take this Junkfood Science blog post about a so-called "study" on the glycemic index and diabetes. One of my readers was very concerned that the conclusions made about consuming carbohydrates ran directly counter to what Taubes wrote in Good Calories, Bad Calories. But leave it to Gary Taubes to explain why studies like this one published in scientific journals are bogus. Here's his analysis of the study:
It's an association study. They measure glycemic index of the foods people ate and follow them for however many years. Such studies tell you nothing about cause. (See my recent NYT Magazine article "Unhealthy Science.")
In this case, for instance, if people who were constitutionally predisposed to gain weight, who will also have an increased tendency to become diabetic, altered their eating habits to maintain their weights -- say, they ate less white bread, drank less beer, etc. -- then this would "confound" the results because the study would identify these people as eating the lower glycemic index foods and yet being more likely to become diabetic.
The problem with all such studies is that if there is any self-selection involved -- and diet is all about self-selection -- and if the self-selection is related to the endpoint being studied -- in this case diabetes -- then the results you get will be impossible to interpret. These people interpret them to fit their preconceptions, and that's classic junk science.
The only way to establish whether sugar or high glycemic index carbs cause diabetes is to do a randomized controlled trial. Take a few thousand people, randomize half of them to a low carb, low sugar diet, tell the other half to continue eating the massive amount of carbs (150-odd pounds of sugar a year, etc.) they're already eating, and follow them for say a half dozen years and see which group has more diabetes. They should fund such a trial to find out the results.
If health and weight management are the true objectives of those researching dietary concepts like carbohydrate consumption and the glycemic index, then why wouldn't they want to fund such randomized, controlled trials as Taubes has suggested? Unless those things don't take precedence and maybe protecting the financial interests of big corporations does...hmmmm?
AUDIO OR ABRIDGED VERSION OF 'GOOD CALORIES, BAD CALORIES' COMING
Many of you have asked about an audio version as well as a more reader-friendly version of Good Calories, Bad Calories to share with your friends and family members who are more likely to check it out in these formats. So far the publisher Knopf, a division of Random House Publishers, has not indicated that either of these is forthcoming anytime soon. But if the book performs well during the upcoming holiday season and shows sustained sales into the new year, then perhaps an audio book will be in order.
Keep in mind that would be one long audio book since Good Calories, Bad Calories is still about 400 pages even after you remove the references. So an abridged version of the audio would be warranted. The greater likelihood is that a paperback and even a mass paperback version of the book will be released about one year from now that will reduce the size of the book to expose its message to a broader audience. When you see this happen, then all of us should start gobbling up copies and distribute them to everyone we know who has weight and health problems.
DR. EADES APPLAUDS TAUBES' RESPONSE TO KOLATA CRITICISM
In my previous Taubes updates, I shared with you a critical review that Taubes' fellow New York Times journalist colleague Gina Kolata had to share about Good Calories, Bad Calories. Let's just say she wasn't impressed. Taubes then responded to this negative criticism which was again tersely answered by Kolata, who has her own self-interests to look after regarding the diet hypothesis she put forth in her book Rethinking Thin.
Respected nutrition expert and Protein Power author Dr. Mike Eades was pleased with Taubes' response to Kolata and added a few more observations of his own as only he can. Dr. Eades was not at all pleased that the New York Times allowed Kolata another opportunity to slam Taubes and didn't pull any punches about it either:
Gary should have been allowed his rebuttal without her refutation of his rebuttal. That would have been equal time for all, with her getting four times the space that Gary did. But that’s not the way the media works when one of their own is attacked. Nor is it the way the media works in general when one of its shibboleths - in this case, the idea that carbs may be unhealthful - is under attack.
Keep spreading the truth, Dr. Eades! We need strong voices like yours to break through loud and clear for these imbeciles to wake up and listen!
CAN I HAVE SOME WINE WITH MY HIGH-FAT, LOW-CARB DIET?
The best part about a book like Good Calories, Bad Calories being released to the general public is it fosters an open discussion of livin' la vida low-carb in the form of some very intriguing questions. Here's an example of that in an e-mail I received from a reader:
I just finished Gary Taubes book, Good Calorie-Bad Calories; I now know more than I ever wanted to know about the history of diets but still don't know if you can have a glass of wine or not or if he thinks one should use lard instead of butter as he said on Larry King. After all that reading I guess I'm back to the South Beach thing....wish I knew his email address! Or maybe you could answer my question.
While I don't pretend to speak for Gary Taubes, I did feel confident about what he would say regarding this inquiry. Here was my response:
THANKS for writing! If you'd like an occasional glass of wine and your blood sugar can remain stable from it so you are not producing high levels of insulin, then I'm sure Gary Taubes would tell you it is okay to drink it. It's all about finding how much your body can tolerate so you reduce insulin production which is at the heart of obesity and disease.
As for fat, butter and lard are both excellent ones for cooking as is coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil, and others. Just stay away from margarine and other low-fat substitutes because they don't provide your body any nutritional benefit.
THANK YOU again for your e-mail! And pick up GOOD CALORIES, BAD CALORIES to find out more about what Gary Taubes has been talking about.
Now they have about 17 minutes of snippets from the show you can watch by clicking here. Again, this was not the totality of the show, but a pretty good representation of what transpired. Dr. Mehmet Oz shows his arrogance, Joy Behar exhibits her ignorance, and "Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels exudes her intolerance of ideas that run counter to her own.
Whether you've seen the "Larry King" interview or not, you'll DEFINITELY want to watch this again to see what we're up against challenging the conventional wisdom. The status quo hates it!
TAUBES CALMS CONCERNS OF DISTRAUGHT READER OVER CANCER STUDY
Another example of alarmist research regarding cancer was recently released that had one of my readers who started livin' la vida low-carb last year in a tizzy. It was about the subject of cancer, something I've blogged about how changes in the diet may help with as has Gary Taubes in his book. Here's what my reader wrote:
Hi Jimmy,
Love your blog! A low carber by need myself (I follow Dr. Berstein's program since being diagnosed as a diabetic last March), I have to defend myself often from ignorant (misinformed) people who just don't believe that low-carb is healthy. Using Gary Taubes' masterpiece to back me up I have recently started 'educating' my surroundings a bit more strongly.
Today however, I am faced with the publication of the latest report on Diet and Cancer by the World Cancer Research Fund going against red meat, salt, energy dense foods (fat isn't mentioned explicitly but implied) and pro-exercise.
It would be great if Gary Taubes could comment on this report, as it seems to contradict his findings partially and is IMHO another piece of bad science. As I am not able to reach Gary, and I'm pretty sure you can: Could you ask him if he plans to comment (and post it if he does)?
As a matter of fact, he did have a comment about this study to share:
The report is typically disheartening. First, it concludes that excess fat is the primary risk factor for cancer, but then goes back to the 1900s to say that the cause of excessive fat is nothing more than eating too much or sedentary behavior.
It actually does talk about the role of insulin and insulin-like growth factor in cancer formation, a major step forward, but then comes down only on red and processed meat based on the same kind of meaningless observation studies I discussed in my recent NY Times Magazine article.
In fact, clinical trials have been done to test the hypothesis that eating more fiber or fruits and vegetables and less meat has any ability to prevent colon cancer -- the cancer that these experts say red meat causes -- and the trials have shown no effect.
So these experts ignore the clinical trials and instead focus on the observational studies. By not raising the role of insulin in fat accumulation, the report manages to do an excellent job of avoiding an explanation that would cover all their evidence. Instead, it's just more of the usual.
Insulin is credited with a role in cancer formation, but the carbohydrates that elevate insulin are not considered cancer-causing (although, of course, foods with dietary fiber are considered potentially cancer-preventing). Excess fat is credited with a fundamental role in cancer, but the insulin that causes us to accumulate excess fat is not discussed and so it's all about calories.
It's probably worth noticing that the authors are the usual suspects in this business and the report matches up well with the preconceptions they've had since the 1980s.
You hate to say FOLLOW THE MONEY when it comes to dietary research, but that seems to be where we are at right now in the oftentimes dicey world of bad science.
OTTAWA CITIZEN PRESENTS AN INTERESTING TIMELINE ABOUT FAT
Have you ever wondered why we got to be so fearful of fat in the first place? Well, take a trip down memory lane with a history lesson on dietary fat by reading this brilliant timeline published in the Ottawa Citizen explaining the evolution that has taken place since the 1960's. From the introduction of margarine as a replacement for butter to the trumpeting of omega-3 fats in 2007, this is one column you won't want to miss. Taubes' book is listed as part of the change in mindset regarding fat consumption.
NPR'S 'SCIENCE FRIDAY' PROGRAM INTERVIEWS GARY TAUBES
Gary Taubes was given an opportunity recently to appear on NPR's "Science Friday" with host Ira Flatow to talk about his book Good Calories, Bad Calories. Appearing on the program with Taubes was Dr. Robert Krauss from the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California. You'll recall I highlighted this study by Dr. Krauss regarding how low-carb is beneficial to cholesterol. In my previous blog interview with Taubes a few months ago, he described Dr. Krauss as "one of the smarter scientists in the metabolism field."
My favorite part of this interview on "Science Friday," which you can hear by clicking on the play button at the program link, is when Taubes rather bluntly stated "you need to eat carbs to get fat." I never really thought about that before, but there's a lot of truth in that statement since carbohydrates are the root cause of obesity and disease for so many people. Listen to the entire interview and smile if you're livin' la vida low-carb!
BRYANT STAMFORD DOES A HATCHET JOB ON 'GOOD CALORIES, BAD CALORIES'
There are certain people who have access to a newspaper column and use that power they have been given to spread their absolute disgust and disdain for anything positive related to the healthy low-carb lifestyle. One such person is Bryant Stamford whose "Body Shop" column appears in the Louisville, KY-based Courier-Journal newspaper. I've previously blogged about his anti-Atkins drivel here and here.
Now he's at it again with this recent column where he attempts to discredit and rip apart Good Calories, Bad Calories bit by bit. In fact, Stamford hates low-carb so much that he doesn't even mention the name of the book in the first of a two-part column. He again repeated his ridiculous claim that this way of eating failed because people are now fatter than they've ever been. Um, then why isn't it the fault of the low-fat diet recommendations that have been hammered down our throats for three decades, Mr. Stamford? I can hardly wait for part two of this column--NOT!
Tell Bryant Stamford what you think about his idiocy regarding livin' la vida low-carb by sending him an e-mail at stamford@hanover.edu.
ANTHONY COLPO TAKES ON GARY TAUBES REGARDING HIS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Of all the people in the world who would oppose the concepts of Good Calories, Bad Calories, one person you would not name is Australian independent researcher Anthony Colpo. Once an ardent supporter of livin' la vida low-carb and the creator of an outstanding low-carb bodybuilders forum, Colpo's views have noticeably shifted this year as he moves away from the "metabolic advantage" that happens with a controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach.
In light of that, it's probably not surprising that Colpo would make some strong statements against the new Taubes book at his forum. One of the members there asked Colpo what he thought about Good Calories, Bad Calories and Colpo responded in typical fashion from him:
"If Taubes' message is that the current obesity epidemic is not due to insufficient activity and/or excessive calories, but simply due to high carbohydrate consumption, then his message is complete bullsh*t."
There are at least 10 pages of comments discussing the book, although most of the people, including Colpo, have NOT read the book. READ THE BOOK, people, before making comments based on your own preconceived notions of what you think the book says. You'll save yourself a lot of embarrassment over a lack of knowledge. I'll be blogging more about Colpo's change of position on low-carb in a future post. Stay tuned!
THE FAT IS GOOD MESSAGE IS FINALLY GETTING OUT
I wanted to share an example of how the message presented in Good Calories, Bad Calories is now helping to shape the discussion regarding dietary fat, especially saturated fat. Once thought of as the great evil nemesis that leads to heart disease, Gary Taubes has opened a lot of eyes with what he uncovered in his research about saturated fat and it is making an impact on some popular diet and health media outlets.
Check out this Men's Health column entitled "What if Bad Fat Is Actually Good for You?" by Nina Teicholz. Absolutely, positively INCREDIBLE!!! You wouldn't have seen this kind of column in the 1980's or 1990's with people like Dr. Dean Ornish or Susan Powter out there claiming fat is why you're fat. Those days are becoming ancient history! Taubes' book is merely the beginning of the end for the low-fat lie.
CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER DISCUSSION OF 'GOOD CALORIES, BAD CALORIES' CONTINUES
Finally, you are invited to get in on the conversation about Good Calories, Bad Calories that we are having over at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum right now. In this chapter-by-chapter discussion, led by my intelligent and enthusiastic moderator Charles Washington, the members there are able to talk about what they learned in each chapter. So far we have covered the Prologue and Chapter 1. This week we'll be moving to Chapter 2 as we continue looking at each chapter one week at a time until we're finished. Won't you join us?
We'll keep updating you on a lot more news about Gary Taubes and his book Good Calories, Bad Calories as it continues to make a difference in the lives of doctors, nutritionists, and patients who are looking for a way to manage weight and health.
How about going on a "low-carb" Carnival Cruise down to Mexico?
I'd like to share with you a really neat opportunity for the members of the low-carb community to meet others who are livin' la vida low-carb while simultaneously enjoying a fantastic vacation together. It's what I'm calling a "Low-Carb Get-Together Cruise" for ANYONE who wants to go and get connected with your fellow low-carbers. WOO HOO!!! Sounds like a TON of fun, doesn't it?
Organized by one of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum members named Becky Regandy, this five-day Carnival Cruise is sure to be the highlight of your 2008 as you get to rest and relax in the luxury of the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship leaving the Galveston, TX port at 4:00pm on Saturday, February 23, 2008 and returning at 8:00am on Thursday, February 28, 2008.
There will be exotic stops on Monday in Cozumel, Mexico and then again on Tuesday in Progreso/Merida, Mexico for you to soak in the scenery and get absorbed in the ambiance of the sights and sounds of Mexico. AHHHHHH! You can almost hear the waves crashing on the beach now.
The beaches are gorgeous in Progreso, Mexico!
When Christine and I got married in 1995, we went on a Carnival Ecstasy Cruise to the Bahamas for our honeymoon and LOVED IT! We have not been back on another cruise since, but we've been wanting to so bad. Now, we not only have the chance to go cruising again, but we get to do it with so many of the awesome and wonderful people we have met in the low-carb community over these past few years. Join us, won't you?
The couple pricing for this cruise is very reasonable, too:
Inside: $693.98 ($346.99/person) Oceanview: $813.98 ($406.99/person) Suite with balcony: $2,133.98 ($1066.99/person)
For three people, the Oceanview room is $1,110.97 ($370.32/person) and for four people, the Oceanview room is $1,407.96 ($351.99/person).
If you would like to reserve a cabin, then you can place a deposit of $150 per person and SIGN UP TODAY for this exciting cruise. The remaining balance is due on December 11, 2007, so you have plenty of time to plan. Don't forget your passports which Christine and I received in about four weeks after we applied at our local post office.
Any questions or comments about this cruise should be addressed to the Group Leader Becky Gandy at RegandyCruise@yahoo.com who has organized this trip with the Houston, TX-based Vacations To Go. I can't wait to go and look forward to meeting and chatting with so many of you about the healthy low-carb lifestyle.
As much as I have tried to distance myself from the still growing controversy over the low-carb imposter diet known as Kimkins since my public apology for once supporting it nearly two months ago, new revelations that cannot be ignored keep bringing it back to the forefront and warrant further exposure here. THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO JUST IGNORE!
When the virtual face of Kimkins--Becky, Christin, and Deni--decided to distance themselves from the diet earlier this month, it was a tremendous blow to the reputation of Kimkins that promises "super-fast results" by restricting fat, calories, and carbs. These three beautiful women were the heart and soul of Kimkins and their departure has left the Kimkins web site with a very noticeable lack of love and concern that it had become known for (incidentally, all three of them are now at my forum providing support like they once did at Kimkins).
But then when it was discovered by a private investigator that the founder of this diet who calls herself Kimmer (her real name is Heidi Kimberly Diaz despite the fact she told me personally that Heidi was both her real name and her cousin on two different occasions) is a morbidly obese woman who never lost weight according to her son and ex-husband and has a very long history of being a scam artist, I could no longer remain silent.
If you are a member of the low-carb community, then this issue with Kimkins should be of grave concern to you. What started out as a seemingly innocent-looking diet that's "just another low-carb plan" (it isn't really, but that's how it is being portrayed) has turned into something really ugly that is now having a negative impact on the lives of real people. That's right--PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT FROM BEING ON KIMKINS!
One such person it is having a direct impact on is the Woman's World cover girl Christin herself who lost 100 pounds in five months on the Kimkins diet. I don't know if you've heard about this yet or not, but she was admitted to the hospital last night with chest pains and has been referred to a cardiologist. Her pulse dipped into the upper 30's and that has the doctors worried for her heart health.
They have ordered Christin to rest today and she is on pain medication to help relieve the chest pains until she can see the cardiologist.
"They did all the tests for major cardiac issues and ruled them out," Christin wrote at my forum. "EKG, blood work, chest x-rays, all came back normal so that is good...please keep praying. I'm pretty sore today (in my heart), but feeling a bit better."
Add this to the other side effects Christin admitted she experienced while on Kimkins, including her hair falling out and missing her menstrual cycle for five months in a row and it is quite disconcerting to say the least. While it is unclear whether this chest pain issue is related to the Kimkins diet or not, it's certainly difficult to ignore.
Then you have Deni who lost 60 pounds in three months on Kimkins and she is now wondering where the "warning label" about this diet is at her blog this week after experiencing some rather odd side effects since being on the diet, too: extra periods, hair loss, dizzy spells, blurred vision, heart flutters, and intense cravings. All of this came in the pursuit of weight loss so she could live a healthier life for her family.
The irony of it all isn't lost on Deni.
"I said that one of the reasons why I wanted to lose weight was because I wanted to be here long enough to see my kids and future grand kids grow up," Deni wrote in her blog this week. "Now, it's possible that losing weight has lowered the chances of that actually happening."
More tests are being run on Deni to see if the damage that was done can be fixed. Please pray for Christin, Deni, and all the others who have received the grim news about the damage to their health that may have been caused by their participation in the Kimkins diet. What a travesty this would be if hundreds, even thousands more following the dictates of this scam diet plan were to have their health ruined, too!
Is it just mere coincidence that the two most prominent Kimkins weight loss success stories are now having to deal with this kind of thing? Why is something like this even allowed to exist when real people have DOCUMENTED proof that they have been damaged as a result of this low-carb imposter diet scheme cooked up by an extremely overweight woman named Heidi Diaz?
If anyone is considering going on the Kimkins diet, then let me warn you: PLEASE DON'T! There are better ways to shed the pounds that are a part of a happy and healthy low-carb lifestyle. You can find information and support for these plans at my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum so you can shed the pounds in a healthy and safe manner. Eating at least 1200 calories a day with ample protein at each meal, limiting your carbohydrates from mostly non-starchy veggies (green leafy), and getting healthy amounts of fat will put you on the pathway to success in your low-carb lifestyle. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
As for Kimkins, please do your research by checking up on this growing list of web sites for detailed information about how this diet is nothing more than a ruthless money-making scheme that has been perpetrated on unsuspecting victims by someone who doesn't care a bit in the world about the weight and health of the people she comes into contact with.
Anyone who doubts this (especially those who are still supporting Heidi despite all the evidence inside Kimkins) should get introspective and take a long, hard look at all that has transpired over the past couple of months. If you do that, then there's no other choice for you but to distance yourself as much as possible from this shyster. It is for the best and you'll be so glad you did.
For those of you who were either employed by or were affiliates of Kimkins and are concerned this scam artist Heidi Diaz may try to use your Social Security number for her devious schemes, you may want to try LifeLock to protect yourself as I did. For less than $10 a month, they guarantee your credit and identity will be kept safe from evildoers (like Heidi) and you get a copy of your credit report twice a year along with that service. Additionally, they stop all those annoying credit card offers within a couple of months and alert you anytime someone tries to open a line of credit in your name using your private information. It's the best protective purchase I've made in a long time and it may be just what you need to protect yourself, too! Regardless, good luck to you and here's hoping your sensitive information was not compromised.
The moral of this story surrounding the Kimkins calamity is simple: be very careful about who and what you choose to associate yourself with. I learned my lesson as have many others who were sucked in by this. What began as merely a raw business deal has now turned into something much worse. It's without a doubt a really big danger for the health of those who are on this low-fat/low-calorie starvation diet.
How many more lives will need to be hurt before something is done to bring an end to this? If you want to get pro-active in stopping this dangerous dieting scheme before anyone else is harmed, then lodge a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Also, if you were a member of Kimkins and have been refused a refund, consider joining the class action lawsuit that has been filed against Heidi Diaz for fraud.
9-26-07 UPDATE: My friend Christin has posted a heart-wrenching video at her blog about all that has happened to her health since she began the Kimkins diet that EVERYONE needs to watch--especially those who are still at Kimkins. She addresses her recent heart concerns and warns others to be very wary of this imposter low-carb scam. I'm proud of you Christin!
WOW, I wish I had more time in the day lately to be blogging about the low-carb lifestyle, but it's just not happening. The explosive growth of my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum (quickly approaching 1,000 members and a half million pageviews!) and my increasingly-popular video series with my wife Christine called "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" has taken up time I would normally dedicate to blogging.
I'm not complaining by any stretch of the imagination because I'm lovin' every minute of what I am doing, including my continued work on my podcast show, my "30-In-30" blog, my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, writing my second book, and having the opportunity to start writing columns for a MAJOR health media outlet coming soon (more about that when I'm allowed to talk about it in detail).
Life is quite busy, but I wanted to get you caught up on a five items of interest that caught my attention lately that you should know about and chew on a while:
DANA CARPENDER COLUMN ON THE TRAVESTY OF SCHOOL LUNCHES
If you missed this month's nationally-syndicated "Cook Well, Eat Well" column from low-carb cooking goddess Dana Carpender, then you need to read it, print it out, and take it to your next PTA meeting at your child's school to share with the other parents what they can pack their little munchkin to eat for lunch instead. Dana details what parents can pack for their children to eat in her piece entitled "School lunches leave a lot to be desired for the taste buds." Giving alternatives to the nutritionally bankrupt foods like cereal, yogurt, and a roll for a meal (yep, that's the totality of this so-called "meal" that was served to students), this column is classic Dana Carpender and you won't want to miss it!
This week's newsletter featured an article by Jonny entitled "How to Fight Cravings -- and Win!" that will knock your socks off! He goes into the psychology of overeating beyond mere hunger and how you can stop that vicious cycle in its tracks. Or, as he says, you need to "short-circuit the chain" as he outlines in his audiobook "Change Your Body Change Your Life." He encourages you to WRITE DOWN your five biggest hunger triggers and to put a plan of action into place when those triggers begin to start happening. Check these out:
1. Brush your teeth. 2. Eat a pickle. Eating something completely different from what you’re craving tricks the brain and kills the craving. Try eating a hot pepper when you’re craving chocolate and you’ll instantly see what I mean. 3. Reward yourself with a relaxing activity you normally wouldn’t do. Try a warm bath or uninterrupted reading of your favorite magazines. 4. Go for a walk. The endorphins released will often balance the chemistry of a craving brain. 5. Write down what you’re feeling. Try “being” with that feeling for five minutes.
I'm sure there's more where that came from, but those tips for beating your cravings and resisting the urge to eat when you shouldn't will get you started off right.
NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST TRUMPETS ATKINS DIET FOR HEALTH
Imagine my surprise when I was doing some research recently and came across this newspaper column from my own home state of South Carolina called The State and discovered a very positive review of livin' la vida low-carb for those seeking to improve their health, especially diabetics. WOW!!! The writer Cindi Ross Scoppe said there are other ways like drugs and supplements to improve blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and stabilize blood sugars, but the best way is...
"There’s an easy-to-stick-to diet that also does a good job of lowering blood pressure and stabilizing if not reducing cholesterol: the low-carb Atkins diet."
You read that right! She named the much-vilified Atkins diet in this story about healthy living. Incredible! I was so pumped about seeing this by a writer just down the road from me that I e-mailed her to thank her for that positive coverage. She never wrote back, but I'm sure she is aware of the media bias that exists against this way of eating and is roundly ignoring it herself.
Scoppe makes some excellent observations about the low-carb lifestyle ("Many foods that drive up cholesterol — eggs, steak, cheese, bacon, butter, cream — are on the all-you-can-eat buffet. No one has figured out exactly why, but apparently the bad foods don’t hurt you if you’ve sworn off carbs.") and even questions some of the illogical thinking of so-called diabetes advocacy groups ("When I did the American Diabetes Association’s 'Rate your Plate' exercise, dragging an Atkins-perfect meal of chicken, broccoli, lettuce and tomatoes onto my plate, I got a scoldy message that said: 'You have too many vegetables and not enough carbohydrates. Try again.' Too many vegetables?"). This one is too juicy to pass up, so take some time to check it out and encourage Scoppe in her low-carb journey to better health!
STANFORD DIET STUDY AUTHOR SAYS LOW-CARB 'BETTER, SIMPLE'
In March this year, there was a rather eye-opening study released in the most prestigious medical journal in the United States--The Journal Of The American Medical Association--by Stanford University researcher Dr. Christopher Gardner comparing various diet plans against each other measuring weight loss and health. The conclusion? The Atkins diet was best among several other plans, including the low-fat Ornish diet and "balanced" Zone diet.
There was debate about this study in the weeks following its release as many low-carb advocates like me called for low-carb to be promoted alongside low-fat in dietary recommendations so that the public could have all the facts to make the best decision about their own health. No such luck on that one, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this Scientific American story that quotes Dr. Gardner saying something that blew me away. Keep in mind that he is a vegetarian and it makes this quote all the more profound.
“Maybe low carb is a better simple message to the public than low fat,” Gardner says. “We tell them low carb, and they get it. They cut out a couple of sodas or a couple of cookies, and that adds up.”
That's it, Dr. Gardner! You've hit the nail squarely on the head and with amazing precision, too! Cutting carbs is simple, yet so much easier to understand and enjoy than cutting fat. Can we get you to shout that message over and over again to get people to understand it at last? Of course, with well-meaning but DEAD WRONG people like National Weight Control Registry co-founder Dr. James Hill quoted in the story as saying "There’s no way you can do it [eat low-carb] forever,” it's gonna be an uphill battle!
LOOK OUT GUYS, THE DIET INDUSTRY IS GUNNING FOR YOU NEXT
We all know the target audience for most diet companies these days is women. With an overwhelming number of people joining groups like Weight Watchers and Curves, it's almost as if the weight loss industry forgot about the guys. Well, not anymore according to this Chicago Tribune column that found they're now gunning for the men. They cite Nutrisystem and their use of former NFL players like Dan Marino as evidence of a new trend. It's nice to see these efforts, but all the male folks need to do is go on low-carb and the weight comes pouring off! Maybe if Weight Watchers would come up with a low-carb version of their plan, they could pull more men into their system. Wouldn't be surprised at all if that's what happens REAL soon!
I've got a ton more to blog, but that's all the time I have for now. We'll hit some more later, but for now I need to get some rest and get reenergized for the upcoming week. THANK YOU for your devoted readership and keep on livin' la vida low-carb!
She made some excellent points in that column, although she is not an advocate of livin' la vida low-carb as a lifestyle change per se. The Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes author and I don't always see eye-to-eye on the definition of a healthy diet, but that doesn't stop us from mutually sharing in our mission to help educate, encourage and inspire our readers to improve themselves.
In that spirit, Amy recently asked me the following question in an e-mail:
"Since most diabetics seem to struggle with restricting carbs and figuring out what in the heck they can eat, I need your help. Could you share your TOP 20 FAVORITE LOW-CARB MEALS & SNACKS with me to share with my readers?"
Since I've been eating this way for nearly four years, it would have been pretty easy for me to come up with a quick 20 list for Amy to share with her readers. But, instead, I decided to let the members of my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum take a stab at it since they all have a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area--particularly my low-carb recipe moderator Linda.
So I pitched it to my forum readers and boy did they ever come through with some OUTSTANDING suggestions for Amy to share with her readers. Diabetics and low-carbers alike would be proud to eat those foods early and often and I'm thankful for their input (that includes so many of YOU here at my blog, too, so THANK YOU!!!).
Amy featured those in a post today at her blog entitled "Low-Carb Favorites, From The Devotees." Check out this amazing list of MEALS and SNACKS that my forum readers came up with. Incredible work you guys and I'm so proud to see you recognized for your healthy efforts on such a major diabetes web site. EXCELLENT!
Amy was a bit concerned as she expressed in her post why livin' la vida low-carb is so hard for her.
"Thanks so much for the suggestions, Guys! But I also see my problem right there; I am sick to death of skinless chicken, eggs, and salad, salad, salad. I can't stand cauliflower. Steak and pepperoni are too fatty for my poor sensitive stomach to take very often... whine, whine, whine... I know."
You are hilarious, Amy! But there is a happy medium when counting carbs that I hope you can find in your own journey to control blood sugars naturally through this way of eating. But I was encouraged to hear Amy was spurred on by the "enthusiasm" of my forum readers to get excited about controlling her carbs again.
WOO HOO! She even gave some rather high praise for the support the forum is providing people who need it when they're getting down and out.
"It's sure nice to know there's a whole community out there to fall back on whenever you feel you might be 'losing it.'"
YEAH! THANK YOU Amy for those very kind words and I'm sure my forum readers will be thrilled to know you felt the positive impact they are having there. It's one of the most caring and loving group of people I've ever been a part of and we've grown so fast, too! Over one-third of a million views in just about six weeks...and STILL growing!
Got any favorite low-carb snack or meal ideas that might have been missed? Feel free to share those in the comments section below. See, livin' la vida low-carb can be an exciting and viable way to lose weight, control blood sugars, and get healthy while still being enjoyable. No other way I'll ever eat again, baby! :D
Earlier this year I told you about a low-carb meetup group in the Denver, Colorado area who regularly get together to talk about this beloved thing I like to call livin' la vida low-carb. Well, now we've got another one!
I'm only about four hours away from there and will be planning to join up with them sometime in the next few months or so. I may try to plan a trip to visit Dr. Eric Westman and his team of researchers at the Duke University Medical Center there in Durham (he'd make an excellent guest speaker at a future meeting, by the way!) at the same time to make a trip of it. I'll let you know when that happens.
In the meantime, if you live in this area and want to join up with your fellow Triangle Low-Carbers, then go to the Meetup page to sign up so you'll never miss a future meeting! In fact, they'll be having their NEXT meeting coming this Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 6:30pm (or when you can get there!) at the Golden Corral located at 5006 Apex Highway 55 in Durham.
It'll be fun getting together with fellow low-carbers to talk about cooking ideas, recipes, weight loss and maintenance issues, and the fine art of livin' la vida low-carb when dining out. Contact Jen or Leslie if you are interested in attending. In fact, Leslie provided her cell phone number for you to RSVP to her directly--919-889-0223. Once you sign up, you can also RSVP at the Meetup page.
Okay, all you low-carb procrastinators in the Raleigh/Durham area, show up and support this low-carb event in your area and make us proud. You are trailblazers and should show the rest of the country (along with the Denver group!) how it's done. I'm coming your way soon, so I hope to see a nice size group when I get there.
Special thanks to Cindy from my forum for telling me about this exciting new low-carb group getting started up in Durham, North Carolina! Go to the event on Thursday and support the efforts that Jen and Leslie have invested in this. I'm sure you'll enjoy talking about livin' la vida low-carb with those who come. :)
9-14-07 UPDATE: The meeting went well last night and they've already got another one scheduled for October. Check it out and plan NOW to be there!
Announcing a new event for Triangle Low Carb Cooking!
Our next meetup will be a shared meal with everyone cooking their favorite low carb Italian dish for a big buffet and social mixer. Jen (and Doug) will be hosting the meetup in their home.
Need ideas? How about low carb conversions of classics so delicious you'll swear someone's Italian great-gramma was cookin'! (Except of course you'll get all the recipes...that woman never wrote anything down...)
What about a pesto white pizza, or eggplant parmesan appetizers? A big antipasto "kitchen sink" salad is a sure fire low-carb hit! Maybe whip up a low-glycemic spaghetti and Tuscan meatballs with vodka sauce, or for dessert (drum roll please) homemade Kahlua tiramisu?
Let your imagination roam the hills of Italy, your grannies cookbooks, (or even a few internet recipe sites) for great ideas. If you need suggestions or help please contact meetup organizers Jen or Leslie. Even if you cannot cook a thing, please join us for the meetup - we have ideas about how everyone can contribute to the fun.
We are looking forward to seeing you and sharing some great food!
Be sure to SIGN UP for this low-carb meetup group in Raleigh/Durham, NC! :D
Statement from Jimmy Moore regarding the latest PI revelations made about the woman known as Kimmer/Heidi Diaz, founder of the Kimkins diet, at Slamboard this week here, here, and here:
"I am fully aware of the pictures that have surfaced about the founder of the Kimkins diet this week and frankly I am not surprised by what has been revealed. It absolutely confirms many of the exact reasons why I decided to apologize and completely sever ties with Kimkins six weeks ago and I expect even more investigations into the business practices and ethics of Kimkins and those behind it will continue.
That's why those of us who support a much more sound low-carb nutritional approach with proper caloric and fat intake for the sake of a permanent and healthy lifestyle change should follow the lead of myself as well as former Kimkins leaders Becky, Christin, and Deni in completely renouncing Kimmer and the low-carb imposter diet she created and made millions of dollars off of known as Kimkins."
If you have any comments or questions about this, then please feel free to contact me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANK YOU!
9-8-07 UPDATE: Quite a few readers have inquired about how they can file a complaint against Kimkins with the Better Business Bureau. For your convenience, simply click here to lodge your concerns with the BBB in California where the Kimkins business is headquartered. Here's what I wrote in my one-star review:
Of all the people who could possibly review the Kimkins diet, I believe I have the most intriguing perspective about it. You see, I was once an affiliate for this very unhealthy diet plan when I didn't fully understand all of the ultra-low-calorie versions that are a part of the written plan. Now I know better.
People on this diet to the letter regularly eat 500-750 calories a day--about half of what is considered the minimum basal level of caloric intake for health. Additionally, fat and carbohydrates are restricted to the bare minimum which leaves protein as the primary source of calories. Eliminating fat and encouraging it to be "as low as possible" is extremely dangerous advice for people to follow.
While carbohydrate-restriction is certainly not an issue as it relates to health since the body can make its own carbs through a process called gluconeogenesis, the body NEEDS fat or it will cause some rather unpleasant side effects: nausea, weakness, body aches, hair loss, diarrhea, and even death. I'm not trying to be overly alarmist, I am simply sharing the truth about this very risky "diet" plan that purports to be a low-carb plan. It is NOT.
Instead, the Kimkins diet has been documented to lead to anorexia in many vulnerable and desperate people who want to lose weight. The founder of this diet plan is extremely obese and giving out diet advice under the auspices that she lost 200 pounds. That is a lie!
While I am ashamed to say I was once an affiliate of Kimkins, I now feel the Better Business Bureau should conduct a full investigation into this diet with the lifetime membership because there are literally thousands who have been banned from using the web site after paying $60 for permanent access. Everyone who wants it should get a refund and/or the site should be shut down for good!
Of course, this one once again comes from low-carb recipe queen Linda and her outstanding and comprehensive recipe and menu web site. I'm so happy to share her mouthwatering recipes with you in Kent's videos and you can access more of them at the recipe thread at my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum where Linda herself is the moderator. Check it out!
The recipe Kent makes in this video is for a chewy low-carb peanut butter candy bar. Although he's gotten some negative comments from a few people at YouTube about the way this recipe looks, all that matters is that it TASTES FANTASTIC! I think you'll agree. :D
Here is Kent's video:
CHEWY LOW-CARB PEANUT BUTTER CANDY BAR
2 TBS butter 1/4 cup natural chunky peanut butter 1/4 cup Splenda 1 cup chocolate whey protein powder 1/4 cup DaVinci Vanilla syrup 1/4 cup Salted nuts (optional)
- Melt the Butter, and mix with Splenda. - Add the Peanut Butter to the mix until smooth. - Mix protein powder until crumbly - Add DaVinci syrup, and the mix should turn glossy and much easier to form into 2 mini loaf pans - Freeze mixture for 1 hour, and it should be able to be eaten.
For a slightly different variation, check out Linda's version.
By the way, Kent will answer the question "How should low-carb endurance athletes hydrate themselves?" in his next video. Gatorade is loaded with sugar carbs, so what should a low-carber drink if they want to run a marathon? Kent shares from his own personal experience coming soon. I'll feature it here when it's on YouTube!
It was a little more than a month ago when I decided the time was right for me to break my previous ties to the Kimkins diet completely. Although it was hard, I can honestly say it was the right thing to do in light of so much that has been revealed about the person behind the diet especially during my recent podcast interview with her (listen to Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3-5) as well as the dangerously unhealthy dietary advice promoted.
My only regret about leaving Kimkins was the people on the forum I left behind. They are the ones who kept me there because I appreciated the open dialog with such a loving and caring group of people. I had missed that until I created my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum last month.
The instant connection between the members there has been magical so far because we are all respectful, professional, and honest with each other. What a thrill it has been to see over 125,000 pageviews in just the first month and I'm ecstatic about how many people will be positively impacted with the message of livin' la vida low-carb through that forum in the months and years to come.
I share all of this because of a very brave decision that was made by three extra special angels in God's eyes: Becky, Christin, and Deni. For those of you who are familiar with these awesome women, you know them as the faces (and cute ones at that!) of the Kimkins diet over this past year.
Becky was always providing thorough and direct posts on the Kimkins forums to questions posted by members. Christin was the cover girl in Woman's World magazine in May and a big cheerleader on behalf of the Kimkins diet after losing over 100 pounds. Finally, Deni was also in the Woman's World article for her weight loss and was a Spirit-filled spiritual leader for so many going through this journey.
But you'll notice I said "was." As of today, all three have left Kimkins.
It started with Becky last Thursday when she announced it was time for her to leave. Here's an excerpt of what she wrote:
"What led to my dawning awareness that it was time to go was more than irreconcilable differences of opinion, more than self-protective concern, and more than current controversy. What led to my regretful realization that I would have to leave is another story for another time."
Then, in a Labor Day surprise, both Christin and Deni wrote detailed blog posts (and Deni changed the name of her old blog to remove the reference to Kimkins) announced their sudden departure because of many of the same concerns I had.
Christin admitted her hair started to fall out after four months on Kimkins and she didn't have a period for five months in her farewell post today. She began to wonder what price she was paying with her health by following a weight loss plan like Kimkins for sustained weight loss.
"So while I do agree and whole heartedly support that there is everything to be said for protein sources to be lean, and eating fresh vegetables, there is also something to the fact that God created things like whole grains and fruit for our bodies as well. However, I saw those things as a short term sacrifice for a long term gain. But sacrifice at what cost?"
For Deni, she believes God had her at Kimkins for a purpose and now it's time for her to move on to the next phase of her life according to His Will for her life. Her growing concerns about Kimkins led her to no other conclusion.
"I am leaving because I have learned some things that make me doubt the integrity of the founder, and because I have been used for purposes that go against my personality, my moral, and my conscience. I was deceived, and yet.. I still do not regret or doubt that the Lord called me to be there.. I simply accept now, that my work there is done.. and that the plans HE had for me there.. have been completed."
With the departure of such strong and faithful leaders as Becky, Christin, and Deni from Kimkins (and others at Kimkins have already or will soon be following their lead), I would like to offer an open invitation to any Kimkins refugees looking for a place to call home where they can reconnect with one another in fellowship and community to join my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum.
If you are worried about being judged or ridiculed, then don't worry. None of that will happen there and you may just find a few new friends in the process. There are already several former Kimkins members there who are an active part of the threads sharing their experiences alongside those who are following plans like Atkins, Protein Power, Barry Groves, and more.
Everyone is welcome there and that includes Becky, Christin, and Deni when they are ready. As I have said, the Kimkins forum members were some of the most genuine, down-to-Earth, and fun group of people I've ever come across online. It would be an honor to have them bring that same personality and energy to my new forum.
If you have any questions (and I've been getting quite a few lately in my e-mail box from Kimkins members) about transitioning to a different low-carb approach or if you just have something on your mind, then please don't hesitate to contact me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I'm always happy to hear from you and will answer you as quickly as possible.
Becky, Christin, and Deni--I'm more proud of you than you'll ever know!
