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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Prayers Needed For My Obesity-Battling Brother Kevin, Given One Year To Live
Are these the final days of my brother Kevin's life?
My heart is very heavy and saddened today with even more grim news about my only full-blooded brother named Kevin. I just blogged about him two weeks ago with an update on his weight and health, but I received some news this week that doesn't sound good at all. The doctors have basically given Kevin one year to live. His morbid obesity, despite his recent efforts to bring it under control, has become too much of a burden on his struggling heart and now it's only a matter of time.
For those readers who haven't heard about the history behind my brother Kevin's before, he suffered three straight heart attacks at the age of 32 back in 1999 that nearly killed him primarily from his poor eating habits which ballooned him into morbid obesity. He and I both had struggled with this most of our lives and it was this event that really got me to thinking about my own health and led me to make the necessary changes in my life to prevent this from happening to me, too. Kevin's heart function got down to 15% and he was told to lose weight or die before the age of 40.
Here are some blog posts about Kevin I have previously written:
Well, today Kevin is 40 (he will turn 41 on August 22nd if he survives that long) and still weighs upwards of 350 or so pounds. He's been on and off various diets the past few years, including stints on low-carb and most recently his cardiologist's highly-recommended low-fat, low-salt, low-cholesterol, and HIGH-CARB diet. UGH! It's disappointing and frustrating to see my own brother, who also has Type 2 diabetes, doing this to himself when his health is already teetering on the brink of disaster. The way he's currently eating, it's a death trap just waiting to snatch him from us.
The fragility of Kevin's health was made abundantly apparent just two weeks ago when he had to rush himself to the hospital with major chest pains. I was just on the phone with him two hours before this happened and we were joking about how he lived halfway between two hospitals in case something ever happened. It did and this was no laughing matter. The doctors put THREE stints in his heart to open up the only remaining passageway that was unblocked providing blood to this most vital organ of them all. Three of his arteries are COMPLETELY clogged up and the other one is almost all the way blocked. It didn't look good at the time and we knew something like this could happen again at any moment.
And it did not sooner than we thought.
Kevin went home after a few days in the hospital and then he had to call an ambulance to come get him soon thereafter because he couldn't breathe and his heart felt like it was about to explode. The stints hadn't worked and they rushed him into the critical care unit to attempt yet another stint. This time, the doctor was very concerned that the blockage is just too severe and has now given Kevin less than a year to live unless something miraculous happens with his arteries. They're so clogged up now that there is really nothing the medical experts can do for him. He's just run out of time and the clock is ticking on his life.
Now, I truly believe in the great healing power of Jesus Christ to do virtually anything--including the impossible--because I've seen it time and time again in my lifetime. But at the same time I am pragmatic about things like this that happen in life too knowing that this day would be coming sooner rather than later most likely. Kevin has already lived even longer than the doctors had originally expected him to despite his failure to lose the weight as he was told to. Even still, coming to grips with the fact that my brother may not be with us much longer is a devastating blow to me and my family. But I'm ready for it whenever God wills it to take place--whether that's years, months, weeks, or even days.
I've spoken with both my mom and my dad about this and they are in the same mindset as I am. This was inevitable and we're ready for it when it does happen. I can't imagine what it's like for them to see one of their own children near his deathbed at such an early age. The pain that comes with losing a child especially in a way that was clearly preventable many years ago cannot be adequately measured. It's gonna be a sad day when Kevin leaves this world and I hope that God spares him just a little longer so we will have the chance to spend just a few more moments with him. He's truly a good man who deserves so much better than the hand life dealt him.
Kevin called me yesterday and wanted to talk to his "little bro" as he calls me. He said he's going home from the hospital today and he can't wait to get out of there. I told him how much I loved him and was praying for him through this experience. You could almost sense that he knows the end is near and it's an emotional time for all of us right now. We cherish your thoughts and prayers and offer our sincerest THANKS to all the readers at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog for staying interested in how Kevin is doing. Your notes of care and compassion have been an incredible source of encouragement to me over the past few years, so THANK YOU for your loving support.
I'll let you know if anything else changes for the better or for the worse. In the meantime, if you could share this prayer request with your church group, we'd certainly appreciate it. When the good Lord decides to take Kevin home, I pray even now that we can find peace in the midst of the pain that will come. He's still here with us and I'm gonna make the most of every moment I have left with Kevin.
6-26-08 UPDATE: I just got a call from my mom today. She said my brother Kevin went home from the hospital on Tuesday and then went back to the doctor today to see how he's doing. The physician said Kevin needs to get his affairs in order and hospice has been called in. There's nothing more they can do for him at this point.
When my half-sister Beverly who Kevin and I grew up with heard about this, she lost it. Mom was upset as I was talking to her, but pretty steady considering the gravity of this. She said it could be days or he could live as much as a few more months or a year. But it looks like Kevin's been on borrowed time for a while according to his doctor.
His physician noted that the event last week that put him in the hospital should have been the end of Kevin's life, but he's been given a little extra time for which I am thankful. I asked my mom if Christine and I need to come down to Florida to spend Kevin's last days together with him and she didn't think that was necessary since it could be months before he's gone. We have a planned trip to Durham, NC and a one-day stint in New York City coming up the week after the 4th of July and will likely drive down to Pensacola, Florida to be with Kevin and basically say goodbye.
Manuel Uribe has now lost over 500 pounds since January 2006
If you were to hear that someone weighs 750 pounds, most likely you wouldn't be cheering and applauding that person in regards to doing something about their health. But when your name is Manuel Uribe and you were once dubbed "The World's Fattest Man" weighing in at a hefty 1257 pounds, you can't help but smile at seeing the scale flash 7-5-0!
Yes, this former half-ton man has been working hard using a low-carb lifestyle and nominal exercise plan to shed the pounds and save his life. He even set up a web site for people to track his progress and to be inspired by his amazing story.
In March 2007, about one year after starting on the low-carb Zone Diet by Dr. Barry Sears, Manuel had already shed over 400 pounds off of his body and has been pursuing breaking another world record distinction by this time next year--the most weight loss ever! As I reported last month, he's still at it and going strong in 2008 and has just passed another remarkable milestone--500 pounds lost!
Manuel has set for himself a goal weight of 265 pounds which seems a whole lot more plausible NOW than it did when he started this journey. He's prepared to take four more years into the year 2012 to lose the remaining weight--about 125 pounds a year. It's certainly not an unreasonable goal especially seeing how well the low-carb lifestyle is working for this man from Monterrey, Mexico who is getting a second chance at making a life for himself.
He's 42 now and Manuel is even engaged to be married to a woman who is supporting his efforts to lose weight and get healthy. It's a heartwarming story that you can't help but feel good about because he is proving that quite literally ANYONE--even "The World's Fattest Man!"--can make weight loss happen if they simply commit to a plan, follow that plan exactly and then keep doing that plan. For Manuel, the Zone Diet has him well on his way to enjoying a long and fulfilling life. Can you imagine the stories he'll be telling his grandchildren some day if he sees this thing through to the end? WOW!
Manuel told AFP, "I feel great. The doctors say I'm healthier than ever."
Indeed you are, Manuel, indeed you are! You're the world's healthiest 750-pounder ever! Keep at it buddy and don't let anything deter you from making this a permanent lifestyle change that will keep you around for many years to come. We're all cheering you on to the great success you deserve in weight loss and in life. GO GET 'EM!!!
See all of my previous blog posts about Manuel Uribe by clicking here.
My brother Kevin shaved his head, but hasn't cut any weight lately
It's been a long time since I've updated you about my brother Kevin. I apologize for that since so many of you have been asking about how he is doing since his weight and health have been major issues that I have blogged about often at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." The reason is not that I don't want to update you, but that there's not much new to share.
Now that it has been a little over two years since I first blogged about Kevin's morbid obesity, I am pleased to share that he is at least keeping his weight and health relatively stable (not GREAT news to share, but a step in the right direction). This issue has been a source of grave concern for me over the past few years since I have been able to overcome my weight and health issues and now I feel helpless to help my brother do the same thing for himself.
When I saw Kevin at Thanksgiving in 2006, I seriously thought it might be the last time I see him before the obesity took him away from us. It's a daily concern that I'm gonna get a call from my mom informing me that Kevin has died. This is so out of the ordinary for me because I am not one to dwell on such morbid thoughts. And yet it's hard not to with a brother unwilling to make the necessary changes to get healthy.
I did see Kevin again last year twice: once at our Memaw Luerene's funeral in April (where the four men of Moore were all together again for the first time in nearly two decades) and then again in December when we surprised our dad for Christmas.
And there was hope in 2007 that Kevin was losing weight and getting healthy when he reported starting to eat a low-carb diet and walking to help shed the pounds. He started feeling better and came off of some blood pressure medications which was both good and bad. It was good that he no longer needed the drugs, but bad that he felt better because he always STOPS whatever he was doing to feel better thinking he's okay. He's FAR from being okay despite the fact he did reach his 40th birthday last August.
Thankfully, Kevin calls me every weekend to stay in touch and I ALWAYS ask him about his weight and how he's doing. For the longest time, he'd report that he's down to 345, then 340, then 335. But suddenly he'd stop telling me his weight and when I'd inquire about it he'd say that it's not doing so well (which is code for he's gaining again). Recently he's been telling me that he wants to get back to walking again which is the only kind of exercise his doctor will allow him to do considering his very weakened heart (at about 15% capacity still following his heart attacks in 1999).
Flanked by my brother Nathan on the left and me on the right, Kevin certainly has plenty of motivation to eat right and get the weight off. If you've read my book Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year, then you know that it was Nathan who inspired me to start on the Atkins diet in the first place after his incredible weight loss success on it. Although he had slipped back into some old habits again, Nathan was recommitted to this lifestyle change when I saw him at Christmas so it was awesome to hear his enthusiasm.
I was hoping some of that would rub off on Kevin, but there he was stuffing his mouth with high-sugar, carb-loaded foods again like a drug addict who can't help himself with the crack cocaine. Yes, I know it's hard to give it up and stay on the right path, but for Kevin it MUST be done if he expects to survive much longer. It's interesting to hear him talking about the future as if he's gonna be here for decades to come. The sad reality is he is not if he remains on the current path he has chosen.
Kevin is one of the most lovable, kind human beings you will ever meet in your entire life. He's that way to a fault and it sorta defines who he is. And I'm sincerely happy that he has found himself a wonderful woman now who loves him just the way he is and takes care of him as he deserves (unlike the horrendous ex-wife that made his life a living Hell for years after his heart attacks). At least he's happy and that will help keep his stress level reduced to ward off further health complications.
But it is imperative Kevin gets SERIOUS about his health and it just baffles me that he hasn't to this point. Only when he hits rock bottom after being admitted to the hospital for chest pains does he even bother trying. Yet he starts on a plan, begins feeling better, and forgets that he's not out of the woods. It's a ruthless cycle he puts himself through and I'm frustrated that I cannot force him to understand why he needs to be livin' la vida low-carb.
Therein is the central issue of this entire discussion about my brother Kevin: it's HIS life and I have no control over him whatsoever. Until HE makes the decision to do this for himself, it's not gonna happen. Even if I could be near him in Florida, forcibly feeding him what to eat, and being next to him 24/7, none of it would matter if Kevin didn't want to do it. That's a lesson we all must learn as we talk to our friends and family who need to lose weight for the sake of their health.
Continue praying that Kevin will realize he is killing himself with his actions and that he won't give up hope that he can beat this. I believe it's not too late if he can just get down to 250 pounds or less and stay there. I KNOW he could do it just like I did, but he needs to have the WANT TO within him to make it happen. It's gonna take a miracle for him to overcome all those years of bad habits, but I still believe in the miracle-working power of God to make that happen.
THANK YOU to everyone who has shared thoughts, concerns, and prayers for Kevin over the past few years. I still hold out hope that one of these days it's all gonna finally "click" for him like it did for me. That's my prayer for him.
Xavier seeks help about what to eat to help him lose weight
When you have a blog about diet, weight loss, fitness and health that is as visible as mine, it is inevitable that there will be people who stumble upon it in their Internet search for something else. It happens all the time and I'm grateful for the chance to educate, encourage, and inspire everyone who visits here once or thousands of times.
With so many new faces coming here daily, I'm always intrigued about how they got here. Recently, a good many first-time visitors discovered one or more of my posts about Manuel Uribe, the former 1200-pound man from Monterrey, Mexico who has lost over 400 pounds so far by livin' la vida low-carb. It's an amazing story that I have stayed on top of for the past couple of years and people are rooting Manuel on to great success.
One new reader from Tampa, Florida named Xavier, 31, was looking up information about Manuel Uribe when he found the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. He e-mailed me a brief introduction to his own struggle with morbid obesity along with some photographs of himself like the one at the top of this post. Here's another one taken recently at his sister's wedding:
Xavier tips that scales at just over a quarter-ton--533 POUNDS! Seeing his pictures and reading his story reminds me so much of my brother Kevin (who I will be sharing an update on very soon, by the way). Ever since I allowed my weight to climb up to 410 pounds before 2004, I have a certain sense of connection with anyone who struggles with their weight and my heart just breaks for people like Xavier.
I could immediately see the sense of desperation he has about his weight in the e-mail he shared with me.
"I am sort of at my wit's end," Xavier wrote. "Actually I am not even sure if you are ever gonna get this or if you are some superstar or something and no one checks these things. Though I want to write, I am just, well my brain feels like mush."
Boy, I've been there myself, Xavier. When you're big, you just feel like that's what you're ALWAYS gonna be. But I learned that is not true when I started the Atkins diet back in 2004 and went on to lose nearly half my weight. And you're not alone in your frustration about what to do, so be encouraged that there are people who understand.
The Internet has become quite a popular place for people seeking weight loss support and one of the most frequented sites online for discussing diet and health is Spark People. You can find out more about Xavier and keep up with this road he is on to shed the pounds by visiting his Spark People page. You'll find out he is trying to follow a high-protein, low-carb diet with a focus on eating more often to avoid overeating (something I have blogged about doing to help ward off hunger and keep energy levels high).
One thing I would add to this is to make sure your intake of dietary fat is relatively high compared with your carbohydrate and protein. My diet ratio of fat/protein/carbohydrate was around 70/25/5 when I was losing the bulk of my weight. Even now in 2008 as I am attempting to bulk up with upper body muscle-building, my diet ratio is almost the same at 60/35/5. Don't forsake eating fat when you are livin' la vida low-carb because it is your fuel, Xavier.
Finding a diet plan that will work for him has been the hardest thing to do since everything he has tried in the past just hasn't worked.
"I cannot seem to find a decent eating plan or more so one that will help you when you are super obese," Xavier explained. "Each doctor I see says something different and the trainers I talk to want to push their individual products on me."
It can be overwhelming when you don't know where to turn. But I'm so glad you contacted me because I enjoy helping people find the diet that's right for them. It is what helped me finally lose the weight after a lifetime of struggle and so many others who have found the same. Low-carb may fit the bill, but it could be something else. You won't know unless you try.
Above everything else, though, you HAVE to find a plan and learn everything you can about it before trying to do it on your own. Reading a book like Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution or Protein Power should be priority #1 so you know what you are doing and have guidance about how to do it. Otherwise, you're just winging it and that won't cut it. YOU HAVE TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!
To his credit, Xavier is already a member of the YMCA and doing low-impact cardio along with some resistance training. EXCELLENT! I wish I had incorporated weight lifting into my routine when I was losing weight, but better late than never. I'm proud of you for doing it now. Interestingly, he wrote in a recent journal entry that he learned he is "too big for the treadmill."
"You want to talk about a wake-up call," Xavier wrote. "TOO BIG to use the one thing that all the doctors say I need to use to lose weight. Cool thing they have a pool and a gym and free weights."
I know it's frustrating for you right now, Xavier, but you do what you CAN do. This journey is starting RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW and you WILL make it. Get it going and then keep it going until you reach your goal. This is not impossible and you have an entire group of people reading about your story right now who will be rooting for you to the great success you deserve to have. In fact, you probably need to read the story of David Smith who used to weigh 630 pounds and lost a total of 400 pounds. TALK ABOUT INSPIRING!!!
Xavier is a man who knows how to articulate his thoughts in a clear-cut way so you don't have to wonder what he means. Here's his take on those who try to offer their friendly advise about what he should do about his obesity.
"Many people will tell you that all it takes is willpower or if you would just not eat seconds or dessert. Of course, these are the same people who have never experienced how it feels to weigh 300+ pounds, be discriminated against, laughed at, unable to fit in seats," he exclaimed. "If the obese don't have willpower, I don't think anyone does. It takes so much strength and so much power just to wake up everyday knowing how awful society makes you feel."
You are exactly right, Xavier. People who haven't been fat don't know what it's like. The hurt, the ridicule, the scorn--just because I have more cellulite than someone else. What the heck is that all about? It stinks being put in harm's way for all of this negativity, but that's the nature of this society we live in. They don't care about how much they harm you because you're a throw-away to them. If only they knew who the real Xavier and Jimmy Moore is underneath all that weight, then they might be singing a different tune.
Now let me tell you about this whole "willpower" mumbo jumbo. It's bunk! If weight loss was merely about having enough willpower to resist, then I would have never gotten to be 400+ pounds to begin with and you wouldn't have reached 500+ pounds, Xavier. But weight loss is instead about having a steadfast resolve to make better choices for your health. If you decide to start eating healthy, then your entire perspective changes and the weight will come pouring off. It's the way our bodies were created.
These better choices I am talking about are not necessarily the ones that our government and health organizations would recommend like a low-fat, low-calorie, portion control diet. These may work for some people, but are totally unrealistic for a large portion of the obese population. Instead, there are alternatives like the healthy low-carb lifestyle that incorporate a high-fat, controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach to bring about not just weight loss, but massive health improvements, too. It has worked wonders for millions and I KNOW it will do well for you, too, Xavier.
That fear in the back of his mind that what he is doing is not gonna work has him worried right now.
"I am just so scared that I am so big, and I want to do this right," Xavier said. "I have to lose this weight and everyone is telling me something different...I could really use some guidance and I just wish I could get two people to match what they are saying about this...I just feel alone in a way."
You are NOT alone, Xavier, and you have people who DO care about your well-being. Yes, there are many people who have their theories about how you should go about losing weight, but you follow what you think is something you can do for the rest of your life. If it's not sustainable in the long-term, then it probably isn't gonna work. But I honestly believe there is the perfect diet for each person and it's up to us to find out what it is.
After my initial response to Xavier's e-mail encouraging him in his quest for a diet that will work for him, he was excited about deciding to start livin' la vida low-carb.
"I learned how to make an omelet this morning for the first time," Xavier excitedly wrote. "I decided on low carb as my plan, basically after an affirmation this morning. Last night I got down and had ice cream and while I did not beat myself up for it, I just think that it is about time I feel worth more to myself than just another letdown. My goal for now is to think before I chomp, one moment at a time if I have to."
That's the spirit, Xavier! I'm so proud of you buddy and I KNOW you are well on your way not just to weight loss success but also to incredible changes in your health that you will have to see to believe. It's coming and I hope you're excited. Yes, it's gonna take some hard work on your part, but you're gonna make it. I'm here for you anytime you need a friend to talk to for advice or encouragement. Whatever you do, NEVER GIVE UP!!! Be in this for the long haul and GO FOR IT! We're cheering you on, Xavier! GO XAVIER GO!!!
Leave your comments for Xavier as he begins in earnest on his healthy low-carb lifestyle. Tell him YOUR story, share what has worked for you, and just let him know you will be thinking and praying for him as he goes through what is sure to be the most important chapter in his entire life. Share your feedback in the comments section below.
Oh, and Xavier--THANK YOU for being courageous enough to share your story with me. I am honored to tell my readers about you and your desire to lose weight. Be inspired anew in your journey to better health!
What a week for conglomerated low-carb blogging with this and this post wrapping up some of the latest news and headlines in the world of low-carb living. Well, I'm still in busy mode and have so much to share with you, I barely know where to begin. So let's just have ourselves a good old-fashioned low-carb roundup! YEE HAW!
INSPIRED BY DIABETES WANTS YOUR CREATIVE SUBMISSIONS
There's a really neat contest sponsored by the diabetes awareness web site located at InspiredbyDiabetes.com. What they are looking for are submissions by people who have been touched by diabetes that shares their story through some form of artistic talent, including essays, poems, photographs, drawings, and musical composition. It's called the Creative Expression Competition and they are awarding a Grand Prize of a $5,000 contribution to the diabetes-related charity "Life of a Child" and a trip to the Inspired by Diabetes art exhibition. The deadline for entering is January 31, 2008, but don't delay in sharing YOUR diabetes story in this most unique way! You could even share how livin' la vida low-carb is keeping your disease in check--that'll wake 'em up, don't ya think? :D Winners will be announced in the Spring 2008.
DANA CARPENDER DISCUSSES EXERCISE WHILE ON A LOW-CARB DIET
If you exercise, then you need to eat your carbs right? Well, not so fast says low-carb expert Dana Carpender in her latest nationally syndicated column entitled "Keeping up your stamina while lowering your carbs". The bottom line is unless you are training for athletic competition (like this Olympic athlete who recently e-mailed me), then you DON'T need to "carb up" prior to exercise. Read what Dana has to say about people who are wanting to get in a little physical activity while on their low-carb lifestyle.
IS WONDER BREAD GOING OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE OF LOW-CARB DIETS?
THE MIGRAINEUR RAILS AGAINST THE ADA'S POOR ADVICE FOR DIABETICS
I think I've found a new favorite blog for you to check out: The Migraineur. I only recently discovered this AMAZING blog because of an awesome post chastising the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for being "no friend of the diabetic." WHOA! Why have I never heard of this blogger before?! WOW!!! I think the following quote from the blog post says it all:
"If you wanted to deliberately devise a diet that would cause a diabetic to die a slow, painful death, you couldn’t do better than the diet currently recommended by the ADA. The organization’s insistence on a high-carbohydrate diet, in the face of mounting evidence that diabetes is better managed by limiting carbohydrate consumption, would be laughable if it was not endangering the health and the very lives of the people it claims to advocate for."
IS THE FDA FORCING CHOCOLATE MAKERS TO USE VEGETABLE OIL, NOT COCOA BUTTER?
In one of the most bizarre food stories I've seen in a while, it appears the geniuses at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have put out a call to the major chocolate companies letting them know they need to replace the cocoa butter in their chocolate with vegetable oil. Have you heard about this? It's in response to some industry groups who are afraid of the saturated fat content in cocoa butter causing health problems as well as making it cheaper for the consumer. But THANK GOD at least ONE company has told the FDA where they can shove it: Mars, makers of Snickers and M&M's. This isn't about making better products, it's about reducing quality just to make things cheaper. That doesn't make it better and they had better not mess with my favorite sugar-free, low-carb chocolate bar made with cocoa butter!
900-POUND MAN NEEDS FORKLIFT, FIREFIGHTERS TO BE RESCUED FROM HOME
Have you seen the opening scene of the Adam Sandler movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry? There's a burning building and a frantic woman cries for someone to help save her baby who's still trapped in the apartment. When they reach the kid, it turns out this "baby" is a morbidly obese 700-pound man who is bedridden. The scene is pretty hilarious with the firefighters, played by Sandler and Kevin James, getting crushed under the weight of the man while trying to save him.
That scene flashed across my mind as I read this story about a group of firefighters in Lansing, Michigan who had to chop a hole in the side of a 900-pound man's house to rescue him after a nurse said he needed medical help as soon as possible. They even had to implore the use of a forklift to get the 33-year old man out. It turns out he has a rare condition called Prader-Willi Syndrome like the infamous obese 8-year old named Connor McCreadie does.
This story reminded me of the 500-pound truck driver who also had difficulty getting rescued by emergency workers because of his weight in July. It's so sad to hear the helplessness of people like this and it makes you wonder if these traumatic experiences make ANYTHING click inside their mind to finally get their weight and health under control. You have to wonder.
BARILLA PASTA COMPANY NO FRIEND OF THE LOW-CARB LIFESTYLE
Some people in the low-carb community have hailed the Barilla brand of whole wheat pasta as an excellent alternative to regular pasta for people on a low-carb diet. But have you seen this diatribe on the dangers of low-carb dieting posted right there on their web site? It's obvious to anyone with half a brain that their "concerns" are nothing more than the same old tired excuses that have been proven to be myths time and time again. For that reason alone, I would say AVOID Barilla and just stick with the good stuff--DREAMFIELDS!
Well, that's about it for now, but I still have lots more to share with you as I continue catching up to so much stuff to blog about this week. THANK YOU for your devoted readership of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and I look forward to your feedback on these stories. Come talk about them at my forum, too!
After a living nightmare, Martin Rike was finally rescued after 12 hours
This Washington Post column was difficult for me to read because it involves a 39-year old Minnesota man who weighs 500 pounds and the great lengths it took for medical personnel to help him when he thought he was having a heart attack earlier this week while tubing on the river.
In case you missed this story, here's what happened:
Martin Rike, a 500-pound truck driver, was inner tubing for the first time ever on the St. Croix River with some friends on Monday when he started having chest pains. His buddies called for paramedics who were dispatched to the scene and stabilized him around 8pm.
The problem was the medical crew couldn't hoist this morbidly obese man into the helicopter to get him to the nearest hospital. In other words, he was too fat for the equipment and much too heavy.
Upwards of 50 rescue team members assisted the medical crew with "creative" means for getting Rike to a place where he could be transported for medical attention. They used boats and canoes to float him down the river, but the water was too shallow and they couldn't move him.
They then put Rike inside of an aluminum boat to try to carry him to safety. But, again, his body weight was too much for the desperate rescuers to handle. Someone came up with the idea to tie three canoe together and place boards on top of them to use as a raft. Even this got stuck often, but worked well enough to reach an ambulance that was waiting for them downstream.
In all, it took 12 hours for Rike to reach the ambulance--at 8:00am the next morning!
Holy cow, can you believe this story?! It's a good thing he wasn't in real danger or this man may have died with rescuers at the cruel and helpless mercy of gravity. What a tragedy this story would have been had that happened.
Thank God Rike is doing okay now and only suffered from a few cold chills being in the water all night, a bit hungry, and very sleepy. He did have a bruised leg from all the moving around they did with his body. But the medical crew on the scene did not want him to move any more than he had to since they were treating him for a heart attack.
That's where Rike seems to be at the moment and it nearly killed him. As if this harrowing experience wasn't awful enough already, check out what his mother had to say about her son's current state of health.
Rike and his mother are both in deep denial about his weight and there are millions more just like them. If we are gonna break this cycle of obesity, then we need more tough love truth to be shared by doctors and even family members of people carrying around 100+ extra pounds. Confronting the obese is not judging them, but rather helping them before it is too late.
As a former 400-pounder, it gives me no great pleasure in saying these things. But the longer I have been involved in the diet and health arena, the more convinced I have become that we need substantive action to start NOW even if a few feelings get hurt along the way. In the end, they'll thank you for helping them get their life back.
Perhaps Rike might join his fellow Minnesota native Darrell Nelson and the "lawnmower diet" he started last year to shed the pounds. It certainly couldn't hurt as a great starting point!
If you are reading this right now and are overweight or obese, then I want you to put yourself in the same position that Martin Rike was in this week. Is that how you want to live your life? I applaud him for try to get out in public and spending time with his friends. But he put himself in harm's way. Would you handle the stress of not being able to get to the hospital because you weighed too much? I couldn't!
Why not let this story be the impetus and motivation for FINALLY getting serious about your weight problem? It's not going away anytime soon without some effort on your part. But it can be managed and overcome in a variety of ways. Might I suggest livin' la vida low-carb? :)
Find the plan that is right for you, follow that plan until you reach your goal, and then KEEP doing that plan for the rest of your life. That's your equation for success that will ease your worries of ever having to deal with a predicament like Martin experienced EVER in your life. YOU CAN DO IT!
Please feel free to e-mail me anytime if you need encouragement in your weight loss efforts at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
David E. Smith lived a miserable existence at 630 pounds, but...
The three primary objectives of my blog are rather simple: to educate, encourage, and inspire those who are looking for a life-changing experience when it comes to their weight and health. So many of you have written to me over the past few years thankful that I have shared my story of triple-digit low-carb weight loss success and I'm truly humbled by the awesome responsibility that have been given to me.
But today I have what I contend is the most inspiring weight loss story I've ever seen in my life! Except for the unbelievable weight loss journey being undertaken right now by Manuel Uribe, formerly "The World's Heaviest Man" when he weighed in a 1235 pounds in January 2006 and who has shed well over 400 pounds on the low-carb Zone diet, the amount of weight loss produced by an Arizonian named David E. Smith is unprecedented.
Have you heard about this guy yet? He is like Jimmy Moore--TIMES TWO!
It may be difficult to fathom what 630 pounds looks like, but here it is:
Seeing David walking around with no shirt on when he was well over 600 pounds brings back a lot of painful memories for me. Although I was "only" 410 pounds at my highest weight, the body image he had was similar to mine along with the wack-wack-waddle-waddle sauntering about trying to catch your next breath. Seeing those images of himself on video are probably what prompted David to finally get serious about his weight and health for good.
What David has gone through since he finally got serious about losing all of that weight over the past few years runs so parallel to my own experiences following a massive weight loss. It's kinda eerie hearing him talk about his struggles because they almost exactly mirror some of the same thoughts, emotions, and issues that I have or am going through as well. I would be willing to bet these are common themes amongst all of us who have lost more than 100 pounds.
According to his Bodybuilding.com page, this 6'2" tall man has been overweight for his entire life and was "written off by everyone, even myself."
"All of a sudden I woke up it seemed from my despair and I realized feeling sorry about my life wasn't going to solve my problems," David recalled. "I decided to change my existence."
David had a lot of reasons for his obesity, not the least of which was being molested by a friend he trusted when he was only six years old. Then the constant teasing and ridicule from being a loner caused David to sink deeper into his pit of despair that led him to eat just to cover up the pain. This is something that happens under such a cloud of secrecy as People magazine's January cover girl Mary Smith (no relation to David) has shared about her weight issues.
So David sought assistance for his dismal situation and reached out to a local television program called "Good Morning Arizona" to help him do just that. They implored the services of a personal trainer and weight loss coach named Chris Powell who was eager to help David take on the biggest challenge of his life! And the GREAT NEWS is David overcame his demons and HE DID IT!!!
From blubbery to absolutely buff, David has changed his life forever!
Check out this video following David's amazing weight loss:
And then this updated video following some skin removal surgeries:
Is it just me or are these news people who interview those of us who have lost large amounts of weight just plain dopey?! That reporter in the second video who asked if David confronts obese kids on the street now that he's lost his weight could not possibly be serious! Yeah, kid, you're fat, I was, now I'm not, you should lose weight, too. See how well that works for ya!
Ever since I lost my weight, I have had a strong desire to help people who want to lose weight. But you can't compel people who aren't ready. Talking to kids or even adults for that matter and telling them they are fat does nothing for them. However, when they are ready, these kids and adults will know who they can come to for help because they're watching you. David will be thrilled to give it to them, too, as do I.
I'm happy that David used a personal trainer during his weight loss and I'm getting ready to do that myself since I'd like to make my body a little more muscular than it is now. My legs are very strong, but my arms and upper torso need to be "pumped up" like that picture of David at the top of this post. He's done a fantastic job!
Interestingly, Chris only had David exercise three days a week to "prove weight loss could be done without a lot of it." How about that? So, his diet became an important aspect of this journey. What exactly was the diet?
It's something developed by Chris Powell called the STAX Nutrition System. This program is neat because it stores all of your food for the day in a convenient little carrying case with stackable containers of all the proteins, carbs, veggies, and fat you need to consume with a handy little timer that let's you know when it's time to eat. COOL!
See if any of these acceptable STAX foods look familiar:
protein powder, salads, eggs, cheese, almonds, walnuts, blueberries, spinach, butter, polish sausage, olive oil, cream, and even Ezekiel low-carb bread
Hey, that looks like livin' la vida low-carb to me! A closer examination of the meal plan reveals it is a moderate-fat, high-protein, lower-carb plan designed to remove the junk out of your diet. It's portion-controlled, but you eat a lot of meals throughout the day. If it worked for David as well as it did, then obviously it can work for many others, too! Find that plan that will work for YOU!
Losing 400 pounds has a rather unique side effect to it
But, just as I have blogged about quite extensively following my nearly 200-pound weight loss, David has some rather icky looking "loose skin" that makes him feel uncomfortable about going shirtless in public. He even said that he can't feel skinny until all of the skin is removed.
Boy, I couldn't agree more! It's been three years since my initial weight loss on the Atkins diet and I am stuck looking at the drooping and disgusting blob of skin that hangs from my tummy and inner thighs every single day. It CAN be discouraging, not matter how many compliments you receive from people about how good you look. I love to swim, but I can't go shirtless without feeling fat. That's somewhat disappointing.
For the most part, though, I've been able to deal with it because my financial situation does not permit me to have the skin removal surgery like David had. Granted, his problem was MUCH worse than mine as you can see in that picture of him, but I'd like to get that tummy tuck and thigh tuck done myself someday to complete the new me. It would probably make me more excited about resistance training so I can see the results I am producing underneath all that skin. Someday...
Today, David radiates with confidence and is humbled by all the attention he has garnered following his weight loss. He's obviously a shy man who is just now coming out of his shell to take on life in a way he never thought possible. This former morbidly obese 600-pounder is now working at the gym that helped him get his life back and he will now begin helping people who were just like him take their life back, too.
Paying it forward, sharing not just his knowledge but also his invaluable life's experience to give others hope for a better tomorrow. What an incredible triumph of the human spirit that deserves all the recognition and accolades that come the way of David E. Smith. You are my hero, buddy, and I wish you all the best in your long-term weight management and newly radically-transformed life!
Check out David Smith's MySpace page and be looking for his as-yet-untitled book about his weight loss experience. This man is set to inspire so many people that it is NEVER too late to get started on your weight loss plan. He's living proof that it CAN be done...you just gotta DO IT!
At Long Last, My Brother Kevin Is Finally Getting Serious About His Morbid Obesity
It now appears my brother Kevin is ready to deal with his weight
It's been a little while since I gave you an update on my brother Kevin and his ongoing battle to lose weight, get healthy, and quite literally save his life.
Ever since I first blogged about Kevin, interest in him has ranged from the curious to the concerned and has even brought out a few crazies (One memorable e-mailer wrote, "Why is your brother so fat if you've figured out the cure to obesity is low-carb? It must not work too well if your own brother can't even get his weight under control.").
So I've tried to give periodic updates on his weight and health for those of you who are praying for him. I've even used his story as an example to make a point in blog posts about livin' la vida low-carb pouring out my heart and expressing the pain that comes from my brother who just doesn't seem to get it yet.
You can read some of my previous posts to see exactly what I was feeling at the time about this deep, dark pit of hopeless despair Kevin had put himself in by clicking here, here, here, here, here and here.
My emotions about this issue with my brother have run the gamut--sadness, frustration, anger, bitterness, disappointment, fear, disgust, concern--sometimes many of these all at once! Never knowing if today's the day your only full-blooded brother is going to die is no way to live.
After suffering three straight heart attacks in the span of one week in 1999 that nearly killed him, Kevin has been living on heart medications with a mere 15 percent of his heart's capacity left. He's been in and out of the hospital with chest pains and middle-of-the-night scares so much in the past few years while his weight has not come down that I thought he had given up all hope for weight loss forever.
Although his doctors have told him to lose weight or die, nothing seemed to get through to Kevin. That is, until something that happened in April this year.
The filmmaker was so moved by my heartfelt cry for help on behalf of Kevin that he said he would like to travel to Florida to include him in the documentary, too. So I told the director I'd have to ask Kevin if he'd be interested first. After all, it's a touchy subject talking about being fat with a morbidly obese man--AND ON CAMERA!
But Kevin is not shy in the least (in fact, I'm the shy one between us if that tells you how outgoing my brother is!), so it wasn't surprising when I approached him with this that he was all-too-eager to do it. GREAT! We are planning on driving down to Florida in July for a taped conversation about Kevin's weight. This will hopefully be enlightening and inspiring...to me, Kevin, and anyone struggling with how to help an obese friend or relative. More about that later!
While I was talking to Kevin about the film, I could hear in his voice he had something to tell me. "Guess what, little bro?" he said to me in his own distinctive vernacular. "I'm losing weight now."
WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!
After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I just had to confirm what I heard Kevin say. Yep, it was true! He said he was tired of always feeling bad and going to the hospital that he started eating better (yep, that means less carbs--WOO HOO!) and getting as much exercise as his weak heart can handle. All I could say was WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Praise God for answering prayers!
I was curious what made him begin this new journey and he said it happened when our Memaw died a couple of months ago. She was the last grandparent we had and her death was partially brought on by heart disease from eating poorly (although she lived to be 77 years old).
This shook Kevin to the core and woke him up!
Just a few months earlier when I asked Kevin why he doesn't get serious about shedding the pounds, he had told me "I don't know, I'm lazy I guess." Now he had found the impetus for getting serious about his morbid obesity.
HALLELUJAH!!!
He says his weight is under 400 pounds right now, but he doesn't really know for sure since most bathroom scales only register up to about 350. But the good news is he cares, the weight is moving down at about 10 pounds a month, and he seems committed to this.
I'm not gonna assume Kevin's gonna stick with it because he never has before. Right now, though, his mind is on this goal to lose weight and I will support him the best way I know how. Love him, encourage him, and respect his courage to do what he has to do to climb this Mt. Everest in his life.
At the end of our conversation, Kevin shocked me one more time when he said "Jimmy, I'm proud of you for helping so many people with their weight loss stuff. You're doing a good job!" When he said that to me, I nearly choked up trying to hold back the tears. It was as if he said I GET IT, JIMMY, I FINALLY GET IT!
Finally, the message has sunk in. Now the real work has only just begun.
Valerie Liberty (left) shares her story on CBC's "The Gill Deacon Show"
I love hearing about inspirational weight loss success stories (yes, even those of us who ARE big losers ourselves like 'em, too!), but it's even more special when the people who lose the weight did it by livin' la vida low-carb. We low-carbers have to stick together and support one another because we've got enough people telling us how our "fad" diet is so "dangerous" to our health that it's gonna kill us--despite our HUGE successes! ARGH!
Bright, articulate, and drop-dead gorgeous--that's Valerie Liberty!
Such is the case with that blonde bombshell you see above named Valerie Liberty from Oakville, Ontario Canada. Believe it or not, she used to weigh at one point in her life 314 pounds. Yep, she sure did! Like so many of us who have finally found our answer in the low-carb lifestyle, Valerie ended up playing the grueling rollercoaster game with her weight going up and down and up and down throughout most of her life. That's one ride I was happy to get off of for good.
When she tipped the scales at well over 300 pounds, Valerie finally said enough was enough and decided to have what many believe is the be-all, end-all "cure" for morbid obesity (or at least that's what we're told about it)--GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY! Sure enough, the surgery worked and Valerie lost 100 pounds. But she was absolutely miserable and within five years had gotten back up over 300 pounds again.
Yikeseroo!
Through what had to be fortuitous circumstances that I know she is eternally grateful for now, Valerie was introduced to the Atkins low-carb diet in 2003 when she decided to make it her permanent lifestyle change. Not surprisingly, in just ten short months of livin' la vida low-carb, she lost an incredible 100 pounds off of her body and has been able to maintain (and even lose 30 or so pounds more!) in the 2 1/2 years since.
Why? Because she didn't just go on a diet. Valerie absorbed like a sponge all the information about the Atkins diet that she could and is now a walking, talking encylopedia of what livin' la vida low-carb is all about. Plus, she LIVES this way now rather than those former poor habits that made her morbidly obese. That's lifestyle change personified, baby!
Today, she proudly weighs a petite 167 pounds--NEARLY HALF THE WEIGHT SHE USED TO BE! WOO HOO! You go on with your bad self, Valerie. :D That's totally amazing and I am so proud of you for FINALLY finding what works for you and then doing it. You are a fine example for this way of eating and nobody can ever take this accomplishment away from you.
Because of her stunning triple-digit weight loss success, Valerie Liberty was invited to be a guest on the Tuesday, May 22, 2007 episode of the Canadian television program called "The Gill Deacon Show" to discuss what it was like to be morbidly obese and then lose 100 pounds. Most of the questions were quite typical of the mainstream interviews I have done with media types who want to know what made you finally want to lose weight and why you didn't do it sooner.
Will these people EVER understand that some of us aren't naturally wired that way and we have to be shown how to eat better? Sigh. Even still, Valerie was fantastic and got in some EXCELLENT points about livin' la vida low-carb that were RIGHT ON TARGET! I couldn't stop yelling "OH YEAH!" throughout the interview because it was THAT great!
Valerie was kind enough to post the 12-minute interview (split into two 6-minute segments) on YouTube featuring her and another lady who had lost 100 pounds on Weight Watchers. I have a comment to say about that woman in just a moment, but first watch these two video segments from the show. ENJOY!
PART 1:
PART 2:
Isn't Valerie Liberty simply amazing?! She claimed on the Active Low-Carber Forums web site on Wednesday that she was "pretty nervous," but it certainly didn't look like it to me. My favorite line by her in the interview (and there were many bright spots!) was when she made the following statement:
"There's no room in my life to go back to the way I used to eat."
RIGHT ON, girl! That's exactly how most of us low-carbers feel because we don't want to go back to the miserable way we felt on a high-carb, low-fat diet. As Valerie so accurately stated in the video, you're just not hungry on the low-carb lifestyle because your blood sugar is under control and the body will regulate itself better without all the sugars and starches.
It was a bit ironic how Valerie made the point that if Weight Watchers didn't work for you, then try something else. You'll notice the other lady who was on the show with Valerie said she chose that as her weight loss method. Wasn't it odd, though, that she had lost a lot of weight on that plan before, gained it back, then lost over 100 pounds AGAIN, but then GAINED IT BACK AGAIN prior to her appearance on the show?!
I know Valerie just wanted to reach her hand across that table and say to the woman, "Look, lady, it doesn't look like you can stick with Weight Watchers, so why not try the Atkins diet instead?" Perhaps after hearing how confident and informed Valerie was on "The Gill Deacon Show" this week, that other woman will reconsider her dietary choices and start livin' la vida low-carb, too. It would be the best thing that she could ever do for her weight and health.
CONGRATULATIONS, Valerie! You are a true superstar for the low-carb community and I'm personally happy to have you out there espousing the virtues of this incredible way of eating to the masses all across North America! You keep on shining the light of truth and never let go of what got you to where you are today. You are beautiful in so many ways and I know you will continue to make this a lifestyle change you can live with for a very long time (like forever!).
I'd love to hear from Valerie Liberty via e-mail if she finds this blog post about her. If you know Valerie, then let her know that Jimmy Moore from the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog would like to contact her about her low-carb weight loss success. My e-mail address is livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS!
5-26-07 UPDATE: I got this really sweet e-mail from one of my regular readers who said she was motivated and inspired by Valerie Liberty's story because she also started gaining back weight following gastric bypass. Here's her story:
I AM WRITING TO YOU TO THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ME AND TO THANK YOU FOR PRINTING VALERIE’S STORY. I ALSO HAD GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY 6 YEARS AGO AND I GAINED BACK 45 0F THE 80 LBS I LOST.
AFTER READING YOUR BLOG AND TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR ADVICE, I HAVE SO FAR LOST 20 OF THOSE POUNDS. I AM REALLY STRUGGLING, BUT I NO LONGER FEEL SO HOPELESS. THE LOSS IS SO SLOW PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM IN MY 60’S AND EACH YEAR IT JUST GETS HARDER. BUT THANKS TO YOU, I WILL KEEP TRYING. THANK YOU AGAIN!
WOW, thank you so much for sharing your success on the low-carb lifestyle. It is a day-by-day journey even after you've done it for a while. But don't give up, you are doing FANTASTIC! I'm proud of you and wish you continued excellence on your new lifestyle. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Lurking about in the great blogosphere are quite literally millions of people who are searching for answers to their problems. Family issues, work stresses, health ailments, and especially weight loss all are heavy on the hearts of so many people that they seek out assistance from others who have been through the struggles they are currently enduring.
Many of these people who are just like you and me are hurting and feel so all alone in their predicament. Sometimes I wonder exactly who is out there checking out the blog, reading about my weight loss, scouring through the nearly 1800 articles I've written over the past two years about low-carb living.
Nothing thrills me more than to hear from these courageous people who are brave enough to pour out their hearts to me in an e-mail. It takes a lot of guts to write to a complete stranger about your personal struggles with something like morbid obesity. But that's exactly what an e-mailer sent to me this week and I wanted to share his story with you that left me breathless.
Here's what he wrote:
Hello Jimmy,
I currently weigh 412 pounds and have been disabled due to a back injury for almost four years now. I've had two back surgeries to relieve the crippling pain of sciaticia. In fact, my last surgery was in February 2006. It has been over a year now and I've tried to exercise regularly.
But the pain of exercising keeps me down. Maybe I could do more, but I've come to a place in my life where I've just about given up on the idea of losing weight. I want to try one more time to start the low-carb lifestyle which I've tried before. But it only lasted a few weeks.
There's nothing more important to me right now than to start again with the low-carb diet and exercise as much as I can take. I want to finally be the man I picture myself being in my mind. I wonder why I haven't done more and I why haven't done this sooner. I honestly can't give an honest answer to these.
I just feel so defeated, useless, helpless, and hopeless. I had to quit work when the doctor finally discovered what was wrong with my back. Now I am drawing Social Security Disability, but most of the time I feel like my life is almost over. The sad thing is I'm only 37 years old.
Reading your incredible low-carb weight loss success story over and over again lets me know it is possible for me too which is why I'm willing to give it a try again. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
WOW! That sounds so heartbreaking, but I'm sure there are many thousands more that feel EXACTLY the same as this reader does. The sense that all hope is gone is undoubtedly how my 600-pound brother Kevin feels right now, too.
God bless this reader for writing and I'm so glad that he did. I'm sorry to hear about all of your struggles, but let me encourage you that YOU CAN DO IT! All hope is not lost and I'm glad to see my story encourages you.
Let me start by saying don't worry about the exercise as much as your diet at first. If you get your low-carb lifestyle down by reading the low-carb book of your choice, then the exercise will come later. You sound like you have the want to...now you need to JUST DO IT!
Take this lifestyle change seriously and you can't help but be just as successful as I did just three years ago when I was in the same position as you are. Don't give up hope! Think about this former 410-pound man who went on to lose nearly 200 pounds thanks to the low-carb lifestyle. It IS possible, so it's time to MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Feel free to share your encouragement and advice for this reader in the comments section below. As always, the lines of communication are always open, so please don't hesitate to e-mail livinlowcarbman@charter.net anytime.
