Dr. David Schlundt pinpoints another obesity-related problem
We all know the health dangers associated with obesity, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and a whole host of other health calamities. But now researchers out of Vanderbilt University have stumbled upon another unexpected side effect of the overweight and obese population that is likely being overlooked by a lot of statisticians: automobile accident injuries and death.
Lead researcher Dr. David G. Schlundt, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the Nashville, TN-based Vanderbilt University, hypothesized that the use of seat belts among the obese was likely less than their non-obese counterparts because of a variety of concerns, not the least of which is the comfort of use. He wanted to test this theory against hard data regarding BMI rates to calculate the rate of seat belt use among the increasing degrees of obesity.
Using existing data from the Center For Disease Control's 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, Dr. Schlundt and his team of researchers implemented a multivariable logistic regression to determine the seat belt use among the following groups split up according to their BMI:
These statistics were compared with the non-overweight/non-obese (BMI below 24.9) and the numbers were adjusted for age, race, gender, education, and the individual state seat belt laws. According to what Dr. Schlundt found, here was the breakdown of seat belt use among the various categories of people according to their weight:
The researchers found that women especially were discouraged from seat belt use the higher their BMI was, but they noted an increase in seat belt use the older they got, the more education they received, and in states that have a secondary seat belt law in place legally requiring it. The conclusion of Dr. Schlundt and his team was that obesity now can lead to reckless behavior when the obese get behind the wheel of an automobile.
"Lack of seat belt can be added to the list of risk factors associated with obesity," the researchers contended. "Effective preventive interventions are needed to promote seatbelt use among overweight and obese persons."
When I was researching this study, I couldn't help but think about that scene in the Eddie Murphy movie called Norbit where one of his characters named Rasputia, an ornery 300+ pound monster of a woman, was trying to get inside of her car and her stomach was so big she was pushing up against the car horn. This wouldn't be so funny if it didn't have at least an ounce of truth to it:
Yes, that makes for a good laugh scene in Hollywood, but for some people this is no laughing matter. I can remember vividly weighing over 400 pounds with the seat as far back as it could go and my stomach would STILL touch the steering wheel. I always joked with my wife Christine that I could drive with no hands and it was quite embarrassing. And let's not even talk about how I got in and out of the car (bad memories, bad memories!).
When I was morbidly obese at 400+ pounds (my BMI was around 52 at my highest weight), I absolutely HATED with a passion having to wear a seat belt. It really got to the point that I refused to wear one because it rubbed up against me in ways I couldn't tolerate and the stupid thing never seemed to fit right no matter what I did. Well duh, it's not made for a gargantuan man with a 62-inch waist wearing 5XL shirts and with a stomach looking like I was carrying quintuplets!
Then, an event happened in August 2003 that was likely the thing that set the wheels in motion for me to start livin' la vida low-carb--although that was the furthest thing from my mind at the time. This really shook me into reality about my increasing weight problem in the Fall 2003 and in hindsight I'm thankful it happened.
My wife's grandfather had died suddenly and we traveled to Virginia to be with the family for the burial. It was about an hour until the funeral when Christine remembered she left a picture she drew to place inside the casket with her grandpa at her parent's house about a mile away from her grandmother's home. The limousine was scheduled to pick us up within a few minutes, so I told Christine I'd hop in the car and go get the picture for her.
So I drove to my in-law's house, grabbed the picture, and started heading back when suddenly it happened--SCCCCCRRREEEEEECH...CRASH!!! A man driving an SUV with his wife and kids ran a stop sign and I swerved off the road to avoid hitting them. My Ford Escort then made a beeline for a tree hitting it head-on at about 35 mph. I'll never forget three memories from that day when the car came to a stop.
1. I couldn't breathe at all and was in severe pain across my chest. 2. The horn was stuck and blared loudly throughout the neighborhood. 3. I knew I would miss saying goodbye to Christine's grandpa.
As the white dust from the air bag filled the car, I immediately opened the door so I could try to get some air. I recall taking the seat belt loose (thankfully, I was wearing one that day!), putting my feet outside the door, and standing up dizzily looking for help. The man who ran the stop sign called for an ambulance and he asked me if I wanted to borrow his cell phone to call someone. I was so disoriented from the crash that I couldn't remember grandma's phone number. I leaned up against my car and finally the number came to me. I reached Christine's dad.
A neighbor who heard all the commotion came over to turn off my very annoying horn which was making my headache ten thousand times worse and my father-in-law was there in mere moments. He's a police officer, so he is familiar with coming on scenes like this quite often in his line of duty. I can remember him asking me if I needed him to stay with me, but I knew going to his father-in-law's funeral was important to him. I wasn't bleeding anywhere, but a couple of my fingers were twisted and my entire chest and stomach was one big contusion. When the ambulance arrived to pick me up, I rode to the hospital alone and told him to get to the funeral. I'm glad he did.
Within a couple of hours, I was in and out of the emergency room with some minor injuries considering the accident. But even with the seat belt on, I sustained a lasting impression on the front of my body that took several months to heal. Looking down at my big blob of blubber with my man boobs and oversized keg of a stomach every morning that literally turned every shade of black, blue, purple and green was enough to make me wanna get rid of that ugly sight forever. It would only be a matter of months before I decided to go on the Atkins diet that would change my life forever.
With around 3 million injuries and a total of 42,000 deaths that happen annually as a result of car crashes in the U.S., this new research shines a bright light on an issue that should capture the attention of anyone who is obese--currently estimated at close to 60 million Americans. Seat belts have been shown to reduce the rate of injury and/or death by as much as 50 percent, so this is a rather alarming trend that should be a major motivating factor for anyone carrying around extra pounds around their waistline to do something about it. If you can't wear the seat belt in your car, then something bad is wrong that needs addressing! And it's not your seat belt!
Many car companies make seat belt extenders that are very low-cost for their customers to use, so take advantage of that while you can. By all mean, don't let your pride get in the way of your personal safety in your automobible. More than anything, though, you really need to find a weight loss plan that will work for you and then DO IT! Whether it is low-fat, low-carb, vegan, or whatever, just choose one and GO FOR IT! Pick a plan, follow it precisely, and never give up on it. That's what will melt the pounds away and get you on the right path for your weight and health.
Even Dr. Schlundt admits there is no direct correlation found between having a higher body weight and seat belt use, but from a practical standpoint as a former 400-pounder who has been there--it's undeniable! And even WITH a seat belt, you can still get injured pretty badly just like I did. I took gobs of pain pills (and I NEVER like taking medicine of ANY kind) and couldn't get up out of a chair by myself for about two months...and that was WHILE WEARING A SEAT BELT! Losing weight wasn't just an option for me after this accident, but rather a real necessity. I wonder if I would have been as gung ho about livin' la vida low-carb had it not been for this accident. Who knows? But I'm glad it happened--er, sorta. :)
Prospective Bride Biding Her Time Over Lover's Obesity
Love is a beautiful thing. When two people meet and create that indestructible connection with one another, it's something to be treasured by both the man and woman for the rest of their lives in holy matrimony. It's the best thing that ever happened to me.
But what if there is a concern by one of the two lovebirds for the other spouse? Not about that other person's commitment to the relationship, but with their physical ability to be in it for the long haul. I'm referring to the subject of obesity and how that can impact the wedding plans despite the love.
This is precisely the predicament that one of my readers finds herself in right now with her lover who is obese and she needs help trying to help him lose weight and get healthy for the sake of their future together. It's a common issue that I'm sure many of you will be able to relate with whether you are thinking about marriage or have been together for many years.
Here's what she wrote to me in that e-mail:
Dear Jimmy,
I have been a devoted reader of your blog for some time, and I applaud you not only on your weight loss, but on the help you give to others!!
I have no idea if you'll actually read this or take the time to respond, but I am genuinely not sure where else to ask.
I'm at a healthy weight, 130 lb at 5'6". I had my own weight loss experience in adolescence, about 75 pounds, so I can appreciate the sensitivity and the emotions that go along with the experience of being obese and then losing the weight.
My significant other is obese at 5'9", about 275 pounds. He was that big when we met, and I love him regardless of his weight. He's an active guy, and despite some minor breathing/snoring problems, he seems relatively healthy.
We are at the point in our relationship where we're thinking about marriage. My only hangup is his health--I don't want to be a widow at an early age! He does see a doctor regularly, but says his doctor thinks he's healthy. (I'm not sure if he has a "unique" doctor, or if he's lying about what the doctor says--I can't imagine a responsible doctor wouldn't be encouraging him to lose weight.)
He's been obese his entire life, and I know he has a lot of insecurities left over from childhood due to his weight. It's a really touchy subject.
My question is this--How do I broach this with him? What can I say that won't hurt him? My concern is honestly with his health, not the way he looks. Now that we're thinking of spending our lives together, I want it to be a long, happy marriage--not one cut short by preventable health problems. (As a side note, I stopped smoking, a pack-a-day habit, for the same reasons, so I don't think it's totally out of line for me to bring this up.)
Any suggestions? I've read your blog post about this topic, and have "waited for him to come back to me," but he's not coming back for help.
If you're too busy, I understand. But if you can take the time and help, this Midwestern girl would surely appreciate it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
This e-mail really hit home with me because this is something that my wife Christine and I went through early on in our marriage, too. After I started livin' la vida low-carb and lost my weight in 2004, Christine revealed to me that her parents didn't want her to marry me because of my morbid obesity.
I was shocked to hear this, but I certainly can't blame them for their concern. It was serious as my reader notes and it needed to be taken care of. While it didn't prevent our wedding from taking place and many years of happiness together, we are a MUCH happier couple now that I have taken back control of my weight and health.
Here was my response back to this reader about her question:
THANKS so much for writing and I appreciate your sincere question about how to approach this man you love. When I got married to Christine in 1995, I weighed 350 pounds and Christine was only 95 pounds. She loved me and that's what drew us together. But she too was worried about my health like you are.
In fact, she bugged the crap out of me about it and I grew resentful that she was judging me and telling me what I NEEDED to do. I didn't want to hear it. It wasn't until I discovered on my own that I needed to eat a low-carb diet as my permanent lifestyle change that I made the changes needed to lose weight and get healthy.
How can you convince your man that low-carb or some other nutritional change is right for him? Eat that way yourself, show him how delicious and easy it is to eat this way, and encourage him to give it a try. Do it together and you may find great receptivity.
It will be difficult, especially when he wants sugary, carby foods, but you stick to feeding him low-carb. Eventually, he'll never notice the difference while his weight keeps dropping. BE THE EXAMPLE FOR HIM TO FOLLOW!
It's not a perfect solution, but you do have a lot more power than you think. YOU CAN DO THIS! I'm also a big believer in just being honest about how you feel so everything is out on the table. Yes, honey, I love you, but I'm seriously concerned about your weight for the sake of our future. Could you commit to doing something in that regard if I help you?
How could he say no if you give him the puppy eyes?
THANKS again for writing!
It is indeed a difficult subject, but one that needs to be out on the table. Tell that loved one exactly how you feel so at least he/she knows where you stand. Present it in a non-threatening manner and offer to give support and assistance in any way that you can. You might be surprised how well that is received.
Of course, encourage, encourage, encourage! That's something Christine was and still is to this day VERY good at. Positive reinforcement, especially when the going gets tough, is a necessary part of your strategy to help that loved one. Don't give up on them when they need you the most. Being there is most of the battle!
Incidentally, Christine's parents couldn't be happier or prouder of what I have been able to do to get my weight and health under control. They often tell me how much they care about me and that they are thankful I am Christine's husband. I wonder sometimes if they would feel the same way if I still weighed over 400 pounds.
That's neither here nor there because I DON'T weigh that much anymore. I'm fit, trim, and healthy as I've ever been because I'm livin' la vida low-carb. And I'm gonna KEEP ON living this way for the rest of my long and prosperous life. :D
If you are like my reader and have a loved one who struggles with their weight, then be encouraged today! Don't get down and depressed because THEY NEED YOU now more than ever. Take those feelings you have for that person and invest your time and energy into helping them overcome their problem with effective solutions.
I'm always here to help and would be honored to answer any questions they may have about the amazingly healthy low-carb lifestyle! E-mail me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I'm happy to answer EVERY e-mail I receive and would be thrilled to hear from someone who wants to change their life forever!
Dr. Magdalena Pasarica has found a new "fattening" virus
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 400 million people worldwide are currently overweight or obese. Included in that number is an astonishing 20 million children under the age of five who are getting fatter faster than any other generation before it.
But could there be more to this prescient issue than overeating?
Lead researcher Dr. Magdalena Pasarica, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Endocrinology Lab at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and her fellow researchers were observing lab tests from adult male and female liposuction patients many of which had a common respiratory and eye infection-causing virus called adenovirus-36, aka Ad-36 as well as E4Orfl.
But they noticed something odd about this Ad-36 virus.
When they pulled the adult stem cells from the tissue samples and infected them with Ad-36, after one week those cells had become "fat" cells while the uninfected ones had not. In fact, when the researchers put more of the Ad-36 virus in the cells, there was an even higher amount of fat developed. The same cause and effect happened regardless of sex.
Even worse, those "fat" cells actually began collecting fat more rapidly than normal which leads to an even greater growth--of the fat cells and then of stored fat on the body. It all leads back to Ad-36 as the culprit in this fat development in the body.
The very likelihood that the Ad-36 virus could be the source of over 100 million cases of obesity is why the researchers will undoubtedly be pushing for that anti-obesity vaccine to specifically treat this viral infection. Oh boy, here we go again!
Where does it end? Sure, I will admit that there is a real possibility that some people are fat because of something other than their diet and physical activity. But don't we all agree that the overwhelming majority of overweight and obese people have gotten that way from making poor dietary choices?
Putting the onus on an obscure virus that may or may not be the cause and making that the presumed reason for obesity grants the overweight and obese permission to do nothing pro-active about their weight and health. Instead, they'll plop down hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars to get these various "miracle" vaccines with a myriad of possible side effects. What's the point?
Click here to read more about this new research on a viral cause of obesity and why I believe studies like this make it more difficult to bring this growing epidemic under control.
'Excessive Carbs' The Culprit In Weight Gain, Finding Security Without The Blubber
As much as I hear from others who share with me how my low-carb weight loss success story has inspired them, I am continually amazed by some truly remarkable, breathtaking, and stunning transformations that have taken place in the lives of those who are a part of the reading audience of this blog. It is such an honor to know so many of you personally because you have been willing to share your life, your story, your success!
As inspiring as people say that I am to them, let me tell you what inspires me--hearing from people who finally understand why they are obese and how to overcome it naturally in a way that not only shed the pounds, but also makes them healthier than they ever thought possible! For many, that way is the low-carb lifestyle and I couldn't be prouder.
Weight loss is such a personal struggle for so many people and I know how painful it is to feel like you are stuck being fat forever. Believe me, I was there once myself. It's no fun at all and you feel trapped inside of a body you are unhappy with on so many levels. You just wanna be "normal" again and feel like you are a part of life rather than an outcast.
Low-carb living can instigate that change as you will see from this e-mail I received this week from a dear reader who wrote to me with her story. Originally from Bellingham, Washington back in the late 1940s/early 1950s, she now lives in the UK with her devoted husband.
Here's her awe-inspiring and uplifting story:
Hi Jimmy,
I'm a 59 year old woman and I've struggled all of my life with obesity. I can't remember EVER being thin; not even as a child. I had a 44" waistline at the age of eleven! I have lost weight in the past on low-fat diets (many times) but I have always packed it back on.
A few years ago I managed to get down to 152 lbs which was wonderful as I should weigh about 150 lbs, but then I quit smoking and I piled it right back on. I didn't really know anything about low-carb dieting then; if I had, things might have turned out differently.
Unfortunately I didn't, so my weight shot up to a record 260 lbs! I hadn't weighed myself for a long time so it was a shocking revelation when I finally stepped on the scales. I was horrified but didn't think I had any 'fight' left in me for another round of 'Beat the Fat Gene.'
I tried to settle for being a 'happy' fat person for a while but I couldn't. I felt ugly, out of control and very depressed. I started researching low-carb diets and nutrition in general. I decided to make a list of my favorite foods to see where I was going wrong; the result made it apparent that excessive carbs were behind my yo-yoing weight.
Having identified my 'enemy' at last, I was filled with new hope, and I embarked on a mission of discovery. I felt that somewhere underneath all of that fat was a person I'd never met; a person who didn't need to cloak herself in blubber in order to feel secure. I decided to set 'her' free.
I hadn't discovered your blog yet, and I felt that it would be easier to stay motivated if I had someone to 'talk to.' I began writing a book about my battle with obesity. I was bullied endlessly about my weight as a kid. I am 'letting go' of that pent up hurt and anger as I write; then that wound will be healed and I can move on.
Your blog has reinforced my strength and determination to succeed. You are a wonderful inspiration to me and to thousands like me. I've lost my first 15 lbs, and I love the low-carb lifestyle. I don't need my 'FAT COAT' anymore. Thank you so much for 'being there' and keep up the good work!
Isn't she just LOVELY?! WOW, what an absolutely, positively, rip-roaring ready to get up and make you wanna shout lifestyle change! WOO HOO! I'm so proud of her for making the right choice to get her life back in line. You can tell she has a heart of gold and is using her experiences to help others find what she has found.
I inquired with her about that book she is writing and she's promised to let me review it when she is finished. It sounds like she has quite a bit to say on the subject and I'll be very interested in reading it.
Here's how she came up with the idea for her book:
One morning early in July, I woke up with a 'mind-set' to purge myself of fat forever. I decided that I wanted to give myself a 60th birthday present by 'unwrapping' me, and I wanted to share my thoughts with others who might benefit along the way. I set May 3, 2008 as the date for reaching my 150 lb target. My kids are all coming over from the United States to help me celebrate, so it just seemed like a great motivator.
My book is a humorous and introspective exploration of my obesity problem. Part of it is a historical look at my childhood and the developmental years that were plagued by fat, but it is more to do with finding solutions.
When I started writing it, I wasn't sure which diet to follow or who to believe. The low-fat method is very slow and agonizingly boring, so I set out to unearth 'the cause' of my problem before deciding which way to go. In the meantime I went on a strict high-protein diet just to kick start weight loss.
I had intended to stay on it for two weeks but after 8 days I was feeling very tired and listless. I knew that it was decision time. When my research flagged up carbs in big red letters, I knew it was the way forward.
Prior to that I had steeled myself because I thought that I had a lot of suffering to do in order to lose weight. I'm relaxed and confident now. I'm finding that I really enjoy what I'm eating and it isn't like being on a diet at all.
And therein lies the beauty of livin' la vida low-carb. If we could make a theme song or bumper sticker with something like "livin' la vida low-carb isn't like being on a diet at all," then perhaps people would FINALLY realize this could be exactly what they've been looking for their entire lives. That's what it was for my reader and it could very well be for YOU, too!
There's still work left for this UK reader, but something tells me she's gonna do just fine. She has a game plan for staying on track to meet her May 2008 goal.
"I'll keep reading your blog and thinking positive thoughts," she said.
We'll check in again with this reader to track her progress and let you know when her book tentatively titled Two Rhinos will be coming out. Feel free to share any encouraging and positive thoughts for this reader in the comments section below. Her enthusiasm for livin' la vida low-carb is contagious, so let her know how much you appreciate her. :D
How about YOU? Do you have a special story about how the low-carb lifestyle has changed your life, too? If so, then feel free to share your experience with me anytime by writing to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I enjoy hearing from real people who have changed their lives for the better through the permanent and healthy low-carb way of life. I know you're out there, so let's get to inspiring others with YOUR story.
"How YOU doin'?" Is THIS the way we want the obese portrayed?
In Episode 78 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," I take a closer look at the movies that have come out of Hollywood in the past few years to see how they are characterizing fat people on the silver screen. It's mostly stereotypical, but there are signs of improvement. Listen in today to hear all about it:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 78 [16:00m]: Play in Popup | Download
My wife and I enjoy watching movies together and have seen our fair share of all kinds of films, including ones that feature overweight and obese people in them. In this podcast show today, I take a look at many of these fat flicks, including Eddie Murphy's Norbit, Ryan Reynolds' Just Friends, Gwyneth Paltrow's Shallow Hal, and Mo'Nique's Phat Girlz, just to name a few. These movies offer a mixed bag of good and bad which I highlighted in Episode 78.
Wanna getcha low-carb groove on? Get on with it when you want by:
Are you happy with the way Hollywood depicts the overweight and obese in movies? Or do characters like Eddie Murphy's Rasputia in Norbit merely set back all the progress that has been made to break down the stereotypes? Also, would you go to see a movie with an obese person as a positive featured character in a film?
Share your thoughts about this and tell us what you favorite "fat" movies of all time are. I'm sure I've missed a few, so let me hear from you.
THANK YOU for listening to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" and please come back again on Monday for yet another episode of the Internet's #1 podcast about the amazingly healthy low-carb lifestyle!
American Idol has become a microcosm of modern society
Let's face it: Our culture is obsessed with American Idol. Whether we realize it or not, this simple little talent show has quickly become one of the most talked about and commercially successful television shows of our lifetime. There's a little something for everyone in this show and perhaps it is the thrill of watching these no-name people become household names almost overnight. They get to live the American dream and that's awesome.
One thing I have observed about that show is how it embodies so much more about our culture than just seeing who has the best vocal talent in the country. There are many intricate levels of complexity weaved throughout the show that explain how and why this show is so appealing. Although Simon Cowell likes to often repeat that "this is a singing competition," the fact is it is not. American Idol has become a popularity contest based on both the looks and the talent of the singers.
That's what I addressed in this recent blog post about my fellow South Carolina resident Chris Sligh before he was booted off the show last week after making the Top 10. Although Sligh was ready to come home, I think his weight had something to do with his demise as a contestant.
My theory was intriguing enough to Michigan-based MLive.com reporter Doug Pullen that he interviewed me about the subject for a column that published today entitled "Idol chop: Which weighs the most on 'Idol,' voice or looks?" His interview with me was prior to Chris Sligh being voted off last week.
Basically, Pullen takes my blog post idea one step further and gives a hard look at the premise that American Idol is much more than just a singing competition. I was honored to be interviewed by him for nearly 30 minutes and I was brutally honest with my opinion regarding fat people living in America today and how they are portrayed.
Pullen quoted from my column and went on to discuss my weight loss.
Here is some of what he included in the column from me:
"I know I was easily passed over for jobs. I know a lot of people that basically associate with me now but never even talked to me when I was 410 pounds."
"It's amazing. I lost 100 pounds before people started saying, 'You know, you look like you've lost a couple of pounds."
"It's funny how weight creates this wall. I have a good personality, too. I always had one, even when I was fat. It's one of those things where people put up a wall...all you see is the fat. You don't see the person inside there who's dying to meet you and tell you all about themselves."
I encourage you to go read the entire column because Pullen did an outstanding job covering every angle of this very difficult subject. In fact, my original column was completely misunderstood by one of the readers named Michelle at another web site I write for called Diet Detective that she responded with a stern scorn of me that I just don't understand fat people.
HA! Now THAT'S funny! A former 400-pounder doesn't know what it's like to be fat, huh? Anyways, I read what she had to say for myself and attempted to be objective and understanding. Here's what Michelle wrote regarding my Chris Sligh piece:
Wow, I'm flabbergasted.
What is the oint of this article? To make those of us who are currently fat and coming to this site to do something about it feel self-consious and bad?
The only thing you can focus on is how fat other people are?
Judgemental people like you who feel the need to weigh in on other's weights (pun intendeD) make those of us trying to lose weight self-conscious and it demoralizes our efforts to lose the weight.
You are the jerk that stares at the fat person ordering a meal, as if they should just starve themselves skinny, without even knowing if that person is on a diet and making an effort.
You even call Carrie Underwood overweight!
I'm unsubscribing from this site.
Of course, I felt compelled to share my response to Michelle's accusations:
Hey Michelle,
THANKS for your comments about my column. The point of my article was precisely that the overweight and obese are discriminated because of their size.
As a former 400 pound man who has been through the pain of judgmental people making assumptions about me because of my weight, feeling self-conscious about my weight, and constantly trying and failing many times over to lose the weight for good this time, I KNOW how you feel because I have been there myself.
The difference is I found a way to overcome that struggle and have been able to maintain a nearly 200-pound weight loss for more than three years and counting. I'm sorry you feel I'm some kind of "jerk" and don't understand, but you couldn't be more wrong if you tried, Michelle. I do know what it's like to be morbidly obese and trying to lose weight.
I apologize if you were offended, but you obviously took offense where there was nothing to be offended about. You would certainly have a right to be upset with me had I not been through the angst of obesity in the past, but I have. Now I've overcome, but I still think and feel like a fat person.
So don't go accusing me or this web site of anything without understanding who and what you are responding to. I regret that you have chosen to unsubscribe because this is an excellent resource, but that's your foolish prerogative.
As for Carrie Underwood, I never called her overweight. If you'll reread my comments, you see where I said I thought she looked better when she was on American Idol than she does now after she lost weight.
Man, some people need to take a step back and breathe (and possibly take a valium or something!) before flying off the handle! Calm down and enjoy life to the fullest. That's what I'm doing now that I'm livin' la vida low-carb!
THANKS for your comments!
So, anyway, that's just a little bit of the fallout from my blog post about American Idol and weight. Incidentally, Chris Sligh flew back home to Greenville, SC last night (they opened the 10:00pm news on the local FOX affiliate with him and his beautiful wife coming down the escalator to greet fans from the "Fro Patrol") and he reported he lost 30 pounds while on the show.
Also, Sligh noted that he'd like to lose enough weight for the May finale show so that people won't recognize him as Chris Sligh. He said he just wanted to rest for a couple of weeks and get ready for the summer American Idol tour as well as get back together with his band for some concerts. Best wishes to you, man! On both the weight and the career!
Hey Chris, I've got a way you can shed the pounds! Can you say livin' la vida low-carb? :)
Just when you thought the pharmaceutical industry in the United States couldn't get any crazier or overzealous than it already has developing all these so-called miracle drugs to cure every ailment known to mankind, along comes a story like this one that reminds me why these gold-digging scheisters need to be locked up in prison with the key thrown away for their dishonesty and deception on the public.
The culprit this time around is the infamous Pfizer Inc., whose #1 bestselling cholesterol-lowering medication Lipitor brought down a cool $13 BILLION in revenue in 2006 (plus a few lawsuits and then a class action lawsuit about its safety which is still going through the courts), and now they're aiming for canines with a new drug called Slentrol, aka dirlotapide.
Slentrol is the first prescription diet pill designed for your pudgy pet pooch. As if all the plethora of weight loss pills for humans wasn't bad enough (with some of them being fined for false advertising just this week!), Pfizer believes they have discovered the next breakthrough wonder drug that will cure obesity in the nearly 20 million dogs who are currently either overweight or obese.
CHA-CHING CHA-CHING! Pfizer sees dollar signs in this!
This doggie obesity drug is basically a fat blocker that prevents the absorption of fat in their bodies while working as an appetite suppressant to keep your dog from overeating. The Food And Drug Administration happily approves of Slentrol for use on family dogs nationwide.
But what about the side effects on your four-legged friend? Well, they say this drug ONLY causes loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, an overwhelming feeling of being tired, and a loss of appetite. Is that all?
So you had better be ready with lots of pooper scoopers, vomit scoopers, towels, mops, and whatever else you can find to clean up these wonderful "side effects" while the dog you used to know as a playful, fun-loving companion now becomes a virtual useless invalid. Is that what you want for your dog, fat or otherwise?
As if they needed to say this, the FDA warned dog owners against taking this drug for themselves or trying to give it to the family cat because the side effects are much worse in humans and other animals. Oh my, how much worse could it be than having it come out of both ends in between lying around in bed without eating anything all day?
Don't ask, but here's what YOU have to look forward to if you did happen to take Slentrol--abdominal distention, abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Isn't that just lovely?! I sure bet you'll lose a lot of weight that way, though! Jeepers creepers!
Can't I just feed my dog (or myself for that matter) a whole bottle of castor oil instead? It'll have the same physical effect as Slentrol and will cost MUCH less money than the premium price Pfizer will be charging for their new dogbesity drug. Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?
The story notes that dogs need a high-fat diet to be the strong and healthy animals they were created to be (not unlike humans!). Fat is essential for their bodies and yet Pfizer wants to prevent fat consumed by dogs from being absorbed? Won't this actually stunt their growth, slow their development, prevent them from procreating, and cause their coat to fall out in the long run, hmmm? Are we REALLY going to make dogs go through all this just to shed a few pounds? And for what purpose?
Interestingly, just as the diet drugs created for humans need to be combined with a low-calorie diet and exercise program (it's the dirty little secret these drug companies don't ever tell you about!), so too must Slentrol be accompanied by "a complete and balanced diet and exercise" program according to the drug's label.
Pfizer is quick to point out that Slentrol is "not a cure for obesity" and that the nasty side effects go away a few days after you stop giving it to your dog. But just like humans, dogs that are overweight or obese need to make lifestyle changes to help them manage their weight. That's why low-carb, high-fat diets have been recommended to help Buster lose weight and get healthy.
Here's some healthy food for thought to chew on: Could it be that dogs are getting fatter and fatter because their owners are no longer taking them on walks around the neighborhood or playing with them in the yard or at the local park?
Dogs are meant to be active and yet what do we do with them? Lock 'em up in a kennel all day everyday for weeks, months, sometimes years without ever letting them run like the wind as God intended for them. Is it any wonder why they are getting obese at record levels?
Nice try on this one, Pfizer, but I'm not buying into your hype with this drug either. With all the troubles you have been having with the side effects from Lipitor, frankly I'm surprised you would even put something like Slentrol out there with all these side effects. Are you TRYING to get sued again? I don't think people are going to take too kindly to their dog getting sick from your drug.
Slentrol sounds like a good idea until you realize it's just another blatant attempt by the pharmaceutical industry to correct a problem with a pill rather than encouraging a healthier diet and physical activity plan. When are we going to stop wishing and hoping for that magic bullet to come along for obesity and just do what it takes to get there naturally?
Doggoneit, people just need to stop lining the pockets of companies like Pfizer with their hard-earned money and start livin' la vida low-carb instead! Living a healthy low-carb lifestyle, for you and your dog, is a cheaper and more enjoyable way to manage weight, ward off disease, and be around for many years to come. We don't need any new drugs to help us do that!
1-7-07 UPDATE:Annette at the "Fish and Cans" blog has some humorously interesting commentary on this dogbesity drug as well. And the "Almanak" blog has more info on the cost of this new doggie drug as well as a rather blunt reaction to it, too.
You know how much I love to step on people's toes on the subject of weight loss and obesity, don't you? LOL! I don't do it intentionally out of any vitriol hatred for people who want to lose weight or stop being obese. Actually, just the opposite is true as those closest to me will tell you.
My primary motive and mission in writing about this very sensitive and difficult subject so often is to help others who were in the same situation that I was in when I weighed 410 pounds so they can have the opportunity to not just lose weight, but keep it off for the rest of their lives. Because of the miracle that took place in my life because of the low-carb lifestyle, this is the least I can do to give back to others so they can hear from someone who has been where they have been.
With that said, I need to address an issue that seems to come up from time to time in the context of discussions about obesity that are quite disheartening to me. It seems rather innocent enough, but I believe it is a concept that is without any merit for most people who are overweight or obese. What is it? It's the insane idea that obesity is an illness or disease.
If ever a flimsy excuse was invented to explain why people are so fat, then this is it! What's amazing is that this is something I even realized way back in the middle of my weight loss experience in 2004 when I wrote this column even as I was still working on shedding the pounds. It was that crystal clear to me at the time when I still hovered around 300 pounds and it still is today as I approach 200 pounds.
Why do we go around making up diseases for every problem that we have nowadays? Could it be that we don't really have a disease, we've just made some really bad choices for ourselves, hmmmm? Consciously choosing to do something that is detrimental to yourself in some way does not mean you are sick. Misguided, ignorant, or even bored, perhaps, but NOT stricken with an indomitable disease that cannot be overcome.
I was reminded of this subject after receiving an e-mail recently from one of my readers who is a diabetic and has lost about 40 pounds since recommiting to livin' la vida low-carb at the end of June. He shared with me how he started off at over 300 pounds, used to take all kinds of medications for his diabetes (a REAL disease!) despite the recommended low-fat diet changes, and his blood sugar was through the roof. But now he's down close to 260 thanks to livin' la vida low-carb and is completely off of his diabetes medications.
YEAH and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
In addition, he gets in regular exercise by riding his bicycle often and even finished his first 50-mile ride on a recent Saturday morning. He tries to get in about 15 miles daily, five days a week with longer rides on the weekend. It sounds like my reader is well on his way to learning the invaluable lessons that it takes to keep the weight off over the long-term. Kudos!
However, one thing about his e-mail concerned me greatly when he responded to the following quote I made in this recent blog post about New York City health officials proposing to ban trans fats in restaurants.
Here was the passage he quoted from my blog:
"It's amazing, but people are always saying to me now, 'That's easy for you to say, you don't have a weight problem.' That's right, I don't--ANYMORE! But it was just a little more than couple of years ago I was walking around this world as 400+ pound man looking for answers to my morbid obesity problem, too. I found the low-carb lifestyle and it changed my life forever."
The response my reader gave me is why I wrote this post today.
"Isn't having a weight problem the same as any kind of other disease? You may have it under control, but you still have it. I think that part of today's problems is that you start losing focus on what you are doing and all of a sudden the pounds start creeping back on. Just like my diabetes. I may not show any signs of it, but I still have it. Any slip ups in my diet or exercise and I will be right back where I started. I guess what I am saying is that even when I reach my weight goal I will still have a weight problem. I will for the rest of my life. I think that if I live in that kind of reality I will be much more successful with my new life. Thanks for doing such a great job and for helping me be successful."
While I am certainly thrilled with that kind of positive attitude about dealing with a serious weight problem, there are some flaws in that kind of thinking. Yes, you want to keep the right focus and make those big changes in your lifestyle to keep the weight from ever coming back again. But it is not necessary to take on the mindset that obesity is a disease like cancer, tuberculosis, and polio. It is not even close to being the same.
I suppose it could be argued that obesity is a mental disease, but again that gets people off the hook of putting in the necessary effort to lose weight. They may think, "Oh well, I guess I'm fat because I'm sick in the head, so I suppose I'll be this way forever!" UGH UGH UGH! Is it any wonder why obesity keeps getting worse as this line of thinking becomes the prevailing thought in America and around the world today?
And let's also not forget the phamaceutical companies who are licking their chops waiting in the wings to swoop down and save the day with weight loss miracle pills like this, this, and this. Oh, and don't forget about that obesity vaccine they are working on, too! Yikes!
People please stop falling for nonsense like this. Obesity is NOT a disease and it never has been. Sure, there are SOME people who have trouble losing weight because their body is metabolically resistant for one reason or another. But for MOST people who are walking around 50, 100 or 200+ pounds overweight, there's one common explanation for why they got that way: POOR EATING HABITS!
It's not a slow metabolism. It's not because you don't have time to eat healthy and exercise. It's not because of your kids, your grandkids, your Uncle Buck or your Aunt Gertrude. You don't have any excuse for why you got to be as big as you have except for one person: YOU!
What gets me is how people will whine about their weight getting worse and worse while stuffing their mouths with doughnuts, potato chips, and other junk comfort foods. It's a vicious cycle: you get fat, you get depressed, you eat to comfort your sadness, so you get fat some more, you get more depressed, you eat even more to cover the pain--IT NEVER ENDS! I was in that cycle once and it's no fun at all.
I am often criticized for my staunch philosophy regarding personal responsibility. That's fine that people don't want to hear the truth, but that won't stop me from telling it and I make no apologies for it. At the end of the day, nobody is in charge of your life except for YOU. If something is not working right in your life, such as an out-of-control weight problem, then YOU are the one who must change it. Nobody else is going to do it for you, although the government certainly tries.
This is a controversial topic, I understand, because people desperately want a reason for WHY they can't seem to lose weight on the same old diets they always go on. Something's gotta give, right? However, excusing obesity as a disease is like those in the "fat acceptance" movement who say they are content with where they are because they think that's where destiny would have them to be forever. WRONG!
I know better because I've been in that position before and have now come to the other side. Obesity is not the final destination for ANYONE who truly wants to lose weight and get healthy. I'm not saying it will be an easy road because it won't be. But nothing worth having ever is. The time has come to stop lying to yourself and start losing weight.
Do it today--NOT TOMORROW because you are not promised that day will ever come--but TODAY is the day you should commit yourself fully to an effective and healthy weight loss plan that will begin the process of transforming your life into the person God meant for you to be. The days of pointing fingers and making excuses about your weight are over. It's time to get serious about your weight problem and to take back full control of the situation before it is too late. YOU CAN DO THIS and I am here to help you in any way that I can as you travel down this journey towards improving your health for many years to come.
If you decide to start livin' la vida low-carb, then it very well could be the best decision you will ever make in your life. It certainly was for me and I will continue to reap the benefits of that choice I made on January 1, 2004 for the rest of my life. The same thing could happen for you, too. GO FOR IT!
10-11-06 UPDATE: Here's what one of my new British readers had to say about this blog post:
"I have just been reading your site about low carb. The part where you put your neck on the block and say being overweight is mostly our own faults, I couldn't agree with you more...I am fat because I eat the wrong food and don't exercise enough.
I believe in low-carb food as humans didn't evolve on eating many carbs, when we were apes in the trees we would eat vegetation and probably any meat we could catch. Then we evolved to hunter gatherers what did we eat...what we could find, meat and vegetation probabaly not many seeds and only roots in season, no processed stuff and most likely not any bean type plants as they are mostly poisonous unless cooked.
Also you risked getting badly stung by bees if you wanted sweet items, out of the fruit season, hence why we like sweet things body does not need to do much work to make it useable. But in the days of not much food and a lot of work to get it this was not a problem.
Humans are hunters--front-pointing binocular eyes tells you that. I don't think people had problems like obesity before modern times when we started being farmers and eating bread and sweet things, and not having to work so hard to find food. Too much TV and stuff on shelves has made it far too easy to eat the wrong kinds of food all the time."
Well-stated! Glad to see SOMEBODY agrees with me. :)
Did you enjoy my four-part interview this week with low-fat diet advocate Dr. Dean Ornish? There was obviously so much more I could have asked him during the interview, but that transcript you read was actually less than 40 minutes long when I recorded it. Neither one of us wanted to spend four or five hours on this interview that would have taken a whole month to transcribe and then post the transcript! Nevertheless, it was quite revealing and I hope people learned something new about Dr. Ornish that they never knew before.
Perhaps Dr. Ornish would be willing to do another one again sometime and allow me to delve a little deeper into some of his beliefs and why people who support the low-carb lifestyle think they are grossly erroneous. He certainly seemed interested in coming together with low-carb advocates to help educate others about what they can do to get fit and live a healthier lifestyle. This interview was a very good start in that direction.
Just in case you missed my interview, here are all four parts:
Before I get into my analysis about what Dr. Ornish had to say during the interview, I thought it would be beneficial to let you know that he was extremely respectful and kind to me throughout the process of setting the interview up all the way to the last words he spoke to me on the telephone. Like him or not for what he believes, Dr. Ornish certainly opened himself up to me to do this interview with him without any pretenses or requirements despite knowing my obvious objections about what he believes. By the way, the words you read in my interview are EXACTLY what he said to me.
Dr. Ornish with his wife Anne and their son Lucas
You may not know this, but Dr. Ornish also got married over the summer to his beautiful bride Anne. When I originally attempted to set up the interview with him back in May, he personally wrote me back about his pending wedding and honeymoon and assured me that he would be very interested in being interviewed by me. After returning from his travels during the summer, we got together just as he promised we would on Tuesday, September 25, 2006.
It was sometimes difficult to hear him during the interview since he was talking on his cell phone with people talking in the background and he was walking and driving during it. Then he had to put me on hold a few times, but apologized profusely for taking time away from the interview when he got back to the phone. Like I said, Dr. Ornish gave me all the professional respect and credence that he would have given a New York Times reporter and I appreciated that very much.
At the end of the interview, Dr. Ornish seemed very sincere in his desire to start working together more with low-carb advocates like me and others to share with people where we have common ground on diet and nutrition. While even he admits there are some pretty major differences of opinion about what a healthy diet is, there are areas where we do agree.
Here are 20 common areas that came out during the interview:
1. Weight loss isn't about low-fat or low-carb. 2. Sugar, white flour, and white rice are not good for you. 3. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables should be consumed. 4. Take fish oil supplements for adequate omega-3 fatty acids. 5. Most people are eating too many simple carbs in their diet. 6. Sugar and refined carbs are nutritionally deficient. 7. No weight loss plan works for everybody. 8. Diet junk food is not as good for you as whole foods. 9. Dietary recommendations should be based on science. 10. People need a spectrum of dietary choices to choose from. 11. Eating something unhealthy does not ruin your diet. 12. Refusing to call a weight loss program a "diet" to begin with. 13. We must deal with the root cause of most obesity: depression. 14. Sugar substitutes are an excellent alternative to sugar. 15. We need healthier food choices available at restaurants. 16. America is exporting poor dietary habits to other countries. 17. People must be educated about healthy living. 18. Change in diet and lifestyle can make a real difference. 19. A constant goal to help people lose weight and get healthy. 20. Never losing the passion or desire to spread the message.
Granted, there were a lot of things Dr. Ornish said about low-fat diets, HDL, cholesterol, legumes and soy products, fat, heart disease, the Women's Health Initiative study, and saturated fat, among others, that are worthy of debating, but I think those of us who support livin' la vida low-carb should at least attempt to promote all of the things in that list compiled above as areas where both low-fat and low-carb advocates DO agree. That's not an unreasonable request, is it?
The benefactor of doing this is obviously Mr. and Mrs. Overweight and Obese out there who are desperately looking to dig out of their hole of despair and make themselves thinner and healthier. That's a noble cause worth pursuing, right? If so, then why don't we start working together to push these things more often in a combined effort with low-fat supporters? I know, I know, they have said some nasty things about livin' la vida low-carb and we've gotten in our digs, too. But the time for arguing is over because this nation and world is in an obesity crisis!
This is a public challenge to anyone who believes in the principles of low-fat or low-carb: starting today, can we at least agree that those 20 areas of agreement that I found between Dr. Ornish and I are a consensus between us about what a healthy diet should look like? Not to sound too Rodney King-like ("can't we all just get along?"), but we can make a much bigger difference in the lives of those who are so jaded by the infighting among health advocates by converging on the commonalities rather than clashing about our differences. Does anyone disagree?
Dr. Ornish, if you were sincere in your desire to see this change truly come about (and I don't doubt that you were), then I ask you as arguably the most recognized name and face in the low-fat movement to push for this among your supporters and make it a reality henceforth. Likewise, low-carbers need to be open and willing to do the same for the sake of those tens of millions who need to lose weight and get healthy.
Are low-fat advocates and low-carbers up for the challenge?
10-9-06 UPDATE: Well, one low-fat advocate has reached out her hand to my olive branch between low-fat and low-carb. Her name is Fiona Haynes from the About Low-Fat Cooking web site who wrote a fantastic post about my interview with Dr. Ornish.
Here's what she said:
After years of trying to lose weight on a low-fat diet, and failing, Jimmy Moore lost 180 pounds on a low-carb diet. Not surprisingly, he is a tireless and passionate supporter of all things low carb, and pulls no punches with anyone, especially an anti-low-carb media. Recently, Mr. Moore interviewed Dean Ornish, M.D., who is equally passionate about eating low fat as a way to reverse heart disease. Did sparks fly? Find out in Jimmy Moore's fascinating four-part interview with Dean Ornish, published in his Livin' La Vida Low Carb blog. This interview is a must-read for anyone interested in healthy eating and weight loss, regardless of dietary allegiance.
THANK YOU, Fiona, for recognizing that we can and should try to find the common ground so we can help others acheive weight loss and improved health. In the long run, this strategy will work so much better than the constant bickering and backbiting.
It is natural curiosity among the human race to begin whispering rumors when things suddenly change. There has to be a reason why the change takes place and we instinctively try to get to the bottom of it. Or, at the very least, we theorize on what we think MAY have happened for the change to come.
Case in point: Jillian Michaels! Where'd she go as one of the two trainers along with Bob Harper on the hit NBC reality television show "The Biggest Loser?" Not that the new girl (what is her name again?) isn't doing a fabulous job, but us fans of the show wonder what happened to Jillian.
After some creative investigative work recently, I was able to track down the lovely and fabulously fit Jillian and she is doing something fantastic to potentially help literally millions of people. She created a phenomenal new online weight loss program devoted to sharing her nearly two decades worth of fitness experience to help people JUST LIKE YOU lose weight and get into shape.
In her role as trainer on "The Biggest Loser" show in both the United States and Australia, Jillian earned the title of "America's Toughest Trainer" and wears that badge of honor with great pride as she helped those contestants learn the disciplines of healthy eating and exercising. She makes no bones about her mission: whipping people into the best shape of their lives!
Along with that infamous toughness comes an inner personal desire to share with the overweight and obese people she counsels that she genuinely cares about them and their success at overcoming their weight struggles just as she did. I remember that scene on "The Biggest Loser" in Season One when Jillian showed the finalists a picture of herself when she was fat. She knows what the pain of living inside of a big body is like and wants others to know they can overcome it, too.
That was her motivation behind creating her new online weight loss program to pass on what she has learned about diet and nutrition to enable people to start making the right choices for themselves. Jillian gives you the tools to make weight loss and getting into the best physical shape of your life a reality.
Everyone remembers Kelly Minner from "The Biggest Loser," right? I even blogged this week about how she is taking what she learned from Jillian to help change the lives of those around her following her nearly 100-pound weight loss!
Here's what Kelly had to say about what Jillian did to help her:
"I'd tried every diet under the sun and had failed at every one. Then Jillian became my trainer. She quickly saw right through me — she could tell that I didn't believe I could do it. Her first order of business was to teach me that weight loss is a physical and mental game. She never accepted less than 100 percent, and she pushed me to do things I would never have done on my own.
By the end of my run on the The Biggest Loser, I had lost 79 pounds. After the show, I took everything I learned from Jillian and went on to lose a total of 92 pounds. She taught me to love myself and put myself first. I still chant my mantra 'let it go and believe' when things get tough or I hit a plateau. There is very little I am too afraid to try. Jillian is truly my life teacher."
You certainly can't argue with the end results, Kelly. Doesn't she look absolutely FABULOUS?! Jillian shows a real heart for people and stands ready to help anyone willing to be helped with this struggle.
You might be wondering to yourself, "What does the Jillian Michael weight loss program entail?" I'm glad you asked that question.
Using a triple-threat success strategy that she introduced briefly in her bestselling book "Winning At Losing"--SELF, SCIENCE, and SWEAT!
For SELF, she gives you personalized diet advice and inspired coaching, teams you up with weight loss buddies who are on the same path as you, provides message boards to keep you motivated, gives you access to an interactive weight tracker, and Jillian's personal 7 steps to behavior modification which will put your mind in the right place to be as successful as possible.
For SCIENCE, Jillian provides over 100 delicious recipes, specific meal plans and menus customized just for you, specific foods that will help you lose weight efficiently, and give you personalized information about your metabolic rate.
Finally, for SWEAT, the best part of Jillian comes out as she gives you the opportunity to experience "serious weight loss" through 120 exercises you can do at home, fun and exciting cardio workouts, a personal muscle manual, and a fitness diary to track your progress.
Best of all, Jillian will make herself available to answer any questions you may have about her weight loss program to give you that personal attention that you need when embarking on such a lifechanging journey as this.
Here's a special message from Jillian about this new chapter in her life:
"You rock! This is my latest project, and I'm so excited about it.
Here's the deal. I've turned my successful weight-loss plan into an easy-to-follow, customized online program.
Based on your body type, fitness level, and personal goals — I will create a weight loss plan just for you. You'll get an exercise routine, eating guidelines, daily support, and tons of my personal diet secrets!
My plan will not only change your body — it will change your life."
If this sounds like something that appeals to you, then it's time to get moving and start losing with Jillian Michaels. She may be tough on you, but she will most definitely NOT give up on you if you are ready to seriously commit to losing weight. Give it a try TODAY!
My brother Kevin has continuing health problems because of his obesity
Some people ask me why I am so adamant about what I write about here at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. Others wonder if I should be using my time in other ways to do other things that I like to do. It's certainly a valid question and I appreciate the concern that people have shown for me and acknowledging the sacrifices I have made to do what I do.
But what I am going to blog about today is exactly why I spend so many hours relentlessly typing away the message of livin' la vida low-carb and making your body as healthy as it can be. Well, it's not so much a what, but a WHO: a man by the name of Kevin Lee Moore.
I've told you about Kevin before and he took a sudden turn for the worse this week. Back in November 2005, doctors gave him one year to live if he didn't lose weight as soon as possible. At the time Kevin weighed close to 600 pounds.
Just as he has done on every previous time he attempted weight loss or anything in his life, Kevin was gung ho about it...for a while. As in a couple of months. But then it happened to him--he starts feeling a little bit better, thinks he's gonna be okay now, stops doing those things that are essential for improving himself, and goes into complete denial about his morbid obesity.
Keep in mind, this is the same man who in 1999 at the age of 32 experienced three heart attacks in the span of a week that nearly killed him. And it's ONLY because of the complications brought on by his massive weight problem.
Sure, he's had some difficult life experiences, including a horrific marriage to a woman who basically made his life a living Hell when he had his heart attacks and was no longer able to work. She mentally and even physically abused him in ways that probably reminded him of what our dad had done to us when we were children. Thankfully he got out of that relationship with a divorce a couple of years ago, but the lingering damage has been done.
Like many people who are hurting and life seems in such turmoil, Kevin turns to food to comfort himself. And not just a little food. I mean an out-of-proportion gargantuan amount of grub that would make most people's eyes bug out. For example, he's go to McDonald's and get 5 Big Macs with 3 Large orders of French fries and 10 cookies. EEEEEK! Unreasonable to most, but reality for my brother.
This is my own flesh and blood, mind you. A man that I grew up with calling my older brother. Yeah, he was my stupid, ugly butt hole older brother and enjoyed taunting me as every older brother does, but it was only because he was my brother. We shared a lot of happy memories wrestling on the ground or playing pool at the local game room (I always beat him at it and he hated that!). While we endured the divorces that both of our parents went through and lived as normal a life as we possibly could considering the hand life dealt us as kids.
Fast forward a few years to 2004, I decided to take control of my weight and health for real and stop wallowing in the past with all the genuine hurt and pain that I had endured for my entire life. It was at that point there were no more excuses for the way I was living my life NOW and I did something about it. My old eating habits would have to be radically changed and exercise would need to become my friend rather than my foe.
As you know, I did it--I lost 180 pounds in one year and avoided the obesity-related health decline that hit my brother like a 2X4 upside the back of the head. My brother was a contributing motivating factor for me to do it for real this time for a couple of reasons. First, I wanted desperately to NEVER have to go through what he has since his heart attacks. Second, and even more importantly, I thought my example to my only full-blooded brother would get him going.
Unfortunately, I learned the hard lesson that you can't make ANYONE lose weight who is unwilling to do it for themselves. You just can't and Kevin is the prime example. He's read my book, he's seen me in person, I've given him advice about the changes he could make in his life if he truly wants to lose weight and restore his health. But he has ignored it all.
Now it's October 2006 and that man in the picture at the top of this post is hanging on by a thread. He was hospitalized as he has been hundreds of times the past seven years, but this time is quite different. The stent they put in his heart valve before is completely blocked now. He has two other arteries that are 90 percent blocked as well. He was very weak and fatigued when I spoke with him on the telephone, but he was hopeful the doctors could do something for him as they have in the past.
On Monday, the doctors he saw said they were too afraid to do open heart surgery on him because they feared he may not be strong enough to come back if they put him under. Then on Wednesday, they tried to run a test on him, but Kevin was way too big for the table which could not hold him. Yes, he's still around 600 pounds.
My mom told me that Kevin is supposed to have a PT scan today on his heart to determine what they will do next. It is very likely he will be sent to a specialist hospital a few hours away and Christine and I will very likely be going to visit him there if that happens. I'll try to let you know when that happens so you can pray for him specifically about his surgery and for us as we travel.
Do I even need to tell you how upsetting this is to me? It's something no parent or sibling should EVER have to go through because it is all preventable. But we all have choices to make in our life and Kevin has made his. He has simply accepted that he's fat and will always be fat for the rest of his life. That's what I used to think, too, but I instinctively knew better. Why do people fall into this self-imposed trap about their weight?
Now you realize why I remain so vigilant and passionate about sharing what has happened to me through my weight loss experience because this subject hits too close to home. My mom's dealt with her obesity with gastric bypass surgery and my half-brother Nathan was able to take off the pounds with a low-carb-styled program and exercise. But this is something that has completely alluded Kevin and the price for that decision, conscious or otherwise, is having to be paid now.
I'm sorry if this post is not the encouraging, put on a happy face, go get 'em article you have read from me over these past couple of years. But my mind has been uneasy since Monday when I got the news about Kevin. He's a special man that right now needs the earnest prayers of anyone who has felt the pain and agony of living with or being an obese person. I cherish those at this time for Kevin and my family and hope for the best to happen for my brother even if that means the good Lord will be taking him home soon.
I will certainly keep you informed about Kevin's progress in the next few days and post updates here when I get them. If I have to go away for a few days, then I know you will understand if the blog comes to a standstill. The work I am doing here is important, but Kevin's situation is life and death. If he's in his very last days, then I need to be with him. God bless you all for your continuing faithful support for me and what I am doing. Now you know a little more about why I will NEVER give up telling people about the healthy benefits of livin' la vida low-carb.
10-5-06 UPDATE: My friend Richard Morris who knows a thing or two about what it feels like to be morbidly obese shared his thoughts with me about Kevin in an e-mail today.
Hi Jimmy,
I just read your article about your brother. Wow. First of all, I didn't know you had a brother and I just assumed that everyone within range of your infectious enthusiasm would be just as gung-ho on healthy living as you are.
After a short bit of reflection though, I realized that the situation with your brother makes perfect sense. You see, I have an older sister who is morbidly obese as well. Like you, I've done everything to try to help her. She spent two months with my family a while back and had really started to change physically and mentally, but then she returned home out West and went back to her old lifestyle.
Like you, I've received numerous emails from people who have attended my workshops, read my book or visited the web site and have had their lives transformed, and yet when it comes to family, it seems that those closest to us are the hardest to reach. I've heard variations of this same story from other people who can't seem to get a brother, sister or parent to see the nutritional light and walk therein.
I just thought I'd share this perspective. I think sometimes people think there's something about them or the relationship they have with a loved one that prevents that person from taking charge and making change, but the fact is that your situation with your brother is fairly common.
I'm so sorry to hear that his condition has worsened. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.
Peace, Richard
THANKS, Richard, and to everyone else who has offered thoughts and prayers at this time. From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to know that so many of you have shown me and my family genuine and loving concern at this time. God bless you!
10-5-06 UPDATE: I just got an update from my Mom about Kevin via e-mail.
Just a note to let you know what I know about Kevin. Today they made him fast all day in anticipation of a test they wanted to run, but there was a problem because they wanted the hospital to discharge him, let them run the test and then readmit him. They fought about it all day and never ran the test. They finally let him have dinner tonight.
The doctor is trying to get him sent to a specialist and let them run the tests on him. I am taking off tomorrow to go up and hopefully talk to the doctor about this. When I know something more, I will let you know. Keep praying!!!!
Love, Mama
10-6-06 UPDATE: My mom talked to the doctors today and is very frustrated. The doctors are still indecisive about what they want to do. They will keep Kevin over the weekend, discharge him on Monday, readmit him to adminster an MRI and then determine when and whether to send him to the specialist three hours away. Sigh. My mom was spitting bullets about the adminstrative red tape she is going through with this. She is hoping they agree to send him to the specialist by this time next week. I'll let you know when I hear something definite. THANK YOU so much for your continued prayers, e-mails and support. God bless you all!
"The Biggest Loser" finalist Kelley Minner lost over 100 pounds
Reading stories like this NBC10.com piece about the continuing impact of the contestants who have appeared on the hit NBC reality television show "The Biggest Loser" brings a great big smile on my face because it reinforces the positive impact one of my favorite shows is having on our culture.
"The Biggest Loser" finalist Kelly Minner, a teacher at Lehigh Valley Performing Arts School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, lost 102 pounds last year and was approached by one of her former students about losing weight recently.
An extremely talented young opera singer named Adam Bonanni weighed as much as 308 pounds at the age of 16 and he thought that was normal since most famous opera singers are quite large. But, as I recently blogged about world-class opera singer Richard Margison, that stereotype is already changing. So Bananni knew he needed help with his obesity and quick.
How convenient it was for him to have a "big loser" right there at his school with him! Minner was all too gracious to help Bananni and taught him everything she learned about healthy nutrition on the show from the trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as well as the tireless work ethic regarding exercise.
Minner patiently explained to Bananni what good eating habits were all about by sitting down with him at lunch. This one-on-one mentoring by Minner helped him realize that the junk food he was eating was destroying his health and making him fatter and fatter.
Get this (and I LOVE it!): She recommended Bananni start eating more high-fiber, LOW-CARB foods along with regular exercise to help him lose weight. HA! What dietary approach did she say? NOT low-fat, NOT low-calorie, NOT portion-control--but rather livin' la vida low-carb! WOO HOO! Can you believe it?!
Although it wasn't easy for him, Bananni lost an eye-popping 40 pounds in the first two weeks (the length of the Induction phase of the Atkins diet) and a total of 110 pounds in nine months. WOW! He dropped 10 inches off of his waist and finds that his breath support for his opera singing has vastly improved. His whole life has changed for the better and it's all because a former "Bigger Loser" contestant cared enough to pay it forward with her own success. Perhaps Bananni will have the opportunity to share what he has learned with someone in the future as well.
Wasn't that a fantastic story? I want people to remember this the next time they start bemoaning how "The Biggest Loser" is demeaning to the overweight and obese or that it's causing unreasonable expectations for people desiring weight loss. Nobody ever said it's an easy road, but Minner and Bananni prove that it can be done if you focus on the right things to get you there.
I for one am so happy to hear that the low-carb lifestyle principles are being taught to these "Biggest Loser" contestants. I knew Bob Harper was supportive of low-carb living and his disciples like Minner are dutifully sharing the lessons they learned with those they cares about the most. That young man is very lucky to have a teacher that was willing to go beyond the call of her duty as a music educator to teach him some even more important lessons about life.
This brings me to an excellent lesson we can learn from this story. Never underestimate the power of mentoring when it comes to weight loss. Hooking up someone who has been through the struggles and overcome them with those who feel so hopeless and run down because of their weight. Wouldn't it be awesome to see what happened with Minner and Bananni become a national trend? Weight loss success stories all across the United States and around the world stepping up and making themselves available to walk side-by-side with others who need some gentle guidance.
The weight loss revolution that would ensue is well within the realm of possibility. But obese people will need to swallow their pride, admit they have a weight problem, and be willing to go through the rigorous work to make it happen. Also, the mentors would need to practice patience, diligence, and commit themselves fully to that individual who needs their help.
Why wait for a government program to start doing this? Go out there and start helping that neighbor, friend or loved one who is crying on the inside because of their weight. There's no need for them to suffer any longer and feel so all alone in this. Share with them your story and then let them know you'll be there for them every step of the way.
One by one by one we WILL make a difference and obesity will start to plummet. Are you willing to sacrifice just a little like Minner did to see phenomenal results just like Bananni? If so, then get started TODAY!
Why can't society just accept fat people for who they are? They're human beings too and should not be scorned by others just because they carry around a few extra pounds. When are we going to stop begging people to lose weight when it is quite possible to be healthy at any size?
Have you heard statements like these from some well-meaning people? The "fat acceptance" movement has taken root in this country with groups like the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance promoting their viewpoint that fat is beautiful and nobody should be forced into losing weight if they don't want to.
I'm sure many of my longtime readers remember how this woman got so mad at me over this blog post because I dared challenge the premise that being fat is okay. The notion of accepting fat people for who they are sounds pretty good on the surface, doesn't it? If I'm fat, then it's my choice to be this way so LEAVE ME ALONE!
Okay, fine. But as someone who used to weigh over 400 pounds, I not only have a right to speak out, but I would also say that it is my responsibility to share with others that remaining obese is not an option when there are viable ways to shed the pounds even when you think you've tried everything.
Unfortunately, we have people pushing "fat acceptance" like Kim Barto who believe strongly that weight loss is overrated. She is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Asheville just up the road from my hometown of Spartanburg, SC and she recently wrote this op-ed piece for The Citizen-Times about this very sensitive subject of America's obession with weight loss which Barto describes as "urealistic" and even "harmful."
Barto attempted to provide evidence to support her theory about American culture hung up on dieting by noting that eating disorders have risen sharply while more and more people express concerns about their weight. She contends that this is leading to higher rates of mental disorders that sometimes leads to suicide attempts and even death.
Morbid thoughts indeed. But what Barto is conveniently forgetting is the fact that TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE AMERICANS IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE and the rates keep going up and up! So it stands to reason that weight loss is on our minds as a country because it needs to be. We're FAT!
In Barto's world, though, she doesn't see anything wrong with people remaining fat if that's what makes them feel good.
"A wide variety of body types are normal, depending on one’s bone structure, metabolism and genetics. It is fruitless and misleading to expect everyone to conform to the same weight. Whether you are naturally muscular, chunky, twiggy, curvy or tiny, trying to change your body can be frustrating and even dangerous."
Now wait just a minute, Ms. Barto. What is so "dangerous" about someone trying to lose weight? When I weighed an abysmal 410 pounds at the beginning of 2004, many would say I had put myself in a bad situation, even a potentially "dangerous" one. My health was on the decline with breathing, blood pressure and cholesterol problems among other ailments. I was quite literally a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode.
But then I started livin' la vida low-carb and changed my life forever. Sure, I could have just accepted my fat for what it was and begged people to not judge me for my weight. However, it wasn't about my image, but rather my health. It was better for me to go on the Atkins diet than to remain obese. I honestly believe I may not be here today had I not lost 180 pounds two years ago. Weight loss not only was a desire, but a necessity for me to survive.
It kills me how people like Barto like to bring up the point about how 98 percent of dieters gain back their weight and then some within five years. To that I say SO WHAT?! What the heck does that have to do with the person who needs to lose 50, 100, 200 pounds because their health is in disarray because of their obesity? If diets fail then don't go on a diet. Instead, find a permanent lifestyle change you can do for the rest of your life.
My weight loss is still less than three years old, so I suppose it is possible I have time to regain my weight, too. Should I just throw my hands up in the air and just assume the weight will come back on my body? Is giving up hope for lasting weight loss success the answer? Heck no, it isn't. Weight loss is a journey of choice that YOU and ONLY YOU must make for yourself if it is something you need to do. Fat acceptance is nothing more than a ruse to avoid necessary weight loss. PERIOD!
The problem is that too many people are in denial about their weight problem to begin with. In other words, people HAVE too easily accepted their size and it is now taking a toll on their health. Rising obesity rates is creating financial problems for Medicare because of the extra healthcare costs that are involved with obesity-related diseases. The unintended consequences of fat acceptance is declining health among all age groups.
Lamenting the weight loss profits totaling nearly $50 billion a year, Barto said this is all just so ridiculous and people should stop trying to lose weight while lining the pockets of those who don't care about their health.
"What a paradox, that dieting should be such a lucrative industry in a country with such high obesity rates. Someone is obviously profiting from fat phobia in a big way. Take a nation of insecure people, bombard them with images of impossible beauty standards, and they will greet the latest fad with open wallets. Couldn’t those billions of dollars be better spent? Instead of trying to buy happiness, think of all the good that money could do if diverted to cancer research or stamping out hunger."
Oh please, Ms. Barto. There's no conspiracy to trick people into thinking they are fat to get them to buy weight loss products. Have you looked around lately? There are a LOT of people who are FAT! It literally breaks my heart to be in a public place like a restaurant and see someone whose belly sticks out in front of them at least two feet. My first thought is, "God, I can't believe that's how big I used to be." Then I remember the hard work I put into losing my weight and wish so desperately to help these people get healthier, too.
While everyone is trying to get their piece of the proverbial pie in the diet industry, it is up to the consumer to be smart about what choices they make regarding their own health. They can't rely on a company like Nestle to provide them quality products for a healthy diet. Misleading marketing ads exist out there and people need to educate themselves about what is best for them. This blog post was the perfect illustration of the business model for being in diet market.
Barto contends that people can be in "good health at any size."
"Too many dieters harm their bodies and psyches by skipping meals, purging and popping pills in the quest for skinniness. We should eat for nutrition and well-being, not solely to lose weight. Amidst all the deprivation and guilt associated with eating, we often forget that fresh, simple food is a joy in itself."
Does carrying around a big pot belly cause harm to our bodies, Ms. Barto? It most definitely does, which is why people need to lose weight. I don't advocate starving yourself, throwing up or taking the latest magic weight loss pill to get there. But a healthy low-carb lifestyle has been proven to be the most nutrient-dense and balanced nutritional approach I have ever come across in my life. There's no deprivation, but rather indulgence to the max on this amazing way of eating.
Concluding her article, Barto said it is time for a "change in mindset."
"Let’s embrace diversity of size and question the source of our insecurities. Find the weight that’s healthy for you, individually, without comparing yourself to the skeletal models on TV. Life is too short to hate your body."
I agree with the point that the warped image of what "normal" is from Hollywood is wrong. But there are ways to deal with your weight problem and get healthy that fall outside the realm of these unrealistic images. Heck, technically I'm still obese despite losing over 180 pounds! But am I worried about that? HA! Yeah right! My body is much better off now in the 220's than it was at 410.
9-23-06 UPDATE: Well, it looks like the fine pro-fat acceptance folks over at the "Big Fat Blog" didn't take too kindly to this blog post.
Here's an excerpt:
"We must be making waves if people feel this threatened, no? Articles like Ms. Barto's demonstrate that more people are considering just loving their bodies as they are, and getting off the hamster wheel that is the diet industry. And somehow, HAES and fat acceptance are bigger scams than, say, low-carb dieting? Calorie counting? Grapefruit diet? WeightWatchers? Jenny Craig? Slim-Fast? South Beach? NutriSystem? It's sad, really, and it's equally sad that this article came from a supposed news source."
Ahhhhh, you gotta love these people. They feel oh so happy with being overweight that they can't handle it when someone tells it to them straight. I make no apologies for what I wrote because it is my sincere belief that people who over carrying around extra weight need to make a lot more changes in their life besides their diet. But, to each his own. :)
9-27-06 UPDATE: Well, now I've heard straight from the horse's mouth. Kim Barto was kind enough to respond to my concerns about her article today in an e-mail:
Hi Jimmy, thank you for taking the time to write in response to my column. I'm glad that Atkins has given you the motivation to get in shape and change your life for the better. But I must take issue with your assertion that my column deals with "fat acceptance." Obviously, obesity causes health problems--no one disagrees with that. The main point of my article was health, i.e. making the lifestyle choice to get active, eat a balanced diet and find the weight that maximizes your physical and mental well-being. I'm not advocating the total abolition of weight loss here. What is the problem is a nation of young women (and some men) who are taught to believe there is something wrong with their bodies, when in fact they are within the normal parameters of a healthy weight. Believe me, as a college student, this is something I encounter every day. You would not believe how many of my friends and acquaintances obsess about their weight, even if they are naturally a size 6 or 8, skip meals or suffer from eating disorders.
One of my professors took a survey in class one day; he asked all the females to write on a slip of paper whether they considered themselves "fat." Nine out of ten said yes, and this was a class full of active, athletic women. He has done this exercise for several years with the same result. It is truly scary how much these impossible standards of beauty skew people's perceptions. But perhaps you are not aware of the extent to which advertising and runway models affect self-image, since you are not a young female. I was not kidding when I said that these societal messages are warping the minds of girls from elementary school onward. If you don't believe this, I suggest you look up some statistics on pediatric eating disorders. It's a horrifying phenomenon when seven-year-olds make themselves throw up.
I'm flattered that you thought enough of my writing to post it in your blog; however, I think you may have missed my point. From what I've read of your post, we're talking apples and oranges. But thank you again for writing. I do appreciate hearing what my readers have to say.
Best, Kim Barto
THANK YOU, Kim, for clarifying your comments. I appreciate that you took the time to explain what your motive for writing the column was and for sharing your thoughts on this very important social subject. Take care!
, Ryan Reynolds' 
