One of the most fascinating things I have noticed since I began blogging about the healthy low-carb lifestyle back in 2005 is how amazingly diversified the low-carb community is about the "proper" way a low-carb diet should be done. The definition of "healthy low-carb living" varies depending on who you talk to. In fact, if we had a room full of 100 low-carbers I would bet you'd have at least 50 or more different versions of livin' la vida low-carb. And that's okay because individualization of the diet is what makes it work in the long-term.
Some people believe you should only eat whole foods all the time. And for the most part, that's a good philosophy to live by. In fact, if you look at my low-carb menus then you will see that's precisely what I eat the vast majority of the time. Of course, I also like to add in some chocolate and other treats from time to time to enhance my low-carb lifestyle. It's what helped me lose 180 pounds in 2004 and I've been doing it ever since.
However, with my recent 30-pound weight gain in 2008 that has pretty much sustained for the past six months, I've been looking at ways to bring that weight back down. I now know that I'm dealing with an erratic blood sugar issue that is tied to an unusual insulin response even after a low-carb meal. Frustrating doesn't even begin to explain this process, but I'm certainly not giving up.
After interviewing Dr. Keith Berkowitz in June (and I'll be having a follow-up interview with him coming the first week of August) about his "reactive hypoglycemia" theory, I decided to implement a strategy of eating more often with lots of small "meals" throughout the day and I saw some success. But then the weight started going up again and I cut back on my protein intake to slow down gluconeogenesis. Again, good progress, but then the weight came back up yet again. I even cut out all of my favorite low-carb products a couple of months back for two weeks--DIDN'T LOSE A SINGLE POUND! UGH!
So, imagine my discouragement to see the following recommendations for getting my weight to reduce from my low-carb doctor this week:
1--no low-carb "treats" or substitutes for otherwise high-carb food (although sugar-free Jello and other desserts such as we allow our patients would be okay in limited amounts) 2--foods should be chosen from those listed on the "No Sugar, No Starch" guide we give patients 3--adequate protein (as determined from lean body mass) should be consumed, but care should be taken not to exceed protein requirements 4--portion-control and calorie-restriction should be implemented, as determined by BMR
No "treats" at all are allowed right now for me, including my chocolate bar, low-carb wraps, bars, or anything. NONE! I'll skip the Jello thank you very much, but I'll make some cheesecake out of cream cheese, heavy cream, and other REAL foods. I'm well aware of what's good to eat that is non-sugary, non-starchy, so that won't be a problem. Getting that "adequate protein" is the tricky part for me right now, although I've done well with it as of late. Controlling portions and calories goes against everything I've ever done with livin' la vida low-carb, so that's gonna be hard.
But I'm game for it and starting today I'm doing all of this. I'm gonna go low-carb product-free as an experiment and see if it makes a difference in my weight. I feel fantastic right now health-wise, but the sustained weight hovering around 260 is getting old quick. Even my stepmom Faye said to me during my visit to Tennessee earlier this week, "Oh no, Jimmy, you're not gaining back all that weight again are you?" What a slap in the face when I'm busting my butt trying to figure out what's going on. I'll be blogging more about this soon.
In the meantime, you can track my progress on this new diet experiment to see what if any impact cutting out the low-carb products will have. Based on my previous experience, it's not gonna do anything to help with this issue I have now. I've eaten these things throughout my 180-pound weight loss and ever since, so why would it suddenly be impacting me now? I don't understand that logic at all.
Here we are, though. I'm doing it and you can see what I'm eating at my low-carb menus blog. I'll share how my weight is doing each day along with the meals I am eating. I'm not convinced this is the answer, but nothing else has worked yet--WHAT THE HECK! :)
Some of the very best high-quality low-carb products aren't made and manufactured in the United States. Unfortunately, the big low-carb "craze" that swept across America in the early part of this decade with all their low-carb impostor products ruined the reputation of some truly great companies who made some remarkable foods for your healthy low-carb lifestyle. Meanwhile, low-carb companies are thriving with some rather amazing products overseas.
The product is called CiaoCarb Cookies and they are very low-carb, protein-packed morsels of healthy goodness that taste absolutely fabulous! I don't know if you've ever tried any other "low-carb" cookies before, but most are absolutely disgusting, fall apart and crumble when you try to hold them, and leave you wondering if you'll ever get to enjoy this sweet treat again. After trying these CiaoCarb Cookies for myself, I can tell you cookies are back and I'm hooked!
With a full 10g of protein in each cookie packaged in pairs, you can use these as a perfect pre-workout power-up snack, breakfast replacement, or anytime you want a little something healthy and delicious to eat. Best of all, the net carbs are so negligible (less than a third of a net carbohydrate in each cookie!) that it's virtually ZERO carbs!
Of course, these CiaoCarb Cookies are sugar-free which makes them PERFECT for diabetics and look and taste like a crunchy gourmet cookie you would purchase in Italy. Available in Almond, Chocolate, Coconut, Coffee, Lemon, and Orange (my personal favorite!) flavors, these cookies have just 95 calories each and are sweetened with a blend of maltitol, Splenda, and ACE-K. Although I'm not usually a fan of maltitol in low-carb products, I was pleasantly surprised that these did not bother me like some other products do. With less maltitol, there was little to no reaction. AWESOME!!!
This is very likely gonna be CarbSmart's 2008 breakout product of the year, so order your own stash of CiaoCarb Cookies today. They are available EXCLUSIVELY at CarbSmart right now, so go ahead and give them a try. You will no doubt LOVE these cookies as much as I do and CarbSmart will stand behind their quality 100%. If you don't like 'em, then CarbSmart will take care of you. But you WILL eat these up!
I'd love to hear your feedback about these innovative low-carb cookies directly from Italy, so try 'em and lemme know what you think! ENJOY! :D
True Lemon products catching on with busy health enthusiasts
On a recent trip down to Atlanta, Georgia to visit with some friends there, they took us to the gym where they workout. When we walked in and started to sign our names as guests, I couldn't help but notice the counter display for True Lemon sitting right there with lots of little packets for the members to try this amazing product in their bottled water during their workouts. It made me proud to have them as a sponsor at my blog because they really do have an incredible product for anyone living a healthy and busy lifestyle!
In fact, True Lemon is looking for some enthusiastic stay-at-home moms and housewives primarily to join their True Crew--a group of wonderful people just like YOU who spread the True Lemon word by contacting select businesses and non-profit groups to talk about this amazing product. If you already love True Lemon (and who doesn't?), are excited and don't mind talking with people, know how to use Excel and aren't afraid to pick up the phone and tell somebody about the True Lemon products, then simply e-mail True Lemon at customercare@truelemon.com for more information about joining the True Crew team.
Oh Canada! You've asked about how to find True Lemon in your country and now you've got it! CLICK HERE for a store locater listing of the provinces where you can purchase True Lemon products. If you're still having trouble finding True Lemon products in stores there, then please visit this online store in Canada to order.
In my 2005 book entitled Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year, I dedicated an entire chapter to the subject of water. Water consumption is vital when you are livin' la vida low-carb because it "keeps things moving" so to speak. Anyone who complains about constipation on low-carb clearly is not drinking very much water. And the complaint about water is that it tastes disgusting. Two ways to improve that is to get filtered or bottled water and to flavor your water with True Lemon, True Lime, or True Orange. Read more about "The Benefits Of Drinking Water."
Christine and I have been traveling a lot this year taking many plane rides across the country. On a recent trip back from Phoenix, Arizona, my lovely bride thought of a neat new way to use her True Orange packets. When you're stuck on a plane for hours, there's not much you can do about the choices you are given for beverages. So when she decided on a Sprite Zero to drink, I watched her pull out some True Orange and mix it with her drink. Just one sip and she was raving about it! I tried it and agreed--pretty good stuff! Just last night we were watching television and Fresca now has an "orange-flavored" version of their product. Were they on that plane listening to Christine? :P
Don't forget about Operation Gratitude in support of the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Every time you sign up for FREE SAMPLES of True Lemon products through the end of May, True Lemon will be donating 10 packets to send overseas to the troops to help flavor their water in the arid conditions there. Their goal is to send 1,000,000 packets and they're getting very close. If you haven't already, won't you go get your samples and help out the soldiers who are defending our nation? THANK YOU!
Brand new stores are adding the True Lemon products to their inventory every week, so check out the Store Locater to see where you can purchase it in your area. It's usually on the same aisle you will find Splenda and other artificial sweeteners (although True Lemon doesn't have any artificial sweeteners in it--just crystallized lemons, limes, and oranges!), in the powdered drink mix section, or next to the bottled lemon juice, usually in the juice aisle. But if you're still having trouble finding it in a store, then you can always get some from any of these online vendors. Get a special $1 off coupon by signing up here and it will be mailed to your home.
Wanna know why True Lemon products taste so incredible? Here's the secret behind the process that goes into making True Lemon. It's one of the reasons I was so impressed with them and support their products for use on the healthy low-carb lifestyle. With such concerns over artificial sweeteners along with the ever-increasing busy schedules that most of us have, True Lemon is such a convenience to have around. I LOVE IT!
Finally, would you like to be considered an official True Lemon Super Fan by expressing your love and devotion for this amazing carbohydrate-free, calorie-free product? True Lemon wants to hear from you if you do. Send your True Lemon love letter to Heidi Carney at customercare@truelemon.com. Tell her you heard about True Lemon here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" and how much you enjoy using it as part of your healthy low-carb lifestyle. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Remember to sign up for FREE SAMPLES (after all, they're FREE!) and let me know what you think about them. I appreciate the support you have given this outstanding sponsor who helps me continue to bring quality low-carb diet and health information to you on a daily basis. They're a company I KNOW you can trust and feel good about. THANK YOU! :)
My latest sponsor, True Lemon, stands ready to serve you
Starting on January 1st, I was very proud to introduce you to a brand new sponsor at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog called True Lemon. This company creates some pretty amazing crystallized lemon, lime and orange substitutes that contain ZERO calories and ZERO carbs along with NO artificial sweeteners in them whatsoever. As I am quoted as saying in the banner ad at the top of my blog, this product really is "a low-carber's dream come true" since you're not allowed to have those citrus fruits on your low-carb lifestyle. And I'm very proud to be affiliated with True Lemon.
Whenever I share with you about a new product like True Lemon and partner up with a company like them in telling you about their products, one thing I demand of them before they're even considered becoming a sponsor here is a 100% commitment to customer service to YOU. That's been my underlying philosophy from day one here at my blog to provide my readers with the information they need in a timely manner with a smile on my face doing it. It's the very least you deserve for allowing me to play a small role in your life day in and day out. I guess it's all those years of working in retail and marketing having that customer service message hammered into my skull hard that I just EXPECT it now from whoever I work with.
Thankfully, I'm proud to say that True Lemon is indeed devoted and committed to their new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" customers because they have immediately addressed some concerns that a few of you have expressed to me about the quality of their product after purchasing it at your local store (it's literally found EVERYWHERE in grocery stores and Wal-mart usually next to the Splenda).
The following e-mail is an example of the problem that was shared:
Hi Jimmy! I have a question about the True Lemon. I bought some but it's all clumpy and stuck together in the packets. Is it supposed to be that way or did I get a bad/old batch?? I made your cheesecake recipe with it and it tasted fine to me so i just wanted your input since you've used it for a while. Thanks so much!
Interestingly, this same issue was echoed by a few others and I've even got a box of True Lime with the "clumpy and stuck together" products right now, too. See for yourself:
As my reader pointed out, this does not impact the flavor of the True Lemon products in any way (although if you bite into one of the clumps, it's one of the most intense flavors you'll ever put on your tastebuds--I found out the hard way!). But even still, that's not the way the product is supposed to look like and True Lemon stands ready to take care of anyone who has "clumpy" product that they purchased.
Company Vice-President Heidi C. Carney said their stand behind the quality of their products fully with a complete customer satisfaction commitment.
"True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange should always be free-flowing crystals. While the True Lemon you bought is completely safe to use, it's not at it's best," Carney reported to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. "We always have a 100% guarantee of satisfaction so I would be happy to send anyone a replacement box. As a small company, we really appreciate having you as a customer and your complete satisfaction is most important to us."
If you have any True Lemon products that are of poor quality like me and several other readers have experienced, then please do the following:
1. E-mail True Lemon at customercare@truelemon.com. 2. Provide the name of the store where you purchased True Lemon. 3. If you still have the box, provide the embossed numbers under the UPC code. 4. Give you name and mailing address where they can ship replacements.
Plus, just for doing that, you'll receive some complimentary True Lemon coupons as well as FREE samples of all three flavors--True Lemon, True Lime, and True Orange. I appreciate your enthusiastic response to these truly amazing products for your low-carb lifestyle and encourage you to continue using them to enhance the foods and beverages you consume while livin' la vida low-carb. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns about True Lemon or any of my sponsors. THANK YOU for your continuing support for me and the sponsors who make the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog possible!
I snapped a picture of the new South Beach packaging at Sam's Club
One of the most common themes I talk about is how you can't just go on a low-carb "diet," but that you must make it your permanent and healthy lifestyle change. That's why I use livin' la vida low-carb instead of "low-carb diet" to describe this way of eating for me. It's all about the "living" and the makers of the bestselling South Beach line of products are finally embracing this concept in their marketing.
This Cape Cod Times story explains why Kraft Foods, manufacturer of the popular low-carb food line prominently using the name of Dr. Arthur Agatston's famous diet plan, has changed the name from "South Beach Diet" to the new and improved "South Beach Living." Sure, it's merely semantics but the word "diet" has almost become taboo now. Lifestyle change or "living" is a kinder, gentler way of saying the same thing.
According to the article, consumers have become increasingly agitated by the use of the word "diet" and would prefer to be pursuing healthy "living" instead. After all, it's better to be living than the alternative (which just coincidentally happens to be the first three letters of that "d" word we no longer like!). Or is this much ado about nothing by some back room marketing executives?
The story goes on to site other examples of this move away from the use of "diet" in the marketing of products, including the much-heralded Coke Zero--a new version of Diet Coke that is sweetened with the overly-used sugar substitute aspartame (or as I call it NASTY-tame!) and the sweetener-enhancing acesulfame potassium (ACE-K). The Coca-Cola Company credits the absence of "diet" in the name of their product to its early success (no, it couldn't have anything to do with the fact that every other commercial on television was advertising Coke Zero when it came out, couldn't it? NAH!).
They say young men (hey, I'm still pretty young at 36) wouldn't buy Diet Coke because it was a chick thing. For me, it wasn't about anything other than taste. Regular Diet Coke is disgusting to me which is why I prefer Diet Coke with Splenda (sweetened with Splenda and ACE-K) or the caffeine-free Diet Rite which is also sweetened with Splenda and ACE-K).
I think these marketing analysts get a little too caught up in their own little world to really know why anyone buys their product. It probably has a lot less to do with how offensive the word "diet" is on a product and more about the quality that "diet" product offers. I'm personally disgusted by aspartame and try to avoid it as much as possible in the diet sodas and other products I consume. Give me good quality alternatives (which includes diet sodas sweetened with the plant-based stevia) and I'll show you a consumer base that will clamor for your products.
Getting back to the South Beach product line for a moment, a Kraft representative says they want to "broaden the appeal of the brand and fuel its growth" by implementing this name change. Since more people are looking to eat healthy rather than losing weight (something I discussed in a recent podcast show), they wanted to put that message on the 70 South Beach products that line supermarket shelves. And "South Beach Living" fits the bill.
I blogged about the tremendous success of the South Beach Diet food products in early 2006 which was the "primary growth driver" for Kraft. In a market that doesn't have much competition, South Beach has great name recognition and fits a niche market. The tens of millions of South Beach Diet followers are a built-in consumer base for these products, although I highly suspect most who have read Dr. Agatston's books don't currently buy the products. That certainly opens the door for creating a wider customer appeal by marketing it for healthy "living."
Although the popularity of The South Beach Diet books was at its highest in 2003, there is still great interest in it as well as general low-carb in 2008 thanks to the resurgence in this way of eating that has happened over the past couple of years within the researcher community and with a big boost most recently by the release of Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories. One criticism I have about the South Beach products is that they contain some ingredients I wouldn't necessarily put in my mouth (sugar, flour, and the like) and have a higher carb count (double-digit carbohydrates for a bar is NOT good) than I feel comfortable with on my low-carb lifestyle. But that's just me.
That said, I know people who swear by these products and love 'em! Good for them and I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from using these South Beach Living products if they work for you. CONGRATULATIONS on making this "diet" your new way of "living" for life. In the end, that's all that really matters if you have found a way to be healthy.
Does this name change from "diet" to "living" make you more likely to buy Kraft's South Beach products or does it really matter at all? Share your feedback about this in the comments section below.
NexGen transforms high-carb muffins into low-carb delights!
Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to make a good thing even better. And that is most certainly the case with a product called NexGen Muffins.
Earlier this year I first blogged about these amazing low-carb muffins and was blown away by how truly wonderful they were. Since muffins had been off limits for me on my low-carb lifestyle over the past four years, it was incredible being able to finally have a low-carb muffin again that didn't taste absolutely disgusting (can you say soy anyone?).
Well, my elation soon turned to disappointment when several of my readers informed me they couldn't order these muffins anymore. One of the co-owners of NexGen Foods is Dr. Keith Berkowitz (who I will be interviewing soon here at my blog), so I contacted him to find out what was happening. He assured me the company is still in business and that they decided to reduce the size of the muffins since customers were having trouble eating the gargantuan 4-ounce size in one sitting.
Also, they slightly changed two of the muffin flavors--Cran-Orange Pineapple from Orange Pineapple and Almond Lemon Poppy from Lemon Poppy Seed--as well as added an additional flavor--Wild Blueberry--to add to their original flavor favorite Banana Walnut. The muffins are now 2-ounce sized and packaged three per container.
Dr. Berkowitz still wanted to keep the muffins preservative-free to uphold the integrity of the product being made from real food (primarily EGGS!), so these muffins will still be made when an order is placed and then shipped to customers frozen to ensure freshness. The NexGen Muffins can be kept in the freezer for months and in the refrigerator for up to fourteen days because of the new packaging.
After many months in the making, the new and improved ready-to-eat NexGen Muffins are now ready for purchase exclusively from CarbSmart.com. Because of the delicate nature of these muffins, they will only be shipped out on Mondays so you will be guaranteed a quality product. They are sold by the case of 12 muffins and will be shipped directly from the bakery in Brooklyn, New York.
You have your choice of one of four flavors or an assortment of all four. NexGen Muffins are sugar-free, gluten-free, flour-free, and kosher. And with just 100 calories or less and a whopping 12 grams of fiber per muffin, these low-carb muffins (only 1-2g net carbs each!) are a delicious way to start your day or snack on as a healthy dessert alternative.
ORDER NOW to be one of the first to sink your teeth into these outstanding NexGen Muffins that are setting the bar very high for other low-carb food products. I'd love to know what you think about them, so please don't hesitate to share your experience with them. Be sure to warm them up in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds, put some butter on top, and a little heavy whipping cream. Oh...my...gosh! Too good to even imagine!!! ENJOY!!!
The smart place to shop for your low-carb life is at CarbSmart.com
When you are ready to add a little variety to your low-carb lifestyle, then it can be exciting to try some brand new products to help you along in this journey to better health. With all the high-carb garbage that pervades our society nowadays, it's good to know there are alternatives available to keep you on the straight and narrow while enjoying livin' la vida low-carb as much as your old diet.
I'm pleased to present to you TEN BRAND NEW LOW-CARB PRODUCTS as well as TWO REALLY HOT DEALS on some bestselling brands that you will want to stock up on from the good folks over at CarbSmart.com. These are some truly incredible products to try as part of your low-carb life. ENJOY!
One of the best sugar alcohols that doesn't cause the gastric distress is erythritol. It looks and acts just like sugar without unnecessarily spiking your blood sugar levels. Use it just like you would sugar in your coffee, tea, and in your favorite recipes. The taste is pleasantly sweet and contains 95 percent less calories and carbs than sugar! This all-natural sweetener is about 70 percent as sweet as sugar without any funky wang inside the mouth. For those of you paying attention to the glycemic index, you'll be pleased to know erythritol ranks ZERO. WOO HOO!
These crunchy sweet cinnamon pita chips are as yummy as they sound. With only 1g net carb for three pita chips, these fit well in your healthy low-carb lifestyle. Additionally, they contain 6g protein, 6g fiber, and NOTHING artificial in them at all. Another great addition to the Dixie Diner Carb Counters lineup!
Do you miss having "scoop" Fritos on your low-carb lifestyle? If so, then you will like these "corn" chips that are twice baked with no artificial ingredients at all. Each 8-piece serving size comes packed with 7g protein, 4g fiber, and just 3g net carbs. So break out the salsa or Ranch dressing and get snacking!
Flax seeds are LOADED with healthy fiber and omega-3 fatty acids--both are important parts of a solid nutritional approach. That's why these crackers are an excellent way to get more flax into your body in the most delightful way. Most of these are virtually carb-free after you subtract the WHOPPING 11g dietary fiber they contain along with the 6g protein in each five-cracker serving size. It's certified organic, too! Comes in Plain, Onion Garlic, Italian Zest, Mexican Harvest, Maple & Cinnamon, BBQ, and Hemp.
You've tried regular BBQ sauce, but have you tried a White BBQ sauce before? It's unlike anything you've ever tasted and goes great with just about any low-carb food you could imagine. I've put this stuff on my green beans, cauliflower, chicken, and even in eggs. Mmm mmm! There are four distinct flavors: Original White BBQ Sauce, Chipotle White BBQ Sauce, Wasabi White BBQ Sauce, and Blue Cheese White BBQ Sauce. Use this stuff like ketchup and you'll make everyone happy...as long as you don't run out!
Finding a delicious low-carb fudge can be a challenge, but this one is pretty darn close to perfect! What I like best about it is there are NO sugar alcohols and it's all-natural as well as gluten-free. If you put this in your refrigerator, then it firms up so well you can't eat but a tiny bit it is so rich. Each one-ounce serving delivers just 3g net carbs, 6g fiber, and 4g protein. Includes healthy fats from coconut and palm oils, too! Available in original fudge, chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter, and chocolate mint.
Fiber-based sweeteners are cool because you get twice the bang for your buck, but this one takes it even one step further. You get the sweetness not only from inulin, a natural fiber, but you also have the added bonus of Lo Han low-glycemic fruit extract. You can use this just like sugar in your favorite beverages and recipes. You get zero calories, zero sugar alcohols, no bad aftertaste, and it ranks close to ZERO on the glycemic index.
Who doesn't like muffins? Now you can have them without worry about the excess sugar and carbs that come from traditional ones. These all-natural muffin mixes come in a wide variety of flavors, including Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Classic Carrot, Honey Bran, Corn, Blueberry, Cranberry Orange, Banana Nut, and Apple Cinnamon.
We low-carbers love our meat, so why make the most of them by using some delicious seasonings to spice them up a bit? The flavors include Prime Rib & Roast Seasoning, Lemon Seasoning, Lemon Garlic Seasoning, and Old Western Barbecue Spice. These can be used on just about anything you want to cook up on the grill. These all are salted with sea salt and come with a variety of scrumptious spices.
Who doesn't like a little honey in their life, right? Well, when you're livin' la vida low-carb, you're not allowed to have this traditionally sugary treat. But now you can have this sugar-free, low-carb version that is sweetened with the excellent sugar alcohol called Xylitol. This is an ideal product for diabetics and low-carbers alike because Xylitol ranks low on the glycemic index and is even good for your teeth! Use this "honey" product in the same way you would the real stuff. Bee sure not to run out! :P
GoLower is a name that has become synonymous with quality in the low-carb industry. And now you can get an ENTIRE BOX OF 24 GOLOWER CREME BARS FOR ONLY $8.99! With 7g protein and 7g fiber, these chocolate-covered morsels of nougat are the perfect indulgence when you have a sweet tooth that just won't leave you alone. It's all the taste of a candy bar with all the health benefits of a protein bar. Available in chocolate and raspberry.
We all love our DaVinci syrups and it would be a shame if you went all winter long without having any on hand. That's why there's a big Pre-Winter Stock-Up Sale going on right now so you'll be ready when the cold winds are blowing in just a few weeks. Because of the extreme temperature changes during the winter months, this liquid product does not ship very well due to the DaVinci syrup bottles freezing and breaking. As a result, you need to STOCK UP NOW with what you want and you have until November 1, 2007 to get your order placed or you'll have to wait until the Spring 2008 to order. These zero calorie, zero carb syrups are an amazing part of my low-carb life with so many varieties to choose from.
Check out this comprehensive list of some rather exotic flavors available to you: Almond, Amaretto, B52 (A mix of Kahlua, Grand Marnier, Irish Cream), Banana, Blueberry, Butter Rum, Butterscotch, Caramel, Cherry, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Coconut, Cola, Cookie Dough, Creme de Menthe, Dulce de Leche (An intense caramel), Egg Nog (especially good during the holidays), English Toffee, French Vanilla, German Chocolate Cake, Gingerbread, Grape, Original Hazelnut, Huckleberry, Irish Cream, Kahlua, Lemon, Lemon Lime, Lime, Macadamia Nut, Malibu Rum, Orange, Pancake (Maple flavor), Peach, Peanut Butter, Peppermint, Peppermint Patty, Pineapple, Praline, Pumpkin Pie (another holiday favorite!), Raspberry, Root Beer, Simple Syrup (No Flavor - Just Sweet), Spice Blend, Star Fruit, Strawberry, Hazelnut (Formerly Toasted Hazelnut), Toasted Marshmallow, Vanilla, Watermelon, and White Chocolate.
Order these new products, specials, and anything else you need for your low-carb shopping needs anytime 24/7 from our friends at CarbSmart.com.
Low-carb has got to be dead now since all those low-carb products that were on supermarket shelves a few years back are gone. I guess this just proves that low-carb has finally been proven to be the dangerous and unhealthy diet that it is.
Have you heard this line of reasoning from anti-low-carb people before?
Well, in Episode 81 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" today I talk about a very important distinction between low-carb the business and low-carb the diet. When you remove the vitriol hatred for the Atkins diet and other low-carb plans from the equation, this just makes sense. Click on the "Play In Popup" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast show:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 81 [17:55m]: Play in Popup | Download
Livin' la vida low-carb as a healthy nutritional approach has erroneously been thrown into the discussion about the low-carb business failures. There are good reasons why so many of those "low-carb" products that came out a few years back failed that has absolutely nothing at all to do with the low-carb diet. When you merely look at the economics of it, then you are being blinded by the reality--that real people all around the world are losing weight and getting healthy eating this way.
Get the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb with Jimmy Moore" podcast by:
Do you believe the financial woes of so many businesses that created "low-carb" products back in the hey day of low-carb dieting has anything at all to do with low-carb the diet? Some would say that it is indicative of this diet's demise. And how do you explain the seemingly constant obsession by the media and the so-called health "experts" on this low-carb "fad?"
Let us hear all about it as you share what's on your mind regarding this topic. Everyone has their own opinions, so let's hear YOURS! :)
Tune in to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" on Thursday as we discuss whether frequency of meals consumed is more important than the traditional three-meals-a-day we've all grown accustomed to. You're not gonna believe what a graduate student in Biological Science had to say about this subject, so be sure to check it out!
Low-Carb Connoisseur in business for a decade having a huge sale
The secret is out about a special "Secret Sale" happening RIGHT NOW at the popular online low-carb retail store Low-Carb Connoisseur. Believe it or not, they have been serving the low-carb community for the past 10 years and they want to reward YOU for your faithfulness over the years.
How are they doing that? Well, if you CLICK HERE to access the "Secret Sale" then you will automatically receive an instant 20 percent discount off of your entire purchase, including sale items. EVERYTHING is on sale! Sweet!
Elaine Payne, founder and president of Low-Carb Connoisseur, said she could not be happier with the long-term success that her business has seen since it first began in 1997.
"We're celebrating our 10th year of providing the low-carb community with the best products and the best customer service," Payne stated. "Stores and products have come and gone, but we are still here after 10 years, and we feel that the future of the low carb industry is looking brighter all the time!"
I can personally vouch for Elaine since her online store is based out of a town about an hour from my home called Anderson, South Carolina. She's enthusiastic about what she does and it shows in the personal attention you receive from her and her staff at Low-Carb Connoisseur.
As AMAZING as the "Secret Sale" already is giving you a 20 percent savings on EVERYTHING, one lucky customer will receive an added bonus--an incredible 50 percent off of their order--if their name is drawn at the end of the promotion.
Francis Simun Bakery serves outstanding low-carb bread
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from my readers is this: "Where can I buy some good low-carb bread?" It seems the attempts to make a low-carb version of something that is traditionally shunned on the low-carb lifestyle have fallen way short of the mark. I've searched and searched to find a bakery who can not only make bread that is low-carb, but also moist, tasty, and enjoyable.
Well, you can look no further than the Dallas, TX-based bread company called Francis Simun Bakery to fulfill your low-carb bread needs from now on. Their marketing slogan is "Be Happy...Eat Healthy" and that's exactly what you'll be doing when you add this to your low-carb plan.
Had I not tasted their incredible breads for myself, I never would have believed this stuff was low-carb. But it is, it REALLY is! I took a bite, and then another, and then another before I finally let it sink in that low-carb bread CAN actually taste incredible! Francis Simun Bakery has convinced me of that.
Take a look for yourself at all the variety of breads Francis Simun Bakery has to offer people who are livin' la vida low-carb:
Click on the image above to see this low-carb bread up close
In addition to the Original Low-Carb Sliced Bread that's great for sandwiches, there are crunchy Low-Carb Bagel Chips for the perfect afternoon snack, Low-Carb Seasoned Croutons that'll go great on any low-carb salad or on top of green bean casserole, Low-Carb Breads Crumbs for homemade stuffing or as a coating mix, Low-Carb Bagels which taste incredible toasted with some full-fat cream cheese spread on them, Low-Carb Tortillas which are so versatile, Low-Carb Hot Dog Buns and Low-Carb Hamburger Buns when grilling out, and Low-Carb Pizza Crust for a quick and easy oven-baked low-carb pizza!
All the low-carb breads at Francis Simun Bakery Are Handmade
One of the things you'll immediately notice about these handmade breads are how fresh they are. That's because they don't bake the bread until you place an order for it. That way you can be confident that your low-carb bread is the highest quality of freshness it can possibly be when it is delivered to your home. Keep 'em in your freezer for a while so you can enjoy delicious and nutritious low-carb bread anytime.
Another distinctive characteristic of the Francis Simun Bakery low-carb breads is the rich signature aroma that will fill your kitchen when you warm them up! Whether it is French toast for breakfast or a grilled cheese for lunch, that unmistakable smell that fills the air from these remarkable breads will remind you that you have chosen the best possible low-carb breads for you and your family to enjoy.
The superiority of the ingredients in the Francis Simun Bakery low-carb breads is part of the secret to what makes them as wonderful as they are. These are what constitutes the basic recipe for these incredible breads:
Organic wheat gluten, yeast, filtered water, garbanzo flour, black bean flour, canola oil, golden flax seed, wheat germ, molasses, onion, and sea salt.
You'll notice the bread is high-fiber to make the net carb counts very low--less than 2.5g net carbs per slice of the Original Low-Carb Bread! That's a substantially lower number of carbohydrates from what you find in traditional white flour-based breads. And the taste comparison is unmatchable!
So how can you get your hands on this low-carb bread? If you live in the Dallas, TX area, then simply drive down to the Francis Simun Bakery located at 3106 Commerce Street in the 75226 zip code and pick up some during regular business hours.
But for the rest of us scattered all across the United States and Canada, they'll gladly take your order over the phone at 214-741-4242 or 214-742-5210, via fax at 214-744-7656, or by using their convenient online customer order form. Their friendly and efficient customer service team will quickly assist you with processing your order and getting it delivered to you promptly.
The hours of operation for the Francis Simun Bakery are Monday–Thursday from 9:00am-5:30pm, Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday from 9:00am-2:00pm, and closed on Sunday. Contact them TODAY and let them know you want to try some of that fantastic bread Jimmy Moore from "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" was raving about! Believe me when I say it is low-carb bread FINALLY worth writing home about!
Visit the Francis Simun Bakery web site to learn more about this bread company catering to people on the low-carb lifestyle! My wife Christine and I both came up with original recipes using this new low-carb bread which I will be sharing with you this week. You're gonna LOVE 'em!
La Tortilla Factory low-carb wraps are perennial bestsellers
When I started out on the Atkins diet in 2004, one of the biggest obstacles I faced was what I could eat as a healthy substitute for bread. It's nice have a bunless cheeseburger or a breadless deli meat and cheese sandwich for a while, but you start to get the inkling for SOMETHING to wrap your low-carb foods in.
That's why I was so happy to find La Tortilla Factory low-carb wraps and I've been a big fan of these ever since. In fact, I keep a couple of packages of these ever-versatile wraps on hand at all times.
About six months ago I noticed my local grocery store had stopped carrying these wraps despite the fact I bought so many packages of them. When I complained to the manager, he apologized profusely and brought in about 25 packages of each of the flavors: Original, Garlic & Herb, and Green Onion. "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" has spoken. LOL!
Just one tortilla gives you a mere 50 calories, 5g protein, 2g fat, 8g dietary fiber, and just 3g net carbs. It really is the PERFECT wrap regardless of what your diet plan is. For years these excellent low-carb wraps have been endorsed right there on the packaging by Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades from Protein Power as well as low-carb cookbook author Fran McCullough.
But now they've decided to change their packaging. Uh oh! Does this mean they're taking my favorite low-carb wraps away because I've seen it happen before? Or, perhaps they are keeping the product exactly the same and merely changing the look and name to attract new customers--like with Calorie Countdown milk and Quaker's Q-Smart bars.
According to the square sticker I saw on the front of my latest package of La Tortilla Factory low-carb wraps, this is simply a "New Look...Same Great Product" which is coming soon to a grocery store shelf near you. If you've never seen these before, then allow me to show you the old packaging as well as the new packaging.
THE OLD PACKAGING:
THE NEW PACKAGING:
I like the new "festive" look of the new packaging as well as the name "Smart & Delicious" which is a good marketing strategy to distinguish this brand from the "dumb & nasty" high-carb tortillas made with white flour!
One thing I especially love about the new packaging is how "Low Carb" is such a prominent word on the label along with the use of "High Fiber" coming in a close second. The phrase "low-fat" doesn't even show up on the new packaging for the "Low-Carb" version of the wraps even though they fall into that category, too. You gotta love it! Of course, the low-fatties get their own version, too.
People who are livin' la vida low-carb need to continue to support companies that make products like La Tortilla Factory low-carb wraps because they are giving us healthy, delicious, and nutritious foods to make our low-carb lifestyle that much more enjoyable! Be looking for the Smart & Healthy Tortillas in your area and ask the grocery store manager to stock these.
Tasty and firm ready-to-eat low-carb fudge without sugar alcohols
Fudge was a household tradition in my family when I was growing up. Especially around the holidays, my momma used to whip up a big batch of homemade fudge to ship to friends and loved ones as well as for our immediate family to enjoy. It's such a shame that this sugary, high-carb food has to be so unhealthy for you to eat when you start livin' la vida low-carb.
So, in my quest to find a low-carb version of fudge, let me tell you how disappointed I was in most of them. They were either too soft (who likes a squishy block of fudge), tasted awful (needs to be a rich, flavorful hunk of chocolate), or were too artificial (you gotta make fudge homemade and not in a chemical lab). UGH!
Can't somebody come up with an authentically great-tasting low-carb fudge that tastes like the stuff momma used to make? Uh-huh and it's from our friends at Dixie Diner yet again. They call it Carb Counters Ready-to-Eat Fudge and I have to tell you I'm quite impressed! This fudge is just the way I remembered it as a child, but even better!
Only 3g net carbs per one-ounce serving, this low-carb fudge is absolutely decadent and loaded with healthy amounts of fiber, fat, and protein that your body needs in each delicious bite. As we have come to expect from Dixie Diner products, this ready-to-eat fudge contains NO SUGAR ALCOHOLS or polydextrose. Yeah, no gas-inducing maltitol in this fudge!
Available in Chocolate and Peanut Butter flavors, the Carb Counters Ready-to-Eat Fudge is an excellent low-carb snack or treat you can use to stay committed to the low-carb lifestyle. Also, if you are sensitive to wheat gluten, you'll be glad to know this fudge is gluten-free!
Here is the list of ingredients in this amazing fudge:
Chocolate, vegetable fiber, coconut oil, palm oil, water, heavy cream, maltodextrin, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, natural flavor, low glycemic monosaccharides, sodium caseinate, salt, soy lecithin, carrageenan, sodium bicarbonate, low glycemic fruit concentrate
Hot and sweet sticky buns--without the sugar and white flour!
It's a sad fact, but most of my childhood memories are about food.
When I was growing up, my momma used to have a tradition on Sunday morning before we went to church. What did she do? She bought those 99 cent cans of cinnamon buns with the little plastic container of sugary icing that would melt on top of the rolls as they came hot out of the oven in about 15 minutes.
Between my brother Kevin and I, it didn't take long to devour that whole cookie sheet of these in very short order. Is it any wonder how we got to be so morbidly obese as adults? If I had known better as a child, then I would have avoided those unhealthy high-carb breakfast disasters like the plague.
I didn't then, but I do now. But that doesn't mean I don't like the taste of cinnamon buns today. What can I do, though, since I'm avoiding sugar and white flour? Is there really such a thing as low-carb cinnamon buns?
YEP, there sure is! They are the Dixie Carb Counters Glazed Cinnamon Bun Mix from Dixie Diner. I was privileged enough to try these new low-carb cinnamon buns for myself today and the aroma was so nostalgic!
Warm and relaxing smells of cinnamon filled up my kitchen as this quick and easy mix was baking up hot and fresh in less than 10 minutes. All I needed to add to the mix was butter, heavy whipping cream, and a large egg. That's it!
Of course, the instructions called for rolling up the dough into buns with the cinnamon mixture on top. Too confusing to me! Instead, I just pressed most of the dough in the bottom of a pan, spread the cinnamon stuff on top of that, and then put the rest of the dough on top of that just prior to putting it in the 375-degree oven.
The nutritional label and ingredients are top notch!
I was quite surprised that the texture and taste were just as I remembered it. Thankfully, though, I only consumed 3g net carbs per serving (you get 8 buns from this package!). Yummy to my tummy! The leftovers easily freeze and make a great sweet snack for breakfast or anytime!
With 6g fiber and 3g protein per cinnamon bun, the Dixie Carb Counters Glazed Cinnamon Bun Mix gives you a delicious and healthy version of something you thought you'd never get to eat again on your low-carb lifestyle. Now you can!
For a special low-carb dessert, warm one of these up in the microwave with a scoop of CarbSmart vanilla ice cream on top. Oh my gosh, this stuff's the bomb, baby! Let me know if you try these cinnamon buns. They're amazing!
I heard so much about these brownies, I HAD to try them for myself!
I'm constantly on the look out for any brand new low-carb products to come out that will help you as you are livin' la vida low-carb. With a lot of garbage products out there purporting to be "low-carb," it's nice to know there are a few companies who are dedicated to serving the low-carb community with high-quality products you'll feel good about sinking your teeth into. LITERALLY!
One of those companies is Flax Z Snax and they have one of the most talked about new low-carb products to hit the marketplace in a very long time: Elite Low-Carb Brownie Mix. Yes, I said LOW-CARB BROWNIES and these morsels of chocolaty goodness are indeed the real deal.
Whip up a batch of these gorgeous brownies in less than 30 minutes
The Flax Z Snax Elite Low-Carb Brownie Mix is made of flaxmeal and real cocoa and sweetened with erythritol (not the highly-inferior sugar alcohol maltitol, thank God!) for the authentic taste and texture of high-carb brownies.
But the good thing about these brownies is the fact that they are high-fiber (5g per brownie!) and have just 5g net carbs. If you pay attention to the glycemic index, then you'll be pleased to know these are very low-glycemic and even give you 3g protein as well.
Best of all, making these brownies is as easy as ONE, TWO, THREE:
ONE: Add to the mix a stick of butter, 2 eggs, and 1/4 cup of water. TWO: Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes. THREE: Cool and get ready for your tastebuds to do the tango!
I was surprised by how very simple these brownies were to make. But even more surprising was how incredibly moist and delectable the Flax Z Snax Elite Low-Carb Brownie Mix is despite not having any sugar or white flour in it at all. WOW! It astouds me how they can make a comfort food like brownies taste THIS good!
These brownies go great with some low-carb ice cream or with a touch of heavy whipping cream poured on top of this warm and inviting low-carb dessert. I've tried a lot of low-carb baking mixes, but this is arguably the best one I think I've ever tasted. It's well worth trying it for yourself to see what all the hype is about.
Columnist James Lileks moans over Kemps removing their low-carb line
I have a confession to make that shouldn't surprise anyone who knows me--I LOVE MY LOW-CARB ICE CREAM!!! I know the anti-chemical, all-natural-foods-only low-carb crowd is reading this rolling their eyes at me as if I'm some sort of freak or something.
But the reality is I'm probably more normal than they are since I still find low-carb living to be a day to day battle. I can never let my guard down if I am going to successfully keep the nearly 200 pounds I lost over three years ago off of my body for good. So far, so good.
If low-carb ice cream can keep me away from the regular sugary ice cream and other such high-carb desserts, then I'm gonna do it. Would NO ice cream be better for me? Obviously. But I can't (or choose not to) do that any more than I could give up my diet sodas. I seriously tried that and I couldn't sustain it as part of my life without adversely impacting my weight control.
What's the real harm in it if it helps me keep my weight off which it has for over three years and counting? With so many people trying to lose weight and then reaching a point in their diet when they don't feel like a success (even despite enormous weight loss success), shouldn't we be promoting the use of products like low-carb ice cream to help them transition from the things that tempt them the most?
Absolutely, we should and I'll tell you why. I've been livin' la vida low-carb since January 2004 and my diet has undergone a major shift since that time. Many of the foods I once considered staples of my diet--a case and a half of Coca-Cola daily, an entire box of Little Debbie snack cakes, a SuperSize order order of McDonald's French fries, a plateful of regular pasta--are now a thing of the past. I don't even remotely want them in my life ever again.
My friend the "Diet Detective" Charles Stuart Platkin describes these alternatives I have chosen instead like diet sodas and low-carb ice cream as "Carb Bargains," which means you substitute a lower-carb food for a higher-carb one you previously consumed to cut calories and start the lifestyle change in earnest.
This makes total sense which is why I have defended the use of certain low-carb products before and feature many of the good ones here at my blog. Granted, not everything that purports to be "low-carb" is, but that's where reading your labels and being smart go a long way in your low-carb lifestyle.
If it comes down to a choice between eating low-carb ice cream and sticking with my low-carb plan versus not eating it and falling prey to the temptation to have a slice of chocolate cake, then I'll choose the former over the latter every day of the week. While there are some who can just suddenly stop eating those foods forever cold turkey, low-carb or not, I'm not one of them. Give me my low-carb substitutes thank you very much.
With that said, many of the really good low-carb products are prone to just suddenly disappear as this Star Tribune column by columnist James Lileks so hilariously details. If you have been livin' la vida low-carb for ANY length of time, then this little ditty will make your day. What a character this guy is as he's low-carbing it for himself.
Lilaks encapsulates the very essence of how cruel this is to low-carbers.
"You give us something and you make us love it and you snatch it away...I always knew you'd yank Carb Promise when the Atkins diet died, and last week I learned that you'd discontinued the brand. Do you know what this means? I don't eat sugar. So you've taken away ice cream from my life. Entirely. And don't tell me 'it's the cows.' I've met cows. They lack the intellectual capacity to make such decisions."
Caught ya laughing out loud, didn't I? This guy's a real hoot! While I don't believe "the Atkins diet died" as he claims, I know what he meant. But it's not the end of the world.
If he's looking for low-carb ice cream, then he needs to look no further than the very best brand that has been available for years and is STILL available on supermarket shelves these days (it's all over the place in Super Wal-Mart, too!)--BREYER'S CARBSMART ICE CREAM!
CarbSmart ice cream has been a lifesaver for my low-carb diet
I've been eating this brand of low-carb ice cream since 2004 and wouldn't think of eating anything else. The product contains just 4g net carbs and tastes exactly like sugar-loaded ice cream. Unlike those pretender "low-carb" ice creams, this one has no gritty taste, no funky wang, and satisfies my sweet tooth with a dollop of whipped cream and some blueberries on top every time!
So, James, if you think "dessert is ruined ...FOREVER," then you REALLY need to try CarbSmart ice cream. It comes in Chocolate, Vanilla, Butter Pecan, and (my favorite!) Rocky Road and is absolutely delicious.
You can e-mail encouragement to James Lileks about his livin' la vida low-carb journey at lileks@startribune.com.
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 45 [10:19m]: Play in Popup | Download
Do you struggle with figuring out the carb counts in the foods you want to buy for your low-carb lifestyle? You're not alone! But the good news is it's really a lot easier than people think and I am happy to provide assistance with this in Episode 45. Phrases like "low-carb," "net carbs," "carb" this and that are all marketing tools by food companies. You have to be smart about what you put in your mouth.
Access "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" by:
Do you struggle with confusing marketing labels when you shop for new low-carb products or do you have the process nailed? Share your experience to help others know what they need to do to find what's going to help them on their low-carb diet.
Each 6-piece serving of "Texas Toasters" has just 1g net carb
Traditional bread made with white flour is taboo when you are livin' la vida low-carb. But when you are eating a salad and want something crunchy to eat with it or if you get the inkling for some tuna salad or other hors d'voures on your low-carb lifestyle, it would be nice to have an all-natural and delicious low-carb alternative you can turn to.
Now you've got it!
It's called Carb Counters "Texas Toasters" Twice Ovenbaked Bread Crisps from our friends at the Houston, TX-based Dixie Diner. I couldn't believe these were low-carb the first time I ate them because they are really quite delicious and give you that need for a salty side item with a crispy crunch.
My favorite part about these all-natural tasty bread crisps with absolutely ZERO artificial ingredients or preservatives in them is the fact that they only have 1g net carbs for about 6 of them. WOW! That's hardly anything on your carb counts (even during Induction!) and yet you'll get to enjoy the benefits of eating these with confidence knowing they won't throw your low-carb diet into a tizzy!
You'll be amazed by how awesome these taste and they come in three scrumptuous flavor varieties: Good N Plain, Dill & Onion, and Pizza (my personal favorite)! You can top them with a little spaghetti sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese for some mini-pizzas. Or scoop them in some French onion dip for a yummy snack. The possibilities for eating these are endless!
The FDA is overstepping its authority on what a healthy diet is
It's time to state the obvious--The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is chock full of a bunch of blithering idiots! There, I said it. And now that I have, I really don't feel a bit of remorse about making such a bold statement after learning about something they recently did to a low-carb company I'm gonna share with you today.
I suppose for background purposes, you might want to read the "How To Lose And Manage Weight" page at the FDA web site to understand their philosophy about diet and health. Of course, it is based on the archaic and failed ideals of the low-fat, low-calorie, portion control diet in combination with regular exercise.
Hey geniuses at the FDA! If those work so well, then why do we still have a bunch of fat people running around our country? Isn't that the same message we've heard for most of the past three decades and yet obesity and health problems are at an all-time high? Sounds like we need to change the game plan just a wee bit, don't ya think?
And if those diets don't work for you, then certainly you can always take a risky diet drug like orlistat or even get your insides cut open for LAP-BAND surgery. Is the FDA serious about that? You bet they are...go check out the site for yourself and you'll see these listed among the options for people dealing with a weight problem (what about livin' la vida low-carb? NOPE!).
Sheez! Is it any wonder why obesity has skyrocketed so much in America? With a government agency like the FDA going around spouting off all this nutritional nonsense about a low-fat, low-calorie diet, it's enough to make you physically sick to your stomach to even think about. But, unfortunately, they have a lot of power over diet and health policy in the United States and they have made it abundantly known to a low-carb company what they think about their product.
The identity of this company will remain anonymous in this post for obvious reasons, but you would recognize it if I told you. The FDA confiscated this company's products during a recent shipment and sent it to their lab for testing as well as examining the nutritional label with a fine-toothed comb. The result was a heavy-handed reprimand about the how unhealthy the product was because of "all that fat" which they claim would make it impossible for people to lose weight.
Regarding claims that sugar spikes your insulin levels which then leads to obesity, the FDA said to this low-carb company that claim is simply "not proven" and that the low-carb diet for all intents and purposes amounts to "sheer nonsense." In other words, our good old FDA thinks sugar is just as healthy as it can be for people to consume with no consequences to their health. Puh-leez! People who are livin' la vida low-carb know better and the FDA should be ashamed of themselves for pretending sugar has no connection to obesity.
As for this "sheer nonsense" bull-funky, all I have to say is this way of eating absolutely saved my life, FDA! You and all your ivory tower minions in Washington, DC oughta try living out in the real world for a change with people like me who used to weigh over 400 pounds and was able to attain great weight loss and weight maintenance success because of that "sheer nonsense" diet you seethe over.
Get with the times, FDA! All the latest research is pointing to livin' la vida low-carb as EQUAL to low-fat! It really makes you stop and wonder if ANYONE at the FDA has ever lost weight! Me thinks they're just a bunch of clueless mind-numbed robots who couldn't help an obese person lose weight if they tried.
Come live in my world for just two seconds, FDA! You wouldn't survive!
When the FDA can threaten an innocent low-carb company like this one just because they disagree with what solid nutritional science is showing, it's time for the citizens to demand better from their government. We don't need to have the FDA hold our hand about the fat content of the foods we eat.
If they truly cared about our health, then they would sound the alarm against the excessive sugar and high-fructose corn syrup that is in EVERYTHING we eat these days. Now there's the real danger to weight and health the FDA can jump on.
Do you see what we are up against in this battle for the hearts and minds of overweight and obese people. The FDA is slamming the door in our face about livin' la vida low-carb while doing all it can to protect the interests of the low-fat proponents and their buddies in the sugar and corn industries. Where's the objectivity, FDA?! How about looking out for the average American citizen's best interest for a change?
I don't know about you, but there's no way in the world I could ever go completely without chocolate in this world. Say what you want about this food, it is one of God's greatest gifts to the human race. And there are even studies showing chocolate has health benefits. So, to all you anti-chocolate antagonists out there, go stick it where the sun don't shine!
Of course, one of the problems with most chocolate bars has to do with one of the primary ingredients in it--SUGAR! UGH! Some people justify eating chocolate for health benefits but neglect the gobs of unhealthy carbohydrate-infested sugar they put in it. That's why I'm very critical of the well-meaning but not-so-good-for-you CocoaVia chocolate bars.
In fact, I recently learned that according to the government standards in Europe, you can't call something chocolate if it DOESN'T have sugar in it! WHAT?! How ridiculous is it to think you MUST have sugar in chocolate for it to be chocolate.
Well, it seems I'm not the only one raving on the ChocoPerfection bars. Fellow blogger and HUGE weight loss champion Beth Badore--aka Melting Mama--has been doing a series of video reviews lately of various health food products and now she's positively reviewed ChocoPerfection.
Check out Beth's fantastic video review of ChocoPerfection for yourself:
Ya know, I think she actually likes them! Hee hee! Yeah, me too, Beth. That's why I'm glad to be giving away some in my blogiversary contest this month. I wouldn't go a month without having my ChocoPerfection fix. :D THANKS for the fantastic review! They really are ALL THAT, aren't they?
We all owe ChocoPerfection founder Mary Jo Kringas a BIG THANK YOU!
Find out more about ChocoPerfection sugar-free, low-carb chocolate bars that are out of this world by visiting ChocoPerfection.com.
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 38 [21:41m]: Play in Popup | Download
Allow me to introduce you to a man named Andrew DiMino in Episode 38. He is the President and Founder of one of the most successful online low-carb retailers and brands called CarbSmart and he was gracious enough to sit down for a one-on-one chat with me during my recent visit to Reno, Nevada.
Can't get enough of the podcast? Check it out in a variety of ways by:
I asked Andrew the hard questions and he responded like a champ in a very articulate and professional manner. See what he has to say to the critics who think the low-carb products that are on the market today are just more junk food. He also talks about the history of the name CarbSmart and how it has become a household name. Also, if you lament the disappearance of some of your favorite low-carb products in recent years, then you'll be pleased by something CarbSmart is doing.
Tune in on Monday as I share my interview with Leslie Wheeler from the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association about the current state of the BBQ industry and how low-carbers are leading a comeback of sorts for the fine art of grilling.
