Take The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge And You Could Win A Free Select Comfort Bed

Are you getting enough sleep? If not, take this challenge!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I go to bed with every intention of getting a good night's sleep in an effort to get in about 7-8 hours of quality rest and the reality is I can sometimes only squeeze in about 4-5 hours of actual restful sleep. Most of the time I am tossing and turning either because it's too hot, I have to get up to go to the bathroom, my mind starts racing, you name it. I'm sure you can relate. Been there, done that!

In fact, this morning was a perfect example of what can happen. I went to bed around 11:15pm last night and got to sleep fairly quickly I'd say. Maybe by 11:30pm, I was out like a light. But then around 4:30am, I had to get up to go use the restroom and when I got back into bed I couldn't get back to sleep. My abs and shoulders were still sore from my workout with my trainer on Friday, I was thirsty, my mind started thinking about what I was gonna do today, and for the next four hours I just drifted in and out of sleep as all of this swirled around my restless body. UGH!!!

Needless to say, now that it's approaching bedtime tonight, I'm extremely tired and I've been that way for most of the day since coming home from church. When you don't get adequate sleep, it can wreak havoc on your body, including your weight loss efforts. EEEK! The science behind making sure you sleep and sleep well is solid--you need sleep if you want to live the healthy lifestyle you desire. That's why I'm so pleased to tell you about a special event happening now through August 1, 2008.

It's call The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge from the good people at Select Comfort. You may have heard about the Sleep Number® bed on the radio or television and it's arguably the most individualized bed you can possibly own with your own air chamber to make it as soft or as firm as you'd like it on your side of the bed while your bedmate can set their own Sleep Number to the desired level of firmness they would like. Christine and I have tried these out in their store and we are light years apart with our number (she likes her VERY firm and I like mine VERY soft!).

By participating in this special challenge, you will have a chance to be the grand prize winner of a queen-sized Sleep Number® 3000 bed set with the Firmness Control™ system valued at nearly $1,200! WOO HOO! There will also be a first place prize of a pair of Intralux® Comfort Foam Contour Pillows valued at $110. It's a pretty nifty incentive to get you to focus in on your sleep and getting in the habit of getting more of it for the sake of your health. And all you have to do it sign up for the challenge.

Here's how the challenge works: Americans are exhausting themselves to declining health by cutting back on getting adequate sleep. So the challenge is to commit to getting just ONE MORE HOUR OF SLEEP EACH DAY so you can be better rested to take on the day and be healthy in the living world. That's it! We all pay attention to our diet and exercise routine and meticulously plan our days and vacations. So why not do the same with our sleep? You should regularly budget your sleep time like you would any other scheduled appointment or meeting and stick to it! Just so you know, I'm talking to ME as much as I am you right now. I needed this challenge and I am committing myself to getting that extra hour of sleep somewhere somehow. :)

The long-term health impact of adding just one extra hour of sleep per day is phenomenal! It can literally extend your life by reducing such health ailments as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders and high blood pressure, among other conditions. The evidence is mounting just as it is for livin' la vida low-carb, so we shouldn't ignore it any longer. Get that sleep you desperately need so your body can be as healthy as it can be!

Let me know if you are participating in The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge and share your thoughts about how it's going in the comments section below. GOOD LUCK to everyone who enters for a chance to win that GREAT bed. Sweet dreams, baby! ;)

Fred Hahn's Top 20 Most Effective Fat Loss Tips

"Slow Burn" trainer Fred Hahn offers up 20 fat-burning ideas!

After reading and reviewing his fantastic book entitled The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution in January, I was not just enamored by the overall fitness philosophy of personal trainer Fred Hahn who advocates lifting weights slowly as the safest, most effective way to build muscle. But after interviewing him at my blog and realizing he promotes a solid controlled-carbohydrate nutritional approach to work in tandem with the "Slow Burn" program, I knew Fred was somebody I wanted to hear more from in the future.

In fact, my favorite quote from that interview is what Fred Hahn recommends as the perfect post-workout meal:

A juicy bacon cheeseburger (no bun) with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and avocado, or steak and eggs with sliced tomatoes.

YEAH BABY!!! Now that's what I'm talking about! :D If you like that kind of honest opinions and information about what to do regarding your own health and fitness routine, then you'll want to bookmark Fred Hahn's blog and visit often. He is always posting some interesting thoughts, so visit early and visit often. There's never a dull moment with Fred in the blogosphere! ;)

Today I have a very special surprise from our friend Fred Hahn. As part of his Slow Burn Fitness System--a special combination of insulin-controlled diet and strength training exercise--he has graciously provided me a list of 20 of his most effective fat loss tips to impart to the wonderful readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. This program has been proven to be highly efficient at helping its participants begin burning fat, gaining strength, improving their health, and becoming more energetic and youthful than they have ever been in their entire lives.

To complement what you are already doing as part of your healthy low-carb lifestyle, Fred recommends the following 20 tips to boost your fat loss results. ENJOY!

1. DRINK A GALLON OF REFRIGERATED WATER A DAY

A gallon of cold water will burn around 150 calories of energy to heat the cold water to body temperature for voiding! (And it's good for your skin and hair too!)

Note from Jimmy: I would only caution you to watch your body temperature if you decide to do this tip because I used to drink my water cold until a doctor told me I was freezing my insides. I was drinking upwards of 1-2 gallons a day and was ALWAYS cold. Even now, when I drink large amounts of TAP water, my hands get as cold as ice.

2. BEFORE YOU CHEAT, DRINK WATER AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH

If you get hungry and feel you're going to cheat, quickly drink a big glass of cool water and brush and floss your teeth. While doing so, think this thought: "There is no food that tastes as good as being lean and strong feels!"

Note from Jimmy: This REALLY works and you'll be surprised how well it does, too. If you aren't in a position to brush your teeth when the craving comes on, then pop a sugar-free mint or piece of mint-flavored sugar-free gum. In those very rare occasions when you don't have access to those things (always keep them handy!), eat something high-fat to ward off the sugar/carb cravings. Works every time!

3. TAKE A CASUAL STROLL 30 MINUTES AFTER DINNER

A half hour after dinner, take a casual stroll for 15-20 minutes whenever possible. Do not walk fast or jog. Just take a pleasant, easy stroll and enjoy your time outdoors. This keeps from from snacking after dinner.

Note from Jimmy: If you make this stroll a regular part of your dinnertime routine, then it will also keep you from stuffing yourself too full because you'll be too uncomfortable even for a casual stroll around the block. What a perfect opportunity to get in some quality time with your family in the process, too.

4. AVOID SUGAR/STARCHY CARBS BEFORE BEDTIME

Avoid eating sugar or starches a few hours before bedtime. This can decrease growth hormone release at night and store unwanted calories as fat.

Note from Jimmy: Better yet, why not avoid sugar and starches ALL THE TIME? Sounds like a plan to me! :D

5. GET A SOLID EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT

Get a full 8 hours of sleep as often as possible. Avoid TV and other distractions as much as you can at night. Deep sleep is when your body is regulating and upgrading your hormonal tone. So get some rest!

Note from Jimmy: And just laying in bed doesn't count as sleep. I know there are some nights it can take me 2-3 hours to get to sleep because I'm thinking about things in my life, worrying about upcoming events, or just so exhausted and tired that sleep evades me. Try to leave all that stuff outside your bedroom and use every moment for tremendous restful sleep. A good workout a few hours before bedtime can help!

6. DRESS AND SLEEP AS COOL AS YOU CAN

Dress and sleep cool. The cooler you stay, the more heat your body must produce to keep you warm and this means more calories burned. Feeling a bit on the chilly side means you are a fat burning dynamo! Always keep as cool as you can when you are exercising. Sweating is overheating and staying cool is much better for exercise performance as well as for fat loss.

Note from Jimmy: I showed this tip to my wife Christine as a reason for running the fan at night in our bedroom. But when she started shivering and her teeth were chattering, I had to stop. Instead of wallowing in the blankets now, I try to sleep with as little cover as possible to stay cool. Working out, though, is another matter. I still sweat quite a bit during exercise, especially when working with my trainer. Every time I feel the sweat dripping down my face, I tell my trainer I'm overheating (as per what Fred said in this tip). My complaints are usually ignored as I'm instructed to continue the workout. Isn't it ironic that you can burn more fat staying cool rather than dripping soaking wet with sweat?

7. EAT SLOWLY AND STOP WHEN HUNGER CEASES

Eat slowly and stop when you are no longer hungry before you feel full.

Note from Jimmy: This is an important tip because most of us eat all the way until we are full. But try going through a day where your purpose in eating is to simply take away your hunger. For some people, this could be as little as just a few bites. Savor each bite and you'll probably feel more satisfied than if you "hork" (thanks for sharing this GREAT word, Christin!) it all down in just a few minutes. You may end up eating every 2-3 hours as the hunger bug returns, but that's okay, too. Let your body tell you when to eat, not the time on the clock.

8. DON'T EAT OUT AT RESTAURANTS

Make and take your meals with you. Refrain from eating out. There are tons of hidden calories in most restaurant foods. (You'll save lots of money too!)

Note from Jimmy: Boy, is Fred ever right about this one! When you go out to a restaurant to eat, you can never really know what they're putting in the food. From IHOP putting pancake batter in their omelets to hidden sugars injected into the steaks at Applebee's, you're just better off making the food yourself at home. It'll save you a lot of heartache on the scale later on if you just make all of your own food.

9. POST MEANINGFUL REMINDERS AND INSPIRATIONAL SAYINGS

Pin notes on your refrigerator, front door, bedroom mirror, etc. with phrases such as "Take your lunch!" "Drink your water!" and "I will succeed!" Anything that will remind you of what to do and why you are doing it is a very potent motivational tool.

Note from Jimmy: Most of us who have allowed our weight to get out of control have issues with self-esteem and feeling worthy. So writing things like "You are AWESOME!" "I'm so proud of what you are accomplishing!" and "NEVER GIVE UP!!!" are an essential part of keeping yourself uplifted and inspired in your daily struggle to lose the weight and get healthy. Don't underestimate the power of such a simple act because it can reap BIG DIVIDENDS for you with constant positive reinforcement on a daily basis.

10. NEVER SKIP A MAJOR MEAL

Never skip breakfast or any main meal. Thinking you will lose fat faster by skipping meals is a huge step in the wrong direction. Huge! Your body need to feel "satisfied" and requires adequate nutrition to shed body fat and build muscle.

Note from Jimmy: There was a 10-year study published in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association that concluded eating breakfast leads to lower body mass index compared to those who skip breakfast. And it's true! You need to fuel up for your day with a hearty high-fat, moderate protein meal to give your body the energy it needs to get through the day. That's why I like to begin my day with some delicious eggs cooked in butter along with a side of bacon or sausage. Mmm mmm--a nutritious way to start your day!

11. PURCHASE A GOAL OUTFIT AND TRY IT ON WEEKLY

Select a piece of clothing that you want to fit into again and try it on once a week.

Note from Jimmy: Actually, I did this when I weighed 410 pounds. My wife Christine and I went to JCPenney's in January 2004 and at the time I was wearing size 62-inch waist pants. So, imagine the surprise on Christine's face when I picked up a pair of 42-inch waist khaki pants! Yep, she was shocked to say the least. But I put those "goal pants" up on the wall and dreamed of being able to fit into them by the end of that year. In early November 2004 after losing around 165 pounds, I tried them on and they FINALLY fit me (albeit, they were tight, but they got around me!). It was such a thrilling moment in my weight loss journey and those pants went on to become very loose on me by the end of the year. WOO HOO!

12. READ ONE HEALTH-RELATED BOOK A WEEK

Read a book a week that is health related or motivational in nature.

Note from Jimmy: Because I run a diet and health-focused blog that gets a fair share of daily traffic, access to the latest health and motivational books is easy for me. The ones I think are the best get featured at my blog, so be on the lookout for my posts featuring books that may help you in your healthy lifestyle. Some blog posts where I have featured new books on nutrition and fitness can be found here, here, here, here, and here.

13. AVOID ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITH EMPTY CALORIES

Limit or avoid alcohol. Drinks can be very high in calories so beware!

Note from Jimmy: I'm not a drinker, but I equate drinking alcohol with those people who drink sugary sodas. Both will stop the fat-burning process until all the carbs (alcohol included) is burned first. While the low-carb beer market has experienced a tremendous growth spurt over the past year, the fact remains that alcohol will inhibit fat-burning and weight loss just as much as eating a slice of chocolate cake would. So if you can do without it, you'll do your body some good!

14. GET BUSY WITH A FAVORITE ACTIVITY AT NIGHT

Find a hobby that keeps you occupied in the evening. You're less likely to snack if your hands are busy and you may be surprised what you can accomplish!

Note from Jimmy: I can think of a few things to do...at night! ;)

15. EAT HIGH-FIBER VEGGIES, LOW-SUGAR FRUITS

Eat fruits and veggies instead of cakes and sweets and when you think fruit think berries. The higher the fiber content in the food, the better.

Note from Jimmy: I happen to think the generic recommendation to "eat more fruits and vegetables" is a big fat copout by those who claim to care about the weight and health of overweight and obese people. As I stated repeatedly to Dr. Dean Ornish during my recent interview with him, the KIND of fruits and vegetables is extremely important when you are talking to people about what's good for them and what is not. Fried potatoes, which dominates the "veggie" intake of nearly half of kids and one-fourth of adults, is very clearly NOT the kind of vegetable people should be eating. Non-starchy veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach, and kale are excellent choices. And Fred is so right about fruit--stick with the berries!

16. AVOID THE BREAD, EAT A SALAD, DRINK LOTS OF WATER

If you must eat out, send the bread basket back once it arrives. Order a salad as your appetizer and an appetizer as your main course. Keep that ice water coming!

Note from Jimmy: Whenever I eat out somewhere often enough, the servers KNOW not to bring me crackers or bread with my meal. If they forget and bring it to me anyway, I simply look at it and state, "I won't be needing that, thank you!" It's better not to even have it on the table with you so you'll never be tempted. If you do decide to order a meal from one of the main courses, keep in mind the portion size may be much bigger than your body actually needs to get rid of your hunger. Don't be afraid to take some food home in a carryout box.

17. COMPLETELY AVOID ALL FOODS TOUTING "LOW-FAT"

Avoid purchasing and eating foods that are labeled as "low fat" or "no fat."

Note from Jimmy: Wanna hear a dirty little secret about these so-called "healthy" low-fat or fat-free foods you see in the stores these days? When they remove the fat from them, guess what they have to ADD to them to make them taste at least halfway close to the original (yeah right!)? SUGAR!!! And many times it is in the form of high-fructose corn syrup which is even worse. Why do that to yourself? Just eat the full-fat foods with confidence and let the low-fatties suffer eating fat-free cheese that tastes like cardboard and the watery skim milk!

18. PRACTICE DAILY VISUALIZATION OF THE NEW YOU TO COME

Try to visualize your leaner, stronger, healthier self a few times each day. See yourself as you wish to be. Imagine that new you and think everyday you are one step closer to achieving your goal. Care about yourself. You're worth it!

Note from Jimmy: You just don't realize how powerful this is! As I previously stated, most of us have a self-worth that is next to nothing when we began our low-carb weight loss journey. It's difficult enough trying to lose weight, but then we pile on all this extra baggage from the circumstances in our life that it's almost impossible to ever imagine life as a thin and happy person. But that's exactly what you must do to prepare yourself mentally for the BIG CHANGES that are to come. Believe me, getting your mind to believe in what is to come makes it that much easier to accept the new physical you when it gets here. Start thinking you look good NOW!

19. RESIST THE URGE TO OVER-EXERCISE

Avoid excessive amounts of exercise. Too much exercise makes cortisol levels rise which in turn causes muscle wasting and can aid in fat storage. You do not receive benefits from exercise when you are exercising. You receive the benefits when you are resting and recovering from the exercise. If your eating habits are proper, you do not need to try and burn off additional fat via exercise. You'll save yourself from orthopedic problems as well.

Note from Jimmy: It seems logical--the more you exercise, the more calories you can burn off and weight loss will happen. And yet there is the risk of inflammation from doing too much exercise and the cortisol issue as Fred explained. This is a controversial recommendation since most people don't get nearly ENOUGH exercise. But I've seen the workaholics in the gym who spend hours upon hours beating their bodies to a pulp trying to salvage every last bit of energy out of themselves thinking that's gonna make them a lean, mean fighting machine. In a word, NOPE! Get in a solid workout, eat healthy low-carb meals with plenty of fat and protein, and let your body do the rest. It's no more difficult than that!

20. GET REAL WITH YOURSELF

BE REALISTIC. This is perhaps the most important tip of all. Do not try to avoid every bad food in the whole world everyday. Do not expect your program to transform your physique into a Greek god or goddess. We can't all look like movie start--but we can all dramatically change our bodies for the better and live long, healthy lives following the very simple and extremely efficient Slow Burn Program.

Note from Jimmy: Fred is right! Livin' la vida low-carb isn't about what you CAN'T have as much as it is what you CAN. I challenge anyone to tell me that this way of eating isn't the most luxurious, delicious "diet" plan you could possibly go on and still lose body fat while vastly improving your health. It truly is a miracle and I'm thrilled to be eating this way for the rest of my life. Combining low-carb living with the "Slow Burn" resistance training developed by Fred Hahn will have you looking better than you ever thought possible. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

New Zealand Student Asks What Your Low-Carb Experience Is With Sleep, Energy

Joel Bell has a rather interesting question to ask low-carbers

After my recent encounter with a snobby high school science teacher wanting my help with a student project on low-carb last week, it was a refreshing change to receive a very pleasant e-mail from a college student from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand this week who is doing an e-mail research project on a specific area of low-carb dieting.

The student's name is Joel Bell and here's what he wants to know:

"Do people who go on low carbohydrate or reduced carbohydrate diets experience less need for sleep and also feel like their energy levels improve?"

It's an interesting question that is at the center of debate even among various people who have been on a low-carb diet. Joel would like to know what YOU think by sharing your answer to that question with him via e-mail. Send him your answer along with your name and where you live to jbe78@student.canterbury.ac.nz as soon as possible.

I will be sending Joel my own personal experience with this and he will compile all the responses to "formulate a conclusion on how people respond to low carbohydrate diets." This is only a student-led research project, but it will be interesting to see what realization he comes to based on the anecdotal evidence he receives.

As most of us low-carbers will attest, livin' la vida low-carb is a real bear early on as your body adjusts to the carb withdrawals. But once you get past that initial lack of energy, there's a sudden BURST of energy that comes shining through and propels you to feel better than you ever have before. I STILL feel this way!

Joel explained to me why he is interested in this subject matter.

"I became intrigued by the idea that diets can effect need for sleep and energy levels after reading certain testimonials saying that they slept less after following certain diets (particularly raw fruit and vegetable diets as well as reduced carb diets). However the result doesn't seem to be widely talked about."

That's true, so it's nice to see a student take this on. He cited several examples of people who have proven this theory in their own life, including:

- Dean Karnazes (the ultra marathon man) who now sleeps 4 hours a night and has improved energy levels from removing sugar and processed carbohydrate from his diet.

- Stu Mittleman (another runner and author of Slow Burn) who writes about a client who is living on simple carbohydrates who now sleeps 6 hours a night (compared to 8) while having more energy.

- Dr. Barry Sears (The Zone Diet) writes about a sleep paradox that occurs when you reduce carbohydrates because the insulin released reduces growth hormones needed to help repair the body.

Joel also cites a passage from The Warrior Diet where the author recommends eating MORE carbohydrate to help you fall asleep. The more carbs you eat, the more sleep you need. Ergo, the less carbs you eat, the less sleep you need.

As a personal trainer prior to his educational experience at the University of Canterbury, Joel had read up on this subject about how carbohydrates release another hormone that leads to sleepiness while protein releases a hormone that stimulates brain and body activity.

It sounds like he may be on to something that would make for an excellent thesis and/or future book for Joel Bell! Let's help him out by sharing our personal experiences with sleep and energy while livin' la vida low-carb by e-mailing him at jbe78@student.canterbury.ac.nz. THANKS!

7-12-07 UPDATE: Joel e-mailed me today to let me know his local newspaper down in New Zealand picked up the story about his school project after reading this blog entry about it. COOL!

Here's what he wrote:

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for all your help. I ended up in my city's newspaper the other day because of this study. The journalist saw your post on the common voice site and thought it would make a good story. Here is the link!

Have a great day,

Joel Bell

Three-Day Atkins Study Deceiving People Who Need Weight Loss About Low-Carb

Dr. Chow having a cow over so-called side effects that come from low-carb

When I read about studies like this one regarding people who go on what the media calls the Atkins/low-carb diet, it literally takes everything within me to keep from pulling my hair out because it is obvious the researchers don't have a clue what livin' la vida low-carb is REALLY about.

Lead researcher Dr. Chin Moi Chow, senior lecturer in the School of Exercise and Sport Science of The University of Sydney in Australia, claims that she observed 15 people on the Atkins diet over a THREE-DAY period and noticed that the study participants experienced more mood swings, fatigue and even extreme dreams allegedly as a result of being on a low-carb diet.

Dr. Chow said more of the Atkins dieters were able to sleep deeply (18 percent) than the control group on a normal diet (14 percent) because the higher fat intake supposedly stimulates the release of a hormone called cholecystokinin that makes them tired. But she was quick to point out the trade-off for this deep sleep includes vivid dreams and frequent waking up in the middle of the night as the body "struggled to break down hard-to-digest foods," apparently referring to the additional fat and/or protein consumed by low-carb dieters.

While only 20 percent of the study partipants on a normal diet remembered their dreams, 53 percent of Atkins dieters recalled how "unpleasant" their dreams were.

“Some people didn't remember much about their dreams but they definitely remembered that they were unpleasant,” Dr. Chow stated. ”Others reported being chased or experiencing nasty stresses related to their daily lives."

The negative impact of this manifested itself during the daytime for the Atkins dieters who were tired, moody, irritable, lacked concentration, and could not focus. In fact, Dr. Chow made the following grim conclusions about people who go on the Atkins diet.

"It might make you lose weight and sleep more deeply but the side effects are so bad that they seriously affect your life," Dr. Chow exclaimed. “So that's not good on your work situation or social situation, and if you have a lapse of concentration while you're driving that could be fatal."

She added that the Atkins dieters in her study were also suffering from low blood sugar levels and ketosis which she describes as "chronic starvation." Who would ever want to put themselves through something like this?!

Dr. Chow presented her findings at the Australasian Sleep Association Conference in Perth, Australia, on October 7, 2006.

Does this sound like a weight loss plan YOU would want to do after reading a study like this? Heck, if I hadn't already lost close to 200 pounds on the Atkins diet already, then I'm not so sure I'd want to do it with the way Dr. Chow conducted her study. I have previously blogged about low-carb changing your mood, but that's not the whole story.

Let's throw a little practical reality into the picture right about now.

As my friend and fellow 200-pound Atkins diet weight loss success story Kent Altena recently explained in his video about Induction flu, there are some rather unpleasant TEMPORARY side effects to beginning a low-carb program because most people are addicted to carbohydrates--VERY ADDICTED! I know I was.

I personally wanted to kill myself on the first day of my Atkins diet experience because I felt so unbelievably weak, drained of any energy whatsoever, a massive headache from Hell...I think you get the picture. My wife Christine will tell you that she has never seen me get so sick as I did on January 1, 2004 when I embarked on this journey to lose weight on the Atkins diet.

But is this a reason to NOT start a low-carb plan? Heck no! It's VERY natural to make your body go through the sugar and refined carb withdrawals in those early days because it is a necessary step to getting to the best part of livin' la vida low-carb--WEIGHT LOSS, BABY! Had I given up after just three days, Dr. Chow, then I would never tasted the thrill of an enormous weight loss and vastly improved health. My life was RADICALLY changed for the better because of the Atkins diet.

Plus, what's with a study about the Atkins diet on just fifteen people for only three days, Dr. Chow? That's not the Atkins diet. It doesn't even take you through even one-fifth of ONE PHASE of the Atkins diet. Come on people, let's get real about what we are calling the Atkins diet here. This reminds me of that Georgia student who went on Atkins for two whole days. WOW, that must have been some plan. NOT!

If you are going to accurately look at the Atkins diet that was created by the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins, Dr. Chow, then you need to go at least two weeks to get through the Induction phase and then another 8-24 weeks to see how the dieter progresses from being controlled by carbs to taking control of their eating habits for the first time in their life.

Sure, it can be rough in the early days of Atkins and nobody in the low-carb community is denying that. But that's like leaving a movie theater five minutes after the movie starts because a character you liked was murdered. Does this mean the movie is bad because of this? Of course not. And neither does any pain or struggles that come early on in a low-carb plan.

Even Dr. Chow admits these side effects that she says happen on the Atkins diet have not been evaluated over longer periods of time, but rather she insists on making her three days indicative of ALL low-carb dieters at any point on the diet. That's just plain ridiculous, Dr. Chow, and you should be ashamed of yourself for putting that out there in the public realm as scientific fact. It's nothing more than a low-carb hatchet job and you know it!

My blogging friend Suzique from the new "Low-Carb Lab" blog made the following comment in this blog post about Dr. Chow's study today.

"If the people would get past the three-day mark they would see an amazing reversal of all this. Side effects are NOT from fat in the diet but the withdrawal from carbs. Yet studies like this keep the public at large ignorant of the real facts of this way of eating."

I couldn't have said it better myself, Suzique!

Wanna express your thoughts about this silly study with Dr. Chin Moi Chow herself? You can e-mail her at C.Chow@fhs.usyd.edu.au.