Karly Pitman helps you balance your diet, health, and life
In Episode 130 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore", I continue with Part 2 of my interview with Karly Pitman from First Ourselves. Karly charmed us with her reminder that it is important to refresh, re-energize, and recharge ourselves so that we can more aptly give back to others. I don't know about you, but that was a message I personally needed to hear in conjunction with understanding the detrimental role of consuming sugar a little better. Karly tells all!
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 130:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 130 [15:41m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
In this second part of my interview with Karly Pitman, she shares even more openly about her battle with sugar and the decade-long journey she took to overcome her addiction. She admits to be "hardcore" by not eating any sugar or sugar alternatives, but doesn't fault anyone who uses them to help them beat their sugar demons, lose weight and get healthy. What a positive message for anyone who feels it is impossible to give up sugar for good. Karly says it IS possible!
April 28th--Drs. Mike & Mary Dan Eades Part 1 May 1st--Drs. Mike & Mary Dan Eades Part 2 May 5th--Dr. Richard Feinman Part 1 May 8th--Dr. Richard Feinman Part 2 May 12th--Mary Bissell, producer of My Big Fat Diet May 15th--Jennette Fulda May 19th--Gary Taubes Part 1 May 22nd--Gary Taubes Part 2 May 26th--Dr. Julie Kahn May 29th--Dr. Jim LaValle
THANKS for all your support for the work I am doing. KEEP LISTENING!
Karly Pitman says don't neglect the various aspects of your health
In Episode 129 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore", I am honored and privileged to share Part 1 of my interview with another amazing woman in the world of livin' la vida low-carb named Karly Pitman from First Ourselves. Karly is dedicated to encouraging women specifically to take care of themselves first and foremost so that their family and community can benefit from the strength that comes from recharging regularly. This may sound unrelated to the low-carb lifestyle, but once you listen to Karly in this interview today you'll understand this may be the missing link that many have been trying to find in their health pursuits.
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 129:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 129 [15:27m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
In this first part of my interview, Karly Pitman reveals how she is now on a personal crusade to help women prevent the mistakes of her past, including bulimia, sugar binges, self-image confusion, bouts with depression, and constantly battling those little demons dancing inside of her head--all of which were destroying her mental, physical, and spiritual health. If you struggle with any of these things, then Karly has dedicated herself to helping others overcome like she did.
If you have been enjoying these interviews I've been sharing lately, then you're in luck! There are a bunch more coming over the next few weeks and months, so stay tuned and keep listening to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore."
New Reality TV Show Casting People With Sugar Addiction This Week
Bona fide sugar addicts should apply to new television reality show
From the casting company who brought you the hit NBC-TV reality show "The Biggest Loser," now there is another health-related reality show on the way around the issue of sugar addiction. This has long been a popular theme at my blog because sugar has been shown to shatter your health, be very addictive and even lead to criminal activity.
Now YOU will have a chance to get help for your sugar addiction if you can show up for an open casting call in the Los Angeles, California area this weekend. Are you a head first sugar addict, able to eat sugary chocolates, candies, ice cream, cakes, cookies, pies and so much more without even thinking about it? Then 3 Ball Productions/TLC wants to meet you and possibly put you on national television.
If you are seriously interested, then here's how you qualify:
- MUST BE 22-54 YEARS OLD - MUST BE A MAN OR WOMAN (what else would you be?) - MUST BE AT LEAST 30 BUT NO MORE THAN 90 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT - MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW WITH PRODUCERS - MUST BEGIN SHOOTING ON SATURDAYS IN FEBRUARY 2008
The auditions begin TODAY, December 6th and will continue on Friday and Monday. No more auditions will be accepted after that, so please act quickly for this unique opportunity to be on television and get help for your sugar addiction.
If you are from the UK, then you probably already know who Paul McKenna is. But for those of us in the United States, he's probably a mystery. But pretty soon EVERYONE will know who he is after watching him as the host and star of this new reality series.
Check out this video of McKenna implementing some of his visual strategies for overcoming some common mental issues associated with sugary foods. THIS IS AWESOME!!!
Listening to this guy talk reminds me of how I beat my sugar and carbohydrate addiction back in 2004. Some may think McKenna's methodology is a bit bizarre and sensationalist, but the fact is it works! And if you aren't pumped up after watching him in that video, then there's just no motivating you. This is truly an exciting opportunity for the lucky contestants on this upcoming new reality show.
Okay, so you qualify, you're able to be in LA today, tomorrow, or Monday for the casting call, and you can't wait to meet Paul McKenna and get started on beating your sugar addiction. Now what?
The details you should include in your e-mail are:
- What specific sweet treats are your sugary vice? - How long have you been addicted to sugary foods? - What is your height and weight and how much weight loss is needed? - What is your most sad sob sugar story? - Why do you want to kick your sugar addiction for good?
If you would prefer to speak with someone by telephone, then you can also call one of the casting directors Lexie Shoemaker at (310) 727-3337 ext. 71270. She'd be pleased to hear from the readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog who need a little extra help beating their addiction to sugar. Makes me wish I was still a sugar addict--NOT! :)
Let me know if you decide to go try out for this reality show with Paul McKenna. With most of the health and diet information focused on how bad fat is, I'm so happy to FINALLY see a show that's gonna deal with the REAL culprit in weight and health--SUGAR! Some claim it can be a part of a healthy lifestyle, but we know better, don't we? Stories of people overcoming their addiction to sugar abound, so will you be the NEXT one by appearing on this show?
SUGAR SHOCK! to receive national television exposure on Sunday
If you are a fan of fellow blogger and author Connie Bennett's kick-sugar message in her fantastic book entitled SUGAR SHOCK!, then you're gonna love what I have to share with you today.
Connie announced on her SUGAR SHOCK! Blog that a film crew from the CBS News Sunday Morning show will be filming her and any other sugar addicts who live in and around New York City on Friday, June 8, 2007 for an 8-9 minute segment on why America loves their sugar so much. WOW, can you believe they're doing THIS story?!
"Wanna be on TV to help spread the word about how your sugar habit can wreak havoc on your life?" Connie exclaimed in an e-mail to supporters. "This is all very exciting!"
It is set to air on Father's Day, June 17, 2007.
"Just think: Our sugary confessions, insights and strategies can help millions of viewers of CBS News Sunday Morning to learn about the nightmare of having a sugar habit and the amazing, almost miraculous benefits that you get just by kicking it," Connie exclaimed at her blog today.
Connie says CBS really wants to talk to some sugar addicts both former and people who are still in the midst of overcoming their sugar addiction.
If you want to join in on the fun filming with Connie, then please e-mail her ASAP (she needs to know by Thursday afternoon at the latest if you can do this). In the subject line, please put "Sugar Addict (Current or Former) -- For CBS Shoot on Friday in NYC."
Connie can fill you in on the details when you contact her, but the filming will take place in Manhattan on Friday afternoon.
Everyone who shows up for this event will receive FREE access to Connie's teleseminar call on June 20, 2007 with obesity expert Dr. David Ludwig compliments of Connie Bennett for taking the time to join her. Plus, YOU GET TO BE ON TELEVISION!!!
I know Connie will be very grateful to everyone who can participate. I wish I lived closer to New York City because I'd be there in a heartbeat to share my story! Let Connie hear from you RIGHT AWAY!
Could this be the #1 book on Amazon sometime today?
I've got some super exciting news to share with you today about fellow blogger Connie Bennett, who is the author of the explosive new book release about how unhealthy sugar is I have shared with you before called SUGAR SHOCK!
This book is already changing the lives of so many people in just the first few weeks since it released in late December, but I cannot wait to tell you how YOU can help make this book even more influential than it has already been.
Today, January 17, 2007 is probably going to go down as a special day for the SUGAR SHOCK! book. As of the writing of this blog post, it has already cracked the Top 100 over at Amazon.com and I think we can give it that last little push to make it shoot to #1!
Why is this important to you? I'll give you several reasons to ponder.
1. We all know someone who needs to give up sugar. 2. Perhaps deep down inside YOU still struggle with sugar addiction. 3. Here's a low-carb advocate with a chance to help MANY people!
This barely scratches the surface of what's at stake here, but think about this: wouldn't it be GREAT to have a LOW-CARB book as the #1 overall bestseller at Amazon?! Do you know the kind of prestige that can give a book like this in the eyes of the average, everyday person who may not even know this book exists?
Well, if you are as focused on getting the message out about this fantastic sugar-shunning book as I am, then let me urge you RIGHT NOW to go purchase 1, 2, or even 10 copies of SUGAR SHOCK!: How Sweets And Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life--And How You Can Get Back On Track! to help Connie shake up not just the diet & health book category, but quite frankly the book industry itself! What an opportunity we have here!
To make it worth your while, Connie is ready to shower you with lots of FREE GIFTS from her friends and fellow experts that will provide you with (get this!) nearly $1400 worth of resources all for buying this $10 book on Amazon. Go to SugarBookPromo.com to see all of the amazing gifts you will receive just for getting Connie's book today.
Read what Connie herself had to say about her book:
"I'd really like to think that this one book could make a HUGE difference in your life. You see, I wrote the kind of book that I would have loved to have back in 1998 when I had to kick sugar on doctor's orders. Often, the topics I cover came about just because of valuable feedback and suggestions from my clients. So get more energy, improved concentration, and better health now. You deserve to feel the best you can feel!"
Won't YOU help push SUGAR SHOCK! to #1 on Amazon.com?
1-17-07 UPDATE @1:30PM EST: Right now, SUGAR SHOCK! has catapulted to the Top 20 overall and in the Top 10 of health books! WOO HOO! Because of this status, you can NOW get SUGAR SHOCK! for LESS THAN NINE BUCKS each since bestsellers are 40% off! I just bought 3 copies of this book at Amazon to give away as gifts to people who need to her this message. The total price for the 3 books was about $25 which qualified me for FREE SHIPPING! WOW WOW WOW! Why wait any longer, go get this book! :)
1-17-07 UPDATE @2:00PM EST: Connie's cracked the Top 10 OVERALL at Amazon now landing the #8 position right now. She's got some big boys to beat ahead of her, including books from Barack Obama, Bob Greene, and Mehmet Oz, but WE CAN MAKE IT #1! Have you gotten your copies of this amazing new low-carb book yet? Time is crucial here, so let's push to make it soar to the top spot--go get SUGAR SHOCK! right now! What a historic moment this would be in 2007!
1-17-07 UPDATE @3:00PM EST: Well, it's getting harder now to move SUGAR SHOCK! up the charts in the Top 10, but it's now at #7. THANK YOU to everyone who has gotten the book this far up the charts. AMAZING! I'm thinking of buying three more books today to help push it that much closer. Have you gotten in on the fun yet? :D I know Connie would appreciate however many you can get.
1-17-07 UPDATE @7:00PM EST: As of right now, the book has creeped up to #6 and trying desperately to get to the top spot. It looks like we're getting there, but not quite yet. There's still time for you to take advantage of getting this book on this special day. Remember, if you buy THREE of them for only $25 that includes the shipping, then don't forget you also get all those other nearly $1400 worth of prizes, too! Have you done your part for SUGAR SHOCK! yet? Only a few more hours are left!
In August I warned you to brace yourself for it. Then, a couple of weeks ago I implored you to be ready for this moment and now it has arrived. What is it?
Now that it's Tuesday, December 26, 2006, today marks the long-awaited worldwide debut book release from Connie Bennett entitled SUGAR SHOCK!: How Sweets And Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life--And How You Can Get Back On Track! (read my review of this book). Stop RIGHT NOW and GO GET THIS BOOK TODAY or you can ORDER IT NOW from Amazon at a special price around $10 for a limited introductory promotional price. It won't stay at that low price for long, so get it while you can and you'll even qualify for FREE SUPER SAVER SHIPPING, too!
SUGAR SHOCK! has been several years in the making and will be well worth every penny you invest in this labor of love that Connie has put into it. You'll find page after page of informative, educational, and uplifting messages of hope and inspiration that a life without sugar can be a sweet ride indeed.
Start thinking about the people in your life who are addicted to sugar. Maybe it's YOU or your husband, kids, a co-worker, that friend from church...ANYONE who needs serious help overcoming their love affair with sugar which has left their weight and health in shambles. SUGAR SHOCK! will help them pick up the pieces and guide them on the path to success in a nonthreatening and sometimes humorous manner.
The thing I like most about Connie Bennett is her honesty. She doesn't sugarcoat (ALL PUN INTENDED!) her own experiences because she wants people to know about the process of feeling like you can't live without sugar into someone who describes herself now as a "sugar shrew no more!" SUGAR SHOCK! points you in the right direction for shunning sugar forever.
Above everything else, Connie is one of us. She supports livin' la vida low-carb and gives credit to the low-carb lifestyle throughout her book. Unlike some "other" books about sugar that are out there (ahem, no names here!) which SLAM low-carb living as quackery and unrealistic, Connie Bennetts lays the TRUTH out there for everyone to see and is unashamed of her stance. I admire that about her and feel her embracing of genuine low-carb living merits a closer look by those of us who advocate this incredible way of life.
With New Year's resolutions coming next week, what better time to START thinking about kicking your sugar habit than on January 1, 2007? Go get SUGAR SHOCK! TODAY so you will be armed and ready to make that commitment in earnest by this time next week. I promise you it will be all worth it.
Actually, January 1st will be my three year anniversary since I totally quit sugar cold turkey and it's a decision I have NEVER regretted. Today, just the thought of putting sugar in my mouth absolutely repulses me. It's disgusting to even think about, let alone actually do it. Let SUGAR SHOCK! show YOU how that can happen in your life, too.
Let's rally behind Connie Bennett's SUGAR SHOCK! and send that book soaring up the bestseller charts. People need to know the truth and Connie gives healthy doses of it in her spectacular debut!
You've got some Christmas cash, so get this book in a flash! I know Connie will be eternally grateful for your commitment to her book as you share about it with others who desperately need to learn from it. They're definitely going to be in for the SUGAR SHOCK! of their lives!
Connie Bennett's book coming December 26, 2006--PRE-ORDER TODAY!
Tens of millions of people in the United States of America every single day willfully expose themselves to one of the most harmful substances that has ever been discovered. This stuff quite literally wreaks havoc on both your mental and physical health in a multiplicity of ways like nothing else and yet nobody seems to be sounding the alarm loud enough for something to be done about this dangerous substance before it claims any more victims.
Is it crack cocaine? No. How about the much-vilified fat? Uh-uh. Could it be alcoholic beverages? Nope again. This is arguably one of the most stealth public health threats in the history of mankind that has quite literally fallen beneath the radar of public scorn somehow while millions of people worldwide have fallen prey to its inevitable health consequences.
I'm referring to the sweet kiss of death known as sugar!
In the great debate over the healthiness of this white granular substance, there is one singular voice of reason that rises above them all. Her name is Connie Bennett and she has written the ultimate book on why people should be concerned about consuming too much sugar in her long-awaited debut book release entitled SUGAR SHOCK!: How Sweets And Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life--And How You Can Get Back On Track! from Berkley Books (part of the Penguin Group).
With all the honesty of a woman who admits her once all-encompassing, head-over-heels love affair with sugar, Bennett implores her tremendous skills as a talented journalist to uncover some deep dark secrets surrounding sugar by digging into the great body of research and personal experiences of people who have been negatively impacted by it. What she discovers in the process could very well unlock the mystery behind so many of the health crises that plague our healthcare system today.
Incredibly entertaining and impeccably sourced, SUGAR SHOCK! will quite literally give you the "shock" of your life when you learn just how ruthless and unforgiving sugar can actually be on your health. For people who smugly proclaim that "it's only sugar," you might want to get yourself a copy of this book and see for yourself why there is cause for concern.
Bennett, along with medical consulting from cardiologist and nutritionist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, share her harrowing experiences with sugar, including wild mood swings, unstable blood sugar, depression, headaches, and much worse. It's this personal touch that makes you realize she isn't just blowing smoke on a subject she knows nothing about. On the contrary, Bennett is abundantly aware of the reaction she had to sugar and wants to warn others so they can avoid the same mistakes she did.
Aftering becoming successful at overcoming her own SUGAR SHOCK!, now Bennett seeks to educate people about what they can do to not only reduce, but actually eliminate their desire to eat sugar ever again. Seriously! Does this sound too good to be true? After you read this book, you may never want to put anything containing sugar in your mouth for the rest of your life. This book is indeed lifechanging!
As someone who has lost nearly 200 pounds on the low-carb lifestyle and by permanently eliminating sugar from my diet, I can certainly appreciate what Bennett has to say about how processed carbs are exascerbating the weight and health of most Americans. I was there once weighing over 400 pounds and suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and breathing problems. Additionally, my sugar addiction had me gripped by the throat and refused to let me go.
All of that changed in 2004 when I bid farewell to sugar and my life will never be the same again. It is a difficult transition, but a necessary one that people need to make before sugar claims you as its next victim. That's why I appreciate what Connie Bennett is doing to help others who desire to learn more about the outstanding benefits of eating quality carbohydrates while pointing people away from eating simple sugars. She really puts the whole "low-carb equals no carb" rumor to rest by sharing the kinds of "quality carb" foods people can and should be eating as part of a healthy lifestyle.
You also have the opportunity to jump in on the challenge to kick sugar from your life forever after Bennett explains why you would want to do that, including improving your sex life (WHAT?!), helping your brain function, giving your emotions a boost, and loosening your addiction to the sweet stuff. Plus, Bennett reveals how that innocent sugary dessert you feel you can't live without could actually be the reason why diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity rates are all reaching epidemic proportions in the United States and around the world! It makes you wonder, doesn't it?
So, what do you do after you experience SUGAR SHOCK! and are thoroughly convinced of your need to stop eating sugar? Well, you look for the cure and Bennett offers that to you as well with key tips and advice about what to eat, how and what to shop for instead of sugar, overcoming cravings, and defeating the sugar monster in your life forever. You just don't realize how much better you will feel until sugar no longer has control over your life.
Featuring a distinguished foreword by Dr. Nicholas Perricone as well as input and endorsements from many of the world's most renowned health experts, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Marion Nestle, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Barry Sears, Dr. Fred Pescatore, and countless others, SUGAR SHOCK! is indeed one of the most important health books of the twenty-first century! Every single diabetic and obese person needs to read this book! Get a copy for yourself and for every overweight and sick friend and family member that you know. This is just too important a subject to be ignored any longer! THANK YOU, Connie Bennett!
Jo Heeley overcame her deep addiction to carbs to lose weight
This UK-based The Sun story about a singer named Jo Heeley and her amazing 84-pound weight loss should encourage anyone who has already decided or even thought about taking the bold step to give up their sugar and carbohydrate addiction forever. That fateful decision was what turned Jo into, as The Sun so aptly put it, a "sugar-free babe!"
At her highest weight, the 5'7" tall Jo tipped the scales at 210 pounds wearing size 20 clothes that were getting tighter and tighter as she continued eating herself into obesity. It's not difficult to know why her weight was shooting skyward either based on the excessive amount of sugary, high-carb foods she was putting in her mouth on a daily basis.
Here was a typical day's meal for Jo before her low-carb lifestyle:
BREAKFAST: 2 Pop Tarts MORNING SNACK: 2 Twix bars and a tube of Pringles LUNCH: Bean burrito AFTERNOON SNACK: Jelly sandwiches SUPPER: Spaghetti with cake for dessert
Yikes! That menu looks pretty familiar! As you can see, Jo was severely hooked on sugar and needed to be weaned off of it as soon as possible if she was ever going to stop the upward climb in her weight. That didn't really sink in until she saw the following picture of herself while singing that was her trigger moment that something needed to be done:
This picture changed the course of Jo's life forever
It's amazing how a picture like that can get people to "wake up" from their mental slumber about the severity of their obesity problem. When I weighed 410 pounds, it was hard to see how bad I had gotten until I watched a video of me waddling around and pulled out some old photos of myself.
That's hard to look at because it looks so surreal! Is that REALLY ME?! It can't be because I don't look like that, do I? Um, NEWSFLASH, yes you do! Those pictures are burned in my mind's eye even now and I don't ever want to forget either!
But that was then and this is now thanks to UK dietitian Amanda Ursell.
Popular UK nutritionist and author Amanda Ursell helps Jo with her diet
As the "diet" expert at The Sun, it was Amanda's job to teach Jo about what she was doing wrong in her diet and to help her begin implementing effective strategies for handling the problem foods that had ballooned her weight to 200+ pounds. While most nutritionists and dietitians these days would have put Jo on a low-fat/low-calorie/portion control diet, you'll never believe what Amanda did!
The first thing Amanda wanted Jo to do was "ditch all the sugar and high GI (glycemic index) carbohydrates." WHOA! Is Amanda REALLY a dietitian? She certainly is wise to the impact that sugar and refined carbs have on your weight, so I am impressed with that. We could certainly use a lot more dietitians just like her over here in the United States.
Amanda said once Jo eliminated sugar from her diet and replaced those foods with high-protein, low-GI foods instead, weight loss was able to happen--FAST!
“By doing this her blood sugar levels came under control and stopped soaring and nosediving which in turn reduced her cravings for these kinds of foods," Amanda explained. “In their place Jo needed to eat high protein foods — for example, eggs were a good choice for breakfast with a slowly digested type of bread like multigrain or rye bread."
WOW, that's a pretty healthy low-carb meal plan, wouldn't you say? Then Amanda got Jo to start eating satisfyingly healthy high-fat nuts to keep her cravings for sugar at bay between meals so she wouldn't feel tempted to eat sugary snacks like she used to.
The remaining two meals of the day were more high-protein, power-packed bundles of nutrition for her new lifestyle.
“Lunchtime could be a big chicken, ham or fish salad and dinner in the evening a straightforward meal such as roast chicken or beef with lots of vegetables," Amanda exclaimed.
Unbelieveable! Hey, I thought low-carb was dead people? LOL! Obviously NOT since it's working for Jo because of the helpful insight of people like Amanda Ursell. I would like to publicly applaud Amanda for refusing to just settle for the same old low-fat dietary garbage that usually comes from people in her profession by turning to a way of eating that is genuinely helping people overcome a lifetime of sugar addiction and weight problems. I'm thrilled to see that, Amanda!
In just one year, Jo is now down to 126 pounds and looks fantastic in her size 10 clothes.
“I’ve never felt better. I just wished I’d not left it so long to sort myself out," Jo revealed.
I think all of us who have experience permanent weight loss after years of struggling have been there, Jo. If I had known that losing 200 pounds and keeping it off long-term would feel this great without all the "suffering" I thought I would have to endure to get here and stay here, then I would have most certainly done it a long time ago. CONGRATULATIONS on your outstanding weight loss Jo as you inspire a nation and a world that livin' la vida low-carb is indeed still working for so many people.
You certainly have to LOVE the fact that Jo is also exercising now with regular cardiovascular workouts and strength training. When she began burning more calories by investing the time to exercise, then she was able to begin eating a little more to fuel those workouts. But, again, none of those meals are loaded with carbs and most are heavy on protein.
Wanna see what Jo eats nowadays? Here's a recent low-carb menu:
BREAKFAST: Scrambled eggs with lean bacon MORNING SNACK: 50g bag of unsalted peanuts LUNCH: Avocado with lots of celery or a prawn salad AFTERNOON SNACK: Berries or a GoLower chocolate creme bars DINNER: Roasted chicken with carrots, peas and broccoli
Mmmm, that looks so incredibly healthy and satisfying, Jo! Can I come over for dinner? That's pretty neat that she traded in her Twix bars (which I used to ADORE as well!) for the awesome GoLower chocolate creme bars. These low-glycemic, no sugar added bars are packed with fiber and protein and taste so delicious, too! Right now they are only available in the UK, but they will soon be coming to the United States and available at CarbSmart. They're well worth the wait! Just ask Jo!
As happy as she is about her astounding weight loss, Jo is also dealing with another issue that so many of us who have gone through the experience of a large weight loss are facing.
“I still have the problem of feeling big, even though I know I’m not. I was so much larger before I lost the weight – and found it hard afterwards with the excess skin," she admitted. “It was difficult to dress myself nicely because you could still see flab, even though it was just skin."
I could almost write a book on this subject, Jo! People just don't understand how much all that excess, hanging, loose skin can work on you psychologically, even after such an amazing weight loss. Looking at myself in the mirror should be something I relish, but I don't. All that squishy skin that looks like fat is discouraging. I'm not about to go gorge myself on a whole box of Little Debbie snack cakes over it, but I don't feel the final exclamation point on my weight loss has happened until I can have an abdominoplasty done.
This does begin to wear on you mentally and it's a fact that I think insurance companies should start taking more notice of. If people like me are able to put forth the effort to lose weight and maintain that weight for a set period of time, say one or two years, then the least an insurance company can do is approve a tummy tuck surgery. They pay for gastrointestinal bypass surgeries left and right, but not a skin removal surgery when someone loses weight naturally? I don't get it.
Don't people who have successfully shed significant amounts of weight in a way deserve have that done as a reward for getting their weight and health under control? I think it might help people become more accountable in their weight loss efforts if they can see all the improvements in their body that an abdominoplasty would show after maintaining their weight loss for a couple of years. I certainly think this is something that merits serious consideration.
Jo was fortunate enough to be able to have a tummy tuck done herself because she wanted "a look that shows off my hard work and makes me feel glamorous and stylish – without feeling like I have to disguise my extra skin!”
That extra skin is very hard to cover it up with some outfits, Jo! One of these days I'm gonna have it done. Do you know a good plastic surgeon who could take in the belly of this former 62-inch waist who now has a 36-inch waist? I REALLY want to have this done in 2007. It has been my dream ever since I lost the majority of my weight in 2004. It WILL happen sooner or later. Hopefully sooner... :)
At the end of the article, Jo describes herself as a "recovering carboholic" who offers some sage advice for people desiring weight loss like she experienced.
“Don’t listen to all the conflicting diet advice. Find a way of eating which suits you and do it. I have lots more energy and sleep better. Losing weight can literally change your whole life.”
Hey, she sounds like ME now! HA! Once again, kudos to you, Jo, because you look fantastic and sound like you have all the confidence in the world about the way you look and feel following your low-carb experience. Keep on livin' la vida low-carb my friend and never forget about that 210-pound woman you used to be. It will keep you from ever seeing that woman again!
Send a THANK YOU note to Amanda Ursell for the low-carb advice she gave to Jo Heeley because she needs to know how much people who are livin' la vida low-carb appreciate her for going against the tide by recommending sugar-free, low-carb living. Use this contact page at Amanda's web site and share your feedback with her. Tell her "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" Man sent you!
1-18-08 UPDATE: Although it has been a very long time since I posted this success story about Jo Heeley, she only recently saw it and has expressed her dissatisfaction about it. It seems that story in The Sun was DEAD WRONG about the role Amanda Ursell played in her low-carb weight loss success and Heeley said as much on the Active Low-Carber Forums today:
"That's me (referring to this blog post) for those that don't know and its mostly a complete load of BS!!! Just for the record, I lost weight following the Atkins diet, I didn't meet Amanda until at least two years after I had lost it and then she didn't approve of my WOE!!!!!"
Heeley also posted at the Low-Carb Diet UK forum with her angry and unhappy response to my post:
"Look what I've just found!!??? How did that get there???? AMANDA F***ING @SELL DID WHAT?????????" (tell us how you REALLY feel, Jo!)
For the record, I wrote this blog post based on what that article in The Sun shared about Jo's weight loss. I apologize if there were inaccuracies in that story and am MORE THAN HAPPY to share the REAL STORY in a follow-up post if Jo Heeley would like to contact me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I am always happy to share about people who lose weight and get healthy by livin' la vida low-carb, so tell me about your success, Jo. :) I look forward to hearing from you!
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 6 [12:23m]: Play in Popup | Download
This week I get into the subject of sugar and the direct role it plays in weight and health. While many will deny there is any negative impact on your health from consuming sugar, people who are livin' la vida low-carb know better. If you have been able to kick the sugar habit in your life, then you will LOVE this podcast show. However, if you are struggling with sugar addiction, I offer some helpful hints on overcoming that and moving forward with your life.
Be sure to provide any comments that you would like about Episode 6 at the official web site for the show. The tremendous growth that the show has experienced in just the past two weeks alone tells me that many of you ARE listening and telling others about it. THANK YOU so much for doing that and I urge others to do the same.
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Spoor believes doughnuts are the "best" way to cheat on your diet
We all know how much companies like Krispy Kreme doughnuts are hurting because of the low-carb lifestyle. The corporate bigwigs at that company have said many times over the past couple of years that the Atkins diet has caused them to lose profits and has even been responsible for several stores that have been forced to close their doors for good.
But none of this fazes Krispy Kreme franchisee and CEO of the Westward Dough Operating Company Lincoln Spoor who owns the famous doughnut units located in the Las Vegas area. This In Business Las Vegas interview with Spoor, whose father incidentally was the CEO of Pillsbury when he was growing up, shows that he is unconcerned about the financial impact on his business of low-carb plans such as Atkins, Mediterranean, and South Beach which all encourage people following them to "stay away from sugar or stay away from the carbs."
"There was a time when our corporate franchisor had said the Atkins diet is hurting us," Spoor recalled. "I don't subscribe to that view. I think what's happening is people are very smart about what they eat these days. They ration their calories. You do, I do."
"Ration their calories?" What in the world does that mean, Mr. Spoor? Who in their right mind thinks eating ANY doughnuts, the worst possible food you could eat on a low-carb diet by the way, is a part of a healthy lifestyle? Is Spoor actually making the same kind of statements about Krispy Kreme doughnuts that this Coke representative recently made about Coca-Cola? Absurd!
But Spoor didn't stop there with his belief that Krispy Kreme doughnuts are permitted even when you are attempting to watch your calories and manage your weight. You are not gonna believe what he said next.
"We are saying, 'You know what, I'm rationing my calories or I'm on a diet but you know what, I really want something great. I really want something best of class, so if I cheat, and everybody cheats, then I'm going to cheat with the best.' That's what we do. People cheat with our doughnuts. They cheat with Häagen-Dazs ice cream, they cheat with Mrs. Fields cookies, they cheat with In-N-Out burgers."
"The best" food to cheat with is doughnuts? Are you kidding me?! EWWW! I think I'm gonna hurl. Furthermore, don't insult my intelligence by automatically ASSUMING that "everyone cheats" who goes on a diet. Sure, those who are not serious about their weight loss plan will slip up and eat those foods you mentioned, but they are in my opinion technically off their diet when that happens. Especially if those "just one time" cheats become daily ones like my friend Kent Altena noted in his latest Atkins educational video.
How often would people need to "cheat with the best" to keep a company like Krispy Kreme in business, Mr. Spoor? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Pretty soon, that would begin to catch up to your business and send you crashing and burning like some of your fellow franchisees have. The fact remains that you NEED customers to come to your stores DAILY and ordering lots and lots of doughnuts to keep your business profitable. Otherwise, the decline in sales will continue.
What keeps you in business are the people who DON'T care about their weight and health who buy dozens of your products at a time to take to their office. While some can eat just one doughnut and be satisfied with that, there are many people who are like I used to be when I weighed 410 pounds who cannot stop feeding the sugar monster once it gets started. I could have easily down 6-8 doughnuts at one time and not even think about it back before I started livin' la vida low-carb. Not anymore.
Today, even the thought of one BITE of a doughnut just makes me literally sick to my stomach. Do they still look good? Sure. Do they even smell good? Of course they do. But I KNOW they cannot be a part of my healthy lifestyle change...EVER AGAIN! Once I go down that path, there's no turning back. Spoor disagrees.
"If you've gone off your diet if you've cheated a little bit and you've done that, it's worth it. You're like, 'You know what? I've cheated, I loved it, and I'm glad.'"
How arrogant is it for someone like Spoor to pretend to speak for people who have cheated on their diet?! How does he know that people who cheated "loved it" and are "glad" they did it? I for one would feel so guilty from an emotional standpoint as well as physically sick from consuming all those empty carbohydrates that it could lead me to a binge eating attack that would balloon me right back up to 400+ pounds again. NO THANK YOU!
Mr. Spoor looks like he's a normal-weight man in that picture at the top of this post and I have no idea if he has ever suffered with being overweight in his life. But as one man who has struggled with being addicted to sugar, I realized a long time ago that sugar cannot be a part of my healthy lifestyle. No matter what you say and believe about sugary doughnuts, Mr. Spoor, they simply cannot be a part of my life anymore.
By the grace of God and through this unique visualization method I used back during my weight loss in 2004, I was able to take back control of my weight and health and am going on nearly three years without allowing the large quantities of sugar that I used to consume daily to even cross my lips. There are just too many damaging effects that sugar can cause that it's better to completely do without it and I encourage others who go on low-carb to do the same. YOU DON'T NEED IT!
Being the businessman that he is, Spoor said he is tinkering with some products to try to appeal to people who are on a diet.
"We're working on a 100 calorie doughnut and a reduced sugar doughnut. And the key, of course, is to make it taste as close to our signature product as you can get. You do that two ways: One is by using the new sweeteners that are out there today, and the second is by reducing the portion. You go into any of the stores today, in the candy rack, all those candy bars are a lot smaller today than they used to be and the calories are lower and the sugars are a lower and the fat calories are lower and that's one way of doing it."
Oh boy, that's just what I want--a 100-calorie doughnut. Don't they call that a doughnut hole? HA! Jumping on the 100-calorie gimmick bandwagon isn't helping anyone with a smaller portion size, Mr. Spoor. What will happen is people will buy a whole bag of these "diet" doughnuts and rationalize in their mind that they can have more of them because they're supposedly better for them. Even a reduced sugar doughnut will still be jam-packed with white flour carbs that turn to sugar in the body. NOT GOOD!
Spoor said these new "diet" doughnuts are expected to be out in 2007 along with a whole wheat doughnut attempting to take advantage of the whole grain craze that's all the rage right now. Sorry to burst your bubble, Mr. Spoor, but none of these products are acceptable for those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb. You should be ashamed for promoting your products to people on a diet as a great way to cheat. What far-fetched, warped mind would even think of pushing doughnuts to people desiring weight loss? Only a cold, heartless CEO seeking to fatten his wallet at the expense of the weight and health of his consumers.
With half of Americans currently eating lower-carb, it's only a matter of time before even more Krispy Kreme stores feel the impact on their bottom line and are forced out of business. Pretending that your company offers products that are for every once in a while to try to drum up support among consumers is a sign of desperation and the clock is ticking to your final days. And Sporr knows it!
I wish I had a dollar everytime I heard one of the following:
"Why do I feel so rundown on the Atkins diet?
"Why did I get this massive headache starting low-carb?
"Why can't I feel good during the Induction phase of Atkins?"
"Will I ever feel 'normal' again being on low-carb?"
"Is the low-carb lifestyle worth all this pain?"
I suppose if you go on a low-carb diet for two days and suddenly quit, then you probably have fallen prey to the notion that how you feel early on in the beginning stages of livin' la vida low-carb is how you will ALWAYS feel eating this way. Take it from someone who has been through that difficult aspect of the Atkins diet, it doesn't last very long at all.
If you have read my book about my 180-pound low-carb weight loss in 2004, then you know what life was like for me in the first few days of this new lifestyle change. Especially on day one when I quite literally wanted to kill myself that's how bad I felt, I didn't know if I was going to make it. Headaches, body aches, shivers, cold sweating, dizziness, nausea...sound familiar anyone?
Just like a drug addict who is taken off of the culprit in their addiction, so too must a carbohydrate and sugar addict be weaned off of unnecessary carbs. It's a necessary step for anyone who wants to lose weight and get healthy the low-carb way. Best of all is that it is only a temporary feeling that quickly gets better once the Atkins Induction flu passes.
This latest video addresses the issue of the Atkins Induction flu:
INDUCTION FLU: SIGNS OF PROBLEMS OR PROGRESS?
Kent said his Atkins Induction flu lasted an unusually long 3 1/2 weeks, but that's not typical. Mine, for example, was about three days before I started feeling like my old self again. Once you get past this minor bump in the road at the beginning of low-carb living, the rest is a breeze in comparison. And it is ALL WORTH IT to get through this temporary discomfort. The proof is in the results that both Kent and I have experienced.
I get amused when people tell me that people who eat low-carb are always angry and fly in a rage. LOL! No, I think that would be the people who eat a low-fat diet because they're STARVING! Hee hee! Na na na na na, I get to eat this steak while you're stuck sucking on carrot sticks with fat-free dip. Mmmmm...NOT!
No, as Kent so beautifully illustrates in his video, other than the first few days or weeks, low-carb is not that bad. But you will go through the pain up front, so BE READY FOR IT! Don't let it knock you off course because this is arguably the most important part of livin' la vida low-carb you will go through. Be tough and make it through. You WILL survive and be successful on the Atkins diet if you simply persevere in the early days.
I was just talking with a friend of mine last night at dinner and he was simply amazed by the paradigm shift that has happened to me. As I was describing to him my former eating habits compared to what I do now, he was captivated. How in the world do you go from eating a whole box of Little Debbie snack cakes in one sitting to refusing to eat ANY sugar? How can you drink upwards of 16-20 cans of Coca-Cola per day and change that to water and diet soda? That's the miraculous changes that happen both physically and mentally when you start livin' la vida low-carb.
Kent admits eating this way "is a dramatic change, and some people resist change" because they are unwilling to go through what it takes to become the success that will inevitably come to anyone willing to put forth the effort. Get through those first few days of Induction to get your body into fat-burning mode and the pages of your low-carb weight loss success story will begin in earnest.
Be sure to leave any feedback regarding this video at Kent's blog so he can address any questions or concerns you may have about what he said. THANKS again, Kent! ANOTHER great video my friend! Keep 'em rolling!
If the reality of sugar addiction wasn't such a serious problem in the United States, then this Times-Picayune story would be hilariously funny. It's still pretty amusing, but is yet another example of just how damaging sugar has become.
The story notes that 20-year old Bryan Perrilloux was arrested on Monday night because he broke into a closed convenience store at 11:30 at night looking for doughnuts and Danishes. I'm not kidding! He punched a hole in the glass to get inside and cut himself all in his quest for the sugary pastries that his body apparently needed as bad as a drug addict needs his fix.
Perrilloux's sugar withdrawals led him to take criminal action to get the hit he needed. He even admitted as much to the police officer who asked him why he did this. The response he gave was that he "just wanted some pastries."
If this story is not a microcosm of the reality of sugar addiction in this day and age, then I don't know what is. As much as sugar leads to obesity in so many people, it's these other side effects to eating sugar that cause people like Perrilloux to do what he had to do to get it!
Despite our desire to eating pounds upon pounds of sugar annually, the plain and simple truth is that sugar CANNOT be a part of a healthy lifestyle! PERIOD! End of story! Praise God I was able to overcome my sugar addiction in 2004 when I started livin' la vida low-carb and my life has improved so much since I kicked the habit. Of course, losing 180 pounds was a nice bonus, too! :D
Because the American diet has changed so much in the last fifty or so years, we have a bunch of heavily-addicted people running around everywhere capable of doing what Perrilloux did on Monday night. Now I'm not say that ALL sugar addicts will turn to a life of crime to get their sugar fix, but this demonstrates how controlling this substance can be when you go long periods without having it. This DEFINITELY includes the equally-problematic high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as well.
That's why it is and always will be RAT POISON to me and my body. I don't need, don't want it, don't crave it--GOOD RIDDANCE! Even the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending sugar alternatives to help people get off of sugar for good for the sake of their weight and health.
What's the lesson learned from this story? If you want to regain control back from sugar that has completely overtaken your body, then wean yourself off as soon as possible. For those people who don't think they're addicted to sugar, just try going without ANY for a month...heck, just do it for a week. You'll feel it, my friend, TRUST ME! That was the worst part of beginning my low-carb lifestyle, but it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.
Otherwise, we might be reading about YOU breaking into the Krispy Kreme doughnuts joint to get YOUR sugar fix. EEEK!
8-31-06 UPDATE: Read what my friend Suzanne from the "Waisted In The Wasteland" blog had to say about this story that happened in her local area.
