Six Months Of Lifting Weights And I'm Finally Getting The Hang Of It

The results of my weight lifting have been pretty awesome

Growing up with an older brother who played football in high school was pretty intimidating. I didn't care a bit in the world about growing muscles, participating in athletics, or doing anything physically active. It just wasn't my cup of tea at the time and I had no problem playing alto saxophone in the marching band, pushing myself academically in preparation for college, and anything else that would keep me from EVER lifting a single weight in my life.

Of course, this was incredibly stupid on my part because I had no idea that building up my muscles would aid in fat and calorie burning which might have kept me from becoming a 410-pound morbidly obese slob of a man as an adult. Thankfully I was able to find a diet plan that would enable me to shed that weight at the age of 32 and now I am in the midst of a journey to actively make my body stronger, leaner, and more powerful than it has ever been. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!

It was in December 2007 when I started my resistance training program in earnest for the first time in my entire life and I was dead serious about it this time. I've dibble dabbled with lifting weights before but didn't know what the heck I was doing, so I hired a personal trainer at my local gym to help me with proper form, effective repetitions, and the weekly accountability and motivation I needed to do this right.

After just one month, I was seeing some incredible results already and in three months it was that much more pronounced. I had no doubt in my mind that the muscle growth and tone would take place, but it's nice to see it in real life on ME! What a feeling it is to actually be strong enough to carry in all the groceries at one time without straining at all. Or lifting the couch up for my wife Christine when she vacuums. Or even slamming the ball down with force during my Tuesday night volleyball games. I'm a different man now than I was before--and I like it!

In my previous update after three months, I was complaining about the consistent pain I was experiencing after every single workout. It was rather excruciating in the first few months and I really did want to stop doing it (especially with the double whammy of seeing my weight go up by 30 pounds and STAY up since I began lifting weights). But I'm not a quitter and I didn't want to pay the penalty to get out of my contract with my personal trainer who I have enjoyed working with.

And so I pressed on.


It's a great feeling when you see muscle development

Now it's been a half-year for me lifting weights and I wanted to update you on how it's going. The delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) I was having is still there, but not nearly as severe as it was. My trainer especially likes working my abdominal muscles each time and I feel those for 2-3 days after working out. My shoulders, biceps, and quadriceps get a little sore as well, but I can handle it now very well. To me, it's a sign that the muscle was adequately exhausted which will result in quality muscle growth. After six months, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it.

I certainly have a lot more to learn about lifting weights, but I have just enough knowledge now to make me dangerous. The muscles that have started to appear on my body are bigger and more defined than I ever thought possible. No, I'm no Arnold Schwarzenegger or Mr. Olympia, but I'd say the changes are pretty remarkable for someone in his mid-30s who has NEVER ever lifted weights in his entire life. It may sound a little egotistical to say this, but I'm pretty proud of myself for doing something like this for myself.

Let's take a look at my progress since I started in December 2007. Here are some before and after photos in the six months I have been training about twice a week (one 30-minute session with my trainer and one self-guided 30-minute workout):



My neck has DEFINITELY gotten bigger because my collared button-up shirts are getting tight around the top button when I put on a tie. The muscle growth in my upper body has been pretty extraordinary. The same thing about the tightness in my clothes is happening in my shoulders and upper arms as the muscle growth continues to progress well in those specific areas.



Here you can see where I've put on the extra weight in my stomach, but you can also see the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and arms that weren't there before. When we figure out what's happening with my weight and get it back down again, then I can't wait for even more definition to start showing up in my upper body, including my chest and abs.



The back side view again shows the muscles I have grown in the neck, shoulders, triceps and forearm that weren't there before. My trainer works my arms, shoulders and back regularly, so it's no wonder those are the areas I'm seeing results.

As of right now, I weigh 264 pounds--up 29 pounds since I started my resistance training six months ago. Sure, some of that weight is muscle, but my personal trainer estimates the actual muscle weight I have put on is around 5-7 pounds. The rest is fat and that is so not cool. Again, I'm working on that with a low-carb doctor and will be going back for more tests next week to see if we can see why this is happening. It could be totally unrelated to my diet or I may need to tweak a few things with my possible reactive hypoglycemia strategy to make it work for me.

For those of you who are wondering, no I'm not taking the creatine anymore. I did it for six weeks at the beginning of my resistance training regimen and have been completely off of it since the beginning of February. Any remnants of that stuff should be out of my system by now, so it's still a mystery why I have been unable to take the weight off that has come on me. If we figure it out, then you'll be the first to know about it.

If you are thinking about adding some resistance training to your healthy lifestyle, then DO IT! I cannot say enough positive things about what lifting weights can and will do for your health. And don't worry about "bulking up" as it takes a lot of aggressive heavy lifting to make that happen. Hire a personal trainer, read a book like Slow Burn by Fred Hahn or The New Rules of Lifting for Women by Cassandra Forsythe, and even join a gym if you'd like. Of course, you don't really NEED any of those things to grow your muscles if you just lift your own body weight at home. But I've found the accountability that comes from getting dead serious about doing this is worth every penny you spend to get there. NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Igniting Some Low-Carb Lifestyle Fourth Of July Fireworks

Before you celebrate the 4th of July, here's a low-carb update

It's almost time for the fireworks, backyard barbecues, vacations, and all the rest that comes with the extended Fourth of July weekend in celebration of our nation's independence. I am proud to be an American and appreciate all the freedoms and opportunities that this nation affords me as a citizen. While a lot has been said over the past few years about this great country I call "home," there's no denying the United States is and will always be the greatest socio-political experiment in the history of the world. God bless America now and forevermore!

Before you get caught up in all the busy activities of the holiday, I wanted to share a few low-carb headlines with you that have been in the news lately. It simply amazes me how a way of eating that has been so incredibly maligned and dragged through the mud like livin' la vida low-carb can somehow still be talked about so much in the media. Albeit it's not always in a positive light, but they can't help bringing it up. Maybe deep down inside they realize there is more to low-carb than they're letting on.

Here's what is going on in the world of low-carb right now:

LOW-CARB, HIGH-PROTEIN LEADS TO WEIGHT LOSS IN KIDS

People always ask me if low-carb living is healthy for children. Why wouldn't it be? Our bodies were never meant to handle high amounts of carbohydrates, so it stands to reason that eating a low-carb diet is gonna be healthier for kids. And now we have this study published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition from a researcher down in Australia I've blogged about before named Dr. Manny Noakes. She found that an unlimited low-carb, high-carb diet produces more weight loss than higher carb diets with limited calories, primarily because the protein seems to increase satiety. Additionally, these obese elementary school study participants placed on a low-carb diet experienced a significant drop in their total cholesterol and triglycerides. WOO HOO!

STUDY: LOW-CARB LEADS TO LONG-TERM DIABETES CONTROL

From the Department of Well Duh!, the results of a 12-week low-carb program for Type 2 diabetics found that they were continuing to improve their health and weight one year later. The program is called "Why WAIT" and was shared at the recent 68th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Lead researcher Dr. Osama Hamdy followed 85 people with type 2 diabetes for an average of 10 years. The plan included regular exercise as part of the initial 12-week plan.

Although there were obvious improvements at the end of the intervention period of the study, the remarkable thing is that the study participants CONTINUED to lose weight on their own. However, their A1C levels did increase, but blood pressure was stabilized and HDL cholesterol was "significantly higher" at the end of one year. And, one shocking finding in light of all the negativity about low-carb diets, the study participants saw an IMPROVEMENT in their kidney function with a slight decline in protein in the urine.

For the purposes of this study, carbohydrate restriction was defined as 40 percent of the calories from carbs which is closer to The Zone level of carbs than the Atkins diet. It does make you wonder how much BETTER the weight loss, A1C levels, cholesterol, and other health markers would be if a truly low-carb ketogenic diet would be used on these patients. Dr. Hamdy says the reason patients regain weight is because they don't eat enough protein or cut back on exercise which results in the accumulation of belly fat. Interestingly, the financial impact of diabetics losing weight, according to this study, is huge--a 65 percent DECREASE in medical expenses coming out to a cool $560 annually. And let's not forget how good healthy feels! You can't put a price on that!

WHAT IF WE JUST GOT RID OF ALL THE FAT PEOPLE?

Don't be alarmed at the question in that headline above, but it's basically what this column from MSNBC recently wanted to know. They analyzed the financial burden that overweight and obese people have on our society in a rather uncaring and some would say demeaning way. That's why I appreciated one of my readers sharing this blog post from Chet Day with a very impassioned response to such an insensitive post. While I don't subscribe to the fat acceptance movement that tells overweight and obese people to just be happy with their large bodies, I don't think threatening to wanna wipe out fat people is the right way to motivate them to make the changes necessary to improve their weight and health. But it is a sensitive subject that warrants a little more class and a lot less crass.

NEWSWEEK PERPETUATES THE HIGH-FAT CANCER MYTH

I was listening to the radio the other day and a commercial for a colon cleanse product asked the question, "Are you eating too much red meat..." I didn't even hear much of the rest of the ad because that turned me off so much. This idea that high-fat meat consumption is somehow harmful to your health is so teetering on insanity that we should get straight jackets ready for anyone who chooses to declare something as absurd as that. But leave it to our buddies at Newsweek to jump right off the cliff with a column a couple of weeks ago entitled "Your Lifestyle, Your Genes and Cancer."

They assert in this article that if people would simply live a "healthier lifestyle" (which isn't exactly what you and I might consider healthy), then 70 percent of all cancers would cease to exist. Okay, now that's a pretty bold statement, especially in light of the specific kind of changes they expect people to make--get thinner (easier said than done!), exercise regularly (is that cardio or resistance training?), avoid diets rich in red meat (why would I do that when this is the basis of a healthy low-carb lifestyle?), eat diets rich in fruits and vegetables (I already do being selective about choosing low-sugar fruits and non-starchy veggies), and stop using tobacco (you don't need to smoke--EVER!).

We learned from my podcast interview with Doug Kaufmann earlier this year that fungus is at the root cause of most cancers and the best way to reduce the existence of fungus is to eat a low-carb diet. In fact, Newsweek competitor Time magazine last September featured a column about German researchers using a very high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet with GREAT success on cancer patients who have been told there was no hope for them. While it may be en vogue to continue repeating that red meat and saturated fat is harmful and leads cancer, the truth doesn't bear that out. These people won't be able to get away with such bombastic statements for very much longer without being sent to the funny farm!

37-YEAR OLD LOW-CARB BODYBUILDER SWEEPS COMPETITION

You gotta love it! Mike Benoit competed recently in the Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Bodybuilding Association Championships as a 37-year old man and placed first in the Light Heavyweight Division (176-198 lbs), first in the Masters Class (35 years and up), winning the Top Poser Award and capturing the overall title of Mr. Newfoundland and Labrador as the best of the best in this competition. He was the oldest person EVER to be given that distinction and he credits his win to something that should put a big smile on your face.

"I was the only one at the show that did fat burning; every other competitor there avoided fats to get lean where I consumed mostly fats, essential oils and protein...So I did a modified fat diet for the show and at 37-years-old, I was the leanest one there with doing the least amount of cardio. Many people have heard of the Atkins diet, well I basically did a modified Atkins diet."

Holy cow, isn't that amazing?! Mike consumed dietary fat to burn fat, was thinner than anyone else in the competition, did little to no cardio at all, and was livin' la vida low-carb. Can you say WOW?! I'd love to interview this guy and have him share some of his training techniques with us because I'm sure it will turn everything we think we know about fitness training on its head. The unbelievable part of this story is the fact that this was the first competition he participated in since the late 1990s. AMAZING!!! Kudo Mike Benoit and if you're reading this, contact me about that podcast interview at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

WHO IS THE ADA KIDDING WITH THEIR SMOOTHIE RECIPE?

We know how deceitful the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has been about the negative impact of carbohydrates on the health of people suffering from both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. But did you catch this recipe posted on their web site for a Strawberry-Banana Smoothie? They have GOT to be kidding, right? Check out the nutritional content of this concoction:

Calories 130
Calories from Fat 5
Total Fat 1g
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 0mg
Total Carbohydrate 32g
Dietary Fiber 31g
Sugars 23g
Protein 1g
Exchanges 2 fruit

Did anyone else catch a MAJOR problem with those numbers? Aside from the fact that a diabetic has NO business at all eating a very high-sugar food like a banana, check out the dietary fiber content of this recipe--the ADA claims it has 31 grams. HUH?! If the total carbohydrates include all sugars and dietary fiber, then those two numbers should add up...but they don't! If you add 31g (dietary fiber) plus 23g (sugars), then your total carbs are ACTUALLY 54g per serving. And this recipe makes 2 servings, so ostensibly a diabetic could see this as a "healthy" recipe and consume both servings for a grand total of 108g total carbohydrate if indeed those numbers are accurate.

What is the ADA trying to hide keeping these actual totals hidden like this? Are they TRYING to make it look lower in carbohydrate than it really is so they don't freak out their well-educated and informed Internet readers who know carbs will make their blood sugar levels go haywire? What is the story with this very obvious mistake? Send your e-mail to them at AskADA@diabetes.org and ask what's up. Let me know if you hear back from them with an explanation. :)

DR. JONNY BOWDEN FEATURED IN NEW YORK TIMES STORY

Everybody's favorite health and nutrition expert Dr. Jonny Bowden, author of Living The Low-Carb Life and 150 Healthiest Foods On Earth, was featured this week in the New York Times in a story entitled "The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating." Jonny is quoted promoting these 11 foods that are PERFECT for your healthy low-carb lifestyle because of their powerhouse nutritional content, including cinnamon, sardines, and frozen blueberries. Don't forget you can meet Jonny in person on The 2nd Annual Low-Carb Cruise coming up in January 2009 and hear him speak about the subject of weight loss and health. He'll also be a special guest on my podcast show again coming up soon to talk about his other projects, including his latest recipe book called Healthiest Meals On Earth as well as his brand new Diet Boot Camp that's been 13 years in the making.

THE ROLE OF LDL PARTICLE SIZE ASSESSMENT (PDF file)

I recently shared in this blog post that my total cholesterol is 326 which includes an LDL cholesterol reading of 246. While this may shock a lot of people who still buy into the traditional cholesterol hypothesis (that number is diminishing more and more each day!), the fact of the matter is I am healthier with these numbers than someone like the late Tim Russert was at the time of his unexpected death. Why? This well-written article by Dr. Paul E. Lemanski, MD explains all about how LDL particle size is what is most important in assessing heart health.

The most interesting part of this two-page paper was when Dr. Lemanski noted that "individuals with triglycerides below 70 do not have small, dense LDL," the kind that are especially dangerous to cardiovascular health risk. These people have the large "fluffy" kind of protective LDL particle size that you want. Only those with triglycerides above 100 and HDL below 50 need to be concerned about having their LDL particle size measured. We need more doctors who are willing to talk about particle size rather than the total or LDL cholesterol number if we are ever gonna actually help people get healthier.

Dr. Lemanski noted that statin drugs, like Lipitor and Crestor, "do not change particle size appreciably." So it doesn't really do any good going on these drugs when you can remedy particle size problems through changes to a low-carb diet. Additionally, triglyceride therapies are needed when those exceed 150, but once again a low-carb nutritional approach can bring those numbers down below 100. Low triglyceride levels (below 100) and high HDL numbers (above 50) are two of the most effective ways to improve your cardiovascular health and both can be accomplished by livin' la vida low-carb. Why wouldn't you do that instead of taking a bunch of pills?

WEIGHT WATCHERS' "CORE" IS LOW-CARB, BUT ALSO LOW-FAT

One of the most popular diet programs in the world today is Weight Watchers. How in the world did they become so successful? They tapped into the community aspect of weight loss by bringing overweight people together in one place to share in their experiences as a group and to provide each other with the support they need to be the success they want to be. It's a good concept on paper. But it doesn't work for everybody.

A reader previously shared about how Weight Watcher publicly shamed her because SHE failed to lose weight on the low-fat, low-calorie diet advice they were pushing at her. It's no wonder how low-carb is so perfect for those who failed on Weight Watchers and why hearing the stories of low-carb success is so captivating for people who have been through the traditional Weight Watchers program.

And the people at Weight Watchers have been taking notice of this. That's why they created their program called "Weight Watchers Core." While this is indeed a low-carb option for people on Weight Watcher who need to be mindful of their carbohydrate intake, you can't help but notice all the low-fat crap they say you have to eat, too, that I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole: fat-free milk, fat-free cheese, fat-free sour cream, soy milk and cheese, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, potatoes, and grains, cornmeal, rolled oats, puffed wheat, puffed rice, shredded wheat, and 100% bran cereals, "lean" meats, tofu, vegetarian burgers, fat-free salad dressings, fat-free margarine, fat-free mayonnaise, and popcorn--AAAAAACK! Make it stop! Make it stop!

If you wanna start livin' la vida low-carb, then just read Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution or Protein Power and do it! Keep attending your meetings if you are locked into an obligation to be there and show off your amazing weight loss totals. When they ask you how you do it, be sure to proudly say that you are consuming a healthy high-fat, low-carb diet. If the leaders keel over at that point in utter shock, then I think you will have made your point beautifully!

PBS INTERESTED IN AIRING LOW-CARB DOCUMENTARY

In early 2007, I shared with you about a new documentary film from an independent filmmaker named CJ Hunt called In Search Of The Perfect Human Diet. Hunt interviews all sorts of people in the world of diet and health including many low-carb researchers and activists you may know including Dr. Mike Eades, Dr. Barry Sears, Dr. Abby Bloch from the Atkins Foundation, Dr. Jay Wortman, Dr. Steve Phinney, Mrs. Veronica Atkins, Dr. Mary C. Vernon, Dr. Eric Westman, and MANY MANY more! It's quite a lineup and this film is now in post-production.

But the GOOD NEWS is CJ Hunt has received this letter of official interest from San Francisco's PBS station group led by KQED and they would like to share it with the 353 other stations in the PBS system to have them air this nationwide on PBS. How amazing would that be? CJ is hopeful this will be just what the film needs to secure the much-needed sponsorship and donations for the remaining completion funds.

Feel free to share this letter from PBS with any potential sponsors who you think might be interested in attaching their name to such a project. We saw what happened in Canada earlier this year when they aired a low-carb diet documentary on CBC-TV featuring low-carb researcher Dr. Jay Wortman and filmmaker Mary Bissell entitled My Big Fat Diet. The same experience could happen for In Search Of The Perfect Human Diet in the United States. I'll let you know if PBS seals the deal on airing this film. What an amazing opportunity!

THE TOP 10 CARBOHYDRATES FOR A "HEALTHY" DIET?

I know I shouldn't do this to myself, but I subscribe to a wide variety of diet and health publications online that offer varying viewpoints about what is considered healthy. Reading some of this stuff helps me solidify in my mind exactly what I believe and why I believe it. This article from ShapeFit extolling the virtues of consuming carbohydrates for weight loss was just a little too much for me, though.

This line alone was enough to make me nearly blow a gasket: "To lose body fat, you want to shoot for 150 g carbs/day, 150 g protein/day, and 75 g fat/day if you were the above person!" They were referring to a 200-pound individual with 25 percent body fat. I wonder how many carbs they'd recommend for a 350-pound man with 45 percent body fat?! Would they dare say 300 g carbs/day?! Sheeeeez!!!

Then you look at this list of the top ten carbs and it's the same stuff we always see. not all of it is bad, but most of it is:

10.) Brown rice (just because it's brown don't make it healthy!)

9.) Steel cut whole oatmeal (not going inside my body!)

8.) Quinoa (if I can't pronounce it, I ain't eatin' it!)

7.) Yams/sweet potatoes (Uhhh, no!)

6.) Winter squashes (not too bad, these are good!)

5.) Peas and Legumes (I don't eat beans or peas--too starchy!)

4.) Colorful fibrous veggies (again, not bad, but be choosy!)

3.) Super fruits (berries are amazing, but most other fruit is not!)

2.) Leafy green vegetables (this is the lifeblood of a low-carb diet!)

1.) Cruciferous vegetables (non-starchy veggies are truly the best!)

Yes, you want to eat some carbohydrates for their phytonutrient profile and nutritional impact on your body. But giving people the impression that they should be consuming triple-digit carb counts is irresponsible no matter how virtuous you make the carbs sound. Limiting your carb intake to double digits will make you healthier, more fit, and live longer than you ever would consuming a consistently triple-digit daily carbohydrate diet. There's no debating that based on all we know about carbs.

DR. JOHN BRIFFA PROMOTES LOW-CARB DIET FOR DIABETICS

In the UK, one of the leading voices on behalf of livin' la vida low-carb is Dr. John Briffa. It shouldn't come as a shock to anyone that he is under constant attack from the medical and health establishment in that country for his positions in support of the low-carb diet for diabetics and the obese. In fact, one prominent health blog called NHS Blog Doctor has been relentlessly railing against Dr. Briffa over the past month in posts here, here, here, here, here, and here, just to name a few (I think this Dr. John Crippen must have some sort of man-crush on Dr. Briffa as much as he's writing about him!).

Despite these personal assaults against him, Dr. Briffa is still able to be an influential voice of reason in the health media in the UK as evidenced by this Business Day column highlighting the findings of the large-scale Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease study that found intensive treatment to lower blood sugar levels is a safe, effective way to reduce the serious complications of diabetes. This was the PERFECT response to the ridiculous ACCORD study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that warned diabetics AGAINST testing their blood sugars or else risk an increase in mortality rates.

Dr. Briffa breathed some sanity back into this discussion by stating the traditional diabetic diet of high-carb, low-fat "disruptive" foods just doesn't work to control blood sugars for diabetics. He adds that eating a diet low in carbohydrates and higher in vegetables and dietary fat will result in better control of this disease quite possibly without the need for medications. YES!!! THANK YOU Dr. Briffa for articulating what needs to be said.

I will be interviewing Dr. Briffa for my podcast show in the future when things settle down for him a bit. He's one of the most knowledgeable and articulate defenders of the healthy low-carb lifestyle across the pond and I'm grateful for the work he is doing there to help the British people suffering from weight and health ailments.

DIABETES/PRE-DIABETES NUMBERS JUMP TO 81 MILLION

Just two years ago I reported in this blog post that the number of Americans with diabetes or pre-diabetes totaled 73 million. But in just two years, that number has already jumped to 81 million, including a 5 million American increase in diagnosed cases of all types of diabetes, according to this CNN story.

Dr. Ann Albright from the Centers for Disease Control was lauding the fact that there was a 5 percent drop in the number of people who had diabetes and were unaware of it--dipping down to 25 percent from 30 percent. But in today's information-oriented society, there's no reason why people can't tell if they are dealing with blood sugar issues or not. Blood glucose monitors are readily available and diabetes care is quickly becoming a common health condition (although the way many doctors are treating it is out of whack!). Expect those numbers to continue to rise unless groups like the ADA takes their recommendation of livin' la vida low-carb to the next level. Expect that to happen within the next few years as diabetes rates keep rising!

AHA INTRODUCES THE "BETTER FAT SISTERS"

Do you remember those two stupid cartoon characters that the American Heart Association (AHA) created last year called Bad Fats Brothers? Sat and Trans (stands for saturated fat and trans fat) remind people of all the foods they are in and how much they'll "break your heart." Well, now the AHA has come out with a new set of characters Mon and Poly--aka the Better Fat Sisters. Get it? Mon for mono-unsaturated fat and Poly for polyunsaturated fat. Riiiiiiiight! These are supposedly the only healthy fats which is ridiculous since saturated fat isn't as bad for you as it has been made out to be by those brilliant minions at the AHA! And then to have Sally Squires from The Washington Post write this story about the Better Fat Sisters just puts this one over the top for me.

RESEARCHERS CHALLENGE ADA FOR SUPPORTING LOW-CARB

When the American Diabetes Association showed their support for low-carb diets in January 2008 just for weight loss up to one year, you had to know there would be some naysayers who are strongly in support of livin' la vida low-carb who realize this way of eating is more about blood sugar control than weight loss. And now it has happened.

This Diabetes Health column talks about a new study conducted by 24 doctors from around the world who say the ADA position of consuming a minimum of 130g carb daily is unreasonable for diabetics. This new "critical appraisal" of these recommendations is an effort to get the ADA and other diabetes health groups to rethink their position on low-fat, high-carb diets which usually lead to a pharmaceutical drug to handle the negative blood sugar/insulin response. YES! Here's hoping this leads to progress that will genuinely get the ADA to wake up to low-carb for diabetes control--and not just weight loss.

NEWSWEEK COLUMNIST BELLYACHES PARTY POOPER DIETERS

When I read this Newsweek magazine article, I couldn't help but laugh out loud because she was talking about people like ME! Of course, I disagree with her conclusions about how people on a diet that restricts their choice of foods leads to a drag on a summer party. Come on, don't put that onus on those of us who are choosing to live healthy lifestyles. ENJOY a good laugh with this one.

FAKE LOW-CARB CHEESECAKE RECIPE PROMOTED TO DIABETICS

Finally, after posting this cheesecake recipe on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, I was happy to see this Commercial Appeal story pushing a low-carb cheesecake recipe for people with diabetes. YEPPERS and it's red, white, and blue colored just in time to celebrate Independence Day. :D

Unfortunately, you'll notice the recipe calls for fat-free cream cheese, confectioner's sugar (WHAT?!!!), bran cereal crumbs for the crust (UGH!), fat-free yogurt...OH MY! Make appropriate full-fat, sugar-free substitutions and this one has promise. I just can't believe they're pushing this HIGH-CARB cheesecake as a "low-carb" cheesecake. Come on, where is the journalistic integrity?

Got a low-carb diet, health, or nutrition story to share with me? I'd love to hear it, so e-mail me the blog idea anytime to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS for reading and be sure to have a SUPER July 4th weekend!

Scores Of Low-Carb Stuff To Talk About (And Nary A Moment To Do It!)

Here I am sitting behind my computer yet again with more low-carb and health headlines than I can shake a stick at (what does that phrase mean anyways?) and I'm just covered up in busy-ness. I hate that because I really enjoy being able to crank out the blogs and go into greater detail about the subjects that make you think about why you are livin' la vida low-carb.

Nevertheless, life beckons and it's been a very busy week. My wife Christine and I have been working the audio/visual at our church's Vacation Bible School (VBS) this week for the "Outrigger Island" program. It's been a lot of fun, but has taken up about four hours a night of time I usually spend working on my blog. With that said, tonight is the final night of VBS and I'll be back on schedule again. But since I've fallen behind a bit on my blogging, here are scores of low-carb stuff to talk about (and nary a moment to do it!). ENJOY!

AN ENZYME COULD BRING WEIGHT GAIN ON LOW-CARB?

There's quite a debate going on right now within low-carb inner circles about how you can possibly get fatter while on a low-carb diet and it seems to center around the subject of calories. This is of specific interest to me since I'm low-carbing perfectly and having some trouble creating weight loss right now.

This topic of low-carb and calories picked up quite a bit of steam recently when Dr. Mike Eades blogged about it and there was a resulting explosion of commentary at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum about this making it the #1 most-read thread there. Do calories REALLY matter now on a low-carb, some are asking? I've never counted calories before, so why should I start doing so now?

Even the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins said you don't really need to worry about calories on low-carb because they are not as important as controlling carbohydrates (a notion strongly repeated and reiterated by Dr. James E. Carlson in my recent interview with him). That's why I find this a rather peculiar issue to be bantered about by low-carbers right now.

But I can appreciate the varying opinions about low-carb and calories, including the I saw from the Eugenization blog where he details how an enzyme called Acylation Stimulating Protein (ASP) may be responsible for weight gain even when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Guess what it all comes down to according to him? Calories, plain and simple. This adds even more fuel to a fire that's already burning white hot.

OH NO, THE ATKINS DIET WILL RAISE YOUR LDL!

From the "who really gives a rip" files comes a new study from the American Heart Association that put 18 people on the Atkins diet, South Beach diet and Ornish diet for a month to see what happens to their various health markers. The LDL of the Atkins dieters went up by 7 percent. OH MY GOD!!! These people are gonna die!!! OH MY GOD!!! Somebody call the wahhhhhmbulance already! What about their triglycerides? How about their HDL good cholesterol? I'd be willing to bet after just one month of livin' la vida low-carb they were GREATLY improved. But where was that in this story?

These people at the AHA would FREAK if they saw that my LDL cholesterol is 246 and I have no reason to go on a statin drug to artificially lower it. The fact is most of that LDL is protecting me from cardiovascular issues because it is comprised of mostly the large, fluffy particle size that you want to have plenty of.

For a supposedly respectable health group like the AHA to participate in such silly scaremongering about LDL resulting from being on the Atkins diet (described by their lead researcher as "the worst"), I can't imagine anyone taking them seriously anymore. When they resort to publishing a so-called "study" like this while spreading even more negative and hyperbolic innuendo about saturated fat with their preposterous Bad Fats Brothers propaganda, the irrelevance of the AHA is becoming more and more apparent each and every day.

EXCELLENT VIDEO EXPLAINING WHY LOW-CARB WORKS

I came across this YouTube video that succinctly explains the process behind how and why livin' la vida low-carb works in only about a minute. This is an excellent resource for you to point people to who are confused about low-carb. It reiterates this study I highlighted last year about a hormone called FGF21, the hormone responsible for the fat-burning that happens on a low-carb diet. Save the link to this video and forward it to anyone who is confused by all the negative things they have read about the low-carb lifestyle.

8 FOODS TO GET YOUR BRAIN GOING--NOT!

You wanna know why I like to blog so much? Stories like this one absolutely drive me bonkers because they are leading people down a path of destruction for their health. This little list of foods designed to make you "more alert, think more clearly, have more energy, even be more creative" is some of the most unbelievably irresponsible nutritional advice I've seen in a very long time.

This registered dietitian named Elizabeth Somer wants people to eat (this is NOT a joke!) a "spoonful of sugar," a whole wheat (oooo, that sure makes it healthy!) bagel, soy (OH YUMMY--WRONG!), and so much more to wake yourself up right in the morning. On what planet is this even remotely considered healthy eating?! Come on, lady! Get with the program. I'll be sticking with my eggs and sausage in the morning and I do just fine!

LOW-CARB DIET PERFECT FOR OVERWEIGHT DIABETICS

Well, imagine that! I never would have guessed livin' la vida low-carb would be the ideal diet for an overweight diabetic. But that exactly what this Reuters story says citing a study conducted by Dr. Jorgen Vesti Nielsen in Sweden. I told you about him in my recent podcast interview with Per Wikholm about the low-carb momentum happening in Sweden this year (I'll be posting another update about more recent events on the low-carb front in that country real soon!).

Limiting their carbohydrates to just 20 percent of their total caloric intake, these 16 obese diabetics have been following this diet for 44-months (read the study published in the Nutrition & Metabolism journal) and the comparison between their results and the high-carb, low-fat control group are absolutely remarkable. Blood glucose levels dropped almost immediately after starting the low-carb approach and have remained down ever since. Of course, we knew that would happen! :)

BRYANT STAMFORD BACK TO HIS ANTI-LOW-CARB WAYS AGAIN

This old man doesn't know when to shut his trap! Bryant Stamford from "The Body Shop" column recently penned a column entitled "Two things to avoid: saturated fat, simple sugar" where he gets it half right. He called us low-carb bloggers out by stating his column will produce "another outcry from the few Atkins, high-fat faithful still clinging to the belief that eating bacon cheeseburgers, sausage balls and prime rib is good for you." Well, actually, they are!

Don't forget, this isn't the first time I've had an issue with this goofy character. Stamford has been quite scornful of the Atkins diet despite saying that it works for people, but then he turns right around and exclaims that the Atkins diet has made America fatter. Say WHAT?! What a dopey statement to make from someone who claims to be writing about healthy living.

While I can appreciate his disdain for simple carbohydrates like sugar, Stamford's ignorance of the latest research on saturated fat is quite glaring. Perhaps you'd like to educate the good professor by e-mailing him at stamford@hanover.edu about your experiences eating saturated fat as part of your healthy low-carb lifestyle. I know he'd just LOVE to hear from you "silly anti-carb hyperbole" spreaders!

A "MIRACLE FRUIT" THAT CHANGES THE TASTE OF FOOD?

Have you heard about the "miracle fruit" berries that can make beer taste like chocolate and lemons like candy? It sounds sci-fi freakish, but apparently it is true. The West African "miracle fruit" effect can last about an hour and works by utilizing a protein called miraculin where it binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids. FASCINATING!

There are even "flavor tripping parties" where this "miracle fruit" is served or you can order some for yourself by inquiring at supreme@flavortripping.com. This certainly sounds appealing to me since I don't consume sugar at all. It'd be a neat experiment to see what low-carb foods taste like under the intoxicating power of super-revved up sweetness! Could there be a new artificial sweetener in this? Who knows, but if the hype is true I'm sure somebody's working on it!

DR. BERNSTEIN PROVEN RIGHT AGAIN BY SPANISH STUDY

You gotta admire a low-carb legend like Dr. Richard Bernstein. The man has been around since Moses walked the Earth promoting a low-carb diet as a means for controlling diabetes. But it is only just now getting the recognition that it has long deserved as this Diabetes Health column points out.

A Spanish study published last year in The Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness entitled "Arguments in Favor of Ketogenic Diets" by Dr. Joaquín Pérez-Guisado, gives scientific evidence in favor of livin' la vida low-carb. Namely, this diet is most effective for weight loss, preserves muscles mass, controls appetite, promotes a healthy lipid profile, effectively reverses the effects of Type 2 diabetes, and has been widely deemed as safe.

This is old news to you and me, but a great introduction to those diabetics who have been fooled into thinking that low-fat, high-carb diet they were on was somehow helping their disease. The change in thinking is gaining momentum all the time and we must never grow tired of repeating why livin' la vida low-carb works so well. There will ALWAYS be people who are just beginning to understand and we must stand ready to share the details with them when they are ready.

READER'S DIGEST VERSION OF LOW-CARB NOT VERY ACCURATE

A reader sent me this column on the "Low-Carb Myths And Truths" that was published sometime in the Reader's Digest. Although I usually like what I see in that publication, this was just over the top for me because the conclusions you get left with about livin' la vida low-carb after reading it are that it's not for long-term weight maintenance, it will damage your heart, you'll eat too many calories, and eating low-carb requires a whole bunch of "junk" food. Ooooooookay, where do you start?

Long-term weight loss? Um, what about all those low-fat diets? How well do THEY work at long-term weight loss, hmmmm? The latest studies show NOT VERY WELL at all! So why is low-carb held to a higher standard than the holy grail of a so-called "healthy" diet? Just wondering.

Damaging to your heart? WRONG! This Harvard study put that notion to rest when they found there was no increase in heart health risks associated with low-carb diets over a 20-year period. It's just more ignorance by those who have an agenda against livin' la vida low-carb and I'm gonna call their bluff every single time I see it!

You'll eat too many calories? So what? Much of the discussion of calories within health circles these days centers on the QUALITY of those calories--in other words, how can you get a bigger nutritional bang for your buck. Well, it STARTS with eliminating all the culprit carbohydrates to control the insulin release. Once you do that, any increase in calories that happens as a result of eating more fat (which has 9 calories per gram compared with 4 calories per gram of protein or carbs) is passive as it relates to weight loss. That's the metabolic advantage we talk about so much with low-carb. So calories, schmaleries!

Finally, "junk" food? Yes, there are some garbage low-carb products out there that are low-carb impostors. But they're not all bad for you. Plus, keep in mind that livin' la vida low-carb can be done without the use of ANY products whatsoever if you choose to do it that way. Of course, these numskulls will probably say the saturated fat in the meats, cheeses, and nuts you consume are "junk," but that's another story. The bottom line is low-carb is healthy whole foods eating for the most part. :)

Countering this ignorance in major media publications like Reader's Digest is essential to reeducating people about why low-carb is right for them. I always stand ready to tell the truth in the midst of such outlandish and ridiculous journalism.

TIME MAGAZINE FEATURES CHILDHOOD OBESITY

The June 23, 2008 issue of Time magazine has a series of articles on the subject of childhood obesity, including this one which blames excessive calories for the weight gain, this one that examines all the other reasons besides genetics for kids getting fat, this one blaming school lunches and snack machines for the problem, this one lamenting the future health problems that await hefty children, this one tracking the eating habits of a typical teenager in America, this one looking at the family environment and its impact on weight, this one glorifying the ability to be "fit at any size," and this one with tips about how to get your kids to begin exercising.

Although childhood obesity has been ignored by government and health leaders before, they're paying attention to it now. But their answer to this problem is creating a kids Food Pyramid that once again advocates low-fat/low-calorie eating and exercise. Come on already! Can't we see that hasn't worked very well?! What we need is to advocate the use of low-carb as a healthy alternative for kids to use for weight and health management.

I don't think it's junk food ads that cause them to get fat, but we do need to provide better education so the parents and their children can make better choices. And exercise needs a solid nutritional approach in order to make the positive impact it needs to on the fitness of a child.

We've already seen how schools that go sugar-free reduce obesity and that should be a sign for these lawmakers on Capitol Hill to move in a low-carb, sugar-free direction with childhood obesity policy. We keep scratching our heads wondering why we can't lick this problem when the answer to it keeps staring us right in the face while the powers that be continue to ignore it. Sigh. Will we EVER learn?

JEFF VOLEK MAKING "THE CASE FOR LOW-CARB DIETING"

In stark contrast to that Reader's Digest column I highlighted above is this one in Muscle & Body Magazine penned by low-carb researcher Dr. Jeff Volek from The University of Connecticut. In a mock trial where low-carb diets is put to the truth test, Dr. Volek does quite a Perry Mason job of not just defending, but vindicating livin' la vida low-carb. YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!!!

MARK'S DAILY APPLE WITH MUST-READ COLUMNS

If you are not already a regular reader of Mark Sisson's "Daily Apple" blog, then you don't know what you're missing. His columns are top-quality caliber and spot-on for anyone who takes a vested interest in healthy low-carb living. Take a look-see at "Definitive Guide: The Primal Blueprint" and "What Happens To Your Body When You Carb Binge?" for two prime examples of why you need to bookmark this blog and access it often. ENJOY!

GARY TAUBES STILL CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

One of the amazing things that has happened since the September 2007 release of the blockbuster health and nutrition book entitled Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes is the open conversation of topics that were once considered taboo. Consider this column that discusses whether red meat is healthy or not. With all the anti-meat propaganda that tends to dominate most media accounts of diet and health, it's refreshing to see an open and civil discussion of the BENEFITS of consuming meat. With the paperback version of Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health coming out September 23 2008 with some updated material, I expect to see even more of these kinds of columns--let's keep the conversation going!

WEIGHT GAIN MAY NOT BE TIED TO EATING

Stop the presses everyone because this story will likely turn everything you ever thought about weight gain on its head! A new study published in the June 4, 2008 edition of the scientific journal Cell Metabolism says the nervous system may have more to do with it than once thought. Of course, studies like this on roundworms aren't a perfect comparison to humans, but it does open the door for further research into this. The problem is they make the claim that a DRUG needs to be created to help with weight loss--ARGH!

LOW-CARB PRODUCES A "CHEMICAL IMBALANCE?"

An El Paso, TX-based trainer Ian Appling goes off on an anti-low-carb rant with this column and it's so insane considering the ridiculous headline they gave it--"Low-carb diets lead to chemical imbalances." Is this proclamation based on some new scientific research? Nope. It's just an opinion of someone who obviously doesn't like low-carb diets. What is laughable is that some of what he says is PRECISELY what livin' la vida low-carb is. These people are incredible in their lack of accurate data about this way of eating. That's irresponsible in this information age we live in.

ANYONE WANNA HAVE A VAGOTOMY? EEEEK!

Reading this Los Angeles Times column about a new weight loss surgery called a vagotomy, it makes me very glad to be livin' la vida low-carb. THANK GOD! :)

THE REALITY OF A FAST WEIGHT LOSS DIET SCAM

My friend and fellow low-carb blogger Christin Sherburne penned a fabulous post this week called "Turkish Delight" that tells a stark story of the reality of falling for a fast weight loss diet scam like the Kimkins diet. The brutal honesty of this dear woman who is still trying to find her way is such a change of pace from what you usually see. I've grown to know Christin quite a bit over the past year and there is no one more sincere and selfless than her. We cheer you on as you work through this difficult period in your life right now, Christine. Don't give up hope and rest assured you'll figure out what to do.

HAVE YOU EATEN ANY OF THESE LOW-CARB FAKE-OUT FOODS?

Amy Tenderich over at the uber-popular diabetes blog Diabetes Mine has an intriguing post entitled "Top 8 Low-Carb Fake-Outs." When I read this one, I just had to scratch my head a bit at these foods Amy describes as "low-carb." Ummmmm, I didn't know rice cakes, light Ranch dressing, and peanut butter, for example, are low-carb staple products. All of those are more for low-FAT diets. But she does make some great points that low-carbers should be reminded of.

10 GRAB N' GO CONVENIENCE STORE LOW-CARB SNACKS

Leave it to the trustworthy and reliable Laura Dolson at the About.com Low-Carb Diets blog to come up with a fabulous post featuring 10 perfect convenience store snacks for those of you who are traveling on vacation this summer. Whenever I stop at a convenience store, these are precisely the food items I look for. THANKS Laura!

HOW FAD DIETS ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE

Daniel Davies at the "Crooked Timber" blog offers up his theory that fad diets are allowed to continue primarily because of the personal experiences shared with others who feel a connection with the individual who lost weight. Not surprisingly, Daniel puts the Atkins diet in that category of "fad" diets saying it only works for controlling calories because it is "inconvenient and unpleasant" as a way to eat. Daniel, Daniel, Daniel--what are we gonna do with you? What do you think about this notion that enthusiasm for a diet that works for someone else perpetuates suspicious dietary approaches? It's good food for thought.

A VEGETARIAN GETS ON THE LOW-CARB BANDWAGON

Vegetarian blogger Mark Warren Reinhardt from the "On or Off the Mark" blog gets in his digs at those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb with this blog post mocking being a low-carb supporter. I'd say Mark is "off the mark" this time around because he hasn't got a clue why those of us who love low-carb living are so enthusiastic about this way of eating. It's great that he enjoys being a vegetarian, but disrespect for people who low-carb is so not cool.

JAPAN HAS MANDATORY WAISTLINE MEASURING

Can you imagine the next President of the United States--Barack Obama or John McCain--in January 2009 making a State of the Union address stating that beginning immediately there will be a requirement for all Americans to have their waistlines measured and if it is larger than a predetermined size you will be asked to lose weight within a few months or your employer will face financial penalties? Preposterous, you say? Well that's exactly what is going on in Japan right now. They have decided to take such an aggressive approach to treating obesity to try to get a handle on the rising health care costs. Would that fly in America where two-thirds of the population is currently overweight or obese by government definition? Whaddyasay?

STRESS RELIEF TIPS YOU CAN USE

Finally, it has been proposed that part of my recent weight gain this year may have to do with excessive stress which releases the fat-storing hormone known as cortisol. Yikes! It's possible that is part of it since my low-carb diet is about as good as it can be. So how do I reduce this stress that I don't necessarily feel? The tips on this web site were helpful, but I welcome any additional feedback for reducing stress. This could help a lot of people!

Is that enough low-carb news and updates for you? WHEW! There's so much going on and I'm happy to get you current on all that is happening. Send me any low-carb news and information anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS so much for reading the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog!

Low-Carb Diet Craze Happily Continues On In 2008

I used to get a bit perturbed by that phrase "low-carb diet craze" because I thought it made those of us who believe in livin' la vida low-carb sound like a bunch of raving lunatics (well, not all of us are!). But the more I've thought about it, the better I've felt about the "craze" description because everywhere you turn somebody is saying SOMETHING about the low-carb lifestyle. Much of the time, especially in media accounts of this way of eating, it is the WRONG perspective, but at least they're still talking about it (despite claiming for the past four years that "low-carb" is dead).

Now that 2008 is here, the continued stories from people who are eating low-carb as well as news and commentary in the media and blogosphere have shown me that this "craze" is still just as strong as it has ever been. There's so much to share with you today that it's coming out my ears, so sit back and enjoy all this stuff I've found from over the past week about a diet that supposedly nobody does anymore. HA!

RESTAURANTS STILL CATERING TO LOW-CARB DIETERS

After blogging about how to eat low-carb when you go out to a restaurant last week, I was pleasantly surprised to read this Daily Press story about how several restaurants in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia (my old stomping grounds during graduate school) are specifically catering to the low-carb dieter. WOO HOO! Italian restaurants are allowing non-starchy vegetables to be substituted for the pasta and one restaurant is offering an appetizer of sauteed artichoke hearts. Mmmm mmmm! Somebody give those restaurants a pat on the back for not forsaking those of us who are still very mindful of our carbohydrate intake. WAY TO GO!

FORGET WEIGHT LOSS WILLPOWER, JUST GET COMMITTED

Here's an e-mail cry for help I received from a reader:

I am 47 years old and I find myself at 6’1” and 300 lbs, and barely able to fit into size 42 pants. I have battled being overweight all my life. About 15 years ago I went to a clinic called Nutribolic weight loss centers, and after a few months I had gotten down to 190 and lifting weights on a regular basis.

When I think back on the kind of things they had me eating (small portions of meat, cheese, and real butter) it struck me this was probably very Atkins-like. This was before I knew what Atkins was. All I know is that it was incredibly effective and I felt great!!! Now I look at myself and I am ashamed. I have set a horrible example for my kids and my wife and I can hardly stand the look of myself in the mirror in the morning.

I have tried the Atkins diet, but I only have enough willpower for a couple of weeks. I am in the food business, and spend a lot of time in restaurants. I always lose my willpower. When I attended Nutrabolic, you needed to weigh in twice a week with a counselor, and I think when I had that type of encouragement and personal contact I could stick with it.

Can you recommend any program that follows Atkins that has personal counselors that could help me? Maybe you can help me since it sounds like you have probably seen it all. I hope you can help. I’m desperate. Thank you.

Can I share with you a secret about weight loss--IT DOESN'T TAKE WILLPOWER! If you had willpower, then you wouldn't have gotten up to 300+ pounds in the first place. Instead, you need to have in your mind right now that you are going to have a
STEADFAST RESOLVE TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES no matter what. If you can be on the Atkins diet as outlined in his book Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution for two weeks, then you can do it forever. Don't give the excuse that you can't because YOU CAN!

I am very much in support of people finding support for their low-carb lifestyle. Unfortunately, there isn't a system set up where there is a low-carb friendly assistant in your local area. But I'm happy to help you stay encouraged and moving in the right direction which is what I try to do at my blog, podcast shows, and YouTube videos. But you should find someone who will support you in this. It will help you be successful. If you can afford it, hire a personal trainer to get you back into weight lifting again along with your low-carb lifestyle and you'll be back down to 190 pounds again by the end of the year! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Please don't ever give up!

MICHAEL POLLAN RANTS ABOUT THE DEMISE OF REAL FOOD

Just as Real Food author Nina Planck shared during my recent interview with her, I was pleased to see in this Bloomberg column information about a new book from Michael Pollan that expresses his concerns about what has happened to the genuine food in modern society. You'll recall I shared my review of his previous book The Omnivore's Dilemma that detailed some rather shocking information about the food supply we have today compared with our ancestors (NEWSFLASH: Big difference!).

Now he's got a new book that came out on January 1, 2008 called In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto which some are describing as a more condensed and targeted version of his bestselling Omnivore's Dilemma. I'm looking forward to reading this book and sharing my review of it here real soon. I'll possibly have an opportunity to interview Pollan, but his book tour schedule is so busy right now it may not happen quickly. If it can be done, it will be done. Stay tuned!

ATKINS BADMOUTHING HAPPENING DOWN IN AUSTRALIA

One of my readers from way down south in Australia e-mailed me about a radio station continuing to spread lies about the death of the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins nearly five years ago. You'd think these people would have better things to do with their time than focus on how someone passed away so long ago, but the anti-Atkins contingent seems hellbent on continuing with their character assassination of this diet legend. Here's what the Aussie wrote to me in the e-mail:

Hi Jimmy,

I'm from Perth, Western Australia and thought you may be interested to know that the misconception of how Dr. Atkins died is still alive down under. On one of our radio stations this morning (92.9 with Em and Wippa) they were talking about the Atkins diet. I didn't catch the show but heard excerpts of it. Em said something like "but you need carbohydrates for energy" and Wippa said "you don't want to do Atkins considering Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack."

THANKS for letting us know about this nonsense being spread over the airwaves there and I encourage my Australian readers (and anyone else for that matter!) to contact the radio station to set them straight. The fact that these people feel like they need to attack a dead man just goes to show you the tremendous power and respect that Dr. Atkins commands over them because they know he was right! And that's what bothers them the most.

STRONG PROMOTION OF CARBS IS LAUDED AS "HEALTHY"

The carb-loving interest groups never stop with their propaganda about how "healthy" a high-carb diet allegedly is as we see in this Arizona Republic column that refers to carbs making a "comeback." Rice, pasta, and potatoes are promoted as virtuous in this column and low-carb diets are chided as a "fad" that was irrelevant since most people don't gain weight eating carbohydrates. Oh really? Then why are three out of four people overweight or obese, hmmmm? It couldn't have anything to do with that high-carb, low-fat diet that's been recommended all these years, eh? Share with the reporter Karen Fernau YOUR experience on the low-carb lifestyle by e-mailing her at karen.fernau@arizonarepublic.com.

YOU CAN'T DO ATKINS, YOU KNOW IT'LL GIVE YOU CANCER

Even after losing 180 pounds and proving to people how much better off my health is now than it was when I weighed 410 pounds, there are people who sincerely feel like I am damaging my health by continuing to follow the Atkins diet. That is just amazing to me because nobody even thinks twice about the health of someone losing triple digits on a high-carb, low-fat diet. Instead, they are loudly applauded for sticking to a diet of bean sprouts and tofu! EWWW!

Here's an e-mail someone sent to me warning me of future health dangers:

Jimmy,

Wow, it is wonderful that you have lost so much weight, you probably have added years to your life. But I would like to warn you that my sister also did the Atkins diet for years. She didn't do it for weight loss--well maybe to lose a few extra pounds and to maintain. My sister has never been overweight by no means but after many years of following the Atkins diet she was diagnosed at age 38 with cancer in her colon and she blames it on the red meats she ate for many years while being on the Atkins diet. My sister did both radiation and chemo treatment. She will soon be 43 years and now does the Makers Diet and feels great! I would please urge you to look into the Biblically-based Makers Diet.

I know this lady means well, but she's speaking too much from her heart and not at all from her head. If she does even a little bit of research, then she will not be able to locate any credible scientific evidence that points to any relationship between meat consumption and cancer. I'm sorry for her sister's cancer condition, but I doubt her "Atkins" diet was the cause (and I put quotations around that since I sincerely doubt she actually read the book).

Cancer research has become more and more focused on the role of diet in recent years as a means for both treatment and prevention. And what researchers are finding is that carbohydrates actually FEED cancer cells and make them grow. In other words, if you remove the carbs, then the cancer dies. It's as simple as that despite all the recommendations by the so-called health "experts" that you should eat a high-carb, low-fat diet. We've got it so bassackwards these days it's no wonder cancer is out of control.

As for The Maker's Diet, I haven't read that particular book. But I have read a similar one that's also based on the Bible called The Hallelujah Diet that highly touted the vegetarian lifestyle as the way God intended for man to follow. I even did a blog post asking the question, "Does The Bible Consider The Atkins Diet A Sin?" that received an enthusiastic response from my readers. This is a subject that has always fascinated me as a Christian because people think God doesn't want humans to eat meat. So, why did He give us dominion over the animals, hmmmm?

LOW-CARB DECLINE CORRELATES WITH BIRTH DEFECTS DROP?

Talk about stretching the imagination, have you seen this Winston-Salem Journal story that tries to show some sort of connection between a drop in the number of people who are livin' la vida low-carb and a dip in birth defects over that same time period? I kid you not, some idiot nonprofit agencies in North Carolina are making this claim and proudly, too.

They believe that because birth defects fell over the same time period that the popularity of low-carb diets weakened that it HAD to be the causal effect. Um, no it doesn't. This all circulates around the issue of folic acid and the fact that many whole grain products are fortified with folate. Thus, if you reduce your whole grain consumption on a low-carb diet, then you'll not get enough folic acid in your diet to ward off birth defects. Did you follow all that?

Of course, I've completely obliterated this argument against low-carb and it is the height of ignorance to try to pass off this ridiculous assertion that low-carb diets lead to more birth defects as is being promoted by these groups. Please end this kind of purposeful misinformation that serves only to cause alarm without telling people the truth. Express your concerns to the reporter of this column Richard Craver by e-mailing him at rcraver@wsjournal.com.

CONFUSED AND BEFUDDLED READER NEEDS DIRECTION

This one needs no introduction. ENJOY!

Hi Jimmy--

I hope you don't mind my intrusion on your life here, but I'm looking at going on a low-carb diet, and trying to figure out which one to go on is as confusing as trying to figure out which car to buy. You know: lease, buy new, buy used, buy vehicle after leasing. Atkins, Sugar Busters, Carb Wars, Carb Addicts, Zone: everyone has an opinion; everyone is convinced they're right and everyone else is wrong or misguided or playing with a diet that will kill them, plain and simple.

I tell you: it's stressful enough to get me eating another chocolate brownie. (Which, of course, is part of the problem.)

Anyway.

A friend recommended the Zone diet, on which he lost 50 pounds in 1 year and didn't even feel like he was dieting. (His doctor told him it was not a matter of "if" he became diabetic and had a heart attack, it was only a matter of "when".) He ate protein, veggies and fruit everyday. No ice cream. (Or chocolate brownies.) He recommended "A Week in the Zone" but it's out of print. (And I'm wary of online used-book sellers.) Then he said "The Top 100 Zone foods" but it's also out of print.

I read "The Zone" by Dr. Barry Sears eons ago, and I don't remember much except thinking "How do you eat when you're on this diet? Like, can't I just be given some recipes and a week of menus that I can wrap my head around?" Granted, maybe that was all in the book and I missed it. Or I'm forgetting it. (It wasn't a great time in my life, as I recall.)

So then I hear "Forget Zone, it's just a watered-down version of Atkins. Do Atkins." So I go to Amazon. We have "Atkins for Life", which several reviewers suggested was not the best book to begin with. They recommend "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" of which there is the "Revised edition" from Sept 25, 2003; the "Revised Diet Package" dating from Sept 25, 2002; and then finally (I think) there's the Diet Revolution dating from December 4, 2001. Okay, I've checked again, and I see no other in-print editions of that book. Then I hear that I never eat vegetables on Atkins, and I never have to exercise or take any kind of nutritional supplement.

But then I read that I do need to exercise, and I will eat plenty of vegetables, and I will need "supplements." Splenda is perfectly safe to eat. Or it isn't; the jury is still out on it. Pass me another chocolate brownie, would you please?

So, maybe you can help. Please help demystify it all for me. Please. If I'm going to eat Atkins (and I don't want to eat a whole bunch of low-carb bread, and low-carb chocolate bars and so on) which edition of which book title should I start with? Since we all know that Atkins is a killer (and I don't want to eat steak everyday: I actually really don't like steak all that much, I'd rather have pot roast or stew), and I like eating vegetables (I really like raw carrots and I'm sad that they're going to kill me because they have carbohydrates in them) and I'm not a fan of fiber replacement products (sorry, don't know what else to call them), which edition of Zone would be good to use to get started eating?

Honestly, I don't need to read 100 pages about human physiology and about insulin and carbohydrates to have someone tell me how to plan a meal and give me some decent sample menus. I will be grateful for any guidance you can offer. I am pushing 50 years old and am afraid to step on the scale. I bought pants at the end of 2007, and I am up 2 pant sizes since I went clothes shopping in 2006. It's not my weight that bothers me: it's my size. Arnold Schwarzenegger once said "If it jiggles when you move, it's not muscle." A lot of me jiggles when I move. I must make change.

Does anyone know what Gary Taubes eats? Thanks again, in advance, for any guidance you can offer.

This is the perfect example of somebody who's thinking too much about this. Pick a plan, follow that plan exactly as the author prescribes, and then execute it. If you discover along the way that the plan doesn't fit your life, then go to another one. But the worst thing you can do is worry about this and that and everything in between. That's why so many people get frustrated and discouraged in their quest to lose weight and get healthy. They think it's too confusing. But a lot of that is brought on ourselves because we are unwilling to just find a plan and stick to it. That's what this man needs to do.

DELTA AIRLINES NOW OFFERING LOW-CARB SIDE ITEMS?

My friend, fellow author and blogger Judy Barnes Baker reported at her "Carb Wars" blog that Delta Airlines is now offering some low-carb side item choices while serving in-flight meals. AWESOME!!! She discovered this pleasant news when her husband was flying back from an international business trip recently and they were serving mashed cauliflower (here's a post with the recipe about how you can make it at home). WHOA! Another meal featured a side of spaghetti squash. SUPER!

Judy, who wrote an outstanding low-carb cookbook called CARB WARS: Sugar Is The New Fat last year, summarized her thoughts about this new development with Delta's menu choices in a way I think we'll all agree with.

"I find it very encouraging that this airline is making an effort to accommodate those of us who prefer an alternative to potatoes, rice, and pasta. And who would be better served than an airline by helping their passengers control their weight?"

Couldn't have said it better myself, Judy! :)

JOIN DISCOVERY HEALTH'S NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE 2008

This year, Discovery Health has made its own resolution: To help Americans achieve their health and fitness goals. National Body Challenge 2008 is a comprehensive fitness and weight loss challenge that provides the tools to get in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. Registration is absolutely free, and includes an 8-week trial membership to Bally Total Fitness. Much of this campaign happens online with a thousand recipes, customized meal plans, a progress tracker, expert tips and advice, games and quizzes, and a discussion forum. I'm not sure how low-carb any of the recipes or advice will be, but I'm all for people finding support for their healthy lifestyle change. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

NUTRITIONIST SAYS ATKINS DIET FAILS IN THE LONG-TERM

If you've read my blog for a while, then you know what I think about a lot of nutritionists these days. Just in case you haven't seen my response to one before, you can read a few examples of them here, here, here, and you definitely don't wanna miss here. Yes, I have fun with dietitians and nutrition "experts" because they are fully convinced the Atkins diet is destroying your health--until I shine the light of truth on their hyperbolic accusations.

Such is the case with this Houston Chronicle column featuring--WHAT ELSE?--the opinions of a nutritionist about what she thinks of diets. Here's what University of Texas Medical School dietitian Carol Wolin-Riklin had to say about the Atkins diet:

"Typically people can't stick to these diets long term. And that's why the rates in the scientific literature are that 90 to 95 percent of the time, diets don't work, or they work short term. You know, if we knew what to do (with dieting), there wouldn't be a multibillion dollar weight-loss industry. Diets are just very difficult. The weight loss can be positive, but it's often fleeting, and when the weight comes back on, it usually comes back on plus extra pounds. So success eludes most people."

Why is it ALWAYS presumed that people who follow a diet like Atkins is gonna gain the weight back? I've never understood that commonly-held belief that it NEVER really works and that you will gain back the weight and then some. Sure, I know it happens, but it didn't happen to me after I lost 180 pounds in 2004. Aren't these self-proclaimed diet experts even curious in the least about how I was able to beat such incredible odds and keep the weight off for good? One would think.

The fact is low-carb is a permanent weight loss solution and it is proven by my own low-carb success story. This is gonna sound mean, but I don't intend for it to be. It's just the truth. If the Atkins diet didn't work, then look in the mirror for the reason why. You've got to make this a permanent lifelong way of eating or it won't work. This is the central message that is too often missed by the professionals who are supposed to be helping people in their pursuit of getting healthy. Somebody is dropping the ball on this one!

HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIM EATS FAT TO IMPROVE HEALTH

Stress can do so many things to your weight and health that I could not imagine what life was like for all the many victims of Hurricane Katrina from a couple years back. Today I have one who shared a positive story about what happened to him after he started up on a low-carb diet done the RIGHT way. Here's what he wrote:

Hey there. I just happened across your blog and wanted to tell you of my experience. About 2 years ago I tried low-carb and did fantastically. I'm 50 (48 then) and had just gone through Hurricane Katrina and had packed on even MORE pounds. I'm 5'9 and weighed 245 before Katrina, hit 275 afterwards due to stress and lots of boxed foods, lost down to 230, and now am back up again.

The key for me seems to be that if I try to stick to low-carb, low-fat with veggies in bulk I GAIN. Not a little, huge honking amounts. I am tired, cranky, can't eat a meal without sleeping two hours afterwards--NOT a good life for the single parent of an autistic child who takes loads of care.

I had read about coconut oil and bought some, but never tried it until recently ran out of my regular corn oil. One meal cooked with the coconut and I felt BETTER. Didn't want to eat as much and definitely cut the carb cravings. I figured out how to make coconut mayo and coconut butter mix (1/3 coconut oil, 1/3 butter, 1/3 buttermilk). Today, I was starved. Ended up using the mayo with about 2 oz cheese as a dip.

To make a long story short, this was the first day in 2 years that I didn't take an early evening nap. I ate a great dinner--broccoli and hot and sour soup, homemade--and I just flat out feel BETTER. After reading your blog I'm convinced I've been short-selling myself on the meals in the name of dieting, and eating all the "right" things that the doctors say, but I swear to you they DO NOT WORK.

Where will I be in a year? hopefully 100 pounds lighter, but definitely I will be on a high-fat, low carb diet. Even if I do not lose a single pound--I FEEL so much better. I never, ever would have believed it. Thanks for listening.

If you could see me right now, I'm grinning from ear to ear! I just LOVED this e-mail because it once again hammers home the important lesson that livin' la vida low-carb is only effective when it is accompanied by ample fat consumption that serves as your fuel in the absence of carbohydrates. You don't mix low-carb with low-fat because that's a recipe for disaster to your health as we discovered is happening with people following the Kimkins diet scam.

As for coconut oil, I've blogged about how it is great for weight loss and this reader confirms that it makes you feel better, too. I personally use Nutiva brand coconut oil and buy it in the big one-gallon buckets. It's more economical and this stuff keeps for a very long time. I cook with it and eat it straight up as a supplement--YUMMY! I'll have to look into making my own mayo and dips. COOL!

HEART DISEASE BLOG LAUDS ATKINS DIET FOR HEALTH

I've always said the science is what is going to convince intellectual people that livin' la vida low-carb is a viable alternative to the low-fat diets. And that's what we see in this About.com Heart Disease blog column that looks at the status of the low-carb diet in 2008. You know this is making About.com Low-Carb Diets blog author Laura Dolson very happy to hear and I suspect she may have played a role in convincing Dr. Richard Fogoros to look at the studies and decide for himself. Very encouraging news indeed to start the new year!

DOCTOR "ACCIDENTALLY" STARTS LOW-CARB, IMPROVES HEALTH

If only this scenario would repeat itself exponentially...

Dear Jimmy,

First, I'd like to thank you for your blog. It has been a wealth of information for me--and very entertaining. Allow me to introduce myself. I am a physician (pathologist), who stumbled onto low-carb sort of accidentally. My wife had read and recommended to me the book SUGAR SHOCK! I read it also, and thought I would try to eliminate sugar--but simultaneously decided to increase the fat in my diet (replace the calories in sugar and simple carbs).

I was startled at how much better I felt the very day I made the switch. Because I felt so much better, I decided to continue the changes, progressively decreasing the carbohydrates, and increasing the fat. I was also surprised when I spontaneously lost 10 pounds (I didn't have much to lose), my blood pressure dropped, an inflammatory skin condition that I have had for years cleared up (sebhorreic dermatitis), and recurrent canker sores that I have suffered from cleared up.

As a physician, I was trained to be somewhat skeptical of dietary treatment of physical conditions, especially diets that claim to solve multiple problems but I cannot deny the changes in myself or others that I have observed following a low-carb diet. Since then I have tried to follow the research of low carbohydrate diets on diseases of civilization. I have read Gary Taubes GOOD CALORIES, BAD CALORIES book and consider it a masterpiece.

One doctor down, 150,000 more to go!

HOUSTON CHRONICLE JOURNALIST IS A LOW-CARBER!

Hey, you know how much I like to rib many of the people who report on the Atkins low-carb diet in the media because they generally get it wrong (I did it locally with my newspaper when they trashed low-carb and it ended up leading to a feature story on my Atkins diet weight loss success). Well look at this Houston Chronicle column from a man named Ken Hoffman. Check out what he says at the beginning of paragraph six:

"I know low-carb people (and by that, I'm talking about me)..."

Yep, you heard him right! He's livin' la vida low-carb, baby, and it's good to know that someone who is actually eating this way writes for such a major American newspaper. Let's send Ken a whole buncha encouraging notes congratulating him on choosing the healthy low-carb lifestyle and to keep up the great work. His e-mail address is ken.hoffman@chron.com.

HEALTHY EATING REALLY IS MORE EXPENSIVE

Okay, so we get confirmation in this New York Times piece that eating healthy actually does cost more money than eating a junk diet. No shocking news to me! But what does it really mean? Does it depend on which diet you are following as my fellow blogger Amy Dungan from the "Healthy Low-Carb Living" blog shared in this recent column?

Poverty does not automatically mean pudginess and obesity hits both rich and poor, so you can't really blame being fat on your lack of wealth. But it is a worthy debate for discussion about whether there should be incentives or something given to encourage people to make the better food choices rather than gravitating to that 99-cent package of potato chips. What do you think?

THE MOST OBJECTIVE DEFENSE FOR LOW-CARB EVER

I realize my enthusiasm for the low-carb lifestyle is much greater than that of most people because of the tremendous turnaround in my weight and health it produced. But I've found someone who doesn't really have a dog in this hunt, but has come up with a list of reason for choosing low-carb for the sake of your weight and health. It's from a Type 2 diabetic named Jenny and she posted this instant classic blog post entitled "Safe Low-Carb Dieting For Weight Loss" at her "Diabetes Update" blog. You'll probably end up printing this one out and sharing it with everyone you know. IT'S THAT GOOD!

Sorry this was so much news in one post, but it's piling up quickly here in the early days of 2008. I try to keep on top of things, but sometimes it's a challenge. But so many of you help me by sharing information you have seen about livin' la vida low-carb and I appreciate that very much. Please continue to pass on anything of interest to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS!