My Dad Is Having Emergency Quintuple Heart Bypass Surgery Next Week

Hey everybody! Yes, Christine and I are still in Florida having a GREAT visit with my brother Kevin, sister Beverly and our mom this week on our vacation. We've had a good time together so far spending quality fun time with each other (mostly playing Texas Hold 'Em and we're planning going out for karaoke on Friday night) and I'm so glad we've been able to do this. Kevin looks and sounds great right now (although it's probably the morphine the hospice nurse has stocked him up on!), so it's like nothing is wrong with him. But we know his time could be coming up soon.

THANK YOU to everyone who has prayed for us during this time. Beverly said Kevin is down to just one functioning artery and when it becomes completely clogged, well...you know the rest. While our hearts and emotions about this are heavy, it's good to know we are able to be with Kevin in a joyful way during these potentially final days of his life. He's still the same ole big lug brother I grew up with and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I wasn't planning on being online much or at all during my visit to Florida this week, but I just got a telephone call from my stepmother Faye in Tennessee who said my dad is going in for an emergency QUINTUPLE heart bypass surgery next Tuesday. The doctor recently did a heart cath and said three of his arteries are over 90% blocked and the fourth one is 80% blocked. It's not a good situation at all, but they seem to think they can help him. He's had a couple of heart attacks before, so this isn't completely unprecedented. On top of what's happening Kevin, this is a bit much to take right now.

We're deciding whether we are gonna make that trip up to Tennessee and when because we want to be there for him. Our original plan was to drive back home to Spartanburg, South Carolina on Tuesday and we'll probably just go straight to Bolivar, Tennessee from Florida--likely on Sunday. His surgery will be taking place in Jackson, so we may just meet the family there on the day of the surgery on Tuesday. He's expected to be in ICU for several days although he told my stepmom he'd be out in a regular room the next day (YEAH RIGHT--that's my dad!).

I don't know how it's gonna happen with all that's going on right now, but I want to be there for my dad through this. He's only 59 years old which is too young to be dealing with this. But it's a solemn reminder that we just never know when our health is gonna kick us in the tail. Dad and Kevin have both made choices to be in the position they are in right now, but that doesn't make what they are going through any easier to deal with.

Right now, it's unfathomable to think about the worst case scenario of losing both my brother and my dad this year. But I'm hoping for the best in both situations right now and I know that God holds both of these men in my life in His Hands to do as He wills for them. Whatever that is, I'm just thankful for the opportunity to call J.D. my dad and Kevin my brother. They are two remarkable people that I had the privilege of growing up with and loving during my life.

THANKS so much for your prayers for Kevin and my father.

Oh, by the way, I am aware of this July 17, 2008 issue of New England Journal of Medicine with that study that is ALL OVER THE MEDIA right now and I was even interviewed and quoted in this Wall Street Journal column in today's paper. This was awesome POSITIVE coverage for livin' la vida low-carb (although Dr. Dean Ornish got in his digs despite his assertion that we all agree on diet)--I think they purposely planned to release it knowing I was gonna be gone. Just kidding! :)

I'll update again when I get a chance...I appreciate your support!

34 Low-Carb Diet & Health Blogs For You While I'm On Vacation In Florida

Don't mess with me right now, I'm totally wiped out!

That little fella in the picture above was in the airport last week in New York and seeing him all sprawled out cute like that in an uncomfortable position made me think about how I feel right about now with my breakneck schedule. WHEW! It's been busy lately and I'm looking forward to heading down to Florida on Tuesday to be with my brother Kevin (THANK YOU for all the prayers for his health!) and the rest of my family for a week. And I'm not gonna blog a bit while I'm gone--gee, imagine that, a REAL vacation! :D

So, as has become my custom when leaving on a long trip, I have a list of 34 new low-carb and health blogs to keep you occupied while I'm gone. You can see all of my other blog posts featuring low-carb blogs and more that I've written before by clicking here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Check out these 34 new blogs and ENJOY!

1. HEALTHY INDULGENCES
2. DARDREAMS
3. CYA GIRL!
4. THE FINAL ESCAPE/NEW FOCUS!
5. THE MIGHTY QUINN
6. "RELATIVELY" LOW-CARB
7. LIFE'S DESTINATION
8. MUSINGS FROM THE SUGAR BUSH
9. WHERE IS TIGERLILLY??
10. DONNIE'S DIVERSIONS
11. REFUSE TO REGAIN
12. THE HATCHED EGG--FREEDOM FROM STRESS & ANXIETY
13. ERRATICA'S MUSINGS
14. LOW CARB MY WAY
15. PSYCHIC RATIONS FOR THE OUT OF CONTROL...
16. DANNY'S TOUR FOOD
17. THE HEALTHY LIVING BULLETIN
18. LOSE THE SCRAPS
19. SHAKE WHAT YA MAMA GAVE YOU
20. EMOTIONS FOR ENGINEERS
21. THE METICULOUS GOURMET
22. WEIGHT LOSS JOURNAL CHRONICLING THE LOSS OF OVER 100 POUNDS
23. TOP FORM SECRETS
24. LOW-CARB DIET & ENDURANCE SPORTS
25. NO DISHES TO WASH
26. SALUBRIOUS FERVOR
27. TYPEAMOM ON A LOW CARB JOURNEY
28. BEAUTIFITT HEALTH BLOG
29. NUTRITION EDUCATION PROJECT
30. D2K: MYLIFE
31. THE PITTER PATTER OF LOSING POUNDS (VEGETARIAN LOW-CARB)
32. MY FLORIDA NEST: MINDFUL LIVING IN PARADISE
33. THE DELIGHTFUL DESIGNS OF THE DIVINE MISS M
34. SWEDE & BEEF EATER

I don't usually like to list blogs without a few notes about my impression of the blogs, but I just ran out of time before my trip this time. But believe me--I've been to all these blogs and they are some of the most remarkable new low-carb diet and health blogs I have seen. Read a few of them each day and this should keep you busy while I'm gone.

Do you know about a low-carb blog I haven't highlighted at my low-carb links blog? E-mail me the URL at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS for spreading the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb to the masses! :D

28 New Low-Carb Diet & Health Blogs To Check Out While I'm On Vacation

Yep, it's time for me to go on vacation! YAHOO!!! I've been needing a break for so long, you just don't even know it. And this time around, I'm making it a REAL vacation--as in, I'm not even bringing my laptop computer or anything! YIKES!

That's okay, because I'm gonna leave you with a post today that will keep you plenty occupied while I am off cruisin' on the waters down to Mexico and back. One of the most popular posts I do here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog is highlight other new low-carb and health blogs. Today I have 28 more to share with you!

Wanna get your fill of some of the best new low-carb blogs to come out over the past year? If you haven't seen these previous posts I've shared already, then click on them below to see some of the other blogs I have featured here:

- New Low-Carb Blogs Keep Popping Up Everywhere
- Five Hot New Blogs For 2007
- Five More Hot New Blogs For 2007
- 10 Healthy New Diet And Weight Loss Blogs
- Five Fabulously New Low-Carb Blogs
- Five Truly Eclectic Low-Carb Diet Blogs
- 50 Sizzling Hot New Low-Carb Blogs of 2007
- Seven Prodigious New Low-Carb Blogs
- Lots and Lots Of New Low-Carb Blogs
- 33 Audacious New Low-Carb Blogs For 2008

Now here are some NEW ones for you to peruse while I'm away:

1. ALL ABOUT HABITS

How can you NOT love a blog that has a cute picture of a kitten at the top (as the owner of four cats, I'm a sucker for that kind of thing!). But once you get into this weight loss blog you realize there's a real person who is attempting to change her habits in 2008 to lose weight and get healthy. She started this blog to chronicle her journey to take off the weight her college years put on her.

2. THE ULTIMATE PLAN OF GREATNESS

This new low-carber is well on his way to seeing tremendous success because of his "plan of greatness" that includes the healthy low-carb lifestyle. Check out his results after just one week of being on low-carb. He's an inspiration that will only get better as the days go by and he remains committed to his new way of eating. Go for greatness!

3. LOW-CARBING AND GENERAL HEALTH NEWS

Low-carb cookbook author Jennifer Eloff has created a new blog that will highlight some of the latest low-carb news that catches her eye and will share it with you. Check it out!

4. FRED HAHN'S SLOW BURN BLOG

I was privileged to interview "Slow Burn" trainer Fred Hahn earlier this month and have been implementing this strategy into my own workout routine lately with outstanding results. This blog allows you to hear some of his ideas and insights on your healthy lifestyle that will help you reach your fullest potential. You'll always get solid research and sound opinions from Fred Hahn, so bookmark this blog and visit often!

5. SAUL KATZ: LOW-GLYCEMIC FOR LIFE

Saul Katz believes America needs a "low-GI wake-up call, every day!" AMEN BROTHER! He is convinced our obesity and diabetes epidemics will not improve as long as we keep doing the same things we've always done regarding our health and nutrition. And he believes the glycemic index is the key to it all. You'll get the latest GI news and views at this blog.

6. WANNABELOSER'S LOW-CARB DIETING & WEIGHT LOSS SITE

Kelly says she has "tried pretty much everything and this is the only way I have been able to successfully take the weight off." She's referring, of course, to the healthy low-carb lifestyle which she started in April 2007 after seeing her in-laws experience success with it both with their weight and their health. Although she allowed herself to get "bored" with the plan and gain back some of her weight, Kelly is back on track again with the low-carb lifestyle. Check in on her every now and then to see how she's doing.

7. NUTRITIOUS DESIGN

Rebecca is a graphics design artist from New York, New York working on a graduate degree in communication design. Her blog is "about my exploration and investigation into how design can promote (and educate people about) healthy eating." Hmmmm, interesting! You might just want to take a peek at what Rebecca's up to.

8. LOW CARB DIABETIC LIVING

James Robbins had a very traumatic event happen in his life on Valentine's Day 2007. He was rushed to the hospital with a blood sugar over 800 and a blood pressure of 180 over 120--his body was experiencing Diabetic Ketoacidosis. After surviving that harrowing experience, James decided he needed to make a change on March 1, 2007--he started livin' la vida low-carb, exercising, and doing what he had to do to get his diabetes under control. So far, so good! He's lost over 80 pounds and has come completely off of his diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol medications. WOO HOO! Way to go, James! His blog is very well laid out and chock full of some amazing low-carb stuff!

9. EATING HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOOD

Meet Merry K. (no, not the make-up lady, Mary Kay!). She is a healthy living advocate willing to impart what she has learned about diet, nutrition, and good eating to the readers at her blog. You'll find helpful tips and links galore at Merry's blog, so pay her a visit sometime.

10. DROP20: JUST ANOTHER DIET BLOG

Wanna see a familiar story? Check out this blog post from a guy who took 16 years of his life to keep trading 300 pounds back and forth. If you've ever gone through the yo-yo dieting in your life, then this story will sound familiar. Now he's a low-carber just doing what he's got to do to maintain his weight the healthy low-carb way. I could especially relate to this post he wrote about trying to find a gym. EEEEEK! Drop in on Drop20 to see if he ever finds a good gym where he can workout.

11. BLIPSFIT

What's a computer specialist doing giving out diet advice? Well, he's living what he talks about and lets YOU decide whether it will work for you or not. He consumes a low-carb diet, exercises for an hour a day, and refuses to take prescription drugs. That's right! My kinda guy! He has read up on all the literature and now seeks to impart some of that knowledge on the people who read his blog.

12. GLUTTONY NO MORE

Cedaracrelady got diabetes two decades ago when she gave birth to her fourth child and now is an active member of her local Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) weight loss support group. She shares some yummy low-carb recipes that diabetics and low-carbers alike should enjoy!

13. WEIGHT-IN (FOR THE SUN)

You've seen Lora pop in with that big sunshine avatar of hers in the comments section at my blog and now it's time I tell you about HER blog. Now that she's lost weight, I LOVED reading this blog post where she talks about how people treat her differently now than when she was bigger. It's so true and I'm happy for Lora that she is getting to experience that in her own life! YEAH LORA!!!

14. TWIN PEAS

Okay, so this one's NOT a low-carb or even a diet blog. But Kelly Damron has an incredible blog for people who are going through infertility like Christine and I have. When our IVF cycle did not result in a baby in December 2007, Kelly was there to offer a hand of love and encouragement to us through a very difficult moment in our lives. The pain is still there today, but knowing there are people like Kelly out there who can relate to our experience has made this a little easier to handle. If you suffer with infertility or depression and need to find some hope, then Kelly has got you covered!

15. LAKESIDE LOW-CARB

Trish is wholeheartedly devoted to the low-carb lifestyle and loving it, too! Wanna see what's REALLY going on inside the mind of a low-carber? Then you GOTTA read this blog!!!

16. JERI KAY'S WORLD

Say hello to Jeri, a speech therapist from San Antonio, Texas. You'll notice she's really into low-carb cooking and likes to experiment in the kitchen. ME TOO! Give Jeri's blog a glance!

17. LOW-CARB CONFIDENTIAL

Oh, I am absolutely riveted by this new low-carb blog. I say "new," but it's been out since May 2007. WOW, this Megamas character is an incredible writer and I just LOVE the writing style immensely. See if you can relate to this blog post about how attitudes have changed about livin' la vida low-carb. This blog is certainly a keeper and I look forward to reading more masterpiece posts in the future!

18. LOW-CARB GOLFER

Last year, I did something that I've been wanting to do for most of my adult life. I learned how to play golf for the first time in my life. Granted, I'm not very good yet (haven't even broken 100), but I always have a good time when I'm out on the course regardless of how my game is. This blog is dedicated to both the healthy low-carb lifestyle AND golfing. What more could you ask for? :D

19. ROD'S DIET & EXERCISE DIARY

Rod is from Clinton, Iowa and is on the Atkins diet to try to lose weight. Like my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Menus" blog, he is documenting his daily low-carb menus and exercise routine for anyone interested in seeing what he is doing to shed the pounds. Rod's committed to low-carb living because it's what "works the best for me." YOU GO BOY!

20. WEIGHTANDSEE

Follow the low-carb life of Michael and Nina as they go through this "journey toward health" in their own way. Nina claims she's not a very good writer, only "competent," but don't let her fool you. She has insights into life that relate to more people than she even realizes. Keep writing from your heart, Nina, and you'll find an audience of readers just begging for you to write some more! ;)

21. LYNN'S WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY

You may have seen Lynn talk about her 168-pound weight loss on Oprah or featured on CNN recently. Her weight loss story is incredibly inspiring because SHE DID IT! I'm all for people finding a plan that works for them and doing it for the rest of their life. Lynn has certainly done that and now she's blogging about the lessons she has learned along the way. WAY TO GO, LYNN!!!

22. IT'S ALL IN THE GAME THEORY...

Parker is not your typical low-carb blogger. But over this past year, livin' la vida low-carb has helped him shed 25 pounds, the majority of which is stored fat. After reading the Gary Taubes book Good Calories, Bad Calories, now he is convinced the carbohydrate hypothesis that is discussed in that book is true and that fat is not the great enemy our our diet as it has been made out to be. This blog will be one to watch for some great perspectives about low-carb living.

23. PALEO DIET - SO EASY A CAVEMAN CAN DO IT!

Cute name for a blog (in a play on those Geico commercials), but 50-something year old Gary Rea is fully committed to sharing his experiences eating like our early ancestors to return to a proper weight and improve his health. Follow his journey to improve his diabetes, cholesterol and more on the Paleolithic diet!

24. MY WEIGHT JOURNAL

Although it's a simple title for a weight loss blog, I was pleased to see this blog post detailing the plan for shedding the pounds is a low-carbohydrate diet. The reasons given for following this plan along with a high-fiber intake are ones I think we can all agree with: "It makes sense to me. I understand it. I can remain committed to it. I have remained committed to it. And, I will continue my commitment. There is no food that I crave or that I desire that is forbidden on this diet." Yep, yep, and yep again!

25. WEIGHT REDUCTION COACH

I was very pleasantly surprised when Brenda Emmett from this blog did a feature post about the work I am doing, so I decided to check out what the Weight Reduction Coach blog was all about. Outstanding columns that will surprise you how much they espouse much of what you and I believe to be true about diet and health. ENJOY!

26. TRESSES' OTHER CORNER

Tresses blesses everyone she encounters at her blog with the relaxing sounds of a melodic hymn from her favorite Christian artist. But she too has been positively impacted by Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories and blogs about it. Here's what she wrote in the comments section to one of her readers about her decision to start livin' la vida low-carb: "My plan is working for me. I stalled for a good 3 weeks, but got going again. Even when the weight stalled, my body fat percentage kept dropping, so something good was happening. And, of course, I just feel so much better." ABSOLUTELY! And that's what keeps us going. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, Tresses!!!

27. HAVEN'T WE MET

Miss Rancher is a newlywed, but she is tee-totally in love with the low-carb way of eating, too. She gets the insulin connection to obesity and disease and articulates it in an amazing way on this web site. Reference it, bookmark it, and drop little Miss Rancher (or should that be Mrs. Rancher!) an e-mail while you're there! :D

28. IOWAAVENUE

The tag line for this blog is "It's about a healthy lifestyle!" Oh YEAH! That's my motto, baby, and I'm happy to see others championing this cause, too. This blog is brimming with so much information, it'll take you a while to soak it all in. Go there, experience it, and leave better informed and encouraged in your quest for better health!

That's all I've got for you this time around, but please feel free to share any favorite low-carb blogs you have that I haven't mentioned before. Send the URL to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I'll see you when I get back from vacation, so ya'll hold down the fort while I'm gone. SEE YA IN MARCH!!! :D

Meet Jimmy & Christine Moore In Galveston, Texas

We're headed to Southeast Texas on Friday, February 22, 2008

This Friday, I'm so excited to be leaving my home state of South Carolina and hop on a plane down in Atlanta, Georgia to my final destination of Galveston, Texas. Christine and I as well as a whole bunch of friends from my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum will be getting together on a cruise that sets sail out of Galveston on Saturday afternoon and will return on Thursday morning. This is the first cruise we have been on since our honeymoon back in 1995, so we are stoked beyond belief!

We're getting in a day early to make sure nothing prevents us from getting on that ship, so we've got a little down time on Friday, February 22, 2008. So, I wanted to invite any of you who live near Galveston to meet up with us for dinner at The Rainforest Cafe next door to the San Luis Hotel on the Galveston Seawall. The address is 5310 Seawall Boulevard and a group of 20 or so of us will be dining there at 7:00pm.

I'd love to meet you in person and have a chance to spend a few minutes saying hey. I've never been to Texas before except for when I had a connecting flight in Houston. But that doesn't count. This will be a wonderful experience and I am thrilled to be headed to the Lone Star state. I've got a lot of readers from there, especially in the Houston area, so I hope to see a few of your smiling faces on Friday night!

When we return back from the cruise on Thursday, Christine and I will hop on a plane back to Atlanta for the 2008 Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association (HPBA) Expo covering it Thursday through Saturday. You'll recall I met some wonderful people when we attended the one in Reno, Nevada last year and interviewed a few of them (Leslie Wheeler, "BBQ Queen" Karen Adler, and "BBQ U" host Steven Raichlen) for my podcast show. We'll try to do more of the same this year and even take some video footage while we're there. I'm also working on getting some nice grill giveaways like this one I did for my 2nd blogiversary giveaway contest last year, so be looking for more details about my upcoming 3rd blogiversary coming VERY SOON!

And, in case you are wondering, I will NOT be blogging while I am on vacation this time. I paid good money to go on this cruise, so as much as I love you guys I hope you don't mind that I'm gonna take a break--imagine that, Jimmy Moore is gonna take a REAL vacation! I'll leave you with a good blog post before I leave on Friday that will keep you occupied plenty while I'm away for over a week. THANK YOU for your continued support and I hope to meet all of you sooner or later! :)

Commemorate Dr. Robert C. Atkins On Cruise To Carribean Coming March 2008

It's back and better than ever before--the official Atkins Diet Cruise!!!

Believe it or not, there are tons of brand new people who are JUST finding out about livin' la vida low-carb for the very first time because of the explosive new Gary Taubes book called Good Calories, Bad Calories. I've seen a noticeable increase in traffic over the past months or so and the e-mail inquiries from people wanting to know more about how to do the Atkins diet have nearly doubled since so many people are ready to give this healthy nutritional approach a try.


Rest and relax on the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean

That's why I'm pleased to announce the thrilling return of the very popular Atkins Diet Cruise coming in March 2008. After a few years away, this fun and exciting more than week-long trip down to the Eastern Caribbean has returned and is just as educational, enjoyable, and entertaining as ever! This is arguably the most unique cruise you will ever take in your life!


You won't eat this good on your low-carb lifestyle on just any cruise

While most cruises have so much food, mostly high-carb offerings that tempt you to go off plan during your vacation, the Atkins Diet Cruise is different. On the previous 11 cruises they have done over the past 15 years, they have had expert Atkins chefs right there on board to provide delectable Atkins-approved dishes for those who are following the low-carb lifestyle.


Master Atkins chefs stand ready to serve you low-carb meals

The chef who will be on board this upcoming Atkins Diet Cruise is a veteran low-carb diet cook who is quite experienced with the needs of low-carbers and has been on many past cruises. The ship's menu will be completely compatible with your Atkins diet, so there's no need to worry about gaining weight. In fact, the average weight loss for the people who go on this 8-day cruise is an astounding 4-8 pounds!!! WOW!

Obviously, NOBODY is gonna get you results like that, so this is quite a lucrative deal for anyone who is new to the Atkins diet or would like a refresher course.


Dr. Atkins enjoyed finding low-carb treasures on the island stops

The cruise line is the Costa Mediterranea, which leaves the port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, March 29, 2008, and will travel down to luxurious destinations in the Caribbean including San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, La Romana, Dominican Republic, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands. The cruise will return to port on Saturday, April 5, 2008.


Eberstein, seated next to Dr. Atkins, knows all about low-carb living

Leading the Atkins seminars on board the ship will be Jacqueline Eberstein, R.N. who worked directly with Dr. Atkins for three decades and orchestrated all of the past successful Atkins Diet Cruises. She will be joined by Karen Paris, P.A., who has an additional 20 years of Atkins diet experience to impart on the people who will be attending this outstanding cruise.

Some of the topics that will be covered on the cruise include:

- How to get started on a Low Carb Plan
- The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
- Low Carb and Family Nutrition.

Both of the hostesses will also be available for one-on-one personal nutritional counseling sessions for those interested in customized help with their low-carb lifestyle. Additionally, there will be yummy cooking demonstration, a regimented exercise routine program, and an open question and answer session about anything and everything related to the Atkins diet.


All the Atkins dishes will be clearly marked for you to enjoy

Best of all, all the meals will ENCOURAGE you to eat healthy while indulging in the delicious offerings of the master Atkins chef who will prepare everything for you to keep you on the straight and narrow all week long. You most certainly won't have to worry about what you put in your mouth on this cruise because it's ALL gonna be low-carb and oh-so-yummy!


Dr. Atkins and Veronica always looked forward to these cruises

Plus, there will be a very special commemoration and celebration of the life of the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins on the 5th anniversary of his passing while on this cruise. So many of us owe a great deal of gratitude to this man who committed his career to helping people overcome their weight and health problems with the use of a non-traditional diet plan that just plain works! It helped me lose over 180 pounds and keep it off for the past four years. And I'll never be the same again!


Oooh la la, I can smell the tropical air now! AHHHHHH!

Christine and I are so excited to be going on this cruise and I can't wait to meet those of you who will be going on this trip. It looks to be a great way to start your 2008 off on the right foot and it's only a matter of months from being a reality. I hope you can join us on the Atkins Diet Cruise!


The Atkins Diet Cruise is both affordable and practical

With rates starting as low as $799 per person (which is all-inclusive for the cruise, Atkins-approved food, and all the low-carb lifestyle classes on the ship), this could be just what you need to kickstart YOUR Atkins diet into high gear. Please call 1-800-947-6051 to speak to your cruise captain Bob Lincoln with any questions you may have about this cruise or go to the Atkins Diet Cruise web site for more information.


These gorgeous sunsets await you on the Atkins Diet Cruise

If you decide to go, then let me know! I'll be looking for you and would love to talk to you on the ship about how the Atkins diet completely changed my life for the better. :D

50 Sizzling Hot New Low-Carb Blogs For 2007

It's not often that I decide to go on a vacation and not have ANY access to a computer or the Internet. But on Friday morning, Christine and I will be driving up to Indiana to attend a family reunion on her dad's side of the family and the older family members we're staying with don't even own a computer. GASP! Oh the horrors! EEEK! 8O

Well, this trip has been a long time coming because we've never been able to attend this reunion as a married couple in our 12 years together because my job would never permit it. But now I'm the gracious boss since I'm working for myself and I give myself permission to GO! ;) YEAH!!!

What this means is I will not be blogging for the next five days in a row (oh, be still my fluttering heart!). I've never gone more than a day or two without blogging since this thing started in April 2005, so I may start going through blog withdrawal symptoms (can't be nearly as bad as sugar/carb withdrawal was, though!) by Saturday night! Hee hee!

Anyways, I thought I'd give you plenty to chew on while I am gone through the middle of next week. Many of you know I have a companion low-carb links blog as well as a diabetes links blog that supplement what I am doing here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. Well, new blogs and sites are springing up by the handfuls this year and I can hardly keep up with them all!

So what I have for you here are 50 brand new low-carb diet and health blogs to keep you company and entertained while Jimmy Moore gets some much-needed R&R! I've broken these links down into convenient categories so you can easily navigate the ones that interest you the most. Try to visit them ALL if you can and interact with them, too.

I hope you love and support them as much as you do me. HAVE FUN!

THE ESSENTIAL NEW LOW-CARB BLOGS
- Scale Mistress
- Short Girls Low-Carb Support Group
- Permanent Low-Carber
- Sara Ost's Healthbolt
- Mother/Daughter Meltdown
- Back Across The Line
- Burning The Scale

THE HOT LOW-CARB RECIPES BLOGS
- Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
- Make It Low-Carb
- My Tasty Space
- This Mama Cooks!
- Low-Carb Eating
- Low-Carb Recipes & Diet Ideas

THE NEW DIABETES SUPPORT BLOGS
- Death To Diabetes
- The Diabetic Pastry Chef
- Tu Diabetes - A Community For People Touched By Diabetes

NOT AFRAID TO HAVE AN OPINION LOW-CARB BLOGS
- Kristen Can Be A Skinny B**ch Too...
- Skriv Zone Words
- Fear And Loathing In The Kitchen
- The Road To Clarity And Transformation
- The Diet Pulpit
- Cleochatra's Low-Carbpalooza

NEW LOW-CARB FITNESS-ORIENTED BLOGS
- Mr. Low Body Fat's Blog
- Couch To 5K
- Female Fitness And Nutrition Scientist

THE LATEST LOW-CARB INFORMATION BLOGS
- Low-Carb Diet Tips
- Low Carb Life
- JepRooster's Low Carb Website
- Raven's Low-Carb Nest
- Low-Carb Confidential

THE VERY CLEVERLY-TITLED LOW-CARB BLOGS
- Kickin' Carb Clutter
- Living Low-Carb & Lovin' It!
- Anthology Of A Madman
- Princess Eatsalot
- C. Jane Winn
- Minus The Fat Community
- The Low-Carb Band-It

THE NEW LOW-CARB WEIGHT LOSS JOURNAL BLOGS
- The IT Managers Low-Carb Journal
- Taking Charge
- Debi's Random Thoughts
- Runchilde
- My Weight Loss Diary
- Girl On A Mission...
- My So-Called "Diet"
- Fat Life
- My Life As I Live It
- Scott And Jens Weight Loss Blog
- Paul Kelly

A BRAND SPANKIN' NEW SPANISH LOW-CARB BLOG
- Bajo En Calorías

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THIS NEW SWEDISH LOW-CARB BLOG
- Low-Carb Bloggen

This list of 50 sizzling hot new low-carb blogs for 2007 should keep you plenty busy while I'm away on vacation until next week. In fact, if you find a blog you REALLY like, leave a comment here about it and be sure to also leave feedback for that blogger too. You'll make their day, I can assure you of that!

Ya'll have fun while I'm away and come by my new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Discussion" forum where I'll be hanging out just a few minutes a day on my iPhone when I get a chance. In just under a week online, we've seen nearly 50,000 pageviews and over 160 registered members pass through that forum. WOWsers!!!

I know a bunch of you are just lurking right now and that's okay. But why not sign up and join the forum so you can get in on the fun, too? :D There's so much positive low-carb community happening there right now that you'll be glad you did.

SEE YA NEXT WEEK EVERYBODY! This is my first REAL vacation away from blogging in a LONG time and I'm excited about it (I think! LOL!). Bye! :)

We Are Enjoying Our Time Away In Missouri

Christine and I had a good time at Ryan's in St. Louis, MO on Saturday

If you haven't noticed, I'm not blogging as much as normal this week because I'm on vacation in St. Louis, Missouri. Christine and I are enjoying a few days of rest and relaxation away from all the cares and worries of the world to rejuvenate and recharge ourselves. As I've gotten older, spending this kind of quality time together has become more of a priority than ever before.

Our Saturday meetup and get-together at Ryan's was eventful, though. There was some confusion by the staff about it and they turned several people away who said they were looking for me. Um, Jimmy who? Yikes! Read all about this experience in my fellow blogger Amy Dungan's Healthy Low-Carb Living Blog.

It was great meeting Amy and her family as well as Lisa! I heard several people came, but left when they thought I wasn't there. Sorry about the communication problem with the manager there. It's a good lesson learned for the next time I do one of these events.

As for our time here in Missouri, Christine and I FINALLY got some news about why we haven't been able to have kids yet. As I've blogged about before, we have been married nearly 12 years (our anniversary is August 5th) and still haven't been able to have kids. We really would like to have a little Moore running around the house, but it just hasn't happened in God's perfect timing for us yet.

During our visit here, we saw a doctor who evaluated both of us and discovered we BOTH have issues that could be the culprit in our childlessness. My sperm count is high, but the quality sperm is extremely low. Christine's issue is a slight case of endometriosis which causes her pain.

We are in the process of deciding how to treat both of these and go through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF). It's not gonna be cheap, but we're ready to have children. We're in our mid-30's and NOW is the time to do this. We'd appreciate your prayers and support for us as we go through this process.

I'll be blogging as much as I can over the next few days while we are still away. We'll be flying back home to Spartanburg, South Carolina on Thursday afternoon, so I'll be back in the saddle on Friday. THANKS for your faithfulness to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and I'll see ya later! :)

Grasp A Quick 'Glimpse Of Heaven' On Earth In The Smoky Mountains

The "Glimpse Of Heaven" cabin in the Smoky Mountains is divine

My wife Christine has been bugging me to death to go on vacation in the Smoky Mountains. When we owned a timeshare, the waiting list for reservations in the Pigeon Forge/Dollywood/Gatlinburg, TN area was five years! Jeepers, I don't plan that far ahead, so up until now we've put off heading up the road for the trip.

But then I recently came across a Hickory, NC-based company called Heavenly Cabins which has a variety of quality, fully-furnished cabins nestled right there in the Smoky Mountains. Sweet! That's when we saw their cabin they named "Glimpse of Heaven" and we couldn't wait to book our trip!


Great Smoky Mountains, here we come!

Roger and Cheryl Gilliam, who are the husband-wife owners of Heavenly Cabins, made sure we had everything we needed for our trip and they went out of their way to make us feel welcome in their home away from home. Boy, did they ever!


I enjoyed a little blogging while resting in the cabin

Christine and I traveled to the "Glimpse of Heaven" cabin on the day after Memorial Day for a peaceful and relaxing getaway in the mountains. I was concerned that I wouldn't have Internet access, but Cheryl assured me that there would be a high-speed connection available. It was amazing and I was able to check my e-mails as well as blog all week...with satellite television no less! Gotta LOVE that!


A pool table and a hot tub provided fun entertainment

But it wasn't all work while we were there. The pool table was a favorite since both Christine and I love to shoot billiards (I won most of time, of course!). Then when the sun would start to set, we hopped in our very own private outdoor hot tub. Oh WOW, melt the stress away! This is the life!


I wanted to take this gorgeous little kitchen with me

Mealtimes were so convenient with the magnificent kitchen provided with every pot, pan, plate, and glass you would ever need during your stay. And cleanup was a breeze with the automatic dishwasher! Plus, there's a great propane BBQ grill to cook up some fabulous low-carb meals overlooking a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains! Can I come LIVE here? :D


The beds in this cabin were so comfy you didn't want to get up

After a long day of activities, it was nice to be able to hop into a bed that was as relaxing as it looks. In fact, there were TWO beds (one on the lower level and one on the upper deck) for larger families or a pair of couples to use. We enjoyed our alone time together on this trip, but the next time we will be bringing other guests!


Take your pick--swingin' in a hammock or swingin' on the porch?

To say we enjoyed ourselves is an understatement. Going on a trip to the Smoky Mountains was a dream come true for us. This cabin was a mere 10 miles away from all the tourist attractions of the Pigeon Forge area, but it felt like we were all alone. And that was what made it so special!


I highly recommend "Glimpse of Heaven" for your next vacation

If you would like more information about booking a trip to the Smoky Mountains through Heavenly Cabins to stay in the same cabin that Christine and I did, then simply contact Cheryl and let her know you want to find out more about that cabin Jimmy Moore stayed at.

I promise you'll come back home refreshed and energized by the mountainous serenity!

Would You Go On A Low-Carb Luxury Retreat?

Do you like getting away from the hustle and bustle of life every once in a while just to relax and reflect on life? Wouldn't it be great if you could somehow get away for a few days in a luxurious location to spend some quality time with others seeking to learn about low-carb as well as with those who have been successful on the low-carb lifestyle or are experts on the subject?

If you like this idea, then there's a quick 10-question survey I'd like to invite you to participate in and it will only take you about two minutes to complete. This dream vacation could very well be a reality based on the feedback from people who would want to take part in something like this.

A group of influencial members of the low-carb community are attempting to gauge the interest there may be in having an educational, yet informal low-carb retreat that would help people learn more about livin' la vida low-carb. There would be time for question and answer sessions, cooking demonstrations, testimonials, and, of course, lots of fun activities in the destination city. Would you like something like this?

This is still just a concept at this point, but could turn into something more once the results of the survey have been tabulated. CLICK HERE to take the survey and share your thoughts about a low-carb luxury retreat.

Surprising Kevin Perhaps For The Last Time

I hope this isn't the last picture taken with my brother Kevin

When it comes to going on vacation, I'm the kind of person who would much rather stay home and just take in the sights and sounds of life in my area that are normally overlooked in the day-to-day living to simply relax and enjoy myself. Loading up the car with a bunch of luggage, driving umpteen hundred miles to get to your destination, and then trying to cram in activity after activity to entertain yourself is not my idea of the perfect vacation. Don't you need a vacation from your vacation when you get back?!

But one thing trumps all of that when it comes to going on vacation: seeing your family! My wife Christine has family north of us and my family is split between west and south of our home in South Carolina. We try to make the rounds every year or so and it had been a couple of years since we went to visit my mother. stepdad, brother and sister who all live in the same town. So we decided to travel down I-85 (through some horrendous traffic there and back going through Atlanta!) to see my family over the Thanksgiving weekend.


Here's my family sitting around the table after the Thanksgiving meal

My sister Beverly was so gracious to open her home up for Thanksgiving when she heard we were coming and that we wanted to surprise Kevin. My mom had planned on going out to eat with my stepdad, Beverly and Kevin for turkey day, but my dear sister wanted it to be more special than that with us driving down to visit. She did an excellent job with the meal!


That's my pretty little sister Beverly who is two years younger than me

Mom cooked the turkey and brough ham and Beverly did the rest. They allowed me to cook up a batch of my mashed cauliflower and low-carb stuffing, although my mom and stepdad weren't very thrilled with either. Oh well, it wasn't for them to eat now, was it? :D

I didn't eat any of the desserts that were prepared because they were loaded with sugar and flour. But everyone made sure to tell me how mmm mmm good the chocolate pie and apple pie was. Not for me because I'm livin' la vida low-carb and those are just RAT POISON! LOL!


From left to right, my mom, my wife Christine, and my brother Kevin

We didn't have a whole lot of time together over the weekend because he had some odd and end things to do, but I was able to see my brother Kevin a little. As many of you know, he has had quite a year since being told by a doctor to lose weight or die. Despite this grim warning, Kevin has not lost a lot of weight yet and his health has paid the price.

I was very tempted to tell Kevin what he needed to do to shed those pounds and get his health in order. However, more than anything else, I just wanted him to know he was being thought about, prayed for, and wished well by countless numbers of people (mostly YOU!) who really do care about him and want to see him well. He wanted me to let you know he appreciates your concern and that he is going to try to do something about his situation. We can hope and continue to pray at this point.


Kevin's a big man who has had one doozy of a life so far

One thing that shocked me was when we sat down to watch a movie together as a family on Saturday night was when mom made a big batch of brownies. The aroma in the air was just too much for Kevin to bear, so he went and loaded up his plate with 4 large blocks of brownies with ice cream on top. Keep in mind he's a Type 2 diabetic and morbidly obese! Oh, you don't know how much I wanted to scream, "NOOOOOOO!!! YOU DON'T NEED THAT, KEVIN!!!" But I bit my lip and remained silent.


My beautiful Christine with my brother Kevin

I learned a long time ago that you can't force someone to change who isn't ready to change. They have to be ready and it's our job to serve as an example until they are. That's all I have left to hope for at this point. Kevin is a 39-year old man who doesn't need someone to hold his hand about what to do with his life. He alone makes the decisions about his life and he will have to face the consequences of his actions at some point. Hopefully he'll have a "later" to get to it.

It was so good to see my skinny momma looking so good following her gastric bypass surgery three years ago. But the woman eats worse than a bird does nibbling on about three or four bites of food and then stopping. Amazing! Yet she looks absolutely fantastic and I'm so proud of her.

My stepdad pulled out his glucose meter on Saturday to check his blood sugar and wanted to see what reading everyone else had. My mom was in the 160s, my wife Christine was in the 120s, and Kevin refused to have his checked (maybe 300+ after that brownie bonanza?!). So he came to me and his jaw dropped to the floor when he saw my reading was 86.

He asked me if I was feeling okay and I said I felt perfectly fine. He said that my blood sugar was a little on the low-side. I told him that's pretty normal for someone who is controlling his carb intake to manage his weight and health. Let's just say it left an indelible impression on him that may have him counting carbs and watching his sugar. THAT is the power of being an example for others to follow.

Overall, the time away was amazing except for the fact that I missed blogging for you while I was gone. But I promised Christine I would not blog, so I didn't. Now I'm back in the saddle ready to keep providing you quality content that you can use as part of your low-carb lifestyle. THANK YOU for giving me a few days off and I look forward to the year 2007 which will be here before you know it!

Hopefully, my brother Kevin will make 2007 his banner year for a comeback with his weight and health. Otherwise, I don't think he's gonna have any more chances. YOU CAN DO IT, KEVIN! JUST DON'T GIVE UP! DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

I'm Back From Thanksgiving Vacation

Hey "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog readers. Just a quick note to let you know I just got back into town from my Thanksgiving vacation with my family. It was fun for Christine and me to get away for a few days and just be with each other and my family. I took lots of pictures of my skinny mom who had the gastric bypass surgery as well as my sister Beverly and my brother Kevin that I will post in the next few days.

THANK YOU to everyone who prayed for our safe trip there and back. But it's so good to be home again.

I am excited about the next month or so gearing up for the new year with people focusing on their New Year's resolutions in January. Whether they know it or not, I'm ready to share the positive and uplifting message of livin' la vida low-carb with them so that maybe they too can experience what I did on January 1, 2004--there REALLY IS a way to overcome a lifetime struggle with weight and vastly improve your health in the process. It's the low-carb lifestyle!

Keep reading this week because I've got a lot of blogging to do...

Traveling Is No Excuse For Not Doing Low-Carb

She Knows Network asks a good question for people who are livin' la vida low-carb especially in light of the upcoming vacation time coming this summer -- what can you eat at the airport?

I haven't traveled by airplane for more than five years and don't know personally about the limitations on food choices in airports. However, from what I do remember about airports, the food selection varies depending on how big it is. But with a little bit of creativity and planning, you shouldn't have to "blow" your low-carb lifestyle just because you are traveling.

"When I am forced to eat a mass-transit meal, my first low-carb thought is always eggs," says Derek Alessi, LowCarb Energy fitness expert and author of Lose Fat Forever. "Eggs -- especially the egg whites -- are a great source of protein. In fact, eggs have the highest absorption of any natural protein at a 96 percent value. That means 96 percent of the protein you consume from eggs will absorb into the body."

Eggs are very handy indeed. In fact, I just had egg with American cheese on Atkins bread for supper last night. Yummy! If you find a breakfast shop in the airport, this is a great place to stop for a quick bite between flights. Of course, a lot of people bemoan eating so many eggs when they are on Atkins. If that's you, then there are other options, too.

You can also order a cheeseburger or chicken sandwich without the bun.

"If I am fortunate enough to be at a restaurant that offers a salad, I will ask for the bun-less burger or chicken to be put over the salad," Alessi says.

For people on a low-carb lifestyle, you get used to eating a burger or other sandwiches without the bread. It's a way of life for us now because we know the carbs in that big bun or submarine sandwich would put us back for days. You can skip the fries, too, and ask for a salad, even if it happens to cost you a little more money. The savings to your health make it much more worth it!

I was concerned when I read about a woman who is doing low-carb and is lactose intolerant because of the following statement she made: "I'm also fat-conscious, so I will order my sandwich with no mayonnaise; then I'll add extra mustard," she says.

Yikes! As I have said many times before (but it's worth repeating often), it is extremely dangerous to mix a low-carb lifestyle with a low-fat diet. The two in conjunction are counterproductive to your weight loss and health goals. DON'T DO IT! Your body needs the fat in the foods you eat while livin' la vida low-carb to keep you satisfied and to do Atkins correctly. You are only going to get frustrated and eventually quit if you try to combine low-carb with low-fat.

Of course, you could plan ahead before you go on your trip and pack some handy low-carb snacks such as nuts, mozzarella cheese sticks, pepperoni slices, low-carb candy and bars, etc. It's a whole lot cheaper and you're sure to have something you can eat if the airport selection lets you down. This is a good idea anytime you are going somewhere unfamiliar and you want to make sure you don't mess up on your low-carb plan.

The article has a list of 5 suggestions for low-carbers while traveling that I agree with in part and disagree with other parts (look for my parenthetical comments):

1. Strictly avoid the "white hazard"-- white flour, white rice, potatoes, sugar and sweets.

2. Eat as many vegetables (I would add the phrase "that are acceptable on Atkins") as possible.

3. Strictly avoid all liquid calories, with the exception of one serving of wine, liquor or low-carb beer (I would remove the exception because I don't recommend any alcoholic beverages when you are livin' la vida low-carb because they dehydrate your body and slow your metabolism).

4. Always have some healthy protein such as seafood, skinless poultry, lean beef or pork, nuts, beans (I would not recommend you eat beans because they're too high in carbs!) or eggs.

5. Always control your portions: With the exception of vegetables, limit the amount you eat to the equivalent of your hands cupped together. Phetteplace spaces her allotted daily carbs over the course of several meals. "I'm much healthier if I eat three or four small carb meals throughout the day instead of one huge meal," says Phetteplace. (Okay, ignore this suggestion completely because portion size is irrelevant on a low-carb lifestyle. It's good to eat lots of small meals throughout the day to satisfy your hunger, but just eat until you're not hungry anymore. It's not rocket science people!).

One final point in the article that I thought was worth mentioning is the woman doing low-carb wanting restaurants and their employees to become more educated about what low-carb is all about. She detailed her concerns in a story about a recent visit she had to a national restaurant chain where she asked if he knew the carb content of the foods on the low-carb menu.

"The young man, who was probably new, gave me a, 'No, I don't know,' instead of trying to direct me to some of the literature they had that would have answered my question. I finally figured it out and was able to order, but it was frustrating," says Phetteplace.

Welcome to my world. I have to do this at literally any restaurant I go to nowadays. It is frustrating because it shouldn't be very hard to inform the staff of the carb totals in foods. It's no less important than knowing the fat content on the low-fat menu (and I bet most of them know that by heart!). The education about low-carb will need to continue as more and more people are livin' la vida low-carb.

The story ends with some good advice from a doctor: "With a little preparation and wise choices, you will be able to keep your nutrition disciplined on the road."

So enjoy your trip in the coming months, but don't use it as an excuse for not doing low-carb!