There are two ends of the spectrum when people start talking about being on the "Atkins diet"--either they are simply cutting back on their carbohydrates and consuming whatever amounts of meat, cheese, eggs, and bacon they choose to eat or they are following the plan that was written and promoted by the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins in his various books, most notably Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution.
It's amazing how people can get away with describing both of these as the "Atkins diet" when only those people who have educated themselves about this way of eating in the latter group can honestly say that. Even worse, we've got people who try to debate the Atkins diet without ever seeing what Dr. Atkins wrote. Come on, that's just plain ignorant if you ask me. So I'm ready to help do something about this lack of understanding about the Atkins diet starting right here and right now.
In Episode 48 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," my lovely wife Christine and I share about an Atkins Diet Startup Kit that we are making exclusively available to anyone who wishes to learn more about this healthy and delicious low-carb nutritional approach. With all the mounds of misinformation and confusion that has been generated by those so-called health "experts" and the media about this wonderful dietary plan that helped me shed 180 pounds in 2004, why wouldn't you just want to learn more about what it's all about? That's precisely what this 6-item kit will do--EDUCATE!
Learn more about what's in the Atkins Diet Startup Kit in today's video:
Here's a recap of the materials included in this package:
- Why & How It Works video - Staying Slim & Health video - Atkins diet workbook - Atkins meal planner (recipes) - Atkins easy carb gram counter - Basic diet manual
These materials certainly do not replace what you get in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution or any of his other books. But they do complement those books by putting the Atkins diet in clear and understandable language using a 3-part video explanation of the nutritional plan from Dr. Atkins himself, workbooks and information sheets to help you personalize your low-carb Atkins plan, and then practical information on carb counts, recipes, and other essential information to go on the REAL Atkins diet the right way. This is about a $100 value worth of materials that you can't purchase anywhere else and it's all yours for only $25 (plus FREE PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING!).
Yes, you get the two videos, the big workbook, the recipe book, the carb gram counter book, and the basics guide to take when traveling all for the flat cost of $25. This includes your PRIORITY MAIL shipping, so you'll get it quickly when you place your order. Please contact me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and we'll work out arrangements to ship your materials. I want to get these materials about the Atkins diet into the hands of people who genuinely want to learn what this specific diet plan is all about. There are no more excuses for thinking the Atkins diet is just bacon-wrapped-butter-and-brie (maybe Dr. Dean Ornish should buy this kit--HE MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING!).
Give us your feedback on our videos by e-mailing livinlowcarbman@charter.net anytime. We appreciate hearing from you and will possibly use your show ideas in a future video. Watch our previous YouTube videos and join the ever-growing list of people who now subscribe to our YouTube videos. THANK YOU for your support of our video series on YouTube and we'll keep 'em coming!
Is your low-carb diet relying too much on Ketostix?
One of the most interesting tools we have at our disposal when we start livin' la vida low-carb to let us know whether we are doing it right or not is a testing strip that measures ketone levels called Ketostix (there are other brand names for ketone sticks, but this one from Bayer is the most common). Basically, here's how it works: you can check your urine on this testing strip to see how many ketone bodies you are excreting out of your body. Ketones are present when you are in ketosis which is instigated when you keep your carbohydrates at a ketogenic level (usually under 50g carbs daily).
I recently asked a group of low-carb experts the following question--"Is Ketosis Necessary On A Low-Carb Diet?" That seems to be a "well duh" kind of question which is why we use things like Ketostix to see whether we are in ketosis or not. But where people seem to get most confused is with the color of the testing strip. If it's light pink, then I must be doing something wrong. My Ketostix need to be dark purple if I am experiencing "deep" ketosis, right? I get these kind of questions every single week and they miss the point of the testing strips.
In Episode 47 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I seek to better explain the purpose of Ketostix by telling you what they are for, what the various colors actually mean, why showing no ketones on these strips may not be a bad thing, and how you can virtually guarantee your body is in ketosis. I'm astonished by how many people are still so concerned about the results of their Ketostix, but hopefully this video will clear up some of the miscommunication.
Find out all you need to know about Ketostix in today's video:
Noted biochemistry professor Dr. Richard Feinman from SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, New York provided a very succinct explanation for how these Ketostix are supposed to work:
"There is a continuum of ketosis. In fact, one of the features of ketone bodies is that, unlike other fuels, glucose and fatty acids, they can be present in plasma over a wide range of concentrations. What is true is that Ketostix measure ketonuria (ketones in the urine) which may or may not give you an accurate view of plasma ketone bodies. If ketone bodies are used as fast as they are made, you may never see ketosis."
This should give those people who see pink or even beige on the ketone testing strips hope that they are indeed in ketosis even if the tests say otherwise. The bottom line you should remember is that Ketostix are merely a low-carb guide to provide proof that you are livin' la vida low-carb in a ketogenic state, but they're really not that necessary if you are keeping your carbohydrates significantly reduced below 50g daily. When you are doing that, then you WILL be in ketosis. Hopefully this clears up some of the confusion about why some people seek purple and others see pink or beige.
"The Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Isabeau Miller
Also in today's video, Christine and I share about our upcoming trip to Nashville, Tennessee to attend "Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Isabeau Miller's FitCamp. Since landing in the final four last Fall on the hit NBC-TV weight loss reality series, Isabeau Miller has taken her passion for her own personal weight loss journey and is now helping others who struggle with obesity like she once did before Jillian Michaels got a hold of her tail and whipped it into shape. Today she is a personal trainer and is giving me and several of my readers a chance to experience what it was like to be on "The Biggest Loser" over a special two-week period.
The first session of FitCamp in July just concluded and our session in August will commence on August 17th. We will be doing a daily video log of this experience and sharing it on YouTube as part of a FitCamp series of videos. Isabeau said she will not be allowed to be videotaped because of contractual obligations from her stint on "The Biggest Loser." But I'm gonna ask permission from the other people who will be there going through this experience with me to talk about how FitCamp is helping them. I am super-excited about this, especially in light of my recent 30-pound weight gain I've experienced. Perhaps this will get me back to where I need to be. I sure hope so. :)
We LOVE making videos for you and doing them on topics that YOU care about. Tell us your show ideas for future videos by e-mailing them to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Check through all of our previous YouTube videos to make sure we haven't already tackled your favorite subject! While we were away last week, there was a sudden surge of people decided to subscribe to our YouTube videos and now we have well over 600 subscribers! WOW! Join in on the low-carb fun on YouTube and help us spread the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb to the masses!
If you or someone you know has no clue what they are doing in the kitchen, then listen up. Do you burn water when you try to boil it? Is your idea of cooking slapping together a cold cut sandwich? Then you could appear in a brand new show coming to The Food Network for a "culinary competition" with other similar contestants from across the United States.
The more incompetent the cook, the better. And they truly want "the most disastrous cooks in the country" to step forward and claim their title of worst cooks in America. Your reward for outing yourself as a bad cook is to have the chance to work with some of the finest professional chefs in the country as they teach you the secrets to being a great cook. Of course, you'll need to be an interesting, outgoing person with a personality that will capture the attention of the television viewers at home.
If you genuinely can't cook but wish you knew how and want to be considered for this new show on The Food Network, then nominate yourself or someone you know to be on this show. Are you the kind of person that is asked to bring the napkins and plates rather than food? Or do you have someone in mind who fits this mold? That's who The Food Network is looking for, so don't be shy. ENTER TODAY!
Keep in mind if you nominate someone, then you will need to attend the interview with your friend or loved one as well. How often do you get a chance to be on television because you are BAD at something (okay, American Idol is the ONE exception!).
It's super-easy to apply--just send an e-mail to hopelesshomecook@optomenusa.com with an explanation about why you or the person you are nominating is dubbed in your mind as "the most disastrous cook in the country." Don't forget to include your name, age, hometown, occupation, contact phone number, and a recent photo of the hopeless, helpless, hapless cook. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE and here's hoping your "bad" cooking turns into a chance to be on TV learning how to cook well.
By the way, remember when I told you about a new show coming to The Food Network in August called "Ask Aida" and I submitted a couple of videos to be considered for that show? My first video was about how to brown mashed cauliflower and my other video featured how to make eggs more interesting. Well, they chose one of my videos to be featured on the show and I now have a date when it will air.
On Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 12:30pm EST, Aida Mollenkamp will do an entire show on the subject of eggs. My video will be played and then Aida will share some wonderful recipes that feature eggs. She's already posted two recipes featuring eggs here and here (I LOVED this one!) and I can't wait to see what she shares on the show. WOO HOO! I'm gonna be on The Food Network for about 45 seconds. :D
This is promising news for Americans who are seeking healthy NATURAL choices for sugar alternatives since Truvia is made from the sweetest part of the stevia leaf--rebiana. The very best-tasting stevia is then combined with the sugar alcohol erythritol as a bulking agent to create a very clean-tasting, maltodextrin-free substitute for sugar. And it's not bitter even in the least. I was VERY pleased with that since the major complaint most people have with stevia is the puckered-up face they get when they taste it. Not with Truvia.
In Episode 46 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I share about my trip to the Rockefeller Center in New York City on July 9, 2008 as the people passing by the Truvia Greenhouse were given a golden opportunity to be some of the first people in the entire world to try this new product coming to store shelves in the Fall 2008. There was iced tea and lemonade available for people to try and most of them gave a very positive review of the Truvia. There were a few knuckleheads who refused to even try "nature's first zero-calorie sweetener," but it was their loss. This stuff is OUTSTANDING!
Learn more about Truvia and what makes it different in today's video:
If you're excited to try Truvia for yourself, then it is currently available for purchase online at Truvia.com and in a few select New York City stores. The immediate reaction I had to the Truvia when I tasted it was how much it resembled cotton candy. That's a good tasting product, I'd say! There is a bit of the "cooling" sensation from the erythritol, but it's not unpleasant. In fact, that gives it a very nice mouth feel to me and Truvia is just about as close to real sugar I have seen in a sweetener before! Try it for yourself and I'll be telling you more about this product when widespread availability hits later this year.
THANK YOU for watching "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." Please send us your comments at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and watch our previous YouTube videos anytime you'd like! Take a moment now to subscribe to our YouTube videos and catch the low-carb wave that's rolling across YouTube right now. :D We'll be back again soon for another fun and quirky video about the healthy low-carb lifestyle.
Don't you know that your body needs carbs in order to function properly?! Come on, you idiot low-carb supporters, how can you tell people to cut down or even eliminate most of their dietary carbohydrate intake from things like healthy whole grain foods like brown rice and pasta and even fruits and vegetables? What kind of reasonable diet would suggest you remove whole categories of foods like this in order to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, hmmmm? Well? WELL?!?! How about it Mr. Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man?!
Siiiiiiiiiiggggghhhhh. That, my friends, is just a typical day in the life of what I put up with in my e-mail box most of the time. People have become so incredibly misinformed about diet and health that they are content with merely repeating back the same old diatribes from those so-called health "experts." It really is a pity that more people can't learn to think for themselves by getting all the facts, analyzing them carefully with the intent on learning the truth, and then applying that knowledge to their own personal experience while sharing it with others. That's what I try to do here at my blog and all my other projects.
It certainly gives you more credibility if you constantly remain a student of health whether you are a doctor, dietitian, nurse, or even a low-carb blogger. I may not have a bunch of letters after my name (although I do have an M.A. in Public Policy...does that count?), I have worked hard to NEVER stop soaking in every bit of information that I can about health so I can share what I discover with you. Then, hopefully you can take that knowledge, apply what is relevant to your own life, share it with someone else, and continue to education further. We live in an age of information and ignorance is no longer a viable excuse--especially on the subject of diet and health.
In Episode 45 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I wanted to share with the YouTube viewers about a word that is inextricably linked to low-carb dieting, but you really don't hear about it much outside the realm of low-carb research. The word is gluconeogenesis and I contend every single person who is on a carbohydrate-restricted or even a zero carb diet needs to know about this word. I've blogged about it and even did a podcast show on it, but this is much too important a concept for people to miss. Although gluconeogenesis (GNG) is rather complex from a metabolic standpoint looking at all the biochemistry that's involved. Check out this T-shirt from The Nutrition & Metabolism Society that illustrates all the pathways involved with GNG:
Order one of these "geeky" shirts TODAY by clicking here
Learn more about gluconeogenesis in today's video:
Since I uploaded this video to YouTube, there has been some confusion about what I shared in it about how the protein is converted into glucose. My friend Charles Washington, the zero-carb half-marathon runner who recently wrote a guest blog post said it seemed like I was saying that ALL protein gets converted to glucose. I certainly don't want to mislead anyone in that direction because it's not a one for one ratio of conversion. Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University says the studies he has seen say for every 2g of dietary protein consumed, one gram of it is converted to glucose/sugar/carbs. So it's about a 2-1 ratio of conversion which could cause SOME people problems who are especially carbohydrate sensitive (like me!).
This is what I was referring to when I said eating too much protein could POSSIBLY stall your weight loss if you are especially sensitive to carbohydrate whether through eating them or through gluconeogenesis. In looking at some of the reasons for my own struggle this year to get my weight back down despite doing all the right things, gluconeogenesis has come up as a possible culprit for my difficulty. Perhaps for me I need to be eating LESS protein than I currently am while increasing my fat and keeping my carbs to a minimum. This isn't a universal thing for everyone and could be genetic in nature. I'll be blogging more with an update about my weight and health situation very soon.
You guys are awesome for watching our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" videos and we appreciate hearing your comments about them and suggestions for future topics at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Don't miss our previous YouTube videos and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube videos if you like what you see. THANK YOU for all of your support and, as always, let us know how we can help you along in this journey to better health. Keep on livin' la vida low-carb! :D
After lots of trail and error, this cheesecake is perfect!
One of the best desserts for people on the low-carb lifestyle is a cheesecake. It's so easy to make this dessert low-carb because pretty much all you have to do is substitute the sugar for an alternative sweetener. Cream cheese is low-carb as are most of the other ingredients in a good recipe. In fact, I shared this no-bake cheesecake recipe a few months back and it was pretty good. But there's something about a baked cheesecake that is so delicious I just had to create one.
In Episode 43 and Episode 44 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I show you step-by-step how we make this recipe in not just one but two videos. It took a while to get this to come out exactly like I wanted it, but this is pretty darn close to perfect. :) I hope you enjoy it!
Watch these videos back-to-back to see this recipe from start to finish:
Here's the recipe in its entirety in case you missed anything:
JIMMY MOORE'S PERFECT LOW-CARB KEY LIME CHEESECAKE
3 eggs whites Pinch of cream of tartar 8 packets of True Lime 3/4 cup of heavy cream 1/2 cup erythritol (or equivalent sweetener) 2 eight-oz. boxes cream cheese 2 large eggs Dash of True Lemon Dash of ground nutmeg Dash of ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl pour the egg whites, cream of tartar and True Lime in it and beat with a mixer for 3-4 minutes until beyond frothy and thick.
Add the heavy whipping cream and beat until thick again. Then add the erythritol or equivalent sweetener and whip into the mixture.
Take the softened cream cheese and slowly incorporate it into the mixture with a low setting on your mixer until this gets really thick. Add 2 whole eggs and mix together. Throw in a dash of True Lemon, a dash of nutmeg, and a dash of cinnamon and beat into cheesecake batter.
Carefully pour the cheesecake batter into a small non-stick pan sprayed with Pam and spread out evenly in the bottom of the pan. Place inside oven and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown along the edges of the cheesecake.
Allow to cool 45-60 minutes before slicing and preferably 4 hours of refrigeration for maximum thickness. Place a dollop of whipped cream on top for a low-carb dessert made in heaven!
Creating a menu of food choices on the Induction phase of the low-carb lifestyle can be somewhat of a challenge to the newbie. We've all been there wondering what in the world we're gonna eat with those 20 grams of carbohydrates in our meal budget. It can be intimidating if you're not used to eating this way, but with a little guidance about what you CAN eat will make this process a whole lot easier. :)
In Episode 41 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I finish up with our dos and don'ts of Induction series we started in Episode 38, Episode 39, and Episode 40 by giving some last minute tips and reminders summarizing all we've shared over the past few weeks. Then we give you some easy-to-follow Induction-friendly menu planning for people who aren't sure what they're supposed to be eating on this important starting phase of livin' la vida low-carb. This will get you started off right!
Get help with your low-carb Induction menus in today's video:
The main point you want to remember in your menu planning is to eat fat and protein at each meal and keep your carbs to a bare minimum primarily from non-starchy and green leafy vegetables. If you do that, then there's no reason why you can't be a phenomenal weight loss success and experience vast improvements in your health that go beyond anything you could have ever hoped or imagined. Trust me, it WILL happen if you do this right. MAKE IT HAPPEN for yourself and reap the benefits of healthy low-carb living.
THANK YOU for watching our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" videos and we'd love to hear your video ideas and feedback anything by e-mailing us at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Access our archive of over 40 previous YouTube videos and be sure to join the nearly 500 people who subscribe to our YouTube videos so far. There are brand new viewers each and every week, so I hope you become a part of that growing community. You guys are the best and make the work I do such a pleasure. God bless you! :D
Basics, basics, basics! If you don't even know the bare-bones information about the Induction phase of livin' la vida low-carb, then you can never fully experience all the wonderful benefits this way of eating can afford you. It's one of the reasons why I have been dedicated to sharing this information in my latest YouTube videos. While this doesn't replace what you can learn from Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution or Protein Power, for example, hopefully it will get you started the right way.
In Episode 40 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I yet again continue what we started in Episode 38 and then in Episode 39 discussing some more of the dos and don'ts of low-carb Induction. In this episode, we discuss the beverages you can drink during Induction, what vitamins you should take during this phase, whether alcohol is permitted or not, and how much food you are supposed to eat. Whether this is brand new and old hat to you, let this be a great refresher course about low-carb Induction.
See even more dos and don'ts of low-carb Induction in today's video:
We'll be sharing some more tips and advice about low-carb Induction as well as menu planning ideas for Induction in our next YouTube video. Let us know what you'd like to see in future videos in our "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" series by e-mailing your ideas to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Check out our previous YouTube videos and subscribe to our YouTube feed. We are thankful for your support of our videos, so THANK YOU for watching! :D
A "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog reader will win this bike
It's contest time again everyone and this prize is PERFECT for anyone who is living healthy and enjoys the outdoors. You can win an ultra-chic, way-cool, radical-ride known as the Fuji Crosstown 2.0 Bike from our friends at Lipton Teas in promotion of their "Free Your Y" campaign on behalf of their new line of white teas.
Apparently, the new Lipton White Teas come from "young" (that's the "Y" they are referring to) tea buds to give them their amazing youthful flavor and this is the basis for developing "Free Your Y." Whether you are young, feel young, or wanna feel young again, Lipton is celebrating the things people to do recapture the essence of what it means to be youthful, energetic, and full of promise. It's a nice concept to think about, especially for those of us whose lives have been radically changed for the better through livin' la vida low-carb!
Okay, enough about the slogan, you wanna know how you can get your grubby hands on that bike, right? YEPPERS! It's pretty simple. Go to the LiptonFreeYourY YouTube page and click on the "Vote Now" button to see the entries that people submitted to the contest. Here's a brief video talking about voting in this contest with some sample videos of what people entered:
Your vote will determine who wins the $25,000 grand prize as well as two runner-up $5,000 winners. But you only have until Friday, May 30, 2008 to enter and the winner will be announced on Monday, June 2, 2008. GOOD LUCK to all the entries!
But what about the bike, Jimmy?! I hear ya, I hear ya...to win this snazzy bike for yourself (man, I'd love one!), all you need to do is vote for your favorite video and then leave a comment (no anonymous submissions permitted) at this blog post stating who you voted for and why. Since the voting at the "Free Your Y" contest ends on Friday, so will this bike contest at 11:59PM EST--SO DON'T DELAY!
The winner will be chosen at random among all the entries and he or she will have delivered to their home a Fuji Crosstown 2.0 bike, 5 coupons for a free 1.5 Liter Bottle of Lipton White Iced Tea, and a $75 check to offset the expenses for a professional bike assembly. WOO HOO!!! The Pepsi/Lipton Partnership will provide a check for $75.00 to be used for professional assembly of all Lipton Fuji bicycles awarded. Neither Pepsi Co. nor Unilever is liable for any injuries, damages or accidents that may result from the receipt, assembly or use of this bicycle.
So are you ready to "Free Your Y" and vote for favorite video submission in the Lipton contest? Then head on over to YouTube, place your vote, come back here and tell us who you voted for and why, and then wait expectantly for your name to be announced the BIG WINNER! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
Have you ever wondered what an actual low-carber keeps in his refrigerator, freezer, and cabinets? Better yet, many people have asked me what I keep in my cupboards. So today I wanted to share a peek into where I keep the low-carb foods that go inside my body. This video was a load of fun to make and I think you'll enjoy it, too!
In Episode 35 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I give you a quick tour through our kitchen showing you a sampling of the kinds of foods that make up our low-carb lifestyles. The audio of the video didn't download to my desktop for some reason, so we had to do a voiceover in the studio. Although it wasn't what we originally wanted, I think it turned out pretty good. ENJOY!
Walk through the Moore household in today's video:
Cybercrime is no less invasive than any other crime
These past couple of weeks have been rather interesting to say the least. As I detailed in this blog post last week, a hacker was able to invade and destroy my forum, steal money from my PayPal account, and then sneak a peek at my e-mail account. Violated doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel--angry, exposed, vulnerable, and victimized. What has happened to me should certainly serve as a lesson to anyone who chooses to be a member of the World Wide Web.
In Episode 33 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I talk very openly about all that has happened to us for the past two weeks since this hacker came into our lives attempting to destroy "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." While this person has certainly taken down my old forum for good (and I'm in the midst of having a new safer and more secure one created as we speak), everything else they have done has just been more annoying than anything. Several more things have happened in the meantime since my blog update last week, so watch this video to see what has been going on.
Check out all these "coincidental" events in today's video:
Although we enjoyed a great time at a low-carb conference in Phoenix, AZ last weekend, it was overshadowed by the cowardly acts of a cybercriminal who apparently had something against me personally to spread such vitriolic acts of destruction to my online property. The FBI has been contacted and they are considering opening a case to investigate this crime. The problem with these kinds of criminals is they are very difficult to catch. But if there's a way, you better believe we're gonna find it!
On a positive note, I wanted to remind you to enter my 3rd blogiversary giveaway contest where I have more than 50 great prizes to share with my readers. I was hoping to share these prizes with you this week, but my blog was temporarily suspended by Blogger on April 15th because their robots have identified it as a "spam" one. This usually takes a few days to clear up and I'm hoping to be able to start blogging again real soon. If you are reading this on my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, then you know I'm back up again. It's yet another piece of this wild and wacky puzzle that has been a part of my life these past couple of weeks.
If you want to find encouragement in your low-carb lifestyle, then you'll not want to miss a single one of our previous YouTube videos. Go ahead and subscribe to our videos to get your first glimpse of all the new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" episodes. E-mail us anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net because we love hearing from our viewers. Share your show ideas, feedback, and anything else that's on your mind. THANK YOU for your support!
YouTube is being taken over by enthusiastic low-carbers--NIIIIIICCE!!!
When I first started blogging about the healthy low-carb lifestyle back in 2005, there weren't very many "low-carb" blogs out there at the time. But today, you'd have to be blind to miss any of the literally HUNDREDS of new ones that have popped up in just the past couple of years. Check 'em all out at my low-carb links blog.
Well, a similar trend is beginning to happen over at YouTube. My wife Christine and I started making videos in August 2007 after getting a new computer with a video camera on it and thus was born our show "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." We've LOVED doing these videos over the past seven months, but it was kinda lonely out there sharing about low-carb living as the seemingly lone voice. In fact, that's why we decided to start this series to begin with--there was an obvious void in quality, positive content about the healthy low-carb lifestyle.
NOT ANYMORE!!!
Less than a year later, there are some absolutely incredible low-carb YouTube video bloggers out there providing their own take on this journey I call livin' la vida low-carb. Here are 21 of the very best and brightest low-carb YouTubers out there making a real impact today:
You can't mention low-carb YouTube videos and neglect to talk about Kent Altena (aka bowulf). He's the granddaddy of all the low-carb YouTubers because he was out there way back in 2006 sharing his How To Do Atkins videos that I thought were fabulous. Unfortunately, we got spoiled by all of the quality videos Kent was producing and he slacked off on them a bit last year. But in early 2008, Kent started back again and you can see his enthusiasm and passion for educating people about the Atkins diet is as strong as it ever has been. THANK YOU Kent for inspiring me and tens of thousands of others at YouTube with your phenomenal videos!
Dr. David Hite is the Health Doc and he presents information about the importance of the glycemic index as it relates to diabetes care. He recorded this brief video segment on low-carb diets and communicates in an engaging manner about health and wellness.
You have GOT to meet Cameo. She's the very cute and ever-so-quirky "Spiky Haired Girl" and is a voracious researcher about health and nutrition. Cameo TOTALLY gets it and now she's making YouTube videos about the low-carb lifestyle. WOO HOO! Her quick-witted sense of humor alone makes these videos worth watching, but the knowledge she provides on low-carb living (check out her latest one on coconut oil is more than worth the price of admission (which is FREE, by the way!). Although she's just getting started, I'm sure the "Spiky Haired Girl" will be around for quite a long time. Welcome to the fray, Cameo!
If you've been around the diet and health community for even a short time, then you have undoubtedly come across the work of a man named Dr. Joseph Mercola. The man is practically a living legend among health advocates because he shares solid, scientifically-proven research in a way that just makes good sense. And, lo and behold, he's even got his own YouTube series, too! Check out this recent video where he "Exposes The Cholesterol Myth." This is CAN'T MISS information that your body will appreciate you for!
Last year I introduced you to a brand new low-carb podcaster named Marc Sage who is now the only other active low-carb podcast on iTunes along with "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore." He has recently started adding videos to YouTube as well focusing on diet and low-carb. They are basically segments he has seen on television in the news that he is uploading so that the good news about livin' la vida low-carb can be spread. Great to have you contributing Marc!
What does a legal-based television show have to do with low-carb? Since they recently featured a segment on the Kimkins diet scam with attorney John Tiedt, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this with you. It's an amazing dissection of the ongoing Kimkins controversy and how an obese housewife from Corona, California named Heidi Diaz has gotten away with bilking millions of dollars out of unsuspecting dieters. It's quite a fascinating video to watch if you haven't seen it already!
What more could I possibly say about Dr. Jonny Bowden than I already have? This man is a walking encyclopedia of diet and health knowledge and a living example of what taking care of your body can do for you. He's such a dynamic speaker whose voice draws you in and you become mesmerized by the words he speaks both because he's entertaining to listen to and his comments are well-thought out based on the research. But there's no question this man holds true to his principles that a low-carb diet can improve health for many people. In fact, here he is talking about "the perfect diet." You gotta love that Jonny Bowden!
Speaking of Amy, there's another one I want to introduce you to if you don't already know about her. She's Amy Von from "Eating Low" and her regular low-carb YouTube video series is a big hit with people who love to try new recipes. If that's you, then Amy's your gal! With over 50 episodes in her "Eating Low with Amy" series, you'll have enough recipes to last you for the next year. ENJOY!
Follow the progress of Monyka whose nickname is "Monkaboo" as she follows the Atkins low-carb diet. She's already been on it for 12 weeks since January 2008 and is doing absolutely FANTASTIC!!! These are the kind of videos that make low-carb living compelling because it's real people applying the principles that make low-carb work with amazing results. KEEP IT UP, Monyka!
Dananananananananananananananana...FAT GRRLLLLLLLLL! That's how these ever-so-funny videos begin with the adventures of a fat girl making herself thin. Personality is certainly not lacking in this YouTube video blogger and I can't help but think she's gonna be a GREAT success by the time all is said and done. Wish her well in this journey to better health!
If you like the low-carb recipes, then you're gonna LOVE Niki (aka Oh2BFit) and her daughter Serena as the share some tasty ones that will keep you on the straight and narrow in your low-carb lifestyle. There are many precious moments between mom and daughter that are captured for all the world to see and hear on these videos. Keep pumping them out, Niki! Your 100+ pound weight loss is so incredibly inspiring, too! WAY TO GO!!!
Finally, no joke, we have a YouTube blogger named Hooty Ha Ha. Yep, that's what he calls himself and he thinks he's pretty hilarious. Just take a look at this YouTube video about the Atkins diet and seafood. Ummmmm, okay. And your point is?
If you or someone you know decides to start video blogging about livin' la vida low-carb on YouTube, then let me know about it. I'd love to check 'em out and give a quick shout out to them here at my blog. E-mail me their YouTube URL to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Making YouTube videos is very easy nowadays with inexpensive and easy-to-use video cameras like the FLIP as well as the built-in cameras on most computers. Go ahead, give it a try! We NEED more voices sharing about low-carb in an encouraging and uplifting way to continue impacting our culture for the good.
Special THANKS to all the courageous low-carb video bloggers doing their part. I appreciate you more than I could ever express and I'm proud to be a part of the growing community there on YouTube.
Delicious Satiatrim wards off hunger by increasing CCK in the body
Although a healthy low-carb lifestyle is an excellent way to naturally reduce hunger and increase the satisfaction you have with the foods you consume while losing weight, Satiatrim is a 50-calorie beverage that will help those of you who deal with getting hungry or have the propensity for overeating. If that's you, then listen up and find out more about this amazing new low-carb appetite-suppressing drink.
In Episode 31 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," the all-new and improved video series (check out the snazzy updated opening to the video along with a change in the format of the video itself--ENJOY!) focuses in on this product called Satiatrim and the impact it has on your body. There's an important hormone in your body called cholecystokinin, aka CCK (that's easier to say anyway!), that regulates how full you feel as you are eating and afterwards. Satiatrim greatly stimulates the production of this hormone.
Learn more about how Satiatrim can help you in today's video:
The good people at Satiatrim have an incredible offer for the readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. In addition to getting 20% off and FREE SHIPPING with any order, they also want to provide another $5 off of your order just by using the coupon code "JIMMY!" As Christine says in the video, my name is actually useful for something now. HA HA! Gee, THANKS honey!
If you could suppress your appetite before meals for around a dollar, then why wouldn't you do it? Try some Satiatrim and become a believer in it yourself, too! It's low-carb and comes in three yummy flavors--Chocolate, Vanilla, and Mixed Berry (our favorite!). Plus, if you're not completely satisfied, Satiatrim offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. But you're gonna fall in love with this stuff as much as we have!
Last week I shared with you about my wife Christine's latest physical which found her triglycerides were elevated despite following a lower-carb diet over the past year. She dropped 35 pounds, saw her HDL increase slightly to 57 and her LDL plummet by 50 points to below 100. All in all based on those numbers, she's in excellent health. There's only one problem--her triglycerides are at 297! EEEEEEK!
In Episode 30 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," we wanted to bring you up-to-date with this story I started in that blog post last week to let you know how our talk with the registered dietitian went, what plan of action we are taking to help bring those triglycerides way down, and to hear Christine's response to some of the comments that have been left about her health. It's good news because we now have a solid method for treating this rather than lamenting on what was done (or not done!) in the past.
Hear the surprising comments from Christine's dietitian in today's video:
We were kinda shocked to hear this dietitian talking about restricting carbohydrates and choosing good omega-3 fats to help lower triglycerides. YEAH!!! Maybe I've been too hard on dietitians in the past and there are a few diamonds in the rough (kinda like Monica Reinagel). While Christine's dietitian did spout the usual "saturated fat is bad for you" mumbo jumbo, she was dead on about carbs. It's a slow start, but I think the positive impact of livin' la vida low-carb among nutritionists is getting there.
You all know how much of a fan I am of Dr. Jonny Bowden. At the age of 61, this man has more energy and enthusiasm for life than just about anyone else I know. He's a tireless champion of healthy living and is a proponent of reducing carbohydrate and especially sugar intake to get you there. It's one of the reasons he wrote his fabulous book Living The Low-Carb Life and why I chose him to be among my Top 10 Low-Carb Movers & Shakers of 2007.
As much as I rave about him, I've never actually met Jonny in person. His charismatic voice and charm are evident on the phone lines, but I've always wondered what it would be like to sit down and chat with him over lunch. Well, guess what? If you've never seen Dr. Jonny Bowden in person, then here's a great interview that was conducted by Kevin Gianni from Renegade Health featuring the man himself talking about health in the middle of Los Angeles traffic:
Can you see why I love this guy? He's awesome and we'll be hearing plenty more from him for many years to come. KEEP GOING STRONG, JONNY!!!
Christine and I attended the 2008 HPBA Expo in Atlanta, Georgia!
We must have been completely crazy coming back from our five-day Mexican cruise last Thursday to go straight to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue (HPBA) Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. But that's what Christine and I did on Friday and Saturday walking for miles upon miles looking at fireplaces, grills, BBQ accessories, and more! It was a lot of fun and we captured some of our favorite moments on camera for our latest YouTube video.
In Episode 28 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," I took my tried and trusted FLIP camera out and filmed Christine as we went from booth to booth at the HPBA Expo. Yes, it was a lot of walking after a tiring week of cruising, but I made some good contacts there with companies that may be willing to donate some really amazing prizes for my upcoming 3rd blogiversary giveaway contest in April. More to come about that!
See for yourself what the HPBA Expo is all about in today's video:
We were very fortunate to catch up with Michael Wales, the inventor of the Grill Daddy grill cleaner which I featured in Episode 27. He was gracious enough to offer a FREE Grill Daddy Pro to one lucky winner who leaves a comment at YouTube about this video. If your grill stays dirty and gunky, then this would be a cool prize to win. Special THANKS to Michael for his generous prize donation. :)
We also hooked up with Steven Raichlen who will be coming back to television in May 2008 with a brand new series about--what else?--BBQ, baby! Steven was leaving as we passed by the booth, so we didn't get him on camera, but you will notice he has a full line of amazing BBQ accessories for anything you will do with your grill. Amazing products!
There was so much to look at and see at the 2008 HPBA Expo that we will probably plan on going back again next year to Reno, Nevada for another great show! Have you ever seen so many grills and stuff in your life all in one place? Talk about what you thought about the video and don't forget to leave your comment for a chance to win a FREE Grill Daddy Pro. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
Catch up on all the latest in our YouTube video series and subscribe to our videos to always see the new ones. We have well over 300 subscribers now and over 9,000 people have viewed our videos. THANK YOU for your support! As always, e-mail your show suggestions and comments to us anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. We LOVE hearing from our viewers!
I REALLY wanted to take some video footage while we were on our cruise and attempted to do so once. But the batteries died right in the middle of the filming and I just put it away for the rest of the trip. Oh well, maybe next year! It's a good thing, too, because there's no video of me cracking my head open after singing karaoke. I don't know which was funnier-watching me rap a Run DMC song or seeing me walking smack dab into a TV stand? LOL! At least I've got a memory of my 2008 cruise. :P
After years and years of using charcoal grills to add a little taste of fire and smoke to my favorite meats and veggies, last year I got a gas grill that is absolutely fabulous! I was concerned about the taste of the food on a gas grill, but quickly discovered those worries were unfounded. The steak, shrimp, kabobs, chicken, and more that I have cooked on that grill have been nothing but AWESOME and I am so happy to enrich my low-carb lifestyle with this flavor-making device!
In Episode 27 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," I once again take the show outside the studio with my FLIP camera (can you tell I LOVE this thing?!) to show you a new device called the Grill Daddy that does wonders on a dirty grill as you will see and to cook up some of my favorite Italian Style chicken breasts from Perdue called Perfect Portions. It's a low-carb grilling experience and I'm always happy to help people find a way to make this lifestyle change taste as good as it possibly can. ENJOY!
Watch me grill up some fabulous "cheekin" in today's video:
Grilling out any time of the year is always fun which is why I was so happy to do this in February. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was 65 degrees outside when I shot this video, so that made it even better. I'm looking forward to going to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association (HPBA) conference in Atlanta, Georgia on February 28th-March 1st, 2008 to see what's new in the world of BBQ cooking! You'll recall some GREAT podcast interviews I did last year while I attended as well as a big grill giveaway for my blogiversary. We'll be working on some more of those for this year's celebration coming up in April! Stay tuned!
Do you love to grill out? Share your grilling tips and what you like to do to enhance your low-carb life with the power of cooking some sizzling meats and vegetables. My favorite part is taking the meat right off the grill like those chicken breasts and immediately slothering some healthy butter and cheese on top for a low-carber's dream meal. Mmmm mmm! Who says this way of eating is BORING?! NOT!
Are you just finding out about our YouTube video series? That's okay, you've got plenty of time to watch 'em all and keep up with the new ones that we release about once a week. You can subscribe to our videos so you'll always be one of the first ones to see the new episodes as they are posted on YouTube. And we love hearing your feedback and suggestions for future shows, so sent us an e-mail anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS so much for watching!
We will be taking our FLIP camera on our upcoming cruise to Mexico this weekend and next week to show how you can eat low-carb on that big boat! It's NOT impossible if you know what you can and cannot eat. Be looking for that video as well as footage and podcast shows from the HPBA conference when we return back in March!
It's been a little while since I've updated you on the latest Gary Taubes news and that's because there hasn't really been anything of significance to report. But after Taubes presented a rather comprehensive talk about the concepts and hypotheses he shares in his bestselling Good Calories, Bad Calories book while lecturing at the Hoboken, New Jersey-based Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, I decided to bring it to you today here at my blog.
The following video of a lecture called "Big Fat Lies" is Gary Taubes at his best passionately expressing the very principles that we believe in so strongly as believers in the low-carb lifestyle. He sets up the history of how we got fat, discusses why the solutions that have been provided to the overweight and obese have been decided ineffective, gives evidence why fat is healthy and the heart disease hypothesis is just plain wrong, and why carbohydrate in your diet raises blood sugar as well as releases insulin which causes damage to both weight and health.
If you want to better understand the purpose of diet in health, then I highly encourage you to make a 72-minute investment to watch this lecture with Gary Taubes from start to finish. It's a little technical at times, but Taubes has done his homework and knows what he's talking about. You'll be more informed about diet, weight loss, and health than about 99% of the population today, so view every bit of it if you can.
It's a lot to digest, but well worth your time. I'm so excited about seeing this lecture from Taubes and the latest research on carbohydrate restriction live in April when I attend the Nutrition & Metabolism Society Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the 2008 Western Regional Obesity Course (PDF download of the speaker schedule) sponsored by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP). Dr. Eric Westman, Dr. Richard Feinman, Dr. Patty Tarino, Dr. Jeff Volek, Dr. J. Bruce German, Dr. Donald Layman, Dr. Barbara Howard, Dr. Mary Vernon, Dr. Jay Wortman, and Dr. Steve Phinney headline this amazing conference on the very latest research regarding saturated fat and health. Christine and I will be there to report on the latest science, interview the people on the frontlines of the research, and even record some video footage for our YouTube series. Coming in mid-April! WOO HOO!
The positive impact of Good Calories, Bad Calories is still happening in people who have read the book and fully grasped what Gary Taubes wrote. Here is an e-mail I received from someone who read the book and then watched a previous video I shared with a similar lecture that Taubes gave at Berkeley last year. The light bulb moment happened and now it just all makes sense. Here's what he wrote:
Holy Wah! I just watched the entire webcast and let me say it was an hour plus well spent and much easier than reading the book. Gary provides scientific support to your (and now my) Livin' La Vida Low Carb lifestyle. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. When it was over I was so excited I ran to the kitchen and cooked up a cheeseburger!
On a side note: I've been livin' la vida low-carb for 82 days now, have lost 61 pounds, and my doctor just called with my latest cholesterol numbers: every component has improved, some quite significantly. All are now in the desirable/optimal range. I was told to keep up the good work, to stay on my low-fat diet, and to limit eating eggs. Jimmy, I didn't have the heart to tell him I eat eggs almost every day and still love bacon. I'll just let the numbers speak for themselves.
OUTSTANDING! And this is precisely why Gary Taubes wrote his book. This is real life stuff here and should be taken much more seriously than it is. Unfortunately, until our medical community and the powers that be who dominate the information distributed to doctors, nutritionists, and even patients start to accept the truths that are shared in Good Calories, Bad Calories, nothing meaningful is gonna be done to curb the obesity tide that is happening all across the United States and around the world. WAKE UP PEOPLE! The evidence is right there, so stop ignoring it!
Special thanks again to Gary Taubes for putting his entire career on the line to stand up for the solid science that is behind livin' la vida low-carb. It's easy to fall in line with the high-carb, low-fat diet dogma, but that would be dishonest based on the latest data. Taubes and others who seek to educate with the truth should be hailed for their willingness to put it all on the line for what they believe in.
It's fried chicken done the livin' la vida low-carb way!
I love to cook and so many people have been begging me to share some of my favorite recipes in a book. I'm certainly considering a "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" recipe book because I have some favorites as part of my menu repertoire! Today I wanted to share one such recipe with you that so many people have asked about--low-carb fried chicken!
In Episode 25 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I take the show outside the studio using our new FLIP camera which I absolutely love! This tiny little camera takes truly STUNNING video and makes very good videos with little shaking at all. I LOVE IT and think you will too.
It was fun playing cameraman and trying to make this recipe with one hand. Christine came in and helped me as I got going with it and the chicken turned out pretty amazing. See for yourself and give it a try if you enjoy good fried chicken. You'd never know this was low-carb!
Watch us cook up our fried chicken recipe in today's video:
With our new FLIP camera, you'll be seeing our list of YouTube videos expanding. Be sure to subscribe to our videos and support the work we are doing on behalf of low-carb living on YouTube. As always, please don't hesitate to e-mail us your video suggestions anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Your faithfulness to me and livin' la vida low-carb simply amazes me. THANK YOU!!!
There are some issues a male blogger without any education or experience in medicine and health just shouldn't be asked about. And yet it still happens! Remember this blog post when I got asked about whether livin' la vida low-carb will prolong your period. Uh, riiiiiigght! I know all about that kinda stuff, you know, so I'll just whip out my pat answer and give it to ya. HA! No, I needed to get my female low-carb blogging friend Regina Wilshire from the "Weight of the Evidence" blog to help me out on that one.
With that said, in Episode 24 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," we've got another one of those "girly" questions--how do you handle those intense cravings around your time of the month? AAAAAACK! Not again!!! LOL! Seriously, I wouldn't even begin to try to understand what those cravings are like or how to combat them, but I know someone who does. And she just so happens to co-host my YouTube videos with me--the beautiful and talented Christine (that's my darling wife, ya'll!).
Ironically, when we shot this video, Christine just so happened to be on her TOM (no, that's not her boyfriend, TOM is short for "time of the month"). So it wasn't very hard for her to talk about his subject so freely and openly on camera. She did most of the talking since it's that woman thang, ya know?
Learn how to tame those c-c-c-cravings in today's video:
I wasn't a complete mute in this video and shared from my own experience about how to tackle general cravings when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Christine verified that some of the strategies I shared with how to deal with those kind of cravings also help with the special once-a-month female cravings, too. She did such a GREAT job in this video and I'm so proud of her (right, honey, you did good...is that what you wanted me to say? Yes ma'am!). :P
As always, we'd love to read your thoughts about Episode 24 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" with any tips and advice about what YOU do to prevent cravings from ruining your low-carb lifestyle. We all deal with them in our own way, so I'm very interested in hearing some real-life examples of what works and what doesn't work. SHARE SHARE SHARE!
Our list of YouTube videos is growing by leaps and bounds and we appreciate the faithfulness of those of you who watch them each and every week. Sometimes I don't get a chance to post them here at my blog for a few days, so be sure to subscribe to our videos to see them within minutes after they are uploaded to YouTube. Today's video was inspired by several suggestions from our viewers, so please don't hesitate to write to us anytime with show ideas and other feedback at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANK YOU again for supporting "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube!"
