'Low-Carb Chef' And Her Husband Have Lost A Lot Of Weight, Gained A Lot Of Health

"The Low-Carb Chef" is thankful for the miracle of low-carb

It's so much fun telling other people about how livin' la vida low-carb has changed my life for the better. People can hardly believe it when I talk about all the wonderful foods I am permitted to eat while on a "diet" and that I NEVER get hungry. There's such incredulity about the healthy low-carb lifestyle because people think if it's too good to be true, then it must not be. Well, this is the exception to that old adage!

But I'm not the only one who has been successful at losing weight and improving my health. I've highlighted several amazing low-carb transformations recently, including Manuel Uribe, Randy, Phill Novak, and Jo Heeley, just to name a few. There are many more stories out there even if the media chooses to ignore them and today I have another one to share.

It's from someone who calls herself "The Low-Carb Chef" although she admits to being neither "a chef who has any official training nor have I been a life long great cook." But what she has been is successful--VERY SUCCESSFUL!--on the low-carb lifestyle. And not just her, but her husband, too! She's lost an amazing 140 pounds while he has shed 100 pounds in response to eating low-carb to ward off pre-diabetes. Mission accomplished!

Wanting to help educate others who think this way of eating is boring, "The Low-Carb Chef" created this web site for sharing the basic principles of low-carb living, including the rules for doing low-carb, this helpful low-carb shopping list, and this sample 30-day supper menu. This is an invaluable resource for anyone looking for information about how to get started livin' la vida low-carb the right way.

She also set up this blog called "Low-Carb Miracle" to talk about the outstanding turnaround in the life of her and her husband. I just love the motto of the site: "To Eat Great And Lose Weight." That's livin' la vida low-carb in a nutshell! We see in this recent post as well as in an e-mail to me, "The Low-Carb Chef" was so excited about the changes that have happened in the health of her husband.

In early 2007, her husband weighed over 300 pounds and she weighed in at 290. A visit to the doctor gave him the grim news about his health--his cholesterol number and fasting blood sugar were through the roof! They both decided to live the low-carb lifestyle beginning in June and the health results culminated in the following letter from the doctor after his visit on February 1, 2008:

Dear George,

I'm writing about your lab work and am extremely pleased that the total cholesterol is 112 which is down from 180. The good cholesterol has increased from 39 to 44. The bad cholesterol has dropped from 111 to 58. The fasting glucose was down to 95 which is where it should be.

Needless to say, they are "jumping for joy at this good news" and celebrated by having an amazing meal with protein and veggies. YUMMY! CONGRATULATIONS "Low-Carb Chef" and George! We are proud of the weight loss and just as proud of the health improvements. Keep on shining as a bright example for the low-carb life and never stop sharing about how your life is forever changed. THANK YOU for all you are doing to spread the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb!

You can e-mail "The Low-Carb Chef" to congratulate her and her husband for sharing their incredible low-carb success story at chef@low-carbchef.com.

2-17-08 UPDATE: Well, file this one under the WHOOPS department because I made a boo-boo in telling the story about "The Low-Carb Chef" and her hubby. Here's the part I messed up:

I want to honestly confess that Jimmy got one little bit of our story ahead of itself. My weight loss goal is 140 pounds but I’ve “only” lost 80 pounds so far. George hopes to lose 100 pounds but has ”only” lost 65 pounds. We will get to our weight loss goals some day soon but we just could not wait to tell the good news about a healthy way of eating to others. I felt I had to make sure you knew the real numbers.

I guess I was trying to wish that goal on your quicker...but you're gonna get there because you happily livin' la vida low-carb! THANKS for the correction and I wish you well as you continue on in this journey. KEEP IT UP!!! :)

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 106: Part 2 Of My Chat With 'The Biggest Loser' Bill Germanakos

"Got Milk?" ad with "The Biggest Loser" Bill Germanakos

After sharing with you Part 1 of my interview with "The Biggest Loser" 4 winner Bill Germanakos on my podcast show on Monday, it's time to hear Part 2 and the conclusion of that interview during Episode 106 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" today. Fans of the hit NBC-TV reality weight loss series "The Biggest Loser" are given a small glimpse behind-the-scenes of what makes this one of the most popular and inspiring shows on television these days.

Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast:

"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 106 [17:43m]: LISTEN NOW | Download

Bill Germanakos was quite candid during Part 2 of my interview with him about how he feels about livin' la vida low-carb. I was grinning from ear to ear when I heard him talking about keeping his carbohydrate intake to 20 percent of his total calories (WOO HOO!) and avoiding "anything white," including bread, pasta, and sugar. This was quite refreshing to hear and not surprising since every previous winner of "The Biggest Loser" has implemented some form of carbohydrate restriction to their diet.

In Part 2 of my interview with Bill Germanakos, he also talks about what kind of sweetener he uses instead of sugar (and it just might surprise you!), the enormous benefits of resistance training and cardiovascular exercise in his weight loss success, the inherent dangers of drinking regular soda (and our host Jimmy confesses to Bill how much sugary soda he used to drink!), as well as Bill's potential plans for the future to continue inspiring and educating the masses about getting healthy.

It's time for you to be your own "biggest loser" right now by:

1. Listening at the official web site
2. Calling (818) 688-2763 to listen via Podlinez
3. Subscribing to the RSS feed
4. Going to iTunes--Click here to subscribe!

Now that you've heard from Bill Germanakos in Episode 106 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," I'm curious to hear your reaction. Do you like his chances for keeping the weight off long-term by continuing down the low-carb path he has chosen for himself? Are you intrigued by the fact that the nutritionists and trainers on the show taught him about the inherent dangers of consuming too many carbs on weight and health? Talk about it in the show notes section of Episode 106 and express yourself.

Like I shared in my previous podcast post, I am in the midst of bringing you more interviews with the contestants from Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser," including Bill's brother and the at-home $100,000 winner Jim Germanakos as well as his fellow Black Team members Hollie Self and Isabeau Miller, Red Team members David Griffin, Lezlye Donahue, and "B" Andretti, as well as Blue Team members Neil Tejwani, Nicole Michalik, Ryan Rodriguez, Kae Whang, and the oldest contestant ever--62-year old Jerry Lisenby. I've been working diligently for over a month trying to secure these interviews and will share them with you soon and very soon. :)

Don't forget to check out the outstanding web sites created by Bill Germanakos located at HalfTheManTwiceTheMan.com and BiggestLoserTwins.com to keep up with what is happening with the Season 4 winner of "The Biggest Loser." You can even book Bill and Jim Germanakos to come speak in your area and buy some cool merchandise from the brothers, including that CD with Sinatra favorites sung by Jim. You can listen to FREE clips from the CD, too.

THANKS for your support of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" and listen again on Monday as we bring you another motivating and inspiring message of hope in your healthy low-carb lifestyle. SEE YA THEN! ;)

Get Dependable Diet And Fitness Facts Weekly From 'Total Health Breakthroughs'

Total Health Breakthroughs promoting alternative health concepts

It can be intimidating trying to scour the Internet looking for solid, reliable information you can trust on just about any subject. But it's that much more difficult when you are talking about being healthy and staying that way.

That's why I'm glad I found a new weekly health and wellness newsletter that is delivered directly to your e-mail box ABSOLUTELY FREE from Total Health Breakthroughs. Unlike much of the diet health advice you receive from people who insist you must eat a high-carb, low-fat, low-calorie, portion-controlled, whole-grain-filled diet, you will immediately notice the more than 20 professional experts have an entirely different approach from the norm. And that's a GOOD thing!

They specialize in providing ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS to the same problems that have been afflicting us for generations since they have not been answered by conventional wisdom from the the traditional health and medical community. Total Health Breakthroughs is committed to giving you a straight-forward delivery of the latest health news and information so you can make an informed decision about what's best for you.

The newsletter addresses a variety of topics, including fitness issues, healthy nutrition, men's and women's health concerns, medicinal alternatives, and even some moving stories of motivation and inspiration to kick your health plan into high gear.

One of the things that attracted me to Total Health Breakthroughs is the fact that they aren't afraid to take on the difficult and controversial issues, including many of the diet and health myths that pervade our society. Everything is explained in clear language that is understandable to virtually anyone with the desire to better themselves.

With such an eclectic group of contributors, you are sure to find some unique and thought-provoking health columns from the leading alternative health authorities out there. This weekly newsletter will arm you with a fresh amount of practical information you can begin applying to your own health routine immediately.

In fact, you'll probably recognize a couple of these experts because I've blogged about them many times here at my blog: Dr. Jonny Bowden, author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth and Living The Low Carb Life as well as Anthony Colpo, author of The Fat Loss Bible and The Great Cholesterol Con.

And there are many more just like them to provide unbiased and honest information about YOU and YOUR HEALTH. Go ahead and check 'em out for yourself today. You can sign up for the FREE Total Health Breakthroughs newsletter and begin gleaning wisdom and knowledge every week from trusted and reliable sources in the world of health.

Let me know what you think about this newsletter and spread the word! :)

HealthCentral.com Names 'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb' Blog Among Top Diet Sites Of 2007

My blog was named one of the top 5 diet web sites of 2007

One of the most gratifying aspects of the work I do here at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog is knowing I am making a difference in people's lives. How many people just go through the motions and long for something more meaningful to do with their life? I'm living that dream and loving every minute of it!

After being recognized as having one of the top three low-carb blogs of 2005 by Low-Carb Energy magazine and then again in 2006 by FOXNews.com as one of the top 10 health blogs, I have been showered with praise and adoration from my peers in the world of health media by being honored with a best site award again in 2007.

HealthCentral.com recently announced their "First Annual Top Site Awards" in various categories as it relates to health. In their "Diet And Exercise" category, the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog was named in the top five by their prestigious team of experts!

In addition to my blog, the other winners include two I was familiar with already--Hungry Girl and Diet Blog (both EXCELLENT blogs!)--as well as two I had never heard of before--Daily Diet Blog and A Veggie Venture. CONGRATULATIONS to all of these other sites for this distinguished and respected honor.

The winners of the various categories were chosen by HealthCentral.com because of "their candid and informative content." In providing this recognition, they hope to highlight "the individuals and organizations who share our vision in providing comprehensive, interactive and personal healthcare information and support."

Again, let me say how much I appreciate being named a 2007 HealthCentral.com Top Site and I only hope to continue providing quality content that makes a REAL difference.

Let HealthCentral.com know how much you appreciate them honoring a low-carb blog among their top diet sites of 2007 by e-mailing them at comments@thcn.com. THANKS for sharing in this with me because YOU are what made it happen. You all are AWESOME! :D

A Low-Carb Lecture, The Latest Obesity Stats, And A New Online Research Library

I have for you today three very practical links with excellent information to access, absorb, and fully acquaint yourself with as you continue to educate yourself about livin' la vida low-carb and the impact it can have on obesity and healthy.

1. LOW-CARB PRESENTATION BY DR. WILLIAM YANCY

The Endocrinology Conference in the Duke Clinical Medicine Series has just posted this fascinating new Continuing Medical Education (CME) lecture given by Dr. William Yancy, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina on June 15, 2007. Register for FREE and then check out what this leading low-carb researcher had to say about his research of livin' la vida low-carb!

His presentation outline includes the following:

- The Use of Low-Carbohydrate Diets for Weight Loss
- History of Low-Carbohydrate Diets
- Trends in Macronutrient Intake & Obesity
- Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet (LCKD)
- Example of 20g Carbohydrate Menu
- Diets, Carbohydrates, and Calories
- Low-Carb Ketogenic Diet (LCKD) Rationale
- The Role of Ketones
- LCKD vs Low Fat Diet: 6 Months
- Outpatient Low-Carbohydrate Diet RCTs: Weight Loss
- Joslin Diabetic Diet, 1923
- Effect of LCKD on Type 2 Diabetes
- Clinical Recommendations for LCKD
- MUCH MUCH MORE!

I've attended low-carb conferences in Brooklyn, NY and Nashville, TN over the past couple of years and I know this invaluable research is unknown to most non-medical people. Dr. Yancy was thorough and offer quite an eye-opening presentation that should get you excited about low-carb living all over again.

2. REVOLUTION HEALTH'S OBESITY MAP (1990-2006)

Wanna see something quite disturbing? Check out this unique and depressing obesity map of America to see just how much times have changed over the past 17 years. It's quite ASTONISHING to say the least! It makes me shudder to think what the year 2025 will look like with the amount of red (indicating average BMI of over 30 percent) very likely plastering the entire nation unless something is done to turn the tide of this epidemic.

Access a state-by-state breakdown of the obesity numbers and see how much YOUR state has changed since 1990. If this doesn't prove that we need to make better choices about how to treat the overweight and obese, then I don't know what does. Send the link to this map to everyone you know who is concerned about weight and health in the United States.

3. JACKIE EBERSTEIN'S LOW-CARB RESEARCH LIBRARY

You'll recall I told you about a new low-carb web site from Jacqueline Eberstein a few months ago and that she wanted to bring back a lot of the old low-carb research that used to appear on the old version of the official Atkins web site (which has now removed those links). Well, that project is DONE and you can now access most of the lost low-carb research studies anytime. THANK YOU for doing that, Jackie!

Read this introduction to the research and then get into the good stuff by finding the links from the Journal of Nutrition & Metabolism, Metabolic Syndrome & Related Disorders, and a whole boatload of low-carb research that has been published in a variety of other scientific and medical journals. If you need to find a low-carb study, then THIS is the place to do it!

These three useful resources should keep you quite busy for a while as you expand your mind and broaden your horizons about low-carb living in these modern times. We're all in this together as we attempt to share the truth with those who need to know it!

As my friend Regina Wilshire from the "Weight Of The Evidence" blog says, "LEARN IT, LIVE IT, LOVE IT!" That's livin' la vida low-carb, baby!

Kimkins Diet Web Site Gets A Major Upgrade

The post that appeared here has been removed for not promoting the low-carb community in the professional manner I have come to expect from myself. THANK YOU!

Read this blog post for more information.

Share Your Low-Carb Experiences On 'Fat Secret'

"Fat Secret" lists the Atkins diet as one of the top weight loss plans

If you found my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, then you are already aware of my feelings regarding the low-carb lifestyle. I'm an enthusiastic and unashamed supporter of this way of eating because it quite literally turned my life around for the better.

Now there's a new web site that wants to know which diet plan is your "secret" to weight loss success. It's called "Fat Secret" and was created to be an online community of "people interested in diets to come and find out what works."

The creators of "Fat Secret" believe real people who have not just tried the various diets, but seen success on them are the greatest indicator of their effectiveness. That's why this web site "harnesses the collective contributions" made by people about what worked for them so that other "can make better decisions to achieve your goals."

Sounds like an awesome concept, doesn't it?

You know what? Three of the Top 10 diets listed on "Fat Secret" are low-carb diets--#2 is South Beach, #3 is Atkins, and #7 is the GI Diet.

Wanna push those low-carb diets to the very top of the charts at "Fat Secret?" Why not share YOUR story with them by signing up and showing that there are actually people who go on this diet and lose serious amounts of weight doing so. I lost 180 pounds in one year on the Atkins diet, so I know it REALLY works. Let others know how well it works for you, too!

They even allow the members of the web site create their own personalized diet plans. Guess what the top member diet is right now? Check it out--the Carbs Are Evil! diet. HA! I love it!

Look at the description of this hilarious low-carb diet plan on "Fat Secret":

"Don't get me wrong, I love carbs. But you can't beat the nice full feeling you get from eating lots of fats and protein, you eat less, and the weight slowly comes off."

ROTFL! The only thing I'd change about that description is the word "slowly." Change it to "quickly" and it's a perfect description of livin' la vida low-carb. :D

There are even delicious recipes to choose from as well as a member community where people can ask and say whatever they want as it relates to diet, weight loss, and health.

As their slogan states, "the secret is out" so be sure to visit "Fat Secret."

Womens Health And Fitness Podcast Directory Brings You The Best Of The Best

Are you a woman who cares about the subjects of health and fitness? If so, then you may want to check out the Womens Health and Fitness Podcast Directory. It's brand spankin' new and on the cutting edge of bringing you all the best information about living a healthy lifestyle that you can find on the Internet today.

What it is specifically is a categorized directory of podcasts, expert articles and forums that provide information on the most popular and current issues in women's health and fitness. The list of topics is constantly being updated and includes ones like exercise, nutrition, the mind-body connection, age-specific health information, and motivation.

Additionally, you can find workouts and exercise music that you can download and take with you for that walk around the block or even to the gym. The directory specifically attracts women who are looking for information and advice on taking care of themselves and improving their personal health and fitness. We could all use a little more of that, can't we? :)

They recently invited me to submit my low-carb podcast to their directory and I did. With the issue of women's health at this web site of the utmost importance, they are hoping to draw together all of the most popular and useful links and information to help people get exactly what they need without wasting their time on useless ones. The Womens Health And Fitness Podcast Directory wants to be the go-to site for healthy living for females.

If you have a health-related blog that you would like to submit to them, then please share that information to add it to their growing directory. This could be an excellent way to get your blog or web site about livin' la vida low-carb in front of an audience that may not otherwise know who you are. Share what you do with other women who are interested in diet and health!

Go ahead and check out Womens Health and Fitness Podcast Directory.

'CARB WARS' Companion Low-Carb Site Debuts

Cookbook author Judy Barnes Baker brings her passion for low-carb online

Have you placed your order for the brand new low-carb cookbook releasing on April 1, 2007 called CARB WARS: Sugar Is The New Fat yet? If not, then shoot on over to Amazon.com right now and put this outstanding new book on pre-order. You won't be disappointed, I promise!

The author of the book is the adorable and easy-to-love Judy Barnes Baker who is as committed to the principles of livin' la vida low-carb as much as anyone else I know today. She found low-carb living really does work not by using it on herself, but actually for her husband whose health was failing fast at the turn of the century.

After a friend told Judy about the low-carb diet, she decided to try it on her husband by making him lower-carb versions of his favorite foods. As you can imagine, his health dramatically improved for the better in just six months confounding their doctor who had no idea it was a low-carb diet that created these improvements. They've both been eating this way for years and wouldn't think of going back to the high-carb garbage diet ever again!

Now Judy wants to help others following this lifestyle enjoy good food that's easy to make.

"What I set out to do when I started writing CARB WARS was to make healthful food that requires no sacrifice," Judy explained. "I wanted to make meals that were as sumptuous and varied as if I had my choice of all the ingredients the world had to offer. I re-created all my favorite foods; I hope yours are there too."

As you can imagine, Judy has built up quite a collection of low-carb recipes over the years of making dishes for her family. Because of that, she came up with the idea for her new cookbook and now a brand new web site venture located at CarbWarsCookbook.com as the perfect companion to her upcoming book. WOW, what a beautiful and informative resource for people who are livin' la vida low-carb and I encourage you to check it out!

Judy said there is plenty to see at her web site for newbies and active low-carbers.

"You will find new recipes as well as variations and suggestions for the ones featured in the book," she remarked. "I will also include current developments and commentary about the latest research, links to other low-carb sites, and sources for products and information that you may find helpful."

After browsing around the site for myself, I noticed you can read reviews of her new book, get links to ingredients sources to use in your low-carb recipes, access some FREE RECIPES straight from Judy's kitchen, and even read her commentary about the latest low-carb news. Sweet!

Judy Barnes Baker also provides you with the contact information for her business Duck In A Boat, LLC if you have any questions or comments about her book, her new web site, or even livin' la vida low-carb in general.

"You are invited to contact me with questions, comments, and helpful hints that you may wish to share," she said.

Will do, Judy! THANKS so much for this outstanding new web site and I can't wait for people to see your book! Best wishes to you as you help spread the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb to the world! Go get 'em, girl!

Vote For 2007's Best, Worst Low-Carb Sites

It may seem early to start thinking about the best low-carb and health web sites of 2007, but Low-Carb Monthly Magazine is already looking for nominations for the "best" and "worst" blogs and sites focused on the subject of low-carb living. As a regular reader of the various low-carb web sites and blogs online, most of you probably already have your finger to the pulse of who is doing an outstanding job and who is not.

SO SHARE YOUR OPINIONS!

Here is what CEO Mark Moxom from Low-Carb Monthly said about his call for nominations for the prestigious distinction of "the best" low-carb and health sites on the Internet in 2007:

"The world has moved on and things change from month to month. In the last twelve months over 28,000 new low-carb and health web sites have appeared on the Internet, ranging from the mediocre to very good. No one has the time or resources to visit them all on their own, but together we can virtually inspect nearly all of them. Many readers said that they thought we should include low-carb and health blogs as there are quite a number now that are actually very good. Well, we agree and after a little thought and deliberation we have opened up a new category specifically for blogs. So if you want to nominate and vote for your favorite low-carb or health blog as well as your favorite low-carb or health web site--now's your chance to do just that!"

If you would like to see a comprehensive listing of most of the current web sites and blogs in the wonderful world of livin' la vida low-carb, then please visit my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog and browse around. Tell Low-Carb Monthly who you like the best and who you think is the worst by using this online form.

You may only vote once for each blog or web site you support and despise, so please be sure to use the full web address for each site that you nominate (i.e. www.yourfavoritelowcarbwebsite.com). You will be asked for your full name, e-mail address, city, state, country and nominations for best/worst low-carb web site and best/worst low-carb blog.

Your information will be kept confidential, but will help Low-Carb Monthly track the votes for the various sites entered. This should be fun and nominations are being accepted NOW through May 31, 2007. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE LOW-CARB BLOGS AND WEB SITES!

'Project PCOS' Offers Free Health Resources

Project PCOS providing top-notch resources and health support

I'd like to tell you about a brand new resource for women who suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, commonly referred to as PCOS. It's called Project PCOS and I am excited to make you aware of the fantastic work they are doing to educate, encourage, and support anyone who has been impacted by this condition--whether they know it yet or not!

Launched on February 1, 2007, the Project PCOS web site set out as its goal to bring greater awareness to this sometimes misunderstood ailment by promoting it to the public, medical professionals, and even health and government leaders (they are encouraging people who support their cause to even e-mail, call or meet with their legislators) through a progressive online petition drive for 1 million signatures. Also, for a nominal donation of $1, you can leave your comments for others to see in the One Million For PCOS campaign.

For those 10 percent of women and girls who suffer from PCOS worldwide, Project PCOS wants to be there for them giving comfort, support, and dependable information to help them deal with it through the use of creative online chats, forums, educational programs, newsletters, directories, links, podcasts, downloadable files, and so much more. Best of all--IT'S FREE!


Ashley Tabeling is extending her PCOS Pals Yahoo! community

The vision for Project PCOS came from the passionate desire by a woman named Ashley Tabeling a few months ago to give people a one-stop shop on the Internet for finding anything and everything they were looking for about PCOS. She went out and found some of the biggest leaders in the PCOS community to help her with this ambitious plan, including Linda Harvey from PCOS Today Magazine, Tarra Hartl, a long time PCOS advocate and co-founder of PCOS Living, Tammy Dolak, a PCOS community advocate, and Branden Simbeck, an IT specialist and PCOS advocate.

With modern advances in communications technology, Tabeling and her team believe this new venture will revolutionize how people learn about, treat, and care for people suffering from PCOS. Since about half of all women who have this condition are never officially diagnosed, Project PCOS is hoping to reach many of those women to help them understand what is happening to them and doing something about it before the symptoms get even worse.

Specifically, PCOS is a rather complex hormonal disorder that does not have a cure as of yet (although, I highlighted this study at my blog last year that found a low-carb diet can lower insulin levels and improve the metabolic and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS). If PCOS is left untreated, then it can lead to other more debilitating conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Click here to read more about what PCOS is and the most common symptoms.

The medical advisor for Project PCOS is Dr. Dennis Gage, who reveals the unfortunate fact that PCOS is often mislabeled which also can lead to terrible medical issues such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. This is why having all the information about PCOS in one place, just as Project PCOS was set up to do, is going to be crucial as more and more are afflicted with it in the coming years.

Interestingly, PCOS patients will be able to go to the Project PCOS "Ask The Expert" page and get trusted answers to any question about PCOS from medical professionals who specialize in treating PCOS. Some of the experts who have signed on to help with this include Dr. Charles Glueck, the Director of the Jewish Cholesterol Center, Dr. Dennis Gage, author of The Thinderella Syndrome, Julie Lenz, a PCOS coach, Dr. Katherine Sherif, co-director of the PCOS Center at Drexel, Martha McKittrick, a nutritionist, Monika Woolsey from After the Diet, Kelly Bliss from KellyBliss.com, Drs. Deborah and Spencer Ward, Hansi Halloway, Ms. Plus Sized NC 2004, Tulin Reid, founder, PCOS Living and plus-size model, Dr. Shahab Minassian, Director of Drexel Fertility, Dr. Samuel Thatcher, author of PCOS The Hidden Epidemic and Claire, the great-granddaughter of Dr. Irving Stein from the Stein-Leventhal Syndrome. An truly impressive list of the best of the best indeed!

If you are a medical professional or want to volunteer your services to help with Project PCOS, then please send an e-mail to information@projectpcos.org. Or, you can also e-mail Ashley Tabeling directly at atabeling@projectpcos.org for more information about this exciting new health resource.

Learn more about Project PCOS by reading their Q&A page and keep checking back for more updates in the coming weeks and months as the site grows. Sign the petition (IT'S FREE!) and get involved if you care about giving more attention to this awful condition. THANKS for your support of this worthy cause!

Have You Got Your Weight Loss Buddy Yet?

Weight loss shouldn't be lonely, so why not get a buddy?

Have you taken advantage of the oustanding weight loss resource called Weight Loss Buddy yet? I've previously blogged about this outstanding FREE resource and was even named their "Expert of the Month" in October 2006.

I urged my readers to give Weight Loss Buddy a try for the new year and to take advantage of their generous FREE offer to join! I'm pleased that many of you have been able to find the faithful support you need as a vital part of your weight loss commitment so far. Aren't buddies great?!

You can access quite literally thousands of people just like you who are in the extensive buddies database, experience the ONLY three-dimensional weight loss chat on the Internet today (it's REALLY cool!), get your weight loss questions answered by any of 100+ experts, trade weight loss tips with fellow buddies and even rate whether the advice is good or not, track your water intake and weight loss progress, find a comprehensive list of tools to set reasonable goals for yourself, and even participate in a very active message board. It's all available for FREE from Weight Loss Buddy.

Why not give it a try (did I mention it's FREE!)? It doesn't cost you a thing and they have made some major improvements to the site in just the past month or so. Weight Loss Buddy is probably the most user-friendly FREE weight loss support web site on the Internet today and I cannot recommend it highly enough to you if you struggle to find accountability and encouragement in your weight loss efforts.

Support is extremely important when you are livin' la vida low-carb. So find YOUR weight loss buddy who will help you reach your ultimate goal of being thinner and healthier than you've ever been in your life. Don't do it alone--get your Weight Loss Buddy TODAY!

Low-Carb Living With A Greater Purpose

If you believe in God and on low-carb, then support awaits you

One advantage that the Internet has given people in today's society is the ability to find like-minded communities of people who share many of their same beliefs and values on a wide variety of subjects. Livin' la vida low-carb is no different.

Although there are many low-carb sites available online today (most of which I have attempted to highlight at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog), even many of those are broken down into subgroups and specialized categories to cater to the specific needs of that collective body.

One such site which offers people on the low-carb lifestyle who also happen to be Christians a place to hang out is called Low Carb Christians. The stated purpose of this web site is to provide Christians a peaceful refuge for discussing their low-carb journey with fellow believers in God.

"We are Christians whose primary goal is to support one another in our low carb way of life," their web site proclaims. "We take pride in being a safe haven on the oftentimes crazy Internet and welcome you to join us, whatever your faith, whatever your low carb plan."

This open-arms policy is an inviting way to attract someone who may be on the low-carb lifestyle, but not a Christian or who is a Christian, but not livin' la vida low-carb. Either way, Low Carb Christians seeks to serve hurting people--either spiritually or physically--with the love of the Lord that the members there have for the people who frequent their site.

There is an excellent support forum with interesting categories discussing low-carb support (of course!), but also Christianity, funny stories and games, triple-digit weight loss, low-carb news and information, inspiring posts from the past, motivating challenges, and you can't forget about all the yummy low-carb recipes and product reviews, too! Please register for the forum and interact with whatever strikes your fancy there.

You won't want to miss the Low Carb Links as well as the Christian Links they provide to you as well. But the most unique aspect of this web site unlike any other low-carb web site that I've seen is the special Prayer Requests page.

"We firmly believe in the power of prayer, and of the miracles that can be accomplished by lifting up our needs and praises to our Heavenly Father. You may submit your prayer requests...so that others may pray with you."

Whether you are having difficulty in your weight loss and you desire prayer for strength to reach your goal or if you had a personal tragedy in your family and you would like someone to provide intercessory prayer on your behalf--that's why Low Carb Christians is there.

You can easily submit YOUR prayer requests to them 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year by either signing this guestbook (which is NOT made public) or by e-mailing them at lc_christians@lowcarbchristians.com.

Do you feel like there's a greater purpose in this world than just living in the day-to-day? Are you ready to turn your life over to the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the Saviour of us all, who loves you, cares for you, and wants nothing more than to see you blossom into that person you were destined to become?

If so, then find refuge and hope at the Low Carb Christians web site--both in your low-carb lifestyle and in life. I pray God's blessings upon you and those wonderful people who are glorifyings God with their actions by seeking to minister to your every need. Give them a try TODAY!

Atkinspedia: Wikipedia For The Atkins Diet

Combining the format of Wikipedia with Atkins diet information

Are you a fan of the online information web site Wikipedia? Have you tinkered with it any at all to see what you could find on just about any subject you can think of? I know I have and it's really a lot of fun, too! Sure, the information is not always 100% accurate since it is provided by anyone and everyone who thinks they know something about just about any subject. But it does serve as an excellent guide for people desiring to educate themselves better about a particular topic of interest.

Wouldn't the Wikipedia format be great if there was one place where you could go to get all the Atkins/low-carb information you are looking for? Well, actually, that place already exists and it's called Atkinspedia.

Atkinswhat?

Just as the name suggests, Atkinspedia is an invaluable low-carb resource which I have listed under the "Low-Carb Information" section at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog because it gives you the format of Wikipedia with all you ever wanted to know about the Atkins/low-carb way of life. Since its inception on July 15, 2006, Atkinspedia has always been "an encyclopedia/knowledge base that anyone can edit" as part of "an ongoing project to educate the masses on the Atkins Nutritional Approach and health as a whole."


The popular Atkins All The Way forum sponsors Atkinspedia

I only heard about Atkinspedia last week while listening to Brian Z's fantastic weekly podcast show which serves as an audio support for the members of the Atkins All The Way forum. Atkins All The Way is the sponsor of Atkinspedia and invites anyone and everyone to visit their site to not only use in their own research of livin' la vida low-carb, but to also contribute to the growing database of information.

"Feel free to create an account and begin editing and adding articles at will," the web site states. "You can't break Atkinspedia so don't worry about destroying the site."

However, as enthusiastic as so many of us are about the low-carb lifestyle, they do ask that anything you add to Atkinspedia be written using neutral language so that others who are curious about Atkins/low-carb can simply read, learn, and decide for themselves about whether this healthy lifestyle change is for them or not.

"This will help people make up their own minds when reading Atkinspedia and it won't be read as propaganda for the Atkins Nutritional Approach."

More than anything else, the good people over at Atkins All The Way want you to "have fun" and "be bold" about making changes at Atkinspedia.

"You can't break it, you can only make it stronger. It's the indestructable encyclopedia."

Keep checking back from time to time for new information as it appears on the site.

"Atkinspedia won't be built in a day."

No, it won't, but you are well on your way with it. What an amazing resource for those of us who hunger for knowledge about Atkins/low-carb and seek to pass on our wisdom and experience to others attempting to learn as well. I highly encourage you to be interactive with the Atkinspedia because it will only make it better.

THANK YOU to BrianZ and everyone behind-the-scenes at Atkins All The Way for coming up with this awesome tool for low-carbers and potential low-carbers to become more educated about Atkins/low-carb. I can see this quickly becoming THE ultimate reference tool for anyone and everyone looking for information about low-carb. Visit Atkinspedia TODAY!

'Something Clicked' After Reading Weight Loss Success Book, Watching Atkins Video

I don't know about you, but I just LOVE getting e-mails from people about how my 180-pound weight loss story on the Atkins diet has inspired and motivated them to start losing weight for themselves, too. Nothing brings me greater joy and happiness than to see the time I spend here at my blog is invested in helping people genuinely change their lives forever. It's the mission I am currently embarking upon and one that is sorely needed in this day and age.

In addition to my blog, I also am a contributor to the web sites CarbWire.com, LowCarbNewsline.com, CommonVoice.com, HealthHacksPodcast.com, WeightLossBuddy.com, "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge and my new blog Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links, among others. WHEW!

So, why do I write in so many different places? Eyeballs. Well, not literally eyeballs, but the bodies that are attached to those eyeballs reading my stuff. With multiple places for people to read my columns, including being frequently picked up by Google News (do a sample search for "low-carb" and see how many of my columns you see there), the reach of this blog extends beyond my little world here known as "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."

That's what makes getting e-mails like the one I am about to share with you so gratifying. Amazingly, I would have never met most of you 20 years ago or even 10 years ago with the technology we had back then. Nobody knew what the Internet was in 1986 and the blogosphere was in the early stages in 1996. But here we are in 2006 bringing the world closer together than it has ever been in human history and blogs are facilitating that.

As a weight loss blogger, I'm loving that! Meeting new people who want to learn more about livin' la vida low-carb every single day thrills me. Reading the e-mails from people crying out for hope and help in a world that has spit in their face and left them feeling guilty about being fat quite literally breaks my heart. But I know a way that helped me shed over 180 pounds from my former 410-pound body and I'd be remiss if I sat back and did nothing to give aid and comfort to those who are in the same boat that I was.

This letter from an excited reader today was in response to my autobiographical book about my weight loss entitled "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationaly Skinny In One Year." It is available from Amazon.com or from my publisher BookLocker.com (also comes in e-book format).

The e-mail started off so enthusiastically, all I could see was "WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!!"

"You are a true inspiration, as well as the other friends you have posted about that have lost so much weight. I started Atkins for the last time today 09/12/2006. I am almost 38 years old and weighed in at 292.4 at 5’5” and I know I am completely unhealthy (I have all the warning signs to a very short life)."

CONGRATULATIONS on making this lifestyle change and taking it seriously. With your current statistics, it's good that you decided that NOW is the time to DO SOMETHING before it is too late. The good news is you seem to be in the right mindset to make this work and I encourage you to maintain that passionate desire to lose weight that you have right now for at least the next 12 months. No slacking off, no backing down, this is for real now! YOU CAN DO IT!

After coming to the realization that she was eating herself quite possibly to an early grave, she picked up my book and started reading it for inspiration and, most of all, hope.

"Your book, your blog and others websites and stories for help and inspiration is helping me come to an understanding that this is the right program for me. It has taken me years to come to this conclusion, but here I am."

Although she has been on low-carb diets before as well as "every other diet out there," they didn't seem to help her much. Unfortunately, she never stayed on any of them longer than a few days before she simply gave up on them, including Atkins. But now she realizes how weak she was for giving up too soon.

"What a baby I have been. I read the post and watched the video from Kent Altena about Induction Flu. Hallelujah! Something clicked. That 'flu' is why I give up every time!"

See, Kent! Your Atkins video series IS making a HUGE difference!

She has firmly vowed about giving up: "NO MORE!"

"I am here to say with all that is in my heart (and for my heart…so I do not keel over of a heart attack), I will not be stopped. Like one of my favorite movies, A League of Their Own, says 'There’s no crying in baseball.' So my new mantra is "There’s no crying in livin' la vida low-carb! Can I get an AMEN!"

LOL! Now THAT'S the spirit and I'm so proud of you for taking this important step to get tough and get ready for what will be one of the biggest challenges of your life. But you've read my book and you know the pain and setbacks that I went through to become the low-carb weight loss success story that I am today. The same could and should happen to you if you follow through on that commitment you made starting today.

This reader said she will be starting her own blog soon to chronicle her journey and wanted to personally thank me for sharing my story with the world.

"I told you that you were an inspiration. Please stay tuned to all of my ups and downs. I will let you know how it goes! Thanks again to you and all those great, successful, low-carb gurus out there! You've motivated this crazy chick whose eyes have finally opened!"

THANK YOU!!! Can you tell that e-mail made my day today? :D

Anyone else have a similar story to share? I'm always curious to know how my weight loss story, my blog and my book are helping people with their own weight loss aspirations. My wife Christine actually keeps a scrapbook with every single e-mail like this one today to help encourage me when I feel discouraged or depressed (which is rare, by the way!). I'd LOVE to hear from you if you would like to share YOUR story, too! Send it to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Also, if you have bought a copy of my book or e-book, I'd just like to say THANK YOU! When I wrote that book about my weight loss story, all I wanted it to do was be a glimmer of hope for people who felt hopeless about their weight problem. From the feedback I have received from hundreds of people about it, the consensus is that it has done just that. I fully expect that little book to continue helping people change their lives by losing weight like I did for many years to come.

If you have read my book and would like to do something very simple that would help me out tremendously, would you consider posting a review at my book page on Amazon.com? Whether you bought the book from them or not, they accept reviews from people on anything in their catalog of products. If you liked my book, then your review could help someone else realize it could help them, too. Even if you didn't like my book, share your honest feedback so that maybe my next book can be better than my first.

Oh yeah, I'm gonna write a second book...SOON! I haven't started on it yet, but I've got a GREAT idea for a follow-up to "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" that I think you will be interested in. But, for now, I'm having too much fun blogging! :)

9-14-06 UPDATE: Okay, she's got her blog up and running now. It's called Crazy Low-Carb Goddess Sheri from the Fredericksburg, Virginia-based Sheri. You can welcome and encourage Sheri in her new low-carb lifestyle at her first blog post.

You Can Have Your Say At The Low Carb Café

The Low Carb Café is for those who like a more dignified place to interact

Before I started losing my weight on the Atkins diet in 2004, I never even thought about going on the Internet to look for support groups to help me on my new low-carb lifestyle change. To be honest, I just didn't have any idea what was out there. But had I been smart and looked just a little bit on a Google search, no doubt I would have come across a web site called The Low Carb Café.

Started in September 1998, it featured a chat room, message board and lots of great low-carb recipes for people on this way of eating. Although it changed owners in the summer of 2000, the mission and dedication of the site continued on with the addition of an outstanding forum and moderators who are dedicated to livin' la vida low-carb.

That template for professionalism and commitment is still going strong in 2006 with people who love low-carb living and want to see others change their life forever. They are igniting a passion for the low-carb lifestyle with helpful personal advice, informative articles, and an open forum that allows people to share their struggles and victories in a place of steadfast support.

My first exposure to The Low Carb Café was through their incredible forum where one of the moderators named Carol often reposts some of the blog posts from the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog that she finds useful to share with her readers. With nearly 4500 registered users in this forum, it is quite an active group of people who come together to talk about livin' la vida low-carb in a non-threatening manner.

Arguably the most popular feature at The Low Carb Café are the nearly 1,200 FREE RECIPES available at your fingertips to print out on your computer. Additionally, there is a FREE member's cookbook that comes in an e-book PDF format that can also be printed out and placed in a binder for easy access when you get the urge to do a little low-carb cooking. Whatcha got cookin' for me? :D

The thing I like most about The Low Carb Café is the very clear message that livin' la vida low-carb is "not just a diet, but also a way of life."

Their mission is summed up best on their front page:

This site has been designed to provide all the resources you need to be successful in whatever goals you want to achieve by living a low carb lifestyle. You can find truthful information and answers to all the tough questions concerning this way of life. We are here to support and encourage you when things are tough as well as compliment you when you succeed. Soon you will see how the low carb lifestyle and The Low Carb Café go hand-in-hand in helping you accomplish a healthier way of life.

What a fantastic grassroots web site for anyone wanting to learn more about the low-carb lifestyle and get serious about losing weight as well as improving their health. I just can't say enough about The Low Carb Café and encourage you to check 'em out for yourself. Who knows, you may even meet a few new friends who are at the same point in their low-carb journey as you are.

So, stroll on over to The Low Carb Café to have your say about the low-carb way of life...TODAY! Be sure to let them know "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man" Jimmy Moore sent ya!

The Internet's #1 Low-Carb Links Web Site

You may have noticed some major changes to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog this weekend. That's because much of the sidebar content has been removed completely, including the blogroll, the low-carb news links, and more! I've been meaning to do this for a long time, but decided to take the time to finally do it this weekend.

So where did all of my links go to, you ask? Well, I moved them all to a brand new blog (yes, another blog! AAAACK!) called "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" and it contains the most comprehensive breakdown of low-carb links on the Internet today. If you are looking for anything and everything about low-carb, then you'll find a link to it at this new blog.

You may have noticed that my blogroll was getting fairly long which rendered it virtually useless in my eyes. What good does a bunch of links do you if you don't know what they are, right?

That's something I have remedied with this new links blog because they are broken down according to various categories. I spent a couple of days working on this new blog to make it the best it can be and I'm sure you will use it as a valuable resource in your research of livin' la vida low-carb.

The "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog will also feature thematic lists of popular blog topics here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. For example, I recently compiled in one blog post links to all of the articles about shirataki noodles. With well over 1,000 blog posts under my belt, it only makes sense to streamline the information I have available here to help my readers find what they are looking for.

If you have a blog or web site that you would like to have added to my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Links" blog, then please e-mail me the name of the site, the URL of the site, a brief description of the site, and which category to put the site under. After reviewing the site, it will appear at the links blog within 24 hours if approved.

Hopefully the changes I have made will lessen the clutter that was beginning to overtake this blog. I certainly welcome any feedback anyone may have about these changes I have made. As always, THANK YOU for your readership and for giving me the pleasure to share with you the very best low-carb information on the Internet today.

Be sure to visit the Internet's #1 low-carb links web site again and again.

Please feel free to LINK to my new blog if you find it useful!

New Weight Loss Web Site From Ray Kelly

Free-Online-Health.com offers information on weight loss and fitness

Noted personal trainer Ray Kelly has an invaluable new health and diet web site that you should know about at Free-Online-Health.com. You will find loads of informative articles and links to serve as a great resource for news about issues such as starting an exercise program, cigarette smoking and your health, the glycemic index diet, and even information about the hit television show "The Biggest Loser," just to name a few.


"Biggest Loser" Australia's Adro Sarnelli and Kelly show off their muscles

In fact, if Ray Kelly's name sounds familiar, that's because he was the one who worked with Adro Sarnelli--aka the winner of "The Biggest Loser" Australia--earlier this year. You may remember that Kelly helped Adro realize that livin' la vida low-carb could help him shed the weight and the fat better for his body and the end result made it all worth it.

By the way, I'm still working on getting an interview with Adro and he assures me that will happen once life stops being so hectic for him. In fact, both he and Ray have already collaborated to start "The New Me" to help their fellow Aussie countrymen who struggle with their weight to find success like Adro did.

The 35-year old Kelly has been active his entire life with anything and everything that involves physical movement. He got into the fitness field 16 years ago and eventually started working with athletes to help them maximize their performance. He is also a frequent lecturer and has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.

His passion is for people to begin taking their health and weight problems seriously. That's why he invested so much time into making Free-Online-Health.com the best it can be. Kelly is a friend to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and I personally invite you to visit his outstanding web site TODAY! Be sure to check out his lively forum as well for interactive communication with Ray Kelly and others interested in health, diet and fitness.

You can even e-mail Ray Kelly by clicking here.

9-5-06 UPDATE: Hey, I've got some exciting news to share with you. Ray Kelly has agreed to ANSWER YOUR EXERCISE QUESTIONS right here in this forum in an interview with "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog readers. That's right, he would like you to ask your toughest, most spell-binding questions about physical fitness that you can possibly think of.

Think you've got one for Ray? Then send it to me with the subject line "Ray Kelly Question" and I will send it to him for his answer to appear in an upcoming interview. E-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Don't delay, get your questions in today and you could see it answered right here very soon. Take advantage of this opportunity to ask a real fitness expert about exercise.

I Found It: The Official Manuel Uribe Web Site

Manuel Uribe, under a doctor's care, is changing his life

Ever since I blogged about 1200-pound Mexican man Manuel Uribe losing weight on a low-carb plan earlier this week, many of my readers have e-mailed me asking if he has a web site or blog where they can learn more about him and show their support for his efforts. After a lot of research and investigation, the answer to that question is YES!

Go to the English or Spanish version of his personal web site chronicling his amazing journey on The Zone diet to reach 260 pounds.

There are some really great childhood and early adult photos of Uribe on his web site, along with blood tests, physical activity schedule, and, of course his "new life in The Zone."

Additionally, there is a forum where you can discuss his progress and there's even a way for you to submit donations if you want to help Uribe towards his HUGE goal.

As I stated in my previous blog post about him, I am so proud of Manuel Uribe for getting his priorities right and losing the weight. If he can overcome this and restore his health, then people will be chanting the name Manuel Uribe as the greatest example of "lifestyle change" in the history of modern man.

WE'RE ALL PULLING FOR YOU, MANUEL!

You can e-mail Manuel Uribe to encourage him at orozcodavid@gmail.com.

**READ UPDATES ON MANUEL URIBE'S LOW-CARB WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS, INCLUDING BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, BY CLICKING HERE**