Micah McCain shedding the pounds on BRAVO-TV's "Workout"
During this special "Week Of Weight Loss Wisdom" on my podcast "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," we're hearing some truly remarkable low-carb weight loss turnarounds from people just like you and me. On Monday, Sue Knorr told us all how The Zone Diet has been making a positive difference in her life for the past 12 years and counting. Today we have another guest who only recently learned about the power of the healthy low-carb lifestyle.
In Episode 148 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," we hear from Micah McCain who is currently a contestant on Season 3 of the hit BRAVO television weight loss reality series called Workout. When this show first came out in 2006, I blogged about it as yet another program on national television to inspire others in their own weight loss efforts and it has flourished ever since! Micah is one of the people who has experienced a tremendous turnaround and I'm pleased to share my interview with him today as part of this "Week Of Weight Loss Wisdom."
Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear Episode 148:
"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 148 [21:18m]: LISTEN NOW | Download
Micah McCain discusses how his weight shocked him out of nowhere when he saw some video footage of himself. This is a subject I've blogged about before and it's true--if you wanna see what others see when they look at you, then have someone take a video or photograph of you and there it will be. It's a stark reality that hit Micah right between the eyeballs and made him want to do what he had to do to get that weight off.
Dealing with obesity his entire life, Micah needed an incremental approach to shedding the pounds. His trainer and nutrition adviser started him out eating more vegetables and fruit and then began substituting some healthy options in place of some of the junk food he was eating. The slow change in Micah's diet then took a low-carb turn when the sugar was removed first followed by flour, dairy, starchy veggies and even some fruits (because they're too high in sugar!). WOW! Pretty soon, Micah was full-fledged livin' la vida low-carb and he hasn't looked back since!
Weight loss motivation and inspiration is yours anytime by:
In this second interview in the "Week Of Weight Loss Wisdom", Micah McCain was quite open and honest about how he struggled with his weight for most of his life until he became educated about what healthy living is. What do you think about his trainer's incremental approach to change? Is it better to go slow and ease somebody into the low-carb lifestyle or to switch them cold turkey to low-carb immediately? This oughta be an interesting discussion, so feel free to express yourself in the show notes section of Episode 148.
Got someone you'd like for me to interview on an upcoming episode of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore?" I'm working on quite a few right now for the next few months, but I welcome your ideas and suggestions. Call our podcast hotline anytime at (206) 202-6516 and leave a message or you can e-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Be sure to come back again TOMORROW for my interview with my friend and fellow Atkins diet weight loss success story and blogger Kent Altena who dropped 200 pounds on low-carb and is now running marathons! DON'T MISS IT!!!
Former "Biggest Loser" contestant wants to play Jillian in YOUR life
A few weeks ago, I shared with you an interview I conducted with one of the contestants from Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser" named Isabeau Miller. In that interview, we learned that she has since become an ISSA certified personal trainer which she says is "the love of my life right now." Isabeau credits the work of The Black Team trainer on "The Biggest Loser" Jillian Michaels for instilling that passion in her for doing what she does today.
"Being trained by Jillian was a gift because I feel like I was given an apprenticeship with the best in the business," Isabeau said.
That's why Isabeau founded Rock Hard Body & Soul so she could "pay it forward" and help others reach their health and fitness goals, too. Her company is committed to being there for people who were where Isabeau was before her stint on "The Biggest Loser" to get them on their way to being healthier than they ever thought possible.
"Whether that means losing 10 pounds or 100, running a marathon for the first time or running a mile," the Rock Hard Body & Soul web site states.
To that end, Isabeau has created a "Biggest Loser" style Rock Hard FitCamp this summer in the Nashville, Tennessee area for anyone interested in seeing what it was like during the experience on the show. That's right--you and 13 other house guests will room together during a special two-week fitness training excursion led by Isabeau Miller and her personal trainer Jacob Carringer.
You will workout for 4-6 hours a day, be provided healthy meals to consume with nutrition information and seminars with doctors, nutritionists, dietitians, and fitness professionals, and be housed during your entire stay. Isabeau promises you will lose 5-20 pounds over this two-week stretch and she says there will be a few "surprise" guests from "The Biggest Loser" that you won't want to miss! There are even a few prize opportunities while you're there!
There are two sessions coming up this summer:
Session 1 of Fitcamp is July 13-27, 2008 Session 2 of Fitcamp is August 17-31st, 2008
TOTAL COST:
Single room: $5,000/per session Double: $4,200/per session/per person Triple: $3,800/per session/per person Quadruple: $3,500/per session/per person
They are very flexible with payment options, so please e-mail them at fitcamp@rockhardbodysoul.com if you are interested in this unique opportunity to get a "Biggest Loser" workout from someone who was trained by one of the best trainers in the world, Jillian Michaels.
But wait, there's more! :)
Isabeau is a BIG FAN of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and I asked her if we could do something special for one lucky reader. She agreed to hold an essay contest to grant a full-paid scholarship to Rock Hard FitCamp to the winner. The essay must be at least 250 words and answer the following question:
"Why do you need to change your life through Fitcamp this summer?"
E-mail your entry to fitcamp@rockhardbodysoul.com and put in the subject line of your e-mail "Jimmy Moore's FitCamp Contest." The winner will be attending Session 2 in August, but there's one more special surprise I haven't told you about yet. Guess who else is gonna be there with you during those two weeks of working out and being trained by Isabeau? ME!
That's right, I've asked Isabeau if I can go through this experience with my reader who wins to provide some moral support and encouragement through this as well as the opportunity to blog about this outstanding idea for helping people kickstart their health and fitness. My wife Christine will be there helping me document what happens by shooting some video and we may even squeeze in some podcasts about it as well.
I'm looking forward to this experience and wish everyone well as you enter the essay contest. Isabeau wants to hear you pour out your heart and soul to her, so don't hold back. Share what's on your mind and you may just win a chance to be given a full scholarship to FitCamp in August with Jimmy Moore and Isabeau Miller. Get those essays in by Monday, March 31, 2008 to be eligible.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE and do this for your health! You'll be glad you did!
In just a few short weeks, I'm already seeing muscle formation
It was one month ago that I began for the first time in my life to get serious about resistance training to try to build my upper body strength. When I was losing weight in 2004, my exercise routine was exclusively dedicated to cardiovascular workouts on the treadmill or elliptical machine. While I still love my cardio and built considerable muscles in my legs because of it, my arms, shoulders, chest and abs really needed some serious help.
That's why I hired a personal trainer back in December to guide me into unchartered territory for me--weight lifting and bodybuilding. I'll be the first to tell you how utterly clueless I am when it comes to this area of fitness. And I'm sure there are many of you who wouldn't know where to start or what to do to begin doing this, too. Yet it is something that can definitely enhance your body's ability to burn fat while giving you the added strength and energy you so desperately want.
One thing that got me to add this next chapter in my healthy lifestyle journey was watching The Biggest Loser during Season 4. Watching those obese contestants not just running on the treadmill, but also doing some pretty remarkable exercises with weights while they were STILL fat lit a fire inside of me that I needed to get going with a plan to get strong, too. It's been four years since I began livin' la vida low-carb and it's high time I get to building some muscles above my waistline.
That is the path I decided to travel down beginning in mid-December and it has been an experience like none other so far. Even when I lost 180 pounds in 2004, that wasn't nearly as difficult as this has been for me. My brother Kevin was the football player in high school and I played alto saxophone in the marching band. He was athletic and I was...not.
But here I am at the age of 36 years old lifting dumbbells and using exercise equipment that I've never even seen before to make my body even better. It has been exhilarating, exhausting, and exasperating all at the same time. But in a masochist kind of way, I'm lovin' every minute of the pain and agony because I can already see that I'm getting stronger and one step closer to my goal of feeling good about myself without a shirt on.
I was a bit concerned on day one of my training when I told the manager I lost triple-digits following the Atkins low-carb diet. He gave me that scrunched up face showing his disgust at my dietary choice and went on to lecture me about how your body needs carbs to fuel your workouts. I guess he didn't realize he was talking to someone who has studied this subject extensively for the past four years.
You should have seen his face when I explained that I ate a high-fat, low-carb diet and the dietary fat is what fuels my workouts. You would have thought I was an alien from outer space the way he looked at me and the bewilderment on his face was priceless. I offered to help educate him further about this subject by letting him borrow my copy of Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories and surprisingly he read it!
After hemming and hawing about a few things he disagreed with during the first few days of reading Taubes' book, the manager finally got it when he got to the end of the book and said "well, you should find what works for you and do that." That's my motto, buddy, and welcome to the spirit of enlightenment! It was a beautiful moment to hear him say that because he changed his tune virtually overnight.
So what about my training?
My workouts have been a bit erratic during the first month because I've been so incredibly sore after each workout. I don't mean the slap-a-little-Icy-Hot-cream-on-it kinda sore, but rather the make-you-feel-paralyzed-til-you-can't-move-a-muscle kind. It's been pretty rough waking up in the morning and barely able to move my arms because my personal trainer worked them so hard on the previous day. The same thing goes for my shoulders and my chest. So far, my abs, calves, and legs have endured the wrath of resistance training.
I'm trying to get in the gym to lift weights on a regular (daily) basis rotating from muscle group to muscle group, but I'm not ready for that yet. It'll come soon enough and the progress I have made in such a short amount of time astounds me. I can't believe that is MY bicep at the top of this blog post. My wife Christine is already impressed by how much bigger my arms have gotten and I told her she ain't seen nothin' yet! By the end of 2008, those arms that still have the remnants of loose skin on them from when I weighed 410 pounds four years ago will be as solid as a rock! It's coming!
The only things I am doing different in my diet now that I am lifting weight is I have increased my protein intake and I added creatine supplements. The added protein is coming from some extra protein shakes and bars to aide my growing muscles. And the creatine gives me that extra boost in my muscles to continue growing and growing. I'm still eating a low-carb diet, taking my daily vitamins and fish oil, and keeping a positive attitude about this.
I'll admit this has been a difficult road, but I'm not planning on giving up by any stretch of the imagination. I'm in this for the long haul not just for 2008, but well beyond that as I transform my body into something it has never been--lean, strong, and looking absolutely amazing! It seems like this dream is so far away, but I'm encouraged by the progress to date that dream will indeed become a reality soon enough.
Let me say a special THANK YOU to everyone who has e-mailed me encouragement in my new resistance training schedule. Because I am so new to this, it has been rewarding to hear from those of you who have gone through the pain and agony of weight lifting in the early days and now look fantastic. In fact, I've got a few interviews coming up with some truly remarkable fitness role models that I know you will enjoy hearing from about how they got the body they've always wanted. Stay tuned for that!
As for me, I'll keep truckin' along with my trainer building up my muscles even bigger and bigger to become that hunkie man I've always wanted to be. It's an unbelievable road I have started down and there's no turning back now. By the way, my weight has increased a few pounds during this, but I'm not worried about it. I KNOW it is muscle weight and I haven't cheated at all since beginning this.
I've been keeping a food journal since day one of my resistance training and am thinking about creating a blog specifically for sharing what I have been eating. Actually, I do think this would be an interesting blog since I started during the Christmas holidays when everyone says it is impossible to eat low-carb. WRONG! I did and you can, too. Lemme know what you think about the idea of posting my daily food and exercise journal online.
As always, I welcome your feedback and comments anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net or by leaving your remarks in the comments section below.
1-15-08 UPDATE: One observant reader was concerned about something he saw in the background of that picture of my bicep at the top of my blog post. I was wondering if anyone was gonna notice it.
Jimmy,
Better be careful of all the critics out there because the picture on your latest post shows your muscle formation on your arm--but it also shows a pack of opened WHITE CRACKERS in the background!!!!!!! OH NO!!!!!! LOL! Just thought I would be the first to bring this up.
Yep, you are the first, but I'm sure you're not the only one. Actually, I purposely put that there next to my cashews to see if anyone would notice. No, they're not mine, but they are Christine's. She sometimes gets an unsettled stomach and eats some whole wheat Saltine crackers. Plus, she can get away with more carbs than I can, so an occasional cracker or two ain't gonna hurt her.
GREAT EYE out there and I appreciate you keeping me accountable. ;)
When I made the decision to start the Atkins diet on January 1, 2004, it was probably the first time I ever made a New Year's resolution that I intended to keep. Why do put ourselves through all the efforts involved in making resolutions if we're not going to follow through on them? Human nature can be a strange thing sometimes.
But thankfully I was able to not only keep that resolution, but see it through to the end--losing 180 pounds by the end of 2004. Now it's three years since the day I began my low-carb lifestyle and I've been able to keep that weight off with relative ease now for two years. Unbelievable and amazing all at the same time!
While I don't think I'm out of the woods yet until I can keep the weight off for a minimum of three years (which will be one year from now on January 1, 2008), I do think I've proven that livin' la vida low-carb is indeed a long-term solution to obesity. There's no denying it based on my own experience. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't walked a mile in my shoes.
With all that said, I believe there are areas of my health that still need some additional work and I'm willing to resolve to work on them in 2007. That's right, I am making a list of New Year's resolutions for 2007 to improve my health even more.
After a good deal of thought, here's what I want to do:
1. Get below 200 pounds
Currently I weigh 220 pounds and I've been unable to go below 215 pounds since my weight loss in 2004. While I am certainly NOT bemoaning my situation because at least the weight is staying off, I'd personally LOVE to get down to 199 just to say I'm back in the 100's again (or that coveted ONE-derland!). I haven't been at that weight since the 5th grade! Yeah, I was pretty chunky as a kid, but not anymore. Considering I've lost 20 pounds since August, I don't think losing 21 pounds in 2007 is unreasonable. That's less than two pounds a month. It's doable and I'M GONNA DO IT!
2. Get my body fat percentage down to 6%
When you weigh over 400 pounds with a body fat percentage in excess of 50%, you don't really care too much about it. There's just no concept in your mind of what single-digit body fat would be like. But now that I've been livin' la vida low-carb for a few years and have kept my weight relatively stable, I'd like to focus on reducing my body fat significantly. The last time I had it checked, my body fat percentage was 11 percent. I am in the process of having that checked again and working closely with a well-known trainer to reach my goal of 6% body fat. It's gonna take some work, but I'm willing to do what it takes to get there.
3. No more diet sodas
Yep, it's time for me to give up one of my last remaining vices in the world. While I still believe drinking diet soda is MUCH better for you than regular sugary soda, I've reached the point where I no longer feel like I have to have that in my life. This is HUGE for me considering I used to guzzle a case and a half of regular sugar-filled soda before my low-carb lifestyle and consumed my fair share of diet soda over the past three years. But when I committed to giving up aspartame a few months back, I knew it was time to eventually wean myself off of all diet sodas. In fact, I've actually given myself a head start on this one and went cold turkey on them since Wednesday. Yes, I miss them, but I'm committing to drinking even MORE water than I do already. So far, so good.
4. Consistency with cardio workouts
Everyone who knows me will tell you I am a workout fiend. Since I began my low-carb program, I have committed myself fully to walking on the treadmill, getting on the elliptical machine, playing volleyball at my church and many other aerobic activities that get my heart rate up and makes me sweat. I LOVE cardio workouts tremendously! But I noticed in 2006 that I'd allow myself to slack off to only 30 minutes per day and sometimes skipping a day or two here and there. It's not a big deal, but enough for me to want to resolve to be more consistent with my cardio in 2007. I will be!
5. Get serious about resistance training
I have to admit, I HATE lifting weights. I tried it for the first time in 2006 and did it for about two months before I just gave it up. Sure, I felt somewhat better while I was doing it, but I guess I got bored. I would much rather go run on the treadmill. But, resistance training is important in the grand scheme of health and I KNOW I need to get serious about it. I'm working with a trainer who will help me develop a fun plan for getting solid. If my loose skin doesn't get better after all of this weight lifting, then I KNOW I will be having a tummy tuck done.
So that's it! Those are Jimmy Moore's 5 New Year's Health Resolutions for 2007 and I fully intend to do them all. I'm all about incremental changes and believe in my heart that NOW is the right time to do these things for myself. Of course, you know I'll keep you informed about my progress on each one at my blog and will share with you my success as it happens.
There's no doubt I'll hit the weight loss goal with the focus on reducing my body fat and lifting weights. I should be able to hit my body fat percentage goal as well and remaining consistent on the cardio. While it will be tough, giving up diet sodas shouldn't be that hard either. The most difficult one will be the weight lifting. I'm PUMPED to do this, so I think I'll be ready to show off my improved physique before the end of 2007. Again, I'm skeptical about it doing much for my loose skin, but here's hoping!
That's my New Year's resolutions for better health in 2007. What are YOURS?
Marathon runners like these don't need to load up on carbs for energy
There are some things in life that you just don't think about much when you are overweight or obese. One of those things is running in a marathon. Actually, scratch that, you're not even thinking of running ANYWHERE, much less a marathon! :D
But when you start livin' la vida low-carb and radically change your weight and health for the better, it makes you WANT to consider things like running in a marathon to help keep you focused on the task at hand to accomplish things you never thought would be possible.
That's exactly what my friend Kent Altena, who has lost over 200 pounds on the Atkins diet, is going to be doing in two weeks. This former 400+ pound man is embarking on an adventure like none other when he competes in a half-marathon in just a matter of days. Now that the weight is off of his body, he is ready to show the world the new Kent (is that Superman underneath that suit? LOL!) and very likely become the only former 400-pounder to run and finish that race. BEST WISHES TO YOU, KENT!
When you talk about training for an event such as a marathon, inevitably the dietary routine involves loading up on carbohydrates such as pasta and rice to be used as energy during the extended workout. But as Kent explains in his latest how to do Atkins video, that's just not necessary for people who are livin' la vida low-carb.
ATKINS DIET: MYTH OF CARBLOADING
It's interesting Kent made this video because I just got through reading a book called "4 Months To A 4-Hour Marathon" by a man named David Kuehls. This 100-page, easy-to-read book is full of lots of practical advice about how to train and make it through a marathon experience.
You can check out this revised version of the book at Amazon.com
Unfortunately, as excellent as the book is for people genuinely interested in marathon running, Chapter 4 should be completely ignored by anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb. It's called "Carbo-nated" and Kuehls contends that "the only fuel that works (for marathon running) is: carbohydrates, including breads, pastas, beans, pancakes, sugars, etc. He added to "keep the carbohydrate tanks filled" to keep your endurance up during your training.
In a sidebar section called "Fad Diets," he warns of cutting carbs and loading up on protein and fluids.
"A word about fad diets while you are training for your 4-hour marathon: DON'T. You want to keep your energy levels as high as possible--otherwise you'll slow recovery and feel too worn out to train--and the way you do that is by eating a healthy, balanced runner's diet."
Oh sure, all those carbs are real healthy for your body! Why not burn fat for fuel instead, Mr. Kuehls?! That's what Kent is doing during his training for his half-marathon and he is not alone. He fully expects to beat two hours when he races and it will all be while on a low-carb, high-fat diet.
In his video, Kent notes three articles about this subject:
Kent also makes mention of the research Dr. Jeff Volek (who I interviewed earlier this week) did on low-carb diets and physical endurance performance. The scientific evidence is there to make the case for low-carb as the preferred diet for training to run a marathon. Getting rid of this notion that you HAVE to eat carbs when you exercise goes against all you've ever heard about runners.
With all that said, Kent summarizes the research as follows:
1. Let your body get used to low-carb and burning fat for fuel for up to two weeks before attempting to continue your regular athletic performance. Then your body will be ready to train at the next level.
2. Be sure to consume enough potassium and sodium to replenish the cardiovascular reserve and preserve lean body mass.
3. Eat plenty of dietary fat and between 1.2-1.7g/kg of your body weight in protein. Fat is your fuel...EAT IT!
This is such an important subject and I'm glad Kent discussed it in his latest video. Do you have any experience with marathon-running while on a low-carb diet? Please share that with us.
The time came for me to put a STOP to my intermittent fast...AT LAST!
It lasted exactly 4 long days, 19 hours, and 15 minutes.
BUT IT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY! Remember that intermittent fasting (IF) experiment I started this past Sunday night at 6:00pm? You know, the one that respected low-carb author and expert Dr. Mike Eades had suggested at his blog last week? Being the nothing's-too-hard adventurer that I am, I decided to try it. Boy oh boy, what was I getting myself into!
All I have to say about IF in retrospect is UGH, UGH, and UGH!
Perhaps it would be completely unfair of me to not tell you the lessons (yes, there was something good that came out of this experience) I learned about myself in the context of my diet and health.
Here is a recap of a few things I discovered:
1. I noticed I was pretty addicted to caffeine still. That first day of fasting was painful because of the massive headache I had for most of the day. Once I got to Tuesday, though, the headaches had subsided and I changed my diet soft drink choice to Diet Rite since it has both Splenda and ZERO caffeine. This is a change that will remain permanent until I decide the time has come to give up all diet sodas. I'm not there quite yet.
2. I felt what it was like to be truly hungry again. My philosophy has been to NEVER allow myself to get hungry so I don't slip back into those old habits I used to endure, especially during my low-fat diet experience when all I did was have hunger pangs. But listening to my body is something beneficial to me now that I am at the stage where food temptation does not befall me anymore.
3. I realized just how important eating enough food to fuel my daily high-powered cardiovascular workouts really is. While I tried to keep up the same resistance and speed of my elliptical workout on day one when I was fasting, it just didn't happen. While I usually have a 13 resistance at 8.5mph, I had to back off to 7 resistance at 7.0mph to make it through the same amount of time I usually do. Of course, I burned less calories as well. What was worse was even on the days I COULD eat, the very noticeable LACK of energy persisted and did not come back until I ended my IF experiment. I'm still trying to regain my strength and endurance.
4. I found out what being ravenously hungry was again. After my second fasting day on Wednesday, I told my wife Christine that we would be going out to Steak & Ale for their all-you-can-eat Prime Rib special. When we have gone there before, they haven't been as busy as they were this week. So the steaks took longer to come to the table than they usually do. I was so hungry that I ate a whole plate of salad in just minutes, devoured the first prime rib, waited 20 minutes for my second and killed that one, too. Then my server brought me another one about 30 minutes later (after my food had settled a bit in my stomach) and I started to eat it when I got halfway done and...WHOA NELLY, I was full! Not just full, but REALLY REALLY FULL! As in, it hurt so much I had to take some Tum-ta-Tum-Tums and lie down for a bit when we got home. I was quite the ravenous beast!
5. Going without food for 24 hours for me is not realistic. My head was hurting so much on the first day from the caffeine withdrawals that I barely noticed how hungry and light-headed I felt. But by my second fasting day on Wednesday with the headaches gone, I felt like I was floating around my office ready to tip over at any moment. My body was lethargic and walking around was so surreal as if I wasn't in the living world. As hungry as I was, my co-workers kept asking me if I was okay because I wasn't my normal chipper self. And it's true. All I wanted to do was have some food and it would even be low-carb at that. But it was not permitted on my fasting days.
Call me a wimp for not making it through even one whole week on this intermittent fast experiment, but it was just not for me. Like Dr. Mike, I think the biggest lesson I will take from this experience is that I don't necessarily have to eat when I'm "scheduled" to. Our bodies are quite complex mechanisms and know when to give us the signal for providing nourishment. The fact is that our stomach can remain quite satisfied even when everyone else around us is chowing down on food because it's "time to eat." Check out this follow-up post about the intermittent fasting versus Protein Power that Dr. Mike addressed at his blog a few days ago for some additional thoughts about this.
Will I do an intermittent fast again? If you ask me right now, then the answer is a resounding NO! But perhaps I'll rework it some in the future and maybe move it from 6:00pm to 12:00pm which may work better for my life. I'm always open to trying something a little different like this in the context of livin' la vida low-carb to see if it makes a difference. And that's the final lesson I think we can all benefit from. Never get so comfortable in what you are doing that you lull yourself into a false sense of security about your weight. We are all susceptible to putting on some weight when we least expect it even when we have been doing our low-carb diet perfectly. Believe me, it happens, so be ready for it!
So, THANK YOU Dr. Eades for reminding me that livin' la vida low-carb is an ever-evolving concept that should be continually worked on to help lose and maintain weight while always striving to improve our health. For now, I will be returning to my omega-based diet plan again exclusively for seven days a week and NO MORE FASTING! Hee hee!
Another day of this would have had me screaming from the top of my lungs, "CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!" Or even worse, "TO THE FUNNY FARM, THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY, HA HA, THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY, HO HO, HEE HEE, HA HA..." Yikeseroo!
9-23-06 UPDATE: It seems I'm not the only one who didn't think too much of the IF diet--read another person's take on it at detoxify this!
I'm not sure what impact celebrity endorsements really have on the public's opinion about the products and services that all of us normal, everyday people use. But apparently they must have some effect since we always seem to see famous people allowing their opinions and experiences to be used in conjunction with all sorts of things.
So how about livin' la vida low-carb? Is there anyone in the world of entertainment willing to stick their neck out in support of this much-maligned, yet very effective dietary approach in the year 2006?
As a matter of fact, there is. His name is James Todd Smith.
Who? Oh, I guess most people don't know him by THAT name, but will very likely recognize his stage name of LL Cool J. As in the rapper and actor.
The book, co-written by his personal trainer Dave "Scooter" Honig and Muscle & Fitness magazine editor Jeff O'Connell, will share LL Cool J's "regimen for a platinum body." It will include a fitness routine for a variety of workouts customized for both men and women at their particular level. There will be also be a special weight loss phase and an ongoing weight maintenance aspect included in the book as well to help people reach their goals.
"This workout program changed my life -- both physically and emotionally," LL Cool J said. "Now I want to share with others how they can achieve their own personal version of a Platinum Body."
There's no denying LL Cool J is solid muscle and physically fit
I for one am absolutely THRILLED to see such a major public figure out there proclaiming the virtues of livin' la vida low-carb. LL Cool J is exactly the kind of ambassador this way of eating needs to bring some sanity back to the health debate. If someone like LL Cool J can eat low-carb and look as fantastic as he does, then how can the media and the health "experts" deny this nutritional approach is anything but the nutrient-dense and "normal" way to eat that all of us low-carbers know that it is?
How can I be so sure that LL Cool J actually endorses low-carb as his preferred method of eating? I'm glad you asked that question. :) Check out what he said in this interview in Wave Magazine when he was promoting his movie, Deliver Us From Eva.
When asked what he was most "passionate" about, he replied "my family, my health, learning, sharing." The interviewer then prodded him some more about his health and asked what he does specifically to stay in shape.
Here was the response from LL Cool J:
"Exercise two hours a day, cardio, low carb diet, weights, boxing, calisthenics, running. I lost a lot of weight. I was a lot bigger. I was muscular, but I was a different type of big. I was more burly. To some people, I still am, but I’m not. I was a lot bigger. I just took a lot of weight off and decided to get more defined and stop being as big as I was."
Did anyone else crack a big grin on your face when you read that this man that so many people look up to as a role model actually admits he stays healthy and fit by livin' la vida low-carb? I know I did! WOO HOO! Let's celebrate this amazing and enthusiastic endorsement people because we have a man in LL Cool J who's not afraid of any backlash for supporting this lifestyle change because it has changed him forever.
I am VERY interested in reading his book when it releases and believe everyone who supports the low-carb lifestyle should start buzzing this "low-carb" fitness book to their friends and family. While Rodale may or may not market the book as a "low-carb" book, you and I both know that is exactly what it will be. And that is so very exciting for me as a low-carb weight loss success story and promoter of low-carb living.
Send LL Cool J an e-mail expressing your support for him as he touts the virtues of livin' la vida low-carb by writing to him at his Def Jam address, sitesupport@defjam.com. He needs to know how proud we are of him for being a lonely wolf on the celebrity circuit who backs the low-carb lifestyle. THANK YOU, LL Cool J!
This DVD features six "Biggest Loser" contestants and trainer Bob Harper
Okay fans of NBC's "The Biggest Loser!" Do you think you are up to the challenge that all those contestants on the hit television show had to endure from trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels? Frankly, do YOU think you have what it takes to be "The Biggest Loser" in your own household? Then prepare to be challenged in a fun and exciting way with The Biggest Loser Workout DVD.
As someone who lost nearly 200 pounds, I am very well aware of the importance of a regular cardio workout program to weight management. Although my eating plan was the low-carb lifestyle, I still credit my daily visits to the YMCA as a major contributor to my weight loss success. That's why I wrote a whole chapter in my book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" about the incredible importance of exercise.
I am a HUGE FAN of "The Biggest Loser" and couldn't wait to get this DVD with an Amazon.com gift certificate I received for Christmas. I eagerly popped it into my DVD player to see for myself what "The Biggest Loser" workout plan is all about.
After you hear an inspiring message from trainer Bob Harper (read my exclusive interview with him at LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com), whose voice will push you during your workout, you can also see the dramatic transformation in the lives of both Matt, who was crowned the Season Two winner of "The Biggest Loser," as well as Suzy, who was in the top three from Season Two. In addition, there is Season Two runner-up Seth and Andrea along with Season One contestants, Gary and Drea, who have done a great job keeping their weight off. These six "real life" people will show you that exercise can be fit into your life and can be fun, too.
The thing I like best about this workout video is that you can go at your own pace. There are varying levels of intensity and you can work your way up from the "Low-Intensity" workout all the way to the heart-pumping "Boot Camp." Whew, dog, this DVD is gonna work you! But if you are going to see results in your weight loss, then you will need to get your heart rate up and your body is gonna need to sweat. The Biggest Loser Workout DVD will certainly do the trick.
I'm not usually a big fan of workout DVDs because they are sometimes too hokey in my book. But if you are a fan of the show or have a great need to do something about that pot belly, this may be a great motivating tool for you. Just as I have successfully lost weight along with these contestants from "The Biggest Loser," so can YOU do it, too! Put in the effort and the results will be worth it in the end! You can count on it!
Be sure to pick up the companion book to "The Biggest Loser," too!
More athletes have chosen to follow a low-carb lifestyle to preserve lean body mass and improve body composition to maximize their workout performance, according to a new survey presented at the 2nd Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo in New Orleans, Lousiana this past weekend.
The research revealed on June 16-18 from this not-for-profit academic society dedicated solely to sports nutrition blows a huge hole in the age old myth that claims you need to load up on carbs to achieve a high-energy workout. In fact, what the study found was that just the opposite is true for many athletes now.
The survey was conducted at the 26th Annual Broad Street Run that took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 1. Participants in the 10-mile competitive race were asked a variety of questions about their training schedule regarding their specific fitness and nutrition methods. The study results have sent shockwaves through the health and fitness industry.
Close to one-third of the respondents who had 10 or more pounds to lose said they are livin' la vida low-carb to lose weight rather than following the traditional low-fat/low-calorie diets that have been implored by the experts for managing weight. Interestingly, the vast majority of people who began a low-carb program said this way of eating provided them with enormous success in their weight loss and athletic performance goals.
I have found this to be true in my own workout and nutritional experience. Since I first started a low-carb lifestyle on January 1, 2004, I have lost 180 pounds in all. But more importantly, I have totally changed my body from a fat blob of body mass into a muscularly-toned and physically fit one. I'm no Arnold Schwarzeneggar, but my body looks a lot better now than it did a year and a half ago! I credit my workout routine and low-carb for helping me reach this point in my physiological turnaround.
Eight-time Ironman competitor and Medical Director for Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. Dr. Stuart Trager responded to the findings of this survey by highly recommending that more athletes begin to realize the tremendous benefits of making smarter choices regarding their carbohydrate intake.
While many of them have traditionally eaten such products as a PowerBar before workouts, recent research by the Stone Foundation for Sports Medicine and Arthritis Research actually found these to be no better for an athletic performance boost than a sugary food product like a Pop-Tart, Trager explained! In fact, the research concluded that it did not matter what food the athlete consumed to provide fuel for their body before and during a workout. Instead, athletes should concentrate on finding foods that are high in protein and fiber and without added sugars as part of their general nutritional approach to generate the best benefits to their workouts.
"An energy bar high in sugars may fuel many during a workout, but active people rarely spend all their time training," says Dr. Trager. "To truly manage weight, improve body composition and preserve lean muscle mass, athletes must concentrate on their nutrition choices for the other 22 hours in a day. Too many active people are sabotaging their workout results in their day-to-day life by eating energy bars packed with sugars."
In fact, research in the past few years has shown livin' la vida low-carb is an excellent workout companion.
In the January 2002 edition of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, researchers found that athletes who control their carbohydrate intake were better able to maintain their endurance performance as a result of a higher level of fat burning during rest and exercise. And in the July 2002 edition of Nutrition & Metabolism, a controlled-carb approach to eating was found to produce better fat loss and preservation of lean body mass than a low-calorie diet program.
As more and more evidence like this is published, people will realize that the low-carb lifestyle is not only healthy, but necessary for even the most intense workout fanatics and those who need to be. If I can go from flab to svelte, then anyone can!
This Davenport, Iowa-based Quad City Times newspaper article laments that people have gotten away from exercise and eating right by chasing after the next great "diet" fad to come down the pike. And I agree with that premise.
With over $46 billion spent on diet products, including self-help books and specialty foods, in 2004, the "diet" industry is indeed an industry of its own. People are trying to find that magic ingredient that will help them lose weight without doing the necessary work and changes in their own life to make it happen.
The article makes a great point: "While millions jump on the bandwagon of the latest and greatest weight loss methods, the success of such programs is undermined by the fact that Americans are now bigger than ever.
What a profound observation and one that is backed by the fact that so many people still struggle with being overweight or obese. My heart aches for people who have been stuck in weight loss hell for so many years. It's not a fun place to be an usually leads to even greater and greater weight gain. But there is hope for people who find themselves in this place. You can start livin' la vida low-carb, too!
Learning about this amazing lifestyle is your first step and that fact that you are reading this blog shows me you are interested in arming yourself with more information about what all it entails. When you feel like you grasp what it means to do low-carb, then start doing it like you've never done anything before. You will literally be amazed at how fast you will lose weight and lose it for good!
This article cites a government review that came out in March 2005 that states two-thirds of people who diet gain back all their weight in a year and a whopping 97 percent gain it all back within 5 years. That's why I keep telling people that I don't think I've accomplished anything with my 180-pound weight loss because I haven't kept it off over the long-term yet. I strongly believe that I will, but I have no evidence to back up that claim at this point. Yet, I do not plan on getting back to 410 ever again. Or even 310 for that matter! I'm just not going to allow that to happen.
One of the things that was an integral part of my weight loss and has helped me keep it off is exercise. It has boosted my strength and energy and allows my body to eat more food (and, yes, that means more carbs!) without having a negative effect on my weight. Except for the few pounds of muscle weight I have developed, my weight has remained stable. And my waist size has continued to shrink!
The so-called "expert" in this story warns people wanting to lose weight to stay away from low-carb, high-fat diets and eat a "balanced" diet of carbs, calories and fat.
Who knows what the heck "balanced" means anymore? The government standard for that kind of meal is one that has obviously not worked very well for the American people because two-thirds of us are obese in their eyes. Did you know that although I weigh 230 pounds at 6'3" tall, I am still considered obese according to the government standard for weight? While I do not discount the fact the there are a lot of overweight people in this country, the numbers are certainly inflated and unreasonable.
This expert continued with a statement that shows he has no idea what he is talking about: "Anything that has you completely eliminating certain foods, like sugars or carbohydrates, is not something you will stick with."
Oh really? So is this health expert advocating eating even more sugar and carbohydrates than is consumed in the United States today? It seems like sugar is the main culprit that has prevented permanent weight loss from occuring and needs to be eliminated from our bodies altogether. Even some allegedly low-carb products contain these hidden sugars in them and cause people to stall or gain weight while trying to do low-carb. That's why some people fail on Atkins, not because the plan doesn't work!
One excellent point from this article is they state any succesful weight loss program needs to incorporate exercise. I could not agree more. Too many people sit on their laurels and don't do any exercise. My work offers a free gym membership and only a handful of us use it.
Okay, towards the end of the article, a fitness representative redeems this story by stating: "If your diet and exercise is not something you can do forever, it is not a lifestyle change and you will not likely be successful. We’ve had people lose 40, 50, 60 pounds by just finding balance with daily walking and eating healthier foods."
EXCELLENT! That is well-stated and can be applied to low-carb, too! Just get your body moving and you will notice how much your life will change dramatically. It REALLY will!
by a man named David Kuehls. This 100-page, easy-to-read book is full of lots of practical advice about how to train and make it through a marathon experience.
