Jimmy Moore's '30-In-30' Challenge

Last week was something else with my experimentation with intermittent fasting as recommended by low-carb expert Dr. Mike Eades. As you know, I didn't do so well on it and was only able to last five days on it.

I guess it did SOME good for my body since I lost another 4 1/2 pounds with it. Who knows if it was that or the continued Omega Diet I am on. Regardless, I'll take the weight loss and am happy to share my menu with you today. If you have been following my menus over the past few weeks, then you will notice something quite different in THIS week's menu!

As always, here are my supplements:

3 teaspoons of liquid multivitamin (no iron)
1 brick men's multivitamin (no iron)
200mg Co Q-10
200mcg Chromium Picolinate
250mg Acetyl L-Carnitine
1 brick B Complex Vitamins
6 tablets Shaklee Super Calcium Magnesium Plus
2 caplets Fibercon
2 softgels 1000mg each Flax Oil
2 softgels 1000mg each Fish Oil Concentrate

I drank lots of water and Diet Rite soft drinks. I have avoided all Nutrasweet-sweetened sodas for a month now as well as caffeine. Here was my menu and exercise routine from last week:

MONDAY
5:15AM - Atkins Shake
6:15PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 3 grilled chicken tenderloins w/cheese & mayo
6:30PM - Sugar-free 1.1 oz dark chocolate bar (no maltitol)
6:45PM - 1 tablespoon of Naturally More Peanut Butter

EXERCISE: 80 minutes elliptical

TUESDAY
7:00AM - Atkins Shake
9:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
12:30PM - La Tortilla wrap w/4 eggs and mayo
5:30PM - 4 small grilled chicken tenderloins w/cheese and mayo
5:45PM - Sugar-free 1.1 oz milk chocolate bar (no maltitol)

EXERCISE: 40 minutes elliptical

WEDNESDAY
6:00PM - 30 oz prime rib w/horseradish, 1 1/2 cups greens w/eggs, cheese, bacon, sunflower seeds, and Ranch
9:15PM - Atkins shake

EXERCISE: 40 minutes elliptical

THURSDAY
7:45AM - Atkins Shake
10:45AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
11:45AM - ChocoPerfection dark chocolate bar
1:00PM - La Tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and mayo
3:15PM - 3/4 cups almonds
5:30PM - 12oz prime rib w/A-1, 3 chicken tenderloins w/cheese and mayo
5:45PM - ChocoPerfection dark chocolate bar

EXERCISE: 50 minutes elliptical, 75 minutes volleyball

FRIDAY
1:15PM - Grilled chicken salad w/greens, cheese, tomatoes, Ranch
2:45PM - Whole rotisserie chicken
3:30PM - 3/4 cup vanilla caramel pudding w/coconut oil and ChocoPerfection bar
9:15PM - 3/4 cup vanilla caramel pudding w/coconut oil and ChocoPerfection bar

EXERCISE: 35 minutes elliptical

SATURDAY
7:30AM - 2 eggs, 3 sausage patties, 1 smoked sausage
2:15PM - 4 chicken tenderloins w/Feta cheese
3:15PM - ChocoPerfection bar
7:15PM - La Tortilla Factory wrap w/turkey, cheese, mayo
8:15PM - Heavy whipping cream, DaVinci caramel syrup and ChocoPerfection bar melted together

EXERCISE: None

SUNDAY
8:15AM - Atkins Shake
11:45AM - 1 pound of BBQ w/no sauce
12:00PM - ChocoPerfection bar
4:00PM - Atkins Advantage Granola bar
6:45PM - 4 grilled chicken tenderloins w/Feta cheese and mayo
8:00PM - Sugar-free 1.1 oz chocolate mint bar (no maltitol)

EXERCISE: None

Did you notice what I did differently this past week? That's right, I added back more of the low-carb "products" that some low-carb purists turn their nose up at. I happen to LOVE my low-carb chocolates, peanut butter, Atkins bars and more. As long as it's not adversely affecting my weight loss, then what's the harm? That's my philosophy.

Interestingly, there was very little weight loss during the fasting part of my week. But once I got off of the intermittent fasting on Friday afternoon and over the weekend, I noticed the scale begin to drop even without any exercise on Saturday or Sunday (I had previous time commitments that prevented me from sneaking in my workouts). Even still, I was stoked about my weight loss and expect it to continue as I eat the way I have outlined in this menu...sans the fasting part! :D

Feel free to post your comments or questions and I'll be happy to address them.

Labels: Eades, exercise, fasting, low-carb, menu, supplements, weight loss

You know what time it is, right? It's time for that golden experience we enjoy each and every Tuesday here at the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge to find out how we are doing on our weight loss. IT'S WEIGH-IN DAY!!!

While many of us have been losing a lot of weight above our one-pound-a-week challenge, others have seen just a few pounds come off of our bodies. Is this a reason to panic and complain that this plan isn't working? HECK NO! I would dare say the changes in your HABITS are much more important than the changes in your WEIGHT.

Think about the progress you have made so far. Even if the scale ONLY moved a half pound a week for the next year, that's still OVER 25 pounds by this time next year. WOO HOO!!! That's nothing to sneeze at (unless you are allergic to fat loss!).

Our obsession with HAVING to lose weight to feel like we are being successful on a diet plan and then pitching a fit when the scale isn't moving as fast as we want it to is a uniquely Americanized ideal. No wonder our nation is full of millions of people who get so frustrated with their weight they start groups that encourage "fat acceptance."

If I can encourage you with anything today, then let me say this. The fact that you took me up on my "30-In-30" challenge and you are still at it two months later is a testimony in itself that you are serious about your desire for change. You are that much closer to learning that low-carb is not just about a temporary diet to help you lose weight, but that it is a lifelong commitment to your health and well-being for many years to come.

Stay strong in the battle because you've got so many people praying for you and rooting you to success that you can't help but defeat the obesity enemy that is weighing you down right now. In just a matter of months, the load will be lightened and YOU WILL rise victorious over your fat once and for all. I say it often, but DON'T GIVE UP! DON'T! If you do, then you are not just failing yourself, but all those around you who believed in you to make it to the end.

I'm so proud of what all of you have been able to accomplish and wish you continued success on your low-carb lifestyle. THANK YOU to everyone who has posted comments here at this blog. If you have NEVER commented previously, then please take the opportunity today to share some of what's on your mind as it relates to your weight loss. What you will find is a group of people ready to publicly embrace you and show you that you WILL make it!

Of course, my regulars are always welcome to comment as well. I LOVE hearing from you and I try to respond personally to everyone who writes a comment. THANK YOU again for your faithfulness to the mission of this blog to help others as they seek to lose weight the low-carb way.

Okay, it's Week 8 of the challenge now and I bet you are wondering how I did last week, huh? After deciding to try the intermittent fasting idea that Dr. Mike Eades had recently suggested on his blog and then concluding that it definitely wasn't for me after five days, I went back to eating the way I have been since my slight change in menu one month ago.

Here were my weight loss results:



YEP, that's a FOUR AND A HALF POUND WEIGHT LOSS!

Lest you are wondering, most of that weight loss happened AFTER I got off of the intermittent fasting and back on my regular low-carb eating plan. I even skipped my workout on both Saturday AND Sunday because of prior time commitments. But the results are proof that I am going well in the right direction.

You will notice that I have adjusted my weight loss goal to a new one: 199! I've been talking about this for weeks, but decided the time was right to change it since I am doing so well. My old goal of 210 pounds is just nine more pounds away for the next 22 weeks. Um, I think I'll hit that one, eh? LOL!

So, I'm issuing you ANOTHER challenge today. If you, like me, are doing very well with your weight loss, then how about changing your goal weight to something that you will need to strive a little harder for, but still accomplish by the end of February? If your goal was to be 200 pounds, then how about considering 190 or even 180? Hmmm?

When I lost my 180 pounds in 2004, I didn't really have a goal in mind except to get down from the 410 pounds that I was. But as I got closer to my eventual weight of 230, that was the number I kept striving for and reached. Now I'm pushing for 199 and I KNOW I will make it. How about you? Is there a lower goal weight in your future? Tell us about it.

As always, the floor is now open for your comments! :D

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, goal, scale, weight loss

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!

Labels: diet, Eades, fasting, low-carb, weight loss

People have been fascinated by the one-week low-carb menus I have been posting over the past couple of weeks (click here and here to see them). I decided to post one more week's worth of my low-carb menus for you since I started the intermittent fasting recommended by Dr. Mike Eades for this week. Perhaps I will post that menu next week as well.

Since I started on Regina Wilshire's omega-focused diet plan three weeks ago, I have lost in excess of 10 pounds and the scale is moving (I lost another pound last week). Yee haw! So, naturally, people are curious about what I am doing. For the third week in a row, here is my menu from this past week of what I actually ate.

Before I get into the foods I ate, here are my supplements:

3 teaspoons of liquid multivitamin (no iron)
1 brick men's multivitamin (no iron)
200mg Co Q-10
200mcg Chromium Picolinate
250mg Acetyl L-Carnitine
1 brick B Complex Vitamins
6 tablets Shaklee Super Calcium Magnesium Plus
2 caplets Fibercon
2 softgels 1000mg each Flax Oil
2 softgels 1000mg each Fish Oil Concentrate

I drank lots of water and Splenda-sweetened soft drinks. Here was my menu and exercise routine from last week:

MONDAY
8:30AM - Atkins Shake
9:45AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:00PM - La Tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and mayo
3:00PM - 1 cup of almonds and walnuts
6:30PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 2 cups spinach leaves, cheese, Ranch
7:15PM - 1/3 ounce low-carb chocolate (no maltitol)

EXERCISE: 45 minutes walking

TUESDAY
7:45AM - Atkins Shake
9:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:00PM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
5:30PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, salad greens w/Ranch, 3 eggs
7:00PM - 1/2 cup sugar-free vanilla mousse

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

WEDNESDAY
7:45AM - Atkins Shake
10:00AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:00PM - 4 organic eggs with cheese, 1/2 cup sugar-free vanilla mousse
6:00PM - Two 12oz prime rib w/horseradish, 2 cups spinach w/eggs, cheese, bacon, Ranch

EXERCISE: 35 minutes elliptical

THURSDAY
8:00AM - Atkins Shake
10:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
12:30PM - La Tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and mayo
6:30PM - 12 oz prime rib w/A-1, 1 1/2 cups spinach leaves w/pepperoni, eggs, cheese, Ranch
9:00PM - 1/2 cup sugar-free vanilla pudding

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical, 90 minutes volleyball

FRIDAY
8:00AM - Atkins Shake
10:45AM - 1 1/2 cups alonds and walnuts
1:00PM - La Tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and mayo, 1/2 cup sugar-free vanilla pudding
6:00PM - 3 eggs, 3 sausage patties, 1 smoked sausage, 1 cup salad greens w/Ranch
7:30PM - 1/2 cup sugar-free Tapioca pudding

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

SATURDAY
9:00AM - Atkins Shake
11:30AM - 3/4 lb BBQ w/no sauce, 1 large chicken breast, 1 bite of salmon w/tartar sauce, 1 cup salad greens w/eggs, cheese pepperoni, Ranch, sunflower seeds, 2 cups cantaloupe w/whipped cream
7:00PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 1 cup greens w/Ranch, 3 eggs
9:00PM - 1/2 cup sugar-free vanilla caramel pudding

EXERCISE: 60 minutes elliptical

SUNDAY
9:30AM - Atkins Shake
12:30PM - 2 grilled chicken tenderloins w/cheese and mayo, 1/2 cup sugar-free vanilla caramel pudding
6:30PM - 3 tablespoons Naturally More peanut butter, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, Raspberry DaVinci syrup w/Splenda and Sweet Simplicity inside of a La Tortilla Factory wrap

EXERCISE: None

I'm still paying very close attention to avoid maltitol, aspartame and caffeine as much as humanly possible. It's hard to find foods that don't contain these, but it is indeed possible. I added back a few more comfort products this week such as low-carb peanut butter and chocolates. For the time being until the FDA can figure out what's going on with the E. coli problem with spinach, I'm staying away from them although they are my favorite salad veggie. Any questions?

Labels: exercise, food, low-carb, menu, supplements

Hey there "30-In-30" participants! It TEEEEERIFFIC TUESDAY again for Week 7 and you know what that means, don't you? No, Jimmy, what does that mean? I'm so glad you asked! :)

It means you have another chance to either be an encourager or to be encouraged by your fellow teammates. I get e-mails from people all the time asking what the "diet" plan for this challenge is down to every last morsel of food and exercise plan. My response to them is that the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge isn't about any specific plan, but rather a place of refuge for people desiring to lose weight on the low-carb lifestyle to be held accountable and uplifted through their journey.

If you're looking for the next great diet plan, this ain't it! But if you want the most loving and caring people in the whole widey-widey world to exchange their experiences with you to help you along the way in your low-carb life, then you've come to the right place.

I've got a special treat to share with you before I share about my progress in the challenge this week. The following is an e-mail I received from someone who has been participating in the challenge unbeknownst to me:

Hi Jimmy!

I've got a little secret to share with you: I've taken you up on your 30-in-30 challenge!

With your challenge and Regina Wilshire's recommended Omega 3:6 balancing and some other nutrient tweaks, I am thrilled to say that after over 2 years, I have now entered new weight loss territory myself!

I was 260 pounds and already in Atkins Induction/ketosis when I accepted your challenge. Maintenance had become somewhat too "comfortable" for me and it was time to make some new progress. It took me a few days to get started, especially with the exclusively pastured, grass-fed beef for home use, eliminating the commercial mayonnaise and creamy dressings with soybean oil, so I began your challenge with Regina's tweaks in earnest on/about August 25th, also adding 1,500mg of L-Carnitine daily. Since I do get other sources of Omega 6's from non-grass-fed meats, etc. from dining out frequently, I have opted not to include the Atkins shake in my tweaks. I estimate my Omega 3 to 6 ratio now to average approximately 1:3.

I was 320 pounds in July 2003 when I first began Atkins, and since May 2004, I have well maintained most of my 64-pound weight loss. As of this morning, I am 254 pounds...6 pounds into the challenge and 2 pounds into new weight loss territory, a weight that I have not seen since 1990.

So, I wanted to thank you, Jimmy, for the challenge and finally acknowledge to you that I have accepted your challenge. And "way to go" Jimmy on your own challenge progress!!!

ISN'T THAT AWESOME!!! I wonder how many other stealth low-carbers we have out there like this one? Come on in, we won't bite you, I promise. What an inspiring tale that is still being written and I'm so proud of this reader for sharing what I believe will be long-term, proven results.

Okay, here are my results from Week 7:



I lost another pound! Skippity-doo-dah! :D

My clothes are getting a LOT looser and I can even "feel" lighter if that makes sense. It's amazing what 15 pounds can do for you and it's hard to describe what it is like. I guess you're just gonna have to lose weight to find out about it. Sneaky, eh?

This week I am trying something tee-totally different and am not necessarily recommending it for those of you with a lot of weight to lose. It's a plan proposed by Dr. Mike Eades called "intermittent fasting" and I've committed to doing it for at least a week. I started yesterday and will report to you what I think about it next week.

Tell me about your Week 7. Good? Bad? From Hell? LOL! Please share.

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, inspiration, motivation, weight loss

One of the participants in the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge expressed concern about the lack of weight loss she has experienced since starting this journey.

Here's what she wrote:

Jimmy,

I need some help. For the past nine days, I have been exceedingly good on my plan. This is my average consumption per day according to Nutrihand:

Calories
1156.87

Carbohydrates
30.39 (This number does not have the fiber subtracted.) I've stayed <20 and no more than 30 net carbs.

I've been taking the vitamins and supplements since last Sunday. I have replaced beef with chicken and fish, I have eaten no dairy products except a bit of cream in my coffee and a small bit of butter on my veggies.

My blood glucose readings are doing great on this plan, and I swear that I FEEL lighter, but...the scale hasn't moved but a few tenths of a pound up and down all week.

I have lost NOT ONE pound! And I am still within 2 or 3 pounds of what I was when I joined this challenge! I am flummoxed, confused, disgusted, disappointed, and heading toward depression, though I am trying to keep a positive attitude.

Wouldn't you think that someone eating this few calories and this few carbs would lose SOMETHING? Any ideas? Thanks for your time!

My response back to her was meant to encourage:

THANKS so much for writing and sharing your concerns about your weight not moving. There are a lot of factors that go into weight loss and I'm not even going to pretend to sit here and tell you what is making your weight come off so slowly.

What I can tell you as I tell many of my readers is to refuse to allow that scale to dictate your attitude about your commitment to low-carb. I've written about this before at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.

If you're stuck, then put that stupid scale away for a month and just keep right on doing the things you KNOW you need to do. You even admit that you feel lighter, so relish that as a victory in your low-carb lifestyle because you probably have lost body fat. At the end of the day, that is exactly what you want to happen, regardless of what your total weight says.

Let me encourage you to just keep at it and don't back down because a little machine like a scale is saying you haven't been a success. Do your clothes fit better? Is there a skip in your step from being off of sugar and refined carbs? Are you committed fully to living healthier? If so, then the impact of livin' la vida low-carb has already begun and the best is yet to come! :D

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK and NEVER GIVE UP!!! Please write to me anytime!

Then, low-carb friend and fellow blogger Regina Wilshire said this:

Her calorie level is way too low--starvation mode has kicked in which has led to the stalling of her weight loss. She needs to eat more calories each day so she is meeting her essential nutrient requirements and at minimum her basal metabolic requirements.

Anyone else care to chime in with their thoughts and/or experiences with this issue? And if you are going through this same circumstance right now like this woman is, then share your concerns as well. We're here to help. :)

Labels: 30-in-30, calories, carbs, challenge, scale, stall, weight loss

After the tremendous feedback I received from posting a week's worth of my actual menu from when I lost 6 1/2 pounds on Regina Wilshire's omega-focused low-carb plan, I decided that perhaps I should post another week's worth of my low-carb menu for you.

I did lost another 3 pounds last week for a total of 9.5 pounds lost in the first two weeks on this "tweak" of my low-carb lifestyle. I haven't lost this much weight over two weeks since the early days of my original 180-pound low-carb weight loss in 2004.

Okay, so what about this past week? Here's the menu of what I ate.

First of all, my supplement intake did NOT change at all:

3 teaspoons of liquid multivitamin (no iron)
1 brick men's multivitamin (no iron)
200mg Co Q-10
200mcg Chromium Picolinate
250mg Acetyl L-Carnitine
1 brick B Complex Vitamins
6 tablets Shaklee Super Calcium Magnesium Plus
2 caplets Fibercon
2 softgels 1000mg each Flax Oil
2 softgels 1000mg each Fish Oil Concentrate

I again drank about a gallon and a half of water daily along with Splenda-sweetened soft drinks. During this new omega diet I have strictly refused to drink anything that contains aspartame in it at all. Splenda only!

Here is my second week's menu and exercise routine:

MONDAY
8:00AM - Atkins Shake
8:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
4:15PM - 1 cup spinach greens/cheese w/Ranch, 8oz steak w/A-1
7:30PM - Sugar-free chocolate pudding w/heavy whipping cream
9:00PM - 2 Tablespoons walnuts, almonds

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

TUESDAY
8:15AM - Atkins Shake
10:45AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:15PM - 1 cup of almonds and walnuts
3:00PM - La Tortilla wrap w/turkey, cheese, mayo
8:15PM - Sugar-free chocolate pudding w/heavy whipping cream

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

WEDNESDAY
8:30AM - Atkins Shake
10:45AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:15PM - 1 cup of almonds and walnuts
3:00PM - La Tortilla wrap w/turkey, cheese, mayo
5:30PM - 5 eggs with cheese
9:00PM - Sugar-free raspberry pudding w/heavy whipping cream

EXERCISE: 40 minutes elliptical

THURSDAY
9:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:00PM - La Tortilla wrap w/turkey, cheese, mayo/raspberry pudding
3:15PM - 1 cup of almonds and walnuts
5:45PM - 1 cup spinach greens w/Ranch, 8oz steak w/A-1
7:45PM - Atkins Shake

EXERCISE: 30 minutes elliptical

FRIDAY
7:30AM - Atkins Shake
9:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
12:15PM - 2 hamburger patties with cheese, 1 hot dog, tomatoes, pickles, mayo, 1 1/2 cups salad greens w/Ranch dressing
6:45PM - 8oz grilled salmon, 2 cups salad greens w/Ranch

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

SATURDAY
9:00AM - Atkins Shake
12:00PM - Salad greens w/Ranch, 4 eggs, 3 sausage patties, 1 smoked sausage
8:15PM - 2 grilled chicken strips w/cheese, 1 cup spinach leaves w/Ranch

EXERCISE: 40 minutes elliptical

SUNDAY
9:30AM - Atkins Shake
3:30PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 1/2lb turkey breast, 2 cups spinach leaves with eggs, cheese, sunflower seeds, pepperoni, Ranch dressing, 1/2 cup cantaloupe w/whipped cream

EXERCISE: None

As you can see, there were some changes from my previous week's menu. There were days when I had special occasions and events where I simply had to choose from the foods that were available to me. When that happens, you adjust your eating schedule to fit with those times.

You may also notice that I had some huge gaps between meals and even survived on just one meal like I did on Sunday. I'm trying to listen more to my body to see if I really need to eat or not. If I'm satisfied on the fat and protein I am consuming, then why do I need to eat? The answer is I don't, so I won't. This menu resulted in a 3-pound weight loss for me, so I am pleased.

I definitely increased my calories this week and my vegetable consumption as well. I added back a few more low-carb dessert options that I enjoy and increased my nut and egg intake substantially.

Questions or comments anyone?

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, low-carb, menu, weight loss

Week number six is here and that means it's been a month and a half already on the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge. ZOOM! This thing is flying by!

I was recollecting a couple of days ago about my first six weeks on low-carb back in 2004 and recall losing 50 pounds over that same time period. HA! Of course, when you weigh 410 pounds the weight does tend to pour off of your body in droves. :D

THANKS again to all of you who came or tried to come to my chat session on WeightLossBuddy.com last week. It was a lot of fun and we will definitely need to do it again in the near future.

Before I share this week's weight loss results with you (and I'm looking forward to hearing from many of you who decided to try Regina Wilshire's new omega-rich low-carb diet plan), let's first meet two of your fellow participants in the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge:

1. Atkins Rules!

Rock on, baby, because Atkins rules! Yeah, it does! And so does a 44-year old paralegal from Ohio named Tracy who doesn't mind sharing openly about her experience on a low-carb diet. With her daughter living at home while attending college and attempting to do the low-carb thing with mom, Tracy is serious about doing the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge and becoming that weight loss success she desires. YOU CAN DO IT, TRACY!!!

2. Move It! Shake It! Lose It! Low-Carb Style!


Oh the vigor and energy of youth (does that make me sound like an old man or what?!). But this 21-year old from San Diego, CA named Michelle has one of the most interesting blog pictures I think I've ever come across. As an accomplished photographer, she certainly shows off her talent in the most unique manner. She will no doubt have some stunning before and after photos when she becomes the big weight loss success on the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge over the next few months. She posting her exercise and menu plans to show others what she is doing to lose weight and, just as important, inches! Keep at it, Michelle, and let your success be a shining example for others to see.

Enough with the chit-chat already, right? I know you want to know how I did on the second week of my omega diet plan? Do ya, do ya? After last week's phenomenal 6.5-pound weight loss, the expectations I had were that I would probably not lose much weight if any this week.

So here were the results:



Another THREE POUNDS lost!!! Now I'm almost halfway to my goal of losing 30 pounds in 30 weeks--AFTER ONLY SIX WEEKS!!! Oh my goodness, this is remarkable! And best of all is that I feel so fantastic, energetic and motivated to keep on livin' la vida low-carb like never before. My pants are even starting to get looser and I went up another notch on my belt. WOO HOO!

I know the weight loss will slow down again fairly soon and I'm certainly prepared for that. But I am thrilled to know that my weight is coming down and I'm doing something proactive to make my health even better than it already is.

Does anyone else have some good news to share about their weight loss this week? Awww, come on, don't be modest...DO TELL, DO TELL! Even if your week didn't go so great, we still want to hear from you, too. Don't forget we are all in this together so let us hear from you, okay? I promise not to bite...too hard! :D

Who's gonna be the first to share this week?

One of the funniest questions I get from people who first discover that I'm on the low-carb lifestyle is "What do you eat?" My smart alleck response that is only said in my mind is, "Food, ya idiot!" But I'm much more civilized than that and generally respond with a sampling of what I have eaten for that day.

So, with my 6 1/2 pound weight loss last week on this new twist on low-carb living from Regina Wilshire, people are asking what I did differently to lose so much in one week. As a service to you and to possibly help you get some ideas about what to eat on your low-carb lifestyle, I will list a sample one-week menu that I ate last week to lose the weight.

Before I get into the foods I ate, here are my supplements:

3 teaspoons of liquid multivitamin (no iron)
1 brick men's multivitamin (no iron)
200mg Co Q-10
200mcg Chromium Picolinate
250mg Acetyl L-Carnitine
1 brick B Complex Vitamins
6 tablets Shaklee Super Calcium Magnesium Plus
2 caplets Fibercon
2 softgels 1000mg each Flax Oil
2 softgels 1000mg each Fish Oil Concentrate

As for what I drank, I had liberal amounts of water and Splenda-sweetened soft drinks. The water intake was right around a gallon and a half a day and I averaged about 6-8 cans of diet soda daily as well.

Now, without further wait, here is my menu and exercise routine:

MONDAY
7:45AM - Atkins Shake
10:00AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:00PM - La Tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and mayo
3:00PM - 1/3 cup of almonds and walnuts
5:30PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 1/3 cup spinach leaves w/avocado oil
8:30PM - Heavy whipping cream w/DaVinci Syrup

EXERCISE: 35 minutes walking

TUESDAY
7:45AM - Atkins Shake
10:45AM - 3 eggs, salad greens w/Ranch, 2 tbsps walnuts
1:00PM - La Tortilla wrap w/turkey, ham, roast beef, cheese, mayo
3:00PM - 1/2 cup of almonds and walnuts
5:45PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 1/3 cup spinach leaves w/avocado oil
8:15PM - Heavy whipping cream w/DaVinci Syrup

EXERCISE: 30 minutes elliptical

WEDNESDAY
7:45AM - Atkins Shake
9:45AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
12:15PM - La Tortilla wrap w/roast beef, ham, cheese, mayo
3:00PM - 2/3 cup of almonds and walnuts
5:30PM - Grilled chicken w/cheese, 3/4 cup spinach leaves, Ranch
9:00PM - Heavy whipping cream w/DaVinci Syrup

EXERCISE: 30 minutes elliptical

THURSDAY
8:45AM - Atkins Shake
9:30AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
2:00PM - 10oz steak w/A-1, 6oz BBQ no sauce, salad greens with eggs, cheese, sunflower seeds, pepperoni, Ranch, 1 bite of sugar-free pudding and 1 swallow of Coca-Cola (I accidentally sipped my wife's drink! UGH!)

EXERCISE: 30 minutes elliptical, 45 minutes volleyball

FRIDAY
9:30AM - Atkins Shake
10:45AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
1:00PM - 1/4 cup of almonds and walnuts
3:00PM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
9:00PM - 8oz steak w/A-1, 3 eggs, salad greens w/Ranch

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

SATURDAY
9:30AM - Atkins Shake
11:15AM - 4 organic eggs with cheese
3:30PM - Salad greens w/Ranch, 3 eggs, 3 sausage patties, 1 smoked sausage
8:15PM - Heavy whipping cream w/DaVinci Syrup

EXERCISE: 50 minutes elliptical

SUNDAY
6:30AM - Atkins Shake
8:30AM - 4 eggs with cheese
12:00PM - 3 eggs, salad w/Ranch, 8oz steak w/A-1
8:15PM - 4 organic eggs with cheese

EXERCISE: 45 minutes elliptical

Well, whaddya think? Isn't this doable? I think it's AWESOME!

9-6-06 UPDATE: One of my regular readers was appreciative that I posted my menu from this past week online and had a few excellent questions for me:

"Jimmy, thanks for posting your menus. How different is this week’s menus different from the previous weeks?"

To be honest, not a whole lot.

"How specifically did you incorporate Regina’s tweaks aside from organic eggs and fish oil?"

There were some specific changes I made, including CUTTING OUT ALL ASPARTAME AND MALTITOL products (I still had Splenda-based ones, though!), switched to eating SOME organic eggs and meats, drinking ONE Atkins shake a day, and including those supplements that Regina recommended I start taking. Other than that, the rest is what I've been doing.

Anyone else have any questions?

The chat session tonight at WeightLossBuddy.com was a lot of fun even if there were a few technical hiccups here and there. Sorry about that. Maybe we can set another time when we can all get together and hang out there on a Saturday afternoon sometime soon. We'll have to plan it!

I'm looking forward to hearing how everyone is doing. Let me and others help you if you are hurting. Newbirth has been "stuck" for three weeks with no weight loss. DON'T get discouraged! You will make it through this.

Don't be bashful, share your thoughts...

We're now into the second month of the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge and the excitement surrounding this simple challenge to lose 30 pounds over 30 weeks has become so contagious. People are STILL e-mailing me asking if they can join the challenge at this point despite the fact that we are five week into it already. My response? ABSOLUTELY because IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET STARTED ON TAKING CARE OF YOUR WEIGHT PROBLEM! :D

Let's meet three more of your fellow participants in the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge:

1. CurvyDiva

She describes herself in her profile as "a new mommy - just trying to balance baby, work and being a good wife." But now she's recommitting herself to the low-carb lifestyle to get that excess baby weight off of her. She started in earnest last Wednesday and blogged about how she is ready to do this again. Track CurvyDiva's progress online at her blog. :)

2. Time2006

Talk about your brutally honest blogger, you HAVE to meet Wanda. If ever someone has come along unafraid to share the hurts, the thrills, the pain, and the joy of the weight loss experience, then it has to be this woman. From making herself go to the gym because she likes the way she looks and feels to her husband asking their kids where mommy can eat out to that nagging blah feeling early on in low-carb when the cravings are fast and furious. Wanda lays it all out there for everyone to see. But that's a good thing because she's keepin' it real for herself and those trying to support her. WE LOVE YOU and KNOW you will succeed, Wanda!

3. JazzFanatic

Finally, let me introduce to you someone I met via my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog several months ago, but now she has decided to join the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge--JazzFanatic! This Champaign, IL-based woman has been low-carbing for a while and regularly tracks her success at her blog. I enjoy her enthusiasm and invite you to catch a whiff of it as you peruse her blog.

So, there you go. Now you have three more real people who are going through this weight loss journey with you to keep you encouraged and uplifted. If you are a part of this challenge and have a participant blog to share with me, then let me know in an e-mail at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I'm happy to feature it here in a future post.

Okay, without further delay, it's time to share with you my weight loss for Week 5 of "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge. After losing a respectable 6 pounds in the first month on low-carb weight loss again, I decided it was time to take a serious look at what I was doing to make sure I was maximizing my ability to lose weight. I was personally invited by a low-carb friend to make a small change to my diet to see if it could make a difference in the weight loss.

BOY DID IT EVER!

There really wasn't that much of a change in what I ate, but the results were nothing short of miraculous:



Can you say SIX AND A HALF POUND WEIGHT LOSS??!?! Whoa, where'd that come from?! I haven't lost this much weight in one week in over two years--back during my original 180-pound weight loss experience. Who would have thought that some minor tweaks in what I was doing would lead to such amazing results!

Since this is something that is still being evaluated by my low-carb friend as to why it works so well to help people who have gotten "stuck" in their weight loss begin to lose again, I can't disclose what it is yet. But believe me, YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IT SOON ENOUGH! :)

I met my goal of getting into the 220's like I had hoped for last week. It is the first time in 2006 I have been this low in weight and I fully intend to let this continue to motivate me to keep the scale moving downward. My goal of 210 is well within my sights now as I am nearly halfway to my weight loss goal--AFTER ONLY FIVE WEEKS! Yee haw!

What's up with your low-carb weight loss journey? The floor is yours now...

BY THE WAY, don't forget about tonight's LIVE online chat at WeightLossBuddy.com starting at 8PM EST. SEE YA THERE!

9-5-06 UPDATE: Okay, no more secrets! CLICK HERE to read about how my weight loss got kicked into high gear this week. You are encouraged to try it, too, to see if it works for you. I'd love to hear your experience after trying it for a week. Let me know at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!!

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 8:00PM EST

What's happening at that time? Well, I will be hosting my very first LIVE chat session at Weight Loss Buddy to talk about my "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge and YOU are cordially invited to attend this special event.

You may recall a little more than a month ago that I was asked to join them as one of their experts at Weight Loss Buddy and they even have a little blurb about me at their web site.

Beginning at 8:00PM on Tuesday night (aka Week 5 weigh-in day! WOO HOO!), I will be available for ONE-HOUR to talk with people who are participating in the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge and answer any questions they might have for me. Of course, ANYONE and EVERYONE is invited to come to this chat session as well. This format allows you to "chat" LIVE all in the same room with other people, so it should be a LOT of fun! CLICK HERE to view the upcoming chat session schedule featuring some of the other experts.

So how can you participate? IT'S SUPER EASY!

Sometime BEFORE the chat session, go sign up for FREE:

1. Go to the Weight Loss Buddy web site.
2. Click on the "Join For Free" link at the top.
3. Scroll to the bottom and click on "Join Basic Here."
4. Enter the information requested and click "Submit" once.

Wasn't that simple?

Now, to enter the chat on Tuesday night, here's what you do:

1. Go to the Weight Loss Buddy web site.
2. On the left side of the page, click on "Chat."
3. A new window will pop up and ask for your log in information.
4. Enter your username and password and hit "Submit."
5. Choose one of the green avatars personalities.
6. Click on "Enter our virtual chat now."
7. Find the "Events" button and click on it to go to my chat!
8. YOU'RE THERE ready to chat with ME! YEAH!

I hope to see EVERYONE there who can make it for my debut chat session at Weight Loss Buddy. I've already been in the chat room a couple of times and its a lot of fun talking with people who have such varying ideas and opinions about the world of weight loss. For my chat session, we will focus EXCLUSIVELY on low-carb since that is the focus of my challenge.

If you have any questions about the chat session, then feel free to drop me an e-mail and I'd be happy to help! Hope to see you there!

And if you haven't joined Weight Loss Buddy yet, let me tell you how vitally important it is to be linked up with a buddy that can help you reach your weight loss goals. I'm so glad to see a web site like this out there because people need to be connected with other people who are going through the same struggles that they are. What a WONDERFUL opportunity to get matched up and help hold each other accountable. Sign up TODAY!

HERE'S A LITTLE FUN FOR YOU TO CELEBRATE ONE MONTH ON THE CHALLENGE!

When you're feeling down and need a quick pick-me-up, then just click on this video to get your spirits flying high and to put a BIG SMILE on your face. It sure does mine everytime! :D



If you listen carefully at the beginning, you can even hear the song say "livin' la vida low-carb!" HA! It's time to get your groove on with the Hippo! Hit it again! LET'S DANCE THEM POUNDS OFF! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

TEEEEEEERIFFIC TUESDAY IS COMING...R U READY?!