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

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.

Labels: Christin, Deni, diet, health, inspiration, Kimkins, Kimmer, low-carb, success, web site, weight loss

How can learning how to golf be like low-carb dieting?

Welcome to another weigh-in day here at The "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge. THANK YOU to everyone who encouraged my wife Christine last week as she started down this low-carb lifestyle journey a couple of weeks ago. She's still doing FANTASTIC and your uplifting and positive comments meant so much to her...which in turn meant so much to ME! :)

We all have things in our lives that we have always wanted to do. You know what I mean--activities that you have longed for but have yet to fulfill. For me, that singular activity that I've been meaning to take up for years is golfing.

Yep, I'm a humongous fan of the game of golf and enjoy watching the PGA Tour on television. Some people think the game is too boring to watch, but not me. Watching the best players in the world hit that little white ball around and get it in the hole under treacherous conditions is simply amazing!

But golf is not necessarily a game of might or great physical prowess, which is why it is attractive to men and women of all sorts. That is the allure that causes relatively intelligent men and women to pick up a bag of clubs and give it a go!

Instead, golf is a game of mechanics, repetition, and finesse--all which come with lots and lots of practice. The golf swing is just the opposite of a baseball swing or a bowling motion. Thinking differently takes a major paradigm shift in your head as I am quickly discovering.

I've only been swinging a club for a couple of weeks so far, but I can already see why people give up on this game. When you first start playing golf, you want desperately to score as low as you possibly can. But the reality is you're very lucky if you can break 150 strokes! You're learning the game and it'll get better with time and experience.

It can be extremely hard at times because this game goes against everything your body naturally wants to do. But quitting is not in my vocabulary, so I'm gonna learn this game yet even if I keep slicing that %$@*!&@ ball to the right! :D Wish me luck!

What's this got to do with a low-carb diet?

Think about it for a moment. For so many people, they have long wanted to find a weight loss plan that would help them shed the pounds and improve their health, right? It's the ultimate nirvana for an overweight or obese person to FINALLY learn how to play this dieting game.

They've watched people like me and many others attain tremendous success on the low-carb lifestyle and now they want to learn how to do it for themselves. Virtually ANYONE who wants to apply the principles of low-carb into their life can and will see phenomenal improvements in their weight and health that go beyond their wildest imagination. It doesn't happen overnight, though.

Like golf, the low-carb life is also about mechanics. Keeping your carb intake at 20g daily for the first two weeks, avoiding the sugar, white flour, and starchy foods completely, eating enough fat and protein to ward off hunger, resisting the temptation to cheat spontaneously, taking your supplements, and so much more. You must do all of those things over and over and over again until they become natural to you.

It's a process, a new mindset, a lifestyle change--one that takes lots and lots of practice. The longer you live the low-carb life, the easier and better it gets. I've always heard low-carb living is a marathon, not a sprint--how true that is!

So, does that mean you'll NEVER mess up? Hmmm...

Go back to the golf analogy for a moment. Does the #1 player in the world Tiger Woods ever make a mistake on the golf course? He's very likely the best golfer who has ever played this game. But guess what? The man makes some bad swings, he doesn't win every tournament, and sometimes he even misses the cut (rarely, but it does happen).

GASP! How can this be? If he's THAT good at his game, then shouldn't he be next to perfect? I mean, come on! Ah, therein lies the problem that so many people who start the low-carb lifestyle conveniently pigeonhole themselves into believing.

It's not about perfection, but rather continuing to apply the mechanics of the game that you are constantly learning. After a while, you'll begin to recognize situations that you've been in before and respond accordingly to avoid the mistakes you previously made. That's why this is a LIFESTYLE and not a diet.

Nobody said low-carb living was going to be easy just as golfing isn't easy. But doing both can be enjoyable experiences as long as you remain focused on what is most important. And by all means, HAVE FUN with them because life is too short to be consumed by your supposed failures. Success is just around the corner!

Now, if I can only keep my knees bent, head down, elbows straight, and...BOOM, right down the middle of the fairway, baby! WOO HOO! I just LOVE this game!

What do you think about your low-carb lifestyle? Are the frustrations of the "game" getting to you that you feel like giving up? Or are you committed to applying the basic principles of what you already know to find the success you desire? Share your comments and let me know what you think!

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, diet, encouragement, golf, lifestyle change, low-carb, motivation, weight loss

Victoria Beckham (aka "Posh Spice") made dieting news last week

We live in an entertainment-driven society now and that point was made abundantly clear just last week when a famous British pop singer and wife of a popular professional soccer superstar. In Episode 55 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," we get the dirty details about how the diet book industry went completely nuts after the super-thin "Posh Spice" bought a copy of a raunchy pro-vegan book entitled Skinny Bitch.

Since I had previously reviewed that book here at my blog, I decided to share my book review in spoken form in today's podcast. Hear it for yourself RIGHT NOW:

Victoria Beckham, former member of the Spice Girls and spouse of soccer sensation David Beckham, probably had no idea she was going to be at the center of attention when she decided to buy that copy of Skinny Bitch last week. But that's exactly what happened and sales of this disgusting book zoomed up Amazon UK charts to #10 as well as #200 on Amazon.com.

Episode 55 gave me the chance to reveal exactly what this book written by two militant anti-meat women who have never had to deal with a weight problem in their life are all about. The fact that they describe people who follow the Atkins low-carb diet as a "moron" is indicative of their vile and despicable nature.

Are you a "moron" and want more low-carb podcasting? Get it by:

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

Have you seen this absurd book from former models Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman? What do you think about celebrities who can make an obscure diet book like "Skinny Bitch" and instant overnight bestseller? Share your feedback about this and why you think our society has become to dependent on what actors, singers, and athletes have to say, especially on the subject of diet and health.

As has been the tradition on Thursdays for the past few weeks, I will be airing yet another interview from the Nashville obesity conference in the next podcast show from a man named Dr. Kurt Kraft. While he is not a low-carb supporter, per se, Dr. Kraft is at least respectful and open to the possibility that this way of eating can help with obesity. Tune in on Thursday for that engaging conversation!

Labels: book, diet, Jimmy Moore, Kim Barnouin, podcast, review, Rory Freedman, Skinny Bitch, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show, Victoria Beckham, weight loss

Valerie Liberty (left) shares her story on CBC's "The Gill Deacon Show"

I love hearing about inspirational weight loss success stories (yes, even those of us who ARE big losers ourselves like 'em, too!), but it's even more special when the people who lose the weight did it by livin' la vida low-carb. We low-carbers have to stick together and support one another because we've got enough people telling us how our "fad" diet is so "dangerous" to our health that it's gonna kill us--despite our HUGE successes! ARGH!


Bright, articulate, and drop-dead gorgeous--that's Valerie Liberty!

Such is the case with that blonde bombshell you see above named Valerie Liberty from Oakville, Ontario Canada. Believe it or not, she used to weigh at one point in her life 314 pounds. Yep, she sure did! Like so many of us who have finally found our answer in the low-carb lifestyle, Valerie ended up playing the grueling rollercoaster game with her weight going up and down and up and down throughout most of her life. That's one ride I was happy to get off of for good.

When she tipped the scales at well over 300 pounds, Valerie finally said enough was enough and decided to have what many believe is the be-all, end-all "cure" for morbid obesity (or at least that's what we're told about it)--GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY! Sure enough, the surgery worked and Valerie lost 100 pounds. But she was absolutely miserable and within five years had gotten back up over 300 pounds again.

Yikeseroo!

Through what had to be fortuitous circumstances that I know she is eternally grateful for now, Valerie was introduced to the Atkins low-carb diet in 2003 when she decided to make it her permanent lifestyle change. Not surprisingly, in just ten short months of livin' la vida low-carb, she lost an incredible 100 pounds off of her body and has been able to maintain (and even lose 30 or so pounds more!) in the 2 1/2 years since.

Why? Because she didn't just go on a diet. Valerie absorbed like a sponge all the information about the Atkins diet that she could and is now a walking, talking encylopedia of what livin' la vida low-carb is all about. Plus, she LIVES this way now rather than those former poor habits that made her morbidly obese. That's lifestyle change personified, baby!

Today, she proudly weighs a petite 167 pounds--NEARLY HALF THE WEIGHT SHE USED TO BE! WOO HOO! You go on with your bad self, Valerie. :D That's totally amazing and I am so proud of you for FINALLY finding what works for you and then doing it. You are a fine example for this way of eating and nobody can ever take this accomplishment away from you.

Because of her stunning triple-digit weight loss success, Valerie Liberty was invited to be a guest on the Tuesday, May 22, 2007 episode of the Canadian television program called "The Gill Deacon Show" to discuss what it was like to be morbidly obese and then lose 100 pounds. Most of the questions were quite typical of the mainstream interviews I have done with media types who want to know what made you finally want to lose weight and why you didn't do it sooner.

Will these people EVER understand that some of us aren't naturally wired that way and we have to be shown how to eat better? Sigh. Even still, Valerie was fantastic and got in some EXCELLENT points about livin' la vida low-carb that were RIGHT ON TARGET! I couldn't stop yelling "OH YEAH!" throughout the interview because it was THAT great!

Valerie was kind enough to post the 12-minute interview (split into two 6-minute segments) on YouTube featuring her and another lady who had lost 100 pounds on Weight Watchers. I have a comment to say about that woman in just a moment, but first watch these two video segments from the show. ENJOY!

PART 1:


PART 2:


Isn't Valerie Liberty simply amazing?! She claimed on the Active Low-Carber Forums web site on Wednesday that she was "pretty nervous," but it certainly didn't look like it to me. My favorite line by her in the interview (and there were many bright spots!) was when she made the following statement:

"There's no room in my life to go back to the way I used to eat."

RIGHT ON, girl! That's exactly how most of us low-carbers feel because we don't want to go back to the miserable way we felt on a high-carb, low-fat diet. As Valerie so accurately stated in the video, you're just not hungry on the low-carb lifestyle because your blood sugar is under control and the body will regulate itself better without all the sugars and starches.

It was a bit ironic how Valerie made the point that if Weight Watchers didn't work for you, then try something else. You'll notice the other lady who was on the show with Valerie said she chose that as her weight loss method. Wasn't it odd, though, that she had lost a lot of weight on that plan before, gained it back, then lost over 100 pounds AGAIN, but then GAINED IT BACK AGAIN prior to her appearance on the show?!

I know Valerie just wanted to reach her hand across that table and say to the woman, "Look, lady, it doesn't look like you can stick with Weight Watchers, so why not try the Atkins diet instead?" Perhaps after hearing how confident and informed Valerie was on "The Gill Deacon Show" this week, that other woman will reconsider her dietary choices and start livin' la vida low-carb, too. It would be the best thing that she could ever do for her weight and health.

CONGRATULATIONS, Valerie! You are a true superstar for the low-carb community and I'm personally happy to have you out there espousing the virtues of this incredible way of eating to the masses all across North America! You keep on shining the light of truth and never let go of what got you to where you are today. You are beautiful in so many ways and I know you will continue to make this a lifestyle change you can live with for a very long time (like forever!).

I'd love to hear from Valerie Liberty via e-mail if she finds this blog post about her. If you know Valerie, then let her know that Jimmy Moore from the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog would like to contact her about her low-carb weight loss success. My e-mail address is livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS!

Labels: diet, gastric bypass, inspiration, low-carb, motivation, The Gill Deacon Show, Valerie Liberty, weight loss, Weight Watchers

Dr. Eric Westman--soft-spoken, but mighty strong in low-carb research

I have a very special interview to share with you today from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) obesity conference I attended in Nashville, Tennessee recently. It's with a man that every single low-carb supporter need to be abundantly aware of because he is conducting the kind of research on low-carbohydrate diets that will usher in a new wave of interest in this way of eating that cannot be ignored. His name is Dr. Eric Westman.

In Episode 54 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," I was privileged to ask Dr. Westman about his amazing research into the low-carb lifestyle, including why he started researching this, what his research has taught him as an internist, where he sees low-carb research headed in the coming years, and when he thinks mainstream acceptance of low-carb will happen.

Listen to my most compelling podcast interview to date with Dr. Westman:

There is nobody working harder behind-the-scenes of low-carb (except for maybe Dr. Mary C. Vernon) than Dr. Eric Westman because he has seen the dramatic improvements in the weight and health that has happened in his patients who started following a "diet book." It turns out that book was written by the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins and it went against everything Dr. Westman was ever taught in medical school.

Neverthless, he has since learned more about low-carb living and realizes it can help with not just obesity, but also diabetes and a host of other health ailments. Dr. Westman is dedicated to helping his fellow doctors and medical professionals understand why low-carb dieters like us see the amazing lifechanging results we see in our weight and health.

During my interview with him, Dr. Westman said he vividly remembered one thing he was taught in medical school: while the training to become a physician ends at school, the education process never ends with what your patients tell you. WOW, we need more doctors who are willing to take this philosophy about their practice so they can truly help people get healthier than they ever thought possible.

Check out "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show" podcast anytime by:

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

Did you enjoy hearing what Dr. Eric Westman had to say about livin' la vida low-carb? He's definitely a name you will want to remember because some of the most damning evidence against low-fat diets in the coming years will very likely be from his research lab in Durham, North Carolina. Share your thoughts about Dr. Westman and his research. I am planning a trip up the road from my hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina to visit his clinic soon to see what he does in action.

Also, if you entered my contest from Episode 53 for the FREE GoLower Chocolate Creme Bars, then be sure to listen to today's show to see if your name was among the winners. THANK YOU to everyone who posted a comment at the podcast web site and then e-mailed me your entry. It was a great success and I look forward to more contests coming soon.

THANKS for listening to "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore."

Labels: diabetes, diet, Duke University, Eric Westman, Jimmy Moore, low-carb, obesity, podcast, research, study, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show

My dear wife Christine started low-carb last week for her health

Hey everyone and thanks for checking in with your progress in the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge today. It's been another seven days since we last gave you the opportunity to update everyone on how you are doing shedding the pounds and improving your weight. Are you noticing any tangible changes that may not be showing up on the scale? Please share your success stories with us in the comments section below.

After seeing me start livin' la vida low-carb in January 2004, go on to lose 180 pounds in one year, get off of prescription medications for breathing, cholesterol, and blood pressure, drop over 20 inches off of my waistline, and completely turn my life around for the better, my wife Christine has decided the time has come for her to follow my lead.

When I first met Christine in the early 1990s, she was a 90-pound stick woman who was all skin and bones. Even on our wedding day in 1995, she still only weighed 95 pounds soaking wet. But a dozen years of marriage and all that comes with that have caused Christine's weight to creep ever-so-slowly up and up and up.

Even worse than her slight weight gain is what her high-carb diet has done to her triglycerides. At her last physical, the doctor informed Christine that they had risen to an unhealthy 250. While I know a lot of people who have much higher levels than that, the fact is she needs to get that number down below 100.

Wanna guess what the easiest and most effective way to lower triglycerides? That's right, it's livin' la vida low-carb! Mine dropped down to the mid-50's after I started on the Atkins low-carb diet while my HDL jumped up to the lower-70's. While Christine's HDL is a respectable 50, her new low-carb diet will surely raise it even higher--possibly over 100.

This is the first time Christine has been fully committed to the low-carb lifestyle and I'm very proud of how she has transitioned from her former diet. While my biggest vices were sugary, processed junk foods (like Little Debbie snack cakes, graham crackers, Coca-Cola, etc.), Christine's problem carbs are more of the salty, starchy kind of foods (such as potato chips, crackers, rice, and pasta).

But since May 14, 2007, she has given up those foods to join the low-carb revolution. She KNOWS it works because she's got a living, breathing example of it staring her in the face every single day (ME!). Now she's putting action to that belief and doing something positive for her health in the process. I'm so incredibly proud of her for making this bold change.

Although she doesn't have a lot of weight to lose, I'm happy to announce that Christine lost a total of FIVE POUNDS in her first week of livin' la vida low-carb! WOO HOO!!! Way to go, baby doll! Of course, I've been helping her keep her carb totals around 20g daily eating healthy low-carb foods such as eggs, cheese, steak, turkey, ham, sausage, spinach, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, almonds, and an occasional piece of sugar-free, low-carb chocolate here and there.

She's totally stoked by the weight loss despite some of the typical problems that people encounter early on after beginning low-carb for the first time. While the first couple of days were no big deal, it really hit her on day three when she started feeling a bit tired and lethargic (aka "Atkins flu") and that night she dealt with her first bout of those infamous nasty leg cramps--OUCH!

But we've got her taking potassium supplements to help, along with a woman's multivitamin, calcium, fiber tablets, fish oil, and chromium. She has been doing an amazing job with this so far and is keeping track of what she is eating, how many carbs she is eating, and her water intake. She's struggling with getting enough water, but that'll come the longer she sticks with the plan.

Also, since she had her gall bladder taken out last year, her body has trouble processing the extra fat that she is eating on her low-carb diet. In fact, I made her a big porterhouse steak over the weekend and she was holding her side for hours after eating it. But she's gonna make it because I won't let her fail. :)

I share Christine's new journey on low-carb to let you know that this way of eating isn't always about weight loss. For many, this is the exact diet they need to be on for the sake of their health. Too often people view a diet as merely a means to an end for weight loss alone. But you and I know better, don't we? We know this is the healthiest diet we've ever tried and it's gonna keep us healthy for the rest of our lives.

So, when you see the scale stalling out on you and you are thinking of throwing in the towel on your low-carb diet for good, just remember how much better you feel eating your low-carb diet than you ever did on a high-carb, low-fat diet. That'll shake you back into reality now, won't it? :D

Do you have anything you'd like to share with Christine as she continues down this incredible journey to better health? I know she'd love to hear from you as you share your wisdom on this important subject matter. And let us know how your own low-carb journey is going whether you are doing well or not. Allow us the privilege of encouraging YOU this week.

Don't be a stranger. Let's hear from you, okay?

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, Christine, diet, health, low-carb, triglycerides, weight loss

In Episode 53 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," I have an exciting giveaway contest to share with you that you'll want to take advantage of as well as a stern chastisement of a smug low-fat diet zealot who claims all of human existence has been predicated on carbohydrate consumption. This is can't miss podcasting at its best! Listen NOW:

Are you ready to enter my contest for a chance to win 24 FREE GOLOWER CHOCOLATE CREME BARS in the flavor of your choice? If so, then simply be one of the first ten listeners to leave a comment about this episode AND send an e-mail to me with your name, address, city, state, and zip code (No P.O. Boxes please!). GOOD LUCK!!!

What about this whacked out, PETA-loving low-fattie who e-mailed me about how a high-carb, low-fat diet is the "staff of life" for all civilization? HA! What a crock and I was all too happy to expose this guy for the fraud he is. While he attempted to portray himself as an innocent and none-the-wiser average Joe, but instead he's another member of the ever-dwindling army of low-fatties who know their days are numbered.

Get more of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show" by:

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

What is your reaction to what this linguini-spined low-fat lover had to share? Does he have any credibility with his historical journey of our "low-fat diet" past? What do you think? Leave your comments about Episode 53 to give your personal message to this misguided and severely undereducated man. Is it any wonder I never heard back from him about his long-term progress eating that low-fat diet of his? I think not.

You'll definitely want to listen to the podcast on Thursday for another interview from the obesity conference I attended in early May sponsored by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP). The feedback from these has been phenomenal so far and I'm thrilled to be able to share these incredible physicians dedicated to helping people overcome their obesity and related diseases. See ya then!

Labels: diet, health, Jimmy Moore, low-carb, low-fat, podcast, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show

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.

Labels: diet, inspiration, Kimkins, low-carb, motivation, success, Tana, weight loss

Spunky and passionate, Dr. Denise Bruner was a joy to interview

Continuing on with my interviews from the obesity conference sponsored by American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this month, I have an awesome Episode 52 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" lined up today with a bariatric physician that I think you're gonna LOVE named Dr. Denise Bruner. This lady's a hoot, but she really knows her stuff. Listen NOW:

What a real privilege it was to meet and speak with Dr. Denise Bruner since she has become a celebrity of sorts in recent years showing up as an articulate obesity expert on popular talk shows like The Maury Povich Show, Dr. Phil, and Good Morning America, among others. Dr. Bruner is a past president of the ASBP and serves as a noble ambassador for helping the overweight and obese overcome their weight problems for good.

But do you know what excited me the most about Dr. Bruner? She's livin' la vida low-carb, baby! That's right, Dr. Bruner revealed in my interview that she personally has to use a controlled-carb nutritional approach to keep her weight and health in check. WOW! Now THAT is awesome to know that we have someone like this on the side of low-carb living helping spread the message to her patients who are stuck eating the recommended high-carb, low-fat diet.

Want more of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show?" Get it by:

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

So, what did you think of Dr. Denise Bruner? She's a genuinely nice person to be around and really knows what she's talking about. I was thrilled to have the chance to interview her and only wish I could see her in action at her Arlington, VA-based practice. Maybe I'll make it up there someday.


Jason White believes as I do that sugar in any form is unhealthy

Last week I introduced you to a brand new contributor to the Health Hacks Podcast named Nathan Stanley. There's another regular contributor there by the name of Jason White who had this fantastic podcast about what a sugar-free diet REALLY means. You will find yourself nodding in agreement at what Jason has to say.

Send a note of appreciation to Dr. Denise Bruner for her fantastic interview and for what she is doing to help further healthy living by e-mailing her at denisebrunermd@comcast.net.

Labels: ASBP, Denise Bruner, Health Hacks Podcast, interview, Jason White, Jimmy Moore, low-carb, obesity, podcast, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show

Hey there everyone and welcome to Teeeeeerrific Tuesday (aka "weigh-in day") here at The "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge as we seek to spur each other on to lose at least a pound a week over the next 30 weeks (and beyond if you need it!). Is it too late to join, you ask? Heck no! I get e-mails all the time from people wanting to join, so hop right in and start this amazing low-carb weight loss journey for yourself. I lost over 180 pounds on it and so can YOU! :)

I want to talk with you today about a four-letter word that so many people going on a diet are desperately searching for. No, it's not "food," although I'm sure that four-letter word is on the minds of many dieters especially early on. Neither is it "luck" because finding a plan that will help you lose weight and keep it off forever takes a lot more than that. The word I am thinking of is "hope."

There's an acronym for this word that has always stuck with me:

Helping
Other
People
Excel

Helping other people excel at losing weight and improving their health is exactly what I am all about with my efforts here at this blog and elsewhere because I know what it's like to be in a seemingly helpless and hopeless situation.

When you weigh 410 pounds, wear size 62-inch waist pants and 5XL shirts, take three prescription medications, constantly feel ridiculed and scorned by staring onlookers, and wonder how much longer you'll have to keep living this miserable existence known as life, there's no other way to feel.

Trapped, imprisoned, and no way out--that was my life prior to 2004. I feigned happiness on the outside, but deep within I was screaming for help looking for just a small glimmer of hope. Oh God get me out of this wretched existence I am living so that I can move on with my life already. Is this the best that it gets? I don't want to die young and I feel like life has dealt me a raw deal!

Perhaps you think I just described how YOU feel. I'm sure my own personal experience with obesity has resonated with many of you because I see the exact same sentiments expressed in e-mail after e-mail from dear souls who want me to reassure them that they can find the same hope for overcoming their weight problem that I did. I never want to get used to hearing these gut-wrenching stories of pain and anguish and I don't think I ever will.

Here's one from a woman in San Diego, California that came this week:

Hi Jimmy,

I am one of probably thousands of e-mails that you get and hope that you somehow run into mine. I was online, yet again, seeking some help for my health, which is being ruined by my obesity.

I have tried them all--from Weight Watchers, to Jenny Craig, to the grapefruit diet, to the original Atkins diet, to LA Weight Loss, to most recently, Slim-Fast. None of them seem to work and I just keep getting bigger and bigger.

I now have high blood pressure and my feet, knees, and lower back bother me when I walk. I'm going to the gym and walking on the treadmill 50 minutes a day for the past month, and every other day, I add in weights, but I still see no improvements.

To make matters worse, I live in San Diego where it's verrrrry image conscious and if you're obese, you wind up being excluded from social situtations and even getting a good job!!

I'm at my wit's end and it's very depressing. In fact, the past few days have been so discouraging for me that I haven't even made it to the gym. UGH!

I have a mild allergy to wheat, so I am trying to elminate that from my diet, but don't know how or what to eat anymore to get the weight off. I've tried to find "The Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper online to get his advice but he's nowhere to be found. What would you recommend??

Please...............help....................me....................

OUCH! There's a lot of agony and disappointment in that e-mail and you barely know where to start with one like this. Let me begin by saying to this dear lady that everything is going to be alright because you have shown that you care enough to want to do something productive about your weight and health problems. Many have just thrown their hands up in the air and completely given up, but you sincerely want to do something. I applaud your courage to make it happen for yourself!

I DO receive quite a bit of e-mail each week, but I still try to answer each one of them with some words of encouragement and hope (and you're getting an entire blog post devoted to your e-mail--aren't you special?). It's the least I can do for the miraculous turnaround that happened in my life 3 1/2 years ago.

When I started the Atkins diet on January 1, 2004, I didn't have a clue that this time the diet I chose was going to work for me. But what I did know was my dedication was not just to the diet itself which was temporary, but to make these new healthier habits I was learning a regular part of my life. And so the journey began and continues on to this day.

You can try all the diets in the world you want with nominal success, but you'll never reach your ultimate goal of lasting and permanent weight loss and health improvements until you make lifestyle changes that you can stick with forever. I too tried so many diets and failed at them, but it's because I lacked that sense of long-term thinking. If you're gonna eat healthy to lose weight, then you might as well keep eating that way for the rest of your life to STAY healthy, right? That's logical!

When you are in "diet" mode, you stay on it for a while and then STOP doing what made you successful. Word to the wise--DON'T DO THAT! Find a plan that will work for you, follow that plan exactly as prescribed by the author, and then keep doing that plan for the rest of you life. It sounds so simple, but weight loss really is that elementary when you break it down to the core elements that will give you the results you are looking for.

Regarding exercise, I think it's much more important at this point to get your diet right first and then start moving, wiggling, and shaking your body spontaneously as you begin to feel better from improving your health and shedding the pounds. Otherwise, you are causing unnecessary inflammation to build up in your body which is decidedly unhealthy for you.

Think about how you are quantifying your success, too. If it's just the scale and the total pounds you are losing, then that's an extremely shortsighted way to measure it. Instead, think about how you feel, whether your clothes are getting looser, that sudden burst of energy you get during the day, and other tangible changes that you may not have ever noticed before. There's a lot more to weight loss than a stupid machine that goes up and down on a whim! Don't let that scale dictate your attitude about your progress.

Forget about how you look right now because all of that is going to change for the better. IT WILL! I know you are hurting and want to look and feel the best that you can as soon as possible, but you can't let it get you so down in the dumps and depressed that you needlessly give up on this exciting adventure before it even starts. You're stronger than that and you've got a group of people here at the "30-In-30" blog who will stand behind you 100%!

As for your diet, I would definitely cut out the wheat products and find gluten-free ones because that could be hampering with your weight loss since you are allergic. I think people need to find the diet that's right for them and it needs to be something you can do today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your days here on Earth. There is a way for YOU to get healthy and you need to keep trying until you find it.

One of the things that attracted me to the healthy Atkins low-carb nutritional approach is the fact I could eat delicious and satisfying meals and STILL lose weight as well as improve my health problems. Avoiding sugar and starches is a must regardless of the diet plan you choose and getting adequate amounts of heart-healthy fats is critical as well. When you control your blood sugar levels, it seems the rest of your health falls into place, including weight loss.

So, what happened to my health and weight since I started low-carb in 2004? Today I weigh 225 pounds, wear size 38-inch waist pants and XL shirts, take ZERO drugs (and haven't for nearly three years!!!), feel more confident and optimistic about life, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am living a happier, healthier, and longer life than I ever thought was possible for me. Or, as I like to say, I'm Livin' La Vida Low-Carb!

I found my hope and want to share it with others who need it, too! Hang in there and keep pressing forward in your pursuit of weight loss and better health. It is SO worth it when you are finally able to accomplish what was once a seemingly impossible goal. IT CAN BE DONE and I'm here to cheer you on to success. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Do you feel like this person who e-mailed me and wonder if there is any hope left for you? I'd love to hear your story and help you any way that I can. When you feel like giving up is just the time that you were probably ready to experience your greatest breakthrough ever! DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

For those of you who have seen success, share your comments on this subject to uplift and edify those who are struggling. We're all in this together, so you are not alone as you travel on this great weight loss adventure.

Nothing would thrll me more than to see hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands capture the hope of a brighter future and then share it with those in their circle of friends until obesity is just a thing of the past. I'm dreaming, of course, but I am confident it can be done if we all band together. Won't you join me in this effort?

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, encouragement, health, inspiration, Jimmy Moore, low-carb, motivation, obesity, weight loss

Nathan Stanley is an athlete who is gladly livin' la vida low-carb

In Episode 51 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," I have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to another voice of support for the low-carb lifestyle embodied in a man named Nathan Stanley. He is a weightlifting champion who just so happens to go against the failed carb-loading strategy recommended for athletes these days. You'll get to hear a sampling of Nathan's new segment on The Health Hacks Podcast.

Also, I dive right into the subject of obesity and what we are doing to try to slow down the rate at which it is growing in this country. I can tell you this: NOT MUCH IS HAPPENING, but something needs to change. Not surprisingly, I think livin' la vida low-carb is a major part of the answer if the government and health "experts" would simply open their minds to the possibilities. Listen now to hear my impassioned plea for sanity on this important topic of discussion:

When will the message of low-carb finally break through the barriers standing in the way of mainstream acceptance? The science is already there and still coming in droves, but there is still such a stigma attached to livin' la vida low-carb preventing it from being as universally accepted as the low-fat diet. Tell me your thoughts about what you think can be done to turn the tide of public opinion in favor of the low-carb lifestyle.

"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show" is also available by:

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

Please leave your feedback abot Episode 51 and to let us know what you liked or disliked about the show. Is there anything we can do to make it more enjoyable for you as you listen? Many of you have been kind enough to share how much the podcast has meant to you as you are livin' la vida low-carb, so we are grateful to receive your praise as well. :)

Be sure to tune in on Thursday as I air another interview from my trip to the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) obesity conference in Nashville, TN earlier this month. We'll hear from a bariatric physician who will openly share the strategies used to help the overweight and obese get healthy again. You WON'T want to miss it! SEE YA!

Labels: diet, health, Jimmy Moore, low-carb, Nathan Stanley, obesity, podcast, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show

If you need low-carb support, then Dr. Mary C. Vernon is on your side

My trip to Nashville, Tennessee earlier this month for the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) obesity conference has give me plenty of podcast material for the next several months. I will be airing a series of interviews with bariatric physicians across the country to encourage and educate you about what is being done to help the overweight and obese shed the pounds and get healthy.

It was so inspiring to hear from these dedicated and devoted doctors, including the president of ASBP who is helping her patients in Lawrence, Kansas overcome great obstacles in their health, including diabetes and obesity. Her name is Dr. Mary C. Vernon and I was fortunate enough to have her sit down for a 15-minute interview to talk about livin' la vida low-carb.

Listen to our historic Episode 50 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" (50 shows down and many more to come!) from one of the true giants working on the frontlines of real-life application of the low-carb lifestyle with such tremendous results:

There is no more enthusiastic low-carb supporter in the medical community today than Dr. Vernon and her passionate desire to see her patients get healthy is very infectious. This woman exudes confidence because she knows the facts are on her side in the many scientific studies that have and are continuing to pour in about livin' la vida low-carb.

Even my fellow blogger Laura Dolson from About.com's Low-Carb Diets site noticed that while she was there (hey Laura, it was GREAT to meet you at last!). Let me know if you agree with me and Laura that we need more people like Dr. Vernon trumpeting the cause of low-carb to the masses. Share your comments and let me know what you think about this incredible woman.

How can you check out "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show?" It's easy:

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

I hope you are able to listen to all of Episode 50 because Dr. Vernon doesn't hold back. She talks about why she uses low-carb as a starting point for her patients who come to her, where low-carbers can go to find pro-low-carb doctors like herself, and something simple advocates of this way of eating can do to bring about more funding of the scientific studies into low-carb diets. It's all in my interview with her in today's podcast.


Nathan Stanley is another voice of reason in the health debate

Hey, have you seen the newest contributor to the Health Hacks Podcast? His name is Nathan Stanley and is not just a fan of my blog and podcast show, but also a HUGE supporter of livin' la vida low-carb as a nutritional approach. You can listen to his debut podcast about why he as an athlete (high school wrestling coach) chooses low-carb by clicking here.

Labels: diet, Jimmy Moore, low-carb, Mary Vernon, podcast, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show

Episode 49 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" takes a look at an article that was supposed to be honoring the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins for his contribution to the diet debate, but it instead delves deep into the typical low-fat propaganda. Check it out and hear my commentary about this nonsense by listening to today's podcast:

We know and love the lessons that Dr. Atkins taught about carbohydrate restriction as a means for losing weight, controlling diabetes, and getting healthy. But there are still millions more who STILL misunderstand what the Atkins diet is really all about. Columns like this one that appeared in the Los Angeles Times further distort the truth about low-carb living.

In Episode 49, low-fat diet guru Dr. Dean Ornish and some other so-called health "experts" pay homage to Dr. Atkins, but they aren't necessarily giving him kudos for his contributions to health. Of course, you know I'm gonna call them on their bluff and set the record straight! :)

You want more of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show?" Get it by:

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

Why do all these columns that are meant to be positive towards Dr. Atkins have to be tainted with such vile hatred and antagonism towards this remarkable man? Can't we just give credit where credit is due for once? Share your comments about what you think the legacy of this amazing man was on our society.

Stay tuned starting this Thursday for a series of interviews from the American Society Of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) conference in Nashville, Tennessee. We'll start with ASBP President Dr. Mary C. Vernon on Thursday and then feature the rest of the interviews I did this past weekend with an eclectic group of bariatric physicians. It'll be a regular feature on Thursdays until they all have aired. ENJOY!

Labels: Atkins, criticism, Dean Ornish, diet, health, Jimmy Moore, podcast, Robert Atkins, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show

Hey everybody and welcome to weigh-in day on the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge. Have you had a good week? I sure hope so and encourage you to share how you are feeling this week about your progress. YOU'RE DOING GREAT! Keep at it and NEVER give up. :)

I came across this USA Today story that features a brand new survey about what we think about diet and weight loss. There are lessons we can learn from each other to bring about the highly-coveted success we all desire so much we can taste it. And yet only a few ever attain it.

What the survey found is something I blogged about last week. We lose a little weight, start feeling great, think things will be different this time, but then the stall comes along ruins it all. Self-sabotage and unfulfilled expectations will drive your diet crazy!

The Opinion Research Corporation survey of 2,058 adults that appeared in Consumer Reports magazine on Monday found that four in ten people are trying to lose an average of 40 pounds. If they join my "30-In-30" challenge, then they'll get there by the end of the year and well on their way to their eventual goal.

Three-fourths believe they can do it and should keep that positive attitude even when the going gets tough. Almost everyone (85 perrcent) have been able to lose weight before, but they somehow gave up on the plan despite their success.

Interestingly, close to half of all women (47 percent) and over one-third of men (34 percent) are trying to get fit. Two-thirds are doing it on their own by watching what goes into their mouth while getting ample amount of physical activity. But the weight loss is right in line with what we encourage here at "30-In-30"--5 pounds a month over three months.

That's MORE than a pound-a-week average.

So, where does the disconnect come into play that causes people to diet, get discouraged, and fail, diet, get discouraged, and fail...UGH! A Pew Research study noted in the story from last April may explain.

That survey of 2,250 adults indicated that people are wanting to lose 29 pounds on average. And many lose as much as 10 percent of their starting weight within 3-6 months. When I started the Atkins diet in 2004, I lost 10 percent of my weight that year (180 pounds total) in less than three weeks!

Of course, I lost over 100 pounds by the end of four months, which was more than half of my total weight loss. All was going along so well, but then that weight loss just wouldn't budge for TEN WEEKS IN A ROW!!! Did I pitch a fit and give up? Most people do, as this survey indicates. But that's why people get stuck in dieting Hell!

Here's my advice to you: keep at it, don't quit, and you'll soon be fit!

That's it! It's really no harder than that. A friend of mine from church is livin' la vida low-carb right now and has hit a stall. She asked me on Sunday what to do and I told her not to change a thing. Just act like everything is going fine, put the scale away for a month or so, and smile your way to success!

Yes, the power of positivity is not a myth, it can indeed help you. Although the story claims "it's difficult to lose weight and keep it off because all the factors that made you heavy to begin with are still there," I'm just not buying that. If you make permanent lifestyle changes in your diet and habits, then you CAN lose weight and keep it off forever.

That's exactly what I've been doing since I lost my weight in 2004 and I'm still successful in 2007. How have I done it? I found the plan for me and I've stuck with it. Endurance when everyone else is quitting will set you apart, too. NEVER give up, baby, just NEVER EVER give up! I'm here to root you on to success, so make me proud. :D

Share your comments about perseverance and what keeps you going when you feel like quitting. Let me know what you think and don't forget to check in with your weight loss update.

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, diet, encouragement, inspiration, low-carb, motivation, success, weight loss

As important as the studies, research, and hard evidence behind livin' la vida low-carb are, I am convinced that real-life stories of people who have overcome weight and health problems can be a much more powerful tool for helping others with similar issues. Especially in what has become a hostile environment about the low-carb diet over the past few years, these kind of positive anecdotal examples are increasingly becoming more important.

That's one explanation for why my blog has continued to grow in readership every quarter since I started it in April 2005. People see me as a former 400-pound man who lost nearly 200 pounds as an inspiration that shows them they can do it, too. There are lots of people living their low-carb life who have overcome some truly incredible health obstacles.

One such example is the following e-mail I received from a woman who has chosen the Atkins nutritional approach. It's the most unbelievable and riveting story I've ever seen of what one woman was able to overcome thanks to livin' la vida low-carb. Prepare to be encouraged and inspired like nothing you have come across before.

Here's the e-mail from my remarkable reader:

Hi Jimmy,

I read your blog every day and I'm amazed by your commitment and strength. I want to tell you my story. If you think it will help others, then please, share my story with them.

Seven years ago, I had intestinal surgery. The surgery went fine, but the day before I was to be released from the hospital, I fell into a coma due to a staph infection in the surgical incision. I stopped breathing, my kidneys failed, the wound was left to heal (if I lived) from the inside out and Mom was planning my funeral.

Well, I lived. But I came out of that hospital a train wreck. I was already diabetic from repeated gall bladder attacks that hadn't been properly treated (can we say "Managed Care"?). I needed dialysis, I had a colonoscopy (later repaired) and could barely walk.

Fortunately, I received a kidney transplant (living donor) six months later. But after the transplant I was put on Prednisone and gained 50 pounds in two months. I'm only 5'3" and going from 120 pounds to, eventually, 180 pounds was horrifying. I've had a weight problem all my life, but it had been under control.

After a year, one of my legion of doctors intimidated the Prednisone-prescribing doctor to take me off it. Then I had hope of loosing the the weight. I was doing everything I possibly could to regain my health, so I dieted using the low-fat, low-calorie model that was recommended by just about everyone.

After nine months, I'd only lost 15 pounds and I was frustrated and HUNGRY. There had to be another way.

Pretty soon, I found the Atkins diet. The problem was that everyone knew that if you did Atkins, your kidneys would fall out. Did I dare take the risk?

OK, I did. But it was, like, my dirty little secret. Can't you just hear what people would have said, knowing about my kidney transplant, if they knew what I was doing? The only thing I had to support me was that my monthly blood tests that monitor my transplant were improving.

Now, I'm six plus years out from the transplant, I'm in excellent health and Atkins is my way of life. My lipids and blood glucose numbers are great, I'm back to my healthy weight of 120 and, while I'm in my mid-fifties, I have lots more energy than many of the people around me.

I'm completely convinced that Atkins is a very healthy way to eat and, what's more, so are my doctors. They've witnessed that dramatic improvement in my health and all of them encourage me to keep doing what I'm doing.

I'm sending this e-mail to you because of your compassion for people who want better health. I hope that someone will see this and realize that no matter how desperate their situation may be, they shouldn't be afraid of trying this way of life or, for that matter, whatever way of life they think could benefit them.

Thanks for everything you do, Jimmy, and for being a shining example of the human spirit.

All I can say is WOW! That's an awesome story that I sincerely hope will give hope to those who feel they are hopeless. This shows me that no matter where you are in your life, it's never too late to start livin' la vida low-carb for your health. It saved this woman's life and mine, too!

How about you? Do you have a compelling low-carb story you'd like to share? E-mail it to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Labels: Atkins, diet, health, healthy, inspiration, low-carb, motivation

There's a common mentality as it relates to weight loss that is probably the single-biggest reason why people are unable to reach their goal weight. I have gone through it many times over the course of my life and it is what has prevented me from being the ultimate success that I have now become.

What is this mysterious reason why weight loss fails so often?

I think it all comes down to expectations. When you start livin' la vida low-carb or any diet plan, there are certain markers that you set for yourself either arbitrarily or by design. Regardless, we believe a certain set of events must happen to give us affirmation in our newfound journey or we're ready to throw in the towel.

Can I just say how incredibly silly that kind of thinking is?!

For example, let's say you start the Atkins diet today and two weeks later you ONLY lost 10 pounds when you expected to lose 20. Are you disappointed? Many would be which is the heart of the problem I'm talking about today.

Another thing that happens is you lose 15, 25, even 50 pounds and then the weight loss just stops. Yeah, welcome to the club! That's gonna happen, so you just have to be prepared for it.

Unfortunately, some people like to use this as an excuse to just give up. UGH! Why would you do that just because that little machine known as the scale doesn't do what you want?

Check out this e-mail I received from a reader who felt this way:

I have been doing low-carb for several years now. I had already lost 60 pounds, but then gained about 20 back after Hurricane Katrina hit in my area.

I have recently lost those 20 pounds, but now I am at a standstill. I have been doing the Induction phase for awhile now and did not move on to Ongoing Weight Loss because of the slow intial weight loss.

Whenever I have done Induction before over two weeks, I've always lost 12-15 pounds. Now, I do it and only lose 5 pounds at the very most.

I am counting my carbs and suddenly find myself just not eating anything anymore because my weight is not going anywhere. I even workout three times a week.

Any suggestions? This is all making me feel like giving up. Low-carb used to work so well for me, but sometimes I feel like my body has become used to low-carb. Maybe I need to switch to something else. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you so much for writing and you are not the first repeat low-carber who has seemed to have a harder time losing weight the second time around than the first. Some say it's the "one golden shot" theory, but I don't buy into that. If you've lost weight on low-carb before, then you can do it again.

By all means, if your weight loss is not happening at the same rate, DON'T start eating less. That will actually make the problem worse because you'll be even more hungry and irritable. My suggestion is to keep your carbs at Induction level (20g daily) and just keep doing that with a cheerful heart as if everything is working well.

Commit to do that for 45 days and don't give in to the temptation to cheat or even weigh yourself for the entire time. I know it'll be hard to resist, but you must. What's the payoff? At the end of that 45-day period, you will have lost weight and inches while gaining a newfound appreciation for this way of eating.

If you feel good and are enjoying this lifestyle change, then there's no reason why you would ever go back to another way of eating ever again. Now GO FOR IT!!!

Perhaps you feel like it's not fair when your weight loss slows or stops. Think about this: AT LEAST YOU'RE NOT GAINING! And that is a VERY good thing that you should celebrate. Plus, weight loss isn't everything...how your clothes fit, how you feel, your general state of mind, etc. are critical parts of the diet equation, too. Don't neglect them just because you stall.

It's time to stop lying to yourself and start losing weight. When you think of weight loss as a journey of choice, there's no reason to quit just because you have a few days or weeks of no weight loss. I went 10 weeks in a row during my weight loss when the scale just stopped moving down!

The good news is I remained focused and was adamant I was NOT gonna give up no matter what obstacles were gonna come my way. Heck, I had already LOST a lot of weight, so why would I suddenly start complaining because the weight loss ceased. What a tragic ending that would have been to an eventual 180-pound weight loss success in one year. It would have never happened if I had quit like so many people do.

Word of advice: DON'T DO THAT!

Gotta question about your low-carb journey that's bugging you? Send me an e-mail at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Labels: Atkins, diet, encouragement, low-carb, motivation, stall, weight loss

Continuing in the same vein as the previous podcast, Episode 48 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" today discusses the accountability that comes from having an open weight loss:

In Episode 48, you get to hear how being a contestant in a radio weight loss contest helped keep me on my weight loss plan because I wanted to win it more than anything. It was my primary catalyst for sticking with the plan and I encourage anyone who wants to attain weight loss success to tell the whole world of their desire to shed the pounds.

Want more ways to check out my podcast? You can by:

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

Have you tried livin' la vida low-carb in your own little shell and wonder why you haven't been successful? Or have you shouted it from the mountaintops and even created a blog or something to show everyone you are serious about losing weight for good? Tell us how that's working for you and whether you think it's been a good strategy.

Don't miss Monday's podcast when I pay tribute to the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins and the lasting legacy he has left on our culture as it relates to carbohydrate restriction. It's gonna be a goodie! SEE YA THEN! :)

Labels: 30-in-30, accountability, Jimmy Moore, podcast, The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show, weight loss

Hey everyone and thanks for checking in at the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge on this Teeeerrrrific Tuesday. I had several BRAND NEW people e-mail me this week to let me know they have just joined. I welcome them and anyone else to check in who is participating in this challenge and want to lose at least one pound a week over 30 weeks. Simply post your comments (anonymously if you would like) at the end of this post.

When it comes to being on the low-carb lifestyle or really any diet for that matter, you have to fight the nagging tendency to allow your plan to become so monotonous and predictable that it becomes booooorrrrrrriiinnng! Many of the opponents of low-carb especially try to discourage people from trying this way of eating by scaring them into thinking they'll be bored.

What a crock!

That's about the lamest excuse for NOT doing low-carb that these antagonists have yet to come up with. Their thinking is people on the low-carb life are stuck eating meat, cheese and eggs all day. While eating that way is certainly one way to low-carb, most of us who make low-carb our healthy lifestyle change eat a few more foods than that.

So how do you keep the low-carb diet from being so boring that you feel like ditching it for good? The answer is simple, my good friends. You just don't allow it to bore you stiff. Sounds too easy, doesn't it? But it's a lot more elementary than people make it out to be. Let me show you.

When you think of breakfast while low-carbing, most people just automatically assume you must eat eggs. These are an amazing protein-packed way to start your low-carb day (and I could eat them everyday for many days in a row and not get tired of them with melted cheese on top and a touch of pepper...man, that hits the spot!), but you have other foods to enjoy, too--fresh strawberries or cantaloupe, a low-carb bar like GoLower or Atkins, a protein shake, a ham and cheese wrap, and so much more.

The sky is the limit when it comes to keeping the variety in your low-carb lifestyle. You might even try a low-carb cookbook like Judy Barnes Baker's wonderful brand new Carb Wars book to see creative ways to make the high-carb foods you love into delicious low-carb dishes. Also check out the cookbooks from Dana Carpender, Karen Rysavy, and Jan McCracken.

People have been begging me to write a low-carb cookbook because there is this natural urge spice up the low-carb life with something different. Fighting boredom and beating it will breed low-carb diet success. It is what helped me lose nearly 200 pounds and then keep it off forever. If I was bored, then there's no way the weight would stay off.

Here's something easy you can do to help create the menus that will spice up your low-carb life: grab yourself a pen and paper to write down a full list of all the low-carb foods you like. And don't write meat, cheese and eggs. Think really hard and make sure the foods are indeed low-carb. If you need a suggested list, then read any of the many wonderful low-carb books that are out there.

My list includes but is not limited to almonds, eggs, chicken, beef, turkey, American cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, high-fiber low-carb wraps, spinach leaves, Ranch dressing, mayonaisse, salmon, sugar-free pickle relish, butter, ChocoPerfection chocolate bars, GoLower bars, shrimp, green beans, cauliflower, stevia, Splenda, pepperoni, blueberries...I could literally go on and on.

The point is for you to write out all the low-carb foods that you do like so you can keep those foods on hand at all times. Mix and match your favorites so that you'll never feel like you're stuck with some diet that's gonna leave you bored stiff again. If you stock up on your faves, then there's no reason you'll ever lose the pizzazz in your low-carb life.

How do you keep your low-carb lifestyle from getting old and crusty? Variety is what infuses new life into your diet and what will help bring you the amazing low-carb weight loss success you cherish so much. Share your comments and let us know what keeps it all fresh for you.

Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, diet, inspiration, low-carb, motivation, success, weight loss