Sometimes an interesting discussion will happen within the context of the comments on other blog posts that warrant a brand new column dedicated to that topic. Such is the case today from one of my regular readers named Katy. I like the fact that she isn’t afraid to share her opinions and I welcome even dissenting voices like hers to share what they are thinking so we can all benefit from what they have to say.
Katy first began posting her disdain for what the participants in Isabeau Miller’s FitCamp last month were doing in these comments to one of my videos where she stated how much she was “dismayed by this focus on intense exercise to lose weight.” She believed that all of us were being pushed to pain and made to push harder through it all for the purposes of weight loss and that this was no way to do it. But Katy wasn’t there with me and the ladies of FitCamp to see when Isabeau made some of us sit out and get some sleep or backing off on the intensity of the workouts to prevent overtraining.
Her basic premise in all of her comments on the various videos was that exercise is not an effective means for losing weight and that my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog has never touted doing exercise as a way for people to shed the pounds. Of course, Katy would be wrong because not only have I blogged about how much cardiovascular exercise I did in 2004 during my 180-pound weight loss (see my posts here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, for just a few examples), but I also wrote an entire chapter of my book about it. You can disagree that it’s the best way to create weight loss, but you cannot deny the fact that it was an instrumental part of MY success four years ago.
With that said, I wanted to share the latest comment Katy left to this blog post I recently wrote about another FitCamp opportunity coming in October that contained quite a few errors that needed to be corrected. I’ll give Katy the benefit of the doubt that she is simply making a lot of assumptions based on what she believes the truth is. That’s okay and I don’t fault her because I know she has good intentions. But this could not go unanswered.
Here’s what Katy wrote:
I’ll admit I’ve been “confused” by the sudden flood of contradictory messages put forth here by ol’ Jimmy in the last month:
Before FitCamp…
1) JIMMY has made many proclamations over the years that carbs are bad and unnecessary, even for world-class endurance athletes, as to be expected on a site such as LLVLC.
2) JIMMY has denigrated the approach of Dean Ornish, Mr. Low Fat, as being unhealthful (to put it mildly).
3) JIMMY has featured a number of low carb advocates and experts who have expressed the opinion that exercise does not help people lose weight through calorie burning (Gary Taubes?).
4) JIMMY has featured a number of low carb advocates and experts who have warned about the downside of excessive exercise on the body (Remember Fred Hahn? Dr. Mike Eades?).
Jimmy then goes to FitCamp…
1) JIMMY begins to include bread and fruit to help him through the workouts because he’s dizzy (electrolyte imbalance?).
2) JIMMY is participating at a camp where counting calories and low fat foods are emphasized (strawberries are only 2 calories each…).
3) JIMMY works out “like a madman” at a camp where burning lots of calories through intensive exercise is stressed (one estimate was 6,000), and responds to criticism with “If you don’t agree with this method for losing weight, then don’t do it. I can tell you that FitCamp is a combination of BOTH cardio and strength training which is a VERY good way to get healthy and lose weight.” Note the “lose weight” part.
4) JIMMY works out for 4-6 hours per day and proclaims it GOOD! (at this level, I don’t think it matters if it’s a strength training and cardio mix).
As Jimmy likes to say, HUH?! Is it OK for Jimmy to alter his course, change his mind, or explore other avenues of getting fit and losing weight? OF COURSE! But there is a big difference between WANTING to push yourself to the limits of your capabilities and believing that you NEED to in order to become fit. If the participants got what they wanted out of their FitCamp experience, GREAT. My message has been simple: it is NOT necessary, nor advisable, for overweight, beginning exercisers to workout for 4-6 hours a day. I truly thought that the NO PAIN, NO GAIN philosophy had been put to rest by fitness experts a long, long time ago. Just call me perplexed (I think I have just a touch of whiplash…).
I made a quick response to Katy’s criticisms of me below her comments at that post. But after further reflection on what she had to say, I just had to correct her on some major flaws in her reasoning and on the assumptions she made about my FitCamp experience.
First, nothing is conflicting about my current philosophy and my philosophy pre-FitCamp. I’m the same guy writing about the same things I did before with only a slightly new and better perspective. If we ever stop learning, then that’s when we stop thinking, stop growing, stop the progress we’ve made to get where we are today. I’m not about to let that happen to me or this blog.
Second, while I have often stated low-fat is an unhealthy way for ME and many others to eat, I’ve always maintained the mantra that people should find what works for them, follow that plan exactly, and then never stop doing it for the rest of their lives. If that’s low-fat, even Dr. Ornish’s version of it, then knock yourself out. It’s quite monolithic of anyone to tell someone there’s just one diet that will work for them and nothing else. For me and you, Katy, that’s low-carb, but others may benefit from some other way of eating.
Third, while I love and respect the work that Gary Taubes put forth in his book Good Calories, Bad Calories, that doesn’t mean I buy his hypothesis about cardio exercise. I know for me in 2004, it was all that cardio that helped me shed the weight as quickly as I did in conjunction with my low-carb lifestyle and I don’t regret it one bit. However, what I do regret and stated as much in my book is that I didn’t add in strength training to my routine sooner. The bottom line is FitCamp got me excited about doing regular cardio exercise again where I had allowed it to slip off the radar for me in the past year. I just feel better when I exercise…weight loss or not.
Fourth, I wouldn’t call 1-2 hours of exercise, especially when it is combined with strength training like I incorporate, as “excessive exercise.” During FitCamp we went upwards of 4-6 hours a day for a period of time to get us used to this kind of exercising experience. And many of those ladies were doing next to NOTHING prior to that. Most people don’t do nearly ENOUGH for their bodies, so this was a “crash” course in learning more about it. Yes, Isabeau and Jacob rested us when we needed to be rested from being overtrained which you would know if you watched my FitCamp videos. Even now that I’m back home, I listen to my body and take it easy when I need to. It’s quite presumptuous of anyone to pretend to know what is going on in my head if you’re not me. I’m doing this for ME and nobody else for my own personal reasons–of which weight loss may or may not be the goal.
Fifth, I added some low-carb bread and low-glycemic fruit to my diet during FitCamp because I was getting some MAJOR dizziness during some relatively easy exercises. If eating some strawberries or honeydew melon makes that go away, then I’m content with consuming them. In fact, I’ve continued eating melon prior to my spin class or workouts with my personal trainer back home because it helps. Even Dr. Atkins said these fruits are perfectly fine for low-carbers to eat on his diet. And, after all, they’re REAL FOOD, so I don’t understand what the fuss is all about.
Sixth, while Isabeau’s diet plan for the FitCampers included some lower-fat offerings, she respected my wishes to stay on my high-fat, low-carb plan and I did. My calorie requirement during my two-week stint there was 2500 calories a day–right where I have been trying to keep it usually and not too chintzy if you ask me! I enjoyed eating my foods which included butter, mayo, full-fat meats, cheeses, nuts, salad greens, etc. Go back and read my menus blog during those two weeks. I wasn’t suffering eating anything low-fat or low-calorie at all.
Seventh, while I didn’t lose any weight during FitCamp, I still lost 14 inches off of my body while gaining some invaluable lessons along the way. Something happened as a result of that experience and that something would seem to be muscle growth. You know, Katy, from reading my blog this year about how I’ve been dealing with a rather odd blood sugar/insulin issue that I’ve been to see a low-carb specialist doctor about. We’re still dealing with it, so your insensitivity to my situation is quite regrettable. Under normal circumstances, most anyone would have lost weight doing what I did at FitCamp. In fact, ALL of my fellow FitCampers DID lose an average of about 10 pounds and 13 inches in the two weeks they were there. Not too shabby for a plan you seem to be universally dismissing as useless and irrelevant.
Finally, the 4-6 hours of cardio/strength training/circuit training mix was only TEMPORARY–now that we’re back home, most of the FitCampers are getting in anywhere from 30-90 minutes a day since they have the skills and knowledge from going through this experience. That’s the purpose of FitCamp and it did the trick for me personally–I haven’t wanted to stop exercising since being home. I have missed this part of my health routine in the four years since my initial weight loss and I’m grateful to Isabeau Miller and her FitCamp for lighting that fire in me again.
I’m sorry you’re “perplexed” about all of this, Katy, but I see nothing but benefits from this entire FitCamp experience I went through in August. THANK YOU as always for your opinions and I welcome the opinions of others to share their thoughts about what you have said and my response.
Hi Jimmy, and Katy-
Wow! I never could have imagined my fitcamps would be such a cause for controversy, but I feel like there have definitely been some incorrect assumptions, some of which even coming from the fitcampers themselves.
Contrary to many peoples’ beliefs, I did not create this camp for people to lose weight. A little known thing about me- in college, I lost 90 lbs on my own, going low-carb and exercising only an hour a day- no higher than level 4 on the elliptical, with little to no strength training. So, I would never disagree with the idea that you CAN lose weight the slow and steady way, and you certainly don’t need to be working out 4-6 hours a day for months (nor should you be).
True, many of my campers signed up for the program because of the promise of losing anywhere from 5-20 lbs, in a 2 week period. The reason I can promise this is because of the SEVERAL factors that are involved in weight loss. An immediate, significant WEIGHT loss WILL happen if you go from eating processed, salty foods, to eating clean, low-sodium foods combined with sweating 4 hours a day. MOST of the weight we all lose initially is water weight. That is why I tell my fitcampers, the focus is on the inches, and always should be.
However, getting back to the point- the 4-6 hours a day, for the most part ended up being 3-5 (the most we EVER worked out in one day was 5 hours) included lots of different activities, only some of which you got to see. We did drills, we walked on an incline (difficult, yes, but NOT high intensity), we swam, we went to spin classes, zumba classes, pilates classes, etc. The program I run is 2-pronged as far as exercise is concerned:
Week 1 is about taking my campers (some of which truly do not believe they are even CAPABLE of exercise) and pushing them beyond their limits in a safe and controlled environment. There is not one minute where they are not being monitored, or where they wouldn’t be immediately told to stop if we felt they truly should not be participating. But the thing is, most of my campers do not KNOW their limits. Most PEOPLE don’t- myself included. When I train by myself, I will put the stair stepper at level 10 to do sprints. When I train with Jacob, we max it out. It’s not that I couldnt do it on my own, its that I don’t BELIEVE I can do it on my own. So, the first week is about showing not only can you do 4 hours of exercise, but you can do these things you’ve been making excuses for- running, jumping, lifting weights, etc. Though all of these things seem “masochistic” when doing high intensity exercises, the drills would never last longer than a half hour and then be followed by lower intensity cardio to keep heart rates up. So, the first week is about empowerment.
The second week is a different story. The second week the reason the length of the exercise program stays up at 4 hours is because I want to expose my campers to as many different options as humanly possible. Before Biggest Loser, I had NO idea the things you could do with your body that didn’t require being bored and parked on a machine for an hour at a time. I HATED exercise because there was NOTHING exciting, fun or stimulating about it at all, and in that mind, it’s the reason a lot of us quit. So, week 2, we did a lot more things OFF the treadmill- We went outside and ran around playing games (something EVERYONE can do, without leaving home, finding a babysitter, etc), we went swimming (which, again, was hard, but SUPER low intensity and easy on the joints), we went to spin classes which many of my campers had been previously intimidated to join and left being “spin addicts”, we did zumba and made complete idiots out of ourselves, but shared an experience we could later laugh about. Come to think about it, I don’t think after week one, the campers spent ONE of their sessions with ME doing ANYTHING related to a treadmill, bike or ellptical and there was a reason for that.
No, this camp was not developed for weight loss, though I knew it would result in that. I think my greatest regret about the experience Jimmy generously shared with you all is that you didn’t get to see the moments that MADE fitcamp. You got to see the bones of it, but not the soul. Fitcamp is NOT about the scale, or the workouts, or the food. I am completely aware as someone that will always struggle with their weight and be a food addict that what works for one person might not work for another. But fitcamp is about finding yourself. We all get so bogged down with what society tells us we’re capable of. I mean, listen, I LOVE Jimmy and his blog, and greatly appreciate him sharing his journey and know this is a forum of sorts for his readers, but instead of taking the time to listen to what WE are and what works for US we are seeking OUT forums like this. Fitcamp is not about my fitcampers listening only to me and doing what I tell them to do. It’s about them allowing me to say for a few days “Listen, you’ve lost track of what you know about yourself deep down- that you ARE capable, that you ARE strong, that you ARE beautiful, that you ARE worthy, and you CAN do anything you put your mind to” and ultimately, the hope is that they internalize that. Sometimes they do (which most or many of them have), and sometimes they don’t, but as someone who has lost their OWN sense of self countless times (INCLUDING while on the BL) I can say that the value in this program is not the drills we run the body through, but everything in between. It’s about learning that pain is a temporary condition and a side effect to a treatment you are giving your body. Let me tell you this, I know EVERYDAY when I arrived my campers were sore and tired. But they were all always READY. Even when their bodies were ready to rest, their spirits were not, and many of them had had the opposite problem for a long time- They knew in their mind they wanted better lives, but couldn’t figure out how to get there.
I know there will be plenty of nay-sayers, and I am not trying to defend myself, my program, anything. I knew allowing Jimmy to come and film his experience was a risk, and there were a lot of great things that came out of it, and of course some negativity as well. I’m not saying I’M perfect- I know I’m not, you know I’m not. I’m not saying I’ve found the magic weight loss answer and let’s go patent it (obviously I wouldn’t have gained back some of my BIggest Loser lbs if I did). BUT what I am saying is during Biggest Loser, you all got to see my physical transformation. However, the transformation that means more to ME is the fact that I am not afraid of ANYTHING anymore, and that is the goal of fitcamp: To be unafraid of the physical- knowing you survived such an intensive program, and not only lived through it, but THRIVED because of it. To be unafraid of the emotional- knowing that you FINALLY had to look yourself and your fears in the mirror because someone else was making you. To be unafraid to ASK FOR HELP- because really, how many truly want to admit they have a problem they cannot control on their own. And to be unafraid to LIVE- no matter how many bumps in the road you hit, no matter how many lessons you must learn, knowing that if you work hard, keep the faith, and KNOW YOURSELF you can really, truly, as cliche as it sounds, do ANYTHING.
I am beyond proud of my fitcampers that I had over the summer and what they did in the two weeks they were with me. But more than that, I am proud when I get an email from Jimmy telling me he tried a new yoga class because he wasn’t intimidated by it. When I get an email from someone else telling me they’re leaving their dead-end job and finally moving away from home. When I get an email from someone else telling me the life they were once afraid they wouldn’t figure out still remains unsolved, but they’ve accepted the beauty in that. When I get an email from a girl that never believed she was worthy to have a decent relationship telling me she finally asked a guy out and he said yes. I mean, THAT is why I do fitcamp.
Perhaps, if anything, this has taught me that “Fitcamp” is not the appropriate title for this because of all the assumptions that come with it. Its not about being skinny, being perfect, losing weight at Biggest Loser levels. It’s just about learning how to live again. Maybe “Lifecamp” will come in 2009
WOW! This is soooo good. Finally, someone who gets it!
To take from this experience the tools to improve many aspects of one’s life….that’s precious.
Jimmy, I have noticed how you have “grown” since the fitcamp experience. It is easy to see what an impact that has made. When we become more whole, it becomes less of a problem to deal with an issue such as losing weight or eating well.
This is good stuff.
I think that was very well said Jimmy.
I did see some of the comments before about ‘people shouldn’t exercise to lose weight’….or ‘that shouldn’t be there goal, they should just exercise anyway’ and i did have a slight problem with that.
There is a ‘fat’ problem in this country…period. And I don’t see it going away any time soon, in fact, the numbers are rising on the scales around America as I type this. I’m no expert and I never claimed to be BUT i do know that exercise = weight loss and there’s nothing wrong with that….EVER! and if you want to bring some more facts in the mix, EXERCISE=LESS RISK OF CANCER, LESS RISK OR HEART ATTACK AND STROKES, LESS RISK OF HEART DISEASE, LESS RISK OF CIRCULATION PROBLEMS AND ARTHRITIS…..SHALL I GO ON?! i could post a study but i have a feeling this is going to be long anyway. let’s just sum it up with BETTER OVERALL HEALTH, in a nutshell.
if you truly want to be the healthiest you can be, you will exercise. you will find a diet, and by diet i mean a ‘lifestyle of eating’, that works for you, and you will go to the gym, go for walks, swim, run, pick up some weights, or do whatever you physically are able to, to stay healthy and ultimately keep your weight to a minimum.
i agree with you Jimmy totally about there is NOT a one way street here. I’ve been most successful at losing weight when I did consume less calories and exercised by doing something that I enjoyed doing. In the past that’s been aerobics classes and weight training but these days, just going to the gym for some elliptical time and weights or running on the track make me happy.
When i first got to fitcamp and we ran, i literally felt like i was going to die b/c it felt as though when i ran someone was sitting on my chest, pressing down as hard as they could. after a week of running and doing all those other things, my lungs were feeling like they were the happiest organs in the world!
we ran those parking lot suicides again and again and both times i felt like a million bucks afterwards. i was smiling and i had actually learned how to control my breathing. it was a WONDERFUL….GRATEFUL feeling.
i’m 28 years old and there’s no excuses! there’s no way i shouldn’t be exercising or that i shouldn’t have any goals about exercising related to weight loss.
i went for months and i couldn’t get a grip on my life health wise and i finally decided that if the challenge of fitcamp got me there, then that’s what i was willing to do. not to mention, i’m the one that sat on my growing tush and did NOTHING about my expanding waste-line and gained a whopping 50lbs! i will always stand by the belief that exercise is key, even if you’re disabled in a certain way or have limits at first b/c of your weight that’s out of control.
like most things, weight loss is a marathon, NOT a sprint!!! it takes time to get the weight off but when you do, you gotta keep moving!!!
and yes, as i have said and tried to add to a few of katy’s comments, fitcamp wasn’t about weight loss although, as Jimmy said up there, we all lost at least 10 lbs or more in the 2 weeks we were there. you have to take into consideration that all we did was eat, sleep and workout so i don’t think that’s extreme in that case.
right now i’m unemployed b/c we recently moved so my husband could go to law school. i have been working out about 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day and i can tell you that my body loves me for it and so does my heart that could possibly beat a little longer b/c i’ve decided to take care of it. i also don’t think it would kill me if i added even more exercise in the mix while i have so much free time on my hands.
also at fitcamp, no one got hurt doing anything. when jimmy got dizzy, for whatever reasons, that he and his doctor are working on, he took a break. when michelle irritated her achilles heel, which mind you was ALREADY hurt previously before fitcamp, she wasn’t allowed to do much of anything for about 2 days. as Jimmy also said in a few blogs, me, Jimmy, and Rose were told to sit out one day and sleep b/c Isabeau said we looked ‘drained’ and she could tell we were just worked to the core.
So in saying all of that and in everything you have said Jimmy, i have come to the conclusion that fellow commenter katy, just wants to be critical. even when the evidence and witnesses speak, that’s not good enough.
every comment i have read from her has had nothing that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and my question is why?!
why can’t you be happy that we have done something that has bettered our lives?! it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it, you don’t have to. as i believe my husband pointed out, you don’t have to worry if you think Isabeau is as you said ‘fat’ and not capable of her job b/c you didn’t go to fitcamp and you didn’t pay for the experience. and honestly, i’m sorry you didn’t. as we all have said a dozen or so times, Isabeau is a great trainer and quite capable of what she is doing. If you’re holding appearance against her b/c she isn’t the toothpick you would need to train with to make you feel better about where your money was going, then that’s your loss. Since you don’t know her, I advise keeping your speculations about her to yourself.
in saying that, i must say that to me fitcamp was like therapy for the ‘physically determined’ or ‘the lost overweight’. each one of us have found joy in our health again and in ourselves….and there will always be the critics that hate that. there will always be those to rain on the parade and eat all the cotton candy, not that we would eat that anyway.
i mean, really, Isabeau lost and maintained 93lbs….let me repeat, 93lbs!!! that’s A LOT of sweat and tears and A LOT of days of being uncomfortable and i will NEVER bad mouth her for that, even if i had never met her. and you know what else, i don’t need to know all the ends and outs of that show, all the upsetting and crazy details. i know those people worked out and they sweat and that IS how the bulk of their weight came off. PERIOD.
we don’t need to call in the experts for that, even though they would have something negative to say i’m sure.
that’s the sermon, i’m done. there’s really nothing left to say here except I FEEL GREAT every day i get up and i know i’m being the BEST me i can be. my body thanks me every day by my back pain that has ceased since going to fitcamp (i have pinched nerves in my back from a job i use to work) and the siatic nerve pain that has also disappeared. that’s all the evidence that i need that exercise is NEVER a bad thing! NEVER! and i think all of my fitcampers would agree!!!!
thanks for your words Jimmy! i think you covered your point well:)
kim
oh and p.s……i think all the exercise you’re doing is awesome!!! if you didn’t get that from all my ranting!!!
I’M PROUD OF YOU:);)
Wow. I think that Jimmy and Isabeau said it all very well. I do agree that Lifecamp would be a more fitting title for the truly wonderful and fullfilling time that we spent with Isabeau and Jacob. I have continued on with my clean eating and exercise (more moderately than in Nashville).
As the oldest member of the group, I assumed that my age would keep me from doing the level of exercise required. I was wrong. I didn’t have the slightest idea how strong my body and spirit are. This experience proved to me that I can do lots more than I ever thought I could. It also allowed me to understand that the only thing that holds me back is me.
Several of the other fitcampers have had the same feelings. All the way through the hardest parts of the exercises, Isabeau asked us “Why are you here?” I asked myself that during my spin class this morning. It really helps to focus.
My goal is to never let myself slip back into the routine of being unaware of what is happening with my mind and body. It is so easy to come up with excuses to be unhealthy. It’s easier to drive thru and pick up something quick because we lack time or energy to plan and cook healthy meals. It’s hard to make time to exercise or even take a walk in the evening rather than sit and watch TV.
But we each have to believe that we are worth it. It doesn’t matter what approach you take to get healthy as long as it is a healthy approach and not some crazy fad. Each of us must find our own way. There is no “one size fits all” or “miracle diet”. What works is simple math. More calories burned than consumed. Every body needs enough calories for fuel. And the quality of the fuel makes a huge difference in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.
I didn’t plan on making this a book, so I will stop rambling on now. Once again, Jimmy and Isabeau said it all very well.
Hi All,
I was a Fitcamper for 2 weeks in August, and I had the most positive experience. From the beginning of my journey to become healthier, I’ve included exercise into my schedule, along with low carb dieting to begin with. Atkins Specifically. Over the latter months of the past 1.5 years, my weight loss had slowed, but my focus to get healthier had not. Mantaining the focus is sometime hard and in the past has been the spiraling demon that ended my efforts and my success.
When I read about the Fitcamp being offered, I had some hesitation about entering/signing up for 4-6 hours a day of training, but then I decided, it was something I wanted to do and did not let my fear of what I could do keep me from trying. I had been doing water aerobics for about a year at that point and knew my fitness level was better than it was year before, so I thought maybe, just maybe I could handle it.
The biggest thing besides the friendships made at the camp, was my walking away knowing that I can do ANYTHING I put my mind to doing. Isabeau is so right about some of us walking away with an addiction to spin classes. It still amazes people when they see me enter the spin class, but I stay with it and before I know it I’ve done the class and am cooling down. A lot of this I attribute to Isabeau’s training and her ability to work with us at what ever level we needed, but never not working us to our fullest extent. She and Jacob were both great on that issue. One day I had gotten bad news while I was there, and Jacob was great about getting everyone else going and then making sure I was fine. Having trainers that care about the person whole self is important and these two really do.
As for me, I am still trying to keep my carbs lower than the norm, adding only “real foods” back into my diet, such as grass fed beef, organic chicken and turkey, and yes more fruits and veggies including Kale. I even had Kale tonight. My exercise routines are much more varied than they were before and I now am doing spin classes, Powerlift Classes, “a few wall squats every week in honor of Isabeau and Jacob”, workouts with my rubber ball, gazelle machine, rowing machines, and of course my cardio water classes. My teachers are amazed at how much I have kicked up my energy levels and really knock the classes out to their fullest. I’ve notice a difference in how my clothes are fitting and as for the scale it’s not budged much, but I think it will in time.
One thing I do know without hesitation is that if Isabeau called me today to say let’s do another Fitcamp, I’d plan on being there. Self awareness and confidence in my abilities was greatly improved while I was there.
If you are reading this, Thanks Jacob and Isabeau. Also a big thanks to Jimmy Moore for his Blog and the Contest that was held. I could never of afforded to be at this camp if it weren’t for a scholarship I was granted. Forever Grateful, Shari.
Sorry for the ps- but i forgot to add a couple things.
Jimmy’s nutritional needs do not just have to do with “low-carb”. As he’s acknowledged, he has some really interesting and unique reactions to foods that not everybody does.
While I do NOT advocate any one specific diet, other than eating as whole and nutritious as possible, I think you have to full understand the purpose behind different foods before you criticize their position in peoples’ lives. Low-carb is a great option for a lot of people, but for people that start incorporating quite a bit of exercise into their daily activity, carbs are an absolute necessity. This does NOT mean a big loaf of sourdough bread before a workout, or a plate of spaghetti afterwards. But there are a lot of great “balanced” carbs out there (beans and quinoa are my favorite) that border on a protein/carb. You have to understand everything we consume plays a part in our life- The protein we eat is nourishment and restores our muscles, allows our brains to grow, and keeps us strong. Fats provide essential fatty acids to your body and can help with several medical conditions such as bone loss, breast cancer, and arthritis. And carbs are our fuel! Don’t get me wrong- I think Americans in general eat WAY too many carbs, and definitely no where NEAR enough protein. But I do think if you plan on being active, you need them somewhere (and trust me, they’re EVERYWHERE) and if you are going to be SUPER active (like Jimmy was, and has been since fitcamp) you need them even more. It’s kind of like gas in your car- If you’re not planning on driving too far, you don’t need that much gas. But if you have a 400 mile roadtrip planned, you need to make sure you have a full tank. That said, weight loss is possible in a variety of ways and I’ve known many people that simply walk a few miles a day, cut calories and carbs and have amazing success. Jimmy has chosen a more strenuous path to health, so he needs a bit more fuel than I think even he anticipated.
That being said- everyone has REALLY different nutritional needs, and again- there is no one right way, only a lot of really great ideas. I myself experiment with different ideas on a weekly basis- sometimes cutting down on certain foods (wheat, meat, etc) just to see what will happen. Sometimes it works and I instate it into my regular diet, and others, I either don’t see a difference or see a negative difference, and I write it off as a “good experiment”.
Also- one other comment in regards to my previous post about exercising 4-6 hours a day and “why its necessary” for fitcamp… Some people are of the belief that you change from the “inside out” which is a great philosophy. Unfortunately for me, and many other people, I don’t just have a light bulb I can turn on and off when I need to get my butt in gear. So, I am a firm believer in the philosophy Jillian taught me- change your body, change your mind, change your life.
After Fitcamp, I’ve spent the last 2 and a half weeks trying to retrain myself to get into intensive, hard-core workouts. I will admit over a busy summer, I spent a lot of time in the gym, but only probably 30% of which was working out MYSELF instead of training others. The first week back into 2-a day workouts, I did NOT want to go to the gym at all, but I had made a commitment to myself. Now, a week later, there are 1-2 workouts I really have to push myself through, but overall, I’m excited and happy to be there. This is why we format fitcamp like that-
If the campers can get through 2 weeks of fitcamp, they can start SEEING the changes in their body and mind, and hopefully want to continue that. Plus, after doing 3-5 hours a day, 30 minutes-90 minutes a day feels like NOTHING!
I believe when you understand how physically strong you are, the light bulb ultimately DOES turn on. If you’re one of the lucky ones who has the lightbulb just pop on all of the sudden, then you should definitely feel blessed! But for most of us, it takes the push through the physical to get to the motivation.
Anyway- that’s it! Thanks for reading!
Okay, before people start piling on, please do read my comments in their entirety first. I am not against exercise, people finding themselves, building self-confidence, growing, or trying new things.
Jimmy, I do think that the term “disdain” is a bit strong for describing my views. And if we, your readers, were mistakenly under the impression that you were not there to lose weight, then you’ll have to take part of the blame, as you were the one to advertise it as such. You also presented it as a Biggest Loser style fit camp, despite recent claims to the contrary. I have also acknowledged that the viewers of your FitCamp videos obviously did not see everything that went on there and that we were at a disadvantage in that respect. So your claim that “Yes, Isabeau and Jacob rested us when we needed to be rested from being overtrained which you would know if you watched my FitCamp videos” is a bit disingenuous. I saw no one resting and you had time off because you were ill. Are you referring to the day off in between your “Please save us” days?
I also must object to what you call my “insensitivity” to your blood sugar situation; actually, it was your blood sugar issues and your recent weight gain that garnered my attention and caused me to be concerned in the first place about what I perceive as overtraining. And as I mentioned in a previous post (which you twisted around), I thought you had overtrained prior to even setting foot in Nashville.
Perhaps I wouldn’t have been quite so surprised at your decision to eat bread (yeah, it was sprouted grains) to fuel your workouts if you hadn’t been so darned bellicose about Michael Phelps eating carbs to fuel his workouts just prior to your going to FitCamp:
“Do people like Zuckerbrot actually get paid to be such bumbling idiots or what?! She’s dead wrong about needing carbs for energy which is oft repeated by all those dime a dozen lemmings in the world of health. Through a process that Zuckerbrot should be WELL aware of called gluconeogenesis, the liver processes the protein you eat into glucose for your body. So actually Phelps doesn’t need to consume ANY extra carbohydrates at all to get plenty of fuel for his body if he is eating enough protein (and from the looks of his breakfast with all those eggs, he’s DEFINITELY getting enough protein!).”
Anyway, I won’t attempt to rehash the whole business again, as what I thought I wrote was fairly clear. But I would like to stress again that I cannot think of a single guest or expert that you have interviewed recently that has said it’s fine to workout for hours. Most have expressed opinions to the contrary. And as I said previously, before you posted this piece, you are a public commentator and people look to you for advice. When you seem to advocate or approve of one philosophy (Fred Hahn’s, for instance), and then promote working out for 3-5 hours (even temporarily!), I have to wonder what’s going on.
And thanks for the clarification, Isabeau! I do like the idea of Lifecamp
Just because I interview and endorse certain people and their ideals does not mean I necessarily AGREE with everything they have to say, Katy. That’s the main point you seem to be missing. THANKS for sharing again.
–Jimmy
Dear, Dear Jimmy,
I just have an overwhelming need to respond to this discussion. First off, Jimmy, I love your blog and I check in every day and read everything enthusiastically. You work tirelessly to bring us all of the latest low-carb news from around the globe and are a top notch resource for the low-carb community and an incredible inspiration to so many. I have ordered products from your site (Satiatrim) and have even made an appointment with your very own low carb doc in Durham, NC., which shows the power of advertising that is found here. It is a real testimate to your character that you have been so successful in so many areas of your life and that you have become a first class low carb lifestyle spokesman. I am exactly the sort of “consumer-reader” that you are hoping to attract. I actually buy stuff from your site.
All of that being said, in the last few months there have been several things that are perplexing to me on this site as I have followed you through each day as a low-carb newbie.
First off, the photo that you show (with your BIG lovely radio voice) in your introduction to each Fit Camp video, show Isabeau Miller, as a very slim, vibrant person, obviously taken at her peak of weight loss from Biggest Loser. Some of the photos from her “still under development” website show a very svelte Isabeau as well. It is obvious from your videos that she is far, far from the condition that is depicted in this introductory photo. You say that she and Jacob are in excellent condition and able to do all of the vigorous workouts. That’s great and I don’t want to minimize in any way their abilities. However, according to Isabeau, the Biggest Loser Diet worked a number on her physically and she is currently dealing with that. That is totally understandable, however, KATY does have a very VALID point, as any one can see, that the two of them are still in the overweight-obese category and in no way look like physical trainers. If they are satisfied with the way that their bodies currently look, that is great for them. But why the need for the deceptive photo that is used as an intro to your videos and the ones that Isabeau uses for her own website which is under construction?? Why not show how she really looks??? We are not blind and the two images, real life vs. “photoshop perfect” are at very much at odds.
The discussion on exercise as a means to weight loss aside, watching your daily menus for the past couple of months, I can see that you are adding things that in no way can be considered “real, whole foods.” Jonny Bowden , someone who is going on your cruise and has published a fantastic book called the “150 Healthiest Foods on Earth”, does not list Atkins Bars, Blue Bunny Sugar Free Ice Cream, Russell Stover Sugar Free Chocolates or Choco Perfection Bars in that book as far as I can tell. These things are NOT real , whole foods. For a once in a blue moon treat., OK maybe , but you are eating these things all of the time, everyday. I don’t like it when you are saying that you are eating ” real, whole foods” when these things are in your diet on a constant basis. These are not “meals” and they are not “real foods”.
When you were having six or so “meals” a day to try to solve your “weight gain mystery” , you often counted these items as “meals”. Looking back on your daily menus, often your “meals” looked like SNACKS not meals. How do you distinguish between what is a meal and what is a snack?
I have about 15 – 20 lbs to lose. I want to get in the HEALTHY range of BMI. While there are lots of arguments as to the validity of BMI as a measure of fitness, my personal experience is that the ranges are fairly accurate and give a lot of leeway as a screening tool. Since it is a RANGE only, you a can be either on the low end or high end but somewhere within the range should be just about right.
So , with the help of OUR famous low-carb doc in Durham, NC, I am currently in the induction phase of the plan, which as you know, is basically the same as the Atkins Induction plan. I share your same struggles with getting off the last bit of weight since we are both very obviously extremely insulin resistant through years of abusing our bodies with an overload of carbs. But my dear Jimmy, a review of your menus and weights over the last few months show that you are jumping from one thing to another in a desperate attempt to try and explain your “inexpicable weight gain” over the past few months. Why not just stick to the tried but true Induction Plan until you start seeing results? Even if it takes months or even years? From all of the many top-notch speakers that you have had on this site – leaders in the country and the world – shouldn’t they know better what you should eat than some sort-of, kind-of celebrity who is obese herself??? I’m not rying to be mean here just trying to get to the truth!
Sometimes I think that your need (and mine as well and I suspect many others) to have these treats, such as candy, ice cream, cheesecake, etc, in your diet is a left over psychological fat person mentality that needs to change.. Yeah, we all want to live “livin la vida low carb” and eat like kings, with all sorts of treats, but it is not a reason to make a diet of mainly treats with a few healthy meals thrown in. A treat should be a “treat” – every once in a blue moon, not everyday.
Listening to the recent podcast from the woman at Atkins, towards the end, someone called in and said that they were not getting results with weight loss after two weeks on Induction. She said that the caller just needed to stay wiith it for longer. This made so much sense to me and was really encouraging. I plan to stay on Induction until I get to my goal weight, within the middle range of a healty in BMI. Why did you give up before getting to that level? 230 was not in a normal weight range for your height. Do you think you would be too skinny below that? We have been given a plan from one of the foremost low-carb researchers in the US and it is basically Atkins Induction. What a gift to be able to have this doctor. Listen to him, not some “Biggest-Loser–Not !”
Come on Jimmy, I am sticking to it with the real, whole foods that our low-carb doc promotes and that is listed in the literature that Adele gave us. No bars, ice creams, Russell Stover, honey dew melon, etc. are listed in that info we were given for Induction. Lots of good meat, cheese and fats are. Plenty of stuff to eat. Until I get to the point where I can have those treats I am holding off. Why did you start back with that stuff before you were at your goal weight?
I had a boyfriend once who was 6 foot tall and 240 lbs. When I showed him a BMI chart that said that he was obese at that weight and would need to weigh under 185 to be normal, he said “I would look like a skeleton at that weight!”
Well, I work with a lot of “tall-skinny” guys and they don’t look like skeletons, they look HEALTHY!!! At 6′-3″ and 260+ pounds, Jimmy, you are in the obese category, I’m sorry to say. It sucks for all of us but let’s get real. We are still fat. And so are Isabeau and Jacob. I think this is what Katy is pointing out and she has included herself in that category. I think all that she was trying to say is that the Emperor was wearing NO Clothes and in that respect I have to agree with her.
Now, let’s look at your moderator , Charles Washington. At 210 he looked fit and healthy. But now in the 150 range he looks like a world class athelete. Would I pay $2500 to go to learn how to be fit from Isabeau, while she seems like a wonderful and heartfelt but obese person, or from Charles who has obviously figured out the key to good health?
Charles is on a strictly meat and water diet. While there is very much research to support his diet, I personally, and I suspect you, Jimmy, would not be satisfied with that way of eating every day. But if you and I follow the plan that OUR doctor at DUKE UNIVERSITY has prescribed, that has been supported by all of the world wide famous names in the low-carb community ( as witnessed by your many podcasts and interviews with said docs) then perhaps we could get somewhere close to the superior results that Charles has achieved.
One last thing, it seems like when you are responding to someone that you disagree with you say “THANK YOU” ( in all CAPS) and it comes across as very condenscending and sarcastic. You may not be aware of the tone that the ALL CAPS impart. With all due respect. Jimmy, I love your site but I am just speaking from my heart. Mary.
Actually, Mary, I’ve been using THANK YOU in ALL CAPS for years. It doesn’t mean anything more than I sincerely thank you for leaving a comment. Look at my blog posts and you’ll see where I use THANK YOU or THANKS quite often in ALL CAPS. That’s just a stylistic thing, so don’t read too much into it. As for your comments, I can appreciate those. However, I do think you’re underestimating the reality of what I have been doing over these past some odd months. Yes, I could and probably at some point should go back to a strict Induction and stay there for however long, but I did do it for a period of six weeks, Mary. No products, 20g carbs a day, followed Dr. Westman’s diet plan to the “T” and do you know what it got me? ZILCH, ZERO, NO WEIGHT LOSS! Of course, I’m perplexed by all of this because it just doesn’t make sense, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up. Put yourself in my shoes and think about it–if eating that strict way didn’t produce ANY weight loss after a period of time, then it can be quite discouraging as you know. I’m still eating very healthy and putting myself in every position possible to see that scale moving down again. But I don’t want to get so complacent with my routine that I continue this way which is why I try to shake things up a bit with events like FitCamp and it was a godsend to me. As for Isabeau and Jacob, I hear what you’re saying, but I disagree with the premise that people of that size cannot train properly. Many of the women who were there felt more of a connection at FitCamp with Isabeau BECAUSE she still has issues with her weight. That’s not a negative, that a HUGE positive. And her commitment to seeing others change their lives is unmatched. And it’s not like she’s not working on it as we speak. As for Jacob, he just finished competing in a weight lifting competition, so I’m not sure how a man with all that muscle can be classified as “obese” other than his BMI (which puts him in good company with people like Michael Jordan!). I appreciate your comments, Mary, and welcome more to continue this fascinating discussion.
–Jimmy
From Kim:
“So in saying all of that and in everything you have said Jimmy, i have come to the conclusion that fellow commenter katy, just wants to be critical. even when the evidence and witnesses speak, that’s not good enough.
every comment i have read from her has had nothing that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and my question is why?!”
“thanks for your words Jimmy! i think you covered your point well:)”
Well, it won’t come as a surprise to everybody that I wholeheartedly disagree with these assessments. I was also accused, previously, of being angry and bitter. Nope, I’m not interested in just being critical, Kim. I’m just frustrated that Jimmy won’t answer a direct question or address contradictions in his writings. Yep, Jimmy has done a fine job twisting, I mean ADDRESSING points that I didn’t bring up and avoiding those that I did. I would like people, once again, to keep in mind that the points that I have raised are NOT simply my own opinions; I did not just make them up here in my spare time (and that the focus of this blog has been low-carb living?). Good job ducking and dodging, Jimmy! Have you been boxing, too? Now will you please answer the questions I asked in my previous post?
[I regret that you continue to classify and dismiss my posts as simply my “opinions.” Furthermore, I must object to your admonishment, “But I would expect you to respect anyone who chooses this pathway for themselves.” Is disagreeing with your current position being disrespectful? I don’t consider challenging your apparently wavering positions as disrespectful. I guess I must apologize for paying attention to you and your guests.
Here, from your blog site and from the Low-Carb Examiner site, is a bit of advice and your response. Have you changed your mind? Do you no longer feel this advice is valid?
From 20 effective fat-loss tips from the author of The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution and noted fitness expert Fred Hahn:
19. RESIST THE URGE TO OVER-EXERCISE
Avoid excessive amounts of exercise. Too much exercise makes cortisol levels rise which in turn causes muscle wasting and can aid in fat storage. You do not receive benefits from exercise when you are exercising. You receive the benefits when you are resting and recovering from the exercise. If your eating habits are proper, you do not need to try and burn off additional fat via exercise. You’ll save yourself from orthopedic problems as well.
Note from Jimmy: It seems logical–the more you exercise, the more calories you can burn off and weight loss will happen. And yet there is the risk of inflammation from doing too much exercise and the cortisol issue as Fred explained. This is a controversial recommendation since most people don’t get nearly ENOUGH exercise. But I’ve seen the workaholics in the gym who spend hours upon hours beating their bodies to a pulp trying to salvage every last bit of energy out of themselves thinking that’s gonna make them a lean, mean fighting machine. In a word, NOPE! Get in a solid workout, eat healthy low-carb meals with plenty of fat and protein, and let your body do the rest. It’s no more difficult than that!
Also on the Low-Carb Examiner site, you hail Dr. Eades (”That is why today I nominate Dr. Michael R. Eades, MD for President of the United States of America”) as a health and fitness leader. As you know, he and his wife cowrote Slow Burn with Fred Hahn. They also are opposed to excessive exercise. Have you read the book? Has it occurred to you that maybe doing “upwards of an hour of cardio every single day” has backfired? You have also stated that you wished that you had NOT done only cardio when you were losing your 180 pounds. Obviously you can do whatever you wish, but as a public spokesperson, there are a great many people who will take your words and advice to heart. Please don’t claim that I’m being disrespectful by utilizing a bit of critical thinking or by pointing out the contradictions in your writings.]
Will you from now on actually begin challenging the positions of your “expert” guests?
Nothing has changed about my philosophy pre-FitCamp and now, Katy, other than I have a drive to exercise for the sake of my health and endurance like never before. It’s never been about weight loss for me and it still isn’t. If I lost some weight, then so be it. But my reasons for exercising go much deeper than that and you’re not understanding that at all. While I appreciate your comments, I still have yet to hear these “contradictions” you keep mentioning. There are none as I’ve been very consistent throughout. THANK YOU again.
–Jimmy
“Just because I interview and endorse certain people and their ideals does not mean I necessarily AGREE with everything they have to say, Katy. That’s the main point you seem to be missing.”
And I did NOT say that just because people are interviewed by you or appear on your show that you AGREE with everything they may say. I’m referring to the many responses that you HAVE made in agreeing with certain points. So I am not missing the point here. Please read your response to #19 of Fred’s tips and just say that you don’t agree with what you wrote, or that you have changed your mind, or in the future, remain noncomittal.
Thanks, Mary, and I’m copying the first part of your response because I couldn’t state it any better:
“I love your blog and I check in every day and read everything enthusiastically. You work tirelessly to bring us all of the latest low-carb news from around the globe and are a top notch resource for the low-carb community and an incredible inspiration to so many. …It is a real testiment to your character that you have been so successful in so many areas of your life and that you have become a first class low carb lifestyle spokesman.”
Here’s a short clip from Dr. Diana Schwarzbein, an endocrinologist and former sugar addict on “smart exercise.” I do hope you watch it and absorb her message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JMaNwL3xUY
Jimmy, you go from low carb to some carb, to no exercise to too much exercise. You can’t seem to stick with one thing longer than 2 weeks.
You lied to Katy when you said you cut out all low carb products. You did not. You were still drinking diet soda. Why don’t you list this on your menus blog everyday so we know just how many you consume a day.
You have been doing the frankenfood and artificial sweeteners since 2004 when you started and now in 2008 this has finally caught up with you.
You may have cut out real sugar, but you still use fake substitutes as a crutch and because they are low carb or sugar free you justify that this addiction is OK.
You will regain all of your weight if you continue on this path, not to mention how it will destroy your health and body. Chemically processed foods are not a friend to your body. They should only be used occasionally not evey day and multiple times.
You never did comment on that natural news article that says that the artificial sweeteners can cause insulin resistance and make you fat.
As to the whole Isabeau thing I believe that if she is happy being fat that is great, but keeping a slimmer picture of herself on her website is dishonest and a lie. If she is happy being fat then post your current picture. I wonder how many people she would train if they saw what she looks like now with the weight gain.
OUCH! Now tell us how you REALLY feel, Sue.
–Jimmy
Nice that my reply to this got deleted. I will say it again you did not give up your low carb products you kept drinking the diet soda.
You are not being honest and up front with people regarding your way of life and your addiction to artifical sweeteners.
You have been eating them since 2004 and they have finally caught up with you. You are destroying your health and doing a disservice to others by not acknowledging the damaging effects of fake foods with splenda, etc.
You cannot have your low carb bread, shakes, chocolate, soda, and expect results.
You eat like a fat person only you brush everyone off because it is not real sugar or real carbs. So what. Where’s the difference?
You have a real problem with your food addiction and until you get that under control you are always going to struggle with your weight.
I see on your menus that even with all your exercising you still fluctuate between the same 1-3 pounds. But hey if you get up to 400 lbs and can still exercise for 2-3 hours I guess you have no problems.
Your comment didn’t get deleted, Sue. You just weren’t patient enough to give me time to approve it. Testy, aren’t we?
–Jimmy
I would agree that people who are SPOKESMAN for certain diet plans and FITNESS TRAINERS should not be fat…especially if they’re making their livilihood off of it. Yes, losing weight is HARD, maintaining weight is tough too, but then, most of us who need to lose weight don’t run fitness camps or make a living off our blog promoting eating plans that aren’t working for us.
I’m sure both Jimmy and Isabeau will find out that it would be best to put some more effort into taking off some weight if they want to keep having a good reputation in the fitness/health business.
I’m not being negative or unkind, just stating the facts.
Best and I don’t care if you don’t want to publish.
I’m just saying, lose some weight and that will get rid of naysayers.
OK, Katy’s objection about the exercise thing was that you had said exercise doesn’t cause weight loss through calorie burning. Very specific. The objection was not about “exercise doesn’t cause weight loss” but about “exercise does not cause weight loss THROUGH CALORIE BURNING.” So your experiences did not exactly contradict that idea. OK, you lost weight. But who knows why?
I have read from several sources that exercise increases insulin sensitivity. That presumably being the case, there’s your answer. Greater insulin sensitivity = lower insulin levels = the body can break down its fat stores for fuel because insulin is not blocking that process.
There is probably some calorie-burning involved in the weight loss but I think the way people have tried to show that through simple calories-in, calories-out math is kind of oversimplistic. I see it like this: Someone with a typically high level of insulin in their blood might only be able to burn 100 calories doing the same exercise that a person with healthy insulin levels does and burns 500 calories. If you don’t know what’s going on with your body and nourish it properly, you’re not going to get the most out of exercise no matter what you do. That is why a combination approach of proper diet AND exercise is important–not just one or just the other.
In discussing diet and exercise we treat the human body as a machine with a fuel tank. People, we are not machines. Our bodies are LIVING systems which we are only just beginning to understand, and you better believe the researchers and scientists DO NOT have all the answers.
As for people who are successful with low-fat diets, all I can say is that I followed a blogger a while back who is vegan, and who chose to follow a low-fat raw foods diet for thirty days. At the end of it he said he felt great, which was his way of qualifying “feeling high” and not being on the same plane mentally as everyone else. He also had cracked and bleeding skin on his hands. But he was healthy, he thought. Mmkay. Whatever, dude.
They’ve linked low-fat eating with greater rates of mental illness. I can see how that might be. What’s present in your brain in tremendous amounts? Fat, that’s what. And fat makes up most of the material in your cell membranes, so I would imagine that cutting it too far back is going to have similar effects to cutting back the stuff you need to make collagen, which also holds the body together. (This is why people’s bodies fall apart when they have scurvy.)
I would be very curious to learn what mechanisms are involved in weight loss when someone adopts a low-fat diet. There are so many ways to do low-fat that it could simply be explained by an increase in vegetable and fruit intake. Unless we know what every single successful low-fat dieter eats from day to day it is difficult to assess.
By the way, about that commenter asserting that if you eat artificial sweetners you get an insulin release, check this out. Yes, it’s Wikipedia. Read it anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin#Hypoglycemia
Apparently the increase in insulin is much, much less than in response to sugar. Now, I would *think* that after this initial release, the body would go, “Oh, there is no sugar here to process. Well then, let’s drop insulin levels again.” Most of an insulin release is determined by the presence of glucose IN THE BLOOD.
Also, those were animal studies. Until they replicate the process in people, I’ll hold off taking the studies as gospel. Even if it comes out we have similar reactions to artificial sweeteners, which would you rather do–have a very small insulin increase that theoretically would drop almost right away, or have a huge one from eating “natural, good-for-you” (ha!) sugar and not being able to drop your insulin levels again until all the sugar was processed through your system?
God, these people. Cry me a river about “chemically processed food.” Guess what? Putting food in your MOUTH chemically processes it. If these folks really wanted to go back to nature they’d be eating something like the paleo diet and only getting sugar (in fruit and honey) a few times a year. Are they doing that? Nah. They’re bugging you about something that you didn’t have to share with them in the first place and certainly isn’t any of their business. Go figure.
Here’s the Discover Magazine article that everyone’s had their shorts in a knot about.
http://discovermagazine.com/2005/aug/chemistry-of-artificial-sweeteners
Just because it’s cooked up in a lab, people, doesn’t mean it’s bad for you. Even saccharin has been found to be safe because the rats it was fed to way back when that got cancer had a predisposition to the disease and would have gotten it anyway. (Still tastes nasty, though, so I’m not eating it.)
I love sucralose. I love being able to eat sweet stuff and not feel like crap afterward. So there.
For the people that believe splenda and other artificial sweeteners are not bad, please read the link below about what it does:
http://www.naturalnews.com/022785.html
Also for the person that said chewing your food chemically processes it, I won’t call you stupid, but honestly give me a break with that comment. Wait I think that all of those artificial sweeteners you’ve been eating are causing your brain to melt.
Re: the taste of sweet and insulin release, I heard Dr. Gundry make this claim. I’d be interested to hear what Dr. Vernon and Dr. Bernstein have to say on this. And I’d like to know how large a release we are talking about here. And if we’ve already consumed a meal, with protein and fat, how much of an impact would this have? That said, if a large portion of our food is comprised of low-carb treats, in place of perhaps more complete meals, where is the nutrition that the body needs? Food obviously is supposed to supply more than simply protein, fat, carbs, or calories. This was also brought up by Dr. Gundry, that if we don’t receive the required nutrients, the body gets the message that it’s starving. I’ve no idea how valid this is, though.
I’ve reread Isabeau’s comments and so would like to respond to a couple of sentences. Isabeau wrote:
“So, I am a firm believer in the philosophy Jillian taught me- change your body, change your mind, change your life.”
I’ve questioned a few of my friends who were runners about this, to no avail. Why is physical accomplishment necessary in order to change your mind and change your life? What about those of us who can no longer “change [our] bodies” (the disabled, the aged, the ill?) Why should physical power be a precedent for emotional power? So many people put their lives on hold until they achieve their physical goals, which often never materialize.
Also, Isabeau said:
“And to be unafraid to LIVE- no matter how many bumps in the road you hit, no matter how many lessons you must learn, knowing that if you work hard, keep the faith, and KNOW YOURSELF you can really, truly, as cliche as it sounds, do ANYTHING.”
This goal really should have nothing whatsoever to do with a person’s ability to exercise or physical condition; it should be deep down in every single heart, fat or thin, healthy or not, fit or not. Period.
Wow, Jimmy! Looks like a war on this thing!!! hehe
I’ve been on this health kick for the better part of my life and some of these comments are in my opinion, the direct reason more people aren’t losing weight.
We want to sit back and put people on pedistools and when they fall the slightest bit or change something that we see as ‘wrong’, we pick up stones and start heaving away without any thought to what we’re doing. Where is the support in the weight loss community?! And how can people not feel bad about using the word ‘fat’ when describing someone they don’t even know or for that matter, one they do?!
I think sometime we think things that shouldn’t be said. My example that I always use is if my husband suddenly came home one day and didn’t want to be married anymore and he says to me ‘I’m sorry, I was never in love with you OR I don’t love you anymore.’ That is the same pain someone calling me fat would ensue. I mean, who that is overweight wants to be told they should lose a few pounds or that what they’re doing to help people isn’t good enough b/c of their weight.
I think Jimmy, like many of us, is still searching for answers which is why he has SO many diverse people on his site. He calls in different experts that have studied and research and may have different ideas about how the body works or what works in general.
Because we have no solid, definite answers on most of these ‘ideas’, that’s why we have these debates. That’s why we can chat back and forth and talk about what is working and what isn’t. In saying that, sometimes you have to change what you were originally doing to get things rolling again. I know all you guys have heard of plateaus and such and I think that’s what Jimmy is trying to figure out….WHAT’S HAPPENING?! As he said, he’s been having some problems before he ever got to the Fitcamp campus, so to speak. I got to know Jimmy a good bit when we were there together and he was sticking to HIS food plan. We were eating salads, fruits, lean meats, and just over all low calorie things and he was eating stuff that was in-line with his diet. I guess the bread and fruits he added were not on the plan that low-carbers are use to from the comments i’ve read so far, but I witnessed his dizzy spells and he was trying different things to help with that. I don’t understand why that’s SO awful?! Would it have been better for him to go stumbling backwards off the treadmill and have a concussion?! Or drop a barbell on his foot and break a few toes?!
I understand that there is a certain plan you follow with THIS type of lifestyle but why is there NO room for negotiation if that’s what’s needed for your body to work BEST for you?! Isn’t THAT what being healthy is all about?!
YES! It’s about choosing a path and learning and growing and altering along the way if that’s what needs to happen. Just like your exercise routines. You have to add things in or switch up sometimes for you body to react the way you want it too, as in losing weight. If you want to get stronger, you lift heavier weights or do MORE reps. It’s a learning and growing process. IT’S NOT BLACK AND WHITE…THERE’S ALWAYS GREY….
Again, I hope you guys soon realize that the people you call ‘fat’ and say ‘truthful’ things to, DO HAVE feelings. I know in this world of technology you can say anything you want b/c there are no faces here and no real people to say those harsh words too, but think for a minute if those people were standing in front of you, would you really say such tasteless things?!
I’m thinking not. In fact, I know you wouldn’t and I think it’s a real shame that we can’t be more supportive of one another in this journey. We ALL want the same thing…to be healthy and feel ALIVE…..like we’re the best that we can possible be! Here’s hoping that we’re all enlightened of that fact and SOON!!!!
And just a side note, all of you that are saying Jacob is overweight or whatever you think, you need to see that man in person!!! You’re EXACTLY RIGHT….he’s MASSIVE but in the brick wall kinda way……in the HULK HOGAN kind of way …in the EX-Marine kind of way!!! The man is nothing but muscles and i know for a fact he could do anything he put us through in a heartbeat b/c he actually challenged us a few times and because we were smart, we happily declined!!! lol AND as Jimmy said, the man does weight lifting competitions…hence his HUGE muscles!!!! So yeah, enough said about that….:)
Sorry if this is a double post. Maybe the problem that AMERICA is overweight is that no one is calling people who are FAT (supposed more than 1/2 of all AMERICAN), FAT.
Yes it hurts…so why not lose some weight?
It is scientific..you’re eating too much, not exercising enough and carrying around too much weight..that’s not really a judgement call, but a reality and can be seen visually.
FAT isn’t a dirty word or really unkind, it’s means you could stand to lose some weight so why not stop worrying about how you feel about being called FAT, especially if you are, and do something about it?
Yes, Kim, you’re right! YES! We ALL want Jimmy to drop barbells on himself! And not on one foot, but BOTH!! And YES, we all want him to launch himself off the treadmill and crack his head open, just so we can all laugh and point and call him names. Then we could all shout, “Stay on that treadmill until you DIE Jimmy!!” (similarly to Jillian, Jimmy’s heroine) and other “tasteless things.” How can we not feel bad about using the word “fat” as a description? Because it is just that, a WORD, an objective description, not a subjective judgment of someone’s worth. It is no more insulting than using the term “thin” or “skinny” or “lazy.” I, for one, will never put that “f” word back in the box, never to see the light of day. That’s the same as closing one’s eyes when looking in a mirror. And I certainly would never give the use of a word the power to create the same devastation in me as the loss of loved one’s affection. I think that making an honest observation is less offensive than your telling us all that we’re not being supportive of Jimmy and that we should all just shut up.
And no, Kim, there is not “a certain plan you follow with THIS type of lifestyle” and yes, there absolutely IS “room for negotiation if that’s what’s needed for your body to work BEST for you” and you’ll know that if you stick around LLVLC and read the posts, present and past. Your assumption that we’re not enlightened and are not supportive of one another is just that–an assumption, and a false one. I think that the points I have been trying to make have been balanced and based on research and fact. I’m sorry that you are of the mind that any disagreement here is negative, hate-filled criticism and that we should all just close our eyes and mouths.
Let’s recap:
Point #1- Words are hurtful and sometimes they’re NOT needed, as in the example I gave. I feel it is unnecessary that if my husband were leaving anyway to come up with the reason of ‘i don’t love you anymore OR i’ve never loved you.’ It’s a slap in the face and again, unnecessary. THAT was the point of the example. Sorry I got confusing. I’ll use a different example in the future, as soon as I think of one.
Point #2-I don’t think anyone NEEDS to hear negative things if negative is what got them to THAT place to begin with. I think knowing that people are supporting you and cheering you on and hoping you succeed is more motivational than anything, like katy pointed out, this website is for all the low-carbers of the world. Everyone needs support…well, it helps the process go A LOT better I’ve always found.
Again, words are hurtful. If they weren’t we wouldn’t have kids shooting up schools or people in therapy telling about their childhood. Words stay with you and YES, you can overcome them but why be the one that’s pointing the finger and shouting them?! As i said, I don’t see the significance.
Point #3- I never said you weren’t supportive of Jimmy, I simply questioned the reasons you were questioning the added foods that he seemed to think he needed to get through those workouts. And I NEVER said you weren’t enlightened or didn’t have knowledge of the subjects you were speaking of. It is quite evident you spend a lot of time reading up on the subjects at hand.
Point #4- I NEVER said to close your eyes or mouths. Actually, in every comment I have left thus far, I think I have always said it is good to hear what other people have to say and that it could be beneficial. Having knowledge is a great thing and taking in all the facts and researching on your own is the only way to get to some truth to find out what you need to do with your own life OR what you WANT to do with your own life. In other words, I completely support being ‘well-rounded’, no pun intended. hehe
Hi Kim,
I was wondering if you had a chance tp purchase Jimmy’s book from him while you were at FitCamp? He covers your concerns very well on pages 122-123.
Chistine’s gentle words of genuine encouragement were in sharp contrast to what I perceived as her “nagging” regarding my weight in the past. While what she was saying was veiled in language that made it sound like she was concerned about my healthh, all I could hear was YACK YACK YACK YACK YACK because I was fat! Anybody else know what I’m talking about here?
Let me pause for just a moment to focus on this issue because it is something that needs to be emphasized clearly to anyone who needs to lose weight.
I’m sure that we have all had spouses, parents, children and friends say something to us about our weight problem before, right? (Mary’s note – online friends) Why is it that we often feel that they are lashing out at us in vile hatred or with a judgmental attitude when they talk to us about our weight problem? Could it be that they actually do love us and want what is best for our health?
I know it is difficult to acknowledge the truth when you are the one who has the weight problem. But the reality of the situation is that you do have a weight problem that needs to be addressed. While I don’t doubt that there have been some people who may not have been as tactful as they need to be in their approach to you about your weight, the truth in their message should not be misconstrued or misunderstood. I know it can be hard to hear, but it is something that needs to be said.
Brilliant words, Jimmy and so very true. Kim, I think that Jimmy knows that most folks here are experiencing the same struggles right along with him. Being upfront and honest in a weight loss and health forum about the condition that we are in is what makes this such a uniqe and helpful place. It forces us to confront that which stares us in the mirror. Kim, any comments holding someone accountible are actually made with loving kindness and concern, not meaness as you suggest.
BTW Jimmy, I am enjoying my reread of your book. Take care, Mary
Life is hard, we all take our own path. Everyone tweaks the low Carb Diet to their own liking. I feel like Jimmy is running for president and one side needs to pick away at his life and the other side supports him. We all are a work in progress stop looking for weapons of mass destruction in jimmy’s backyard .
Jimmy Moore is a vessel, a tool, but we are ultimately responsible for our own life journey.
Some thoughts to the readers…..
In a perfect world…Jimmy would be a Slim Jim, ab-six-pack boasting, SuperMan/Charles….and so would I….har har…
Some of us appreciate the fact that he is still a “work-in-progress” and can relate much better to him as he is now…warts and all…than if he were Jimmy Super-Cut/Super-Fit.
I see no contradictions in Jimmy.
I have poked and prodded Jimmy via email to maybe respond to some his interviewee’s claims or statements….but he chooses to let their statements stand…on their own…with no additional commentary or criticism…even if he disagrees with them.
Jimmy is all about…find what works for you….and do it.
So…..if someone can take something from an interview that Jimmy does, and apply it to their lives, and there is a positive result…then Great!
I personally, did not think that FitCamp was all that great of an idea for Jimmy…with the low-fat/exercise yourself thin perception I had of it. It did indeed seem contrary…at first glance…to what Jimmy has stated in the past.
I soon discovered, watching Jimmy’s videos, that although there seemed to be a “low fat” approach to eating, there were MANY other lessons to be learned at FitCamp.
Many of these lessons were/are psychological, and as such, cannot be measured by a scale or a tape measure.
A lot of what Jimmy has experienced is very similar to my weight and struggles.
I love the low-carb treats, and have yet to come to terms with the “reason I eat.”
Sometimes I just want to eat…for no apparent reason…there is comfort for me in eating sometimes…its so familiar….comfort from what I don’t know.
It is also hard to break old habits..so at least if I am eating like a zombie..not over-eating…just eating….its low carb eating.
I know ultimately and ideally, I should not consume “snacky” foods…even if it is low-carb. One day at a time…
I have lost 82 pounds so far….and am no longer considered “obese” by the BMI scale…I am now simply “overweight.” Do I want to be normal/healthy according to the BMI gods? Yes, in fact, I do.
Personally, I have hardly exercised at all, except for some 30-minute walks 3-4 times a week.
These last 30 pounds I would like to shed are painfully slow to go away. Is it because I sometimes eat things that are not considered whole foods, or is it due to lack of exercise, or maybe God is simply trying to teach me a lesson about something I have yet to understand…who knows….it is what it is..and I am trying different things..to speed up the pound shedding process…I have not quit trying.
Must I wait until I am SuperTrim/SuperFit myself to express my opinion regarding low carb or weight loss…when asked…even if I were earning a living by expressing that opinion? (which I am not…) No…and neither does Jimmy.
If no one was interesting in Jimmy’s experiences…good or bad…then none of us would be here reading his blog.
I, too, am a “work-in-progress,” and take Jimmy’s, and the other comments/statements from interviews and even the comment area or forum as they are and process them for myself and see if anything I have heard/read makes sense to me, and is it something I can apply to my life.
I rambled also, but this is a complex issue, and please, please don’t take someone’s comments that may be contrary to your beliefs as a personal attack on you.
Agree to disagree….who knows…you may experience what is called a “flip-flop” in politics…and suddenly find yourself agreeing with someone/something that you did not agree with previously.
Respectfully…
Ab
Hi all! I cant even start to begin describing how I feel at the moment. Guys, I honestly think there is too much estrogen going at once, oops didnt want to stir the pot, it was meant as a joke, but I will try to add a litttle bit perspective if I may. Many of you have valid points in my opinion, but…….. There is a difference between what you say and how you say it! Let me get to it later. First and foremost, Jimmy you are doing a fantastic job promoting low carb lifestyle. I may agree or disagree with you on many points, but I will forever be thankful to you on starting on a low carb lifestyle which is changing my life. I am 36 years old Russian guy, a former professional table tennis player. I was second best in my country 15 years ago, and even though table tennis is not considered as intense as soccer for example, is still quite physically demanding! When I immigrated to NYC 15 years ago I weighted 160 pounds at 5”9 and then ballooned to a whooping 300 few years back. I may state the reasons, excuses or not, but it is not important. Whats important here is that I lost 100 pounds, quit smoking and in the best shape of my life, even better then when I was 16 and one of the best player in my contry. And Jimmy, you share so much of my success with me! Honest to God if I havent stumbled upon your site I would probably be obese, hypoglycemic and disfunctional. Jimmy, my favorite saying is that LIFE is like a toilet paper,seems long but get wasted on so much……….. Guys lets not waste energy on being upset, argumentive and bitter. Even though you might say you nare not bitter, some of you guys come out that way. There is a biter undertone in some of your comments. Kattie, even though you have valid questions and comments for Jimmy, you say it in a judgemental tone, one MAN’s opinion. I have a degree in sports physiology and clinical nutrtion, and work in the same instituition with Dr Feinman. I tried so many diets in the past until one day I started suffering form paralysis by analysis, and gave up. Thats when I started gaining. Until I found Jimmy Moore and his wonderful website with all those wonderful guests. I adore and respect EAdes tremendeously, very smart people and great doctors. So one should never stop searching for the truth, weather it be diet or anything else. Kattie I can see your point about Jimmy changing, but I can also see Jimmy/ point about evolving and experimenting. When you say as a public commentator Jimmy should be responsible for his message, I couldnt disagree with you more. Every person ought to be an educated consumer, and just because something Jimmy or any guest on his show claims works doesnt mean it works for all. Jimmy is doing a fantastic work on providing links , interviews and information for all to disseminate, and its up to individual to make a final choice. Plus I must command a man on his naked truth about all his ordeals. Not only Jimmy honestly describes his journey, he is not afraid to be challenged or ridiculed. And it speaks volumes about this mans character! I remember a guy was making fun of him when he showed a video on youtuve about his loose skin problem. Kattie when you say that Phelps could easily eat Atkins style diet and still blossom, are you saying it form experience? I think not, I am not trying to be rude or disrespectful, just the opposite. In arguments, truth is born!!!!! Lets just be civil about them. From evolutionary biology point of views, human have a pancreas and insulin for a reason, right? If we all ate meat, fish, limitted vegs and few berries randomly, human body wouldnt need such an intrinsic and complicated hormonal system and pancreas, which in itself is a quite complicated hormone. So back to evolutionary bilogy. Humans throughout history and evolutionary development, havent relied on running 26 miles, or swimming for 8 hours a day to survive. Short sprints, muscular strength, and quick thinking were staples of our survival mechanism. As a young athlete I trained 6 to 8 hours a day in a very strict and controled environment. Soviet Union treated their athletes as lab amimals to advance our performence. I was given injections of vitamins, to only suffer adrenalin insufficiency years later. Were those vitamins? I would never know, now I highly doubt it. But my diet was primarily high carb, exteamly high carb. Morning would be oatmeal with honey, butter and walnuts with a banana and kvas. Lunch would be soup, meat with creamed potato and fruit and dinner a piece of meat with fruit again. Then we were given at least three snacks of walnuts, yougurt, and honey in between training sessions. Plus those above mentioned vitamin shots!!!! And I was 160 pounds, alwyas in shape and very fast. Never had an insulin resistance or high glucose porblem, becuase I burnt it all for energy. Now fast forward to these days. I obviously dont train for 8 hours any more but I do play every week for about 3 hours. And I tried low carb, below 40 grams of carb on those days for 3 month to get me throgh the program. I did survive, but felt very tired and my performance always suffered. So I started experimenting. and added more carbs on those days. I would add a full glass of full fat buttermik which i love. It has 15 grams of carbs, and a cup of rasberries. Kattie I was a new man and my perofmance did improve tremendously. So what I am saying here is following, trust your nature, trust and listen to your body and find your way whci individually works for you., otherwise we will be like blind misleading the blind! Just because Jimmy Moore does or doesnt do smng doesnt mean we all should, he and I find our own unique ways while being on a low carb diet. Kattie you sound a bit naive when you think it is posssible to pull Phelps on extreamly low carb.And just because it works for Jimmys moderator while doing half marathon doesnt mean it works for u or me. HAve you tried any high intensity, long duration sprorts while following low carb? So basically while living relatively comaprabel lifestyle to our paleo ancestors low carb works fine, doing long hard work out may not. I dont know whats healthier though, thats great debate in itself. Sorry for the spelling and typing, I am sleep deprived. Thats another topic in itself that Jimmy covered before that has so much implication on health. So lets keep arguments going, but do it in a civil, respectful and non-judgemental ways. Thank you, everyone and keep it real while not too being way too harsh. Thanks, and Jimmy keep up a great work, you rock MAN!!!!!!!!
Vadim, I, too, think that Jimmy ROCKS! And I also think that I have been respectful and not judgmental. My comments stem from what I see as variations in message from Jimmy. In previous posts and totally discountlng advice from experts regarding overtraining. Many responders have injected subjective, emotional reactions to my points or, in some cases, to points I never made. And while Jimmy believes that everyone should do what’s best for them, even a low fat plan, there is no refuting that Jimmy has absolutely discounted the need for consuming any whole grains, and not too subtly, I might add. And the part about Michael Phelps not needing carbs (Kattie when you say that Phelps could easily eat Atkins style diet and still blossom, are you saying it form experience? I think not, I am not trying to be rude or disrespectful, just the opposite; Kattie you sound a bit naive when you think it is posssible to pull Phelps on extreamly low carb) was NOT, NOT, NOT my thought, but was written by JIMMY just prior to going to FitCamp (look up Michael Phelps in the search bar on this site). Further, he claimed that Fred Hahn’s tip about overexercising was right on, then goes on to extol the virtues of long, intense workouts. Yes, of course, I will say it again, I agree that everyone should find what’s best for them; everyone is an individual. Jimmy can do whatever he wishes regarding his low carb lifestyle. And no doubt, it is highly entertaining to read his rants in response to those foolish enough to malign LLVLC. I feel, though, that if he truly does not endorse a point of view, he should just remain neutral. I still believe that excess exercise will do more harm that good in the long run and that too many overweight individuals try to do too much, too soon to their detriment, physically and emotionally (and please read my comments again when you are not sleep-deprived:-))
So not to confuse, Katy and Kathy are the same person here, just different email addresses and names populate the reply forms.
I just wanted to add that I simply would like to see people treating their bodies with kindness and respect. We are complicated biological systems and all sorts of things can go wrong due to any number of imbalances. I would argue that Jimmy’s blood sugar issues and recent weight gain are prime examples of this; in no way do I denigrate Jimmy or his accomplishments. My grandfather had a tiny quote from a newspaper taped to the light on his desk, and I read it every time I sat there. It read, “The rock that resists a crowbar gives way to the roots of tender plant.” I think we should be gently coaxing our bodies into better health.
I just wanted to add that the “mini-van pushing” exercise I saw in the one FitCamp video I watched is very dangerous and I strongly urge Isabeau to remove it from the program (and don’t try this at home!).
Okay, I’m game–what’s so “dangerous” about pushing a vehicle, Allison?
–Jimmy
I guess it was the part where it rolled backwards (presumably in neutral) and the group in the rear scattered like bowling pins to avoid being crushed beneath the vehicle.
LOL! Exactly, Allison! And what if you don’t have someone as nimble as Jacob on hand to jump in and stop the runaway vehicle? Just a slight decline and there it goes….