The truth about low-carb deserves to be heard even if nobody listens
Sometimes you can start to feel like a lonely voice in the wilderness when you put yourself out there as an avid spokesperson for a nutritional approach like low-carb that is so universally mocked and scorned by those so-called health “experts” who think they know better about healthy living than the rest of the world. But this reminds me of an old legend about the actions of a “good and just man” who was in a similar circumstance where he had a choice between doing what was right and taking a lot of heat for it or turning his back on the truth just to blend in with the crowd and be accepted.
Here’s my own variation on how the story goes:
A good and just man began speaking with individuals within his sphere of influence one day trying to convince them one-by-one of the truth about livin’ la vida low-carb. As much as he tried to capture their attention with all the latest research studies confirming this way of eating as incredibly effective for managing weight loss properly, controlling blood sugar and insulin levels especially for diabetics, and warding off a whole host of preventable diseases, nobody would engage him in conversation. They just didn’t show any interest at all in the truth.
Refusing to give up, this good and just man then started carrying around a picket sign that had “TRUTH” written on it in large letters. He stood ready to share the truth about low-carb living being the diet of our early ancestors thousands of years ago up until just a few decades ago when the low-fat, low-calorie, portion control lie was thrust upon the world by a vocal minority who took it upon themselves to change the way people view “healthy” eating. The result has been a rampant outbreak of obesity and disease like we’ve never seen in the history of the world. But, again, NOBODY paid any attention to his sign nor did they care about hearing the truth.
Finally, he began going from street to street and from marketplace to marketplace shouting from the top of his lungs, “Men and women, stop eating all that sugar, starchy carbs, and junk food. What you are doing to your body is wrong. Don’t you know those foods will make you sick, fat, and possibly even die?!”
The people in the street and at the marketplace laughed at this good and just man every single day–but he just kept on shouting the truth. One day, a curious person stopped the man and asked, “Dude, can’t you see that your shouting at all of us is absolutely useless and ineffective?” The responded back, “Yes, I see that.” The person then asked, “So, why do you continue with this day after day after day?”
That’s when the good and just man made the most profound statement he had ever uttered. “When I first arrived on the scene, I was fully convinced that I could change the thinking that others had about low-carb. But now I continue shouting the truth because I don’t want THEM to change ME.”
The moral of this story: SPEAK OUT FOR THE TRUTH about low-carb lest your silence sends the wrong message to others. If you choose to remain silent regarding the truths of livin’ la vida low-carb, then others may take your silence as an agreement with their outrageous positions like low-carb is a dangerous “fad” diet that will give you heart disease and eventually kill you. Obviously, that’s not at all what you believe, but refusing to share the truth sends that message loud and clear.
Even if you feel like that lonely voice in the wilderness espousing the low-carb lifestyle, you know the truth because you’ve embraced it, absorbed it, and lived it. Now go let your light shine if for no other reason than to remain grounded in that truth for the rest of your long and healthy life. And if just a few others happen to open their eyes to the truth along the way, then you can feel proud that others will be out there sharing the truth, solidifying their grip on it, and joining us in this journey to better health that tens of millions more need to participate in.
If you do not stand firm…you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9
Jimmy, what a great post. I experience this on a daily basis with people that I care about, but it’s like looking at a deer in the headlights!
They just look at me like, “What?” Please keep up your good quest to get the Truth out about lowcarb. It has helped me to maintain regular blood sugars wonderfully. Your podcast interviews are awesome! Take care!
Jimmy,
You’re a good writer-enjoyed that! Reminds me of “Broad is the way….narrow is the path….
I’m always shocked to hear that anybody has changed anybody’s mind on anything. The people that you’re trying to influence have to be interested in what someone besides themselves thinks and secure enough to entertain a different view as possibly having merit. And then add all the institutions, etc., etc. that are working against us! Alot to overcome.
I keep thinking of the people who benefit MOST from LC-diabetics. It angers me when I see a commercial for a diabetic drug they say you can take while eating pie, cake, etc., etc. It’s so wrong. But people don’t want to give up things. Yet, those with diabetes should be the most willing because they have so much to gain by doing so. Do you have a column in a diabetes magazine or site? I think you do. Hope that’s reaching and getting thru to some people. Then ofcourse they’d mention it to their relatives and would be told “Oh, no! That will give you heart disease, kidney problems, etc.”
You are NOT alone with your message, and you do alot of good to many people, trust me. How to reach the masses? I don’t know. Sort of like God’s messengers saying “Turn back! You’re going the wrong way!! Please stop!” Maybe God has to open their eyes! Thank God, He opened mine. Low carb made total sense to me from the beginning!
You probably have better ideas than me, so please don’t give up. Or as you said, don’t give up on yourself and just start going with the flow because it’s easier, less frustrating. Thanks for all you do for us!
Hey-how about “Eating low carb will make you sexy!”
You’ve got to equate LC with a concept that people care more about than their health. I know one big thing with me is that carbs give me gas. Having gas is NOT sexy. Feeling bloated is NOT sexy. Something along those lines!
THANKS Lynn! The “sexy” angle is EXACTLY what this company is doing to market their low-carb products.
–Jimmy
I had to tell you this one other idea, which may be pretty lame, but…appeal to people’s laziness. Laziness is a human characteristic very prominent in many people, including myself sometimes. What could be easier than grabbing a piece of cheese, making eggs, or throwing a piece of meat in the oven. I like vegetables but always found them to be alot of trouble. All the washing, dicing, peeling, etc. LC is so simple and easy! It’s basic food for real people’s bodies, simple, unpretentious. What common man does not like a juicy steak? Isn’t he tired of feeling guilty for liking it? As if anyone in their right mind would prefer an apple to a steak! Real food for real people! And we’ve got the science to back it up.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and I’ve reached the conclusion that as long as “low-carb” is viewed as a type of diet, not enough people will ever listen. Too many people have been on diets that have failed, or they’ve regained all the weight they’ve lost and more. Too many people have bought into fad diets that have made them sick. Too many people put too much trust in their doctors. Too many think that it doesn’t matter what diet you choose as long as you stick to it, and that all weight-loss plans are equivalent.
However, vegetarianism is widely accepted as something that certain people do for health and/or ethical reasons. People who are vegetarians don’t consider themselves to be on a diet; they define themselves by what they don’t eat. I am sugar-addicted and wheat-sensitive (not enough to have celiac disease, but enough that I’m clearly allergic.)
I’m no longer counting carbs, following Atkins, or trying to lose weight. I simply don’t eat sugar, refined carbs, or high-carb fruit, vegetables or dairy. The weight is flying off, and if I never eat any of the above again, who knows what my stabilized weight will be, but that is what I’m meant to weigh. I’m convinced that if everyone did this — for their health — then 95% of people would eventually end up within a normal weight range, and most of the health problems plaguing our society would go away.
So keep on pitching it as a way of life, something you do for your health — not something that you do so you lose weight or people accept you. And do it in a way so that it’s eventually not considered a “diet,” but a corrective plan of action for the disease of obesity and its related health problems. Or a quasi-religious/moral choice that must be accepted and tolerated, if not respected, the way that vegetarianism is in many circles.