Meet Jimmy
Hey there and welcome to the “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog. I’m so glad you are here and I look forward to seeing a lot more of you now that you’ve found my little corner of the Internet. My name is Jimmy Moore and I have quite a story to tell you about the incredible change that has happened in my life beginning on January 1, 2004 that will forever alter the direction of my future forever…and for the better!
You see, I used to be a morbidly obese 410-pound man on a one-way ticket to an early grave! After decades of poor eating habits, lack of any meaningful exercise, and just a general apathy about trying to live healthy, it had all caught up to me and I felt trapped thinking this was just the hand I had been dealt with no hope for ever overcoming it. It’s a helpless feeling to think you will always be fat and there’s nothing you can do about it. And that’s EXACTLY what I felt for most of my life.
Don’t get me wrong, though. I had tried all of the diets out there that have been popular, including Slim Fast, taking Dexatrim pills, eating rabbit food all day long…but NONE of them fit the bill for me. And in 1999 I did an ultra low-fat (almost no-fat) diet because we have always been taught that eating fat makes you fat and I did surprisingly well on it losing 170 pounds in just nine months. But there was only one problem–I was constantly hungry which made me irritable, tired, and feeling like I was going out of my mind! And my stomach was so bloated and big I felt like I was a lot WORSE off than I was before my weight loss. One day my wife Christine asked me if I would go to McDonald’s and get her an extra value meal and I asked her if I could have a Big Mac meal “just this one time.” Anyone who has ever been fat knows what happened next.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that I gained all of that weight back from my low-fat diet experience and then some until I made my way up above 400 pounds towards the end of 2003. My wife Christine was so worried about my health and with good reason. Although I didn’t suffer any major health problems at the time, I was on prescription medications for cholesterol, blood pressure and breathing issues. Then, a series of events in the Fall 2003 led me yet again to give a serious look at losing weight again. But I didn’t want to feel like I did in 1999 with all the hunger and frustration that miserable low-fat diet gave me. So I turned to a sound and proven nutritional plan that would be satisfying and sustainable for helping me lose weight and keep it off for the rest of my life as I pursued a permanent and health lifestyle change. That’s when I decided to begin the Atkins diet.
Let me be clear what I mean when I say the Atkins diet. No, I didn’t just start eating less carbs and turn to a diet consisting of meat, eggs, cheese and a pound of bacon each day. Contrary to popular belief that has been spread in the mainstream media and from those so-called health “experts,” that is NOT the Atkins diet–not by a long shot! What I did do was read Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution from cover to cover so I could learn how and why this way of eating works and then I started applying it. Yes it was difficult in those first few days as I was going through some pretty major withdrawals from my 16-cans-of-Coke-a-day habit along with eating whole boxes of Little Debbie snack cakes at a time among other things. But I stuck with the Atkins dietary plan because I HAD to do something about my weight this time and NOTHING was gonna deter me this time around. My health DESERVED the chance to be good for a change.
By the end of the first month after beginning my New Year’s resolution to lose weight in January 2004, I had shed a total of 30 pounds. HOLY COW!!! At the end of the second month, another 40 pounds were gone and by the time I had been on Atkins for 100 days, over 100 pounds were gone forever from my body. Words simply cannot describe how I felt going through this incredible journey and I will never be the same again. Although it wasn’t an easy road by any stretch of the imagination, I am so thankful I found the healthy low-carb lifestyle because I went on to lose a total of 180 pounds that year. More importantly than my weight loss, though, is the fact that low-carb living gave me my health back. All of those prescriptions I was taking for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and breathing problems were all history within nine months of being on the Atkins diet. And to this day, I have yet to take another medication for any health ailment. WOO HOO! Who says your health doesn’t improve on the low-carb lifestyle?
As 2005 rolled around and people began to take notice of my very noticeable weight loss, they wanted to know how I did it. After probably telling my Atkins low-carb weight loss success story at least a bazillion times, I finally said I would create an online journal or web site to talk about what I did as well as work on a book about it for the benefit of helping others. I had never even heard of a blog when I decided to start one in late April 2005, but a friend of mine told me how incredibly easy it was to set one up and start writing right away. Writing has always been a passion of mine and I had been doing it ever since college before the Atkins diet. So it only made sense to combine my enthusiasm and skill for the written word with my newfound commitment to healthy living the low-carb way. It was a match made in heaven ready to take on the world! And I’ve never looked back.
Almost immediately people began flocking to my new blog which I had dubbed “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” (since I was living the low-carb life and a fan of the popular Ricky Martin song!). The blog has just continued to grow exponentially ever since and now garners around a quarter million monthly pageviews. In October 2005, I released my debut book entitled Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year. Then in November 2009, I released my second book related to low-carb living called 21 Life Lessons From Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb: How The Healthy Low-Carb Lifestyle Changed Everything I Thought I Knew to continue educating, encouraging, and inspiring others who are overweight, obese, and unhealthy to do what I did. Additionally, I have since started several more blogs, a twice-weekly podcast show that airs on iTunes featuring interviews with the experts, a popular YouTube video series with my wife Christine, and so much more! You can find out more about what all is happening with me at LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com.
The “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog serves to fulfill the purpose of educating, encouraging and inspiring you to reach new heights in your quest for amazing health and I am here to help you in any way that I can. Feel free to e-mail me anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANK YOU again for being here and I look forward to getting to know you and help you become that happy, healthy, and fit person you were always meant to be.
Hey Jimmy,
Be sure to let other low-carb sites know about your new blog address. ProteinPower.com still links to your blogger site.
Cheers,
Guy
THANKS Guy! I just changed to WordPress over the weekend and these things take time to update. I have a HUGE notice at the top of my Blogger blog, so hopefully people will get the message.
Jimmie, you are such an inspiration!!! If you can do it, so can I
YES YOU CAN, Sue!!!
Hi Jimmie,
Is everyting alright with you. It is not like you to not post in 2 weeks, without a note stateing why. I love reading your blog. I have been worried since you haven’t blogged since August 13th, when you changed over.
THANKS for your concern, but have you been reading my blog? I began attending FitCamp in Nashville, TN on August 17 and it will run through the August 31. I’ve been posting everyday videos from this event that includes people from across the country getting trained by a former “Biggest Loser” contestant named Isabeau Miller. With killer workouts in the morning and afternoon, it’s all the energy I can muster to do those videos much less try to do my traditional blogging, too. Can you not see the videos on your computer?
THANK YOU for reading and hopefully you can see my progress here at FitCamp. I’ll be back to regularly blogging in September.
By the way, I just checked and I’ve blogged 14 times since August 13th when you said I stopped blogging. That’s in eight days. I don’t think my blogging has slacked off much.
jimmy-
You’re an inspiration to all of us chunky people. You’re information is always spot on and well researched. Please don’t ever stop blogging you’re proving the world with an amazing ammount of useful content in one easy to find spot.
sorry ther must be something wrong with my computer. The last thing that come up under your blog is Aug.13th. Have fun and I will try and figure out what is going on.
Congratulations on your success! I’m not overweight and not a fan of Atkins, but I do know that too many carbs and not enough protein make me lethargic and gain weight. Thanks for presenting a healthier way to do a higher protein diet, and showing that you can keep the weight off if you’re willing to make a lifestyle change.
HI I AM A SINGEL MOM OF 2 AND I WOULD LOVE TO LOSE WIGHT I AM RIGHT AT 400 AND I HAVE BEN THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT I HAD LOST DOWN TO 350 BUT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SICK THEN I GAIN IT ALL BACK I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY WAY YOU MIGHT CAN HELP
Tammy, I’m happy to help any way that I can. Just find a low-carb plan you think you can stick with, do it exactly by the book, and then keep doing it. You can get there and my blog will provide you encouragement, information and support. Please visit my forum for ongoing support from other low-carbers.
–Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
Love your site and your recipes. My wife and I were talking about your low-carb experience and were wondering what kind of exercise plan you were on (if any) while you lost that initial 180 pounds?
THANKS Anthony! I detail in an entire chapter of my book Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year how I committed myself to DAILY cardio exercise. Walking the treadmill, doing the elliptical machine…ANYTHING to get me sweating, get my heart rate up and get me in the habit of regular exercise. It was instrumental in my success in 2004. My only regret is that I didn’t start lifting weights that year because of some trumped up fear I’d GAIN weight. Oh well, you live and learn and I’m correcting that now. THANK YOU again for your question!
–Jimmy
Congratulations on your weight loss success!
I have to recommend to you a great book I just finished reading – “The Truth About Beauty” by Kat James.
She also struggled with weight and health issues for years.
Please read this book. It will continue to change your life and health for the better. It is based on eliminating intake of carbs that spike your insulin levels, plus so much more about the best choices for healthy protein and fats, the benefits of buying organic when possible, and covers many areas of nutrition, lifestyle, and how to upgrade to better choices for food , beverages, and everyday body care products.
Cheers to better health for everyone.
THANKS Erin! Actually, I’ve not only read Kat James’ book, but I did a two-part interview with her earlier this year on my podcast show. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 now.
THANK YOU for writing!
–Jimmy
dear jimmy–just catching up on my email(recently returned from a medical mission in nicaragua) saw your interview by laura dolson and just wanted to comment.i am starting to detox off carbs. during my 1 week medical mission it was impossible to eat low carb.food is nearly the same price as here in the states but the average hospital worker makes only $i50/month.as a result most of the calories come from rice,corn and fruit and plantains.as a result many are fat but poorly nourished.there is a lot of anemia in both childbearing women and children.many c sections are done–and i noticed all the mom’s who had c sectiond were fat.i’m sure high blood sugar led to big babies that could not be delivered naturally. i am 52 years ols and quite slim–but only because i eat a low carb diet.i walk and do interval training and have just started weight training.one of the things that dismays me is the lack of good food choices at walking/running events.i recently took part in my 9th avon breast cancer walk. day 1 =26 miles and day 2 =18 miles.with all the carbs available a person could gain weight!no one needs to eat every 45 mins while walking.i try to bring nuts,turkey jerky and string cheese.i finished this year–very tired but looking much better than most of my fellow walkers.after 1 week of eating carbs i feel horible and can’t wait to detox! i don’t know why people react so violently in their opposition to the low carb lifestyle. i’m glad i found your site! lynn
WELCOME, Lynn! It’s great to have you here and I am available to help you anytime.
–Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
Just read your interview with Laura Dolson. I have been a fan of the Atkins Diet for years, i first followed it back in 2005 and lost 3 stone in 2 months unfortunately i had a Heart Attack in April 2006 and was told to stop the Diet which i did and promptly gained 4 stone, admittedly i also gave up smoking which i believe contributed to my weight gain. Since gaining the weight i have followed my Gp,s advice and tried all the diets recommended to no avail. So i am now back on the Atkins and slowly losing weight, I believe the medication i am on is slowing me down. Is this possible? Anyway i enjoyed reading about your experience and will be back to see more.
THANKS for finding me today, lubilu! Any medication can cause weight gain, but don’t let that discourage you. Just work the plan and it will work for you.
–Jimmy
I just recently started the induction phase of a low-carb diet. It’s not exactly like the Atkins, but similar. So far, I have been at it for only 6 days. I am so hungry. I eat a lot of protein and absolutely no carbs. I drink way more than 64 oz of water a day. I am so clueless as to how I should make this interesting for my tastebuds. I just want something to taste good, even if it is all protein. According to the diet plan, I can start adding carbs in several days. In the mean time, do you have any ideas of how I can spice up my food life? Thank you very much.
Sounds like your body is screaming for FAT. Email me and I’d be happy to explain more.
–Jimmy
I am so proud of you, but I had lost nearly a hundred pounds and have gained all of it back and then sum….I need to get back on the wagon…..I need you to preach to this choir and tell me to start again….I am soooo depressed, but scared of my weight now around 330. I need to start soon. Thanks for your example.
Allan, it sounds like you know exactly what to do–you just gotta do it! Think about why you gained back your weight. Was it because you kept doing low-carb and all the weight poured back on? Or did you allow yourself an indulgence here and there until they all added up to disaster? If you want this bad enough, then you’ll commit to a lifelong, permanent, and healthy lifestyle change–that’s what livin’ la vida low-carb is all about. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
–Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
thank you for your website. You really are an inspiration.
I only have to lose about 10 Kilos, but have problems with my cholesterol and I’ve found out I’m wheat intolerant. I’ve started baking wheat free, and or gluten free breads, but they are sooo full of carbs. I’ve put on 2 pounds in just two weeks. I LOVE bread, was brought up on home baked, home grown wheat, baked in a wood fire oven. I just need to be able to eat bread to feel normal. Do you know of any recipes for low-carb WHEAT FREE breads and cakes? I found wheat free recipes are even harder to find than gluten free.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Liz
Hey Liz! Unfortunately, there aren’t any good gluten-free, low-carb breads or recipes out there. It’s almost impossible to make bread both low-carb and without wheat. But can I tell you something? You can do without it and really NEED to do without it to be at optimum health. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
–Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
thank you so much for replying.
It’s nice to see that you take the time to talk to people like me. I’ve baked something like a low carb wheat- free bread. Turned out reasonably well. I love doing research on the net and I’m one of those who doesn’t give up easily. So, I’ll keep up trying.
Thanks again. Liz
Wow! this is really Amazing..
Congratulations Jimmy! One thing I could say, diet is in the kitchen not on any pills and other diet products…
Sweat plus Sacrifice equals Success!
THANKS KJ!
–Jimmy
Wow, Jimmy! And “Wow” is an understatement!! I can’t express to you how great that makes me feel to know that there are people out there re-claiming their life and body the healthy, right, and successful way!!! You are a very strong person and I wish you the best on your health and fitness journey : )
Jimmy,
I have just started Atkins, actually yesterday. I am enjoying it and not feeling too terribly hungry. I just wanted to ask you a question since you are a pro at this. Once you lose all of the weight you want to lose, do you then continue a “low” carb plan? for example, I’m hoping that my sweet tooth subsides, but I love pancakes and syrup. Are these things forever forbidden, or do I look for alternatives such as the Carbquik and sugar free syrup. I just know that if I continue to eat carbs after the plan I’ll most definitely put the weight back on. I am really hoping that, not only do I lose weight, but I stop craving sugar and carbs!!
Tracy, GREAT QUESTION!!! Your desire for sugary foods will go away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat something sweet that is made with a quality sugar alternative. If you can’t control the amount of sugary foods you eat, then it’s better to use these substitutions. For me, I don’t mind eating these replacements because I get all the enjoyment out of them that I did from the sugary foods that made me fat and unhealthy. You’re gonna do GREAT on this! KEEP IT UP!!!
–Jimmy
I come in here today with one purpose. To start the Atkins way of living, once and for all. (and for good)
I have lost as much as 70 lbs. on Atkins only to have my life turn around in a way, that made it just impossible to continue. (2 deaths)
No matter what tries to happen this time, I am ready for it, and won’t quit, until I reach my desired weight.
You see, my own life, is at stake this time, and I mean that literly.
I have helped so many others use Atkins, and they have continued, and are still at their desired weight, and yet, I am the heaviest I have ever been in my life, and things are not good.
I’m very ill, and even have splitting ankles from water retention, heart problems, and am generally always exhausted. I can walk across the room, and feel as if I’m ready to pass out from fatigue.
If I don’t win this time, I know I’m going to lose my life.
I have been to the doctors, and I’m getting my blood work done this coming week. I have my old Atkins 1 year journal, and plan to use it this time, and although it’s great to have it, I also need a place where I can go, to share my life on Atkins with someone, and I hope this is the place.
You must understand one thing about me, I NEVER EVER complain, and that seems to be one of my problems, I need to share my frustration with someone. I always offer help to others, but have never depended on anyone else to listen to me.
I need that. I know how frustrating all this can be, and sometimes I just need to say so, so I can get back to doing what I need to do. I can’t just live with the frustration by myself anymore.
I hope that I can read your posts, and others, and have the lifting up I need, and the “sounding off place” for my journey.
My Journey begins in the morning.
All the food is purchased, the tools are in place, the suppliments are ready.
MY LIFE begin!
Amen!
YOU CAN DO THIS, Sheila, and I’m here for you every step of the way. Let me know about your progress and if I can help you anytime. That’s why I’m here. God bless you!
–Jimmy
Hello
I,m so happy to see your blog about lowcarb. I read everyday swedish blogs about the subject and from theese I have been told about your. How much do people in USA talk about low carb? Do you have someone like Annika Dahlkvist? A good witch.
Hope your wife will be well soon. Good luck to both of you!!!
(I have never been fat, but I have had a bad stomach for 30 years. After a week low carb I was absolutely well).
Majsan
Well, I have all my test results, and I’m ready to start in the morning. Test were pretty good, and my swelling is down a lot.
I do need to find out more about how to use the vitamins that are available now. I’m so used to Atkins that I could use some help on what people use today.
I have about 2 weeks of Atkins left, so any help on what’s available would really help.
Suggestions would help, but also having a link to something would be great too.
Thank you,
Sheila
Sheila, I’m a little confused by your comments. What tests did you have run? What vitamins are you looking for and for what purpose are you wanting to take them? Why are you only going to be on Atkins for two more weeks? Is this not going to be a lifetime commitment to a healthy lifestyle?
I HIGHLY encourage you to join my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Discussion” forum and interact with other low-carbers who have been through or are currently going through the same experiences that you face. DON’T GIVE UP on low-carb…it will reap AMAZING benefits to your weight and health if you keep at it.
–Jimmy
Hello, Jimmy
I,m enjoying your website thank you for creating it, I ran across it because i,m looking for some information
on a business idea, I would like to open a no carb ice-
cream and bakery shop. I,m sure for my business proposal I would need information to support that there
is enough people are on a lowcarb diet or live a low-
carb life style would you have any idea were i might would find this information it would be so greatly appreciated. Rhonda from Jax.
As of the last statistics that I’ve seen, Rhonda, over half of all Americans are actively reducing their carbohydrate intake. Is that enough of a market for you?
–Jimmy
–Jimmy
Jimmy, mom and I were on the first or second cruise. we were celebrating my mom’s 90 B-day early as she just turned 91 yesterday You were so kind to her and gave her a rose. She smuggled it off the ship. Well I took of 95 lbs and have kept it off over a yr.now. I was in the hospital March 14 for three weeks,nursing home 12days,home for 11 and back to the hospital for 3 pts.of blood and more tests. I was ordered not to diet and have been restricted in the activity dept. I am determined to start up again and miss having had contact with all of you inspirational friedns. Glad I decided to get back on your site. Thanks for always being there. Dottie 39
Dottie, I DEFINITELY remember you and your sweet mom on our first cruise and missed you guys in January when we went on our second cruise. I’m SO proud of you for your weight loss and I know you’re going to keep it up. Get involved at my forum and continue to find encouragement, education, and inspiration here anytime. I’m always happy to help any way that I can. We’d LOVE to see you on our 2010 cruise to the Bahamas.
THANKS for dropping by!
–Jimmy
Jimmy,
Okay, okay. I am doing this. I have been hovering over the “6 small meals a day” just to receive no results. I am not gaining nor losing.
I am going to do this. I am 174.50 lbs and starving. I am making a commitment to low carb and read your forums, blogs and website. I agree with a lot of your content.
I am scarred, but ready to go. Cheer me on. I need it. I am not really sharing this with family, friends or clients because I am doing it for myself.
Peg
Peg, YOU CAN DO THIS! You should not be hungry if you are eating a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb lifestyle. Re-read DR. ATKINS NEW DIET REVOLUTION and do it by the book to see the success you are looking for. And guess what? You’re NOT gaining.
Hang in there!
–Jimmy
just want to say thanks for starting this website.. ive been exercising for 1 week today, and started the low-carb eating just yesterday, on my way to losing 50 pounds.. i need, need need to do this once and for all!! i’ve been reading all these posts the last hour and it has convinced me it will work..
Peg… just wondering how you’re doing since you’re just starting , too? good luck !!
Gina, you’ve got this! Work the plan and it will work for you.
–Jimmy
thank you… i’m looking forward to reporting on my success. i’m only 5′ tall and weigh 164 (fluctuates w/in 4 lbs. daily) dont quite understand that, either! i hope to have great results like the people on this blog. i appreciate you being devoted to still writing everyday to inspire others!! God Bless!
Hi Jimmy, just found your blog and have been so encouraged reading about your success and basking in your enthusiasm. I lost 100 pounds on Atkins about 9 years ago, but just when I started feeling “normal” I decided I could eat “normally” and that’s when it all fell apart. I have encouraged so many locarbers and shared my recipes but was so discouraged at gaining all that weight back I just sort of gave up. About 2 weeks ago, after many false starts, I decided to just DO IT. I was so close to making an appointment with a bariatric surgeon, but then I said to myself…you did it once, you can do it again. To get a really good start, I’ve been doing Atkins shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a good balanced locarb meal for dinner. It’s working. I’m not hungry most of the time and I’ve lost 19 pounds in about 2 weeks. I just want to say that I know it works. Not only does it work, but gone are the joint aches, the swollen ankles, the lethargy. Ketosis is awesome! Keep up the good work. I’ll be cheering you on.
Way to go, Kath! I’ll add your low-carb blog to my next big new blogs update.
–Jimmy
Thanks for the quick response, Jimmy and thanks for offering to add our link. Eggs.meat.repeat is a co-effort with my daughter Allison (she’s the awesome graphic artist) and we will add a link to your blog as well. Sugar-free hugs to you!
THANKS so much, Kath!
–Jimmy
Hi, I came across your blog while doing my usual nutrition searches on Google. Thanks for sharing your story in-depth – I always love reading longer term success stories (I see you’ve been on your diet plan for several years now)! However, I have a few questions.
1) You mention how you lost weight on both low fat and low carb, but feel less hungry on low carb. While losing weight on both plans, did you reduce portion sizes (and thus total calorie intake)? I am currently of the opinion that calorie reduction is preferable in weight loss compared to just low fat or low carb based on my own successful experience with calorie reduction *. I feel very hungry if I don’t have fat and very weak when I don’t have carbs – but felt fine with simple moderate calorie reduction, and still lost the weight as well.
* For reference, I am a 5′2″ 115 pound female, and I lost 25 pounds in half a year on the lower calorie plan (I had gotten up to 140 pounds in grad school, technically overweight per the BMI). In the half-year since my weight loss (which itself took a half-year), I have steadily maintained my weight on an 1800 calorie per day diet (the weight loss period had me on 1200-1500 calories per day and LOTS of uphill treadmill use to burn 300 more, so kind of 900-1200 per day then taking that into account).
2) What constitutes low carb in your view? I am a 5′2″ 115 pound female who presently eats 100-150 carbs per day on average (I am the rare TYPE ONE form of diabetic caused by autoimmune response and NOT bad diet, and thus have had to count my carbs daily out of necessity for glucose reasons since the tender age of ten). From what I’ve gathered on other sites, this is lower than average, but still not low enough to be considered low carb.
3) You mention how you do treadmill exercise. How are you able to maintain the endurance while on low carb? Personally, I can no longer run an eight minute mile on the treadmill since I reduced my carb intake four months ago (I am maintaining the same calorie intake as I did then, just distributed differently among fats and carbs). In fact, not only am I unable to run an eight minute mile now on low carb, but I get winded after just a quarter of a mile. Yet if I eat rice an hour beforehand, which I did two weeks ago as a test, I can still run a mile easy!
4) It looks like you are also against the idea of the “cheese and bacon” low carb idea, which I can appreciate. I think there are some great low carb foods that offer much greater health benefits – spinach, shrimp, and almonds, to name a few (three foods I eat lots of!). Does your low carb diet include foods like those? Mine does, and while I can’t run endurance well on them, they’ve helped me build muscle nicely (I am building muscle better on a more low carb, high protein diet, which makes me feel a little less bad about my cardio drop!).
Thanks for your time!
FANTASTIC questions, Khendra, and THANK YOU for writing! I’m happy to address your very insightful remarks:
1) While losing weight on both plans, did you reduce portion sizes (and thus total calorie intake)?
On low-fat YES, but on low-carb absolutely NOT! In fact, I have yet to count the first calorie on my low-carb plan because quite frankly you don’t have to. Especially when I had a LOT of weight to lose, calorie-counting was just unnecessary as long as I was getting plenty of fat in my diet, moderate amounts of protein, and very few carbs. Many studies show the satiety of eating this way is so much more superior than low-fat, high-carb diets. If you are happy eating a few more carbs, then go for it. We are all different and respond differently to various strategies. Keep in mind this way of eating isn’t just about simple weight loss, but improving health as well. That’s a message I try to hammer home early and often. Forced calorie-restricted diets make me too hungry.
2) What constitutes low carb in your view?
While you are certainly eating lower-carb than the Standard American Diet, triple-digit carb counts are MUCH TOO HIGH for me to call them “low-carb.” I think anything below 50g daily of carbs is “low-carb.” Anything 50-100g daily is probably more aptly considered “controlled-carbohydrate.” Here’s a YouTube video my wife Christine and I did on this subject.
3) How are you able to maintain the endurance while on low carb?
I play about 2 hours of volleyball twice a week now for my exercise and have all the energy I’ll ever need. Make sure you eat something high-fat and moderate protein prior to your workout plan and eat to satiety (not concerned about calories). If you are winded and having trouble with your workouts (which I don’t think a treadmill is necessarily the best way to exercise, but that’s another subject), then perhaps have some melon or berries prior to your workout. Rice, pasta, and other garbage carbohydrates are never a good idea to consume.
4) Does your low carb diet include foods like those?
Oh sure, I eat all kinds of foods from time to time and like to switch it up. Check out my daily low-carb menus at my menus blog.
Hope this helps! THANKS so much for writing!
–Jimmy
Let me tell my story of the Atkins Diet. My name is Phil and I’m from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I weighed 330 pounds at 5′9 in 2004. I also tried every diet known to man to no avail. I picked up a copy of Dr Atkins book and read it. I went to my doctor for a physical and blood work and my doc told me I needed to bring my blood pressure and cholestorl level down and that I was far too over weight. Well that next day I went on the diet. In 3 months I lost 40 pounds the next month I lost another 30 pounds and in 1 year I lost a total of 140 pounds. I went back to the doctor for another physical and let me tell you my doc was floored. He told me in all his 30 years of practace he had never seen a person loose as much weight as I did in a year and my blood pressure and and everything else plumeted to normal leveals. Now my doc highly encourages what I did. It was amazing. And I have kept the weight off.
Kudos to you, Phil! CONGRATULATIONS!!! E-mail me your story with before and after photos to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I’d love to highlight it at my blog. THANKS!
–Jimmy
Jimmy,
Absolutely love the site and your tireless motivation! I just heard the segment with Nora Gedgaudas, so I looked up her site. She another person out there that thinks we should be eating meat from grassfed cows only. Just thought I’d copy what I wrote http://robbwolf.com/ (a crossfit diet guy). I originally came to this conclusion after reading this article http://www.biblelife.org/beef.htm.
Keep up the good work Jimmy! Laters,
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Rob,
I used to be sold on this grassfed idea until I discovered a couple of interesting things.
First, I learned about how indigenous peoples eat and how the scientists think paleolithic people ate (i.e. they supposedly went for the fattiest portions and often discarded muscle meat in favor of visceral fat, marrow, brain, organs, etc).
I then looked at the actual fatty acid profiles of different meats on the http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ site. Here I discovered that grassfed meat definitely has fewer fatty acids but the profiles paints an interesting picture.
For example, Bison (top sirloin) has 1.9g of Saturated fat, 1.7g of Monounsaturated fat, and .215 of Polyunsaturated fat (with the ratio of omega 6 to 3 being 3.4 to 1). For the same size serving, a feedlot cow has 3.6g of Saturated fat, 4g of Monounsaturated fat, and .46g of Polyunsaturated fat (with the ratio being 3 to 1). Granted, the total fat is higher on the feedlot cow, but it appears to me that both the sat/mono and 6/3 ratios are better than on the grassfed Bison.
As an aside, the total fat of tongue, marrow, brain, etc. is far higher than you’ll see on grassfed meat as well.
The only negative I see is that grainfed beef seems to have a somewhat higher proportion of palmitic acid as compared to stearic acid, but we really aren’t talking about that much total fat difference with these it seems.
I know that they test the feedlot meat frequently for hormones and it has to meet many strict standards. Plus, we appear to receive a much worse dose of hormones from plastics and other man-made sources. As far as pesticides go, it looks like vegetables and fruit are much worse offenders of that than any meat source.
So, assuming we’re designed to prefer fat over lean meat, have a good ratio of omega 6 to omega 3, and have a higher percentage of mono over sat, how can feedlot meat be bad?
Thanks for a great blog Rob!
JohnG
THANKS so much John!
–Jimmy