You Are A ‘Total Moron’ If You Do The Atkins Diet, Health Book Authors Assert

Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman let their vegan anger out in new book

Okay, somebody tell me something. Why in the world would two very attractive women write a book about weight loss when neither one of them have spent a day in their life struggling with their weight? Hmmmmm? What a crock of you know what!

Well, that’s exactly what Los Angeles, CA-natives Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman have done with their in-your-face attempt to explain to us why women who are overweight got that way called “Skinny Bitch”. Well, at least they can describe themselves accurately!

If that extremely profane and totally unnecessary title doesn’t grab your attention right away, then perhaps the world’s longest subtitle might:

“A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous”

Okay, so this isn’t gonna be the same old kind diet book we have all become accustomed to in the past. That in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing per se, but it does appear these two ladies have a rather large axe to grind and you quickly figure that out as soon as you start reading this book with all of its *&#@% *#$#* slamma-jamma graphic idiolect.

In an obscenity-laden wasteland of literary refuse, Barnouin and Freedman, one a former model who has studied nutrition and the other a former agent for Ford Model who had studied diet and nutrition for more than a decade, quickly let you know what they think about a wide variety of health-related topics.

Some are ones that I would agree strongly with them about (“Soda is liquid Satan”) and others I obviously disagree strongly with them on (“You are a total moron if you think the Atkins Diet will make you thin”).

Well, ladies, as much as I agree with you about sugary sodas, I guess you’re gonna have to call me a “moron” because that’s exactly what the Atkins diet did for me! I was transformed from a 410-pound ticking time bomb on the verge of a certain heart attack down to an athletic and healthy 225-pound man ready to live a long and healthy life in just ONE year. Now I’m “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” (my autobiographical book is available at Amazon.com) and I’ll never be the same again!

But for Barnouin and Freedman, none of that matters to them because they are radical members of the minority in this country who chooses to eat a vegan-only diet. No meat, no eggs, no dairy, no coffee, not even diet soda because they oppose artificial sweeteners, too — NOTHING that even touches or comes close to meat! They’re even boycotting “beets” because they sound too much like meats! LOL!

Their recipe for healthy living includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (all of which are acceptable on the low-carb lifestyle by the way!) and now they’re trying to convince women that they too should turn to the vegan lifestyle to become what they’ve always wanted to be — skinny, happy, and ready to take on life.

Oh brother! If the language and attitude presented in this book are even just a smidgen of what Barnouin and Freedman are like in real life, then they can take their good looks and ram their pretty little heads down a hole in the ground because nobody’s gonna want to be around them. Could it be that meatless diet of theirs is actually making them cranky and irritable because they’re constantly hungry ALL THE TIME?! Hee hee!

Freedman admits that she started down the vegetarian road when she received some literature from the radical leftist anti-meat group PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals!). She was so moved by the “torture” of the animals and convinced herself that people were getting sick because of eating meat that she decided to write this book so she could help others ”make intelligent and educated decisions about food.”

Awww, ain’t that just soooo sweet of her? She cares so much about the fat people getting sicky wicky that she wanted to help. Give me a BLANKITY-BLANK break (see, even THEY are rubbing off on me after reading their disgusting book!).

The “Skinny Bitch” approach can be narrowed down to one simple statement: Starve yourself until nobody can stand to be around you anymore and then write a book sharing every single little thought that you would like to tell someone if they were there to listen to you.

If the “Skinny Bitch” lifestyle is something you can live with and be happy with, then I say GO FOR IT! Do it for the rest of your irritable life and become that thin person you’ve always wanted to be. Nobody will want to be around you, but at least you’ll be skinny!

According to the sample menu, you get to eat fresh apple juice with oatmeal, nuts, and fruit for breakfast, grilled soy cheese with a tomato slice and small salad for lunch, and fake ground beef, vegan mashed potatoes, with corn and spinach for supper.

Hey, where’s the snacks? Where’s the sweets? “Skinny Bitch”, please tell me there’s more! There’s gotta be more to life than eating this way every single day, of every single week, of every single month, of every single year, for THE REST OF MY LIFE!

AAAAAAACK! Oh my goodn
ess, I’m awake now. Gee, that was the WORST nightmare I’ve ever had!

2-20-06 UPDATE: Uh oh, I’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest of vegans now. Read this gem of a response I got today!

Newbirth

I guess I’m a moron then because I improved my health and blood lipids and lost weight.
Romac

people, people, people
bickering and conflict is not how you sway others to your cause

i did the low-carb thing about a year and a half ago and lost 26lbs in a couple months:
bodybuilding.com thread with pics: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=311486
and the ms word doc diary also with pics: http://rmackie40.home.comcast.net/FatLossDiary.doc

it definately works
i don’t believe for one second that it’s the healthiest path, but it sure does work.

one thing you all may find interesting is that i decided to go vegan about 2 weeks ago…so i’m basically going from no carbs to all carbs. I believe i’ve learned enough about nutrition and fatloss on my journey to get the results i want from either diet. Why the change you may ask? Well it was quite accidental really. I rented a music concert dvd, and one of the special features was called “meet your meat” I thought it was a pun on the rockstar “meet and greet” but it was not. It was a short PETA documentary on commercial farming standards. See it here if, like me, you’d rather make decisions based on knowledge: http://www.petatv.com/veg.html

just like my decision to go low carb, it had absolutely nothing to do with health concerns.

i went low-carb to look pretty
i went vegan because i had no other ethical choice

we’re all on our own paths, good luck on all of yours
Science4u1959

Bickering and conflict is what these “ladies” initiated in the first place with their imbecilic notions and dietary delusions – not to mention their insulting “style” (or, more correctly, the lack thereof).

Incidentally, the consumption of soy, the vegan’s favorite “superfood”, has been conclusively linked to several serious illnesses and health problems, including several forms of cancer.
Romac

lol
as has consumption of meat and dairy products been positively linked to a whole plethora of ailments, not the least of which being high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer caused from omega 6 and dioxins, and liver readings go through the roof when high amounts of meat protien are ingested…don’t forget ecoli and mad cow disease.

not to mention the theoretical implications of the tons and tons of growth hormones and antibiotics fed to livestock.

but improved health is really just a fringe benefit of a vegan diet IMO

I chose a vegan diet for these reasons, in this order…
1. reduce the horrendous suffering generated by standard factory farming practices
2. reduce the absolutely insane consumption of resources used to produce meat and dairy products (did you know to put 1 lb of beef on your plate it takes 2500-5000 gallons of water? that the 2.5 acres of grain it takes to put 1 lb of beef on your plate can feed 25 people? Did you know that if the usa reduced meat consumption by 10% it would free up enough grain to feed every person on the planet that will die this year from starvation?
3. improved health through guaranteed lower cholesterol, lower bloodpressure, improved liver function, vastly lower rates of cancer especially colon and prostate cancer

you’ll notice that although the health benefits are huge, they are at the bottom of my list of reasons for adopting a vegan diet.

what are the reasons for high protein diets? to look pretty while raping the planet and torturing billions of sentient beings?
Science4u1959

Why don’t you do some scientific research before touting such “facts”?

If you would, then you will learn the exact opposite of what you are writing here, I am afraid.

We are happy that you are happy to be a vegan. I hope you will live to be 150 and prove us all wrong. Have some soy nuts on me. But please don’t give us this kind of information. Not because we are close-minded, but because we are aware of REAL scientific facts, not mere propaganda. Because that’s what it is. Don’t believe in it, for your own sake.

If you come up with REAL scientific studies, hard facts, and not PETA or other worthless, fabricated propaganda, we’ll be most willing to listen.

Your goals are lofty. Your method, data and reasonings are fatally flawed, my friend.
Ted Demopoulos

Fake ground beef for dinner!

I don’t eat fake anything! It’s immoral. If god had wanted us to eat fake meat he would have made fake animals to hunt.

Now how ’bout those semi-vegetarians that will eat anything without eyes? Do they eat potatos? – they have “eyes.”

Hi, my name is Ted and I eat meat, lot’s of it. And when I restrict carbs my body is happy too.
Jenny H

“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” – Jonathan Swift

What these women are doing is explaining, be it rather bluntly, what’s wrong with what we’re eating and why most of the population is overweight. Is it so “extreme” to avoid foods that consist mostly of fats, refined sugars, and animal proteins?

And they DON’T promote starvation. The end of the book consists of many satisfying, healthy meals that do what food is supposed to do—supply you with clean energy that doesn’t clog your arteries, contain countless cancer-causing agents, or cause harm to animals raised in corporate-run factory farms.
Science4u1959

Are you referring to Dr. Robert C. Atkins with your quote?

Somehow I doubt it

Indeed, there is nothing wrong with avoiding refined (any, for that matter) sugars, and there is also nothing wrong with avoiding unhealthy fats. Even healthy veggie proteins are fine. Low-carbers never said anything to the contrary.

What is however very wrong is the notion that the vegan diet is the ONLY way to eat naturally and healthily. That is simply not true, and that’s a scientifically proven fact. Decades worth of peer-reviewed, solid scientific evidence is not something to be simply ignored. Unless you are a close-minded fanatic, of course.

If you are happy to be a vegan, fine. We have nothing against vegans, absolutely nothing, other than rock-solid evidence that it’s NOT healthy. But even that is your problem, not ours. Your (health)loss, not ours.

We do however have a major problem with individuals, vegan or otherwise, that prove to be totally close-minded, threatening, intimidating, demagogues or even complete terrorists that bomb people’s cars, beat up researchers, and other such utterly anti-social abnormalities. The fine and good directors of PETA and PCRM for example. You know, those wonderful, oh-so-compassionate organizations that are proud to be monitored by the FBI, and love to have extremists like Ornish on their board.

Oh, by the way, as for your data: can you point me to ONE (that’s 1) tightly-controlled, randomized clinical trial that shows conclusive proof that the causation of clogged arteries has anything to do with animal protein, animal fats, or dietary cholesterol, or total serum cholesterol, or even any combination thereof?

I am asking for only ONE. Just 1. And please don’t come up with some epidemiological study that can be interpreted in a zillion ways. Real hard clinical evidence, solid, proven facts is all that we ask, not propaganda.

Surely in all those decades of (vegan) research SOMEBODY should have found some conclusive, solid proof, right?

Sigh.
Jenny H

Hey there,

I agree with you on many points. First of all, I practice a low carb diet myself. I don’t consume much rice, bread, potatoes or pasta. It just seems like filler, and there’s no sense in gobbling it down.

I also agree that narrow-mindedness is a turn-off.

We could go head to head throwing studies at each other until we’re red in the face, but that isn’t going to get us anywhere.

I would be interested in a scientific study that proves the vegan diet is unhealthy.

The quotation referred to the authors of Skinny Bitch, who have been catching serious flack, and whom I consider ingenious in their own right. Dr. Atkins was also a genious–at making money.
odh202

Here are some “facts” that are the product of recent scientific studies:
STUDY #1: “Meat Eaters Are Beefier”: If you want to keep the weight down, switch to a meat-free diet, scientists said today (3/15/06). Researchers who studied 22,000 people over 5 years found they all put on weight, but meat-eaters who changed to a vegetarian or vegan diet gained the least. Oxford University professor Tom Key said, “The lowest weight gain came in people with high intake of carbohydrates and low intake of protein.”
STUDY #2: “Thin Support For Low-Carb Diets”: Low carbohydrate, high protein diets such as Atkins may help shed weight quickly, but researchers warn that they can be unhealthy. The diets can cause constipation, diarrhea, headache, bad breath and ketosis, which causes raised levels of ketones, or acids, in the body, said Lyn Steffen and Jennifer Nettleton, of the University of Minnesota, writing in the British Medical Journal.
jenn

I can’t do low-carb long-term. I’ve tried several times and it’s too restrictive and I never have liked meat much. I can, however, live the vegan lifestyle. I don’t find it restrictive and I feel better and lighter!
DianaViada

Wow, you seem to have some serious anger issues. The “Skinny Bitch” lifestyle has completely improved my life – in every way. I dropped an initial 8 pounds in 3 weeks doing what everyone KNOWS you are supposed to do: By eating healthy! Eating fruit, veggies, soy etc.. and exercising as often as you can! Mass amounts of animal fat (dead flesh), caffein ( we know it’s bad for you), sugar (the devil), alcohol (duh), and dairy products ( you’ll learn is: EW!) is NOT going to allow you to lose weight, and you know it! It’s obviously your choice what you do if you want to have more energy, clear up your skin, and fit into tohe jeans of your choice, but I have a feeling everyone who’s bashing this book and it’s Vegan approach, just doesn’t have the willpower to actually follow through long term. No, it isn’t easy to overcome some of these intense addictions to sugar and coffee, but again, you know it aint good for you!!! You cannot do yourself any harm by following what these women suggest. And so what if they never had real weight issues? So what if they initially learned about the ultimate fate of the hamburger in front of them from a PETA mailing? So what if the book reads like a research paper? It’s still all there – Blunt, obvious, and to the point facts. Take it or leave it. And I think the language they use IS necessary. Sometimes that’s what we need – a little kick in the rear (which is still getting smaller!!) And who the hell doesn’t want to be a SKINNY BITCH??? Come on now, you picked up the book for a reason…
lynnagem

I just bought the book yesterday. I was a little caught off guard that their approach is vegan, but I read on. I like to get the information first and then decide if it’s for me or not.
So, I decided to keep an open mind and try one of the meals. Actually I went to the store and spent over $100 on veggies and fake meat. I’m not cutting out meat and dairy completely. I believe in variety in food. I’ll probably eat real meat and dairy once or twice a week at first. I’ll tell you why…Veggies are good for us period. I want to be healthier so I’m adding more fruits and veggies and cutting a lot of meat out. I ate one of the meals tonight and it was delicious. I ate a fake burger with portabello mushrooms and a whole wheat bun with fake mayo. I had a salad with it also. I feel very full but am not in pain like I usually am after eating a big assed burger. If I loose weight and feel better isn’t that enough proof?
Like I said, I’m keeping an open mind and I may convert and I may just incorporate some of this in my diet.
But try not to get all bent out of shape about their approach. It’s right up my alley of communication and I believe it can help me look at food differently.

If you don’t want to be vegan, don’t buy the damn book.
private

First, let me start by saying to you Mr. Moore…Congratulations! As you well know… you took steps to improve the quality of your life and set out to help others do the same (by writing your book.)

I do believe, however, that the authors of Skinny Bitch, Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are just trying to do the same.

So you believe in low carb and they believe in Veganism. So what! Does it really matter? Clearly their book and point of views are not ones that suit you … just as consuming any food products that originate from animals is not for me. Again… so what!

The beauty of this life is we are all free to read and believe what we want…

Low carb for you and Vegan for me.

Reading all these insane comments about this study and that study… Your and idiot, I’m an idiot… blah, blah, blah…

Absolutely asinine.

I remember the day a co-worker came to work claiming she would never eat animal products again (hmmm…I wonder what book she could have been reading…) I vividly recall saying to her, “I could never go without eating meat…those animals are serving their purpose…being raised to provide food and nutrition for us.” Well… let me tell you that reading Skinny Bitch has changed my life. I’m 37 and an educated person and I made a decision to change my life the way I saw fit.

So to all you high and mighty people out there… be you meat-eaters or vegans…get over yourselves!

It’s no wonder this world is in the state it’s in…everyone is always trying to shove/impose their “beliefs” on one another! Be it religion, politics or eating habits. Grow up people!

FYI… the book does make reference to
snacks and sweets (Fig Newmans and Midel Vanilla Snaps to name a couple.)
The authors also state to make your own decisions, do your own research etc… And for the record…I have never felt like I was starving. As for the “sample” menu it is exactly that… a “sample”. There are those out there in this great big world that are not creative enough to just dive in and become a vegetarian or vegan…they need “samples” and “guides” to get them started. I’m sure you’ve included them in your book too. :0)

To all reading this comment…Take care in this wild world we live in…
Katie and Nate

Someone asked for ONE study that conclusively proves that eating animal products isn’t healthy. Read “The China Study” is just one such. It isn’t funded by PETA. It is extremely reputable. Read it pleeease…and then post a ridiculous scathing review based on junk science, of course. Don’t forget to plug your book in it, too.
Jimmy Moore

I’m not interested in reading science-fiction, Katie and Nate. But I’m sure you’ll find Anthony Colpo’s take on “The China Study” quite illuminating. Look it up!
StephBeach

OK we get it…sheesh
The book has some good advice and some not so accurate some. In general, you made your point about animals and pesticide and such. But for crying out loud, Ladies. It seems to consume 50% or more of your book.
I sympathize with the animal’s plight but I bought YOUR book on learning how to get thinner.
I will use some of the ideas here but you should have ‘done your soap box’ then got onto the real reason people want to buy this book. I guess if you did, it would have been 15 pages.
Regrets to you that you are not going to be on my ‘author’ list.
Stephanie Beach
Emily

Hi, I am a recent meat eater turned vegeterian-not vegan-after reading Skinny Bitch. I had been vegeterian before, but I started eating meat again about 3 years ago. The skinny bitch book just made so much sense to me, I had to go back to my roots. Now, my beef with you is, you argue that by following this ‘diet’ you will starve yourself and become a bitch. Now, that just isn’t true. Number one, you don’t ever starve yourself, they tell you that when you need to snack, you should have nuts, nuts are totally yummy, and they are super good for you, they also fill you up, so no starving there! Number two is this ‘diet’ does not, make you become a bitch. You only become a bitch if you were one before. If anything, this book opens up your eyes to yoga, and I practice yoga, and I’ll tell you first hand it is probably one of the best things I’ve done with my life. All the stress, all the bitchy-ness that’s been going on in my life is completely forgotten about, and completely let out when I do yoga. The authors of Skinny Bitch tell you that, also. If I’m correct, I believe they even have a whole chapter on why they called the book Skinny Bitch, and why it’s wrong to be a bitch, and how to not become a bitch. I hope I didn’t cause any controversy, but I just wanted to let you know I was almost repulsed with your post, and I just wanted to let you know how I felt. I know you didn’t mean anything by it, but yeah, hope you have a wonderful life! Namaste.
Jimmy Moore

THANKS for your comments, Emily. My biggest “beef” (all pun intended!) with the SB girls is their open ridicule of the Atkins diet because it displays their ignorance for all the world to see. If they actually met someone on a low-carb diet like me, then their attitude about this wonderfully healthy way of eating would be so much different. THANKS for contributing to the discussion. Take care!
Holly

Just because two vegans made a wrongful generalization about you doesn’t mean you have to retaliate by making a wrongful generalization about the rest of vegan population.

Also, most “scientific” research usually has some bias to begin with: if you are looking to prove something, you’re probably going to prove it one way or another — how can we trust any of these findings, if they are being funded by people who are only interested in an outcome that will benefit them?

But, thanks for insulting my lifestyle and personal choices. It’s always appreciated.
Jimmy Moore

I’m glad to see you agree with me about those two vegan chicks who bashed Atkins. THANKS for being an enlightened vegan and not an ignorant one like those two are.
Harriet

dear mr moore,

Firstly I would like to say that I have just spent the last 30min reading your article about the “Skinny Bitch” and every single reply you recieved. . .wow.

Ok. I am a vegan. And like many other vegans, I have chosen this lifestyle because of the meat/dairy industry and my empathy for animals. When I became vegan, I DID lose a substantial amount of weight and also found myself to be much more aware about the products I consume and now I generally eat very healthy. The great thing about eating a vegan diet is that you can get all the minerals and vitamins needed for a healthy diet, without eating animal.

Unfortunately though, this last statement is not true for Atkins Dieters.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I am sure you are a much more diet aware person now and you have been able to maintain your weight since.

The biggest problem with the Atkins diet, though, is that purpose is to change your metabolism and lose weight easily by eating foods high in protein and limiting foods high in carbohydrates, which tend to raise blood sugar levels the most. The diet works on the principle of ketosis – a process by which excess, stored body fat can be burned (as well as protein), resulting in weight loss. Ketosis occurs whenever the body lacks a sufficient supply of carbohydrates, a prime source of energy. During ketosis, carbohydrate-depleted metabolisms turn to other sources, including ketones from stored fat or protein, to satisfy daily energy needs. The first bit of weight loss is water weight, the carbohydrate that’s in your muscles, and then as you progress on the diet you will lose some fat, but you will also lose muscle mass.

Carbohydrates are what is known as brain food. It is the only form of energy that your brain can consume and it is absolutely essential to have a good amount of carbs in a healthy diet.
Cutting out vital food groups is not a healthy way of losing weight. Of course you will have lost weight, but it wasn’t the right kind and your muscles would have suffered greatly from it.

Sorry, back to the “Skinny Bitch” book review…

I have not read this book, nor do I really want to, but I can understand what these girls are going on about.
Although sad in my eyes, the vegan lifestyle is not something that is highly admired in our society. We are looked down upon as freaks, lefties, hippies and constantly have to defend ourselves(even to our own friends!) for our eating choices.

Now if you were a 12-year-old girl who has a bit of a weight complex and you picked up a book written by two stunning girls who are telling you how you could look just like them and forever be happy, most probably, you would copy their style. Not because you care, but because its “cool.”

This is the part that angers me the most, because these girls have taken a very serious ethical lifestyle and made it pop.

Yes, in regards to some of their eating habits, I do laugh (the whole beet thing…??)

But this is not what the rest of the vegan society thinks. We are not vegan to get skinny and we are definitely not supporting starvation.

Its a shame that you had to turn to generalisation when reviewing this book, rather than researching to conclude that these two girls are on their own weird, attention-seeking planet and they are not role-model vegans.

In a way they are right about “helping others make intelligent and educated decisions about food”, but their reasons for doing so seem completely absurd and insulting towards vegans. (well, i feel insulted)

I can see your anger, but please direct it towards the idiots who said the stuff and not the whole vegan society as a whole.

Maybe rather than critisising the mistakes they made, why not suggesting alternative theories and how they could have gotten their point across in a lot less shallow manner.

I could go on for ages, but as stated before, its not nice when your ethical decisions, only there to help improve the value of life, constantly get slated because people dont agree. We are not trying to start a war here, we are just giving people a different perspective upon which they are free to make their own decisions.

I hope I have opened some windows for contemplation…

thanx
xx
Jay

Harriet… first off, it’s evident by your own testimony that you weren’t guided by health considerations when choosing veganism.

You’re severely misinformed. You couldn’t be more wrong claiming one can get all the vitamins and minerals one needs from plant foods alone. You’d do well to read the May 18, 2006 review on amazon.com for T. Colin Campbell’s “The China Study” which should edify you quite a bit in this regard. For now suffice it to say you can’t find any vitamins A and D, DHA and EPA and few important amino acids in plant foods which are present in meat and fish.
You’re wrong about the Atkins regimen — an important component of it is to eat lots of vegetables and some fruit. Where did you get your ideas about this diet from? Ketosis is a perfectly healthy and even desirable metabolic process. It doesn’t burn body protein. After an initial periods where most bodyweight lost consists of water, virtually all weight one loses is fat. Do you know you slip into ketosis every night as you sleep? It happens every time each one of us fasts more than several hours! Ketosis, if employing by a ketogenic diet, is the process that incurs the least loss of muscle mass than ANY other dietary regime.

Your notions that carbohydrates are the only known form of energy the brain can consume and that carbs are essential in the human diet are totally false. Nutritional science has proven people can live for extended periods with no carbs at all.

I really suggest you look beyond the literature produced by vegan and animal rights groups like PETA and PCRM for your nutritional info. These outlets aren’t reliable conduits of such info. Everything they say must immediately be scrutinized for bias. Do yourself a favor and search for what independent researchers like Uffe Ravnskov and Anthony Colpo have to say on these topics.

It’s impossible for most of us to admire a lifestyle that deprives us of many very important nutrients and has been proven time and time over in both the scientific literature and anecdotal evidence to be unhealthful and less than optimal for most people. Veganism has also been proven through anthropological and biological studies to be at variance with how every human society has ever eaten. I suggest the ideological vegans look inward and figure out why they’re considered freaks and such.

You’re admitting the choice that 12 yr. old girl would make would be unwise. That’s where parental education enters the picture. The inculcation of self-esteem and sensible eating habits in pre-adolescents are important parental responsibilities that most seem to be derelict in.

You should know that there are morally sound counter-arguments to the ethical underpinnings of a vegan lifestyle. Things are far more complex than the uni-dimensional picture you seem happy to paint.

And those two Skinny Bitch authors are far from being an isolated instance in the vegan community of the idiots you’re dumping on. Their idiocy is shared by the members of all pro-vegan groups like PETA and PCRM. The authors happen to be their sympathizers (and maybe members in good standing, but I’m not sure about this last one). It’s very important to point out the mistakes they made, because many impressionable girls are making ill-considered choices with no critical thinking, and someone’s got to alert unwitting people to this nutritional folly. Veganism itself — even in its healthiest form — is the problem for the vast majority of people

How you consider condescending Skinny Bitch remarks such as “you’ve got to be a moron to think the Atkins Diet will make you thin” to be not trying to “start a war” is beyond me. You don’t seem to care that the authors provoked antagonism by writing such sentences. First you denounce them as idiots and then defend them in this manner? I’m baffled.

Methinks the regular omnivorous bloggers here will agree that you’ve got much contemplation to do.
dulcinea861

Obviously you didn’t read the book, because if you did then you would realize how unhealthy the Atkins is. And if you think Atkins is great then I hope you like the hormones, antioxidants, pestisides and other checmicals put into meat. Not to mention animial crualty. Oh wait, you should already know that if you read the book, but doesn’t sound like you did. Sorry to be a “Skinny Bitch”, well actually I am a “Healthy Skinny Bitch” thanks to that book.
Jimmy Moore

Yeah, dulcinea, the Atkins diet is REAL “unhealthy.” So much so I lost 180 pounds on it and kept it off for over three years, dropped 24 inches from my waist size, went from 5XL shirts down to XL, came completely off THREE prescription meds, went from a slothful slob into a workout fiend…need I go on?

Yep, I read that disgusting excuse for a book by those SKINNY BITCH veganites and what they think about the Atkins low-carb approach. I suppose you can just call me a “HEALTHY ‘Total Moron’ Atkins Dieter!”
PoEt

Hi Jimmy:

First, congratulations on your weight loss. What a huge accomplishment!

I dropped around 50 pounds about two years ago (I’m a 5’5 girl) doing a program that upped my protein and lowered my carbs. On this diet (dubbed “Medical Weight Loss of Michigan”), everything I ate was extremely regulated by the program. This included limiting my cheese intake (part-skim ONLY) to two (maybe three?) times weekly, and red meat to two. Additionally, I had to monitor my ketones on a weekly basis to ensure my body did not go into Ketosis.

I’d also like to say that a dear family friend did Atkins and looks AMAZING. He’s so much healthier and a lot more active.

Now.

I am in the middle of Skinny Bitch, and googling around led me to your webpage. And honestly, this whole big argument to me just seems to stem from you being offended by that one line that says going on Atkins is for stupid people. This book knows it’s being outlandish and overassertive. It’s called “Skinny Bitch” for cryin’ out loud. The whole thing is research in jest and yes, it promotes a vegan lifestyle. But there is nothing wrong with that.

You really shouldn’t take what they wrote so personally. Nor should the vegan community take some of the things you and your Livin’ La Vida Lo Carb readers so personally.

But one thing that hasn’t been addressed in these comments (and I realize the bulk of them are from about a year ago) is that the authors of Skinny Bitch aren’t saying that meat is bad because it’s meat, they are simply pointing out the reality of the chemical reactions that occur as a result of farming practices (they take a stand against fruits and vegetables that aren’t organic, too). It is a harsh reality that I (a non-vegan) acknowledge when I bite into my burger and every visit to the grocery store.

Even though I’m not vegan, I cannot help but feel bad for the community. They are overgeneralized all of the time (ironically, now included). There are pros and cons to every way of life. It would be great if everyone could just acknowledge that and stop arguing all of the time.

I’m the first to admit- I’m an idealist. But just because this one thing worked for you, and that other thing never would, doesn’t mean you have to bash it. It’s not one over the other. Obviously a person who would go Vegan would never do Atkins, and a person who would do Atkins would never go Vegan (not in a small enough time frame, anyway).

It’s not a competition anymore. You’ve made your accomplishment here.
Jimmy Moore

What a well-reasoned response to this issue, PoEt (and you DO know it! LOL!). THANKS for sharing this with me.

Let me just say I agree that people should find what works for them, follow that plan, and keep doing it forever and ever amen. Whether that’s vegan, low-carb, low-fat, or whatever, that’s their personal choice.

With that said, I’ve heard interviews with these “Skinny Bitch” authors and they have this utter disdain for anyone who chooses to eat meat. What’s it to them if I want to enjoy a big fat juicy steak?

It’s MY choice and I happily make it as part of my healthy low-carb lifestyle. The reason I responded on my blog the way I did is because people read this kind of sensationalism from books like this and buy into it. There needed to be balance to what they were saying and I offered the other side.

Again, THANKS for sharing your comments and very kind compliments. I have plenty to say about this subject, so I hope you stick around and engage the blog more often.

SEE YA!
steph1234

Dear Mr. Moore,

Just out of curiosity, what are your views on the animal cruelty described in the book? I’ve heard one side and I wouldn’t mind hearing the other.
Jimmy Moore

Hey Steph,

THANKS for your comment. While I believe that animals deserve to be treated humanely whether they are slaughtered for human consumption or not, the simple killing of animals is no reason to avoid eating meat. God created animals to be used for human sustenance. If the authors of SKINNY BITCH choose not to eat meat, then that is their prerogative. But don’t bemoan those of us who do.
Hai

You bring up a good point – why are people who have never struggled with their weight suddenly lecturing others on how to lose weight? Who is listening to these people?

Naturally-thin people who start on the “All you have to do is eat less and…” b.s. are quickly ignored. Just more noise in this very noisy weight loss space.
Alyssa

I’m a former Atkins dieter. I did lose weight on Atkins, and really liked being on the diet!

However, I read Skinny Bitch cover to cover with a very, very open mind, and I must say, there is something to what these women are saying.

This book is in no way suggesting women starve themselves or be obsessed about being skinny. On the contrary, it encourages you to eat! It just suggests that you make new and different choices than we are used to in this society.

I have been aware of the real horrors of factory farming for a while now and began by seeking out organic family farms from which to purchase my meat and dairy products.

I recently went vegetarian to try it out, and most of the time I eat a vegan diet (not all the time since occasionally I have cheese).

I also prefer NOT to eat “fake” meat.

I don’t like PETA, but there are plenty of other sources where you can read about and gather facts about factory farming. I read the book Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz and it was very disturbing to me to find out just where our meat comes from.

I wish everyone would research this, and at least be more aware of where the meat and dairy they purchase comes from and what truly horrifying things happen to the animals when they are raised and slaughtered on factory farms. Maybe even decide, if not vegetarian or vegan, to go organic and buy from family farms where the poultry, cattle and pigs are field-raised and fed a grain diet without antibiotics.
Claire

I have been a vegetarian for about a year and I feel great. I have TONS more confidence than I used to and I am skinnier. I am much healthier and happier.

With that being said, I feel some of you have not done your research and are close minded and ignorant. Do your research in places that won’t be biased. And you should probably find several different sources of any info. Veganism is a new thing and there are many different opinions on it so people should find a lot of different sources before they give an opinion on the subject.

As for your barbs and obvious dislike of Skinny Bitch, if you don’t like the book don’t read it. It’s as simple as that. Find another source of this info. Try the China Study. Also, everyone’s body responds different to different foods. The Adkins diet may help some people lose wieght but make others gain wieght. (As a side note, Dr. Adkins was overwieght when he died)
Janice

Okeedokee…so, if I’m reading all your comments and “facts” correctly, then the BEST option is to pretty much be veagan but throw some fish in there for some healthy protein…right??

Personally, I thought the book was funny albeit extremist, but I decided to give it a shot. Used to NEED coffee as soon as I got up. Haven’t had coffee in a week, haven’t craved it and no headaches. Also haven’t had sugar and no cravings either. because of all the fiber I’m getting, I haven’t been hungry. And I used to LOVE a Haagan Das bar right before bed. Super healthy!

It’s been about a week and I’ve lost 6 pounds. I know, doesn’t sound healthy..BUT I feel great! I was always tired before, had back pains and headaches all the time. AND had major sleeping issues and relied on sleeping pills. ALL of those ailments have gone away in just 1 week. I do have to go to the bathroom a lot more though because the food goes through my system faster.

I read a lot about health and watch all those Dr. Oz. shoes on Fit TV and he also says that we would be healthier if we ate fruits, veggies and nuts. BUT, I don’t like soy and I get nervous that I might not be getting enough protein, so I might start having salmon once a week. Sorry, I just don’t have a soft spot in my heart for fish cruelty and being around as long as possible for my kids is a little more important to me.

Also, my oldest is overweight and I’ve never been able to get him to eat healthier. After reading this book, I started talking to him about the nasties in fast food and whatnot. Something got through because he’s been opting for heathier options and he’s lost 4 pounds. Just as an FYI, he’s never eaten red meat (his own personal choice even when everyone else in the house ate meat). But he does eat chicken. What’s made him fat is fast food and too many white carbs.

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