Low Carb Luxury

Now, at first glance, it appears these are surely lower in carbs than most treats in the grocery, so perhaps they can be had in a low-carb diet First, lets talk logistics at 18 grams for 3 cookies (after fiber) thats 6 grams per cookie and youll want more than one. And no matter what some vendors tell you, sugar alcohols cannot be written off entirely. They metabolize more slowly and incompletely (hence their unpleasant effects in the bathroom), but they still metabolize as a carbohydrate. However, the disturbing part of THIS product isnt the nutrition panel, OR the serving sizes its the INGREDIENTS. Look.

ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (This is plain bleached white flour, folks. The body sees it just like sugar.)

PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE SHORTENING (These are dangerous trans-fats. Expect weight stalls and raised triglyceride levels when you eat hydrogenated oils.)

SORBITOL and LACTITOL (Sugar Alcohols see comments above.)

ASPARTAME (We dont recommend anything with aspartame in it especially baked goods where heating makes aspartame break down into a dangerous substance.)

ACESULFAME POTASSIUM Ingredients numbers 1, 2, and 10 have no place in a healthful low-carb diet. And they need 6 sweeteners Some of their varieties use even MORE sweeteners.

A Low Carb diet becomes more palatable and varied when you can incorporate lots of nutritional and flavorful (low carb) vegetables and fruits. The problem I always had was that I like to use fresh ones - mushrooms, cauliflower, green onions, lettuce and cabbages, peppers, squash, and

The Ultimate Low-Carb Diet Cookbook has more than 200 great-tasting and healthful recipes with carb counts and nutritional analysis for each. Best of all, readers will find recipes that fit in with the bestselling dieting plans, including Atkins, Carbohydrate Addicts, Protein Power, and Sugar Busters. You will find delicious, satisfying, and healthful dishes for every meal or occasion, including main dishes. appetizers and snacks. sauces and side dishes. desserts. meatless dishes. and tons of creative and tasty meal, snack, and treat ideas. This book puts the pleasure back into the low-carb diet, providing tasty and healthful low-carb alternatives.

The author does a great job of introducing low-carb dieting in all its different forms. She begins by listing the points that all the low-carb book authors agree upon. Then she provides encapsulated summaries of the most popular low-carb diet plans, defining the focus of each and highlighting what people liked most about each plan and what they liked least.

This is not a low-carb diet book in and of itself. it simply gives hints on how to make whatever diet you have chosen to follow work better for you. And unlike most of the diet book authors this author lays it out straight as to what the dieter can expect, including the negative aspects of stalls and plateaus.

We know its hard to know who to trust sometimes... on the internet, or in any other venue. And with all the confusion in the low carb industry, it hasnt gotten any easier. So Low Carb Luxury maintains a panel of experts in their field... people known and relied upon in the low carb world. People whose words you can trust. Elaine Payne is President of Low Carb Connoisseur and co-founder of one of the first Internet low carb specialty stores, low-carb.com. In 1997, Elaine and her sister Lynn Whitfield turned their personal success with Low Carb dieting and enthusiasm for the Low Carb way of life into a successful business venture.

In 1999 in Anderson, SC, Elaine andamp. Lynn opened the countrys first full service Brick andamp. Mortar retail store featuring a low carb cafe, diet support and seminars. In 2001 they opened their 2nd retail location Connoisseur Ltd. in Greenville, SC.

The continued goal of the Low Carb Connoisseur is to provide the highest quality and broadest selection of products to the discriminating low carb customer along with unparalleled customer service.
Pete Maletto
Pete Maletto, Chief Science Officer for DynaPure Nutrition, is the former food product development director and creator of a well known low carb specialty food company. He began low carbing in 1983, and continues his march as a low carb advocate today.

Pete received his bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Scranton and continued his ongoing education to become a Nutritional Consultant in Alternative Medicine. Pete has 5 years of clinical experience as a nutritionist and supervised an Alternative Medicine clinic in New Jersey along with a Medical Doctor. He thereafter introduced and pioneered many of the first low carb food alternatives. Over a period of six years, Pete was the first to develop low carb pasta, breads, specific bake mixes, potato alternatives, and extruded cereals. He was responsible for all areas of product development and completed over 200 formulations for the company.

Andrew S. DiMino
Andrew DiMino, a former Internet Strategist and Branding consultant for Gateway and other companies, became the creator and owner of low carb pioneer, CarbSmart in May of 1999. The site grew from 150 products to currently 1,300+ items in many categories. CarbSmart now showcases over 300 articles including over 120 success stories, and in 2003, Andrew opened his CarbSmart retail store in Huntington Beach, California.

CarbSmart has become one of the most recognized low carb brands in America. Besides carbsmart.com and his retail store, Andrew licensed the CarbSmart trademark to Unilever for Breyers and Klondike low carb ice cream products, Monterey Pasta for CarbSmart Refrigerated Pastas and Bayer Drugs for CarbSmart One-a-Day Vitamins. Andrew continues to grow CarbSmart and to serve the low carb community.
Michael R. Eades, M.D.
Michael R. Eades, M.D., and his wife, Mary Dan Eades, M.D., are best recognized for their ground breaking book, Protein Power. They are recognized around the world for their pioneering efforts in the field of metabolic medicine. Together theyve helped literally millions of individuals lose weight and improve their health.

In their books, personal appearances on network and cable television, the Eades are known for their common sense approach to health, nutrition, weight loss and exercise. They make complex medical and biological topics easy to understand. The Eades have focused their full-time energies on writing, research, lecturing and creating products aimed at helping the public to improve its metabolic health. Since Protein Power, the couple has published four other successful books, including the Protein Power Lifeplan and The 30-Day Low-Carb Diet Solution.

Michael attended California State Polytechnic University where he earned his engineering degree and the University of Arkansas for his medical degree.

By Donna Pliner Rodnitzky

The Ultimate Low-Carb Diet Cookbook has more than 200 great-tasting and healthful recipes with carb counts and nutritional analysis for each. Best of all, readers will find recipes that fit in with the bestselling dieting plans, including Atkins, Carbohydrate Addicts, Protein Power, and Sugar Busters. You will find delicious, satisfying, and healthful dishes for every meal or occasion, including main dishes. appetizers and snacks. sauces and side dishes. desserts. meatless dishes. and tons of creative and tasty meal, snack, and treat ideas. This book puts the pleasure back into the low-carb diet, providing tasty and healthful low-carb alternatives.

200 High-Flavor Recipes and a 7-Step Plan to Stay Slim Forever

By Bettina Newman and David Joachim

Newman and Joachim explain the science behind a low-carb success and why low-carb does not mean no-carb, but rather the right sort of carbohydrates those with a low glycemic index. Unlike many other low-carb diets, this one promotes not high-fat and refined sugars but unsaturated fat instead of saturated fat, moderate amounts of lean protein, adequate fiber and the key elements of calorie control. The authors provide a low-carb pyramid of suggested eating proportions and begin with a seven-step weight loss program that promotes eating whole grains, controlling portion size and getting exercise. Each recipe (supported by a seven-day eating plan) includes a chart indicating the number of calories, diet values and diet exchanges. These are easy, basic dishes from the Hearty Country Vegetable Soup to the Lamb Chops with Olives.

500 Recipes from Snacks to Dessert, That the Whole Family Will Love

By Dana Carpender

Dana Carpender comes to the rescue with 500 Low-Carb recipes. Covering everything from soup to nuts, this comprehensive compendium of recipes offers choices like Heroin Wings (theyre so good theyre addictive), Mockahlua Cheesecake, Meatza (pizza without the crust), and dozens of ways to spice up staple dishes such as burgers, omelets, steaks and chicken.

Readers will also learn how to make low-carb casseroles that are delicious - without noodles or rice. And what to serve instead of mashed potatoes. Plus the secret to low-carb stuffing and more. Recipes have been tested and proven delicious. They are guaranteed to please even the most reluctant bread-lover.

By Michael R. and Mary Dan Eades

The revolutionary cookbook that satisfies all your comfort food
cravings-from the New York Times bestselling authors of Protein Power. Low-carb and comfort food are phrases you probably dont associate with each other. You probably know that there arent many low-carb foods described as yummy. Whats been missing from low-carb diets are the comfort foods you crave-the breads, cakes, pastas, and pies that no low-carb plan ever allowed you to have-until now.

This one-of-a-kind cookbook features more than 300 fabulous recipes
for scrumptious low-carb breads, breakfasts, and light meals. satisfying soups, spreads, and gravies. incredibly comforting entrees. formerly forbidden Italian and Mexican favorites. and much more. Just imagine waking up to the smell of Nutty Cinnamon Buns and Waffles, munching on Almond Thins with Crab Dip, dining on Southern Fried Chicken with Pan Gravy or Breaded Pork Chops with Biscuits, enjoying a slice of
Key Lime Pie or some Strawberry Shortcake... then finishing with a Chocolate Truffle.

Heres a Health News article wherein the reporter looks at the ramifications for everything from our governments Food Pyramid, to the School Lunch Program when the myth of the low-fat dogma can no longer hold up under the strain of its crumbling lack of foundation. Check out Why Low-fats In The Fire.

In The News.
Ever notice how once a cat is out of the bag, the news simply cannot be stopped Scientists are waking up to the truth. You have to see the latest dramatic article that appeared in the New York Times today. Click here to read Gary Taubes What if its all been a Big Fat Lie

(If you dont currently have an account set up at the NYT website, it will ask you to register before reading the story. Registering is fast, safe, and free.)

The truth isnt going away, people.

In The News.
More Extremely Important News. For those of you thinking that only adults need to look at their dietary problems with an eye toward ending obesity, youll want to see this. And if youre going to be having a baby soon, youll definitely want to see it.

This new report, called Programmed Obesity Handed Down To Next Generation from International Science News illustrates that newborns taking in high-carbohydrate formulas and infant foods may be set up for a lifetime of obesity, as they are changed at a molecular level.

Heres a link to the original story at International Science News. As always, if the article has expired, our reprint can be found here.

The dangers of high carbohydrate diets continue to come to light...

In The News.
Okay, I consider this news to be HUGE. Apparently, so do many, many of our readers. After my husband first called the news to my attention this morning, my mailbox FILLED with our visitors who wrote to share this story as well. And the news Basically that heating carbohydrate rich foods causes them to contain dangerously high levels of a carcinogen known as acrylamide.

The National Institutes of Health calls acrylamide Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen. It was concluded by the World Health Organization that acrylamide is a genotoxic carcinogen. In a long-term carcinogenicity study in rats exposed via drinking-water, acrylamide induced scrotal, thyroid, and adrenal tumours in males, and mammary, thyroid, and uterine tumours in females.

This article has appeared across a number of sources. Heres a link to the one at Yahoo. As always, if the article has expired, our reprint can be found here.

Another reason low carb is healthy...

In The News.
One of our Canadian visitors sent us to a link to an editorial in the Montreal Gazette. It strongly recommends the Canadian government take steps to encourage Canadians to reduce their sugar/refined carb intake, citing the many documented negative health effects that result from a carb-heavy diet. Every time an article like this appears, we progress a little more in setting things right. If the article has expired, our reprint can be found here. Thanks, Amanda, for bringing this to our attention.

A visitor alerted us to an article from New Scientist Magazine about the discovery that a diet filled with sugars and starches causes vision problems (notably short-sightedness what we call near-sightedness in America.) The original article can be found here, and if its expired, weve reprinted it here.

But while we werent surprised to see one more symptom of a carb-overloaded diet, we were surprised at the total suppression of this news story in America. We searched AP, Reuters, HealthScout, MSNBC Health News, etc... no U.S. outlets carried the story. Yet it was picked up all over the rest of the world (we found it on NineMSN (in Australia), The Guardian and the BBC News in England, and elsewhere in Europe. This goes under things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmmm....

In last nights editions of both NBC Nightly News, and ABCs 20/20 Downtown, the issue of low-carbing was brought to light powerfully, and with a strong positive spin. After these programs aired, we received 137 e-mails telling us about it and/or sending us to the information. So as always, we bring it to you now.

First up, NBC Nightly News report Cutting Back on Carbohydrates Scientists back concept of glycemic index. Heres a transcript of that report in case you werent fortunate enough to see it for yourself. Please note that this report is based on new research at Harvard University. (Weve included links to the video of the program.)

Then, check out this ABC News 20/20 Downtown report on how Randamp.B Legend Luther Vandross had phenomenal and finally permanent success at weight loss and health through low-carbing. Yes, they still felt obligated to add one small paragraph noting that some dietitians still think low-carbing is unhealthy, but they extensively quote an expert who feels the opposite.

Two amazing reports as we see low-carbing coming into the mainstream as we always said it would. This is, again, the paradigm shift we spoke of.

In todays Washington Post, a study done by NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) declare carbohydrates problematic for those at risk of heart attacks and those wishing to get their cholesterol and triglycerides levels in line. While they still declare that carbs cant make you fat (they really need to hang on to that belief, dont they), they now state that the evidence has accumulated to the point that these recommendations and observations can no longer be denied. Check it out its worth the read.

Its official. Obesity now tops smoking as a major health risk. I suppose theyll just be recommending more low-fat diets, right

In a long overdue article about the dangers of trans fats, a close look is taken at trans fatty acids link to substantial diabetes risk. We try to hammer this home every day here at LCL DONT use hydrogenated oils or margarines. Read on...

In the grand-daddy of all articles featured here, this indepth report from SCIENCE MAGAZINE is a must-read. Heres the link at Science Magazine. (If it does not take you directly to the full article, use this link instead.) Its long it prints out to 13-18 pages of text (depends on your browser), but print it. Read it in bed if you have to. Just dont miss this one. If youve ever wondered about the beginnings of the low-fat movement, how and when it happened, who drove it, and what science (or lack thereof) it was based on, this will answer all your questions. While they dont really delve into the low-carb issue, their report often compares the effects of dietary carbohydrates to dietary fat where cholesterol is concerned and offer some real eye-openers.

Anne Boyd, who first alerted us to this article, had the following to say. The article is all the more significant because it appears in a highly respected journal Science Magazine, which is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The article discusses the 50-year history behind the recommendation that we all eat a low-fat diet, and how the recommendation grew out of politics and is in fact not supported by good scientific evidence.

Out of thirteen lengthy and hard-hitting pages, were a tad disappointed that after they drove their point home over and over again, the last paragraph is weak and waffles greatly. But dont let that distract you from this terrific piece of journalism based on REAL research rather than repeating the traditional dogmatic chant.

Our sincere thanks to the staff at Science Magazine for allowing us to present this to you.

In a MoneyScope feature for ABCs 20/20, reporter Arnold Diaz reports that theres movement afoot to halt the claims of low carb by the FDA starting with protein bars. This report driven in large part by data from Center for Science in the Public Interest (a group AVIDLY against low-carbing and pushing hard for the USDA to recommend even MORE carbs and grains and get rid of meat from the American Diet) compares calories and fat content between things like Pure Protein Bar and MetRx with sugar filled items like Kelloggs Nutri-Grain and Candy Bars. Absurd of course.

Did you know the FDA has already made both Atkins and Premier stop labeling their bars low carb and they say they ...anticipate that all bars with low carb labels will be off shelves within three to four months.

They also cite Biochems Ultimate Lo Carb Bar as containing low carb claims on their labels, when the FDA states such a claim has never been approved for use. They further attack bars like Atkins for separating glycerin from the carb count when glycerin is legally a carb. Heres MY opinion on this yes, glycerin is legally a carb and should therefore be listed on the label rather than ignored, HOWEVER, it should be separated from other carbs since it does not raise blood sugar as other carbs do. It should be listed, but separate. What they SHOULD go after are those companies who IGNORE the glycerin completely without a word (its a lie), and worse yet (much worse) are those that ignore SUGAR ALCOHOLS (polyols maltitol, lactitol, sorbitol, manitol, etc.) as though they contain NO carbs. While its true they are in a class by themselves and contain less than other starches and sugars (as much as three-fourths less), they cannot be discounted to ZERO simply to mislead low-carbers. But I digress (its hard for me not to go off on rants here sometimes.) The thrust is, they are once again following the lead of a group that does NOT represent the Public Interest, and are going after low-carb any way they can. They seem to feel quite threatened by low-carb. Odd, isnt it We were assured low-carb was just another fad that would go away when people discovered it didnt work, or when we dropped dead. Well, instead our numbers grow every day, we keep losing weight, we keep getting healthier, and were starting to look like a threat to the status quo...

This article from HealthScout (titled Go Against Grains For Better Diet) looks at a study presented at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in Orlando which basically said ...carbohydrates are the culprits that increase blood sugar and trigger that hungry feeling. This is no surprise to us, of course, but the fact that the evidence continues to pile up is a very good thing indeed. Now, before you get all excited, you should note that the upshot of their recommendation is that we go from 60pct. carbs each day to 40pct.. A better start of course, but while healthier, we all know its not enough for most of us to reclaim our health and reduce our girth. The reasons for this compromise in interpretation of the data are crystal clear when one reads the final line of the news story The National Cattlemens Beef Association and Kraft Inc supported Laymans study. Something for everyone. Allow more fat/protein in the form of meat for the Beef Association, but keep the carbs for Kraft. Ah well...

As more and more media columnists (usually those who are science editors) find holes in the low-fat theory and problems with the Food Pyramid, well be seeing more and more articles like this one from Michael Woods at The Toledo Blade. It takes a good look at how Pyramid eating affects those with Syndrome X. Most of you who know me know that I believe far more of the population reacts this way than such articles claim (hence this countrys rapidly increasing obesity rate.) But this article is yet another in a string of evidence of public opinion shift. Read on...

Only 20 minutes after receiving the article mentioned below (dont miss it.), we were sent to this article. Before I go further, let me say, dont follow their advice, however, it is a step in the right direction and proves that dieticians (this article is written by one) are running a little scared when people are running to low-carb diets against their advice. Their reaction is to take an If you cant beat em, Join em approach. But what they want you to believe is a healthy low carb diet, is anything but. Its neither low carb, nor healthy. Heres an example Look at their page of recommendations for Healthy Low Carb Dinner Ideas. First off, they suggest your diet be comprised of 50pct. calories from carbohydrates. Since fat has twice the calories of carbs/protein, this means they want you to eat about 65pct. of your food as carbs. This is low carb Second, youll note their recommendations at the top of the page include grocery deli pasta salad and skim milk. Then they recommend white rice with your Chinese take-out. Their recommendations continue with scalloped potatoes (made with trans-fat filled margarine), hash browns, baked potato, and commercially processed Hamburger Helper. Ya kinda get the idea they dont get low-carb. On their snack page one fares no better as they recommend saltines (with low-fat cheese), tortilla chips, canned fruit cocktail, etc. They tell you to cut down on sugared sodas etc. This is actually (if you hadnt guessed) a low-cal, low-fat diet with some small reduction in processed carbs. All of their ideas are based on the mistaken theory that low-carb diets leave you with no energy because people need carbs for energy. So, as I said, DONT follow this plan if you want to low carb, but as with the reader that sent it to me, it is interesting that were seeing more and more of this effort. Thanks for sending it, Robin.

First thing this morning we found this amazing article from the Washington Post sent to us by an alert visitor. Titled, Theres More Than One Way to Skim the Fat, it allows for the possibility that low-carbing may be a good way to go to get cholesterol AND weight down, and get healthy. While they dont go so far as to say it is the way, they do showcase two great examples and treat the subject with respect (and nary a word about how low-carbing will kill you.) Great Article. Read it here. Thanks for sending it, Jan.

Kathy sent us a new article from the Boston Globe entitled, A Stampede For Steak. It details how steak is selling briskly across America now and low-fat dishes are pretty much out. Low carbing is not given much credit for this (its amazing the plethora of other reasons they give for speculation), but they mention in passing that people are sick of low-fat, and have swung (too far, they say) the other way to an anticarb fad. Ah well, however they chose to see it, we know it means good things for US. Read the article here.

We were sent an article from FOX News Junk Science column this week that is a real eye opener. While it does not deal with the low-carb issue directly, the article does illustrate how money, politics, and traditional dogma dictate what gets labeled Heart Healthy. Read the article here, but be prepared to walk away shaking your head...

Today Kathy sends us this mini-article titled, Is Butter Better Its an insightful comment from a physician on why butters a better bet than the trans-fats of margarine. It speaks of low-carbing in a positive light always a welcome sight.

The latest news story, forwarded to us by multiple visitors, is entitled
Obese People Produce More Fat After Meal. Read the text here.

Our news-scout, Kathy, summed it up when she said, ...the investigators SUSPECTED that the way the body proceses carbohydrates MIGHT have an effect on body weight. Duh.

And Anne Boyds comment made me smile. Quite a story in todays Reuters Health news. The implications are probably clearer to you and me than to the person writing the summary. I think shes right.

A few weeks ago, our intrepid news scout Kathy Dasher had located a HealthScout article of interest and sent us her commentary on it. Unfortunately at the time, we could not locate the original article. This morning, we tracked it down and have archived it here. Here are Kathys original comments.

Regarding. Eating More Sweets Blame It On Stress. .
Load the gun and shoot yourself in the foot.
This information is right on for low carb, however they just cannot bring themselves to say the words, yet that is exactly how theyre recommending we eat. A good snack recommendation CHICKEN SALAD. What. Not an apple Curiously missing is the always recommended high fiber complex carbs. But then they goof by telling us to check the AHA dietary guidelines. Bang, ouch.

I guess we must cheer when we do see mention of low carb even if they cant call it that. At least word is getting out there in bits pieces. Maybe in a decade or two low carb wont be such a dirty word in dieting...

Thanks, Kathy...

Two new articles dealing with recommendations to diabetics are actually frightening to me. The first, a review of the new recommendations from the American Dietetic Associations (ADA) annual meeting will actually be advising people to consume no more than 20pct. of calories from protein, while they further advise a low-fat diet... to help a person respond to insulin. We know what that leaves, dont we Carbs, carbs and more carbs. In fact they actually state that grains and cereals might lower the risk of developing diabetes. I am terrified to see what carnage this advice to even further lower fat and heighten carb intake will cause in society. The article ends with a chilling fact. Type 2 diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Are they trying to make it the first The full article is here.

But it doesnt end here. Kather Dasher sent us this article from HealthScout that proclaims Diabetics Can Eat Sugary Foods. Apparently since potatoes and such rate higher on the glycemic index than white sugar, they reason it must be fine for diabetics to still have sugar. Talk about stop the insanity. Heres the article.

Now, lets look at what the last decade and a half of low-fat dieting has done to America. Read the following two articles on the obesity reports here and here. Do you think the fact that even a can of Campbells Soup now contains more sugar per ounce than soda pop might have something to do with this

Is it just adults Nope. Type 2 Diabetes is now becoming an epidemic in children. Read more about it here. Youll note of course that sugar is never mentioned and its blamed mostly on kids being too inactive. No sense in adding my 2-cents here. You already know what Id say...

Julie Westly has alerted the low-carb community about a report on low-carb dieting this past Friday morning (October 6th) on NBCs TODAY SHOW. I did not see the show myself, but have been deluged with mail about it, so Id like to repost Julies message here.

Its a call-to-arms for all low-carbers whose health and lives have been saved by following a LOW CARBOHYDRATE eating plan. This illustrates how skewed the media is into reporting our way of eating as being a High Protein/High Fat/No Carbohydrate Diet. We all know this is untrue we eat tons of vegetables, fibers, the healthy fats and the non-starchy, non-over-processed healthy grains. But theyre sure were eating 50 lbs of pork fat everyday as our only sustenance. Please follow Julies request and write to NBC.

Julies post.
Dr. Atkins has been there for us, and now he needs us. In case you missed it, this morning NBC (Katie Couric) did a report on high protein diets and how they are poison for your heart. The doctor she interviewed had graphics of before and after heart valve flows of patients who switched from low fat to high protein diets and the decreased blood flow that resulted. She also briefly allowed (virtually attacked) Dr. Atkins to speak on his high protein aka. meat, cheese, and butter (as she called it) diet. She asked him Isnt the problem with your diet that no studies have been done on its affect

Dr. Atkins was trying to explain that there was a huge difference between high protein (high fat) and low carbohydrate diets and that what his diet is about is lowering carbohydrates. He further said that this group, and its 10 people who showed improvement after stopping high protein, were non-other-than cheaters, who were not in fact doing low-carb at all. (The other doctor did not comment on this directly.) Dr. Atkins also stated that, Sure, if you are going to do high protein and not cut the carbs you are going to have problems... But... he was cut off by their fast talking and again it was re-stated that his diet has no studies to prove it is safe.

Well, lets give NBC a study, folks. Dr. Atkins needs us. Here is the link to NBC Today show. Scroll down to the email us button and tell your stories. Let them know what health benifits this way of life has given you. Demand that Dr. Atkins get equal time to have his diet featured (and reported fairly.)

Feel free to forward this plea to any groups you subscribe to and lets flood them with a study. Dr. Atkins needs us. Go troops.

And today, Kathy sends us another article as the anti-low-carb rhetoric grows louder... Heres an excerpted article from CNN entitled, Heart experts advice. Eat more fish in a balanced diet.

Kathy Dasher, one of my loyal news-scouts, has sent me this article from CBS News. Her commentary with the story was so on-point, I will bow to her.
After reading this report, What amazes me is the statement, Now Knox is shaving off the pounds, but he will not shake diabetes.

Maybe not, but he can sure go a long way toward helping himself just by shoving his cookies, sodas, and potatoes in the trash.

It is so discouraging that the answer to a big part of the problem is going vastly unheard and unknown by millions... Hey you have diabetes too bad for you. Heres some medication.

Why dont we ever see any studies on the World News showing the positive side of low carb, and what this way of eating can do for diabetics. Isnt it World News worthy Its too bad that we apparently dont have enough prominent spokespersons in the low carb world to deliver much of a punch. Im afraid were still the latest FAD diet that everyone knows will ruin your kidneys a diet you could never stick to...

Another report from HealthSCOUT was sent to us by a loyal visitor detailing what we knew all along nuts are packed with healthy fats and stave off hunger, unlike carbohydrate-rich snacks. How many times will these facts need to be determined before America gets it

A report from HealthSCOUT was sent to us by a reader. It shows a team from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston have found that insulin works in the brain, affecting appetite control, obesity and reproductive fertility. Ask anyone with PCOS and theyll tell you they already knew this, but its nice to see more data backing things up. As always, of course, they end the story with the usual, in the future this may.... and tell you in the meantime to continue to follow current guidelines.

A new report from the Associated Press laments the latest study showing Diabetes is escalating in America at an alarming rate. We who have done our homework on the devastating effects of the increases in sugar in the SAD (standard American diet) will not be surprised to hear this. But youll note that the article (and the experts) make no mention of this and blame it all once again on the stresses of society, fatty foods, and couch-potato syndrome. While I agree we could all use a little more activity, its more the potatoes, than the couch potato-hood, that have driven America into greater obesity and earlier and more serious rates of diabetes. Until they admit the cause, theres no hope for a cure.

This past week, this article was printed by Cox News that looks at how overweight patients are treated at some doctors offices and how this keeps many obese and overweight patients from getting proper care. I have mentioned it before, but this drives home the point. Of course its necessary to overlook the center of the article where they talk of no diet (ie. fad diets as they like to label low-carbing) working and that only calorie reduction is effective. But the look at the ridicule and shame many patients usually women are put through is worth the read.

One of our loyal visitors sent us this press release from Loews Hotels. We are ecstatic to hear that they are now embracing the low-carbohydrate way of life and are offering LC options on their restaurant menus. The release is dated April of this year, but were glad to have received this great news, even if we didnt know right away... Read the press release and give this company your business.

Also check out this LA Times story about the impact of Low carb dieting on the Pork Rind industry.

Heres an article sent to us, first printed in Yahoos health news and tips. Its a Question/Answer interview with a nutritionist who is a fan of the Zone Diet and a weight loss approach that looks at reducing carbs. Theres a lot of interesting dialogue here. Read on....

In a recent forwarded message to me, a visitor let me know that the Chiquita Banana company is currently running a radio spot in which they target low-carb dieting. According to the listener who is paraphrasing, the ad goes something like this.

Announcer. And now, Dr. Faddiet is here to talk about the new diet craze that is sweeping the nation.

Dr. Faddiet (in wacky german-esque voice). Try my new amazing diet. You will lose many, many pounds eating only fat and lard. Eat fat and lard and watch the pounds drop off.

Chiquita Banana Lady (with Spanish accent). You mean no vegetables, or wonderful fruits like Chiquita Bananas.

Dr. Faddiet. No, eat fat and lard all the time and watch the pounds melt away.

Chiquita Banana Lady. Only a balanced diet will help you stay healthy. Add Chiquita Bananas into your diet... etc... etc...

Considering their slogan is Chiquita banana, quite possibly, the worlds perfect food, Id say they are feeling a bit threatened. But then the insulin hit of 25-30 grams of high glycemic carbs in each banana may just be a bit of a threat to us all.

A visitor wrote to tell us that a recent issue of Self Magazine ran an article overviewing a study thats determined more overweight and obese women are likely to die from cervical and ovarian cancers (and other related problems) than normal weight women. They speculated that this may be due to the fact that early detection is less likely since these are the same group of women less likely to seek help or regular visits from a physician. Hmmmmmm... Kind of makes me want to smack my forehead and proclaim, duh. How many people that are already embarassed about their weight (or self-concious about their bodies) want to keep the humiliation to a maximum by regularly visiting the family doctor who parades you to a weigh-in, announces it for the chart, and then proceeds to inform you that you are in desperate need of weight loss. Of course these are the very people not getting the care they need. I wish there were some way of letting doctors know we have looked in a mirror and do know we are bigger than we should be. I see little need to try to shame a patient into losing. I think we all know that doesnt work.

Ill say this for my doctor (are you reading this, Dr. Ginn), he has never done that. Ive weighed in maybe twice there in the last 10 years. He lets me tell him of my progress now, and he has been proudly marking it on the chart. Of course, now I wouldnt mind the weigh-in, but I might have let my health go to hell had I felt embarassed to come in. Not all my previous doctors have been this way, and some have felt the need to let me know as though I might have never noticed and they are just calling this to my attention. My recommendation now if you have a doctor that makes you feel uncomfortable, bite the bullet just once and let him know how you feel and why you feel it. If he is understanding, youve succeeding in making the relationship more healthy. If hes defensive or brushes you off, find another doctor. Off soap box...

A visitor sent us this article from HealthSCOUT this week detailing the sugar-startling results of the latest CSFII report (thats the U.S. Department of Agricultures Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals.) That being said, understand two things first, the data is 4 years old (the most current figures they have when they analyze the data) so we can expect sugar intake has continued its rise even more, and second, they draw the conclusion in the end that we should be eating more of the safe carbohydrates (the deluge of bread and cereals the Food Pyramid recommends.) But at least the awareness of Americas addiction to sugar is beginning to be too obvious to ignore. Surprisingly, the Sugar Association in Washington, D.C. does not take this report seriously.

NBC Nightly News did a piece last night in their Fleecing of America series highlighting the practice of our government offering up USD70 million in our hard-earned tax dollars to keep the s of sugar in this country artificially high more that twice as high as anywhere else in the world. It keeps the wealthy sugar pushers even more wealthy to the tune of USD65 million a year directly into their pockets much of which they use to political advantage. Hence the powerful sugar-lobby, Americas continued addiction to sugar held in place by its addition to everything from crackers to canned soups, and their ability to keep health warnings on sugars effects absent from government guidelines. Americans eating sugar pay twice - once in the additional tax burden that could be going to health care and better schools, and once directly at the supermarket purchasing the sugar/drug. We who dont indulge still get hit with the added tax, plus a bit in our food bill for even non-sugar products. Read the article here.

One of our visitors sent me this article on a Harvard Medical School study that draws the conclusion that the standard high-carb/low-fat diet heart patients are prescribed actually increases their heart-attack risk. While their final recommendations still draw us to a daily dose of way too many carbs, at least they are realizing that they are not all created equally and that those from sugar, flour, potatoes and rice pose a strong danger. Its a step in the right direction. Read the article here...

And now for a step in the wrong direction, I direct you to this article. A Harvard study done on teenage girls in Boston determined that those who drink soda particularly cola are far more likely to break a bone. So far so good, but I will bet that all you faithful sugar-free low-carb readers out there know immediately that the reason is that the sugar in the sodas leach calcium from your bones. But is this the conclusion they reach No. The word sugar is never mentioned. They speculate that perhaps its the phosphoric acid in cola causing it. Oh, please. So we have the National Soft Drink Association saying the entire study is bunk (though a previous study of women soda-drinkers showed the same bone-breaking results) and the Harvard School of Public Health arguing its just that the soda supplanted the calcium in milk they should be drinking instead.

Now, while I am a big fan of milk (I always loved it in my pre-low-carb days), we dont need it for the calcium (nature intended it for baby calves afterall, not humans). We can get plenty of calcium in other sources - from almonds to broccoli to cheese. Its the sugar, folks. Why do they refuse to see this (Color me frustrated.)

An interesting article in this weeks Business Wire spotlights one physicians assertion that low carbohydrate diets are correct and the USDA Food Guide Pyramid is wrong. Hmm.. where have we heard that before Press definitely worth reading. The full article is here.

As many of you may have heard, the federal government has released its newest list of cancer-causing chemicals. Of note, saccharin has been dropped from the list. Read the details here. Its nice to see second hand smoke and smokeless tobacco finally added to the list, but I have to ask shouldnt Sugar be on the list (as it is the biggest cause of degenerative disease including cancer.)

One of our faithful visitors sent us this article about the Chicago Police force losing weight on the Atkins Diet. Its wonderful to see the diets proven effectiveness on a large and public group as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Read on.

Another somewhat delayed article as it was just sent to me, but its really worth reading and holding onto. At the Endocrine Societys 81st Annual Meeting in Summer 99, the following report revealed that Diabetics improve their health with a Very High-Fat, Low Carb Diet. Great article.

The New England Journal of Medicines findings, reported by the Boston Globe reveals that a High Fiber/Low Fat Diet doesnt cut the risk of cancer especially colon cancer as nutritionists have told us for years. Read more about it here.

Roper Polls, a long-standing polling organization, conducted online a national survey of dieters experiences with low-carb and low-fat diets. You can read the results here. The poll was released in January, but it was sent to me only today. Sorry for the delay.

Newsday, this week, ran an article entitled Scientific Review of Atkins Center Patient Records Confirm Atkins Low-Carb Nutritional Theories. Interesting reading. Heres the article.

Follow-up to news of Diet Rite Cola (below). Yes, the other flavors will contain the new formula as well. Ive already located the Tangerine and the White Grape. I was told as soon as old stock buys out, theyll all be the new formula. Great.

For those of us who would prefer to minimize the aspartame in our diets, its good news that Diet Rite Cola now contains sucralose instead of aspartame. The downside In my opinion its still not as good as their Diet RC because the Diet Rite is sweetened with a mixture of sucralose and ace-k. No word yet on whether the Diet Rite flavors (tangerine, white grape, raspberry, etc) will be following suit and changing their formula as well.

Results of the study of the Atkins diet conducted at the Durham VA Medical Center in North Carolina are in. Released two days ago to Reuters Health, a very positive look toward the health benefits of the Atkins diet are revealed. Read about it here.

I was watching television last night with my husband who gets a kick out of watching the older game shows (on Game Show Network ). Family Feud was on and the question came up, 100 people surveyed ... Name a food that helps keep Americans fat. Well, I bet you guessed it got my attention. This was a show from the early 70s before the low-fat craze had hit America, so the answers were surely interesting.
Check it out here.

Weve gotten more letters than usual lately asking questions about ketosis and test strips - what they are, how to use them, what they mean, etc. It became obvious that this subject needed an explanatory page here at Low Carb Luxury, so here it is. Weve also realized as were growing larger (the site, not me thanks to low-carbing.) that were going to need a site map, so that will be my next project.

Well, our Book Store Page finally got too long to allow for easy loading or item selection, so we split it up from a Main Menu by Category. Now each area has its own page Diet Plans, Cookbooks, Counters/Diaries, and Out Of Print/Special Order so you can quickly find what youre looking for. Hope this helps.

Wow. I could hardly believe my eyes last night when (while watching NBC) I saw the much talked-about Monica Lewinsky Jenny Craig ad, and at the end of the commercial was a bright screen saying Ask about our new LOW CARB option.

Sheesh. Talk about If you cant beat em, join em. .

Now, understand that this is as purely a marketing gimmick as you can get since if you read the fine print, these plans are NOT the LEAST BIT low-carb. They are diets comprised of 50pct. Carbohydrates. (Their regular plan is 60pct. carbs,) so this is a slight reduction, but their foods are still high in starches and sugars and will offer none of the metabolic advantages of low-carbing. Its just a way to include potential clients who have heard low-carbing is effective (which it IS.) If you like, you can read more about it here. Youll see they toss in how diet books recommend 40pct. or less carbs and how this is dangerous. Same old. same old. Of course, if they admit low-carbing is the way, what happens to their bottom line Shame, shame, shame....

People Magazines 25 Most Intriguing People of 99 was chosen last week in their big end-of-year issue. And one of those chosen was our own Dr. Robert C. Atkins. If you missed it, you can read the article here. Of course they included the usual ADA/low-fat scare statements, but all in all, a very neat thing to see. Congrats, Doc A.

ABC News 20/20 this week offered up a segment dealing with low-carb diets and how/why they work. It was a far more balanced and fair report than we are used to getting. They illustrated what decades of low-fat/high-carb dieting has done to this country and the fact that heart attacks are up 85pct.. While the online report published at ABC News site (reproduced here) is less complete and focuses more on specifics like the ZONE Diet and Syndrome X, it will still give you some additional insight if you missed the program. Dont know what Syndrome X is You can read more about it here.

Sorry Ive been so out of touch with news, email and updates for the past two weeks. As many of you know, weve been moving and getting settled in the new place. With the holidays here, gifts to buy and wrap, company coming, a heavy end-of-year workload, and tons more unpacking to do, I may still be a little more invisible than usual. Thanks for your patience and for all the wonderful, encouraging, and warm letters I get.

I was sent this news story today that was released in Reuters Health News yesterday. This is actually a report from the North American Association for the Study of Obesity that tries to convince us that their lengthy testing shows that sugar doesnt affect obesity or make people fat. Obese people just eat too much. Wow.. cutting edge reporting there, guys. I have to wonder the source of their FUNDING.. read the article and see if you agree. Pardon my French, but ... what a crock.

Site News.
Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback weve gotten on the new Thanksgiving Planning area. Well be doing the same for Christmas soon.

Andrea and Robert Mondello of Low Carbohydrate Eating have written a reply to TIME Magazine in response to their article on Low Carb Diets (the article is referenced in our October 26th News entry below.) Theyve graciously agreed to let me link to their reply. Read it here. They said pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

We have been receiving LOTS of letters asking about aspects of keeping holiday meals - primarily Thanksgiving - safe and low-carb without being boring and depressing. Weve put together an entire 8-page area for Low Carb Thanksgiving Planning. I hope it will be of help to some of you. I had fun putting it together and it made me update a lot of notes, plans and recipes myself. .)

The holiday season is upon us, folks. Time to be strong.

I picked up an AP story today about Low Carbing that I thought youd all be interested in reading in case you miss it. Its called Low-Carb Diets Are Back in Fashion.

Beginning November 1, 1999 - DaVinci Gourmet Sugar-Free syrups will no longer use NutraSweet (aspartame) and will begin using Splenda (sucralose) instead. Great news since Id like to keep my aspartame intake as low as possible. And of course not only does Splenda taste better it means we can start using DaVinci Syrups to safely cook with.

Also, I received a product news update from Life Services.
Keep an eye out for our fantastic Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe that is about to be published in our November Life Services News and also coming out in November, our brand new KETATOES. Yes, low carb authentic tasting potato mix thats delicious mashed, fried or as potato pancakes. Also, in November we are introducing a terrific treat. Keto Low Carb Pudding (vanilla and chocolate). Then in December, were coming out with our low carb Keto Hot Cocoa (fortified with glutamine, chromium, taurine and zinc) as well as low carb Keto Chocolate Cookie and Brownie Mix.

They also informed me they would soon be switching to Splenda as their sweetener of choice. It just keeps getting better and better, folks. See why I call it Low Carb Luxury

Were going to try and reproduce some of the news articles wherever we are able so they are here for your reference - especially where the articles are regional. There were two in todays Dayton Daily News so we reprinted them for you. First, theres a general article stemming from the statements made by the ADA two days ago. Heres an article titled Some Dieters Swear By It, But Others Question Safety of Low-Carb Weight Loss. Its filled with plenty of the usual tired phrases and untruths as youll see. The second has more of a local slant as its about one of our local citizens. Check out Local Judge Finds Success with Atkins Diet. This is a more well-balanced article.

Have a news article in your local paper that would apply Please send it our way so we can share it with all..

Also today Dr. Atkins appeared on NBCs Later Today and then on FOX News Morning Show. Both times the ADA threw an opposition factor at him. NBC gave him very little time so the show had little value, but FOX News offered up a fair time segment. They allowed viewer call-in (yes, I stayed on re-dial for 20 minutes but never got past the busy signals.) Luckily there were some good calls and all were pro-Atkins. The final caller pointed out much of what I wanted to say. The thing that drives me the most nuts about these reports is their insistence that low-carbers eat nothing but meat and cheese. The photos they showed during the talks were of people eating meat.. but always with buns, breads, potatoes.. I dont think the graphics department did their homework very well.

Also today on Leeza, Colette Heimowitz (of the Atkins Center) was classy and smart, but didnt get to say much. Luckily Suzanne Sommers had a lot of positive things to say about low-carbing since her plan is so similar. It put an excellent spin on the Way Of Life. Did anyone else notice the Low-Fat proponent while very thin, looked a bit haggard as though she were ill

Atkins also appeared in very short segments on the ABC and CBS nightly news reports the previous night. They were very short segments filled with ADA dogma, but CBS gave a bit more fairness to Atkins.


Weve added even more recipes. From a few new Thanksgiving offerings to a new Ice Cream recipe and two superb French Onion Soups. Go check them out. And if you have favorite recipes, please share them..

Another article published by the Associated Press declaring the Low-Carb Diet Unhealthy. Sheesh. Its FILLED with mis-information as usual. And as usual, theyve chosen to show as an example a low-carber who eats massive, inhuman quantities of meats and fats and no vegetables or nutrients. They want to make it look as unhealthy as possible. The article (written by a dietician spouting the same tired arguments that have been proven incorrect but persist with a the earth is flat quality) even states that one is forbidden even a tossed salad on our diet. How absurd. One need only look in our recipe section to see the large quantity of foods we have for our diet. They havent figured out a way to argue the case FOR sugar, so they concentrate on grains (never mind that we eat large amounts of soy, healthy fibers, tons of veggies and some fruits.) Heaven forbid we avoid starchy white flour. She calls it the staff of life. This is all in preparation for the annual meeting of the American Dietetic Association in Atlanta this week. They always include in their warnings that when a person goes back to eating normally, the weight comes back. Hmmm... when a person goes back to eating white flour and sugar they gain weight. Now dont that beat all. Why, prey tell, would anyone WANT to go back to feeling drugged, tired and fat I would not go back to that life for anything.

Other news. This Tuesday (Oct. 19th), Colette Heimowitz (The Atkins Centers Director of Nutrition) will be appearing on Leeza. Check times in your area. Also, this month, the October 12th issue of Womens World Magazine will feature an interview with Jackie Eberstein (of The Atkins Center).

Weve added B.I.G. Brooklyn Egg Cream to our Product Suggestions page, plus a page to give a little info and background on this fabulous chocolate concoction. We have also added a section to our Links area that showcases sites with Educational and Nutritional Database information. These sites are great for on-the-fly data on carb counts of specialty foods as youre cooking or shopping.

Many new dieters make a lot of the same mistakes, or walk into this eating plan with a lot of the same misconceptions. Here, well try and hammer home a few points and answer a few basics. Keep in mind that the advice given here is meant primarily for those undertaking a low-carb regime akin to the Atkins or Protein Power plans. In other words, those diets that advise between 20 and 45 grams of carbohydrate per day. no sugar(s) and no white flours. These diets are usually ketogenic (the dieter is in benign dietary ketosis (otherwise known as BDK) and is quite different than DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis.) See our article, Looking for Purple for more information.

Now Im not kidding here and this is not optional. Ive seen it discussed over and over again that people can pick up enough info from the net. I cannot stress this enough. You need to read the book that goes with your chosen plan. This might be Atkins latest book. it might mean The South Beach Diet, or Protein Power, or The Hamptons Diet. Or any number of others. But dont try to do this from just figuring it out. Surely with all youve probably spent over the years on diet things, you can find a way to spend USD5 to USD7 on a book that could save your life.

When you try to simply learn from scattered info, you end up with important pieces of information missing. a mixture of fact and others misconceptions. and a mixture of facts from different plans.

If you find youre a little tight on money and cant afford the books (though they are inexpensive paperbacks), you can always find copies at thrift stores and garage sales. Ive also seen them at eBay for USD1. Theres always the public library, but the drawback is that you have to give it back, and its great not only reading your book(s), but being able to reference them time and again when youve forgotten something. Buying them on the cheap ... one of the ways mentioned above ... means you can buy perhaps both Atkins AND Protein Power. The more you learn, the stronger you are. You want to give yourself the best possible chance of success, right Learn HOW and WHY the diet works.


Out With The Old. In With The New...

Clean out that refrigerator. Clean out those cabinets.
Dont wake up one morning and just decide youre going to do low carb. You want to read the book first, and then make sure the right foods are in your house and the wrong foods are gone.

You probably know what the wrong foods are ... you read about them in your book, right Well, aside from the obvious white sugar, white flour, potatoes, rice, and pasta, heres a quick list of high starch, high sugar foods not appropriate for low carbing, as well as a few things known to kick off cravings or raise cholesterol.

Remember, this is not all-inclusive, and you need a good carb counter at least in the beginning as you learn. For a good overview of the sorts of foods that work well in a low carb diet, take a little time to look over some of the recipes at our site (and the ingredients in them.) Or look through one of the many Low Carb Cookbooks available. Youll soon find your options are quite varied and a world of great food awaits you.

Not Your First Time On The Diet

Feeling a little frustrated

If youve tried low carb before and found that youre just not getting the same results (total weight loss or speed of weight loss), then it might be that youve lost your Golden Shot. Read more about how and why this happens here.

Low Carb Specialty Products and New Low Carbers

Weve found that with very few exceptions, those new to low-carb (in the first weeks or months of eating this way) have very different tastes. The low carb foods that have been made to substitute for their higher carb counterparts will taste off to them. Some totally hate them. This is completely normal. While as a new low carber, you might not believe it now, your tastes will change... at least somewhat.

Many of the foods we enjoy a lot every day, we would have found to be unacceptable in those first weeks and sometimes months. This is most notably true for the non-sweet items (chips, crackers, bake mixes, etc), rather than sweets like candies.

The difference is that the later usually use polyols (sugar alcohols) like maltitol, sorbitol, lactitol, etc to assume the sugar role and they still taste very good. But many of those items are not as low carb as they seem (and where thats the case, we point it out in any that make the spotlight.)

If you are new to low-carbing and youve found, say, baked goods, that you think are just delicious and you can hardly tell them from the originals, its a good bet those items are NOT the low-carb foods they pretend to be. Labeling is often wrong, be it accidental, or deliberate deception.

So, if Im just starting out, what products will I like
Begining low-carbers should use this time (induction and a while beyond) to get used to eating the great foods they couldnt have on a low-fat diet that are common to their palate. From a simple bun-less cheeseburger, to an extravagant filet mignon with sauteed mushrooms, or lobster tail with drawn butter, a host of rich satisfying foods awaits you. For variety and meal ideas, use the recipes here at the site and get used to cooking low-carb. Use cream sauces. enjoy chef salads. and keep basics on hand at all times for snacking (deviled eggs, tuna or chicken salad, sliced cheeses, cold fried chicken, etc.) Save the low carb specialty foods for when sugar, flour, and Twinkies have been out of your system for several weeks minimum. Then start slow by buying new products in small quantities. And if something doesnt appeal to you, hold onto it... that shake mix you hate today might be delicious to you in another month or two. Or might be perfect for an upcoming recipe. The point is, use some common sense. And dont write nasty letters to our hard working group of volunteers because you went from eating Hersheys Bars to Atkins Bars and want to know why the hell we made you buy those.

Your First Plateau... and Is it Really a Plateau

Ive been through my share of plateaus... some that lasted nearly one year... Since Id never once cheated and kept trying various things to kick-start my body to resume the weight loss with no success at all, frustration was becoming my middle name.

First, lets recognize what a plateau really is. Many people write me when theyve lost 7 pounds the first week of the diet and then have failed to lose any more for the next week or two. Thats not a plateau. For some, weight loss comes in spurts, for others it follows a semi-regular pattern. But small periods with little or no weight loss dont always mean a plateau. Generally, a plateau (or stall) means no weight loss for a period of 3 weeks to several months, when theres been no predictable change in eating or activity to cause it.

Now, once youve established you really are on a plateau, there are quite a lot of things you can do about it. First well go over the basics. Then Ill give you my own observations and the experiences of many of our visitors.

Dont give up. Given a bit of time and patience, youre sure to hit on the cause and/or the cure. And in the meantime, remember that staying still is much preferable to the weight creeping back up. And of course giving up means just that alternative.

Check faithfully the labels of the foods you are eating. Many people check only carb counts. These can be in error or can be for a portion much smaller than you are consuming. I have written an article about this and I strongly recommend you read it. In the article we highlight a perfect example of label error.

Take a hard look at what youre allowing yourself and ask if youre rationalizing. Are you cheating, but discounting it

Are you trying to keep your calories or food portions too low Or trying to do low-fat as well as low-carb See our November 29, 2000 Newsletter issue for our response to the problems that can arise from restricting too much. You can view the back issue here.

Are you eating often enough A frequent eating schedule will provide a constant source of energy without the insulin rebound. Six small feedings a day are better than 3 large meals to break the energy/weight loss barrier.

Activity level. Are you too sedentary Do you need to get moving Many of us with desk jobs need to make a special effort to keep our metabolism up by structuring an activity plan that fits our schedule. You may also be going too far in the other direction. If you are over-stressing your body with an over-kill of exercise, you may kick off a plateau as your body struggles to hang on to resources. Be active, but be sensible.

Do you smoke Smokers have a much more difficult time losing weight while low-carbing. Some people will simply not respond to the diet unless smoking is stopped. Smoking uses up vitamin C and stimulates the adrenal gland. Also the tobacco industry actually adds sugar to the tobacco to enhance its allure.

How much do you drink The drinking of alcohol is of some debate among low-carbers and the doctors themselves. It seems clear that some of us can handle a moderate amount of alcohol and some cannot. Youll have to determine this for yourself. Remember, the time your body is burning alcohol, it is not burning ketones. Also, alcohol stimulates insulin. If you are drinking, make sure its a non-sugar based liquor like gin or whiskey, rather than rum or brandy. Or have a dry wine or small amount of light beer. If you do drink and have hit a stall, try cutting it out entirely and this just might do the trick.

Hormones. Are you on ERT/HRT Hormone therapy can slow down weight loss and stimulate the production of insulin. Youll want to weigh your benefits and discuss it with your doctor.

Contrary to entry no.4 above, you may need to do a little caloric restriction if you are near your goal weight or have lost a great deal of weight and then stopped. Too many people misinterpret the instructions regarding the diet as Eat unrestrictedly. When they do this they will still lose weight in the beginning, which will reinforce their assurance that no heed whatever need be paid to quantities. In most cases, this practice will lead to a stalemate partway to the desired goal.

Are you taking medications that interfere with weight loss Many drugs even aspirin can cause hypoglycemia. Watch out for hormones, amphetamines, diuretics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, anticoagulants, anti-diabetics, antibiotics, tranquilizers, clofibrate, Acetaminophen, and propanolol. This does not mean taking any of these will cause stall, simply that it should be considered as a possibility. Obviously, dont alter prescribed medications without discussing it with your doctor.

Do you take in a lot of caffeine Dr. Atkins tells folks to cut out caffeinated beverages (coffee, soda, tea) because they stimulate the release of insulin with a temporary lift in energy followed by hunger, fatigue andamp. slower weight loss. However weve found this is not the case with most people. Some (including me) can handle caffeine with no ill effects. But its something to look at if you take in a lot.

Water, water, water. I know youve heard it all before, but are you really drinking enough water You should be having 9 8-oz. glasses plus one extra for every 25 lbs overweight you are each and every day. If youre finding yourself stuck on a plateau, look at your water intake. If you havent been drinking enough, this could be your problem. Beginning the proper water intake can yield amazing results.
(One note. You need even more water if its hot or if youre exercising vigorously.) Read more about the importance of water here.

The above thirteen points are general concern points where stalls occur. However, my long search for my own release from a long plateau revealed a few new wrinkles that I want to share.

Are you taking in trans-fats Trans-fats prevent your body chemistry and fat burning mechanisms from working properly and kick off a stall thats stubborn to break. If youre one of those people that just look at the carb counts on labels and not the ingredients, you may be taking in a LOT of trans-fats.

Any label that includes the words partially hydrogenated should be avoided completely. This includes regular shortening, regular margarines, and many baked, pre-made products.

You should know that both Smart Balance and Spectrum Naturals Organic (see photos on left) make new non-hydrogenated shortenings that contain no trans fats. Always read the ingredients.

Treats mean treats. We have a lot of recipes at the site for goodies, treats and desserts. And there are now many low-carb commercial treats, candies, bars, etc. These are helpful in a sensible low-carb diet because they keep us from feeling deprived and offer us something when the sweet-tooth calls or when we plan a party, or an elegant gathering. But the mainstay of our diet should continue to consist of good meats and low-starch veggies. Dont think that because a dessert item is low-carb, you can have it three times a day.

Take a good look at the supplements you are taking. (You are taking supplements, right) While everyone has differing needs and you might want to do a little research to determine whats right for you, I can tell you that at a minimum, everyone should be taking a good multi-vitamin (without iron), CoEnzyme Q-10, Acetyl L Carnitine and a good balance of Essential Fatty Acids. I began taking Acetyl L Carnitine (I was already taking the others and more) just before breaking the plateau. We will be publishing an article on the benefits of Acetyl L Carnitine soon, but one of its shining attributes is its ability to mobilize fat burning.

If you want to take a kick-start step, I recommend the Meat Fast. Its easier to do than Atkins Fat Fast and seems to work just as well. For 3-5 days, eat nothing but Meat. You can have any red meat, fish or fowl with no breading or sauces and minimal seasonings. Fry in olive oil or clarified butter, or roast or bake them. No dairy, no cheese, no veggies. You can have up to 2 eggs per day and drink lots and lots and lots of water. But no soda, no tea, no coffee, no low-carb specialty products. You can have mayonnaise and mustard.

You can make this more palatable this way. Before starting the diet, make up a variety of meats to have on hand as you need them.

Roast a turkey breast and have it sliced and ready in the fridge.

Ditto for a pork roast, and/or a beef roast.

Make a batch of deviled eggs
(Remember you can have up to 2 per day.)

Have chicken and tuna salad ready. Maybe crab salad.

Fry some bacon slices to snack on.

Make up some fried chicken wings to grab from the fridge.
(These can be breaded in crushed pork rinds, lightly seasoned,
and fried in olive oil.)

If you keep a variety of meats ready to go, you wont feel like youre eating just one thing day after day and the 3 days or so go by rather quickly. I have almost always seen a stall break by doing this.

In Conclusion...

In short, you have to remember that this is a lifestyle change and not a diet. If youre looking for a quick plan to lose 5 pounds and then go back to eating (what youve thought of as) normally, then this is likely not the plan for you.

Be aware that there are still MANY misconceptions out there about this diet. You will face lots of skeptics and you may even argue with yourself a little. There are those that believe we are zero carb and eat NO veggies (we eat quite a lot), NO fruits (most plans allow for the low-sugar ones), no grains (we eat only the high fiber unprocessed ones rather than their highly processed bleached ones.). There are those who will tell you that ketosis is a dangerous state because they confuse it with ketoacidosis. There are those who believe that fat makes you fat (because it sounds logical) and will tell you youre going to give yourself a heart attack with all this fat youre eating (when in fact, bad cholesterol and triglycerides go down in almost every case where the low carber follows the plan properly.) And be aware these opinions may be held by those who are our nutritionists, our doctors (though more and more doctors are convinced of low-carbs healthfulness), nurses, and others. Care enough about your own life to do the research, to read the books, to make the effort. Youre worth it.

Over the last 7 years, weve forged strong and important relationships with all sides of this genre. While much emphasis has been placed on low carb products, we understand its not about the products. Its about the science. Its about the health, well-being, longevity, and strength of those living this lifestyle.

We look strongly and routinely to our panel of experts for guidance and direction as we fight to keep this industry on track for each of you. Leaders like Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades who wrote Protein Power. Nutrition Guru Jonny Bowden, author of Living The Low Carb Life, Dr. Gil Wilshire of the Carbohydrate Awareness Council. Dr. Fred Pescatore, former Associate Medical Director of the Atkins Center who wrote The Hamptons Diet. and Dr. Richard Feinman, noted Professor of Biochemistry at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, and so many others keep us honest and well informed. We look to them for the truth. for the science.

Low Carb Luxury makes it a point to attend expos, seminars, and conferences all over the country in order to further our knowledge of the latest science, maintain and establish new relationships, and understand the trends that drive this industry.

In the end, our mission is always to represent the consumer. We enjoy being your eyes and ears on the inside of the next generation of healthy eating. We will do our best to keep the low carb industry as honest as possible, and to report it back to you without prejudice, agenda, or spin.