What The [BLANK] Kind Of Diet Is That? (Episode 34)
15 03 2007If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Welcome to another fantastic episode of the Internet’s #1 low-carb podcast! In Episode 34 today, Jimmy discusses how the term “low-carb” has become so passe or even dare say it politically incorrect in the diet world in 2007–even among people who advocate low-carb diets!
Really, though, shouldn’t we call a spade a spade? Using euphemisms (even supposedly useful ones) does not help convince people of the health benefits they can enjoy by limiting carbs and increasing fats and proteins proportionally.
Listen RIGHT NOW to get the full story!
LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE 34
- Journal Of The American Medical Association study showing Atkins is best diet
- Eat Well Be Well goes out of business in 2007
Did you miss something Jimmy said? Click through the next link for a full transcript of Episode 34!
TRANSCRIPT:
Welcome back to “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore” and Episode 34 is coming at you today. With all the media attention being placed on low-carb over the past week or so following the release of that study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing the Atkins diet outperformed its low-fat counterparts not only for weight loss but also improvements in health over a one-year period, I think it’s time to discuss why I have not and will not ever let go of my support for this amazing lifestyle change known as low-carb even when others have run away from using that specific term to describe this way of eating.
Let’s imagine for a moment that the term “low-carb” didn’t even exist. Here’s how my podcast show may sound: Welcome to the “Livin’ La Vida [BLANK] Show with Jimmy Moore” where we talk about all things related to [BLANK]. You know, I’ve found the [BLANK] lifestyle to be one of the easiest and best ways to keep the weight off permanently. Ever since I started my [BLANK] diet in January 2004, eating all the wonderful [BLANK] foods that are available to you when you are [BLANK]ing makes this way of eating far superior to any other weight loss plan out there. I know [BLANK] works because I lost over 180 pounds on it. I’m so glad I’m livin’ la vida [BLANK].
What’s wrong with this picture?!?!?! What the [BLANK] is going on? I have just demonstrated for you the current state of the industry and community formerly known as “low-carb” in the year 2007. It seems that everyone who used to champion anything and everything related to low-carb has jumped ship from using that term anymore. Some of the loudest voices in the wonderful world of low-carb no long want to be affiliated with that term either by choice or because they have been told by the people who hold the purse strings to icksnay the “low-carb” talk for good. Plus, you’ve got companies in the food industry shying away from using “low-carb” in their name or on the packaging and marketing of their products, although the product itself hasn’t changed a bit. One such example of this is Eat Well Be Well company who used to be called CarbSense/MiniCarb but changed their name to a more generic one last year about this time to supposedly be more all-inclusive of many healthy ways to eat. Guess what happened to that company in January 2007? It went belly-up because they abandoned the very market they were reaching when they first started all in an effort to branch out to a larger consumer base. Stupid marketing decisions like this can’t help but lead to more and more failures from once-booming low-carb companies.
Why are the biggest low-carb personalities and companies that made a name for themselves using the term “low-carb” all of a sudden sidestepping it completely and avoiding using it like it’s some kind of disease or something? Is it just a little bit strange to anyone else why this is happening when much of the success they have had can be attributed directly to their affiliation with “low-carb” in recent years? Inquiring minds want to know! Some people might be wondering, “Jimmy, what’s the big deal? I don’t care what we call it as long as I’m able to keep my weight under control and improve my health with this way of eating. Does it really matter that it has to be called ‘low-carb’?” In my opinion, the answer to that question is a loud and unequivocated YES! Absolutely it matters that we keep calling it “low-carb.”
Let’s examine for a moment five of the popular new terms being thrown out there to replace “low-carb”:
1. Low-glycemic index or glycemic load
I would venture to say that most people on the street don’t even know what the glycemic index is. For that matter, most people still don’t even know what the low-carb lifestyle is all about either. Low-GI or the glycemic load are a tricky concepts to explain to people and they are not as cut and dry as “low-carb.” I know these are phrases that a lot of companies are hedging their bets on right now, but I don’t see them sticking in the United States. According to the latest survey, although the trend has caught on somewhat in European nations, a whopping 93% of Americans don’t even look for GI information on the foods they buy here. This one’s not looking like a winner.
2. Diabetic-friendly
What if I’m not diabetic (and I’m not!)? How does this improve the term “low-carb” at all? Diabetics know that sugar-free, low-carb products are good choices for them, so why alienate the low-carb consumer by using a phrase with “diabetic” in it? I don’t get this one either. It’s a nice gesture since millions of Americans are diabetic, but another bust in the terminology of this lifestyle change we enjoy.
3. Controlled-carb
Actually, I have used this phrase myself because it does serve a good purpose when explaining what my healthy diet is all about. While I certainly ate “low-carb” (between 20-50g carbs daily) when I was losing weight, I transitioned to more of a “controlled-carb” approach (between 50-100g carbs daily) once I met my goal and wanted to maintain my weight. However, I am still eating “low-carb” foods compared to the 900-1000g carbs I used to eat on a daily basis before I started livin’ la vida low-carb.
4. Carb-restricted
Similar to “controlled-carb,” this phrase was no doubt created to remove any negative stigma from the “low” part of “low-carb.” The media and those who oppose this way of eating take that “low” and change it to “NO” so it reads “NO carb” which is absolutely silly. Nobody ever talks about eating ZERO carbs and yet that’s the common belief. But using the term “carb-restricted” attempts to change this perception and it’s a good attempt. I still don’t think people know what you are referring to with this phrase.
5. Nutrient-dense
I actually like this phrase because it insinuates that the foods you are eating are healthy and give you all the essential nutrients you body needs to live. That perfectly describes the kind of foods you can eat on the low-carb lifestyle. But is this phrase going to translate to the average person on the street? I’m afraid not.
So what do we need to call it then? Is there really a need to change the term “low-carb” at all? My 180+ pound weight loss was a God-given miracle in my life. I think you realize from these podcasts what an incredible difference it has made in my life. I am a new man because of it and nobody will ever be able to take this accomplishment away from me. But guess what? I DID IT ON LOW-CARB!!! How about three cheers for low-carb–LOW-CARB LOW-CARB LOW-CARB!!! I’m not ashamed to use that phrase one bit. While others have purposely backed away from using “low-carb,” I have actively embraced it with every ounce of resolve within me because it is the plan that made me skinny for the first time in my life and it is what will keep me fit and trim for the rest of my life. Why would I call it something different now? Perhaps I am being naive about my decision to use the term “low-carb,” but I don’t think so. If it weren’t for “low-carb” being a part of my life, had I not learned more about what “low-carb” living is all about, and if the principles of “low-carb” could not be communicated to the masses of overweight and obese people who need to understand what it is, then where would I be today? 400+ pounds, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breathing problems, or quite possibly, six feet under! I don’t mean to sound morbid, but defining the term “low-carb” and helping others understand clearly what that actually means is why I created my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog and this podcast show. For all those critics of the term “low-carb,” let me ask you something. If “low-carb” is no longer viable, then please explain to me why my blog which prominently uses the phrase “low-carb” in it continues to attract well over 100,000 pageviews per month and has grown by at least 25 percent every month since it started?! And how about this podcast show? Currently we are averaging over 3,000 listeners a week and growing stronger all the time. What could possibly be attracting so many people to a “low-carb” blog and podcast show if it isn’t the subject of “low-carb” itself? I believe it’s a bit too premature for us to be abandoning and sidestepping “low-carb” just because we think its use has run its course. People are still looking for information about “low-carb” and I’m happy to give it to them. Here at “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore,” the term “low-carb” is NOT going to stop being used because I refuse to allow the media and the so-called health “experts” to erroneously redefine that cherished term to the people who want to know more about it. I stand proudly in defense of the term “low-carb” and will gladly share what it means to me in the presence of anyone who desires to learn more about what it is. And, best of all, I’ll be sure to give ‘em the TRUTH about low-carb! Let others hem and haw about what to call “low-carb” for themselves. But as for me I will not run away from it–EVER!
That’s it for Episode 34 of “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore.” Do you agree with me that now more than ever we should be embracing the term “low-carb” and actively sharing with others what this way of eating is really all about? Or do you think some of these other terms merit further consideration by the low-carb community to attract people who may otherwise be turned off to anything associated with “low-carb?” Share your comments with us by calling our listener comment line at (206) 203-4192 or by visiting our web site at TheLivinLowCarbShow.com. We look forward to hearing from you this week and invite you to come back on Monday as we keep talking about LOW-CARB. So, until next time, keep on livin’ la vida low-carb!
Popularity: 48% [?]
From over 400 pounds to 230, Jimmy Moore is 
I agee with you Jimmy—but it all comes down to the mighty dollar in most peoples eyes—the term low carb immediately strikes a cord of dicontent in most you take with. And as long as we have the food industry pushing the low fat DIEt it will be a long time changing—
maybe we could get the dairy groups, cattle farmers, chicken farmers behind our movement—-
but in all seriousness Jimmy—it is only with folks like you getting the word out that people will finally listen . Keep up the Fight!!!
LOW CARB-say it loud, say it proud!!!
Don’t cave to the politically correct dietary terms. “Carb restricted” and “Controlled Carb” may have a role in explaining it. Low Carb covers a broad spectrum of carb intake. I also like “Nutrient dense” to describe the food we eat, but there may be some high carb/high starch foods that are also nutrient dense. Just stick with LOW CARB and use other terms as explanations.
The resistance of the term low-carb is part of an unspoken “smear” or “whisper” campaign to discredit or downplay LC. In some circumstances, people and medical professionals might listen more if another term is used for a while, but in the end a spade is a spade. And as somebody said above, the money is still in the hands of the status quo. It can only be called pathetic how publishers and the supposedly “free” media pander to conformity only with what is safe and unthreatening. The great irony of mass democratic society is that it does not really produce a million strong individuals, but only a million conformist clones.
If the mass media would see low-carb as a progressive movement of liberation against a stifling and corrupt nutritional beuracracy, they would champion it until they changed the public perception to its roots, just as they have done with civil rights, car safety, nuclear safety or anti-tobacco. Perhaps we need to sell the “threat” of the status quo more and show how the current nutritional advice is precisely what is killing us. But we don’t want to alarm the public into making even more misguided government-mandated decisions. Perhaps we should have patience and let the steady drip of research split the boulder slowly and surely. The LC research is truly unassailable, and so cannot fail to ultimately drive a wedge through the great murky mass of soft science on which all current nutrition advice is based.
That is the only thing I call it! LOW CARB.
That way people know you are really watching and not giving permission to give in.
EXCELLENT COMMENTS, everybody!!! Anyone else?
Here we go again…..nobody intelligent would ever think low-carb meant ZERO carb…..low-carb isn’t just meat, eggs, butter, and cheese all the time…..blah blah blah…..anyone who eats like that is a moron I guess.
You’re such a moron, Jeff! HA! Just kidding buddy. But even YOU have to admit that the vast majority of people who are livin’ la vida low-carb are incorporating about 20-50g carbs daily as prescribed by most of the major low-carb plans out there. To my knowledge, NONE of them call for ZERO carbs except for the Induction phase of South Beach for two weeks. If ZERO works for you, then go for it my friend. But most of us want our veggies and fruits.
That’s all well and good, Jimmy. It’s just that I get the wrong feeling pretty much every time someone trots out the “more than just eggs, meat, and cheese” stuff. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I enjoy some veggies, such as grilled onions or peppers with a steak or sauteed mushrooms, but I don’t personally see the need for any amount of carbs. And if it means anything, ZERO is impossible. Eggs have .5-1 carb apiece. Cheese has carbs also if you eat any.
While I definitely eat my veggies and the occasional fruit, and now that I’m pregnant (yay!) the occasional potato or whole grain product, I tend to agree with Jeff that we need to stop demonizing the Zero-Carb diet.
I do think we obtain valuable minerals, vitamins, etc. from veggies, and they do provide us with options to include more variety in our diet, both good things that make it easier to stick with this WOE for the long term.
However, we can’t ignore the examples of both our evolutionary ancestors, and the modern-day indigenous like the Inuit. Their carb consumption was/is pretty close to zero, simply because plant products were not readily available to them most of the year.
There’s no indication that they suffered any adverse effects from their diet, and that’s sufficient for me to think that we would not either.
I don’t think we ought to be coercing anyone into not eating veggies - as long as we keep them to the non-starchy options, they certainly don’t hurt, and could quite likely help.
At the same time, if someone does choose to just eat animal products, I don’t think we need to jump on the already full bandwagon of people telling them that their diet is unhealthy.
It isn’t. It’s certainly way healthier than the SAD. It may possibly be less healthy than a low-carb diet that does include plant products, but that gets more and more questionable every day as we deplete soil nutrients and increase use of chemicals and other pollutants.
I think the low-carb lifestyle is the healthiest one out there, but I think we need to accept all variations of it, from the carnivores to the atkins/PP/SBers to the Carb addicts to the kimkins people.
As Jimmy keeps saying, there’s no universal right answer to the diet question. We each have to find the plan that works best for us. With that comes the need to accept that other people might have a different plan that works even better for them than ours would. Not always easy to do, but I definitely think it’s important to try.
Jimmy,
Although I agree to some degree with your suppor tof the low carb eating philosophy, you really need to do your research before writing an article if you are to be a respected journalist. I appreciate and applaud your determination, but your summation of the Eat Well Be Well scenario could not be furthe roff base. Eat Well Be Well transformed from a suffering low carb company with plummeting sales and recovered to profitability as Eat Well be Well. It was an internal ownership deal that caused the demise, and had nothing to do with success. Take it from me, I know.