Hey everyone,

Since I am only one person and the forum has grown much larger and faster than I could have ever expected, I have decided to create this new forum thread for you to ask me any specific questions or share any comments that you may have for me. Remember, I can't possibly read every single post in this forum, but I do care about what you have to share.

Leave your comment or question in this thread and I'll read this forum FIRST when I come to visit here. If you don't leave the comment or question here, then I may not see it elsewhere.

Of course, you can always PM me or e-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANKS!

Good Idea Jimmy~

If you Build It~ They Will Come~lol

Less Wear & Tear on You !

There's not enough time for you to visit everyone's house.

So let them come to "Jimmy's Place" !

I only have one comment for you right now~~

YOU'RE THE GREATEST !

Su

I have a question: How do you find the time to do all this Jimmy?? (No seriously)

THANK YOU for your undying support, Su! This will be better for me than trying to keep up with THOUSANDS of posts EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANKS for being here.

Dave, I work about 16+ hours a day and I still don't have time to get it all in. I've reevaluated my schedule and decided to create this room for people to ask their questions and comments for me here. Reading ONE forum will be better than ALL of them.

Anyone else have a question for the Jimster?

Hi Jimmy! I don't have a question, I just wanted to say how we all appreciate you checking in everywhere!! I know you can't keep doing that and that's why you created this thread, but it has been very helpful in transitioning from elsewhere. Do you have callouses on your fingers???
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks and have a great day!!

Hello Jimmy!!! This is a great idea. I have a couple of questions.

#1. My BMR is 1431 calories. 5'7" and 178 lbs. Back injury and then surgery. Still not very active. How many calories should I be eating in a day? I am averaging 1400 to 1500 daily now. Still not losing any weight. But, I am not starving either. Carbs under 20.

#2. This one is about carbs. What are sugar alcohols and how are they listed on ingredients? Also, are they to be deducted from carbs, or does just the fiber get deducted?

Thanks and I will check back later for the answers. I really appreciate all of the help and the helpful people on your site. So nice and peaceful here!!!

YOU ROCK!!!!

Linda

Wow thats a lot of time spent answering questions.

Smart Move!!!!

Im surprised you didnt call this thread................ASK JIMMER

ewwwww bad joke

I love that I can find you now anytime I like!!!

You are awesome

I must say you were right....I absolutely LOVE this way of eating Jimmy.

My brothers name is Jimmy, he is 55 and nobody calls him Jim either.

God Bless

Debbie

THANKS Michalle! I think I was going cross-eyed trying to keep up with all the posts. I'm still here for people who need me, so don't hesitate to use this forum thread to ask your questions and share your comments.

Hey Linda! I'm happy to address your questions:

1. I don't count calories, just carbs. So I don't really have a recommendation for calories other than to make sure they are AT LEAST 1200. If you shoot for that, then you'll be just fine. EAT MORE FAT!

2. Sugar alcohols are a form of sugar alternative that do not raise blood sugars as fast as sugar/carbs. But be careful with them, especially the ones called maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, and others. They can cause some very disturbing gastric distress:

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006...r-alcohols.html
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006...ature-call.html
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2007...titol-bait.html
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2007...gging-time.html

If you do choose a sugar alcohol, then make it xylitol or erythritol instead as these do not cause the same side effects. But be careful with them, too, and some experienced low-carbers suggest to count half of the carbs in sugar alcohols. This isn't a hard and fast rule and will vary from individual to individual.

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006...-net-carbs.html

THANKS for your questions! Lemme know if I can help any further!

Jimmy, with all the research you have done, I'm hoping you have an answer to my question.

Does eating a low calorie/carb/fat diet contribute to, or cause, gum/teeth problems? I read this somewhere but I cant find anything on it. Is it ketosis that does it?

Thanks!!!

Thanks for your quick reply, Jimmy. I knew that I never saw anything that said "Sugar Alcohol", so I didn't know what I was looking for. I read the links you provided and am now much more knowledgeable about the subject.

Hugs,

Linda

Hey Boo and GREAT question! While we all know being in a state ketosis creates a sour mouth/bad breath smell, the reaction to your teeth and gums is nothing but IMPROVEMENTS. Livin' la vida low-carb benefits your teeth because carbs (which begin turning into sugar in your mouth from the time you first consume them) are used by the microbes in your mouth to thrive and grow which then leads to tooth decay.

Wanna try a neat experiment to prove the "all carbs turn to sugar" theory? Take a single bite of bread and push it between your tongue and the roof of your mouth for a couple of minutes. You'll notice it becomes VERY sweet all of a sudden because your saliva begins digesting it and turning it into sugar. It's an awesome reminder that it's not just the sugar, but ALL carbs that we must look out for.

Hopefully that answers your question, Boo!

You're welcome, Linda, and please share your questions anytime.

THANK YOU! That makes me happy. I go to the dentist on Thurs. for my 3 mo. cleaning and did NOT want to have to try and explain kk to him too.

You always seem to make me happy.

Ok Jimmy, I am still stalled, up 5 pounds from where I was and I am not sure what I need to do at this point. I haven't been doing my FitDay journal lately, do you think that would help me to know if I was getting enough fat in? I feel pretty sure that I am getting in at least 1200 calories a day, but again, I am not totally sure. I am just tired of being stuck in the same spot.

Help!!!!

Tami

PS.....YIPPERS

Awww, that's so sweet, Boo! Did I tell you how much I LOVE your avatar now? You are such a beautiful woman and I'm proud of your progress. WOO HOO!!!

Oh, here's another column written by my fellow low-carb writer Lisa Shea about teeth:

http://www.bellaonline.com/ArticlesP/art36778.asp

Hi, Jimmy! I love the Atkins bars for a snack now and then. The one thing that confuses me is the fact that the box says 'no sugar alcohols'. There are carbs in them besides the fiber, and I'm not sure what they are or where they come from. What are these mystery carbs that I'm not supposed to count, and how much impact do they really have?

Thanks!

Hey Tami, it is always good to know where you stand with your plan, so doing FitDay may be what you need to get focused. The fear of fat is probably the biggest obstacle that most people face when they start livin' la vida low-carb, so definitely work on getting MORE fat in your diet through butter, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, heavy cream, etc. As long as your carbs are reduced, you can NEVER eat too much fat. My fat intake is usually around 60-70% of my total calories. YEP! And it's been that way for nearly four years. Your body needs time to adjust to this new way of eating, so don't give up hope. Think of it this way: you're eating for your health, so the weight loss doesn't really matter. It DOES, of course, and will happen in due time. Work the plan you have chosen EXACTLY as prescribed and then KEEP doing it forever. YOU CAN DO IT!!! YEPPERS!

CarolAnn, I appreciate your question, too! I LOVE my Atkins bars and wouldn't think of totally eliminating them from my diet. But I too have my questions about the carb counts in the bars as does one of my moderators Amy (Sparky's Girl) who did a YouTube video about them recently that you should watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NDIkdxbUgo

It's true, there aren't any sugar alcohols in the Atkins bars, but there are carbs from the soy and oat flour, oats, coconut, roasted almonds and other ingredients. Not gargantuan amounts of carbs there, but enough to add up to AT LEAST the 3g of net carbs they claim on the packaging. Just be careful with them to see if they make you stall in your weight loss or not. They don't bother me, but some people they do.

EXCELLENT QUESTIONS!!!

Jimmy, thanks for taking care of yourself for us. You needed this forum for yourself...............AND your family!! We love you, buddy!

Carolia

THANKS so much for sharing, Carolia! I love you guys and am so happy to know people are being helped, encouraged and inspired to live healthy. God bless you!

Hi Jimmy,

I actually posted this as a question, but then I saw you are answering questions in this forum, so I hope you don't mind me re-posting it.

I'm trying to kick my horrible Diet Coke habit, but I really don't like plain water. I found this Arizona Diet Blueberry Grean Tea that says it has total carbs 2 grams, sorbitol 2 grams so net effective carbs - 0 grams. I am doing Atkins. Can I use this and treat it as 0 grams of carbs -- I'm drinking a whole big bottle, I think it's 42 oz. Ingredients: Premium Brewed green tea using filtered water; sorbitol; natural flavors; citric acid; black carrot extract; sucralose; acesulfame potassium. I really like it, and hope that it will be okay. I'm just finishing my 9th day on Atkins and feel I am doing great, and I really don't want to screw up with this!

Thanks for the help, thanks for the forum, and thanks for all the great people that I'm meeting here!

Hey luvdogs and I'm so happy you brought your question here. I'm just not able to get to all the forum rooms anymore, so please feel free to come here when you'd like for me to see or answer a question you may have.

I personally don't see a problem with drinking diet soda and I certainly drink my fair share of Diet Rite and Diet Coke with Splenda. LOVE IT and it does not impact my weight. I've heard people say all the carbonated water and artificial colors, yadda yadda yadda, are doing stuff to me, but I don't see the downside. Now, I STILL drink about a gallon or so of water a day, too, but I like my diet soda.

That green tea drink is sweetened with sorbitol (a sugar alcohol), Splenda, and ACE-K. Those are all EXCELLENT sugar alternatives, although I'm not a really big fan of sorbitol. If you like it, then keep using it for a treat and feel free to drink your diet sodas sweetened with SPLENDA (DC w/ Splenda, Pepsi One, Diet Rite, Diet Cheerwine, etc.) because aspartame is NOT good for you.

THANKS again for your awesome question and I hope this helps! I appreciate you being at my forum.

Thanks for the quick response Jimmy! I'm going to continue having one a day then, and at least I'll be getting a lot of liquids in. I haven't had the DC with Splenda, so I'll have to check that out. I do think I'm going to try and scale back on them though (I probably have a 12 pack a day!).

Happy to help!

Jimmy, about protein shakes. When I'm wanting something sweet and don't want a lot of carbs to contend with, I was making these shakes. However, I'm a little concerned that too much protein isn't good, and maybe there's a Low Carb shake I can make that has very little carbs, but the protein isn't so high. Any ideas?

TIA!

Lori

Hey Jimmy,

I'm an ex kimkinser and I'm now following Atkins, phase 2. I only have about 9-12 lbs to go (can't decide on my goal weight) and I had a question. Is malto dextrin actually maltitol and is it bad for low carbers? Thats one of the sweeteners in Popsicle's sugar free bars and I wanted to know if I should steer clear.

Thanks for all you do, I wouldn't be away from kimkins if you weren't here.

oops, I just read the answer (hah!)

Hi Jimmy....I understand that during your initial weight loss you stalled for around 10 weeks...i too have been at a stall for at least 6 weeks and am getting frustraited so here is my questions...

1. Were you still in ketosis during your stall?

2. Is there anything that I can do that can help me along? I can not go any lower in food or calories or fats than I already am!! I even gave up asperatame!!

3. Anythiing else you can think of to help me?? (would be appreciated greatly)

Thanks,

Alison

Hi Jimmy,

Question about net carbs and fiber: Can you point me to some resources or let me know your thoughts about the pros and cons of subtracting fiber from your carb count? (Full disclosure: I am in the middle of the Barry Groves book, and I have not read Atkins. It is on my reading list. I got my LC start on Kimkins, and as you know, that program doesn't allow for net carbs.) Now I'm just trying to educate myself. Is it more of a personal decision based on how your body reacts, or is there a general consensus in the healthy LC community that you can definitely subtract fiber from your daily carb count?

Thanks so much, Jimmy!!

WOW, so many questions for me today. But that's okay, I'm happy to address each of them:

Lori: I wouldn't worry a whole lot about the protein shakes as long as you eat plenty of fat in your meals. But one way you can add FAT to the protein shake is by pouring some heavy cream in with it. It makes it creamier and taste good, too! KEEP IT UP!!!

Skinnypanda: That's okay that you asked a question I've already addressed. But, yes, maltodextrin is a bulking agent made of trace amounts of corn starch to give artificial sweeteners like Splenda that powdered look and feel. That's why you have to count each packet of Splenda as 1g carbs. EXCELLENT question!

Alison: Bless your heart, I know how you're feeling right now. What's wrong with me? Why am I getting punished when I haven't cheated even once? I'm doing it all right, but I'm not losing weight. What gives? (did I just grab your thoughts on this or what?).

Let me just say that stalls are a time when your body is getting used to the changes you are making. During my 10-week SCREEECH in my weight right dab in the middle of my weight loss was indeed difficult for me to stay upbeat and motivated. But I MADE myself stay positive because of how far I had come up to that point.

You've lost 67 pounds so far and that is AWESOME! I think you should [URL=http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006/02/celebrate-gift-of-weight-loss-daily.html>celebrate this gift of weight loss[/URL] every single day to keep the right mindset. If you acknowledge how far you've come, then it will give you the energy where you need to go.

Yes, I was still in ketosis and I know it is TEMPTING to change what you're doing--BUT DON'T! Just put your head down, smile, keep doing what you've been doing to get this far and let your body catch up to all the many fascinating changes that are happening in your body right now. This isn't a small feat you are doing right now, so keep in mind that these things take time to adjust. The floodgates will be opening for you soon enough.

Keep your carbs low, your fat high, and eat NO LESS than 1200 calories. I'm so very proud of you, Alison, so DON'T GIVE UP! After all, how else are you gonna eat if it's not low-carb, hmmm? Here are some inspirational posts I've written about this subject:

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006...-reason-to.html
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006...nds-on-low.html

Robin: Superb question! Dr. Atkins allows for the subtraction of fiber because it is a carbohydrate that the body metabolizes so slowly it has no impact on your blood sugar. There is some disagreement within low-carb camps about whether you even need to eat fiber or not. I am all for people getting enough fiber to remain regular from a variety of sources because I support the benefits it provides.

So, yes, I'm a net carbs guy who only counts carbs minus fiber.

OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS everyone! Keep 'em coming!

Jimmy, I found an old post from 7/06 on your blogspot on sagging skin. What do you think of Ron Brown's theory? I have lost 50 lb and I really wasn't expecting my arms to hang. I still have 50 to go. I can't even imagine what i will look like then.

You have been very supportive in my previous posts about not losing. I seem to be gaining. It goes up and down 2-3 lb. It has been 3 weeks. I started thedailyplate up again today to see if there are more carbs than I think. Is there such a thing as too much fat? Do you think I should sit back for 2 to 3 months and see what happens?

Thanks Jimmy for pointing me to this discussion group when I commented on your blog. I have a question, then I'm off to read the other threads.

I ran a search here on the forum first to see if I could find anything about Agave syrup used as a sweetener on a low-carb eating plan, but didn't find anything. I have chemical sensitivities and cannot use any artificial sweeteners whatsoever. Since Agave is a natural and low glycemic product, can it be used?

Hey jonondemsmom! THANKS so much for your questions.

If I had a dollar every time somebody sent me this Ron Brown article about the "myth of loose skin," then I'd be a millionaire!

To put it mildly, he has no idea what he's talking about. I lost almost 200 pounds in 2004 and the elasticity in my abdomen and inner thighs has NOT improved over the past four years no matter how many crunches and exercise I've done. You can read ALL of my blog posts about this subject of "loose skin" in this post at my links blog.

I wouldn't obsess over the fear of having "loose skin" because it's better than being obese. Incidentally, my arms were kinda loosey goosey, too, after my weight loss, but have gotten better over time (unlike my belly and upper legs). Resistance training can help with your arms, so pick up some dumbbells (no, not your husband! ) or use an exercise band to tighten up those arms. YOU'RE DOING GREAT!!!

As for your weight loss stall, see my response to Alison a couple of posts back. It's natural and normal, so don't sweat it. By all means DON'T CHANGE A THING!!! There is NO such thing as "too much fat" when you keep your carbs reduced. Here are a couple of posts I've written about dietary fat:

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2007...fat-intake.html
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006...with-facts.html
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2007...healthy-in.html

Definitely keep doing what you have been doing and keep on keepin' on. Like I told Alison, the floodgates will open soon enough so get ready. How else are you gonna eat, low-fat and low-calorie? EWWWW!

Super questions! Anyone else?

Ok
It is day 2
and from yesterday I gained 3 pounds
tea with cream and Cocconut oil, splenda
3 eggs, 2 bacon
Hot dog for lunch, tea with cream and Cocconut oil, splenda
Hamburger, salad
tea with cream and Cocconut oil, splenda
slice of swiss for snack

todays food
tea with cream and Cocconut oil, splenda
3 eggs, 2 bacon
hot dog
tea with cream and Cocconut oil, splenda

supper will be turkey buger, salad
the oild i have about 4 teaspoons a day

Ill do a fit day in a bit,

why the gain, I m in a challenge and I dont want to hurt the team mates


could i be eating too much oil?
My sister who is on the challenge gained too, she eats t he same things

sandi

THANKS for sharing, Sandi! Let me encourage you to avoid the temptation to let a temporary weight gain force you into making unnecessary changes in your diet so soon. If you follow the Atkins diet (as you are!) for the next month and kept gaining 3 pounds a day every single day, then you should be worried. But that's not gonna happen!

It's natural to think you should "cut back" on your fats and carbs when you see a weight gain, but that would be the exact WRONG thing to do. Instead, follow the plan that Dr. Atkins outlines in his book and follow it exactly. He provides guidance for those who get "stuck" early on about how to break out of the lack of weight loss. Look into the "fat fast" if and only if after two weeks of Induction you have still not lost any weight.

Game plan for now--STICK TO PLAN, follow it exactly, and DON'T GIVE UP! You're doing fantastic, so don't let that scale dictate your attitude about your progress. You WILL overcome if you keep doing what you are doing. GO GET 'EM, Sandi!

thanks Jimmy
DO you think I am taking too much oil really
here is my fitday
I have to add a plain salad and splenda which i cant find yet on fitday
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournal...ml?Owner=SD1136
As i said before, I dont want to hurt my team ether
sandi

My pleasure, Robin! Stop in anytime!

Sandi, it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat "too much fat" in my experience with low-carb. As long as you keep your carbs low, you can't overeat on fat. You'll upchuck before your body will allow you to eat more fat/oil than your body needs.

I know you want to help your Biggest Loser team, but a temporary gain or lack of weight loss this week will likely turn into a HUGE weight loss next week. Don't let the here and now affect what is to come. Work the plan as prescribed by the author and DO IT! You're gonna be just fine as long as you stick to the plan. Lemme know your progress.

Jimmy, I can't see that you are going to get any more rest over here. We ALL have questions.

I was wondering if you HAD to do 20 carbs when you are losing weght. I tend to still think less is best. Should I push that 20 carb limit or do more like 10 to 15 carbs?

THANKS jonoandemsmom! Believe me, THIS IS WAY BETTER than what I was doing and I'm so happy to help. I'm not going to any other threads right now, so this is the only place you'll see me right now.

Regarding your carbs, DEFINITELY keep your carbs at 20g and not less than that if you are following the Atkins approach. This is for two weeks and then you begin adding back more into your diet in the form of non-starchy veggies, nuts, seeds, low-glycemic fruits, etc.

Unless you are on the Zero Carb Path, 20g is the MINIMUM. When I weighed 410 pounds, I stayed around 20g for the first two months and then got up to about 30-40g for the remainder of my weight loss. Today, I still have to stay around 50g or less in order to manage my weight.

Any more questions? ASK AWAY!

Hey Jimmy,

Thanks for your reply about maltodextrin but I am still not sure if it is safe. Is it?

Hey Jimmy,

Thanks for the encouragement via PM. I have lost 1-1/2 pounds since yesterday and feel a lot better. Don't know what's up, but like SkinnyPanda, I have about 11 pounds to go to MY goal (not the Big Guy's, maybe) and I think it just gets so much harder at the end.

Love all you're doing for us. Where would we be without your having opening up a forum for us?

Hugs and thanks,
Love,
Sunny

Hey Betty Jo, that sounds like a question for my "Low-Carb Product Review" thread:

http://www.lowcarbdiscussion.com/index.php?act=SF&f=67&

I've never heard of Agave syrup, so hopefully Linda and others will have some answers for you about it there.

Skinnypanda, maltodextrin is indeed "safe" to consume since it is just food additive. But just be sure to count the carbs in the foods that contain it such as Splenda.

Sunny, you are too sweet to share your comments with me. THANK YOU! I'm glad to see the scale moving for you again and it does get much slower at the end. But keep a positive attitude, celebrate the success you have had, and keep on livin' la vida low-carb henceforth. This is your new life, so ENJOY it!

OK thanks so much for your answer on Agave. I'll check into it a bit further and then post in the other thread.

THANKS for stopping by Betty Jo and WELCOME to my forum! It's good to have you.

Jimmy, since you aren't reading other threads, I wanted to be sure you saw this. I went to Curves today and got measured. I started out with 49.70% body fat in May and today, I was still 46% body fat! That proves to me I lost a heck of a lot more than fat. I've lost 53 lb since June 18th if you don't count the little bit of weight I gained in transition (1.4 lbs). I lost 29.12 lb body fat. That means I must have lost half muscle. That would account for the saggy arms, wouldn't it. How could I not have known? I just took Kimmers word. Please, don't tell me to jump off a cliff.

You're a funny lady, jonoandemsmom! What's done is done, though, so it's time to just move forward with the first day of the rest of your life. If you begin livin' la vida low-carb the right way by eating plenty of fats and limiting your carbohydrates while making sure you are getting PLENTY of calories (at least 1200), you should be healthy from here on. Don't give up hope and forget about the past. Life's too short to lament. I'm here for you when you need me.

jimmy, I have a question, or anyone else that may know the answer. You know the quick little calculators that we enter our height and weight and age and it tells us our body fat percentage. well, ok, on those it tells me like 35% very obese, but on my little palm I downloaded the diet & exercise asst (love it by the way) and I enter all my measurements, neck, chest, waist, upper and lower arms, thighs and calves. well, it calculates my body fat percentage and tells me it's 25% and for my age (43) the healthy range is 23-33%. why such a difference and which one is the most accurate? am I not really as obese as I thought I was???

thanks,
Debby

Thanks for the reply about my Atkins Bar question, Jimmy! I think I had better steer clear of them for a while; when they are in the house, they are as tempting to me as any high carb fare! I have been known to finish a box in one day!

OUCH! A whole box of Atkins bars would make me sick, but I understand CarolAnn! Glad I could help.