Jimmy Moore

 

August 15 2006

The Atkins diet has been so effective for Jimmy that he's made a commitment to abide by its principles for life. He's now "livin' la vida low-carb," doing exercise, and shunning sugar. The same motivation that pushed him to start losing weight is what's driving his determination to stay with Atkins and to help other people achieve the weight loss he's experienced by doing it.

Country: Spartanburg, SC, USA
Age: 34
Starting weight: 410 lbs.
Weight now: 235
Target weight: 210

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program, and how much did you weigh when you first started?
When I tipped the scales at a whopping 410 pounds in January 2004, the time had come to finally DO something about my weight for good. While many people make New Year's resolutions to lose weight and then never follow through on them, I decided to make a New LIFE resolution and NEVER GIVE UP until I succeeded. So far, so good.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I started off doing the Atkins diet and I am referring to the one that the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins wrote rather than the "meat, eggs, and cheese" diet that so many people typically associate with Atkins. By the way, that is NOT the Atkins diet and never has been. Those of us who have read the books know that there is MUCH MORE to the Atkins diet than those things.

Since I lost the majority of my weight in 2004, I am now what I like to call "livin' la vida low-carb" because eating low-carb is my permanent lifestyle change. I even wrote a book entitled "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" as well as created a blog located at LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com to help others lose weight and get healthy the low-carb way, too!

-Why did you choose this type of weight loss program?
You can only try and fail on diets for just so long until you throw your hands up in the air in utter disgust and give up completely. That's where I was before I started livin' la vida low-carb. But this time I made it my mindset that I was not going to "diet" anymore, but rather completely change my lifestyle forever. Low-carb, for me, seemed to be the best way to eat for the rest of my life (and it STILL is!).

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I started on January 1, 2004 and have been on it ever since. I'll STAY on it until the good Lord decides it is time to take me home.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
Sugar addiction was my biggest problem and going on a sugar-free, low-carb plan was VERY difficult in the beginning. Those first few days I wanted to kill myself - that's how bad I felt. I now realize I was going through withdrawals much in the same way a drug addict would crave cocaine or heroin. It was NOT a pleasant experience, but one that NEEDED to be done if I was ever going to shed the pounds off of my body. To this day, I don't have cravings for sugar and I am even repulsed by the thought of eating anything with sugar in it now. To me, sugar is "rat poison!"

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
When I first started losing weight, I NEVER exercised at all because I didn't see the benefit in it.  However, when I began my low-carb lifestyle, I instinctively knew that exercise NEEDED to be a part of it.  I began walking on the treadmill DAILY and gradually increased the speed and duration of the workouts.  Today I enjoy working out on the elliptical machine for 30-45 minutes a day as well as playing volleyball and basketball.

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
That's easy...I have to prove everyone who thinks I am going to fail wrong. You'd be surprised how many people think I'm gonna gain back all of my weight because nobody can stay on the low-carb lifestyle forever to maintain their weight. Oh yes you can, and I'm gonna prove it. Talk about motivation!

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?

1. Make up your mind RIGHT NOW that you want to lose weight.
2. Find a proven plan that you can follow.
3. Execute that plan exactly as it is written.
4. Do it for the rest of your life.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
Not for me because I don't eat that way anymore. My habits have completely changed and the desire to eat the way I used to has completely disappeared. I knew this transition had happened when my wife asked me to go get her some French Fries at McDonald's. I dutifully granted her request and did not feel the need or desire to snatch even one of the fries to munch on. Additionally, the doughnuts that my co-workers bring to work from time to time and I used to eat at least a half dozen myself no longer tempt me. RAT POISON!!!

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
Besides my own blog at Livin' La Vida Low-Carb, into which I put a lot of time and energy into providing quality content for people desiring weight loss, I would HIGHLY recommend people visit the following sites as well:

Weight of the Evidence
Sugar Shock! Blog
Carbsmart
LowCarbEating
Michael R. Eades, MD