Wow - 2009!

Happy New Year, all yall!

The Kimkins Accolades Keep On Coming!

The Kimkins diet is rated the #3 worst diet of 2008! I'd argue it should be at least tied with #2, the ultra low calorie Original Hollywood Celebrity Diet. I thought it was interesting that most of the diets in the list are diet supplements and not actual diets. Looking at diet alone, Kimkins would be even close to the top.

I wonder what you can eat on the Mariah Carey Purple Food diet? Cabbage? Grape juice? Does eggplant count? :shiver: I'm guessing there's not much food to choose from. Have you ever seen purple protein?

Be careful when you choose your weight loss approach, people. Resolve not to get scammed this year!

Check out Cleo's 2008 Kimkins in Review

Great summary, Cleochatra!

Sometimes it feels like ages with no action in this Kimkins Class Action lawsuit, but sure enough it's moving forward.

What did the attorney say to his client the scammer?

You're FIRED!

That's right - according to court documents, Heidi Diaz attorney (Cottle) has bailed on his client. Maybe he doesn't want to share in the Kimkins Slim Chance Award?

Congratulations Kevin Trudeau! And Kimkins!

You've won the SLIM CHANCE AWARDS!

To call 2008 a typical year in the weight loss field would be too easy. This year’s awards go to an infamous huckster of diet infomercials, known for his outrageous disregard of injunctions against him; $139 body-shaping jeans impregnated with substances that supposedly reduce cellulite; a pill that’s “proven” to make your belly fat vanish; and a dangerous starvation diet launched recklessly on the Internet with false promises of safe, fast and permanent weight loss.

Quackery & Fraud

Here's my very favoritest part:

WORST PRODUCT: Kimkins diet. It must have seemed an easy way to get rich quick. Founder Heidi "Kimmer" Diaz set up a website and charged members a fee to access the Kimkins diet, boasting they could lose up to 5 percent of their body weight in 10 days. "Better than gastric bypass," there was "no faster diet" and in fact she herself had lost 198# in 11 months. Stunning "after" photos were displayed. In June 2007 Women's World ran it as a cover story, and that month alone PayPal records show the Kimkins site took in over $1.2 million. Then users began complaining of chest pains, hair loss, heart palpitations, irritability and menstrual irregularities. This was not surprising since Kimkins is essentially a starvation diet, down to 500 calories per day and deficient in many nutrients (shockingly, laxatives are advised to replace the missing fiber). In a lawsuit, 11 former members are uncovering a vast record of Diez’s alleged fraud. They found that the stunning “after” photos, including one of Kimmer herself, had been lifted from a Russian mail order bride site. According to a deposition reported by Los Angeles TV station KTLA, Diaz admitted using fake pictures, fake stories and fake IDs, and a judge has allowed the litigants to freeze some of her assets.

The Benefits of Cigarette Smoking

I did a little study. I went to a smoky bar. It was rough, but in the name of science I tipped a couple rum & Diet Cokes. I rounded up a room full of smokers. I asked half of them to give up smoking for a week. I'd offered to cook up a mountain of chicken wings for their next kegger, so they said what the heck?

They quit cold turkey and they felt like crap all week. It made them stupider! They were cranky and forgetful. Their cravings were insane. They couldn't seem to get anything done! After a week, I told them they could start smoking again and you know what? After the first cigarette they felt better! Immediately! Clearly the smoking was doing something good for them. We went back out to the bar to celebrate. I discovered that the more beers they drank the prettier I got! That will have to be a study for another day.

Anyway, back to my hypothesis. I guess I was right. Cigarettes are healthy. I think I'll repeat the study with a group of Diet Coke drinkers! Who knew it was so easy to be a sci-un-tist! I wonder if I can get paid to do it?

In equally impressive health news, here's a study that's just as good as mine:
Low-carb diets can affect dieters' cognition skills

Here is more commentary on this "study":
Michael R. Eades, M.D.: Making Worthless Data Confess
Dana Capender: Another Un-Compelling Study
Laura Dolson: Low-Carb Diets Bad for the Brain? (Don't Worry!)
Mariasol: Low-carb diets can affect dieters’ cognition skills

Class Certification Filed for Kimkins Lawsuit

The motion for Class Certification for the Kimkins lawsuit was filed last week. Mariasol has a great summary of the massive document here. Good job, Mariasol - and thank you!

Is it too late to take that back?

I hope Rod Blagojevich ROTS IN JAIL.

Sorry for the OT... carry on...

Oprah, Oprah, Oprah!

Oprah has regained 40 pounds. This is news. After all, it's a given that a woman's worth is determined by her waistline.

She feels bad and embarrassed. She fell off the wagon and let it run over her.

Oprah lost 67 pounds on a liquid protein diet. You know... a diet where your calories are suppressed and you drink liquid protein drinks and the weight falls off and you get into skinny jeans and feel awesome. Then you start to eat real food again and BAM! The pounds, guilt, shame & pain come back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. She now has a thyroid problem - I wonder how that happened?

Oprah, it's not YOU, it's the #$(&*@#&##@ DIEt!!!! Please dust yourself off and adjust your perspective. Use your position as one of the most influential women EVER! Send the message that starving yourself into size 10 CK jeans isn't a solution to being a healthy weight.

And for crying out loud, do not say "I felt like a fat cow. I wanted to disappear." You shouldn't talk to yourself that way, and you shouldn't model that talk for others. Don't be part of the problem, Oprah! Be part of the solution! Give that gift to women and young girls around the globe. You can and you should!

Remember when Heidi Diaz implied that Jessica Alba was on Kimkins?

She may be one of the most beautiful women in the world... but that doesn't stop Jessica Alba from getting airbrushed...

Airbrushed photos does sound like Kimkins, but of course we all know that Alba wasn't on Kimkins and that it was a lie to lure young women to the site. (I don't have to say allegedly - Heidi Diaz confessed to it in her deposition.) But I digress... this post isn't about Kimkins, though it's about one of the main reasons women get desperate enough to do Kimkins!

Just look at what they've done to Jessica Alba because apparently she's just not skinny enough for print:

See how they made her collarbones look like a person on a concentration camp diet? How they trimmed her waist, hips and legs? Trimmed her crotch? Chiseled her chin? Plumped up her boobs? Gave her that 'healthy' tan? Why? Because that body on the left, owned by the mother of a 5-month-old, just isn't perfect enough.

I think she looks better in the before shot, though I'd still like to hand her a sandwich.

The fact that this stuff is done routinely makes me sick. Even the untouched photos set a standard unattainable by the masses. Why then is it necessary to retouch the photo to add that "glamorous anorexic look'? This disgusting exploitation of models sets a standard that is sickening or killing young women every day! It's unconscionable that this is accepted - even expected - practice!

"Vegas, baby!" Seriously???

Swallow your coffee first, then go read Mayberryfan's blog post. Here's a spoiler:

Heidi Diaz is planning...

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

yet another Kimkins Vegas get-together!

I told you to swallow your coffee!

She planned one once and cancelled at the last minute for an emergency.

Then she planned another one and cancelled at the last minute for an emergency.

Now she's planning another one... can anyone predict what'll happen?

Say, since we're talking about Vegas, shall we start some serious wagers?

The most interesting part for me was Mayberryfan's observation on Heidi's new signature line, borrowed from a minister:

"Don't talk about the way you are, talk about the way you want to be."... Pastor Joel Osteen

Poetic, don't you think? Or is it that other p-word that ends in 'etic'?

I'd like to start a prayer chain for AmyB

AmyB is having significant health issues, at the same time her son is. Please, on your own blog, here, or in your own hearts, join me to lift her up and wrap her in prayers and positive thoughts.

Who's got my hand?

Yipes!

The US has lost 1.9 million jobs so far this year. Half a million in November alone and expected to get much worse.

What a depressing day. SAD is kicking my butt. Does anyone have any GOOD news to share? I'm begging here!

What century is this?!?

How did I not know that piracy was still rampant in this day and age? Until the past couple months news stories about it, I had no clue!

This morning I was listening to a story on NPR about the huge problem of trafficking of Russian women. I had some sense of this, after poring over Russian bride websites for weeks in search of the phony Kimkins success photos. But wow... the real problem isn't as tidy as women looking for husbands in other countries as a ticket for happiness. Many of the women are coerced into it, while others are just desperate for a better life. At first thought, it makes me so very glad I live in the US, but women are exploited everywhere including here. It's so pervasive that we often are immune to it. Entire industries are devoted to it, especially the diet industry, the media, the 'health' industry... anywhere there is a possible vulnerability or need, someone is ready to pounce on it for their own gain.

What century is this?

Were you BANNED from Kimkins?

There is a request for information for the Kimkins lawsuit on Prudentia's blog. The immediate need is for people who were banned from Kimkins to email KimkinsCase@gmail.com - even if you have already joined the lawsuit. Prudentia is collecting materials for the attorneys. Please read Prudentia's blog for information about the other materials needed for evidence.

Thank you!
OYB

What are the symptoms of Malnutrition?

I read a blog post this morning about a Kimkins dieter who has been experiencing health problems. (More here, and here, and similar stories on the Kimkins Survivors blog) It really scared me. I thought it sounded like she was displaying serious signs of malnutrition/undernutrition, similar to the symptoms weight loss surgery patients can face. (Kimkins is marketed as an alternative to weight loss surgery - calories are similarly suppressed but without surgical intervention.)

Here is one list of symptoms of malnutrition, obtained here:

feel tired and weak
low energy levels
difficulty losing weight
can't easily get to sleep
stressed and/or nervous
drowsiness during the day
can't concentrate or get confused easily
digestion problems
constipation or hard stools
mood swings or easily upset
no patience for anything
feel depressed
overly dry or oily skin
nausea or abdominal pain
annoying eye twitches
bruise easily
muscle cramps
lower back pain
nails are thin or brittle
hair loss
water retention
don't eat well-balanced meals every day

These symptoms don't magically resolve when you take a vitamin - these symptoms are signs of damage that can be very difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.

For more information about nutrition and weight loss, Bamagal's Back Across the Line blog is really valuable.

What's in it for you, Derek?

Derek, you said you only posted your success story because you're proud of your weight loss, which you achieved by eating basic low carb, ignoring the Kimkins plan details, and not participating at the website. You said you don't endorse or promote Kimkins.

Derek, this ad says otherwise. Did you consent to this? Are you getting a cut of the profits? Is it OK with you that the odds are statistically zero that they will achieve the results you did? That they'll be out $80? That their money went to support the site that is facing class action lawsuit for fraudulent marketing? That they will probably quit the plan because it's 'too strict' (nutritionally bankrupt) or they'll actually DO the diet and end up with symptoms like the people on the Kimkins Survivors? And you are OK with Heidi Diaz using you to get people to join. Did you know the Better Business Bureau gave Kimkins an F rating?

If you are really only in this to inspire others and show them what is possible, then why not tell your story at any number of free weight loss websites? Why be a cover model for Kimkins? Really, I do not get it. Is there something in it for you?






Update: AffiliateScams has more on this topic.

Some peeps never learn!

Heidi Diaz is still banning Kimkins members!

The Kimkins lawsuit is still ongoing. Check here for important information.

Tippy / Jeannie Got $erved

Tippy Toes posted recently about getting served in the Kimkins counter-suit. The counter-suit is basically targeted at anyone who ever disagreed with Heidi Diaz about anything as far as I can tell. It's ridiculous. As far as I can see, the only thing Heidi will get out of it is the glee at forcing people to pay the $300 filing fee. She won't have the last laugh, though.

Tippy didn't do anything to deserve to be sued. She was humiliatingly loyal to Heidi - on national television, even. When she finally realized how she was being used and how she was aiding a scam, she went off and quietly started her own private forum. No crime in that. People from Kimkins were welcomed, but they weren't required to LEAVE Kimkins to join, so how did that hurt Heidi Diaz or her business?

Heidi is just lashing out irrationally and it's going to cost her even more money in the end. Tippy, I'm sorry you had to pay that money. It's a better investment than the stock market, right? You're in good hands with John Tiedt!

The more things change, the more they stay the same

Mayberryfan has a new post up, with a recent response from Heidi Diaz / Kimmer to one of her paying customers regarding medical symptoms she's experiencing on the Kimkins diet:

Kimkins Dieter in Danger

Important Health Warning

Sorry, I don't know the source of this or I'd credit it. I got it by email.

Post: Anorexic "Tips" from the Biggest Loser

This was the first piece I've read by Charlotte Hilton Andersen, and I want to share it here. I looked at some of her other entries and I can't wait to read them all. According to her bio on the site, "Charlotte runs the popular health and fitness site The Great Fitness Experiment. She was featured on ABC's 20/20 and interviewed on Fox's Morning Show with Mike & Juliette. Her writing can be found on the Washington Post online, Fox News online, LiveStrong, and iVillage as well as many other health, fitness and body image sites."

Anorexic "Tips" from the Biggest Loser

Today is Love Your Body Day

Thank you, Bamagal for the heads up on your Kimkins Review blog, and for the link to the Love Your Body website.

Overall women are dissatisfied with their bodies - 80% of us. It's what makes it so easy for Kimkins and other diet websites to get a toe hold! They prey on that dissatisfaction.

Pledge to love your body today! What will YOU do to feed your body and your soul?

So little to say... but go read these posts!

I am totally out of writing mojo, even about Kimkins these days. The latest on the Kimkins lawsuit is that the 3rd deposition of Heidi Diaz has been completed and went well, and the 3rd amended compliant has been filed. If you have never read the complaint, you should. Lots of evidence presented in a manner that is very clear.

Here are some blog posts that caught my eye recently. They all write better than I do anyway. Enjoy!

Past, Present and Future
What Makes Kimkins dangerous?
Notable Quotable
Kimmer's 1yr Progress
Weighing in on the Alabama Obesity Debate
In Which I Apologize and Refuse to Apologize
Kimmer's Diabetic Diet
Can MSG Cause Obesity?
Are Low Carb Diets Healthy? The Debate From Opposing Views
BDD: Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Which nutrients might help prevent the most common cause of blindness in the elderly?
Anorexia: Media Borne Illness

Pregorexia

Disturbing and dangerous trend:

Pregorexic: Are Some Pregnant Women Putting Their Fetuses at Risk?

Part of the outrage over the Kimkins diet has been the way members and staff push themselves and each other to eat less and less, starving off the weight. This news story isn't about Kimkins, but there have been many examples of Kimkins members who want to do the diet while pregnant, or find themselves unable to stop the diet when they become pregnant. Pregnancy is absolutely the worst time to be starving your body - and your baby!

Exercise in a PILL? What do you think about that?

Could a pill replace exercise?

Pill turns mice into chariots of fire

Exercise pill is better than a workout

This article says, "The drug works by by tapping into the molecular pathways that normally reprogram muscle in response to exercise. "

Would you take it? Would you trust it? Should insurance cover it? Should scientists be working on this?

Christin talks about Kimkins

Jimmy Mmore has a new podcast interview with former Kimkins covergirl Chrstin Sherburne.
http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/christin-sherburne/

It's really nice to hear from Christin herself how she's doing after a really difficult year, including recovery from harm the Kimkins diet did to her physcially and emotionally. It's also helpful to hear a little news about the pending Kimkins class action lawsuit, since the process is so v~e~r~y long!

You can read more about Christin and her Kimkins experience on her blog.
http://the-journey-on.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Christin!

Big news day for lowcarb diets!

These are different interpretations of the same info. I think it's all good news! Will the world get it? I hope so!

OK, I think it'll take more than this, but still... I'll take good news where I can! Note that none of the articles says to starve yourself on a low-everything diet until you lose your menstrual cycle, muscle mass and hair.

Study: Low-carb diet best for weight, cholesterol
Low-carb and Mediterranean diets beat low-fat for weight-loss ...
Best Diet: Low-Fat, Low-Carb or Mediterranean?

Some Recent Health News

I found these articles interesting and thought I'd share them here.

_______________________________________________________

This one supports the importance of essential fatty acids for mental health.

Eating Healthy Food Can Keep Mental Disorders At Bay!
_______________________________________________________

The title on this one explains itself. Don't think that supplements can take the place of food.

Vitamin-rich foods always trump a bottle of supplements, nutrition experts say
_______________________________________________________

This one talks about how extreme diets can damage fertility. Kimkins members, if you start missing periods, please stop the diet. You don't have to be down to skin & bones to be harmed this way. Sorry about that annoying Citibank ad - I can't figure out how to make it go away but if you copy the text of the story into notepad or something, you can read the words blocked by the ad.

Excessive weight loss can affect women’s ability to conceive
_______________________________________________________

The title explains itself on this one, too.

Seek lifelong health over short-term weight loss

Kimkins Deceptive Marketing - Food Pictures

This picture is part of a banner on the Kimkins site. Wouldn't you want to go on a diet where you could eat like this and still lose a ton of weight? (Actually you can, but not on Kimkins!) Those pictures stolen from other web sites to lure dieters into paying $80 just to find out that you don't really get to eat that way at all. Don't complain, though, because if you want to eat like the plan she advertised, you must not want to lose weight bad enough.







Now go back and look at Mariasol's previous brilliant posts about what the Kimkins diet really looks like:


http://mariasol-mariasol.blogspot.com/2008/02/kimkins-diet-plans.html
http://mariasol-mariasol.blogspot.com/2008/02/kimkins-food.html

From Dr. Briffa: Omega-3 fat supplementation found to improve brain function

One of the nutrients Kimkins is most deficient in is essentail fatty acids. They're called essential for a reason! Here's a post from Dr. Briffa about the importance of Omega 3s for basic brain function, and potentially protecting you from dementia.

Regina Wilshire recently posted about Omega 3s and the brain, too. On her blog you'll find a wealth of easy to understand information about essential fatty acids and balance. You can also learn about ways to lose weight and improve your health, if you are looking for a way to get off the nutritionally bankrupt Kimkins diet but aren't sure where to start.

Kimkins & Low Thyroid

Here's a case where Heidi Diaz / Kimmer may know what she's talking about. In a recent blog post, she reviewed the symptoms of low thyroid. (She lifted a thyroid image from here and her words from somewhere else but failed cite her sources. Figures.)

What stood out for me was the fact that the Kimkins diet causes all those same symptom, and the Kimkins Survivor blog is filled with accounts from people whose thyroids went bad while on Kimkins. Every one of the symptoms Heidi Diaz mentioned in her post were symptoms heard often from people who followed her diet.

Happy Father's Day!

We got my husband tennis rackets for the whole family - a gift that'll keep on giving! I hope you all had a really nice Father's Day.

Low on inspiration...

Gosh this battle is dragging on. There should be more court action soon, though.

I read a blog today from a person who posted a couple of weeks ago that they were starting Kimkins and were so excited. They posted again this week saying they'd lost 100 pounds in 5 months on Kimkins. Do the math. It's more lies.

There are so many Kimkins blogs popping up, most from made-up people, telling the same lies. There were two pro-Kimkins blogs with the same post about a grill fire, too. I'm weary.

Get Smart, Feed People

Here is a free vocabulary game that will help you improve your vocabulary and help provide free rice for hungry people. My kids really love it. You can adjust your game preferences on the options screen - start hard, start easy, etc.



Ignore the pictures if they trigger carb cravings!

Adrenal Fatigue Resource

I previously posted about adrenal fatigue here:

Do You Have Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a common disorder characterized by

• Fatigue
• Feeling tired despite sufficient hours of sleep
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Reliance on stimulants like caffeine
• Cravings for carbohydrates or sugars
• Poor immune function
• Intolerance to cold

In addition to the resources I mentioned in that post, a kind commenter (thanks, Jacqueline!) pointed out another that seems very good.

Women to Women: Eating to Support Your Adrenal Glands - Small Choices Can Make a Big Difference

From her profile, I see Jacqueline has a blog, Women's Health News. Check it out, and tell her thanks for sharing the link!

Effects Of Semi-Starvation

I want to share with you something I read this morning. This is some seriously interesting reading. It discusses and interprets the Ancel Keys “starvation study” from 1950.

The article is about the relationship between eating disorders and prolonged dietary restriction. The entire article can be found here:
Effects Of Semi-Starvation

It starts with this:

One of the most important advancements in the understanding of eating disorders is the recognition that severe and prolonged dietary restriction can lead to serious physical and psychological complications (Garner, 1997). Many of the symptoms once thought to be primary features of anorexia nervosa are actually symptoms of starvation. Given what we know about the biology of weight regulation, what is the impact of weight suppression on the individual? This is particularly relevant for those with anorexia nervosa, but is also important for people with eating disorders who have lost significant amounts of body weight. Perhaps the most powerful illustration of the effects of restrictive dieting and weight loss on behavior is an experimental study conducted almost 50 years ago and published in 1950 by Ancel Keys and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota (Keys et al., 1950). The experiment involved carefully studying 36 young, healthy, psychologically normal men while restricting their caloric intake for 6 months. More than 100 men volunteered for the study as an alternative to military service; the 36 selected had the highest levels of physical and psychological health, as well as the most commitment to the objectives of the experiment. What makes the "starvation study" (as it is commonly known) so important is that many of the experiences observed in the volunteers are the same as those experienced by patients with eating disorders.

It goes on to describe in detail how the study affected the participants, including:
Attitudes and Behavior Related to Food and Eating
Binge Eating
Emotional and Personality Changes
Social and Sexual Changes
Cognitive and Physical Changes

You really do need to read the whole article to appreciate the significance of the impact on these men.

The study participants started out as healthy men, with no apparent predisposition to eating disorders. By restricting their food intake by half for the duration of study, they suffered profound and long lasting impact.

With Kimkins food is restricted much more, and often for longer, than it was for these healthy men for the ‘starvation study’. The symptoms these men suffered are very similar to symptoms described by Kimkins survivors. There has been a great deal of debate over whether or not Kimkins can cause an eating disorder. I am no authority, but in my heart I feel the answer is that yes it can. It is commonly said that eating disorders are not about the food, but this study seems to indicate the issue is not that clear cut.

Have you been to AnswerFitness.com?

AnswerFitness is a new-to-me blog. I found it through their detailed review of the Kimkins diet:

Kimkins Diet: Big Fat Fraud? Diet Reviews

I think it's important to note that he reviewed Kimkins on his own. He's not a naysayer, negative nancy, angry mobster, or any of the other things the 'ducks' have been called. He reviewed it and called it like he saw it. Good for him!

The blog is pretty neat. It has product reviews, health & fitness tips, and great recipes - I can't wait to try the Asparagus with Dijon Mustard Sauce!

Fraudelent Marketing in the News

Former Body Solutions CEO admits lying to FTC
May 19, 2008

DALLAS

The former CEO of a company that used radio personalities to market Body
Solutions weight-loss products pleaded guilty Monday to lying to federal
regulators about his assets.

Harry Siskind, 53, former chief executive of Mark Nutritional Inc., entered
the plea in federal district court in San Antonio.

Siskind faces up to five years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and
$155 million in restitution when he is sentenced Aug. 28, federal officials
said.

Siskind's attorney, a federal public defender, did not immediately respond
to phone and e-mail requests for comment. Siskind was released on $50,000
bond, according to court records.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Antonio said Siskind admitted making a
false statement about his assets during a 2003 deposition in the Federal
Trade Commission's lawsuit against himself, his former company and others.

The FTC is suing Siskind and others over marketing claims by Body Solutions
that drinking one of its products would cause users to lose weight as they
slept, without diet or exercise. The FTC took Siskind's deposition about
that lawsuit and a related bankruptcy case.

Officials said Siskind was ordered by a court to disclose all assets he
owned or controlled but described some valuable loans he was owed as
worthless stock.

Mark Nutritional agreed in 2003 to shut down. It sold about $155 million
worth of Body Solutions Evening Weight Loss Formula.


Source: Former Body Solutions CEO admits lying to FTC

Kimkins Lawsuit Gets Personal

I thought this stuff only happened on television? People who speak out openly against Kimkins and support the Kimkins fraud lawsuit are being personally attacked on blogs, and are having their privacy invaded. It's like school yard bullying moved to cyber space! It's really ugly. I hope the targets of these attacks are working with John, and keeping their heads held high.

I recently saw a blogger go on and on about how the lawsuit participants haven't coughed up any hard evidence of damage caused by the diet, so the lawsuit will never fly. Excuse me? The lawsuit is about FRAUD. It will be very easy to prove and win, considering the volume of fraud that occurred and the stacks of evidence that have been provided. The personal attacks and diversions won't change the facts. They just prove what desperate and rotten people the defendants are.

Speaking of cyber bullying, I saw a story about a 49 year old woman who was indicted for harassing a 13 year old girl on MySpace, until the girl hanged herself. What kind of person would make up a fake identities to terrorize a child in such a cruel and intentional way?

Mom Indicted in Deadly MySpace Hoax

"This adult woman allegedly used the Internet to target a young teenage girl, with horrendous ramifications," U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien said in a written statement.

"Any adult who uses the Internet or a social gathering Web site to bully or harass another person, particularly a young teenage girl, needs to realize that their actions can have serious consequences," O'Brien said.

I hope she's convicted.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

This was new to me, but some of you from the early days of Lowcarb Friends may remember this, or encounters like it, between Kimmer and anyone who disagreed with her.

At that point she claimed to be:




But really she was:



Read what she had to say with that in mind:
Still Neauseous?

Interesting Reading from Dr. Briffa

Dr. Briffa had an interesting post about thyroid health a few weeks ago:

Low thyroid function may be a factor in weight gain despite ‘normal’ tests

He starts with this - see if it sounds familiar to you!

When I was studying medicine I was even more cynical than I am now and so, I think, were quite a few of my friends. We had all established firmly in our minds the notion that eating few calories than the body ‘burned’ would result in weight loss, so generally had little compassion for individuals who claimed they did not overeat but still could not shift their excess weight. Also, around the time a study was published which claimed that the overweight tend to significantly underestimate the amount they eat. So, if someone claimed that they thought they had a ‘sluggish metabolism’ or had ‘a problem with their glands’ (low thyroid function) then our eyes would usually roll skywards, if not outwardly, then at least inwardly.

Then you had thyroid testing and it was normal, right? Read the whole article to find out more about why normal may not be so normal after all.

Since then, he's written a follow up post about the dangers of ignoring allegedly normal thyroid test results:

More evidence that ‘normal’ thyroid function tests do not necessarily mean that all is well with the thyroid and health

He said

...this study focused on TSH levels in the ‘normal’ range, which the researchers cite as 0.5-3.5 mlU/L. This is interesting in itself, as the lab I usually use for these tests quotes and upper limit of TSH of 4.20, and I saw a patient yesterday who came with some blood test results where the upper limit of TSH was quoted as 5.50! it seems there is a lack of consensus about what the normal range of TSH should be…

Frustrated yet?

Anyway, focusing back on the study, the research looked at the risk of cardiac death in a group of about 17,000 women and 8000 men over a period of something more than 8 years.

They found no significant relationship between TSH levels and cardiac death risk in men. However, in women, it was a different story. Compared to women with a TSH level of 0.5-1.4 (relatively low levels which should mean relatively high thyroid function):

Women with a TSH level of between 1.5-2.4 were found to be at a 41 per cent increased risk of cardiac death.

Women with a TSH level of between 2.5-3.5 were found to be at a 69 per cent increased risk of cardiac death.

Yikes! In the end, Dr. Briffa says:

Quite a few doctors I know express concern at the thought of someone with ‘normal’ test results taking thyroid hormone. They often cite the risk of treatment, including risks to the heart. Obviously, I think it’s a good thing that as doctors we should be aware of the risks associated with thyroid hormone treatment. I just wish more doctors would see the other side: that there can be considerable risks associated with not treating too.

One of the commenters (Jackie) on the blog post shared some support resources. If you would like to learn more, check here:
Stop The Thyroid Madness
Thyroid Patient Advocacy
Hypothyroidism / Underactive Thyroid / Hashimoto's Disease
ThyroidUK.org
Her blog at http://gooddietgoodhealth.blogspot.com
Dr Peatfield’s book ‘Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy’
Dr Lowe’s paper on the treatment of hypothyroidism

Happy International No Diet Day!

Please read this important post from Sandy at Junkfood Science.

Happy International No Diet Day!

Today, I Pledge:
That I will not diet for one day, on May 6, International No Diet Day.
Instead of trying to change my body to fit someone else's standards, I will accept myself just as I am. (I'll TRY!)
I will feed myself if I'm hungry.
I will feel no shame or guilt about my size or about eating.
I will think about whether dieting has improved my health and well-being or not. (It has NOT!)
And I will try to do at least one thing I have been putting off "until I lose weight."

Katie Couric on Kimkins?

I am just kidding, of course, but she did get Kimkins-like results. Check out the Katie Couric Photoshop Diet! Be sure to read the article so you can hear how she reacted when she found out this was done to her picture.

So Diets Don't Work...

An interesting article from last year about a study that concluded that diets don’t work. You can read the whole thing here.

Here are some things that stood out for me:

"You can initially lose 5 to 10 percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then the weight comes back," said Traci Mann, UCLA associate professor of psychology and lead author of the study. "We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found only in a small minority of participants, while complete weight regain was found in the majority. Diets do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits for the majority of people."

"What happens to people on diets in the long run?" Mann asked. "Would they have been better off to not go on a diet at all? We decided to dig up and analyze every study that followed people on diets for two to five years. We concluded most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all.

"Several studies indicate that dieting is actually a consistent predictor of future weight gain," said Janet Tomiyama, a UCLA graduate student of psychology and co-author of the study. One study found that both men and women who participated in formal weight-loss programs gained significantly more weight over a two-year period than those who had not participated in a weight-loss program, she said.

Another study, which examined a variety of lifestyle factors and their relationship to changes in weight in more than 19,000 healthy older men over a four-year period, found that "one of the best predictors of weight gain over the four years was having lost weight on a diet at some point during the years before the study started," Tomiyama said.

Sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it? So where does that leave us? Certainly not Kimkins. Heidi Diaz is precisely a model of exactly what this study says. I'm really not sure where that leaves us, but I'm going to work hard to find out. The article says eating in moderation and exercise are key, but I haven't seen any studies that shows that works, either! What next? The food pyramid? It has to come down to addressing the cause!

Nothing Tastes As Good As Being Thin Feels

Really?

__________________________________

Image source:

Hila Elmalich, Israeli Model Dies of Anorexia

What's Wrong With This Picture? Some of my observations...

Check out the woman who forgot to put her dress on over her trashy slip. Her BFF should have told her! Boobs, belly button and undergarments (if any - we can hope) on full display. What self respecting woman would do this? Oh wait, they wouldn't. I can't imagine what kind of event they are attending, with the fashion statements displayed in this photo, complete with beer bottles and flasks. Any guesses?

Of course, my real objection to this photo is the pig in the tee shirt. First of all - COVER THAT UP! Again, what person with any self respect would display themselves in this pathetic and sad way? He's no victim, though - he's the one doing the damage with that ignorant message on the shirt. His message is clear - if you 'beat' the disease called anorexia, you'll look like him. Better to keep starving yourself than try to beat the disease. Shameful.

Heidi Diaz sends the same sort of message with Kimkins. Best to diet-coke-fast off the pounds, take laxatives daily so 'potty problems' don't mask weight loss, trick your body into feeling too queasy to eat, berate yourself for an extra 'finger grab' of salad, whatever it takes not to look like the guy in that picture. Better to hide behind lies and phony photos than be who you are. Shameful!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

What do you think about this picture?

The Disorder Next Door

SELF magazine has an interesting article called The disorder next door. Their conclusion? Over 6 in 10 American women have disordered eating, and another 1 in 10 has an eating disorder.

This was covered this morning on the Today Show. I found it odd they had Matt Lauer do the interview. Maybe this is unfair, but it felt like having me cover a wrestling match. LOL! Here's a link to the interview:

SELF poll reveals 65 percent of American women are disordered eaters

Here's an excerpt:

The online SELF survey garnered responses from 4,000 women ages 25 to 45 to a detailed questionnaire about their eating habits and found that most disordered eaters fall into one or more of six categories. "Calorie prisoners" are terrified of gaining weight, tend to see food as good or bad and feel extremely guilty if they indulge in something that’s off-limits. Secret eaters binge on junk food at home, in the car — wherever they won’t be found out. Career dieters may not know what to eat without a plan to follow; despite their efforts, they’re more likely than other types to be overweight or obese. Purgers are obsessed with ridding their body of unwanted calories and bloat by using laxatives, diuretics or occasional vomiting. Food addicts eat to soothe stress, deal with anger, even celebrate a happy event; they think about food nearly all the time. Extreme exercisers work out despite illness, injury or exhaustion and solely for weight loss; they are devastated if they miss a session. Like Marsh, who Bulik describes as a calorie prisoner and an exercise addict, many disordered eaters piece together a painful mix of destructive habits. Others may shift between categories over the years, ricocheting from restricting to bingeing to purging, for instance.

Even more frightening, the SELF survey reveals that an additional 10 percent of women suffer from outright eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, meaning that a total of 75 percent of all American women — three out of four — eat, think and behave abnormally around food.

Gulp. I looked around the SELF website and found some interesting articles and tools there. Take the SELF Magazine eating disorder quiz. I did and the results were UGly. (Ugly with a capital UG, get it?) My reaction? Well DUH! I have probably fit 5 of the 6 categories mentioned above at one time or another - often most of them all at once. The one that spoke loudest to me was the 'career dieter.'

So now what will SELF do with those results? My challenge to them is to show people how to get healthy about eating and their weight, instead of reverting to the regular glossy coverage of how it's so much better to be skinny than fat, with a side order of implications that if you're fat it's because you don't want it bad enough.

Do you have adrenal fatigue?

Life is pretty demanding, and constantly elevated stress hormones can take a serious toll on the body. Check out some of the following sources for information about adrenal fatigue if you are experiencing symptoms like these:

• Fatigue
• Feeling tired despite sufficient hours of sleep
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Reliance on stimulants like caffeine
• Cravings for carbohydrates or sugars
• Poor immune function
• Intolerance to cold

Adrenal fatigue assessment
Adrenal fatigue — the effects of stress and high cortisol levels
Adrenal Fatigue Screening Quiz

It seems like for every site with adrenal fatigue information, there's a product they assure you will help. However, this site offers some practical advice:

Recovering from adrenal fatigue: How your body can overcome chronic stress and feel energized again

Angry About Kimkins

In case anyone has forgotten why people are so angry at Heidi Diaz for the crash diet that is Kimkins, TheTruth has some important reminders - Heidi's own words.

Kimmer: Cut Calories and Take Laxatives

Kimmer: Calories and Laxatives #2

Kimmer: Calories and Laxatives #3

Truly scary diet advice - this woman is teaching you what it takes to be as successful as The Kimmer.

Some New Blogs I'm Enjoying

These gals are new/renewed bloggers and I wanted to give them a shout-out and some bloggy love!

Chilled White Wine
Kimkins-Free
Kenni's Korner

When Reading Internet Articles - Beware of Manipulation

One good outcome from the Kimkins disaster is that a lot of people have gotten much more discerning about things they read. Is the material education or manipulation? Is it the truth? What's in it for the author? Is the author a real person? Who is making money off this article, or the product it casually mentions in the closing lines?

Here's one brand new 'article', spreading across the internet like a virus. It is created by the accused fraud, Heidi Diaz of Kimkins fame. I started to do a phrase by phrase commentary but it got too ugly and snarky for me. When it comes down to it, this article was written by a career liar intent on making you feel bad about yourself in order to motivate you to hook up with her dangerous crash yo-yo diet plan. See how convincing she can be? There are some real hard truths in there. Mixed with big fat whopping lies, and really powerful manipulation. If you aren't on to this woman, she can be quite convincing. And even if you are on to her, it's still easy to forget as you read her persuasive words that she's:

• Not a successful dieter at all
• Not a low carb diet expert
• Not honest with herself or her clients (have you seen the deposition videos?)
• Not interested in promoting healthy weight loss
• Not capable of taking her own diet advice
• Manipulating potential customers by acting like she's got all the right answers
• Destroyed her health trying to do the plan she's selling

I can't imagine what is missing her soul that she's not hiding under a rock, trembling in fear over what's coming for her as a result of her actions. Instead, she's still out there marketing under various names.

As intelligent consumers, we often will research products on the web to find out more about what we're considering purchasing. A year ago there was nothing readily findable on the web but glowing articles and reviews of Kimkins. I remember reading them and thinking - wow, I can't find anything bad about this plan! Now I'm aware that the articles I was reading weren't really articles, they were spam. The reviews I was reading were lies. The blogs I was reading were affiliates - often the same affiliates over and over. The photos were faked. It was really a brilliantly engineered scam, designed to solidly lock up the top hundreds of spots of search results. If it weren't for the work of empowered and outraged consumers, this would still be the case for Kimkins today.

Unfortunately, it isn't just Kimkins that's like this. Deceptive and relentless marketing can really drown out the truth. In Kimkins case, it took thousands of hours of work by people rallying together to get the truth raised up so new people can find it. That work has to continue, or the truth will sink again. In all likelihood, the vast majority of scams are in the same golden position Kimkins was in last year.

We have to be so suspicious of what we read about services or products we are considering. There is a lot to be gained by the scammers wanting to separate us from our money.

___________________________________________________________

Are You Faux Dieting?
08th April 2008

If you look anywhere it seems these days, there's a revolt of "faux". Faux fur. Faux Louis Vuitton. Faux paint treatments. Faux Monet. Well, technically I suppose that's a poster, but you get the idea. With so many alternatives to the real deal, it's unfortunately becoming second nature to accept second best.

What about faux dieting? Are you guilty? Quiz yourself on the following and see if you can give yourself a truthful "yes" (hey, without crossing your fingers!)

Ask yourself:

1) I've got a diet strategy for family gatherings rather than playing it by ear (or urge).

2) I've never saved calories or carbs from meals so I can drink alcohol later.

3) I don't confuse 15 carbs from high nutrient veggies with 15 carbs from sugar free chocolate candies.

4) I've never pretended 400 calories of fried chicken was the same as 400 calories of broiled chicken & veggies.

5) I always make a whole hearted full time 100% commitment to my weight loss plan.

Ahem, so how did you do? How quick are you to forgive yourself for a relapse? Nobody is suggesting we flagellate ourselves for a cheat -- planned or otherwise. But in this era of pop psychologists who diagnose 15 year problem marriages in 15 minute TV segments, we're all too quick to gloss it over.

"Well, I tried." Yep, you tried. You've been trying for years, what else is new? When are you going to suck it up and finally do it? If you can't be honest with yourself, who can you be honest with? Think about it.

It boggles the mind to hear the excuses we give ourselves for remaining fat and undisciplined. What's even scarier is that we're believing it! Or do we? Try these on for size:

"I was losing too quickly and experts recommend only losing 1 or 2 pounds a week so we don't deprive ourselves of nutrients."

Oh really? So your splurge was on organic fresh spinach salad with organic free range chicken? Yeah, didn't think so.

"I really like this low carb thing, but I want to keep my calories up so I started having faux cheesecake or chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing."

Oh, please spare us. Did you also order some celery sticks for the dressing so you could faux the vaguest semblance of nutrition in that scenario? I'd have to say one of the strangest "starvation mode" stories I've ever heard was from a mom who ate the rest of her kid's Klondike ice cream sandwich because she felt her calories were too low that day. And, uh, yes, that mom is still "trying" to lose. Stay tuned.

"I want to be a good example for my daughter (son)."

Good! You can start by quit finishing off their left over Kraft macaroni & cheese, buying trans fat soaked Cup of Soup, sneaking mashed potatoes and gravy off their plate when they aren't looking or announcing "Just one won't hurt," as you order a triple burger super combo on the way home from soccer practice. With a diet soda, of course.

Now, what exactly about "dieting" is a bad example?

What's wrong with showing your kids some self restraint and making healthy choices? If you're a low carber, there's no law lurking in the universe that you must eat carbs. Serving yourself a plate of grilled salmon, mixed greens salad and steamed broccoli florets with ginger dressing is nothing to be ashamed of.

"My grandmother will freak out for sure if I don't eat (take your pick) the 100 year old family recipe potato salad, Aunt Sarah's chocolate cake, my sister's famous garlic cheese bread ... at the family picnic this weekend."

The final nail in the coffin may be, "And your sister is going through a divorce so be sure you don't upset her."

Ask your grandmother if she's going to pay for your insulin when you develop obesity induced diabetes. Hopefully she can explain to your kids why you couldn't get life insurance with a BMI of 43 and died prematurely due to heart disease. Obesity related, of course.

When are we going to quit lying to ourselves? Excuse me, fauxing?

"I don't want my daughter to develop an eating disorder by watching me diet."

A candidate for the Mom Hall of Fame! Odd they have no qualms about parking their kids in the waiting room of a bariatric surgeon while they get a Lapband consultation. Or sitting patiently at the pharmacy while mom picks her diet pills. Or watch them count calories, fat grams or points with military precision at every family meal (don't forget to drag out the food scale).

If you're serious about weight loss, do it. But don't make excuses. Quit fauxing.


------

Heidi Diaz is the owner of popular Kimkins.con weight loss website and an expert in the low carb lifestyle.

This article is free for republishing. OF COURSE IT IS!

Calling Kimkins Members in San Diego County

What Bamagal said here:

If you are a former Kimkins member and you reside in San Diego County, John Tiedt would appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Please email John or use the Contact Us form on his website.

If you know of any former Kimkins members in San Diego County, please be sure to let them know that John Tiedt is looking for their assistance.

Everyone can help by spreading the word. Thank you very much for your help.

~*~*~*~

For those who may not already know, John Tiedt is the lawyer handling the Kimkins Class Action Lawsuit. I do hope that all former Kimkins members will consider joining the Kimkins Class Action Lawsuit, if you have not already done so. There is strength in numbers.

If you have already joined the Lawsuit via email, please be sure that you get your affidavit to John as soon as possible. Remember, if you need any help with completing this, be sure to watch the helpful video.

Thank you!

Here we go again...

Heidi Diaz is still dispensing unqualified, hazardous advice.

These comments from Heidi Diaz were posted today at Kimkins, and quoted at LCF:

Re:"I'm a Kimkins Newbie" Challenge 2008! 2 Hours, 15 Minutes ago

Kimmer:
"I don't believe in starvation mode (you can read more in my blog). The whole point of gastric surgery or Lapband is to drastically cut calories. There was a woman on the Joy Luck Club (Today Show) recently who lost 125+ lbs after gastric surgery. Her surgeon was on the show with her. She is now a size 2 and described what she eats: 2-3 oz of protein first, then a small amount of veggies. If she's full after a few ounces of protein, she passes on the veggies. Her example of how many asparagus she could eat was 2-4, plus a multivitamin."

"Last night I heard part of the show "I Can Make You Thin" on TLC. He also mentioned that metabolism is not rigid, it's flexible and rises and falls according to activity level and personal "build in" metabolism. This is what I've said for years. When you reduce calories your metabolism drops, but not drastically. When you reach goal and begin eating more, your metabolism will raise, but people need to eat less at goal. This is a shocker for some people. They didn't "break" their metabolism -- their body may be 50, 100, 200 pounds lighter. A 125 lb body needs much less "energy" (calories) than a 325 lb body."

"Dr. Johnny Bowden is respected in the diet industry. He wrote in an article suggesting women can lose and maintain on 1250-1400 calories a day -- men 1800."

"Don't force low calories, just eat clean ... eat according to appetite. Be sure to take a good quality multivitamin (I like Centrum). Dr. Oz on Oprah suggested splitting the multivitamin in half because our bodies don't process a mass dose of vitamins all at once."

"The "tons of energy" is ketosis. Ain't it great!"

I'd love to hear from people who have had weight loss surgery. Tell me, is this an accurate portrayal of how you are supposed to eat long term? What health effects are you warned to expect? How closely are you monitored? For how long are you monitored? What is the expected regain rate?

I'm really puzzled at how the respected Dr. Johnny Bowden's opinion that people can lose at more than 1200 calories a day can in any way be considered supportive of Kimmer and her 500-calorie bootcamp plan and her Kimkins 'how low can you go' Experiment? I wonder if he'd appreciate her twisted application of his knowledge this way? (I think I'll go ask him!)

How flexible does Heidi Diaz metabolism appear to be after decades of crash/binge dieting? Her Kimkins Experiment of 1 is a dismal failure, so why is she giving advice?





UPDATED:
Here is a link to real information about eating after WLS: Heidi, Heidi, Heidi

Is Aspartame Safe? Depends On Who You Ask.

Dr. Briffa discusses this topic on his blog:

New review catalogues the myriad of ways aspartame can mess up your body and brain

Tellingly, whether a study finds for or against aspartame seems to be intimately related to, err, who paid for it. In one on-line review of the evidence finds that while 100 per cent of industry-funded studies conclude aspartame is safe, 92 per cent of independently funded research and reports identified aspartame as a potential cause of harmful effects.

Isn't that just awful? That corporations with deep pockets, lots of attorneys, and money on the line, can skew data when our health is at stake?

I believe that aspartame is bad, but I still use it sometimes. Why? Inner brat, I guess. I occasionally want something sweet, without going off plan. A little voice says that the studies that reveal problems are based on consuming thousands of times the amount I consume. As more evidence, both anecdotal and scientific, becomes available, I'm getting more and more put off.

So then what? I absolutely can't stand stevia. So I reach for Splenda, despite figuring that one day the evidence will be available that proves it, too, is dangerous. I know there are sites that say it's dangerous now. I'm reluctant to believe because I don't want to be without it.

Do you consume NutraSweet? Splenda? Sugar alcohols? Any other sweet substitutes? I'd love to hear what you're using.

Way to go, Manuel!

Check this out!!!

'World's Fattest Man' Drops 570 Pounds

The world's fattest man loses half his body weight - but still weighs almost 50 stone

World's Fattest Man Leaves House

I have followed Manuel Uribe's story for a long time now. I'm shocked and excited that he is not dead. He has lost over a quarter ton - not with risky bariatric surgery or a dangerous crash diet, but the Zone diet. Sane, healthy, controlled carb. WTG!

I wish this man all the best for continued success, health, and a happy life with his future wife. He has far to go, but has come very far indeed. I am deeply impressed.

Kimkins on Insider - Update

UPDATED again: the original link for the FULL LENGTH video is up and working now. The link below is for a much shorter version so be sure to check out the real thing!

----------------------------------------------------------

The link I posted last night is down for now. Sorry about that! It should be back later. Meanwhile, here is a shorter version of the video:
Kimkins on Insider

Insider Exclusive - Kimkins Diet Scam!!!

The Exclusive Stories Behind The Headlines

Headline Legal News - Kimkins Diet Scam

Steve Murphy interviews

Attorneys John Tiedt and Michael Cohen;

Dr. Americo Simonini;

and former Kimkins member, Terry Lind,

about the Kimkins Diet Scam.

Click on the Insider Logo to view the show!

Dementia and Belly Fat

26-Mar-2008 News item:
Middle-age belly bulge boosts risk for dementia later in life, study finds

According to the study, excess belly fat is linked to higher risk for dementia, in addition to the well known links to heart disease and diabetes. The study points to increased risk but did not determine exactly why it is higher.

My hope is that this will lead to other studies, particularly around the concept of controlled carbohydrate nutrition. Excess belly fat is a sign of excess insulin, so managing insulin levels by ditching sugars and starches could very well be proven to help prevent dementia. It appears that more and more, the low fat high carbohydrate diet deemed healthy and pushed at everyone for the past several decades is indeed causing us all to be sicker.

SingingLass's Attention Deficit Disorder

According to LCF administrators, SingingLass and LittleSina are the same people. LittleSina recently appeared in the What’s the Fascination With Kimmer threads, asking questions about – well – herself! 10 posts – here’s a random sample:

In LittleSina's first post, she mentioned her own AOL page.

Since her first post was just before the thread was locked, she posted again to make sure she wasn’t going to be ignored.

Here is the one where she posted a link to her own AOL page.

Realizing it's unusual for a newbie to pull off posting a link, she feigned surprise at being able to figure out how to do a link.

She points out she can too sing - here and here, followed by a diversion. Then she took a shot at her boss, Heidi Diaz / Kimmer. I wonder if Heidi will appreciate the humor?

The weirdest post has to be the last one, where she asks what everyone thinks about the dialog between her and Tippy Toes.

It seems weird that she'd play such a juvenile game when she has so much at stake. Maybe she's plotting an insanity defense?

SingingLass is seeking attention. Looks like she's getting it! Wow! Mariasol: SingingLass wants Attention
Mariasol: SingingLass in the Spotlight
Grilled Cheese: When I Was a Child I Thought As a Child
Grilled Cheese: Smarten Up!
Diary of a Mad Housewife: SingingLass - Are You Stupid?
Kimkins and Other Affiliate Nightmares: Some Definitions
Many posts at Amy's, including this one: What Is the Big Deal?