Links and Updates

(Cool photo by elessar x)

Hey everyone!

It's a nasty, bleak, rainy day here in Illinois. I'd really still love to be in bed right now, but knowing me I'd toss and turn and think about all the stuff I should be getting done. So here I am working on some projects at the computer. Part of my daily routine is to read my favorite comics (and I have loads of them so it takes a few minutes) and catch up on my favorite blogs. I've found several interesting links lately I'd like to share.

First, an awesome post by one of my favorite bloggers - Tom Naughton. In his Fat Head blog, he gives us an idea of what life would be like if mechanics were nutritionists and nutritionists were mechanics. It's a hilarious, but true-to-life read that really helps drive the point home about how messed up some "health experts" are in their thinking. Check it out. And if you don't subscribe to his blog, you really should.

What If Mechanics and Nutritionists Switched Jobs


For those who do not know, my friend Dana Carpender started writing for CarbSmart early this year. Her weekly column is full of fun, advice and information. I especially like her column from last week about Halloween and traditions. Make sure you check it out, along with all her other great articles.

Have A Low Carb Halloween


And speaking of Halloween, I'll repost my examiner column link from last year when I wrote about non-sugar treat ideas.

The best Halloween treats for little goblins


Another friend, Laura Dolson, is looking for low-carb stories to share on about.com. If you'd like to tell your story - whether it be about weight loss, health benefits, or blood sugar control - be sure to check out her page here.


Now for an update: The scale dropped again this morning. That's now a total of 12.6 lbs gone since starting the Eades 6 Week Cure. I'm doing it a bit different than written, but Dr. Eades did say it was ok to stay on any of the week you like for as long as you like. I rotate between weeks 1-2 and weeks 3-4. So I have a shake week day or a meat week day, depending on what I feel like doing. I know I owe you all a review on the book, so I'll try to get that up asap.

Have a great low-carb day and I'll try to be back later with more interesting news. :)

Healthy Low-Carb Living Great Start Giveaway Winners

On Jan. 4th we announced that we have were having a giveaway to celebrate the new year and help you succeed with your low-carb goals in 2008. All you had to do was look at the photos posted and send in your guesses along with your name and address. Even if all your guesses were wrong, you were entered into the drawing. The point was to have fun, make you think a bit, and give away some fantastic prizes. I think it's safe to say Mission Accomplished!

The response was overwhelming and many of you mentioned how much fun you had in the process. I can only hope it's been as half as fun for you as it has been for me! I've enjoyed this so much and I'm sad to see it ending. But I'm looking forward to our next giveaway which we'll be announcing within the next several weeks. :0)

Thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful people who strive to help the low-carb community, 10 of you will soon own some of the best low-carb products and books available! We had 124 entries and I wish we could have given each one of you a prize.

A basket containing all the entries we received!

I'm sure you are ready to get on with announcing the winners, but first we need to solve the mystery pictures! These turned out to be tougher than I'd thought they'd be. But you all had such great guesses! And I honestly never thought about how similar some items look up close!

No one got them all right, but some came pretty close! We had 5 people who guessed 6 out of 8 correct and I want to recognize them here for their great eye for details!

Honorable Mentions

Jenny T. from TX
Yvonne E. from IN
Joanne L. from OH
Jennifer R. from PA
Lynn D. from SD

Ready to see the answers now? Here ya go:




Strawberry Sugar-Free Jello




An Almond




Flax Seed




Pepperoni




Broccoli



Inside Of A Red Bell Pepper




Splenda




String Cheese

I appreciate everyone who gave these an effort. You all did very well!

My children had the honor of choosing the winning entries from the basket, so you winners have them to thank for drawing out your names! :0)

My children drawing the winning names!

Now to announce our prize winners....

Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution Winner:
Gayle M. from IL

Protein Power Lifeplan Winner:
Tanya W. from NY

Carb Wars, Sugar Is The New Fat Winner:
Debbie B. from AL

500 Low-Carb Recipes Winner:
John M. from NY

ChocoPerfection Variety Pack Winners:
Carol M. from AZ
Mairi B. from NC
Dan S. from KS

Cal-Carb Clicker Winner:
Joan S. from WI

Fiberfit Winner:
Patti D. from IL

$50 CarbSmart Gift Certificate Winner:
Alison D. from NJ

Congrats to all the winners! I will be contacting you soon about your prizes, so watch your email!

I just want to say thanks again to all the generous people who donated prizes! And to each of you who read my blog I owe a huge debt of gratitude. I hope I have touched your lives in just a measure of the way you have touched mine. I promise that in the years to come I'll do my best to bring you informative, encouraging, and inspiring posts that will help continue Healthy Low-Carb Living!

Two Prizes and One Day Left

Tomorrow is the big day for the Great Start Giveaway drawing! Are you getting excited yet? I know I am! I can't wait to see who will win one of the many great prizes we are offering. But I still have two more prizes to tell you about, so here we go....




CarbSmart was started by Andrew DiMino after losing 50 lbs on the Atkins Diet in 1999. Through his efforts thousands of people have lost weight, keep the weight off and lessen the effects of diabetes. CarbSmart is dedicated to helping everyone who is currently following, or considering, the low carbohydrate lifestyle. Whether you want to lose weight or maintain your current weight, CarbSmart is your one-stop shopping source for low-carb products. They carry everything from books and vitamins to hard to find products like sugar-free chocolate chips! No matter what type of low-carb plan you follow, CarbSmart is there for you. And now one lucky reader will soon have a $50 gift certificate to this fantastic online store courtesy of Andrew DiMino and CarbSmart!



We are also proud to be offering the fantastic book Protein Power Lifeplan by Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades. Here's an excerpt from the jacket cover:

THE PROTEIN POWER LIFEPLAN offers:

A Three-Tiered Nutrition Plan designed for your level of commitment: the Hedonist, the Dilettante, or the Purist

The latest findings on Insulin Resistance: what it is, how to correct it, and why, once it is corrected, you will lose weight and avoid health problems associated with it

Important information on supplements: vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, chromium, and coenzyme Q10

Tips for obtaining the optimum health benefits of natural sunlight

A look at the dangers of excess iron storage and how to determine if it is a problem for you

A primer on fat: learn which good-quality fats can reduce elevated cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and reduce the risk of heart disease - withoutt medication

Meal plans, recipes, kitchen stocking advice, and more.

This informative and encouraging book is a must in any low-carbers library! And Thanks to Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades, one of you will have your very own copy! And be sure to check out Dr. Mike Eades and Dr. MD Eades blogs as well! Both are chock full of information, recipes and research to help you along!

Both of these great prizes are up for grabs in our Great Start Giveaway. But today is your last day to enter! We need your submission by midnight tonight if you want to be entered in the drawing. Be sure to check back tomorrow when we list the winners of all the awesome prizes, as well as the answers to those tricky photos you have been wondering about all month! :0)

Good Luck to all of you!

Announcing The Healthy Low-Carb Living Great Start Giveaway!

2008 is here! And a new year brings fresh resolve to eat right and take care of ourselves. What is the best way to accomplish these goals? Low-carb of course!! So to help you get a great start in 2008 we are going to have a little fun while giving you a chance to win some great prizes this month!

Here's what you could win:

1 copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution by Robert C. Atkins

1 copy of The Protein Power Lifeplan by Michael and Mary Dan Eades

1 copy of Carb Wars; Sugar Is The New Fat by Judy Barnes Baker

1 copy of 500 Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender

3 gift packages of Chocoperfection from Low Carb Specialties (each winner will get an assortment of Dark, Milk and the new Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Raspberry Dark Chocolate)

1 Cal-Carb Clicker

1 4 oz. Bottle of Fiberfit Sweetener and 8 page color recipe guide from Truly Low Carb

1 $50 gift certificate from CarbSmart

(I'll be giving you in depth information on each prize starting on Monday, Jan. 7th!)

Now here's how to get your hands on one of these great prizes. Below I've posted some close-up shots of different low-carb foods. Take a good look at them and see if you can figure out what they are. None of them are terribly hard, although I did try to throw in one or two that might make you look twice. (Looks like they are harder than I thought they'd be. But it's still fun to try, right?) Then send me your guesses, along with your name and address to healthylowcarbliving@gmail.com. Please put Great Start Giveaway in the subject line. Everyone that submits their guesstimates by Jan. 24th will be entered into the drawing, which we will have on Jan. 25th. Oh! And I'll be sure to let you know what the foods in those pictures are on that day as well!

Remember, you don't have to get all the answers right to have your name in the drawing for the prizes. All you have to do is send me your name, address and best guesses to be entered. So now that you know what to do... let's get started!

Photo #1


Photo #2


Photo #3


Photo #4


Photo #5


Photo #6


Photo #7


Photo #8


There you have it! Remember, send your best guesses to healthylowcarbliving@gmail.com along with your name and address by Jan. 24th. Have fun and good luck!