Kimkins - Links You Need

I've been a blog slacker as of late, and not because I suddenly decided to stop eating or cooking or shopping or anything. Just been busy. I promise I'll be back in tip-top form ASAP, so all my three readers can get their Fear and Loathing fix!

In the meantime, the Kimkins insanity staggers onwards. Check out the blogs listed below for more information. And if you or anyone you know is considering this diet as an option, STOP IMMEDIATELY and read, at minimum, these first:

3 Fat Chicks: Anatomy of a Diet Scam
About.com Inside Kimkins
Kimkins Exposed
Kimkins @ Slamboard
Kimkins Dangers
TRUTH Starts Here
Becky: Winning Weight
Christin: The Journey
Deni: Open Bench
Jimmy Moore’s Apology

Then have a go at these blogs:

Anti-Kimkins
Free Kimkins Free
Kimkins Controversy
Kimkins Sucks!
Kimkins Survivors
Kimorexia
Kkatastrophediet’s Weblog
A Pinch Of…
How Jeanessa Got Scammed
How Much Body Fat Can You Really Lose In A Week?
Jersey Girl: Thoughts on Kimkins
Kimkins Circus
Kimkins Controversy Continues to Boil
Kimkins Experience Part 1
Kimkins Experience Part 2
Kimkins Saga Revisited
Kimkins Survivors
Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Anorexic
Tami’s Change in Game Plan
The Problem with Kimkins
Thin at Any Cost
A Running Jewel
Kimkins Circus
The Quack of Doom: Entering the circus for the first time?
Once Upon A Diet
Someone in Southern California may need an attorney soon
The Final Escape
melting mama: Kimkins Scam.
Have you ever screamed so loud that the room echoed? « Incredible Shrinking Ladies
Inside the Kimkins Controversy
A Dumbbell In A Home Gym: Kimkins: Caveat Freakin’ Emptor.
Heard of the Kimkins Diet? Steer Clear it’s a total scam!
Vickie’s Voice: …more of my story…
The Road to Clarity and Transformation: The Kimmer (Kimkins) Controversy and a Parallel Universe
Banished…oh Fo’ Shame. not.
a mother’s heart » the kimkins debacle
Vilma’s World » Kimkins on Dateline & other complaints
Because I Said So: KimKims Survivors
Hundred Day Head Start Kimkins a fraud
Healthy Low-Carb Living Blog: Kimkins - How I Feel About It Now
Back Across The Line: Kimkins Cult Mentality
Good Carbma: Words for Heidi Diaz
Living Low Carb & Lovin’ It!: What an Amazing Day This Has Been!
Borat Does Kimkins: Hello From Borat!

The Cochrane Report - Where's the Media?

I am a huge fan of Dr. Mike Eades' blog. He's got a great post about the Cochrane Report:

A few months ago the Cochrane Collaboration released a study showing that subjects on low-carb diets lost more weight and improved their cardiovascular risk profiles to a greater extent than did subjects following any other kind of diet. Did you read about this study in your local paper or see it on the evening news? I didn’t think so. I didn’t either.

Go here to read the entire post. Makes you wonder what the point of reading the paper or watching the news is, doesn't it? If we're only getting a selection, why bother? Are we really informed?

Do your own research, make your own choices. Never do anything just because an organization, study group, speaker or anyone says it's the "right" thing to do.

I touched on this in the Kimkins post. Look what's happened there! Pictures of her, the weight-loss wonder woman, obese. Sad, really. But it hammers the point home - no-one, and I mean no-one, knows what's good for you better than you. And no-one can do anything to you that you do not allow. People like Kimmer, media outlets, corporations...they have only the power that WE give to them. And look how quickly we as a society gobble things up without thinking, just because the message is something that we desperately want to be true, or because it's easy to believe.

If you are overweight or unhealthy, the absolute WORST position you can put yourself in is one of desperation. The best? One of power. Each of us always, always, has the power to direct our lives towards that which is best for us, that which serves us. We know in our guts when something rings true...and when something just aint right. If overweight or ill health is affecting your self esteem, if you're interpreting this state of affairs as indicative of your worth and effectiveness as a person, you're an easy target for misleading studies and predatory weight loss and health scams. Overweight or ill health is a state of being, but it isn't You. It isn't You. You do not need to be saved, or directed, or led, or punished. Get quiet and listen to that little voice inside you, that little voice that knows. That little voice is You, and is worthy and wonderful and perfect just as it is. That little voice says: patience. We'll get there. We can. We will. We are.

Don't trust studies, or writers, or spokespeople, or me, or anyone. Read, research, investigate...but don't trust. Trust your little voice. It'll always lead you to what's right for you.

PS: Your little voice is not to be confused with that other voice who says stuff like "Having a family sized bag of Ruffles for dinner is a GOOD idea. You should do that. Go on! Do it! Yee ha! Woo hoo! Ruffles!" and then the party music kicks in and it starts dancing around and shaking maracas. That voice is your Inner ScrewIt. It's pretty easy to notice the difference; for example, your little voice will generally not speak with a foreign accent or be accompanied by a Mariachi band, nor will it have an umbrella drink in it's hand. Inner ScrewIt can and should be let out to play every so often - it just isn't so great at running the whole show. It's far too drunk.