Are you tired of hearing all the media accounts that low-carb is dead and that it failed to help people find a permanent way to lose weight and keep it off forever? Yeah, so am I!

After losing over 180 pounds thanks to the low-carb lifestyle, it frustrates me to no end to have to still read news stories like this one continuing to mischaracterize and distort what low-carb living is all about.

The evidence that these media types generally point to is the fact that so many of the low-carb stores that popped up a couple of years ago have either shut down their doors or gone bankrupt. But is that the fault of the low-carb lifestyle?

bq. The success of the low-carb diet is NOT dependent or tied in any way to the businesses that sell low-carb products. I remember being interviewed on my local talk radio station right after Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in August 2005. Everyone wanted to know what I was going to do now that Atkins is going bankrupt. My response was that I was gonna keep on livin’ la vida low-carb and keep my weight under control like I always had because the business of low-carb has absolutely NOTHING in the world to do with being on the low-carb nutritional approach.

Click here to read more about why distinguishing between low-carb the lifestyle and low-carb the business is important.

Easter is almost here and our friends at CarbSmart.com have a variety of Easter baskets ready to ship to your friend or loved on the low-carb lifestyle.

These baskets are hand selected with the finest sugar-free, low-carb products on the market today and will bring a smile to the face of the low-carber in your life.

Did you know there are excellent versions of classic Easter candy, including Sweethearts, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, and, of course, chocolate-covered Easter bunnies and eggs?

Click here to find out what other goodies are jam-packed in these Easter baskets from our friends at CarbSmart!

Wanna win that big beautiful low-carb Easter gift basket right there compliments of the low-carb store, Low-Carb Conniosseur?

YOU KNOW YOU DO!!!

Click here to learn more about how to enter to win that basket for a low-carb friend or loved one (heck, forget about them, win it for yourself! LOL!).

GOOD LUCK!!!

I have several blog search feeds in my RSS reader for searches like “low carb,” “atkins,” etc. I usually don’t post anything from these personal blogs, but this post made me laugh so hard I almost fell out of my chair.

Mike’s gripe about the Atkins diet is, “[the] inability to go four seconds without telling someone you’re on the Atkins Diet.” Which is true. A year ago when the Atkins diet was in full swing, it seems everyone was doing it and more importantly, talking about it. He then goes on, exaggerating gracefully, what people on the Atkins diet say while at a restaurant:

bq. While some of you out there may have quite fine upstanding low-carb dieting folks, several of your fellow dieters ruined it for you by constantly making bullhorn proclamations, especially in restaurants: “Yeah, I’ll have the bacon burger with extra bacon, BUT HOLD THE BUN – ATKINS! Oh, and throw a pork chop and a wheel of cheddar on top.”

I busted out laughing that my girlfriend just kinda looked at me funny. Mike’s wife said he should try to get on the Atkins diet because he was feeling very sleepy after he ate lunch every day. He took a stab at it and it worked! He continues to joke about what his wife tells him to eat, saying that one day his wife will tell him, “OK, around 11ish, you need to drink the blood from a baby sparrow, and eat your left thumb. Do it. Now.”

A great read if you’re looking for some tasteful jokes on dieting.

Pure Foods Low-Carb Market in Santa Monica, California, which was recently featured in a TIME Magazine cover story, is for sale on eBay. The opening bid is $150,000.

“We want to focus all of our time and energy on our line of gourmet low-carb frozen foods that will be rolled out soon,” said Pure Foods co-founder Stephen Bikoff. “We’ve always operated a little out of the box, so selling our store on eBay shouldn’t surprise those who know of us.”

Participating GNC stores are offering 30 percent off all Atkins brand product throughout the month of June. GNC carries the entire line of Atkins controlled-carb products, including Atkins Advantage Bars and Shakes, Atkins Endulge Chocolate Candy Bars, Atkins Morning Start Breakfast Bars, Atkins Quick Quisine side dishes, bake mixes, and condiments.

Pure Foods LLC is opening up a Beverly Hills based gourmet low-carb store, dubbed the Pure Foods Gourmet Emporium. On April 16th and 17th, patrons who purchase more than $20 worth of food will get a free lunch. Here is a small sampling of what the high-end store will stock:

* New York Bagels by H&H Bagels
* Smoked Scottish salmon by Chef Daniel Boulud
* Original New York Cheesecake by Carnegie Deli
* Preserves by Sarabeth’s Kitchen
* Zabar’s World Famous Coffee
* Hundreds of gourmet sauces; dressings and fine foods from around the world

Look for it at 350 North Canon Drive next to Rite Aid in Beverly Hills.

LowCarb Destination, a new Chicago area source for low-carb and sugar-free products, will open in Wilmette’s Edens Plaza, Suite 170 on April 2. According to the owners, the store is the first of its kind in Chicago because it is not only a source for low-carb versions of traditional foods, but it also carries gourmet foods that fit within the low-carb lifestyle.

bq. LowCarb Destination offers a relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience with an ever-changing food-sampling table. The knowledgeable staff are able to answer questions about products and help guide customers in selecting foods most suitable for their particular lifestyle. Twice monthly, the Director of Nutrition for the store will be on site for “Ask the Nutritionist” sessions, and the store’s exercise expert will offer a regular schedule of fitness classes, held right at the store.