Kimkins Survivors

Kimkins Notice of Pendency of Class Action

2009-11-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION

TO: EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED A MEMBERSHIP TO KIMKINS.COM THROUGH THE KIMKINS.COM WEB SITE (www.kimkins.com) FROM JANUARY 1, 2006 TO OCTOBER 15, 2007

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS CURRENTLY PENDING IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, IN RIVERSIDE, CALILFORNIA.

INTRODUCTION

1. On May 20, 2009, the Riverside County Superior Court, located in Riverside, California, issued an order certifying this case to proceed as a class action.

2. The plaintiffs are six individuals who bought memberships to kimkins.com through the kimkins.com Website (www.kimkins.com) from January 1, 2006 to October 15, 2007. The defendants are Heidi Diaz, an individual, and Kimkins (also known as Kimkins.com), a business entity that conducts business in Corona, California.

3. The plaintiffs contend that Diaz and Kimkins.com induced them into buying memberships for kimkins.com through false and misleading information provided on the Kimkins.com Web site. The plaintiffs contend that the defendants violated California Business & Professions Code § 17200, et seq., which authorizes courts to provide relief from unfair, unlawful, and fraudulent business practices. The plaintiffs also contend that Diaz and Kimkins.com violated common law prohibitions against fraud and negligent misrepresentation.

4. This notice provides you with information regarding the litigation, including the plaintiffs’ claims against the defendants and the current status of the litigation. This notice also provides you with information regarding the court’s class-certification order.

THE LITIGATION

The Plaintiffs’ Claims

5. This lawsuit is based on the plaintiffs’ claims that Diaz and Kimkins used unfair, unlawful, or fraudulent business practices to induce them into buying memberships to Kimkins.com. This lawsuit is also based on the plaintiffs’ claims that the false and misleading information contained on the kimkins.com Web site constituted fraud or negligent misrepresentation by Diaz and Kimkins.

6. Here’s a list of the kinds of misconduct that the plaintiffs have alleged:

• that Diaz and Kimkins concocted a false persona, “Kim Drake” or “Kimmer” to sell memberships to Kimkins.com
• that Diaz and Kimkins misled potential members into believing that “Kim Drake” was real by using photos of real women and then falsely claiming that the photos depicted “Drake”
• that Diaz and Kimkins posted lied about “Drake’s” purported weight loss
• that Diaz and Kimkins provided false or misleading information to Women’s World magazine
• that Diaz and Kimkins fabricated 41 “success stories” and published on the Kimkins.com Web
• that Diaz and Kimkins made up celebrity endorsements
• that Diaz and Kimkins misused labels and metatags to steer Internet traffic to the Kimkins.com Website, in violation of the law
• that Diaz and Kimkins misled potential members into believing that they were buying lifetime memberships, when in fact Diaz and Kimkins.com terminated memberships at their whim
• that Diaz and Kimkins intended to mislead potential members and assumed that potential members would rely on her misrepresentations.

The Defendants’ Position

7. Diaz and Kimkins have denied all allegations of wrongdoing and liability, and they continue to deny that they have done anything wrong. Diaz and Kimkins also have asserted various affirmative defenses to the plaintiffs’ claims.

THE COURT’S CLASS-CERTIFICATION ORDER

8. In an order filed May 20, 2009, the Court granted the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification. The Court certified for class treatment the plaintiffs’ claims for equitable relief, including disgorgement of the subscription fees paid to Diaz and Kimkins by the plaintiffs and the members of the class.

9. The certified class is defined as all individuals who purchased the Kimkins.com diet membership on-line from the Kimkins.com Web site from January 1, 2006 through October 15, 2007.

THE COURT HAS NOT EXPRESSED ANY OPINIONS
REGARDING THE MERITS OF THE PLAINTIFFS’ CLAIMS

10. The Court ordered that this notice be provided to advise class members that this case is pending and that the Court has certified the case to proceed as a class action. You should not consider this notice or its mailing to be a statement by the Court that the plaintiffs are right or that their claims will prevail.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CLASS MEMBERS

11. You do not need to do anything to remain a member of the class. If you bought a Kimkins.com diet membership on-line from the Kimkins.com Web site from January 1, 2006 through October 15, 2007—including either of those dates—you are automatically included in the class. Your rights will be represented by the plaintiffs and their attorneys. You will not be personally responsible for any attorney fees or for the any of the costs of this litigation.

OPT OUT OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

12. You have the opportunity to opt out of the class action lawsuit as detailed herein. If you incurred a personal injury as a result of using the Kimkins.com aka Kimkins Diet, you have a right to opt out. Notices to opt must be sent to jtiedt@tiedtlaw.com or mailed to Tiedt & Hurd at 980 Montecito Drive, Suite 209, Corona, California 92879.

WHERE TO GO & WHOM TO CONTACT
SHOULD YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION

13. This notice provides only a brief summary of this litigation. For further details, you should take one or both of the following steps:

• Review the documents in the Court’s file for this lawsuit. Many of these documents may be viewed or obtained on-line at the following URL: http://public-access.riverside.courts.ca.gov/OpenAccess/ . You also may review the Court’s file in person by going to the Office of the Clerk of the Court for the Riverside Superior Court, during regular business hours. The Clerk’s office is located at 4050 Main Street, Riverside, California 92501.

• Write a letter to the attorneys who are representing the plaintiffs and whom the Court has appointed to represent the class. Here are their names and their contact information:

John E. Tiedt & Marc S. Hurd
Tiedt & Hurd
980 Montecito Drive, Suite 209
Corona, California 92879

Michael L. Cohen
Michael L. Cohen, a PLC
707 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 4100
Los Angeles, California 90017

Ray Moore
Moore Winter McLennan LLP
701 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 200
Glendale, California 92103-4232

If you decide to contact one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, please do so in writing. To make it easier for them or one of their staff members to respond, however, your letter should include both your e-mail address and your telephone number.

There are estimated to be as many as 40,000 members in the class. So please, DO NOT CALL THE COURT OR ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE COURT BY E-MAIL.

DATE: ___________________________, 2009

____________________________________
Hon. _________________________,
Presiding Judge

Susan

2007-12-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

Im a Kimins survivor. I joined KK in Dec. 06. Straight from the start I wondered if the calories would put me in starvation mode? My fears were daily, weekly, monthly put to sleep by a Crooked gal named Heidi Diaz. She prompted us to gain our dieting energy by viewing the before/afters…read their stories…read HER story and FitDay. Susan (I) wasnt very smart….I believed her. I lost a great amount of weight, fairly easily too. I was becoming my own before/after. I dreamed of the day MY photos would be posted with the others, what a good day that would be. But in early April….after feeling tiny bouts of dizziness a few times, even falling once and injuring my arm….I went down for the count. My husband and I were at the computer, planning out next vacation when suddenly that little dizziness was BIG dizziness. I made it to the bathroom just in time before forcefully vomiting. I called to my husband who had to guide me to the couch as I couldnt walk a straight line. It was Easter eve so when he insisted we go to the ER, I told him I was certain it would pass. I didnt want to miss Easter! I laid on that couch til the middle of the night, retching every time I moved my head even a little bit. By 6 a.m. my husband decided Susan wasnt so smart and carried me to the car. Within 15 minutes of my ER admission, I was rapidly being set up to check for a stroke or a brain tumor. I was so sick and I simply couldnt believe this was happening. At NO time did I suspect the KK diet. I still feel so stupid. MRI’s, Neurologists, CAT scans, IV medication to try to stop the spinning. 5 days of laying on my side with a wet towel over my eyes, they finally got the vertigo under control enough that I could walk slowly. They did find my electrolytes were all out of whack and my liver enzymes a little elevated, eventually saying they thought it might be inner ear. On day 4 I could hold down the diabetic diet they were feeding me. I think that is how I started to feel better, EATING normally…again I was not tying 2 and 2 together. I went home, a little dizzy but able to manage. I wrote on several of the Kimkims forums, Egg White challenge, Shake experiment, over 40s mature chat, that I had been sick but was better now. At last I saw before I was banned, they were still there. From that day on, I simply couldnt get my body to re-start Kimkins. By entire body resisted. I felt like a failure. EACH day I re-started…lose a few pounds only to fall off again. I was humiliated. Finally in mid summer I quit the diet all together and that is the last time I felt a dizzy spell….I was starting to put it all together, Susan was getting smarter. I looked up the symptoms of Anorexia nervosa, or starvation mode. Oh my God. When this whole Kimkin scam hit the Internet…I went from shocked, to mad, to sad and back again. All i can say is I hope to God that crooked, lying, selfish Heidi woman is caught and this idiotic fake diet plan is shut down.

from “Smarter Susan“

Lily

2007-11-30T16:40:00.000-08:00

My name’s Lily and I’ve been lurking on these threads since late June. I tried Kimkins myself then, and lost 30 pounds in about two months - which I thought was fantastic. And then, I couldn’t lose any more. Like many others, I kept dragging my calories down to the point where I’d eat nothing but a plain chicken breast for dinner and break down crying the next morning since my scale wouldn’t budge. My hair started to thin out, dizzyness was commonplace, but thankfully my husband convinced me to go back to high protein/high fat (I’ve had problems with EDs in my teens and early 20s - I’m 30 now).

At first glance, the diet seemed fantastic (especially with all of those supposed success stories) - even though I found Kimmer’s before and after pics more than suspect. I spent the early years of my career as a TV news reporter, and despite my own instincts - and the glaring evidence telling me otherwise - I chose to ignore them out of my own desperation to lose weight. And now I’ve severely compromised my health as a result.

I’m sure my story is like the countless other ones here, but I wanted to post because of something else with respect to the whole Heidi/Kimkins saga that kicks pretty close to home for me. Without a doubt, Heidi has a classic case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Having read through the threads here, I know that it’s been mentioned before - but I have to say she’s spot on. My mother was diagnosed with NPD years ago (which she says is just the opinion of a quack doctor who knows nothing - lol) and every element of this situation is a mirror of the behavior I’ve witnessed myself over the years.

I have to give much love and respect to all of you here for every effort made to reveal the truth - and stand by it - regardless of how hard it has been at times. You have a fan and an ally.

Hugs,Lily

from “Why the Fascination with Kimmer” #10

Important Lawsuit Information

2007-11-13T06:41:00.001-08:00

In light of Kimmer’s recent admission that she is Heidi Diaz on the Kimkins website, I felt it would be a good time to reiterate that which I have said for a long time.

Join the lawsuit.

The more numbers behind us, the stronger we are. We are still in need of class reps and every voice against this fraud counts.

Heidi has offered a refund to people who follow certain procedures on her website for the next three days.

Reject that offer.

It is time for Heidi to stand up in a court of law and for the honest truth to come out.

If you have requested a refund, when you receive it, send it back and join the lawsuit.

Heidi will only truly come to justice in a court of law.

To join, simply send your name, address, day and evening phone number, approximate join date and amount paid to Kimkins.com to kimkinslawsuit@yahoo.com.

from Kimkinlawsuit’s weblog

Mayberryfan

2007-10-24T18:23:00.003-07:00

Based on completely false advertising, I chose to go on the Kimkins diet plan in June. My online food journal is evidence that I stuck to the plan as written, believing that it was a healthy and sensible form of weightloss based on the claims of the plan’s creator “Kimmer” or Heidi K. Diaz, who are in fact the same person. While I did lose weight, I also began to experience significant hair loss, nausea, bouts of dizziness and was freezing all the time. As a normally hot-natured person, I began researching the source of my coldness and discovered that such crash diets can lower thyroid function to dangerously low levels bringing about the cold feeling and hair loss. Doing more research, I discovered that Ms. Diaz has no medical backing for her diet plan, did not lose weight as she claimed and has faked many of the “success stories” that she uses on the Kimkins website to sell memberships. At the very best, this plan is a fraud and at worst, is downright dangerous to one’s health. She has no business selling a diet plan that will definitely harm a person’s health if they stick with it long enough.

from Better Business Bureau Kimkins reviews

RW

2007-10-24T18:23:00.001-07:00

There is no denying that you’ll lose weight on Kimkins. But then again, it’s because you are depriving yourself of essential nutrients due to the severe restrictions of the diet. Kimkins dieters have complained of hair loss, nausea and in my case, chronic constipation that didn’t resolve until I stopped the diet altogether and added more fiber into my diet. Kimmer (the founder) advocates taking laxatives daily, something I and most physicians do not agree with. Now, it has recently been revealed through a private detective and KTLA that Kimmer never lost the 198 lbs she claimed to have lost and she’s even fatter than her “before” picture. Even worse, many of her success story profiles have been fakes, using pictures from different Russian mail order bride websites. If you want to lose weight, there are better low carb alternatives out there, founded by legitimate physicians and nutritionist. Kimmer is neither of these. She is nothing but a fraud!

from Better Business Bureau Customer Reviews

Sparky's Girl

2007-10-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I am a member of Kimkins and tried the plan with great success for a few months. I’ve tried to be honest and open about my experiences with Kimkins in this blog. In the past my stance on this has been that of someone with an open mind and trusting heart. I sought knowledge. I openly proclaimed that I did not know if it was a healthy plan or not. I recommended that those considering the plan look into all the details they can find. It was working for me and I felt fine while doing it. I even added an affiliate link after giving it a trial run.

Then I read some information that was very disturbing about Kimmer’s business ethics. Funny how that seemed to be the “red flag” for me. But somehow it made me wonder if things truly were not as they seemed. I can deal with a lot of things, but being lied to is not one of them. No one likes to be deceived, and the thought that Kimmer might be misleading people was nagging at the back of my brain.

I started reading everything I could find on both sides of the issue. What I found was, quite frankly, sad. People on both sides of the battle lines were hurling insults and accusations quicker than you could blink. It made me sick. I don’t believe in handling problems by creating more problems. It’s not an effective strategy. But I was quickly finding that something was indeed wrong in the Kimkins camp.

After much thought and prayer I decided to pull my kimkins affiliate and endorsements. At the time I wasn’t sure where it would lead. I thought if things calmed down and Kimkins was validated, then I would replace the ads and all would be well. That was never to be.

I want to take this opportunity to apologize to anyone who bought a membership through my affiliate links. I know there were 4 of you. Yes. I’m admitting that I sold 4 memberships, which totaled a profit of $60 for me. I basically got my membership back, plus $30 (memberships were only $30 when I joined). I wish I could refund all of your money.. or at least the part I received. Sadly, I’m not in a position financially to do so, even though it’s “only” $60. On top of that there is this issue of honesty. I could ask those of you who joined to contact me, etc., etc., but then I’d be asking for scammers and liars out the wazoo. So sadly you’ll have to settle for my sincere apology. And I truly hope you will accept it. I pray that you got something from your membership that was worth the money to you. Again I’m sorry. I had no intention of misleading anyone. I myself was mislead. I hope you will feel you can trust me in the future. I made this statement to a good friend recently regarding this whole thing: “You can bet I’ll be looking into anything I plan on recommending with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass.”

As of late, more and more has been surfacing about this situation. The most interesting information is coming from people who, until recently, worked very closely with Kimmer. What I’ve read from these brave people, who have put themselves out there to stand for truth, despite the abuse and scrutiny they may receive, is just what I feared. Kimmer appears to be deceiving many. It also appears she could care less who it hurts. I hate to even type that. I’m the kind of person who loves other people and wants to believe the best of them. I tried to with Kimmer, but have found I can no longer do so.

In the posts I will link to a bit later on, you will find copies of emails exchanged, pictures taken, and comments made that display the smoke and mirrors that is called kimkins. And before you go off on me about how the diet is still OK and who cares who Kimmer really is, let me say that the diet is not OK. I can tell you from personal experience. Here is my explanation on this:
I started the diet very skeptical. Some of you may remember my posts telling how I was going to give it a shot, but seriously doubted I could continue with the plan. It just sounded hard. I managed to stick with it long enough for ketosis to kick in. then something amazing happened. It suddenly seemed very easy. I was breezing through each day hardly giving a thought to eating at all. I broke my stall and started losing very quickly. I was so excited! But something changed. Now physically I felt fine. I wasn’t having any health issues and I thought all was well. But in my mind something was changing. I didn’t see it as clearly then as I do now. To be honest, I didn’t realize it was as serious as it was until just a couple of days ago. That’s when I decided I needed to tell my story. But my way of thinking was changing. I was starting to obsess over every bite I took. Now if you are like me, you are saying “So what? We all do that sometimes!” And that’s exactly what I kept telling myself. I was sure it was just me and my obsessive personality. I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person so I felt positive it was just issues I was having and not something related to the diet. I started having concerns about my calories being too low and decided to up them a bit to be sure I was eating healthy. But I found that It took tremendous effort to eat more. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to stop the quick weight loss.. or even slow it down. My way of thinking had changed so drastically that I was no longer as concerned about my health as I should have been. Thankfully I realized I couldn’t continue on this way and went back to a more Atkins-like plan.

A few days ago I was reading some comments from others who were once on Kimkins. They were experiencing the same thoughts I was. They had the same feelings I did. Some were afraid to eat anything! Those similar experiences caused something to click in my mind. I realized I could have easily developed an eating disorder. I was on the verge. I was so obsessed with losing weight quickly, that only having 3 protein shakes a day, which totaled 330 calories, actually seemed acceptable. I would have laughed in the past had you EVER told me I’d feel that way.
Now can I blame this way of thinking on the diet? I don’t know. I do think it’s possible. It’s not something I have ever even considered before, even when I was losing well on Atkins. So why this mentality now? Why when I was trying Kimkins. All I can say is there COULD be a link. And it’s a big enough could that I’m making sure the rest of you know about it.

I have not experienced health issues as some have, but then I was only on Kimkins for a short time. There are many, including some popular faces of Kimkins, that have confessed to losing hair, having energy issues, etc.

Here are the aforementioned links. Read them and decide for yourself. It might interest you to know that many people who bought lifetime memberships no longer seem to have access to kimkins.com. It seems that if they asked questions or made honest suggestions for nipping all this conflict in the bud, they were quickly squelched. I guess they are considered trouble makers. I don’t want to stir up trouble, but I do want to know the truth, as do so many others. I may be the next person to lose my membership access.. we shall see.

Check out Becky’s (littlebit’s) blog, who was a very public face for the kimkins forums. There are several posts here that will enlighten you to the workings of Kimmer’s mind, at least in relation to how she felt about the concerns at hand.

Here is Deni’s blog, who was one of the success stories in the Woman’s World write up. Again, it’s interesting to see her point of view. Considering she was a kimkins celebrity, why would she suddenly turn away from it all unless she had valid reasons?

Then we have Christin, who was the Woman’s World cover girl for that story. Again, why would she leave unless there were serious issues behind the scenes?Then we have a series of very disturbing posts by a man who claims to be the husband of Kimmer’s ex business partner. In his blog he reveals not only shady business dealings, but recent photos of Heidi Diaz, who is supposed to be Kimmer. Kimmer claims she is not Heidi and that she feels sorry for Heidi because she is being stalked by this PI. But my question is this. If Kimmer isn’t Heidi, then why did she let Women’s World magazine tell everyone she was? The famous “red dress” picture is in the magazine, along with the blue and white floral before picture. The magazine credits Heidi Diaz, otherwise known as Kimmer, as the creator of the diet and the person in the two photos. If Kimmer were an honest person, and these were not photos of her, wouldn’t she have stepped forward and said so? But now she claims that she is NOT Heidi Diaz, and seems to be bragging that no one knows WHO she really is (See Becky’s blog above). Does that sound like the comments of an honest person to you? Me thinks not.

I could add many more links here about the effects of very low calorie dieting, Kimmer’s advising people to use laxatives, etc., etc. But I think I’m done. You can find these on any of the many other blogs and web sites out there that are dedicated to bringing to light the truth. I just wanted to share my view point on this. While I’m not in the Kimmmer hating camp, because it’s not the way I believe or operate, I am very disappointed in her and her so-called healthy plan.

If you are doing the Kimkins diet, I wish you health and happiness. I’m not going to beat you up because you are. I feel I did learn some things about myself during this experience that have been helpful to me, so I can’t completely write it all off. But I don’t think the positives outweigh the negatives here. So please be careful and watch the signals your body is giving you. If you are concerned about anything at all, please go see a doctor and tell him/her of your diet plan.

So these are my feelings on the matter. I know I have opened myself up for abuse by posting this, but my hopes are that if you disagree with me, you can do so civilly. And I hope this post will give others the courage to tell their story and do an honest evaluation of their health. Weight loss is great, but the old saying is true.. “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.”

God bless you all.

from “Kimkins–How I feel about it now”

WOOFY

2007-10-24T17:43:00.002-07:00

Just posted this on Kimkins:

This will be my last post on Kimkins.

I just saw the clip on the KTLA website and I’m shocked. Even more shocking was the explanation from Kimmer regarding the woman featured on the video clip, who 100% looks dead on like Kimmer’s before picture.

I have brought many people to Kimkins because it worked for me. However, I can no longer reconcile this fact with the mounting evidence that Kimmer/Heidi Diaz is a FRAUD. Her before and after picture was a fraud, her whole story was a fraud. This is clearly a business model built on deliberate, calculated dishonesty.

This whole charade of one person has turned this once loving, nurturing community into one of fear caused by a few fear-mongering admins, who are so eager to defend this lie.

As a person who values integrity and honesty with extremely high regards, I feel I can no longer be a part of this scam. I wish to apologize to those I’ve snapped at before, because they were trying to inquire the truth. Please forgive me. I acted prematurely and now I know what you know.

“Truth is mighty and will prevail!” - Mark Twain

PS…..my user name was WOOFY and Becky and Cutie, you two were so helpful to me when I started Kimkins and I just want to thank you!

from “This Just In…”

Jan

2007-10-24T17:43:00.001-07:00

Hi Deni, I found your blog on Christin’s site. Reading some of the things you went through on kimkins, reminds me of a little over a year ago what I went through…some days my calorie intake was lower then 500 calories. My hair thinned out too…but I am older and thought that was due to age, dizzyness or light headed sometimes too. I lost fast, lost alot, and gained it back just as fast too. I am now again on the journey of losing weight…but this time more healthy. Deni, you and the others have done so much for so many, God Bless You and I know with Him all things are Possible!!!

from “The Open Bench” comments

Deni

2007-10-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my first visit to the doctor since January. The nurse who checked me in, actually came and asked me if it was possible that someone recorded my weight wrong the last time I was there.I proudly said, “No.. I really did weigh that much before”For a moment, I was proud again of my accomplishments.. for a moment

then, she asked me, “why are you here today?”

And I had to tell her the truth… and with a downward, broken hearted glance, I had to tell her that because of that wonderful, rapid weight loss that she was just gushing over me for… I needed to have the doctor run some tests to see if I had done any damage to myself or not.
She immediately stopped gushing over my weight loss… took down some notes, and shook her head as she walked out of the room.

The doctor came in… so proud and ecstatic to see my weight loss.. knowing that he and I had discussed it many times over the past few years, and then as he listened to HOW I lost the weight (with Kimkins- low carb, low fat, and usually 600-800 calories) he said… “Well, starvation always works doesn’t it… but hopefully you only lost weight and nothing else important for your body to function properly.”I had to tell him all of my symptoms.. and I had to admit them to myself first. I had truly felt all along that I was 100% healthier because of losing my weight. He and I both discussed the fact that I no longer have back pain, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, or low blood sugar “shakes” in the morning.

But.. then we also discussed the fact that I did experience some negative side effects from my NUTRITIONALLY DEFICIENT diet. And.. I was lucky.. I only had a few.. and they were not constant.. so I usually just brushed them to the side of my mind and ignored them as “oh, that’s normal”.

Here’s my side effects:
1. extra periods (told this was normal)
2. loss of hair … loss of about 60% of my thickness if not more. (told it was normal, and even looked it up online for myself! Saw that it said it was common in people who were dieting and skimmed over the part that said “fad diets” or nutritionally deficient diets.)
3. Lightheaded dizzy spells- never mentioned these to anyone .. they were not an everyday occurrence, and I had them sometimes prior to this diet so I easily ignored them.
4. Weird blurred vision- like my eyes would dilate at different degrees… things would get fuzzy and look far away and warped.. I would then readjust my own “focus” and a few minutes later it was back to normal. Again.. I didn’t mention it.. figured it was a fluke.. it only happened a few times.
5. heart flutters- never mentioned these to anyone either. Even when they happened, I dismissed them in my mind as quickly as I could. (these are still happening randomly)
Other strange things I noticed:
6. Peanut butter CRAVINGS… like really super cravings… and I knew I wasn’t the only one having this. I read post after post after post about people who were feeling guilty for giving into peanut butter or any kind of nuts. So, I wrote this off as “normal”
7. Milkshake CRAVINGS… again.. these cravings were much stronger than any craving I’d ever had before dieting. I heard lots of other people also talk about craving milkshakes, including my mom who also did the diet.both of these “cravings” were something that I, along with many others, chalked up to a strange coincidence, and I either ignored it.. or caved in a little and then felt extremely guilty about it.

Now, I’m really wondering if there is something in the peanut butter(nuts) and milk shakes that our bodies were SCREAMING for!!! Like maybe more fat? Calcium?I often typed in “listen to your body” over and over again in posts.. and it wasn’t until late August that I started to realize that even cravings were a way that our body tells us what it needs.

Anyway… I still don’t know if there’s anything wrong with me or not.. my doctor has ordered lots of tests to see where I’m “depleted” of certain things, and warned me strongly that while being extremely overweight isn’t good for your health, or for you heart… that sometimes losing it all super fast and not getting all the nutrients necessary for bodily functions.. is an even quicker route to heart disease.

So, now I’m wondering.. where inside Kimkins does it list “possible side effects”? Where is the “warning label”, the “if these symptoms arise, get it checked out announcement” ?With EVERY weight loss pill or plan that I’ve ever been on, there has been a warning list.. and a “common side effects” or even “in extreme cases side effects” list.. that I always read. I know myself.. and I just about always choose NOT to take medicines that have side effects that concern me. If I had been warned about these things, I don’t think I would have joined. If I had been warned about the possibility of these things, I certainly would not have convinced others to join!

The sad part really is, is that I didn’t realize that I wasn’t the only one with these symptoms until I started reading OFFSITE.I hated reading those “other forums” because they made everything sound so bad. They made me feel bad, and they exaggerated things so much. But, the symptoms they mentioned sounded vaguely familiar to me. They knotted up my stomach, and made me want to either fight or run away and pretend I never heard what they said.I saw some try to fight them….

and I resorted to my usual, curl up and ignore it technique for awhile.

If I did mention my worries to others inside Kimkins I only got pats on the back and reassurances that of course everything would be fine, and “that’s normal, don’t worry!”

And NOW.. it’s even worse.. if you even ask about a negative effect, you’re likely to be “accused” of stirring up the pot, or if you point out your negative side effects, you’re likely to get banned.
How is that safe for other members??? Shouldn’t everyone be made aware of symptoms to be on the look out for? I’m sure there are lots more negative effects that I didn’t have… and from the stories I’ve heard elsewhere.. I can only count myself lucky.

This is not a joking matter, this is not time for a “band-aid” announcement that “of course, you should always check with your doctor”. Or even comments to make those of us who “ignored symptoms” appear stupid or crazy or “extreme”. This is time to get real and time to take your health seriously.

How many of you truly talked to your doctors about your plan?Did you show him the food list?

Did you mention that you really only eat a few items on that list?Did you show him your fitday?

Did you write symptoms off as normal because you heard someone else had the same thing?

said that one of the reasons why I wanted to lose weight was because I wanted to be here long enough to see my kids and future grand kids grow up.

Now, it’s possible that losing weight has lowered the chances of that actually happening.
I remember when we often joked about how Kimkins didn’t need that little small print disclaimer of “results not typical” on our success stories.

Perhaps she does need to put up a disclaimer that “results ARE typical” on the side effects listing!!!

If you’re still doing Kimkins, as written or not… please stop for awhile and really take a look at your own symptoms. Don’t glorify your “pros” list and minimize your “cons” list.

You can get those “pros” with lots of safe plans, and eliminate the cons. Just think about it. /

And don’t ignore the promptings of your heart right now.

from “Where was the Warning Label?”

Jimmy

2007-10-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

With time away in Missouri to rest, relax, and reflect on everything that’s happened over the past few months, I’ve now come to realize that my blog has changed in many ways and is headed in a direction that I feel isn’t in the best interests of the larger audience of readers who come here. Because of that, I think today is a good day to share some of my sincere regrets, what I have learned from those, and where I recognize I need to be refocusing on from this day forward.

In the last few months I have made some very real mistakes which have caused many people to question my intentions and motivations here at my blog. Admittedly, I was unwilling to listen to the criticism from those who were only trying to help me and I began growing frustrated to the point that my frustrations got the better of me.

Before I continue, I first owe everyone–whether you are friend or foe–a very big apology for taking liberties with a highly critical comment of me at my sister web site LowCarbNewsline.com earlier this month. I didn’t simply ignore the comment or even delete the comment in question. I admit that I modified it to be positive and replied in kind. When called on it, I replied it was a joke and did not show the remorse I should have for something I should not have done in the first place.

Not only was this an abuse of my editorial powers at that site, but it was highly unethical and wrong. For that I am truly sorry, and promise that in the future when I find myself frustrated, I will simply leave comments as they are, step away and remember that not everyone will agree with me. If you go to that forum, then you will see I have apologized in like manner there making it clear to everyone that I was wrong and am truly sorry.

Over the last few months there has been a growing concern from those in the low-carb community about my promotion of Kimkins. I had failed to openly disclose my affiliate relationship with that diet plan and I now realize I should have. Additionally, my insistence that Kimkins was just another low-carb diet similar to Atkins, Protein Power or South Beach as well as my posts encouraging readers to join me when I started what I believed to be the K/E option was overzealous to say the least. I apologize for not being more upfront about that.

More importantly, my refusal to properly review and then hold Kimkins to the same standard as other plans and approaches I’ve praised and criticized was a glaring mistake of omission for which I regret. My intentions were good, but now I can see why there were questions arising about me and my business relationship to Kimkins.

Call me stubborn, but for the life of me I could not see what the problem was; I truly believed I was indeed following K/E and honestly had not reviewed the other plans on the site. Now I know I should have.

While I’ve been on vacation in Missouri this past week, I’ve now taken the time with some gentle nudges from those that implored me to review all the plans, review the content that is publicly available (present and archived), and then review the historical content found on the Low- Carb Friends forum.

After doing that, I can now see why this issue with Kimkins has stirred up such a fiery controversy because most of the plans are a controversial approach to losing weight by encouraging fast weight loss without mention of the very real risks involved with doing so. I regret that I allowed my excitement about my renewed commitment to losing those last few pounds I wanted to overwhelm me to the point I lost my good sense.

I hope sharing this with you today will help us all avoid making similar missteps in the future. To be very honest, the thing that held my emotions so well was the strong sense of community I felt from those on the forums at Kimkins. It’s something that I missed terribly since I was banned from Low-Carb Friends and I didn’t recognize that until recently.

With the Kimkins forum, I felt a sense of belonging that often lacks when you’re writing day-to-day on a blog. There’s such a sense of community that I now recognize I can be part of if I join any number of online support forums by taking the initiative to do so. There are some truly GREAT people providing support out there.

In the past I did join Low-Carb Friends in part to be a part of a community and in part to promote my blog. In doing that, joining with an underlying agenda to serve my own needs, I missed the opportunity to really be part of a community and found myself quickly banished by the admins there. In my enthusiasm to promote my blog in the early days, I violated the terms of service and was rightfully banned.

Instead of doing what I should have done by apologizing to the admins and ask to be reinstated with the agreement I would not promote my blog within the forums anymore, I walked away disappointed and slowly allowed resentment to build. The January post I wrote at my blog about Low-Carb Friends earlier this year was inappropriate and uncalled for because it deeply offended many at that board. For this I am truly sorry and can only hope that, in time, those who make Low-Carb Friends their community for online support will find it in their hearts to forgive me.

I now realize that without Low-Carb Friends I would not have been able to review the historical posts that led to the creation of the controversial Kimkins web site. It is an eye-opening look at how many people were ill-advised and mistreated over months and years prior to the launch of the Kimkins web site that I started promoting last year. It is something I should have taken the time to read much sooner, something that should have been part of the necessary due diligence on my part before agreeing to support and promote what I believed was just another low-carb diet.

So first I must thank the admins and owner at Low-Carb Friends for maintaining the sticky thread “Ask Kimmer” because it has helped me begin to see many of the errors I’ve made in my assumptions about most of the Kimkins diet plans these past few months.

I also find myself once again in need of giving an apology to my readers here at “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb.” I allowed the strong sense of community I felt with Kimkins to cloud my judgment and subsequent action to continue promoting Kimkins even in the face of numerous people pointing out problems that are clear as day even after my podcast interview with Kimmer.

Had I only stepped back and looked objectively at the criticism for what it was–again a way to help, not harm me–then the entire last year may have taken a different path. While I cannot change what I have done in the past, I can change what I do starting today and moving forward.

Today begins a refocusing back to the original purpose and mission of my blog–to educate, encourage, and inspire people about the healthy low-carb lifestyle!

I have always maintained that each person must find the diet that works for them, whether that’s low-carb, low-fat, or whatever. If it works for you and you can do it over the long-term with your health improving because of it, then go for it and rejoice as you take control of your health! I very clearly do not agree with low-fat and low-calorie options as I lost most of my weight on the Atkins diet, but that does not mean they do not work, nor serve some well even in the short-term.

Because I do not agree with those dietary approaches, I focus on carbohydrate restriction and proper fat intake since research supports that as a healthy way to lose weight and find optimal health over the long-term.

In the past I have taken many others to task over their diets and I now regret I did not critically evaluate the full context of the various dietary plans for Kimkins.

I should have because, as many have repeatedly said, the plans are very low-calorie diets despite any specific requirement to count calories (in some plans like K/E), thus by design they are low-fat and low-carb because they are very-low-calorie in nature.

One of the most objective reviews I recently read was from my friend Carol Bardelli at the “Kudos for Low-Carb” blog. She provided a wealth of information about very low-calorie diets in that post that I encourage my readers to review to gain more understanding of why it’s important to nourish our bodies as we lose weight. Also, Sherrie from the “Pinch Of…” blog made some very valuable points on this same issue as well.

As one poster on Low-Carb Friends has integrated into her signature, “It shouldn’t be a RACE to get thin. It should be a Journey to good health.” I couldn’t agree more!

Therefore, you will notice I have made some necessary changes to my blog that reflect that sentiment to remind myself that part of finding what works for me and you finding what works for you means encouraging each other to also make good decisions that optimize our long-term health in the process. Livin’ la vida low-carb is as much about improving health as it is weight loss.

You will notice that I have removed the banners promoting the Kimkins diet today as a matter of conscience. In the last week I have realized that I cannot try to “educate, encourage and inspire” my readers if I am associated with Kimkins, a web site promoting some plans which may indeed be unhealthy if followed over the long-term.

My focus has been on the best of the five plans (K/E) and I cannot say they’re all sound and healthy ways to lose weight on your own. Because of this, I cannot encourage my readers to join the site knowing they may wind up following a plan that may do more harm than good in the long-term. Be smart about any diet plan you go on.

Let me also state clearly that I believe it is extremely important for people to research any diet before they begin and even talk with your doctor about not just the short-term impact, but also the long-term effects and potential health risks you may face.

While many believed I was making great big bundles of money from my affiliate relationship with Kimkins, let me just say that no amount of money is worth losing sight of the bigger picture to educate my readers with quality information, encourage them to find a way of eating to help them regain their health while losing weight, and inspire them to be their best while going through this process.

While I still believe it is possible to tweak things within some plans promoted by Kimkins, I also realize that this is strongly discouraged on the plan. If something is not working, then it’s easy to say you’re not working the plan. But, then again, as many of us know it’s in the little bit of tweaking that we find our strength and confidence to make the diet our own over the long-term. That’s what I did after Atkins, although I am sure the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins would not object.

With that understanding now, I’m left questioning what I am really doing here and why I felt compelled to start making changes in my diet in the first place. I now realize I find myself exactly where many other low-carbers land when they lose weight with a low-carb diet–a place where I am comfortable making modifications that make low-carb work for me over the long-term!

I could label it and say it’s Atkins, or Kimkins, or South Beach, or any number of plans as recommended for maintenance, but that wouldn’t be honest! The truth is, I’m doing what works for Jimmy Moore right now and it is simply a low-carb diet where I’ve started to also look at my fat intake to control calories naturally. That’s all! I don’t need to place a label on it to make it mine and I certainly don’t need to convince my readers what they already know–finding the plan that’s right for you and then DOING IT!

By opening up my mind to better understand what I am doing, what I can tell my readers is that I now truly understand that I have not been following K/E as recommended, nor could I. What I have done is merely modify and play with what I’m eating to find what will work for me now and that’s simply been lowering carbohydrate, reducing fat slightly and paying more attention to carefully choose the treats I still do include to make the plan work for me.

For me, life without a small indulgences like bread and chocolate here and there is not what I want. So, I’m still playing around with what will work for me and wish others well with what works for them. If that includes low-carb products, then great; but if not, that’s cool, too.

Over the last few months, my promotion of and subsequent insistence that I am following the Kimkins K/E plan has caused a polarization within the various low-carb forums. I am deeply sorry for bringing much of this on myself, by both words and actions, by fueling the debate and ignoring many of the red flags and warnings people had for me.

We low-carbers are an ever-growing by leaps and bounds community online with brand new people looking for hope for their obesity and I am becoming more and more aware of that fact. With Kimkins, I saw an easy quick-fix and ran with it, unwittingly undermining my mission here to educate, encourage, and inspire others.

This too is something I hope my readers will forgive me for doing. As I go, I grow. I learn sometimes slowly along the way and can only hope that those who have spent time and effort to educate me, encourage me to take the time to really scrutinize what I’m doing, and inspire me to hold myself accountable, will understand that I am now listening, I am hearing you, and I am trying to make right what many have pointed out were errors on my part. I too am human, imperfect, and do make mistakes.

Where I’ve erred, I hope you can forgive me for that, too.

Along with the criticisms sent my way about Kimkins also came criticism for not clearly disclosing sponsor and affiliate relationships that allow me to maintain this blog freely to all who wish to read it. I strongly believe that those of us who write about low-carb need to be free to publish information that is lacking in the mainstream media, or even worse, manipulated or twisted in ways that cause confusion.

I’ve said it before, my purpose is to educate, encourage, and inspire.

I hope my readers understand that to write every single day like I do takes many hours of my time to do–time to research, review, read, gather information and then write my articles.

Over the last two years, the time invested in writing for my blog has grown from a few hours when I first began in April 2005 to now as much as 12 hours a day. It really has become more of a full-time job now and is something I cannot continue to do without a means to pay my bills and support my family.

I so passionately feel it’s important to continue on with my blog that I sought out a way to support my family so I can continue to write. But I failed to disclose those changes along the way with my readers. I had a responsibility to do so, and am now making changes to insure you understand how I choose sponsors and how they’re included here.

I do take seriously my real responsibility to choose wisely those whom are offering me opportunities to make my blog possible. Plus, I am keenly aware that not only are my readers a quality audience to many companies, but that my readers expect I will choose products and services from companies that are of the highest quality.

You’ll now notice in my sidebar, I have placed a conflict-of-interest disclosure that fully informs my readers that this blog is, in part, sponsored by companies who recognize the value of low-carbohydrate diets and respect my readers dietary choice. They want to do business with us and it is my policy that I will only accept sponsors and affiliates whom I believe offer quality products or services, along with good customer service and responsiveness to needs of my readers. While we won’t always agree about whom I’ve included, it should now be clear that banners on my sidebar are from sponsors and affiliates I have chosen to include after I’ve researched their offerings and am comfortable to offer something of value to many of my readers.

I’ve also clearly stated that when I am including a post that does mention a sponsors product or service, that is my opinion about the product or service and I have not been compelled by contractual obligation to promote the product or service to my readers within the text content of my blog. I want to assure my readers that none of the sponsors or affiliates they see on my sidebar have contracted with me to specifically mention or promote their products within the text content of my blog, nor will I enter into such contracts in the future. So, yes, when I am enthusiastic about a product or service, it is because I really am, not because I have to be because I’m being paid to say something I do not believe.

There is one small exception to this that I believe is a win-win for all of us. When a company that meets the standards to be included here offers a giveaway or contest to my readers with no obligation, and I write about it, then it is the writing about it that brings it to your attention. You are never under any obligation to participate or enter, but I feel including it meets my goal to educate, encourage and inspire. In posts such as this, I will clearly state the nature of my relationship in the promotion.

Right now I can only hope my readers will forgive my past sins and understand that I didn’t fully appreciate how important such disclosures are. I’ve taken many researchers to task because they did not adequately disclose potential conflicts of interest in studies, but I failed to hold myself to that same standard. I believe I am now correcting my own error of omission and hope you will continue to point out things if I fail to live up to my words in the future.

The last thing I feel it’s necessary to address is the fact I’ve allowed my emotions to get the better of me at times when I should have “taken my medicine” like a man. Instead, I acted out and sometimes aggressively responded to criticism in ways I wish I could take back. Calling those who were critical of my words and decisions various names, including “haters and crybabies,” was not only wrong, but failing to live up to the spirit of open-and-lively discussion and debate.

I closed the door to listen to some of my readers and realize how damaging that is to all of us, no matter what your view is on the controversy around Kimkins. I hope today to reopen the door to those who have been turned off and welcome you back with open arms so we can work together to help each other on this low-carb journey.

In the future, I will be ever-mindful that we’re all in this together. Some will agree with me, others will disagree. But all views are important and should be heard whether everyone agrees or not.

I will do my best to honor this commitment I am making today to temper my immediate reaction and try to give more thought to my replies in an effort to be a better writer and fulfill my desire to make the “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog a place where facts are at the forefront and opinions, while still critically important in the big picture, are provided by me in the light of solid, reputable evidence and data that must be part of any substantive debate of ideas in the health arena.

I realize now that I focused heavily on the positive feedback, largely ignoring the negative. While it’s important to stay positive, it’s also very important to be open to hearing the negative to really understand the issues. It’s constructive either way and that’s how I will view it from now on.

Without that acknowledgment and respect for the fact we don’t all agree about everything, we cannot make progress to educate others about the benefits of low-carb diets, encourage each other to be our best each day, nor can we effectively inspire those who want to know more to seek out and find more information, even with our faults.

So I am hoping today to begin anew on a path that will enable me to serve my readers and their best interests, to be cognizant of a standard of excellence I must hold myself to each and every day as I write about livin’ la vida low-carb, and remember the all-important bigger picture–YOU, my readers, our common goals and desires, our interconnectedness that makes us an online community on the same path, finding what works for each of us along the way and our mutual agreement and understanding that for the long-term, good health is attainable with healthy low-carb living.

Each of us must be able to freely share what is working for us as well as the pitfalls and obstacles we may face along the way. When we share these things–both the good and the bad–with each other, we all grow in our understanding and help each other in the long-term.

And that, my friends, really is where my heart is–to help, both myself and my readers, learn how livin’ la vida low-carb truly can benefit health over the long haul. It is a position I feel is strongly supported not just by the latest research, but also through my own experiences.

These experiences are ones I want to continue sharing with all the thousands of people who come to read here each day. Through that, I am sure there will be plenty of education, encouragement, and inspiration along the way. Even if someone decides low-carb isn’t for them, then at least they will realize it is something that works for many who do make the choice to follow it as their permanent way of eating for life.

I ask nothing more from you than to please allow me to try to be the best that I can be by continuing to support my mission here to educate, encourage and inspire. I cannot change who I am as a person. I’m not suddenly going to be different or less outspoken than I have been, but I will be much more aware of the fact that we are all in this together, and without you my readers, I cannot fulfill my hopes and dreams to help others find their way to health like I did.

Working together, we can do that and more! So I hope you know from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. Please forgive me for my mistakes and help me as I continue to learn and write about a subject we all are enthusiastically passionate about–that’s Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb, baby!

from “Livin La-Vida Lowcarb”

Nille

2007-10-24T17:36:00.002-07:00

I´m Nille.

I don´t know if I was banned, but I was “moderated”. Even if I posted some of my posts dissapeared. I managed to copy one:

“I am a new member - and having paid my 60 bucks, I would of course really like to know the real reason why admins are leaving the site. Like everyone else, I’ve read their blogs and based on those and the posts in here - it is very natural to wonder !

I’ve been doing my own research (which I’m fairly good at) - Ive been doing lowcarb since 1982 and as mentioned in my presentation I’m an admin of a Norwegian board. I go the source when I need/want information.

I think a lot of problems could have been avoided if the real Kimmer (whoever / wherever) would step forward with her true identity and picture - showing the world - or at least her paying members , who she is. Not beeing evasive and hiding behind supposedly false pictures/pictures of other people. It might, it might not be true, but there’s onky one person who can put a stop to the slander, and that’s Kimmer herself. It’s all about honesty and trust. We can choose to trust and we can choose not to. YES, it’s all about choice. But we’re not stupid either. One admin leaving OK, - two - OK, but three ? Including the poster girl ?

This is YOUR forum for people following YOUR plan Kimmer - following YOUR advice. All of them have paid to be able to read about your plan, get your tips and suppurt. To be able to share own and other experiences with the plan. Most of us don’t know what we’re getting until we have signed up and paid. Of course we could read up on it on other forums, but what is better than getting it from the founder herself ? The doctors, the nutritionists, the writers of diet books all over the world, - show their faces. Even in little Norway they do. It’s a sign of respect for the followers, readers, paying members !

I’m not a suspicious person -but it’s not until we join we find that the owner is behaving somewhat strange. Why the secrecy ?

Don’t blame me for wondering - I’ve been part of and a working volunteer (not beeing paid one dime - quite the opposite, I pay - I support) at forums for years and I’ve never come across this kind of behaviour.

Don’t blame me for asking the obvious question - the whole low carb word is wondering - WHO ARE YOU ….. REALLY ?”

I thought it was rather polite, all considered.

I´ve signed the petition and reported in the BBB.

After my posts dissapeared, I sent a mail to them requesting a refund - and I got it !
And of course I´m not able to log on anymore (not since September 7th).

from “Ex-Supporters of Kimkins”

Misty

2007-10-24T17:36:00.001-07:00

I emailed her and told her that the diet wasn’t as it was represented in WW… that I was expecting a healthy way to lose weight quick NOT a starvation diet bordering on an ED. I did request a refund, so I made it clear I didn’t want any part of her site BUT she banned me without a refund. Whether I wanted to use the site or not, shouldn’t I still have access since she refused the refund? Shouldn’t it now be my choice whether I visit the site or not? Surely my $60 bought me that right!

from “Ex-Supporters of Kimkins” comments

devil5care

2007-10-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Tavosk,

Um, yes I DID pay for a lifetime membership. . . now you may want to “believe” for me, but you’re not allowed! Nor can you answer for me, begin to speak for me or expect me not to answer when you post questions directly to me. . . So, instead of assuming the answer for me, the REAL answer is NO, I did NOT get what I paid for as a matter of fact. I was told that the founder of this site would show me how she lost over 198 lbs. in less than a year AND KEPT IT OFF for over 6 years. Where is the maintenance program? Tell me, what established guidelines do I use to keep it off?

I keep hearing this idea of negativity thrown around, but wait, read my post and now read yours. . . who’s really being negative. . . “Personally I don’t give a damn what you think about the plan. . . “ ummm, did you hear ME cussing anynone out in my post???. . . can you suggest a ban for yourself for that ‘infraction?’ See, you think you have the right to say anything you’d like, but I, and others, are all supposed to cower in the corner like a whipped dog – don’t think so! You’re an Admin, you have acceess to all my posts, pm’s, etc. . . go read what I have to say. Negative?? Did you even take the time to go through my posts – I think if you did you would have found that 98% of them have been answering questions and supporting people. . . not telling them what they HAVE to do what they can and can not say or think.

Do I have problems and issues with this site. . . you betcha; I never, not once, hid my feelings about that. . . people with the ability to hit some keys and ban me do not scare me, what scares me is the people you do frighten. . . people that have been bullied into staying quiet because they’re afraid of being banned from the friends they have made and care about.

Goodness me, I got ‘yelled’ at for the ‘goose-stepping’ reference I made when I member got banned FOR NO GOOD REASON – to anyone reading this, note that I wouldn’t belittle what happened in the 40’s by comparing it to Kimmer or Kimkins or anyone or anything else for that matter, but if you have something to say, then say it. . . staying quiet when you have an issue with people being sent away, for posts being deleted, whole journals being tossed out, say SOMETHING when you have an issue with lies and deception. . . if you know these things are happening and have issue with them but choose to stay silent then you have no right to say anything when one of the admins. tells you that you crossed the line; nor do you have the right to say you didn’t know what was going on.

I keep reading that ‘I don’t care who Kimmer is, I don’t care if she lied to get my money, I’M LOSING WEIGHT, — how cheaply do you sell your integrety? As my momma always said, birds of a feather flock together. . . if you don’t care about honesty and integrety and go along with bannings and censorship and LIES because it’s only about YOU and your weight-loss, then you’re right, say nothing about what’s going on because you and Kimmer are of the same ilk (well, except for the weight loss thing that is). Was selling yourself for 60 bucks worth it? Was losing some lbs. worth trading in your values, your dignity and your self-respect??

There was a time when there were people and admins on here who had REAL values and cared for their fellow members; who tried to help and who tried to guide people not by threatening, but by advice and encouragement. . . I’m sure some still exsist, or maybe they have all left this desolate place (which is what happens when people are not ‘allowed’ to speak or think on message boards, or anywhere else for that matter). Like I said before, I’m not quitting or running away, if you want me gone then ban me. . . I will not be afraid to speak out against things that are blatently wrong, I will not be intimidated by fear.

And for all those say I used too many Nazi references in regard to what is happening here: people being sent away, mass censorship, fear of speaking out. . . I just had to leave you with this:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller

Joined for $59.95.Banned for Member Complaints & TOS Violation (new TOS –can’t say ANYTHING, except WTG & Kimmer is a saint :))Asked for refund, but no response yet. . . think I’ll ever get one???

from “Ex-Supporters of Kimkins"

Kelly130

2007-10-24T16:52:00.001-07:00

I was banned on Sep. 19th. I had been a very active kimkins member, since June 7th when I read the Women’s World article. When Jimmy Moore left the kimkins site, I started venturing out and reading, trying to figure out why he left. I found the “Fascination with Kimmer” thread and have actually read the entire 4 threads…..it opened my eyes, along with all the other blogs. When I left, I posted a long message to my challenge friends, explaining my issues with both Kimmer and her diet. I waited until most of them had read it, then I PM’ed Kimmer and asked for a refund on the basis of fraudulent advertising. I was banned within a minute, and I have never heard from them regarding my refund request, even though I also submitted a “ticket” to tech services.

from “If You’ve Been Banned from Kimkins, Post Here”, lowcarbfriends.com

richchick

2007-10-24T16:51:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,I am so glad that I found LCF !!!!!I was a member of Kimkins from 7/1/07 and followed the eating plans off and on. In 3 months I lost 35 pounds. I did ‘cheat’ from time to time when I began to feel weak and tired. Now I am glad I cheated, it may have saved my life!!!!!!! I am still having problems with constipation and other things.I shared this info in the forums that I participated in and found myself bannedas of yesterday. I think the reason I was banned is because I said that I thought I would up my carbs in order to remain healthy while I was losing weight.I thought Kimmer had sold the website since that e-mail attesting to this had been sent out by Kimmer to members. Now I wonder if she sold it to herself since I was banned after the so-called ’sale’. I can’t believe that the new owners are behaving just like kimmer.

When I found out the truth about Kimmer, I felt like I had been conned and I became hurt and confused. My ‘trust level’ fell to an all time low. Unfortunately, I let this affect my eating habits. I was afraid I was going to die from eating the kimkins way so I began to really eat.I began nibbling, snacking, and grazing through the day. Now I am not sure how to eat healthily and still lose weight. I don’t want to gain my weight back.‘Thank God for this site!!!!!! I can come here and get the support that I need to get through this confusion and get back on my feet. It helps to know that I am not the only one!

from “Kimkins Refugees Support Group” lowcarbfriends.com

Brenda

2007-10-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

My name is Brenda and I just recently left the Kimkins madness. My husband is currently deployed to Iraq and I thought that Kimkins would be a great way to drop some excess weight fast and surprise him when he came home. Boy was I WRONG!!! I started in August on K/E, it just didn’t work for me, I only lost a few pounds and felt very discouraged. I was really confused because I had done the M/E in the past and the weight seemed to come right off. I still continued to do K/E and I got sick, really sick, at one point I remember lying in bed and I could feel my heart start to quiver and then beat rapidly and strong, I was terrified. I honestly thought I was going to die, I remember thinking Oh god, please don’t let me die, my husband is gone and my little girl (5) will find me dead in my bed in the morning, dear god please don’t do that to my little girl. It was the most horrible, fearful night I have ever had. I would never recommend KK to anyone, I think it’s incredibly dangerous and the site should be banned.On another note, I’m happy to announce that I’ve been on M/E for 2 days and I’m down 2.5 lbs! Woo Hoo!!

from “Kimkins Refugees Support Group” lowcarbfriends.com

janamonkey

2007-10-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Helllooooo !

I’ve been thinking about posting in this thread- I never was a member at KK but I did do it for about a month. I think because it was a short time and I never cut out all the veggies I am not experiencing hair loss (thank GOD) but what is so upsetting is that my MIND is messed up.

I feel so obsessed about calories now! I finally had to BAN myself from fitday, no kidding. It’s really upsetting me because I feel like I’ve lost some part of myself or something. I don’t know if that makes sense but I’ve never in my life struggled with anything close to an ED and now I feel like I’m on the brink of it.

So, I hope that by discussing it here I can find some kind of healing
and above everything else I am so mad at myself for doing something that now I see is so stupid!

from “Kimkins Refugees Support Group” lowcarbfriends.com

Dragonfly

2007-10-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

I have been officially banned. Woo Hoo.

I feel so much lighter.

I guess it is no surprise since I have been over there asking questions and probably making people THINK. Which I know is difficult in their deprived and starved state but maybe it got through.

In any case, if the person that is running the site is really the “new owner” then they would want to keep the customers they have so word of mouth would be better for them. I guess they just don’t know how to do business. Because there are hundreds of ex members who, I am sure, are telling everyone they know to stay away from the site and not to join. That can’t be good for business. But I am sure that Kimmer doesn’t care because, last count, she had over 2.4 mil in the bank from all us naive overweight hopefuls.

Sure she got my money but I know she will get their just rewards (whatever they may be). I think it is worth finding this site and getting back on track the healthy way. So, now I am refreshed and rid of the uncertainty that came with the other site and feel good.

So THANK YOU KIMMER FOR BANNING ME. You truly are as helpful and kind as you pretend to be.

NOT!!!

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

Shawn

2007-10-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

*Waves* another former KK member coming over.

I’d been off plan for a month or so since I was losing weight so fast that my wallet couldn’t keep up with the constant buying of clothes in smaller sizes. After regaining almost 10 pounds of the nearly 40 I lost, I went to the site and noticed a lot of people gone. The I hit Google and nearly got the shock of my life at all the heck that had broken loose.

I’m sick to my stomach at having been deceived and scammed. I work with the Law Enforcent community thru the State of Illinois so I should know how to spot a scammer. That said, I remember some of the pictures that Heidi posted on LCF and on the first incarnation of the KK site and when I saw the infamous Red Dress Picture, I immediately noticed the difference. I had this nagging feeling that something was off but pushed it aside because I was succeeding and losing more weight than I had ever before. But I’ve also suffered from severe dizzy spells and increased hair loss since being on the plan and I’m sure they are from the low calories I consumed.

I’ve submitted a ticket for a refund due to misrepresentation and indicated that I would be contacting the BBB, The California Attorney General and the Illinois Attorney General if I did not receive a refund. I’m wondering if I should not also submit an invoice to KK but I don’t know what email address to use. I doubt that I’ll see my money again but I’m sure going to try.

So here I am, floundering a bit but on my way to a workable plan for me that will get me to my goal. Glad to be among friends.

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

Mary

2007-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hi my name is Mary and I am a Kimkins “Survivor.” I joined this site on September 27 and this is my first post. I have been doing a lot of reading. It is so great to see all the familiar people here that I missed so much on the KK site.

I have to admit that I have only known about the problems going on for the past couple of weeks. Don’t know how I missed it other than the fact that I had been only visiting a few threads once summer vacation was over. I work in a school so was off for the summer and spent most of my time on the KK site. In the beginning I was all over the place and even was trying to answer questions in the newbie section. I know how Deni and others feel about feeling like a fraud because I was just giving out the information that I had heard and tried from others. It was working and I was losing fast so I considered that I was qualified to give information. I lost 45 lbs. from June to August and then starting noticing things “wrong” on the site. People missing and no trace of them. For a while I justified sticking with the plan and then gradually started tweaking it when I was reading about the problems.

I think it finally sunk in for me when Diane/Glamgirl and Slim both sent me the link to Christin’s blogspot on the same day. I was actually late for work because I couldn’t tear myself away from it and walked all around the house carrying my laptop watching and listening to Christin while I got ready. I decided then and there that I had to do something and here I am. I haven’t been banned and still check in on my groups but haven’t posted. I did just pm an old friend who resurfaced after being gone and just sent my e-mail address so hopefully I can clue him in. He was instrumental to my success and some may know him from over there. He is Turbo100 Miguel.

I am excited to be here and apologize for being long winded but I guess I have so many emotions built up that I had a lot to say and could go on and on.

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

SunEGrl

2007-10-24T10:38:00.002-07:00

Well, it looks like I have found most everyone from KK. I said my goodbyes on the site last night and was banned by this morning. Pretty soon they aren’t going to have anyone left. After hearing what Kristin had to say, I just couldn’t continue to endorse or follow a diet plan that has so many flaws. All along I thought the bootcamp plan was rediculous, but I tried to follow true Kimkins to the letter but found that my energy level would get to low so I would add in a little cheese or a few macadamia nuts. I was never in the 400-600 calorie range, so I never really had any major side effects but I realize that more people are coming forward with their health issues so that really concerns me. Hopefully, I will be able to continue my weight loss with the support of other former KK members.

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

Gweebles

2007-10-24T10:38:00.001-07:00

I think a lot of us are suffering Post Kimmers Stress Syndrome and feel kind of lost and betrayed. I never felt like I fit in there so the transition was easy. All along I knew that Atkins was my way, I had lost 200 pounds before on it (and I have real pictures to prove it!) But I was so desperate for the “quick fix” that I was willing to become a “Kimmer Zombie.” HEY I LIKE THAT PHRASE!!

Anyway, older and wiser now. I have been Atkins (with the exception of a bite of my daughter’s PBJ sandwich 2 days ago) I don’t know how much, if any, I’ve lost, but my moods are better, no more fuzzybrain, and I feel better. I have energy again and I KNOW I’m getting the nutrients I need. Plus, I haven’t abused laxatives since then!!!

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

Tami

2007-10-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, before I understoon the full scope of the problem, I wrote up a ‘compliment’ on the BBB site, but since that time, curiosity got the better of me and I started researching on my own. So, this morning I attempted to delete my positive review, not sure if I was successful or not, but I did change what I wrote to “I am deleting my review…” so hopefully it will be taken off.

I was so psyched in the beginning because I was losing and I wasn’t hungry, which I thought was a good thing, but doesn’t that mean that your metabolism has shut down when you aren’t hungry?

Anyway, after gaining about 5-10 pounds this week from my depressive eating, I am ready to get back on track. I just don’t know who’s track to get on. I have ordered a few books on Amazon and can’t wait to get them in and find the right track for me. In the meantime, I am thinking of starting the Atkins induction phase tomorrow.

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

living healthy

2007-10-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, Folks, I thought I was doing great on KK. I was feeling the best I ever felt. Steadily losing every week. I knew I came up on the right WOE for me, UNTIL someone commented a few weeks back on their fingernails. They had verical ridges and no lunulas (half moons), except for thumbs. I, quickly, looked at mine to, only, discover ditto had happened to me. I know the fingernails don’t lie about your body. Something was missing, despite my abundance of vitamin and mineral supplements. I started upping my fats and good carbs and happy to say the moons are back. With the changes in diet, I still feel good, but my weight is frozen. I will keep working with my WOE until I find the right combination for me. As far as having the anorexia, that’s, fortunately, not me. I stayed cheat free for 90 days straight and had no problems with upping my intakes. I do have a new mind set in that I do want a healthy body.
Good luck to all of you!

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

Silver Spice

2007-10-16T14:45:00.001-07:00

I was totally against Kimmer from the first time I registered with LCF, which if I remember correctly was late 2002 or 2003, but under a different screen name. It was SOOO obvious to me that her avitar was a fake and her comments conflicted at times. I was even warned by LCF administrators when I questioned Kimmer’s posts and photos and eventually left this site … but that was then, this is now, and we all have grown past that. I came back with the blessing of the admins here, and just stayed out of Kimmer discussions.

Then I was drawn in by others who “seemed” to have found the magic potion and I decided to try the Kimmer experiment … oh how I wish I had never done that. I can only hope that some day I’ll find my metabolism again.

from lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer #8″

Carol

2007-10-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

I was banned yesterday after the ugly email. Now I left over a week ago and I haven’t posted over there since I left. I was not bold in leaving, I just said that some people were taking the diet to extremes but our admin was very good about telling people to up their fat and cals. all the time so I told them to listen to his advice and gave a list of supplements to keep them healthy. The admin re-posted what I said and wished me well. But his little birdy followed a link from someone’s blog to her forum here and when she didn’t like me questioning whether I could trust her, she fired off the email and got me banned. I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t decided to go over there to delete my journal last night.

Honestly, last night I felt like just giving up posting and trying to make friends with my fellow dieters. I had been really close to this person and thought I knew her so why put myself out there to care about someone else just to get hurt again. But it’s a new day and Atkins is working for me. I had gained 3 lbs. when I left because of all the turmoil. Now that my body is starting to adjust to Atkins I’ve lost all I gained + a pound. Now that’s the best revenge-I can eat 1400-1500 luscious calories and lose weight. Woohoo!

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Miss Christine

2007-10-16T14:23:00.002-07:00

My name is Christine, and I also was on Kimkins. Now I am not sure what plan I am going to use to continue on my shedding journey. My MIL told that I didn’t want to lose weight because when you lose something you want to find it again so I shed weight instead because I never plan on finding these numbers again. Unless they are in my bank account. Anyway, I just turned 45 at the beginning of the month and celebrated my 25 anniversary with my best friend and husband in June. I have three wonderful children 24, 22, and 19. Two boys and a girl. I have alway been chunky but after my first was born I just kept gaining. I have a hypothyroidism that went untreated for 17 years and 2 years ago I found out that I have PCOS and am insulin resistant.

I guess I didn’t totally understand the Kimkins plan because I just worried about staying below 20 carbs. I never worried about my fats or calories. I never gave up my butter, coconut oil, cream or raw milk. I shed 37 pounds and have been in a stall for over 6 weeks. Have been losing inches like crazy but would like to see the scale move. I guess the reason the scale isn’t moving right now is because I have started swimming and I swim 40 laps or 1000 meters 4 days a week. I am trying to make it 5 days but just haven’t gotten there yet. Hopefully I will starting next week.

I have enclosed the Ebook send out by Kimmer early this week. I guess this was thrown together to stop people from requesting refund through Paypal for not fulfilling her agreement. It is a real joke. Enjoy the laugh.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com, “Kimkins Survivors”

vicalyn

2007-10-16T14:23:00.001-07:00

Here I am the closet KK survivor. My story is simple. I joined in July hoping to put my low carb lifestyle back on the right track. All I accomplished was further derailment. I got off the train when the dizzy spells crept up on me. One call to the Dr. and he said STOP! Healthy lower carb is ok, but this isn’t healthy. This is disordered eating. I jumped ship back to my trusted and true Atkins way of eating before the “pictures” came to light. Atkins is the way for me to go and I have this lesson that reminds me of that fact.

I haven’t really talked to anyone about my KK experience. I feel like I should have known better. When it sounds too good to be true it probably is. My refund request was denied by whoever is on the other side of the keyboard typing under the name of Kimmer. I guess I shall chalk this up to a life lesson, a $60 life lesson.

The silly thing is that my copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution was given to me, I guess the best things in life really are free. I harbor no ill will towards that person claiming to wear the red dress, I survived. I am still here, still surviving.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

bonheurbelle

2007-10-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

You know its funny, I think Kimmer was a bit angry that I changed my avatar to a frog in response to someone to making a comment about kermit the frog and comparing kimmmers to kermit the frog and how just because kimmers didn’t lose weight that she wasn’t a fraud. I said, I wouldn’t buy a diet from puppet named Kermit and I wouldn’t have bought one from kimkins if I had known it was a real weight loss story. I thought most of the diets in the woman’s world were supposed to be researched. any way , I am glad to be here and am trying to figure out what I am going to do from here. I would like to know if it is possible to do atkins with adding more fiber. I really have had issues with when I went on the kimkins diet and it was suggested to just take more and more laxatives , I got to the point , It was causing health issues and that isn’t worth it. I really want to get back to a low carb diet, just a healthy one. Thanks,

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Adrienne522

2007-10-13T08:14:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe how dangerous my thought have become in reference to food. When my mom was telling about South Beach and then she handed me the book, I went to the Week one menu. 2 snacks??? Are you serious? My mom could not believe the garbage that was coming out of my mouth. She asked me what was wrong and if I neede to talk to someone about food. That was my changing point. I look thinner, I have smaller clothes, but my ideas that I have of food are totally wacked out. Thanks for listening everyone. Today is a new day!!!!

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

mt hulagirl

2007-10-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

I won’t call my self a refugee. I guess, I don’t feel as victimized. I never actually did Kimkins for more than a few days. I always started to feel a bit woozy.. and added in some almonds or other nuts, or just a bit more fat. Presto, I felt fine.

I also took a break for a couple of months and so I was just starting again when this all happened. I think low carb is important, I also think that carbs that are eaten need to be low glycemic index. There is a huge difference between an apple and a slice of white bread. Or even between a strawberry (good carb) and a banana. So if you are adding back some carbs, I recommend getting informed on the glycemic index. (I.e. How fast it hits your blood sugar)
I miss my last forum at Kimkins - the lose 50 by Christmas.. but I think there will be a migration of that committed group.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Feel.

2007-10-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

There is an immediate draw to a plan that promises you quick weight loss with no exercise. The plan promises you that you will not be hungry. It promises you quick results.You sign up. You want to know more. You find out that many of the people there are having such fast losses. You want that, too.

Told to follow those with the best successes, you strive to emulate those successes. To make them your own.

You are hungry for a few days, but that goes away. Now you feel high. Happy. Light. You are eating 1200 calories a day and you don’t feel a thing.

The loss slows. You know you could probably do with a little less. You could cut a little here, shear a little there. You feel a little bit of hunger, but this time, it is only for a day. That leaves you quickly. You are eating 900 calories a day and you don’t feel a thing.

Your loss slows. You feel perhaps that you have cut back on your fiber too much, and read that others are using laxatives in different forms to keep things moving. You use this. It works. You decide that you will use this method every time you feel uncomfortable. Now you can cut back your caloric intake further. Those in the boot camp program are allowed up to 500 calories a day. You change. You conform. You are now eating 500 calories a day and you don’t feel a thing.

Your loss slows. It is said that you are eating too much because you are not exercising like the people in boot camp. You know you must be weak to not try harder. You must not want this bad enough. So you shift. You change things. Just a little. Just a smidge. Light as a feather, feeling high in your mind. No one notices your hair is brittle. It wouldn’t matter. You are now eating 300 calories a day and you don’t feel a thing.

Your loss slows. You feel palpitations occasionally as though your heart is fluttering. Your family has noticed. Your friends worry. You have made changes. You are strong in your mind, and others wouldn’t understand. They are not strong like you are. You will show them. You are now eating 200 calories a day and you are exercising. And you don’t feel a thing.

You don’t feel a thing.

The coroner pronounced you dead at 2:34 am this morning. You suffered a heart attack because your body consumed the muscles of your heart for energy, and your body could no longer sustain itself. Your mother sobs in the corner. Your daughter stands, glassy-eyed, holding your cold hand. She is four, and she doesn’t understand.

And you don’t feel a thing.

Stephanie

2007-10-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

In good conscience, I can’t keep silent about the Kimkins diet any longer.

Yes, I tried Kimkins back in June and July.

Yes, I lost weight, about 14 lbs in about 3 weeks.

Yes, I paid $60 to belong to a forum for support and encouragement along with the dietary guidelines published by “Kimmer”, the screenname of Heidi Diaz, whose reputation in the low carb world has….ermmm….fallen into some disrepute lately.

I thought it was the best solution to overweight I’d ever heard.I got sucked in by promises (and results) of quick weightloss with no exercise.

I’m not a patient person, so this appealed to me enormously. When I do anything important, I tend to go “whole hog” and overboard sometimes. Plus, I travel a lot, and when I’m home it’s hard to find time to work out. Oh, this diet just sounds like a dream come true, doesn’t it?

I didn’t know enough about dieting in general to know any better, so when the pounds began falling off I was raving, excited and told a lot of people about Kimkins. I had no idea what was coming….

At week 3*, my weight loss stopped. I began questioning Kimmer and the admins on the forum. Their advice was “drop your carbs, drop your fats…”that food” isn’t allowed on Kimkins etc.”This meant, in a practical sense, drop your calories. So I did. For a little while I dropped my daily caloric intake to approximately 600-800 per day.

How did I feel?

Ravenously hungry. My stomach growled almost constantly. Deciding it was time to kick up my exercise routine a notch, I tried to work out one day on the elliptical machine at the Y (I’d been walking at least a mile a day or every other day at that time in my hilly neighborhood). After about 6-7 minutes I was getting woozy, my knees felt like jello, and I couldn’t see straight. I decided to finish my workout on a treadmill. I took it easy, but only could finish another 4 minutes before the dizziness and weakness in my legs made me a little scared and I stopped.My daughter, the RN, who was working out with me said “Mom, you look kind of funny, are you ok? Maybe you better sit down and just drink some water.” Red Flag #1

Oddly enough…the weight loss never resumed. Even at lowered calories. Red Flag #2Shortly after that day at the Y (I didn’t make the connection between my caloric intake and the failed workout) I began experiencing what felt like gallbladder attacks. My GERD was out of control and I had to begin taking double my daily dose of Nexium. Red Flag #3

I began adding some fat back into my diet, knowing by that time that keeping your gallbladder “out of work” is not advisable. Of course this upped my caloric intake considerably.

I began to think…it must be the diet. I didn’t want to quit. I wanted to keep going. I desperately wanted to lose weight–still do!

But then I began looking around on the internet. I found a couple of low-carb support forums and to my surprise (and horror) it turned out that on a couple of them, Kimkins as a WOE was somewhat frowned upon by experienced low carbers. Red Flag #4What???? Why??

I needed to find out why.

The more I looked the worse it got.

Kimkins Controversy
Kimkins Dangers
Kimkins Survivors

…and there are more. Links on all those blogs will open your eyes.

When Jimmy Moore pulled his affiliation and posted his apology to the low carb world, I knew it was time for a serious personal reality check.There are many bloggers who have explained just why Kimkins is such a dangerous dietary plan. I won’t attempt to explain the medicine and science of it here.Suffice it to give you some important links:

VP Health & Fitness
Burn The Fat blog
Kimkins Diet Review (VP again)

Most of what’s wrong with Kimkins is stated over and over again in the books I’ve been reading. Kimmer (Heidi) claims to have cobbled together her WOE from Stillman’s and Atkins and then tweaked it into something she calls her own. I haven’t read Stillman’s Diet but I have now read Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution, and I assure you, although the similarities are there between Atkins Induction program and Kimkins - she removed some of the most important nutritional considerations that Dr Atkins insisted on.

Inside the Kimkins organization, there’s an ongoing shakeup in the administrative section. Becky (aka Littlebit on the KK forum) has been banned for ‘differences of opinion’. Amy (aka Curlygirl) long a forum regular and excellent cook with her own site–is now MIA from Kimkins forum. I don’t know for sure but I think maybe some of the Kimkins insiders, even those who did take the weight off with her program and are now trying to maintain their weight, are beginning to see the light.

The bottom line is, Heidi Diaz continues to promote and make a lot of money from her dangerously low calorie-low fat-lowcarb-no exercise needed** crash diet, and people are calling her on the carpet about it.Just because *some* of the Kimkins followers are enjoying some weight loss success (yes, there are some), I predict that sooner or later most of them will experience metabolic slowdown, thyroid problems, electrolyte derangements, hormonal imbalances, muscle-mass wasting, and many other long term health problems.

Just because it’s not happening to them TODAY doesn’t make this diet safe!

We’re talking long term dangerous effects. Life changing disability or death may result from following any low carb-lowfat-low calorie diet!!

Just because people drink and drive and live to tell about it - does NOT make drinking and driving safe!

Just because people experiment with illegal drugs and live to tell about it - does NOT make illegal and recreational drug use SAFE.

Kimkins, as with any other RISKY behavior, may not kill you today…you may feel ok today and maybe tomorrow and maybe even, if you’re really healthy and lucky next month….but sooner or later, as my mom always said….the chickens WILL come home to roost.

from Living Low Carb and Lovin’ It, “Silent No More”

What If?

2007-10-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

Some ask, “What if?”
What if the testimonies at “Survivors” are not real?
What if , instead of people who have really followed Kimkins, these were tales planted to scare people?
What if , instead of honesty, this was a sock puppet blog?
What if, instead of integrity, this was based on lies?
What if, instead of being what it is, it is what it isn’t?

The only portions written by the author here are unnamed and are original content.
The testimonies are believed to be real and are submitted by people who have stated that they have, in fact, followed Kimkins.
No testimony is repeated twice, edited, or changed by the author without persmission from submittants. and privacy is always assured.

This is a safe place.

No negative comments are allowed nor are they published. The purpose here is healing, support, and love.

People will question, deride and claim this site as a scare tactic.

Is truth a scare tactic?

What if truth is only what it is and nothing more?

VernsWifeVickie

2007-10-12T18:07:00.002-07:00

I have posted a comment or two under a different name because I wasn’t ready to “go public” with my identity. But, now I’m ready. I have been a very vocal supporter and defender of the kimkins plan. With Becky, Christin, and Deni leaving it is impossible for me to continue along feeling that everything is ok. Here is a copy of my latest (probably last) post at kimkins…

Here is my post

I have been watching all of the controversy unfold for a while now. At first I was very vocal in my defense of Kimkins. I completely believed that the posters on ther fascination thread at LCF were just jealous and spiteful and had some sort of axe to grind with Kimmer. To some extent, I still believe that about many of them, although I now believe that some of them really are concerned over what they believe to be an unsafe plan. So, I have continued to watch and read and see how all of this has unfolded. I listened to the interview with Jimmy Moore and Kimmer’s answers were, in my opinion, rational and reasonable. I heard her say that she would turn teens away from the site in that interview and I was relieved that she was reasonable about it. So, when a 14 year old girl posted that she was eating 500 calories a day and was needing to increase her calories, I was SHOCKED to see kimmer advise her that she didn’t need to increase her calories. What happened to turning teens away from the site? This plan might be ok for those of us who are adults but for a child who is still growing there is no way that this diet is appropriate.

Then Becky resigned from the site. Now, no matter what I think about the motivation of the anti-KK gang out there, I know Becky’s intentions were good. I also KNOW that we were LIED to about the circumstances of Becky’s departure.

Now, Christin and Deni are leaving. I have watched both of these young women stand under the pressure of the anti-KK gang and not crumble. And, they have stood with very little, if any, support from this forum. Those women did not suddenly crumble from the pressure of the attacks on their character. If they were going to crumble they would have done it before now.
Having said all of that, I will say that I have nothing personal against Kimmer or the kimkins plan when it is done in a rational intelligent manner. But, when I see women posting that they are eating 300-500 calories a day and wondering why they are sick, having electrolyte imbalances, and their hair is falling out and they are not told to EAT…for goodness sakes! Then something is wrong. When a child is encouraged to eat 500 calories a day….something is wrong. When Becky left the site and we were lied to about her departure….something is wrong. And when it is infered that Christin and Deni crumbled under pressure…..something is wrong!
I don’t claim to have the answers for all of this and I will probably be banned for saying everything I’ve said in this post…..but I can no longer just go along trying to believe that everything is ok and that there are just a bunch of crazy people who are jealous and disgruntled attacking this plan.

There are some very serious questions and accusations flying around that should be addressed and put to rest if there is no basis for them. But, that hasn’t happened….something is very wrong.

From the kkatastrophediet blog “Wake Up Call” comments section

Thank You, Jacqueline

2007-10-12T18:07:00.001-07:00

Your words today have meant so much.

From science, from knowledge.

Not from surviving the ordeal, but just as important, if not moreso in some respects, for the scientifically minded.

Thank you.

Kimkins is Not Atkins

Dierdre

2007-10-12T18:06:00.001-07:00

Former kimkins tryer/life destroyer here:

Look at my journal if you like. You can see that back last fall I was in great shape and weighed in healthy at 130-135 at 5′6. I gained weight due to stress over the holidays. I went on kimkins for a month, lost weight (mostly muslce). Went from 150 to 128. That weight was only a blip on my weight chart because right when I went back to eating ‘normal low carb’ I blew up to 155. No lie. I wasn’t eating more than 1500 cals a day. I tried exercising but I had to start back at square one. I use to run 6 miles no problem. But when I started back on the treadmill I had to walk and I couldn’t last more than 30 min.

My body was wrecked. My metabolism was wrecked. My skin, hair, self esteem, brain…all wrecked. It’s taking me forever to get back to my old self.

Kimkins is absolutely terrible. I’m sad that I’ve been away so long. i want to catch up on this whole scandal thing going on with it. I can’t seem to find the source of the info though. Like what happened, who started the outcry, what the heck is going on people!!! I’m a gossiper at heart.

Anyways, that’s my story. I haven’t weighed myself in a month. I’m eating atkins right now, trying to get myself under control.

from “New Anti-Kimkins/Kimmer blogs emerging“

doitforthekids

2007-10-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

I just found your forum, and just signed up less than two minutes ago. I am not extremely computer savvy, so bear with me. I am so very thankful for a support, hoping this does not get deleted and that it passes the eyes of anybody who may need it or be interested. I have never done anything like this, and have never told this to any of my family, my friends, husband or doctor. I started kimkins several months ago and lost a lot of weight very fast, very fast.

I am an honest lady and do not want to offend or appear indelicate, but am taking a deep breath here and being open and honest. I realize this may sound bizzare, I could not find anything on the boards at KK about it, I kept plowing through all the forums….but this is the absolute truth, and you can put me on a polygraph - as is the way I live my life, above reporach. However, shortly after starting I noticed my stools and urine were red, bright red. I first, erroneously, attributed it to something I drank with the diet beverages. Then I got cramping in my lower left side so severe that finally I could not walk. I mean, SEVERE and the pain was gripping, I walked to one side with holding my side to stay from falling over. Wobbly, to say the least - and we have stairs. I was scared, but embarrassed. As embarrassed as I am now telling how foolish I was, fueled to continue since I had had such rapid results. Spouse away, it ended up that I stayed in bed for a coupleof days, honest truth. I had some suspicions, but to validate my concerns, I got up and tried every reputable dx-and-symptom search-site that would match EXACTLY to every one, without exception, and repeatedly (esp the last, which was on a Mayo clinic site) and determined that without any doubt I had diverticulosis or deiverticulitis, completely new for me as NEVER encountered this. I had progressed to profusely vomiting, then read about the colon, and more, extensively. Couldn’t keep anything down, liquids went right up! Stopped eating and then went very gradual to sips, as tx-directed/suggested on the sites; and then after a couple of days I was keeping liquids without difficulty and got up and managed to get to the drugstore and got a strong laxative (bleeding had stopped, but my lower left side felt like a huge “wad” was “stuck”) in the form of Magnesium Citrate and some stool softener. Took it all, and …. afterwards, I had relief but was so weak I could barely walk around, energy drained.

THEN I went (I am so embarrassed, but hoping this helps somebody, and the truth is so good to finally tell) back on the same diet, but added to go to the “original” kimkins plan (I had been doing the K/E) and modified it somewhat, but still found it very extreme and felt a lot of guilt to go back and say how poorly I was actually doing, even though I was losing - but at a slower rate.

I think this is enough of baring myself; and if anybody has read this far, just again thank you for the opportunity to release this hidden thing that I have never shared. I always wondered if I was the only one, never could find anything about it - and there is NO DOUBT (I am also embarrassed to say that I am a mature adult, recognized community leader, college grad with a medical background - yes, honor student, no less!) what the problem was! I could only hope and pray no longterm damage was inflicted, and still wondered WHY I went back on the program (albeit modified) save for the desperation and for the lurking on a myriad of forums in attempt to learn more, and find answers; but then too I yield to realize the power of the peer pressure that I was finding with the comraderie on the forums, in addition to my remaining silent and thinking I was alone in this. So I fanlly just pulled away and did not even respond to personal notes asking where I was, I just wandered off….and whew, finally poked around the Net and….. found you here! BUT….still admittedly very wary (and weary!), oh do believe me.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Question???”

KCRita

2007-10-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

I’m still a member at KK, and at ‘that other forum’, and have no dramatic story to tell. I lost 30 pounds in 2 months on KK. And that’s with not much weight to lose to begin with. My hair fell out. I was SNATT all the time. I experienced leg cramps on almost a daily basis–some so bad I nearly ended up calling 911. I could go days without eating, and I was proud of it (not sure I could call those days KK, tho) Hey, I was THIN! And at my age, that was Amazing! I did not care that I wasn’t giving my body the nutrition it needed to thrive–I was wearing size 4’s for the first time in my life.

My family, thank god, honestly did a mini-intervention and made me see that I was headed down a very slippery slope–towards a full blown ED. I’m so glad I realized it, but still, there are days when I honestly LONG to return to that safe place of not caring if I eat a thing. But, I will not go there again.

I’ve followed the Kimkins saga from Day 1–read every post on the Fascination thread and every one here, and witnessed the creation and termination of the Ask Kimmer thread.

I just want to thank ALL of you who have fought the battle to this point. I only wish I had the courage and the tenacity and the intelligence to have joined you from the beginning. I have signed the petition, I want my voice heard in some manner, and will stay a KK member for as long as possible, but I am not sure I can stomach reading any more of the hatred and the meanness that is being spewed over there.

from lowcarberforums, “The Kimmer Thread Continues”

MollyBrown

2007-10-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

I am a refugee from the good ship Kintanic. First let me say that I am grateful to this site and to all the blogs for what they have brought to light.

Like so many others, I became a KK Klanswoman after reading the article in Woman’s World magazine. They have a new diet every week but somehow this one appealed to me in a way others had not. The other diets seemed like “fads,” but KK looked as though it was both healthy and effective.

That being said, even from the first there were some yellow flags of uncertainty and doubt. It seemed weird that there were “natural” looking photos of the successful followers of the diet, but that the “after” photo of its founder looked airbrushed and fake. But I did not give it more than a moment’s thought.

I logged on and tried to make my way through figuring out how to do the eating plan. I was almost 300 pounds and wanted the kind of results that were being touted. I made a few posts with questions and usually was referred to the “sticky” threads for FAQs.

It looked like some of the successful members kept their daily menu in fitday. When I first started looking at those entries I was SHOCKED. Many of them were eating around 300 calories a day. On some days they ate only 150. I thought, “I will never be able to do this. I don’t know how anyone can.” I did not really think about the unhealthfulness of such a low calorie diet.
But armed with the expectation that ketosis would decrease my appetite, I plunged into the KK WOE. To my surprise, after a week or so, my appetite WAS gone. I did feel the SNATTY thing and almost had to force myself to eat. I was never able to go as low as 300 calories, but I was keeping to between 450-650.

And the weight started dropping off. I was so jazzed. After a month I did start to notice that my hair was thinning, but I did not care. Every single day when I jumped on that scale, I had a loss. It became an obsession to run for the scale first thing every morning to see how many pounds had magically disappeared overnight.

Then I heard about Jimmy Moore’s refutation of the KK diet. I thought, oh, he’s just bowing to the pressure of his sponsors who do not want him to favor any one low carb diet, and who want to sell their products. Kimkins does not advocate using anything but fresh, natural foods, so that must be their beef.

Next the admins started leaving. One after the other. I thought, well, that’s fine for them, they lost THEIR weight, now they are coming out and saying the plan is bad? What’s up with that? I want the results THEY got. And I was getting them. The pounds kept dropping off, a little more slowly than at first, but still a loss, even if only two-tenths of a pound, every single day. And I still felt SNATTY, headaches and nausea, but I took a few advil every day and plunged ahead.
I was lucky not to have bowel problems, I was using the KK plan with salad greens and vegetables. The advice on laxatives, thankfully, was not something that applied to me personally. Though it was pretty scary to read about taking laxatives, even a partial dose, on a DAILY basis.

Since the Jimmy Moore thing, and the admin blogs, I did start paying attention to some of what was being talked about. I started to get a little concerned about the number of calories I was eating and worried that I would not be able to sustain the weight loss in the end. So I started upping my calories, but not my carbs.

And I stopped losing. After upping them only about 100 calories a day. And then I started gaining. Not a lot, just a couple of pounds. But they won’t go away. Right about the time I hit my stall/mini-gain was when the Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Heidi photos came out. I was stunned. And unbearably depressed. I wanted to binge more than anything.

What was the point? It all was a lie. When something sounds to good to be true, it usually is. The defenses of KK and its founder get more outlandish every day. But have MERCY on those who still believe. If they are losing, they are blinded by that. I know I was. And with posts getting deleted right and left, there are probably MANY who truly do not know what is going on. Everyone comes to their moment of truth on their own. You can’t force it.Right now I am in no woman’s land. I had tried Atkins a few years ago and stopped losing after 30 pounds. On KK I had lost 50. I honestly don’t know where to go from here.

One of my biggest concerns is that there are probably many, many people who left KK in disillusionment and went back to their old way of eating. I don’t know how we could reach them. To be honest, sometimes the posts on this board seem unnecessarily unkind to those who were innocently hoodwinked. There is sometimes a very strong “I TOLD YOU SO” kind of attitude which I think is not helpful.

No one should feel as though they are having to come with their hat in their hand to LCF for help and support. They are already humiliated and betrayed. Many of them, including me, did not even know LCF existed before all the controversy. So it was not like we initially made a choice of KK over LCF. In short, we were duped.

from lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer?”

BabyBug

2007-10-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

This is long and I know you didn’t ask for all this but I have wanted to get this off my chest and give information about my personal situation with Kimkins.I have lost 100 pounds and about half was with kimkins. I was actively doing the Kimkins for 2 months.

To understand my situation my life had been recently out of control due to an illness that caused the weight gain of 167 pounds in less that 2 years.The low calories of kimkins when combined with not being hungry made me feel like I was in control of something….my body…

Like I shared in another post while I was doing kimkins my husband would make comments like, “Is that all you are eating.” or “You haven’t eaten today..”

In my mind I felt pride and a sense of accomplishment. Although of course that was not what he was saying at all. Then one day my daughter who is 6 said, “I haven’t eaten all day” (talking about herself). Now I NEVER told her about what I had or hadn’t eaten…. but kids watch.

What hurt me so much was she had pride in her voice. I got so mad and went into how she is supposed to eat and health all that biz. But I realized that I had to set an example. I have been trying to add back into my diet but I am truly having a difficult time.

I found that for me there was this sense of pride in having control over my appetite. It was very empowering to not have to worry about food. I am not saying I have an ED or trying to play that role to anyone….I am just saying that after discussing it here and reading about ED some of the emotions sound the same…Control, pride, empowering, that sort of thing.

I have asked “Why” or “How” could my eating habits change that drastically and that fast. After pondering things I think it is because everyone starts with k/E and once you get passed the first 5 days the appetite is gone. So then that need to eat is not there. We are encouraged to do K/E long-term and that we need to stay in ketosis , count fiber, limit vegetables, measure EVERYTHING and weigh daily.

Combine that with the fact that a person is losing weight. Then add in that wonderful high of control. Then the icing on the top is everyone is telling you how great the weight loss is which reconfirms that it is the right thing to do. That is where the sense of pride comes in.

When I first heard the rumors about how kimkins promotes ED. I actually laughed. I thought how can you have anorexia unless you want to have it. I mean just eat!!!

Of course now I know that is not the case. I mean does anyone with an addiction or disorder really want it?? I thought that would be like saying “You wouldn’t be an alcoholic unless you want to be an alcoholic.” It’s not that simple. I mean no one wants those things.

But the kicker is you are praised for losing the weight in the forums and in the support. Also, praised in you personal life by friends and family. So you think you are doing something right. Oh the pride.

But of course that would never happen if another type of addiction was causing you to lose weight. For example if a person said “Hey I’ve found that snorting coke helps me lose weight and I have been doing it daily.” No one would say “Oh you look great, way to go.” ….with limiting food they do because that is dieting but there is a fine line.

This is where the danger lies I think because if someone has a lot of weight to lose, like myself, you definitely don’t look like you have an eating disorder so no one notices. Even the person eating the low calories.

You continue the eating behavior longer with the idea that you are just “dieting” because you have to diet that extra weight off. You will lose fast so you will only be doing this WOE short term

Keep in mind I also never had a history of an ED and like many always thought you can’t develop one in your 30’s. I mean that is a younger person’s issue….Right?!?!

I did K/E most of the time because I was afraid to get out of ketosis. Which now I feel is all bunk… but that mindset had already kicked in and I am finding it difficult to add things back.

I know K/E says ALL the lean protein until you feel full, but the problem is there is only so much chicken, fish etc…that a person can eat so one’s calories are low as a result. I usually stayed under 600 calories and .many days under 400 calories I found when calculating things. Not on purpose….Just due to the appetite suppression and not wanting anymore damn protein.

I started having symptoms (decrease in energy, mood swings, dry skin, insomnia, less menstrual flow) I thought they were related to not enough fat and also the low calories so I started adding some fat. But I am finding that I am afraid to do too much because I don’t want to gain back the weight.

I do and always have taken several multi supplements…NOT a multi-vitamin which is all Kimmer has officially stated. AND even on the website page you can view before you sign up it just says an only a “good multi-vitamin”.

That is why there is a big difference in someone doing 500 calories a day after a gastric bypass or band surgeries and kimkins. Besides the fact that you are under a doctor’s care…you are also monitored by labs for the need of supplements like electrolytes, iron, calcium etc…A member is not getting near enough of what they would need in a multi-vitamin.

Then the weighing everyday that Kimmer encourages or the boards “whoosh fairy” was the term coined for when you didn’t lose weight for a few days to let you know it would soon. I think that weighing daily also feeds into that mentality too. Then if someone does laxatives will there you go an ED. I never did the laxatives because I just drew the line on that one.

But to answer your questionI am an “un-banned member” but no longer doing the Kimkins plan. I still have 50-60 pounds to lose and I am at a loss as to what I should eat, so I don’t at times and that isn’t a good thing.

from Active Lowcarber Forum “Kimmer Kimmer Kimmer”

Mimosa23

2007-10-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

I first did Kimkins last year to drop a few quick pounds after I lost 60 pounds and regained 20… It worked great, and in three weeks I was back to my goal weight. Then the trouble started: I couldn’t keep the weight off, and for the next year I kept losing and regaining 30 or so pounds. I would do the K/E for three weeks or so, and then I’d go back to low GI eating and gain the weight I’d lost on K/E. I joined the Kimkins thread here, and joined in the communal support for this WOE. I felt fat. I felt miserable and I felt ugly. The more I did Kimkins, the worse I felt. The pounds coming off would never be enough, and I didn’t realise I was getting totally obsessed with food, weightloss and my appearance as I thought other people saw me. I was spiralling out of control, and found I had a very unhealthy view of food, diet and myself. I was deluding myself! I would regularly read the Ask Kimmer thread for inspiration, and I would weigh myself twice a day. Despair would set in if I didn’t see the scale move downwards… I would eat less, and nothing would happen. I remember eating only three hardboiled eggs one day without the yokes; still no weightloss! I don’t know what happened, but I decided to see a counsellor about certain issues I had, and also to deal with my food issues. It’s taken me months to face up to the fact that I have an ED. I don’t know if Kimkins was the start ( I actually doubt it) but I do know that it made my issues with food much, much worse. I am now slowly but steadily recovering, my metabolism is shot, and I’m on a medical approved diet programme that is slowly but steadily teaching me to feed my body again. I have very low blood pressure and am anaemic, and the K/E made all my symptoms much worse. I have had mineral deficiencies and they are now being treated. For the last month I have felt more energetic and awake than in the last 18 months…

I still have major problems with my body and weight, but my counsellor and my anger towards Kimmer are certainly making me feel a whole lot better!All I can say is that I’m glad that I didn’t pay for this awfully unhealthy WOE, and I want to thank all you savvy and wise people for all that you have uncovered!

I am now refeeding my body with healthy low GI foods (vegetables, protein, fat, fruit, wholewheat, etc) and am glad that I didn’t have any other medical problems due to Kimkins!
I cannot believe that someone can prey on other people in the way that she has. Her deception has certainly rocked my faith in humankind. I have signed the petition, and hope she will be held accountable for her lies.

Thanks again, and my apologies for being so gullible!

From lowcarbfriends.com "Why the Fascination with Kimmer?"

Kimasutra

2007-10-12T17:56:00.002-07:00

I do not think of myself as a “survivor,” as a “refugee.” Surviving Kimkins implies luck. Chosing to leave Kimkins was proactive on my part, and makes me a refugee. Because I was active for such a short time, my involvement in Kimkins was not so much catastropic, as it was disillusioning. And the person I was most disillusioned with was myself.

Just like people who believe they can get something for nothing, I let myself believe that I could safely, speedily, and with no insult to my health, lose weight on low carb, starvation rations, while simultaneously maintainging optimum physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual fitness. The founder of Kimkins didn’t do that to me…the Women’s World article didn’t do that to me…I did that to me. I knew better.

So what suckered me in? Easy answer! The sense of community, of belonging, of encouragement–generously offered…the collective spirit of irreverence in the face of obesity, the ability to laugh with each other, commiserate with one another…the collective shaking of fists at the Demon Fat Gods, even as we sacrificed and made food offerings to them daily, of our calories, carbs, and fats, and, yes, ultimately, our health. It was never about the Kimkins diet, for me..it was about the miracle of connecting with others like me–of not being the different one, the round (pun intended) peg in the square hole…it was the magic of finally being seen.

As someone else here wrote, finding our kindred spirits…and note, I did not write co-enablers…was the “silver lining” in the Kimkins WOL. There was an article in Oprah, several months ago, about the much higher succes rate dieters who blogged had, versus those dieters who were isolated, and did not receive support and encouragement. I don’t need to see the research data; I have experienced that phenomena up close and personal, during my two months with the Fabulous 50s Kimkin’s forum.

As for what is to be done with our anger and sense of having been duped, and played for fools, for myself, the most healthy thing I can do is to let it all go, for impotent anger, and hostility only destroys me from the inside out, and diverts my energy from positive, to negative. Yes, Kimmer made money off of us, she lied, she made those of us preaching the Kimmer gospel look like a bunch of false apostles. But we were not the Judases in this affair, she was. I am trying to see the woman underneath the facade, to forgive her, to forgive myself…to keep her in my prayers for the wounded and ill, because that is what humans do when someone is in need. A Pollyanna? Yes, I am…but practical, too, and strong, and committed, and rededicated to healthy, lo carb living.

from low carb discussion, “Kimkins Survivors”

Rozi

2007-10-12T17:56:00.001-07:00

A lot of us feel pretty duped and a little cheated by what has been shown. Nobody wants to be that heavy or look like that. It is not on purpose. I doubt that she even started out to fool anyone. I’m pretty sure she really did lose weight on her plan and just didn’t want to admit it when it started to slide back on. Have any of us not been kind of slow to admit a slip or a small gain? She was supporting a son on her earnings and I’m sure she felt that she could lose it back again at least at first. It is just a guess but it looks like to me like she suffers from stress eating, and probably binge eating disorder. I also believe, although I can’t prove it that these are both the result of a starvation diet, as well as having her metabolism slow to a mere fraction of it’s former self. I think that it is all very sad, and I cried for her when I first saw the pictures. None the less I feel cheated by paying $60 for a plan that cannot succeed in the long run for very many if any. It only took me four days, and passing out twice and scaring my husband to death to find out it was not the diet for me. I just am thankful I did find out the danger so soon.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Dallas

2007-10-12T17:55:00.002-07:00

I’m still a member over there, with a different name. I’ve refrained from posting my concerns because I want to keep an eye on things. In the 10 years since my mom died I put on about 50 lbs. Not as much as some but enough to make me miserable. I’ve always scoffed at magazine weightloss articles but seeing Christin on the cover of WW caught my eye and clicked with me. And yes, I was impressed by the “red dress” before/after pictures. So I paid my $60. I’d been eating a lot of processed food so in comparison, Kimkins looked much healthier. I like meat and eggs and it said I could stay on K/E as long as I wanted. I did it for 13 weeks AS WRITTEN, with usually 400-600 cal/day, until Becky, Christin, and Deni left and I became concerned by Christin’s reported side effects. I’ve been pleased with my weight loss and I’m 10 lbs from goal. BUT, although I’ve not had hair loss, I seem unable to regain my appetite. I never want to eat, even when my belly growls. I mean, I want to, but my appetite for food is non-existent. Nothing sounds good. I’m fighting to try to bring my calories to an acceptable level. My brain doesn’t mind missing meals anymore. And when I do eat I feel bloated and I’ve gained a few lbs. So can Kimkins cause eating disorders? YES, IT CAN!!!! I never, ever had food issues before, except I liked and ate a lot of processed food and fast food. I’m not stupid. I’m very well-educated. But I was desperate and I believed someone who seemed to have found the answers I needed. She seemed to know what she was talking about. After all, it worked for her. I had hope. Now I don’t know if I’ll ever get back to a truly healthy diet and mindset toward food. Shame on her.

from “Why the Fascination with Kimmer, Part 2″, lowcarbfriends.com

Julie

2007-10-12T17:55:00.001-07:00

As the member whose journal was deleted and who wrote the original post in the “Nice Try” thread, I feel the need to clarify a few things. When “Kimmer” first opened the “Kimmer Chatter” forum, I naively thought that it was the appropriate venue for the discussion of the controversy. After all, that’s what “Kimmer” led us to believe. So when a member posted a question about wondering what happened to Deni, Christin, and Becky, I posted a link to their blogs so the member could read for herself. My post was deleted. No one ever said that posting certain links was forbidden. I did not receive an email or a PM explaining why my post was deleted. Nor did I receive anything saying I violated the TOS.

I was angry that my post was deleted especially given that the “Kimmer Chatter” forum was characterized as the appropriate place for that type of discussion. Once my post was deleted, I knew that the purpose behind “Kimmer Chatter” was to determine who had concerns about Heidi and the diet. I also realized at that point that the admins and “Kimmer” had every intention of keeping their members in the dark. That day I put the links to Becky’s, Christin’s, and Deni’s blogs into my signature. I then went on posting in various threads. My posts were never anything but positive and supportive. I certainly was not shouting in a restaurant. I was merely allowing members if they chose to to see what was being said by the former admins.
I had been concerned about the contents of my journal for some time. I did not want some new member to come along and read about the 300, 400 calorie days I had been doing and think they should try that as well. I did not want to contribute to any more people being harmed by “Kimmer’s” starvation diet. So I began to replace many of my old posts with links to the blogs. In truth, it’s highly unlikely anyone would have seen them. But I wanted to give people an opportunity to see the other side. I never directed any members to view my journal or the blogs. My posts were not disruptive in anyway. I did not force anyone to look at the information. The links were there for anyone who was curious.

I have gone against my natural inclination to be a peace maker by even involving myself in this controversy. But I could not countenance the admins at kimkins actively concealing things from the members.

from “A Running Jewel”

QbcPatty

2007-10-12T17:51:00.002-07:00

I don’t know if this is where to post but does anyone have a strange fear of eating? Even though more fat is part of the plan (or cheese or nuts, etc.) do you feel like if you indulge you are being “bad?” I can’t get over it and I am worried that what I have is an eating disorder. So many bad ways of thinking have emerged from my short time in KK land. I just can’t imagine a diet that says it doesn’t matter if you drink water. That should have been the big flashing red light.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Jen

2007-10-12T17:51:00.001-07:00

I remember Kimmer from years ago,in 2004. I noticed on LCF people started having signatures that would talk about doing “Kimmers” plan and people would recommend Kimmer’s ideas left and right. It didn’t seem right to me and seemed like starvation, at best.

She privately sent me a message after I had asked a question about her plan and she suggested I try it for one week. I did and I lost 3lbs. But, I also ended up with severe vitamin deficiencies, causing me to bruise easily and have a low platelet count. This was determined to be due to my strict, severe diet that Kimmer had told me about. (I was deficient in Vitamins C, K, and B12, not to mention everything else!)It caused me such trauma and despair, because I couldn’t believe I’d allow this to happen to my body.

Luckily, I caught it in time, but I feel horribly for those that didn’t. My hope is she is found out and prosecuted. She’s sure got some baaaaaaaaaad karma and I’d hate to be her in the next life!

Tami

2007-10-12T17:50:00.003-07:00

Well, I have been doing some research on the whole Kimkins/Kimmer controversy and have decided that I need to have a change in game plan. I jumped on this bandwagon because I need to lose weight so badly and thought that this was going to be my salvation. It is very disheartening to learn that it is all a scam and I have been had. Then, when I think that I have promoted this diet to others, I am ashamed. My quest is to become a more healthy me, and my quest will continue. The low carb plans work for me, but not this one. I will continue my research into other low carb plans and see which one works for me. I am leaving my weight ticker up because this is my way of holding myself accountable for my weight loss. I have listed some links here for you to do your own research so you can make up your own mind. I apologize to those that I have mislead and hope that you can forgive me.

from “Tami’s Journey to Better Health”

Joy

2007-10-12T17:50:00.001-07:00

I’m also ex-kimkims survivor, I went onto the website yesterday and was promptly booted off for suggesting they revamp their diet and change the name of their site. I was quite appalled that there were a few people concerned about Kimmer and wanted to get in touch with her and I believe it was Tippytoes giving out her email address so people could still contact her.I hope she gets what she deserves

Andal

2007-10-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

I’m so glad to read someone has gone through the same i did… i didn’t lost my hair or got health issues, but by the time i joined kimkins i had an undiagnosed depression, and the constant sense of failure i felt because i couldn’t low the cals, i couldnt stay away of the fats… i couldn’t be like them, i couldn’t do what kimmer told me to do (i joined when it was starting, and back the kimmer did gave personal coaching by pms)… i felt like such a failure, my self esteem got to its lowest, it made me collapse and get into crisis, what in a way was good because i was in such a denial of my depression and i needed it to get treated.

I came back after treatment, with a new vision and just went back the KK forun to catch up on some very good friends i had… and i discovered this mess…

It makes me sick to think how many people that where sick like me, so desperate, in need of an answer, a something to make themselves feel better… thought she had the answer, she was going to coach us to a thin body, and people would like us now… its so hard to think about how many of used whee used for.. money.

Kim

2007-10-12T17:48:00.002-07:00

My name is Kim and I too use to be a Kimkins member. I have not been banned but alot of the people I use to talk to wont or dont want to talk to me now. I had some questions with everything going on and asked it chat one day…big mistake. The sad thing is we are all here trying to accomplish the same goals. I miss alot of them and have been feeling pretty lost and unsure on what to do. I was told about this site and recognize alot of names and faces. I started Atkins on Monday and feeling good on it and hoping I can reach my goals. Just wanted to say hi and hope I can meet some new friends here.

from “Kimkins Survivors”, lowcarbdiscussion.com

luvdogs

2007-10-12T17:48:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone, I hope you don’t mind if I join you? I joined KK awhile back, paid my $60, but never posted on the website. I have been trying to get back into low-carbing, and it wouldn’t stick. I’d try reading the Forums, but never felt like posting. Then I started reading about all the controversy, and I’m glad I hadn’t gotten into it. I guess I’m going to look at the $60 as a life lesson fee — maybe I should do a little more research into things before spending my $$$!
I did Atkins about 15 years ago and was in the best shape of my life for about 5 years. Then I met my dear honey, who at that time was also in the best shape of his life. Unfortunately, we both fell off the wagon and over the last 10 years, we have both put on a ton of weight. The minute I stopped low carbing, the weight just piled on and I am now at the heaviest I have ever been. Over the years, we have had a number of challenges, the most recent being losing my beloved mother in December, 2006. I KNOW that low carbing is the thing that works best for me, and the thing that I feel my best on…but I find it so hard to get back on the right track. I was really glad to read Jimmy say that he did not think Atkins was a one shot program, because I had read that before and was really starting to believe it was true.

A recent Oprah magazine article stated that online support has been proven to be essential to successful weightloss — and I hope that is true, because it seems like a wonderful group of people is on this site. I am planning to succeed and have committed to starting back on low carb October 1st — I know I should probably just start now, but I really have to get my mind (and my cupboards) into the right frame of mind, and I just feel like that is the right starting point for me.

Sorry this is so long, and I am looking forward to getting to know people here.

from “Kimkins Survivors” lowcarbdiscussion.com

Karen

2007-10-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Do you have room for another (banned!!) ex-Kimkin’s member? After I spoke up this morning about the so called ‘e-book’ and wrote about what a physician thought about the diet..out I went!Anyhow, I stopped doing Kimkins when I began to ‘fear’ carbs and realized that I had to stop and step back and regroup. I loved some of the support, but became increasingly frustrated with the ‘Stepford wife’ way of thinking. Kimmer tells people what to do and what to eat and if they step out of line..they are taken out of the lineup. Tippytoes got caught this morning trying to pose as a new member. That was pretty funny.

Anyhow..here I am. I’m currently combining healthy low carb with my WW and my goal is a 2 lb loss per week. I have 14lbs to lose, so I figure in 7 weeks I should make my goal AND keep my hair, my vision, my sanity and my teeth!!!

from “Kimkins Survivors” lowcarbdiscussion.com

When You're Not Ready

2007-10-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

Eat your heart out ?
On a VLCD You are.
You are consuming your heart
.You are consuming your muscle
. The body consumes itself.

The body consumes itself on a very-low-calorie diet.

A success story cannot support itself

on 800 calories a day

You might not be ready for this.
You might still be following Kimkins.
You might still be thinking about how wrong we are. That we can’t care. That we are jealous. That we hate. That we hate you.
Please do not feel that way. We love you. We love Kimmer. Not because you have control, but because you may be out of control. Not because you are perfect, but because you may be imperfect. Not because you will show us, but because we want to show you.
We want to show you peace. Love. Health.
No hurries. No worries.

Please reflect. Then please shine.

Anani's Farewell

2007-10-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

I left Kimkins almost 2 months ago. I come back into the site occasionally because I met some lovely people here that I truly came to care about and I like to check on them and make sure they are okay, but today will be the last time. I can’t bear to come here again. I feel like I am wading through a sewer now when I come here in light of what we have all learned about Kimmer. I’m sorry if that’s harsh but it’s just how I feel. So many people have been hurt by Kimmer either emotionally/physically or both. The latest heartbreaking casualty was KimATC. She has been utterly devastated by Kimmer’s treatment of her.

I have debated long about posting this. I know what’s going through your minds…Oh another “hater”. I can hear you telling me to get a life, You’re just jealous, If you don’t like KK, get out and leave us alone”. Well I have a wonderful life and no I am definitely not jealous. I’m writing this as a last ditch effort to reach you. For no other reason than I care deeply about what happens to all of you. It’s just a matter of time before someone dies from this diet, and I could never forgive myself if I hadn’t done everything I could to reach you.

I have been stunned by so many people’s defense of Kimmer. I have nothing much to say to someone who defends a liar and a fraud. So I’ll move on. I have read over and over so many people saying “ I don’t care who Kimmer is and I don’t care that she lied…the diet works” People like Osusana and many others claim they are here to help the people on this site. They want to stay in their challenges and groups and keep supporting each other. And I can so understand that. There are some truly incredible, caring and wonderful people here. Many of you are probably not really even following Kimkins anymore and have opted to eat healthier, but stay here to support their friends and maybe even advise them to up their calories or fat a bit. I was tempted to do that myself.

But this is what I realized and all of you need to think about this. By staying here for any reason …all of you are helping to legitimize and give credibility to a site that was created for NO OTHER PURPOSE than to scam people out of their money. She created a very dangerous, false crash diet that she didn’t even follow herself. The site is being kept running for NO OTHER PURPOSE than to scam MORE people out of their money.

Many of you feel very badly for how Becky, Deni, Christen and KimATC were treated by Kimmer, but as long as this place exists another Deni or KimATC is walking unsuspecting this farce. Newbies are still signing up every day. By staying here and supporting this site and/or it’s creator you are leaving the door open for more people to get hurt or worse.Whether you are willing to realize it, there has been a mass exodus of KK members leaving and finding wonderful new homes on other Low Carb sites. I have travelled around a few and I have watched as many have reconnected with friends. You can still continue to support your friends in one of these places…in a non-toxic environment. There are TONS of ex-KKers at Jimmy Moore new Forum. There’s Low Carb Scoop, ALC and yes even LCF. There are some truly incredible people at all of these places. The only “hater” I have met in this mess is Heidi Diaz. One such as she must really hate people to deliberately cause so much pain…to fill her bank account.

Deni’s blog: http://www.openbench.blogspot.com
Christin’s blog: http://the-journey-on.blogspot.com/
Becky’s blog: http://winningweight.blogspot.com/
http://kimkinssurvivors.wordpress.com/

from active low carber forums, “Kimmer Kimmer Kimmer”

Reesie

2007-10-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

This smiley describes me so well,, adrift. I’ve been on the other site for a few months now, bouncing back and forth with other forums reading EVERYthing there is TO read. I was flabbergasted to say the least. Not comfortable where I was, it’s the same thing over and over again, was getting so redundant to me. I had been *turned on to* the other diet by a friend in chat. Her and some friends had found this miracle diet and she had already lost like 15lbs in a couple weeks. I thought WOW,, I can do that! So I did! Went like gangbusters too! Lost 30 lbs in 2 months, which for me was a miracle, the only time i’ve ever lost weight was when I was pregnant and I lost 85!! I began noticing some changes in uhm,, to put it delicately, my morning constitutional, (my granny called it that) but I didn’t think anything of it, figuring, hey i’m not eating as much, so things will change. In talking to the friend that originally introduced me to the plan,, she ended up having to go to the er for same related problems,, referred her back to her family dr, ending up on meds just so she can potty ok!! THATS NOT FOR ME!! I started reading some of the ladies blogs and things in other forums,, changed things around some for me, added some fat back,, some fiber, fruit here and there. I’m at a great big ole standstill!! Haven’t gained OR lost anything in weeks. I’m hoping that’ll change soon as my body re-adjusts. I had heard there was a forum for survivors, couldn’t find it though. Thought to myself, i’m not a survivor, I didn’t have the god-awful problems, but yet I did feel a sense of betrayal. Yes I knew someone that had lost. I had lost, other women had lost, BUT at what cost?

I read Christins and Deni’s blogs everyday, along with some others, clicking on links in one of the others is what lead me here. I saw many familiar faces in reading the thread. But the tears didn’t come til I actually SAW posts from Christin and Deni, then I saw Regandy (becky) and I saw Sue,, who started the challenge forum I had joined.. by then the tears had dried up some and I knew in my heart I was gonna be ok!! Thank you Jimmy for having somewhere for my little boat to dock. I’m going to spend this weekend reading the other threads in your forums and trying to get myself back on a good positive track. Sorry this is so long,, but thank you ALL for being here!!!

from lowcarbdiscussion, “Kimkins Survivors”

ginger

2007-10-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

I don’t have alot of hair to begin with. It’s very fine and thin, always has been. Now it’s falling out. You can see the top of my head.

About a month ago I woke up one morning and had an open sore on my shin. It just appeared. It didn’t heal and about two weeks ago I woke up and my whole leg was swollen and red and so was my foot. I went to the ER and they said it was infected and gave me a script.

Last week I followed up with my dr and told him about my diet. I’ve been off kk for about a month. But I was one of the one’s that followed the “Ask Kimmer” threads and cut out everything she said to. I was eating 400 calories a day and did that for almost three months. My dr had a fit. He said that I was starving myself and the wound on my leg was probably a direct result from that. He gave me a cream to use.

Last Friday, since it didn’t look any better, I went back and they did a wound culture. The office called me today and I have MRSA, which is a drug resistent staph infection. So now more antibiotics. I haven’t felt well for a month. And it’s a direct result from malnutrition.

I go back to the dr on Thursday to discuss the results of my bloodwork that he did. Hopefully the antibiotic will work but with this kind of infection, it’s pretty common for it not to work.
Sorry I’ve rambled on, but SHE needs to be stopped. Cleaning up the website is too little too late for us…
…

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. This wound just appeared one day out of the blue. There was no cut or anything. It’s about the size of a dime.

It happened right around the same time that I decided to stop kk and look for something healthy. I guess I didn’t stop fast enough.

I feel so stupid for doing this to my body. I knew better! But I had never had control over food before. And then I did. It was so powerful.

I’m doing Atkins now and had trouble getting my calories up at first. Now I eat about 1200 calories a day. I have about 30 pounds to go but I’m not in a hurry now.

The real kicker was when I showed the dr a picture of me before my weightloss at about 250 lbs. He looked me in the eye and said “You looked healthier in the picture”. I weigh about 200 lbs now. It didn’t even make me LOOK any better.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

sftruth

2007-10-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
I too am a Kimkins survivor I think. I say I think because sometimes you don’t know what’s happening to you until later. Plus I have a serious issue that I think was caused by being on the plan but if I mention it many of you will recognize who I am. Nothing life-altering I hope but it has taken a big bite out of my life for now.

I am not willing to share too much now because I am still a member at KK but some months ago I started to feel uneasy about the site and all of Kimmer/Heidi’s obvious lies. Come on now, this is her livelihood and it was really taking off if she was who she said she was what would keep a sane person that was a real business person from just coming forward and identifying herself and putting all of this to rest ? instead of banning people left and right if they dare ask an intelligent question…she is an obvious fraud and I’m mad at myself because when I joined I knew it from just looking at the success stories . I recognized one of the afters as an actress that I had seen in a movie but I was so desperate to lose weight quickly that I gladly forked over my money and jumped into the plan. I was also insulted because the least she owed the members that paid her was an open letter dealing with the issues that she could have put her own spin on but she obviously feels she’s above even that.

I recognize many of you from the site and have corresponded with you through our journals there but right now I don’t want to post pics or say my username there because I want to leave when I want to not because she deems to ban me. I already have left in that I have not posted on that site for more than a month and I have taken down all my pics . The only thing that the site was good for anyway was the support and encouragement from the other ladies anyway and 1 by 1 they were out of there because of the brewing controversy and just not being able to live a reasonable life on the KK woe. There was no guidance from Kimmer other than eat less, it’s your fault your not losing and take some MoM anyway. No maintenance plan , nothing. The ones that were trying to help us she obviously didn’t value at all because as soon as they asked a ? they were banned with a quickness. I could go on and on but you all know the facts if you want to know and the others that feel well I’m losing my weight so who cares who she is ? I understand that too because I felt that way at first also but I could not in good conscience continue to in any way support that mess.

Now I’m in a place of trying to find something I can transition to that will not make me re-gain all I’ve worked so hard to lose . I’m trying to do Atkins induction for the last few days so I’ll see how that goes.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Kendra

2007-10-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

After a lot of soul searching and reading many things online, I think for a while one of my main topics here is going to have to be the Kimkins diet and web site. maybe I should start at the beginning.

I started to read about the Kimkins diet on LCF because it had all the info for free, but then I found Kimkin’s web site. For a small price (or so it seemed) I could join their forum and have access to personal replies from “Kimmer” the fouder and woman who created the diet. She said that she had lost almost 200 pounds in something like less than a year and has managed to keep it off going on 6 years. Sounded wonderful and just what I needed. I paid my fee and joined. There were great friends made there, great admins ect. But I must say it bothered me when I read a lot of the advice given. I started following th plan and when I asked a question, most of the time it was someone ether than kimmer answering. Fine I could live with that. These people seemed to know what they were doing. I took everything at face value and yes I did drop pounds and at a rapid speed. But I was having side effects. If I were to ask about them, I was told This is normal… you are loosing so well, don’t worry about the small things, everything will correct itself and you will be so much healthier skinny then when you were obese. I played this diet game for a little over 5 months and I have to say yes I lost a lot of weight, but I was not feeling at all healthy, fit or attractive. I had no energy, my hair was falling out and my Husband pretty much had to force me to eat and then I would feel the guilt after I ate. Looking back I now see that I was (and still am) dealing with an eating disorder I developed while doing Kimkins. The last starw was when I passed out at my child’s soccer game and my Husband had to call 911. I spent 4 days in the hospital because I was dehydrated, my heart had an abnormal beat and I was made to meet with a nutritonalist counsler before they would release me. I was told that the way of eating that I was following would damage my heart, gall bladder, kidneys, brain function and hormonal levels along with a list of many other possible side effects if I kept it up. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak. I was following this WOE to become helthy, to have more energy so I could chase my kids around and play with them, to feel more attractive and to improve myself.

But in the truth, I seen that I was damaging myself and those around me. Sure I lost over 70 pounds. but at what cost? I could hardly get out of bed some days. I was moody all the time. I couldn’t give my Husband and children the attention they needed. Now 3 months later, I am still going to my doctor every few weeks and getting blood work done. I have had scans and tests on every part of my body (and it feels like my soul too) I am sure there is some damage done that can’t be seen right now and it may show itself in the future. But even with the remains of the damage I had done I still see it when I look in the mirror everyday. Yes my hair is starting to grow back, but to deal with so much hair loss, I felt like a freak and didn’t want to be seen by anyone. I lived in hats (and still do most of the time) So much of my life has been taken away by Kimkins, and all I wanted from it was to get my life back.

from Kenni’s Korner

Thank You, Christin

2007-10-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you.

MyCannelloni

2007-10-12T16:55:00.002-07:00

Christin’s video has brought all of my Kimkins horror memories back up.

I was only on it for a few months, but I started it after I had reached goal (115). I wanted to lose a few more pounds. I ended up weighing in near the bottom of “normal weight” per the BMI chart, but my frame is between medium and large, so I think I was at the absolute bottom at 104 lbs.

I experienced the loss of ovulation, severe panic and anxiety attacks, rapid heartbeat and arrhythmia. I attributed this all to stress since my personal life was indeed very stressful.
But the worst part was the incredibly painful and scary chest pain. Gallbladder problems were ruled out. I began to have reflux 24/7. I was worried I had esophageal cancer. The mysterious pain was so unnerving that I had crying spells and couldnt enjoy being model-thin. Finally it became evident that I was having terrible esophageal spasms. I also ended up attributing this to stress, and some extended release anti-spasmodic medicine helped a great deal.

It wasn’t until I found out about Heidi’s lies that I questioned her program. In the course of one weekend reading the first Fascination thread, I realized that I was anorexic while doing Kimkins and had no idea.

And now I wonder if my body’s freaking out due to stress was also linked with or was directly caused by my starvation menus. I never told my primary care doctor how few calories I was eating (at the low end of my BMI!). I didn’t tell my GI doctor either. I’ll never know if it was stress or an eating disorder that caused my health problems.

There’s one thing I do know. I was starving and thought I was in safe territory because I believed I had excess body fat, and Kimmer had me convinced that eating little to nothing was dandy if there was excess body fat present. I am actually grateful to be several pounds above goal right now. I’m better off now than I was at 104…struggling to find suits for job interviews because the size 2 skirts slid off of my hips…

from lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer? Part 3″

Carole

2007-10-12T16:55:00.001-07:00

Atkins did me good 7 yrs ago and I maintained that weight for approximately 3 yrs …. then I fell prey to emotional/stress eating and gained it all back. Yes, to the exact pound, a whooping 297 on my height challenged frame, 5′3″.

After having some stomach problems 2 yrs ago, I found out I had a fatty liver. Duh, of course I was sure it was because of Atkins even though my only real splurge was an amazing homemade salad dressing. Did I ever think is was my excessive addiction to ice cream? Who can have 2 Frostees a day and polish off a half gallon of ice cream in 2 or 3 nights. Talking about living under a rock.

I joined that KK place on June 16th and in 2.5 months lost 52 lbs. Was I ever thrilled since I had so much more to go. Then about 3 weeks ago, I became very concerned for my health. No hair loss, but NO, absolutely NO appetite at all. Sometimes it would be 4:00 pm and I would not have had a morsel of food in my body. Tiredness overcame me and I was napping every day, headaches returned and I felt so very weak. It truly was not intentional but when I looked at my calories for the day I was between 300 - 350. Holy Moly. A Church friend noticed what she called “a slight change” in me and she wasn’t talking about my weight. She questioned what I was eating and told me I needed to STOP immediately, that I was on the path to anorexia. Without knowing too much about that crippling disease, I chuckled and said “with another 100 lbs to lose, that’s ridiculous.” After sharing my ill feelings with my 50+ Buddies, I forced myself to increase my calorie level, having 3 shakes a day which still kept me way too low in calories.
Lori, once again thank you for getting the ball rolling. Hey I can do that too, a delish cheese ball rolled in cashews.

I’ve looked at Jimmy’s site so many times in the past and now I’m thrilled to be here.

As for Kimmer/Heidi, how sad that she stooped to this level. I will not blame her, I was so anxious to rid my body of 160 pounds that I jumped in with my eyes half closed. No one but ME is responsible for MY wrong choices.

Gee, once I get started I forget to stop. I’m just so excited to be in a much healthier place.

Thanks for listening. I will no longer be afraid of too much fat and will add more veggies and REAL cheese to my daily meals. I can’t wait.

Wishing every other refugee continued “healthy” success here in our new safe haven.

HugsCarole

from lowcarbdiscussion.com, “Kimkins Survivors“

jc

2007-10-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hello again. It’s been a short while since I’ve posted here. Last time here, I was very pro-Kimkins. And I was angry at what I was reading here. I asked to be removed from this forum, and they kindly “unregistered” me.

Long story short…I’ve changed my tune, come to my senses, smartened up….

When I saw those PI pix, I just knew in my heart, it was HER. That was tough for me to swallow. But I told myself it was okay, I can still use the plan cause it works for me.

I continued to lurk here and other places, and it all finally started to sink in. I can’t explain it, why I couldn’t accept the truth. I kept trying to “make it work” in my head. I finally admitted to my dh that my hair is falling out, and has been for about 6 months. So far, that is the only side effect I have experienced. I emailed Christin, and she is such a beautiful and caring person, and it all fell into place.I got in touch with a couple of other ex-kimkinites. And it really is a difficult process to remove yourself from the mindset. It all finally came crashing down the other night at the Kimkins site when Wonderwoman started spouting off. I was there, watching it happen. And again, another lightbulb moment…I knew that it was HER. I was typing my response when the screen went blank, and the whole thread was deleted.

I wanted so badly to chat with someone, I was livid! And of course I had burned my bridge here. I have since repented and the admins here kindly reinstated my priveleges. So here I am. I am not very outspoken. But I apologize for being so hard-headed, and thinking so badly of everyone here. You have done an awesome job of getting the word out that KK is not a healthy diet. And SHE is just beyond words! I felt sorry for her at first, but no more. This has got to STOP.

Anyway, thanks for listening. And again, I’m sorry for being so judgemental of everyone here. You were right…all along. I’m just glad that I finally came to my senses.

from “Why the Fascination with Kimmer?” # 4

pazinhim

2007-10-12T16:51:00.002-07:00

I’ve had it with everything. There’s just no more denying it. Here is my last post on Kimkins. Thank you for everyone who has contributed to getting the truth out!

Topic Line: Kimkins is the best diet ever!

Is what I would have said three months ago. You see, about three months ago, I was 42 lbs lighter, only 35 lbs away from my goal weight. I was thrilled to have finally found something that works for me.

Then one day, while at work, I almost passed out. Employees said I looked white as a ghost. I justfied the episode somehow in my mind and moved on.

About a month ago, I noticed small pains in my chest area. Sort of like little “twangs”. I can no longer ignore these pains as they are undoubtably becoming more frequent.

I cannot ignore my body any longer. I cannot ignore that nagging feeling that “something is just not quite right” with Kimmer and the Kimkins diet.

I cannot ignore the overwhelming evidence that Kimmer did not lose the weight she claims she did. I used to say “I don’t care if Kimmer is a robot, this diet works!” I tried to justify the facts. If Kimmer is telling the truth why does she not produce more before and after pics to put an end to this whole thing once and for all? Let’s think about this logically: Look at your own weight loss and what an accomplishment it is. Remember how great it feels? You’ve worked hard to accomplish something and are proud of what you did. You want people to see your before and after pics because you are proud of yourself. Yet Kimmer refuses to provide those pics? The ugly reality is she can’t produce any current pics because she does not have any. Not one.
I cannot ignore the harmful advice that she has given me and countless others to keep calories and fat as low as possible. After all, gastric bypass patients eat as low as 500 cals a day she would say. I now know that they are under strick doctor’s care and, they up their calories to normal ranges within the first 1-2 months. She would also say things such as “there is no such thing as starvation mode”. I wanted to believe it, too. It’s not true.

I cannot ignore the health issues that other people are having on this diet. You could hear Christin (WW cover girl) in her own words here: The Journey. As you listen, truly ask yourself what could possibly be her motivation for saying what she says. Money? She lost money by leaving Kimkins. Fame? She already had it due to her being on the cover of WW. Take a listen and let me know what you think is truly motivating her to say what she is saying.

I cannot ignore the current Kimkins admins and members who praise Kimmer and the diet. It’s sickening. It’s sickening not only because they are deceived but it’s sickening because those same people will most likely be writing something very similar to this once they too realize how deceptive Kimmer is and how dangerous the diet truly is. The very ones who lose the weight quickly will most likely have the same symptoms that are being reported by tons of other people.

I cannot ignore my own emotions and feelings about the entire ordeal. Who would have known, though?? Kimmer gave me something that nobody else had ever given me: HOPE. Hope that I could do lose the weight and keep it off. Kimmer gave me hope that this is a WOE that I could follow the rest of my life. Kimmer gave me hope that I could be thin again. She gave me hope that I could be finally freed of my addiction to eating. But guess what? It was a false hope because she never lost the weight. It was a lie. And now I’m left praying that the symptoms I’m experiencing will go away once I renoursh my body.

My sincere prayer is that what I’ve written will reach at least one person. I beg you now: If you too have been having that “gut” feeling, you know which one I’m talking about, please do your research. www.kimkinsexposed.com. Do not be afraid to get off of the plan is a wonderful tool. Pray for wisdom. HE will provide it to those who ask. Let my last words on this forum ring in your ears:

This is a DANGEROUS diet and Kimmer is lying to you.

from, “Why the Fascination with Kimmer? #4″

debbie in AZ

2007-10-12T16:51:00.001-07:00

Hi all! I’m still over THERE - at least for a while, but want to be HERE too. I’m trying to maintain right now. Happy in my clothes, but haven’t reached the goal I originally set….so that goal may change! I’m thankful that I was able to lose the weight I did, but at what cost I am asking myself now! I feel very healthy and am full of energy, but boy is my hair falling out….and I still haven’t been able to go to the bathroom without the help of MOM or other stimulants. I’m adding lots of veggies in this week and plan to start in on fruit next week. I’m taking a good multi and biotin and plan to call the DR to get a full check up done. I’m happy to see so many of who I consider my friends here.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

stilldew

2007-10-12T16:50:00.002-07:00

I have been afloat for awhile and just trying to keep my head above water. It nice to feel I finally may have grabbed hold of a lifeboat!

Nice to see some from the 50’s thread here that I know. I did not post often, but occasionally. Mostly I stayed on the Nurses Challenge thread and I think that as nurses, most of us there made the mistake of not really looking at the other threads enough. I finally became alarmed at the poor advise I was seeing being given and horrified at some of the fitdays (mine included). I sent out some warning emails to member of the challenge, but was not ready for awhile to give up the support until a couple weeks ago. I posted links to Becky’s, Deni’s and Christin’s blogs in the thread and hope that by reading them, others will soon be jumping ship too. I know many have.

from lowcarbdiscussions.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Pesky

2007-10-12T16:50:00.001-07:00

I started my weight loss with the help of my brother who went on Atkins with me. In August he reached his goal and is -145 lbs lighter. So I started looking for a new support group. I was also on a 3 month plateau and was about to hang my scale in effigy. In the midst of this I read the WW article and put it aside figuring I was doing fine on Atkins…then picked it up again months later and signed on. The low fat approach appealed to me since I had been keeping on the lower fat side of Atkins on my way through. (by this I mean low salt, low fat cold cuts and processed meats were what we used when not cooking fresh food). Counting my calories a little more didn’t seem like such a bad idea. HOWEVER, I was thinking 1200 calories, not 500-600.

Honestly, now that I look back, I will say that I probably was on the plateau because I let too many carbs back into my diet. Too many nuts, too many low carb pitas etc, and could have just gone back on induction and gotten the same results as Kimkins.

I stopped Kimkins when I realized that I was starting to have a really unhealthy relationship with food. I know I didn’t gain this weight overnight and until Kimkins had a pretty healthy idea that I was on a 3 year timeplan to lose 170 lbs. Of course I had hoped for closer to 2 years but hey, life happens. Once on it, I was convinced I could be down to 120 by March, and I made sure I followed the plan to get there.

Then one day, while doing a 14 mile hike in a local park, I grabbed 10 wild blueberries from a bush and scarfed them down, something I’ve always enjoyed about the early August Hiking. I felt like I had committed a major crime. 10 blueberries, full of anti-oxidents, and I was feeling an abnormal level of guilt, this is NOT healthy.

from lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer? #4″

stardust1

2007-10-12T16:49:00.002-07:00

On a serious note: I didn’t have caring admins when I started, but I did meet caring members. I only lasted 10 days, but regardless of the time spent there, my thinking is still messed up as I am constantly thinking about calories, too much fat and things that are “on the list” or not. I have to remind myself to eat a healthy diet - that to me is sickening. It just gets under your skin, and if I’m complaining after only 10 days, I wonder what is happening to other members there that have been on KK for long periods of time. Like I said previously, sometimes all it takes is just a tiny trigger to get people into serious trouble. I worry about the remaining people there, and I hope that they will understand that many of us care about them. It’s not about them, it’s about somebody who is playing with their health and who couldn’t care less. Very otherwise smart people at KK have made statements like: Why do I care about Kimmer being fat? I lost xxx pounds. And even though I understand the desperation, I know how badly I want to be thin again, the fact that Kimmer probably never lost or maintained the weight as she claims has been very important to me from the beginning. It simply means that Kimmer doesn’t know what the side effects are from this WOE and NOBODY can say what the longterm damage could be. Please everybody use common sense, because you are smart people who just got blinded by false promises. Nobody would see a plumber to have dental work done, please! We are talking about a woman who has never lost weight on her own diet, SHE doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I know that some of you read here, and I want to use this opportunity to say, that I don’t care about the 60 bucks that I paid - if I can make an impact on one person with doubts about KK I’ll pay it again. This is just my take on the things that are going on there.

from lowcarbfriends.com“Why the Fascination with Kimmer #4″

You are not Alone

2007-10-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

You are not alone. You are never alone.
You tried to speak, but were stifled.
You tried to cry out and were muffled.
Your body wept and you shook.
You are a survivor of a VLCD (very low-calorie diet).
This is for you, about you, surrounding you, embracing you. For those about to speak, you are now safe.
Please leave your story. It will be published. Your privacy is ensured.
Your help is your love.
Your life is our light.
Your hope is the future.

elliotsmom

2007-10-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

I have to share my experience on kimkins. I first joined in February and had about 60 lbs to lose. It was very strict and austere, but I managed to stick w/ it. I have heard a friend say that the “high” you get when you see the scale go down so quickly is very addictive. That is so true, and that’s exactly what happened to me.

I believed Kimmer when she said new information shows that laxatives are not addictive, so I started taking ex-lax, much as she said her sister did. I took it for almost 5 months, morning and night, and it worked. After hearing the upset on the lowcarbfriends board, I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t “go” without them. I am still trying to undo the harm they have caused.

Another problem I had on Kimkins was the lack of energy and inability to exercise like before. I did go to the gym, but where I used to walk quickly on the treadmill, I had to walk very slowly and where I used to walk for almost an hour, I had to stop at 20 min. I just didn’t have the energy to go on. By the time I got home and took my shower, I was spent. Thank goodness I didn’t have a job outside the home. I truly don’t know how I could have worked all day in that condition.

I decided a couple of months ago that I needed to slow down the weight loss so I could ease into maintenance, and I knew I couldn’t slow it down the way I was going. I tried Atkins ‘72, but the thought of adding alot to the diet I was on (Kimkins) was very scary to me. It took alot of encouragement from people at a couple of lowcarb websites to even get me to try it. The first time didn’t work out so well….I went running back to Kimkins after 4 days and getting myself out of ketosis. The 2nd time I tried, I just had to jump in with both feet, because the fear was holding me back. I have done good on Atkins ‘72, still losing, but slowly, which is what I wanted. I KNOW it’s healthier and I am stronger and have alot more energy. When I go into the Kimkins site now, it breaks my heart to see the women talking about how few calories they are eating, threads about how weak they are feeling, etc. I don’t know how to help them because I feel if I say something, the post will be pulled before anybody can see it. It has happened to others.
I do not hate Kimmer. I do feel like she has hurt alot of people w/ her advice. I didn’t believe it when the thread at lcf started, and felt they were bashing her. The more I read, the more I had to agree w/ alot of what they were saying. This WOE is NOT healthy, is not going to help as much as hurt others in the long run.

I have been to pro-ana sites in the past, just out of curiousity, and when I started this diet, I felt at the beginning that it sounded like pro-ana, but just pushed that feeling aside. Now that I am caught up in that mindset (low calories are normal, afraid to add more, only picking the leanest of anything to eat, laxatives) I KNOW how the anorexics feel and why it’s hard for them to quit. I don’t feel like I’m anorexic, but I do understand them alot better now, and can see how they could get swept up in it all when they are just trying to drop a few lbs. The feeling of no appetite (I had that sometimes) is very empowering, makes you feel like you could diet forever and not be bothered by it. You push the bells going off in your head aside and continue on. Then one day the bells stop going off and all is well.

I’m telling you, it is soooo easy to get sucked in, and soooo hard to stop the madness.

I can hardly call this site a neutral site, but others and myself are telling our experiences w/ Kimkins. Please stop the madness, you know in your heart and mind it’s not healthy and there WILL come a time that you CAN’T convince yourself to stop. Do it before then, or it’s too late.

Michele

2007-10-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

I first bought a People magazine in early January of this year, the new issue of “ Half Their Size issue”. At the time I had been making my 7th attempt at Weight Watchers, with very slow results and half-hearted motivation. Even though all the people presented had different methods for losing the weight, I was immediately drawn to the name of one. “ Kimkins”. Sounds like Atkins, yet has a woman’s name attached. So I visit the website, see that there is a fee to join $39.95 for a lifetime membership. At the time I didn’t think the price was too high because I was already paying $9.95 monthly to the Weight Watchers website. Even though there was not a lot of information regarding the plan, the lure of quick results was my biggest draw. And it wasn’t the quick loss of 20 lbs; it was the big losses that had me excited. I had done Weight Watchers on and off for 10 years with never losing more than 20lbs. And I was nearly 90 lbs overweight. With every attempt to lose weight, I would inevitability gain it back.Once I joined and read what was going on I was at first excited, then scared. Excited by the amount of weight people had lost in such a short period of time, all the time thinking I would never be that lucky. Scared by the amount of calories people were eating. Thinking it sounded like you are expected to follow the plan as directed for the fastest results. I was thinking there was no way I could only eat 500-700 calories a day. Yet when I looked at other members journal entries I could see how little people were eating. Eating 500-700 calories a day, going by the different plans outlined by the plan is very easy to do. It comes very naturally when you are going by the rules and following the posts on the forums.

You start to see how everyone else is doing “the plan” and you follow by example. You think it is normal, even though in the back of your mind there is a nagging feeling that it is not normal. You ignore it. You ignore the feelings of nausea, and dizziness for months on end because you know that is part of the plan. You begin to accept the feeling of SNATT (Semi Nauseous All The Time) as a badge of honor for this new way of eating. You start using laxatives as directed to by other members because of “potty issues”. You’re armed with Epsom salt, Milk of Magnesia and Smooth Move Tea. You tell yourself you feel leaner, your clothes feel good when they are baggy. You know you are finally getting somewhere with your battle of the bulge.

That is until your hair starts falling out, and you notice others are posting about the same problems. And you notice how low your energy is, you can barely work an eight hour day, come home for your kids, cook supper and sit in a chair till bedtime. Then you notice you drink nearly a gallon of water a day, yet you don’t go to the bathroom like you used to with other plans.

After all this… I started to finally question what am I doing to my body when I’m eating 600 calories a day, losing globs of hair everyday for two months, and my heart feels at time to be skipping beats and other times it was racing? I’ve lost over 60 lbs and was still trying to lose the last 30lbs. I found it hard to let go, but I finally reached out. I finally started investigating other sites, found familiar faces and started asking questions. I also went to my doctor. EKG and blood tests revealed I have a heart issue and some questionable readings on kidney function. I will be back in a few weeks for a Holter monitor and further check-up.

I want to say thank you to everyone who have brought this issue of the questioning the diet’s safety out. This is stuff you will never find on the Kimkins website. I would have never let go of this plan had I not found what the controversies were and why.

You’re doing great work, please keep it up and keep coming forward.

LaurieB

2007-10-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

I had been at what I called my goal weight for about 3 years–a healthy 153-156 lbs. for a 5′7″, 41 year old woman. (I had been overweight from 8 or 9 til my early 30’s, my highest weight was 237 pregnant, and that is one month before I delivered… I had stopped looking.) With a combination of Weight Watchers and Atkins, I got down to my goal weight of 153.I was happy and healthy but always in the back of my mind thought that I would like to be at 140 and wanted to buckle down, get there and see if I could maintain it. After all, I knew how to maintain for me, how hard could it be. I had been a member of a low-carb site called Low Carb Friends (LCF) for years and low-carb (LC )was how I lived my life. I was familiar with Kimmer and her ideas from LCF… At that time I thought I could never do that…

Kimmer started her own site and I joined a couple weeks after it started to see what it was all about. I remember stepping on the scale after the first day and losing 3 pounds–I was thrilled and said yes I can do this…. I was losing almost at a rate of 1 pound per day. I was putting all my foods in Fitday religiously - it started at about 1000 calories a day and quickly dropped. I was living on diet soda and eating about 500 calories a day, some days less. I had no appetite so it was easy!

There was nothing like that thrill of the loss I saw on the scale each and every day and in about 5 weeks I went from 156 to 134! I was HIGH - it was an unreal feeling, euphoric. I got to the point that I was eating Kimmers Experiment Monday to Thursday and fasting on Friday (with diet soda…. hmm someone said that was ok LOL). I would break the fast sometime Saturday usually noon and do Kimkins saturday and sunday - I so looked forward to that salad (and I’m a veggie lover). I was SO in control!

I was shopping one day and realized that nothing fit me right. I am a classic hour glass figure and I couldn’t even shop and buy a normal size 4 or size 2… nothing fit right. I started shopping in the girls department after I realized that my boys had outgrown a couple pairs of cargo shorts (boys 12) and they fit me. I thought in my head that this opened a whole new world. DUH… I’m 41 I shouldn’t be shopping in the girls dept - it finally hit me!

I continued to work out and focus on improving my body - I transitioned to maintenance pretty easily - I knew what had worked for me in the past. I gained back up to about 140 and the curves started to come back and I started to look good. Now I maintain between 140 and 145 pretty easily - and feel good. I started focusing on my exercise more and less on the calories and threw away fitday - it was my ball and chain. But there was one thing left….

I have all my life had problems with bowel elimination but now it was non-existant. I tried the Epsom Salt drink that Kimmer recomended to get things going and that didn’t work for me. Realistically in my head I said - nothing in = nothing out.. but I didn’t get it. I bought into the “laxatives aren’t addicting” advice that was freely given on kimkins.com. When I went on vacation early August of last year - I got so constipated I resorted to taking EX-LAX - there it started. I was using EX-LAX almost daily and realized that it couldn’t be good, so I went to Smooth Move tea, a natural alternative LOL… Daily… sometimes twice - from August 2006 until last Monday July 23 - I drank the tea almost every day and a few times would take an EX-LAX or two in addition if things weren’t moving. I was ADDICTED… a member of LCF started a post about her addiction to laxatives and I knew I had to do something about it.

I have been trying to improve my health and this was the last demon to go… I am currently trying to fix this last piece of the puzzle and am improving daily. Right now at 42 I am in the best shape of my life and trying to make my health better, I exercise and eat right. I just had my body fat tested and have 128 lbs of lean body mass… no wonder I didn’t look good at 134 and clothes didn’t fit right - BIG DUH!

Looking back I say how could I have been sucked in, how could I not see what I was doing and what was going on around me? I just shut my mouth and eyes to it all. I posted in the maintenance threads and tried to help where I could. I could see folks getting to maintenance, with no guidance from Kimmer. I didn’t want anyone to fail and gain back their weight. I stopped going to any other threads.

I always read at LCF and stumbled on a post there about Kimmer and started posting… soon I was banned from Kimkins - after that, I shared my story and how I was influenced and impacted by Kimkins.

If I can help just one person from making the same mistake I will be glad!

Kristen

2007-10-12T16:44:00.001-07:00

I’m really not even sure where or how to start, but I want to get this out there so maybe someone, somewhere can say it helped them.

I joined Low Carb Friends in late 2005, even though I lurked on there for years. At the time, I was about 50 pounds overweight, and going through a very rough spot in my life. I had done Atkins before, and it worked really well, then back to back pregnancies and not giving a darn what I ate piled the weight back on. I was so desperate at the time. I was divorced and alone with two toddlers, broke, depressed, and worst of all to me, also fat again. My self esteem was in the toilet, and I wanted to get back to being happy, for myself, but it was more for my kids.
I started Atkins again, and was losing pretty quickly, about 3 lbs per week, give or take. But I wanted more. I wanted the extra weight gone ASAP. Around that time, Kimmer dominated the main lobby of LCF. Her story seemed a lot like mine, and I felt that I could really relate to her. Also, like I said, threads dedicated to her way of eating, threads other posters asking her questions, were plastered all over the main page of the LCF bulletin board, so I figured she must be doing something right! So, I looked at all these threads, took in all the information, and jumped into it with both feet. I didn’t CARE if it was unsafe or not, even though her water fasting speeches threw all kinds of red flags in my face.

And so I started the Kimkins plan. First day I lost a pound. Cool! Over the next few days, I kept losing more weight, some days a pound, some days up to three pounds. WooHoo! It was working!! It didn’t matter if I felt like crap, I mean, Kimmer addressed that in her threads, right? It was just my body *detoxing* from being too carbed up. Dizzy spells were really no big deal, I figured they would be gone in a few more days. Then a few more days turned into a week, then two weeks, and so on. You get my drift. It didn’t matter that my energy level was 0 and I barely was able to work and take care of my kids, when I was thin I would have TONS of energy and feel great! So fast forward to around week 3 or almost week 3, I don’t even remember. Got up, went to work, dragged ass all day long. Picked up the kids, came home and made dinner, did the whole nighttime routine, tucked the kids in and finally sat down I barely made it through the day I felt so horrible. I heard the phone , so I get up to answer it, my ears start ringing and I can barely see. I feel dizzy and scared. The next thing I know I’m waking up on the floor. I looked at the clock, and realized I was only out for a few minutes, so I was relieved but still scared. I ate something and started feeling a little better, so I went to bed and decided I was going back to Atkins. I laid in bed crying wondering what if I hadn’t came to after passing out? What if one of my babies came out in the morning and found me dead on the floor? What would happen to them? Would they ever be able to be ok after finding their mom dead? How long would they have ended up being alone for who knows how long until someone came to check on us?

That was it for me. Sure, I want to be thin, but I want to be alive more. Please, if something ever doesn’t seem right, look into it. Think about it rationally. If you decide to try it and you don’t feel right, stop. Just use your own common sense and gut instinct. It’s there for a reason.

Melodie

2007-10-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by Kimkins Smith and asked to tell my story. My first impulse was to leave it alone and not jump into the fray. But if this will take just one person out of harm’s way, then I will use my voice. There is not much to tell from a personal sense. My departure was due in fact to a basic disagreement on weight loss philosophies. I am a tweeker and a tinker and I never follow blindly. I am a short woman who has always had a problem losing weight. While my problem has not been as severe as many it’s been a problem none the less, and I was delighted to have finally found something that worked.

On Kimkins I found a great kinship with a lot of other “short girls” like myself who were at their wits end trying to lose weight. So I stuck my toe in the water, started the diet, and hooked up with a lot of really great “Short Girls”. When a couple of other girls and myself started the “Short Girls Support Group”, it was nirvana for me. I had always been a “loner” who pretty much took care of my own problems and kept to myself. Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of the Kimkins way, are the support groups, and ironically, therein lies the danger.

It’s like a truck rolling down hill with no escape ramp. The momentum becomes greater and greater, and then there is no stopping it. It’s a dream that has been sold to a lot of desperate people in their quest to become acceptable in a society that embraces thinness and who is paradoxically so overweight. It’s a fast and easy fix for people who are in a great deal of pain. So people reach out from the bottom of that pain and grab onto the Kimkins lifeboat, and at last there is hope. There are also a whole lot of people cheering you on and giving you the most amazing encouragement you could ever ask for. These are intelligent, educated people with one commonality, and again that is desperation.

And so it begins. The struggle from hunger is over. It is replaced by nausea, fatigue, and sleeplessness. For the unlucky ones that passes, because they have just successfully overridden their body’s early warning system. Make no mistake, Kimkins works, because the discomfort is quickly followed by a miraculous weight loss so affectionately referred to as the “whoosh”. More proof that your weight loss problems are over. Unfortunately, your heath problems may just be beginning.

I will not address these health issues because that information is already available on this site. What I’d like to talk about is the psychology behind the diet. I initially did not buy into the Kimkins bashing that was going on throughout the cyber world. I thought it was born out of jealousy and pettiness, and in retrospect, it may have initially done more harm than good. It was not important to me how much money Kimmer made or if her pictures were authentic, all I knew was that the diet worked, and all my “Short Girl” friends were living proof. But the bad press made me think and soon became a resounding alarm that finally brought me out of my Jonestown trance. It made me revisit some things that my gut had ignored, and it literally took the blush off the rose. I began to see the laxative use, the ultra low calories, and the abuse that was promoted from within and then parroted by well meaning support groups who were only trying to help. So ironically, these wonderful people on these wonderful forums promoted the “dream” in a cult sort of way. Many people stopped thinking for themselves and continued down the path to self -destruction. In all fairness, I think there are a lot of people out there who “secretly” practice a more Atkins approach, but stay around for the support. These are people who have not followed blindly, who think for themselves, and have not fallen prey to the hysteria. These are people who needed to feel a sense of community, and that is what they got at Kimkins I have heard from a lot of them since starting my new support group.For those I have addressed above, this article is not for you, because I know you are safe and have made wise informed decisions. This article is for the most successful of the Kimkinites, who follow blindly in pursuit of their dreams. I bear no malice towards anyone. My only motivation in writing this article is to get you to think and ask questions. Ask yourselves why you are willing to disregard the research of some of the most brilliant minds in the world of bariatrics. I’m not talking mainstream AMA stuff. I’m talking about brilliant and published researchers who can easily be found with a Google search. Why are you ignoring the distress signals your body is trying to send you each and every day. Your body wants to survive and I hope you do too.While I may not dissuade you from Kimkins, I truly hope you will consider what I’m saying and what others are trying to say to you. Above all, there is hope and there is middle ground. There are other ways to win your battle, maybe just not as fast.

For those of you who have lost, however you have done it, I applaud you, but please make use of your God given right to think for yourselves. At least if you decide to stay with Kimkins you have made an informed decision, and you know the risks. If you think fast weight loss is an even trade for the potentially life threatening complications, then at least you’ve been informed. That’s all I’m asking, and that’s the only reason for this article.In closing, the greatest lesson I have learned is the need for support. Trust me, there are plenty of support groups and forums who will welcome you with open arms. So whatever your decision is regarding Kimkins, I hope you won’t go it alone.

Sunny

2007-10-12T16:42:00.002-07:00

I have been on different versions of the Kimkins/KE Plans since the beginning of January (2007), at first it was great, eat lean meats, eggs and (very) few veggies and lose fast. I loved it, but soon every few weeks I would binge, it’s all there in my journal on Kimkins. I thought I was just weak willed and couldn’t stick with the “plan” and I have to say here that the plan everyone on the Kimkins site follows is NOTHING like the one that was posted in Women’s World Magazine.Anyway, for months I went through the cycle of extremely restricting and then binging on high carb items. Finally I was able to stay on plan and eat as instructed, a small amount of lean meats and next to no veggies. After a few days of eating this way I really was not hungry at all, I would have like 3 bites of chicken PER DAY, and for this I was told, Way To GO! Great Job! Your loss is amazing, keep it up………Never was I told, “You’re eating too little, Eat More”.When “backed up” I was told to take Milk of Magnesia or drink Smooth Move tea DAILY until I was through with the weight loss portion. Yes the red flags went up, there are SO many things that are just NOT healthy, but as others do I rationalized it all, with how fast I was losing and how I would up my foods when I got to goal weight…it couldn’t be dangerous for that short amount of time right? After all Kimmer her elf completed a 41 day water fast.

After a week and a half of strict K/E, I had NO energy. I was going to bed way earlier than normal, and actually found myself looking forward to the end of the day just so I could go to bed and sleep. I found myself getting dizzy after standing, no matter if I stood up slowly or at a normal pace. Once while outside gardening I became so dizzy that I almost blacked out and had to sit down for a few minutes to recuperate. I felt sick ALL THE TIME, and at Kimkins that is said like a badge of honor, there was nothing wrong with how I felt—it was “SNATT” (Semi-Nauseous all the time), so I ignored that too. After all it was “normal”.

After 2 weeks and 17 pounds down, my husband was getting really freaked out, you could see my hip bones and my Rib Cage bones were starting to show ( I thought I needed to lose 10 more pounds, I got so caught up in the daily losses). A day later a friend of mine found out what I was doing. She works in a doctor’s office so she knows exactly what happens to your body when you eat so little but still lose so much on a daily basis, and she implored me to stop what I was doing, look at it rationally and start taking better care of myself. That same day 2 of my co-workers asked me what was going on, they thought I was very sick and just not saying anything.

Fortunately for me, my family and my friends…I am a person that is able to step away from it all and take it all into perspective. I feel sad for the people blindly following this “plan” and not knowing or even caring that they take their lives into their own hands by eating this way. I am SO MAD about the marketing ploys put out there by Kimmer and her minions for teens…like Lindsey Lohan or anyone else famous has ever heard of Kimkins! Don’t get me wrong I completely understand the need or the drive to lose weight BUT let’s all do this safely!!! I can’t believe I let myself get sucked into listening to someone that doesn’t have one iota of medical credentials.

I feel blessed every day that I have a wonderful husband, family and friends that care enough to pay attention to what I am doing. If they had not pointed out the dangers of what I was doing and how it could be life threatening, I would probably still be talking myself into eating that way and most likely would have developed a full blown eating disorder. Looking back I feel that I was WELL on my way to one!

I truly feel sad for the people that see the red flags, feel sick all the time “but that’s normal right, it’s only SNATT?” and still stick with it…..or worse yet are instructed to take laxatives daily to help keep them from getting “backed up” just so they can lose another half pound a day…
I personally will no longer risk my health, or my very life to lose “just one more pound.”

Please ladies and gentlemen, I implore you all to step back and take a look at what you are doing to yourselves, your family and your friends.

Ask

2007-10-12T16:42:00.001-07:00

why the hiding?
No plan, if it is worthwhile and it is healthy should have to be hidden.
No success story should post false success pictures.
No person should live in a cloud of doubt
and secrecy
over a plan that causes more doubt.
Please ask yourself : Why secrecy? Why privacy?
If everything is all right, why the concern that things ’stay hidden’’?
A success should be shouted
and not buried in a pocket.
But it stays hidden. Why?
And why? Why do they now track
your every move?
Are you a criminal?
Do they hide from you and ask you to give yourself up?
Why do they track your
computer?
Why? Are these the actions of a successful weight loss plan?
How many famous diets track their members?
Stalk their computers?
Identify their moves?
Ask yourself.
What plan does this?
And why?

Elizabeth

2007-10-12T16:41:00.001-07:00

After considerable thought I decided to post my experience with the Kimmer’s site. I first became acquainted with Kimmer on the LowCarbFriends.com early last year. She appeared to be very gung ho in wanting to help the LCF members. It seemed that she must have lived on the computer answering questions and posting what had worked for her.

What I did notice was that she became very impatient if a member was not following her WOE exactly. I just thought it was because she really truly cared and wanted people to experience the weight loss she reported she had.

When I found out she had started her own website I decided for $14.95 it was worth a shot. Shortly after I had joined I noticed that when I would ask questions in a specific forum I was receiving the answers from other members. Low and behold she was not around any more - the way she was on LCF. I couldn’t understand this because on her new site she advertised personal training, coaching, etc.

After numerous attempts to get her to answer questions I had, I just gave up and stopped posting. I then just spent my time lurking.

What was alarming to me was reading some of the other member’s posts regarding the adverse health problems they were experiencing.

Not only was it recommended you cut out all carbs, but also you are told to cut calories and fats. I looked at some of the Fitday reports and was amazed that a lot of the members were so low on calories and fats that it was no surprise they were reporting sickness, loss of hair, and a slew of other symptoms.

I also noticed that some of the people were disappearing from the site and not posting any more. I found out later that they were banned for asking questions regarding the questionable Kimmer pictures and her lack of participation with the members.

What really solidified it for me was reading the “Kimmer fascination” post on the LCF forum. How could this gal have all these alias, phony pictures and continue to give out harmful advice to her members?

Please, before you plunk down $60 or whatever it is up to now ….. do yourself a favor and visit the LCF posts. If you want to just lose weight and remain healthy DO NOT follow her advice. I can guarantee you - it’s a big waste of money and it is dangerous.

Deb

2007-10-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

I have been on the Kimkins diet since the beginning of June 2007, although I did lose 26.5 pounds during that time, I had several health problems along with that way of eating. My first week on the plan, I chose the Bootcamp option which is strict with 30 minutes of intense exercise daily. I thought I would die by the second day. My body was in shock, I almost passed out on my way home from the gym and layed around the entire rest of the day trying to recoup.So I then transferred over to KE which is no veggies but at least I didn’t have to exercise while eating low calories. By the end of the first week on this plan, I began to lose hair, had no energy, and was terribly constipated, severe abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, and weakness not to mention my weight loss stalled and I was only eating 400-500 calories. I thought how the heck could I not be losing on that low of calories. So I then moved on to the shake option which I loved because it was 2 shakes a day and 1 kimkins meal. I had no appetite on this plan and how wonderful I thought. I had to force my self to eat the 1 meal because I was not hungryat all and so weak I could barely function throughout the day. My moods were awful and I now could not sleep. I felt like a zombie throughout the day, I could not think straight and my vision began to get blurry and now my hair was falling out in clumps, I was due to get a perm but the lady that does my hair wouldn’t touch it until I quit losing hair.

The worse thing was that the auto immune disease I have kept in remission for 5 years has resurfaced because of the starvation I was causing my body to endure. By starving the body of calories and fat, it suppressed my immune system causing the monster to resurface. I thought it was just a coincidence at first, but I contacted Jimmy Moore since his leaving Kimkins and pleadedwith him for advice, he was such a huge help. Without bashing Kimkins or any other diet, he suggested that I add more calories and good fats to my diet. I followed his advice and within 3 days my hair quit falling out. By the 5Th day I had energy, I slept like a log and every one of my symptoms have disappeared. I know that Jimmy has taken a hard hit because of the association with Kimkins but please give him a break. I believe that God placed him there so he could learn about the plans so he could better inform his loyal readers about the plan.

The support at Kimkins was great and you don’t want to leave once you are there because of the friends you make there. I do so much miss my friends there and wish they would see the light before it affects their health. I had to leave because my health is more important to me and I can still lose weight and be healthy without starving myself. I intend to follow the Atkins plan because I think he knew that the fat was needed to substain health while losing.

In the end of my journey at Kimkins, I did contact tech support for a refund and Kimmer herself answered my email. She at first did not want to offer a refund but after a couple of emails, she did offer the refund and she did seem to care about my health. I can’t help but question though, was this because she was tracking my every move online like was rumored. If this were the case, she would have already known I warned my Kimkins friends of my health problems and that I was posting at LCF site also for advice. Shemight have known I went to Jimmy for advice also. If that were the case, then no wonder she was answering for the tech guys over there, she had to talk to me personally to see what was going on.

I am sorry Kimmer but I do believe that when someone says they are losing hair, weak and generally feeling like they are going to die that you should recommend them to add more calories to their diet to see how they feel. I truly did believe in you and I also suffer from anxiety issues and can identify with you not wanting to meet with large crowds but when you did not meet with Christin or Jimmy one on one, that was a HUGE red flag for me. I suffer from anxiety issues and I could have had them come to my home foran interview. If you truly have nothing to hide, then invite Jimmy over for an interview with pictures or meet at a nearby park. You could set this all straight with that one move and if you did, I would publicly apologize to you.

How about it Kimmer? Set the record straight and all this will stop. As for now for me, until I see a move on Kimmer’s part, I will stand by my decision to leave the site and stick with my opinion that the plans are unsafe and dangerous. This decision comes from much prayer and support of true friends that care about my health. Thank you my friends for your support.

hdgirlie49

2007-10-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

I lost 27 lbs quick on Kimkins, but I also almost lost my mind. I could literally feel my body getting sick. I felt miserable and my calories were not nearly as low as some.
After three weeks I started Atkins 72 because of this forum and have lost another nine lbs. From 6/18 until now have lost a total of 36 pounds.

I feel so much better doing Atkins 72 with really good fats.

My mind still is struggling when it comes to adding the fat back in though, even after doing only three weeks on Kimkins. There is something majical about getting on the scale and seeing it go down consistently.

If I, a 49 year old grandmother, happily married to a great man who has never had an issue with my weight. Who originaly started Kimkins just to get a little healthier, (I thought I was past the point of caring about the looks department) can get so caught up in the diet in three weeks that it still clouds my judgement when I know it’s not good for me, how much more so some of the younger people!!!! I really worry about them.

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

Gloria

2007-10-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share my story with Kimkins with others who may be thinking of doing the program. First off let me say that I met some great people on the boards and some whom I consider friends now. Also I would like to say that if I would have researched the program more in depth I probably wouldn’t have joined. The program is based on Stillman’s and the Atkins diet and there are plenty of free boards out there that have all of the information you need to get healthy. The key is getting healthy.I had just completely the 12 week Body Cleanse Diet. It is a low carb diet but allows for healthy and low glycemic carbs in your diet. I was feeling good and had dropped about 10 pounds. I was now weighing 217. I thought I want to keep going and searched a bit and found the Livin’ La Vida Low Carb blog. I kept reading and heard about the Kimkins diet. So I read some more and then finally bit the bullet and joined Kimkins on November 22, 2007.

I started off with the Kimkins Experiment and was losing. I was alsoexercising 6 days a week for about 90 minutes each time. I started to “stall” and wasn’t having bowel movements. I felt like a failure because I wasn’t losing the weight like some of the others. I read on the “Ask Kimmer” thread about milk thistle and started taking that. It helped but not significantly. I was still having issues. I then read about how “Kimmer” did an epsom salt flush. Here is my question and her answer from the thread:

My question:I have a plumbing problem and was considering taking epsom salts. I havebeen taking milk thistle twice a day for a week but its not helping. I wentto the website about the liver cleanse but it seems instense. Does anyonejust do a shot of epsom salt and water and it helps? I noticed the livercleanse says to eat a fat free breakfast and suggests non k/e foods. Whatare we supposed to eat if doing the whole day cleanse?Thanks for your help..

Her answer:Those instructions are for a liver cleanse, not a low carb diet.If I need “help”, I pick epsom. It’s cheap, fast and guaranteed. Milkthistle is my favorite, but I take 4 capsules daily (2 am, 2 pm).I make the epsom salt mixture strong, just like for liver cleanse, but Itake less. Just remember that once you start using bowel “help”, you need to continue until you’re closer to goal and begin adding higher fiber higher carb foods.This is why I recommend a 25-50% daily dose of whichever laxative youchoose. One full dose to start, then a reduced daily dose.I thought well, maybe I will try it. Well blow me away (quite literally) I was hooked. I was feeling light, the scale would drop and that is when I became obsessive. I started doing epsom salt shooters at least once a week sometimes two when I thought my calories were over 1000 or my carbs were over 10 grams. So I continue taking epsom salt shooters, and then starting popping ex-laxs. When the epsom salts stopped working, I just would had more to the glass. I was taking up to 5 tbsp of epsom salts in one dose. That is an extreme amount.

In approximately February I was having extreme abdominal pain and couldn’t figure it out. I broke out in a sweat and thought I was going to die. This continued to happen on and off. I thought I must be blocked, so I took some epsom salt. I felt better and figured I had just relieved some pressure. Well at the end of July it happened again. This time much much worse and I ended up in the hospital having ultrasounds and blood work done. I knew what was wrong. I was addicted to laxatives. I am an adult and accept responsibility for what I did. But I never ever used laxatives or Epsom salts until I read about it on the Kimkins boards.

I was desperate to reach 160. I was frustrated at myself for not reaching goal in four months and felt like a failure. I stopped doing Kimkins in May but still did Epsom salts and laxatives. That is how I ended up in the hospital. I am now taking probiotic vitamins to replace the good bacteria that I stripped out of my body from abusing laxatives. I feel so much better, I am not so tired and as grumpy as I was when I was eating barely anything and taking laxatives.

So I hope my story helps someone out there to think about what they are doing to themselves.

cgkane

2007-10-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

While I was never a member at Kimkins, I was following her plan(s). Even though a little voice in the back of my head kept telling me there was something wrong. I went on an eating binge earlier this month and managed to gain back 2 lbs. I now believe one of the contributing factors (besides a very stressful week) is that my body was starving. Plain and simple. I would be able to do 3, maybe 4 days of K/E or Kimkins. Then, Bam! I *had* to have more fat. Or carbs. Something.I’ve skipped around here and there on this massive thread. I too felt it was horribly negative in the beginning. And yet…that little voice in the back of my head said “Listen“. And so I did…

I want to thank everyone who has posted. I realize that even those who seemed harsh was only worried about people who may be putting their health at risk.

My husband knew I had started a LC eating plan. I sat down and told him exactly what I had been doing the past few months; how many calories I had been eating (700-900), how I would start stressing myself out if I ate what I thought was too much fat, how hard I fought to keep everything “as low as possible.” The first words out of his mouth were “You can’t do that! That’s dangerous!”.

I have decided to continue LC. But I will be doing it *my* way. If that means a free meal once a week with my husband- then that’s what I’ll do. If it means a couple of very low carb days followed by a somewhat higher carb day; then I’ll do it. I will focus on the right kinds of healthy food to help me on this journey.

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

Dharma

2007-10-12T16:35:00.002-07:00

I’d like to share my experience with the Kimkins diet. I am a 49 year old serial dieter. I’ve tried a lot of different diets and even done low calorie diets, but never for more than two weeks at a time, until last summer (2006).

In May of 2006 I found my relationship in trouble. This was the most emotionally disturbing experience I had ever been in. While my marriage and my mental state is fine now, at the time I believe I developed a borderline eating disorder. I became obsessive and extremely controlling with food, cut out all alcohol, and did not allow myself more than 900 calories a day. The first two weeks I lost 9 pounds. Then of course my weight loss slowed.

I have been a member of LowCarbFriends.com for many years. I noticed there was a thread called “Ask Kimmer” that was getting huge. I was curious and checked it out. I read Kimmer’s responses to people whose weight loss had slowed. Cut calories, cut fat, no carbs. It started to make sense to me that to lose more and more weight, we all had to eat less and less food. I believed that my marital problems could be solved if I were skinny enough! This diet fed into my desperation and warped mental state too perfectly. So, I cut my fat grams to around 35 a day. Prior to this I was eating 50 to 60 grams a day.

I did Kimkins per her instructions for ONE WEEK. My calories never went below 800, but I felt incredibly bad!! NO energy, dizzy, constipated, depressed. I couldn’t keep it up for more than that ONE WEEK. It didn’t make sense to me that my body was “detoxing from sugar” (causing the symptoms I described) like I kept reading since I had been doing low carb for a month already. I knew there was more going on here. Here’s what I posted:

Originally Posted by Dharma

Just a comment here - personal experience and NOT an attempt to discredit Kimkins. But I have discovered I cannot lower my fat too low without some consequences. First, constipation. Second, depressed mood. I know in middle aged and older women that lowering fat too much affects our hormones and thyroid also. Looking back at my history in fitday, I have found the optimal fat grams for me is 60 to 80. Yes, that’s 540 calories in fat, but I just lower my protein a bit and I still have almost no appetite and can stay around 800 calories a day with a 3 pound a week loss. It may only be 2 pounds a week now that I am getting close to goal, but I just cannot tolerate being stopped up. The epsom salt works but is very unpleasant. So, I’m sticking with low calorie, low carb but NOT low fat. Like I said, it’s just what I’m doing - sharing my experience - not an attempt to change anyone else’s plan!!!

So, I knew the low fat was making me sick, but I was still clinging to the ‘fast weight loss’ dream. I upped my fats to between 50 and 70 grams a day, and for the next two months I averaged around 950 calories. That doesn’t sound too bad really, but it eventually took its toll.

By August I started noticing some disturbing things. I constantly felt a burning sensation in my mouth, and I smelled smoke, as if something was burning, off and on every day. This got worse and worse, and I did some internet research and realized I had Burning Mouth Syndrome, or BMS. There were no definitive treatments. By September I had developed a list of symptoms that indicated serious hormonal disturbances: Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, morbid thoughts, depression, fatigue, and frequent periods. As if that weren’t bad enough, my hair started falling out in large chunks.

At first I just thought I was going through menopause. All the symptoms fit. I started using progesterone cream. It worked. My hair stopped falling out, the hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and other symptoms slowly went away. My periods went back to normal. I had started eating more and more because it temporarily helped the BMS. Thank goodness for that. I gained the weight back that I had lost, but I also regained my health.

My hair is growing back in now. I have a lot so it never really showed much, and I’m grateful for that. I still have regular periods, no more menopause symptoms, but the Burning Mouth Syndrome, although very mild now, didn’t completely go away. It took six months for things to get bearable again, and six more for me to feel like I have my life back. I still use progesterone cream. Some of the symptoms return if I don’t. I believe the low calories permanently affected my hormone levels.

The scariest part of this story to me is that I did not lower my fat and calories to nearly the extent that many on the Kimkins diet do or for nearly as long, but I still had serious fallout. I never bought the idea of “starvation mode” either. But on a diet of 900 calories including 50 grams of fat, my body was starved enough for nutrients that it could not produce the hormones I needed. Younger people may have a higher tolerance but that makes it even more dangerous, since the longer one goes eating insufficient calories and nutrients, the more damage I believe will be done, and it may not be reversible!! I’m just grateful that my symptoms started before things went too far.

I’m convinced that low calorie diets like Kimkins not only do NOT work (the weight comes back), but are dangerous. The allure of weight loss is so prevalent and so addicting. I hope the voice of reason will prevail!!!

Belladonna

2007-10-12T16:35:00.001-07:00

When JM joined Kimkins and had such rapid weight loss, I was one click away from joining Kimkins, as well, to lose those last 10 pounds which have been sticking to me like flypaper. But something made me take pause….to my mind, his weight loss was far too rapid, which concerned me greatly. Something just didn’t add up. Needless to say, I am thrilled he has disassociated himself entirely with Kimkins, and even more thrilled I didn’t pay Kimmer $60.00.I am writing because of my deep concern for those who are looking for a quick fix, who are duped into joining Kimkins and beginning a potentially fatal diet.

I plead with all LCF members to please…please…please contact governmental agencies, investigative journalists, Dateline, Woman’s World Magazine, TMZ, Oprah, etc. to have Kimmer/Kimkins investigated and exposed, for I fear new members of Kimkins, who are unaware of the controversy surrounding the diet and its potentially dangerous consequences, could be on the fast track to an early death.

Please…if you can save just one life…

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

OzK

2007-10-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

I applaud the efforts of everyone here as they point out the shortfalls and question marks regarding the Kimkins plan. After following Jimmy Moore’s blog for a while I followed his links to the Kimkins site, late last year. I’d done low carb before but fell off the wagon, regained the weight I’d lost, and was extremely low-spirited as a result. I was impressed by the success stories on the Kimkins site, mildly confused by some of the before and after photos, but never seriously considered there could be questionable activities concerned with same because, hello, nobody would be that blatantly … misguided, shall we say … would they? Well, apparently they would, but live and learn. I developed some severe doubts about Mr Moore when I saw that he was promoting Kimkins and taking money from her while simultaneously lambasting the idea of low fat/low carb. I questioned him on that apparent double standard/conflict of interest and was roundly attacked for it on his blog. I was foolish to be surprised — his conduct towards anyone who dared challenge or disagree with him was already documented, I’d already seen how he treated other dissenters, and why I was stupid enough to think I’d not be treated in like fashion I don’t know … but again — live and learn. I wish I could be more charitable towards his whole rethink of the Kimkins issue — perhaps he’s genuine, but I’m not convinced. Time will tell. I certainly think he’s got a lot in common with the founder of Kimkin, in terms of needing a great deal of attention and adulation.Anyhow.

In the meantime, I joined up at Kimkins. And I lost a lot of weight. And even though I fell off the strict wagon a few times, I always climbed back on and returned to doing either K/E or plain Kimkins, with some greenery added to the low-fat protein. But the binges started happening, I was craving carb/sugar. Didn’t connect it at first to the deprivation cycle I was setting up. And my hair started coming out. A lot. I asked about that on the BBs, and the question was ignored, even though it was in the Ask Kimmer thread.

Then I started hearing about the groundswell of concern about not only the diet, but its founder. By this time I was starting to worry about some of the advice I was reading on the BBs at the Kimkins site, and noting some very worrying trends among some people who were losing perspective about food and healthy eating. On top of that came the high exposure in the WW article, and the price hike for membership, and the sudden conversion of Mr Moore to the Kimkins cause (even though he wasn’t doing the program as written — and seemed to turn his thread on the site into nothing but another megaphone for self-promotion)

Points raised about the program are, to me, valid. I feel there is a truly disturbing cult of personality happening, and some very unhealthy trends and behaviours are being started and reinforced. The minute you start *fearing* food, most especially healthy food, you’re in trouble. When I started fearing green vegetables I knew it was time to get out, and I have. I’ve started back with a steady intake of green vegetables and protein. I’ve drastically reduced my diet soda intake. And in between stopping Kimkins and returning to an Atkins-based low carb weight loss regime, to shift the last 15 pounds, I ate a lot of healthy low carb fresh fruit like cherries and strawberries. And my hair has stopped falling out. I haven’t regained the 45 pounds lost, and my fear of healthy food is almost gone.

Cutie, I remember reading your success story in the newsletter and being so impressed with your sane approach to the process of losing a lot of weight. I had no idea you’d gone through a trauma in the Kimkins experience, and I hope you’re okay now. I hope you’ve not lost your friendship with Christin. Although this is the first time I’ve spoken about my Kimkins concerns I can’t get back into the website, and my emails aren’t being returnd to find out why I’m locked out. Like you, I’m concerned for some of the people there whose journeys touched me.

As someone late to this party, who flirted quite briefly with the Kimkins experience and who escaped, by the skin of her teeth, falling too far down the ED hellhole, I want to applaud the people who’ve been brave enough to speak out here. Perhaps, with feelings running high, words weren’t always chosen as tactfully as they might’ve been, but that’s a small thing. The big thing is the genuine care and concern exhibited here, for those people who are still being hoodwinked, and those who’ve escaped the damage and are now trying to put their lives together again.

I trust I’ll lose the last of my excess weight in a healthy, timely fashion. I know what I should do, now, and what I shouldn’t do. All we can do here, I think, is provide a safe and non-judgemental haven for anyone who’s been burned.

Good thoughts to you all.

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

Petition

2007-10-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

Now is the time.

Each signature a sign
Each story a blessing
Lighting a candle for the past
and protecting our future.

Please sign.

Never has doing so little
meant so much

http://www.petitiononline.com/kimkins/petition.html

LizaCC

2007-10-12T16:31:00.001-07:00

I joined Kimkins in Dec 06. I never followed any of the diets exactly, in fact, I NEVER gave up cheese, although I did switch to lower fat versions. I never looked at anyone’s Fitday. I never heard of laxative abuse. And I didn’t hear of any controversy regarding the diet.What really made me suspect that something was not right was what I read in one of the Kimkins Forums. I think it was the Detox/Fasting forum. It was a horrifying thread about someone’s experience with doing their own liver/gallbladder flush — and it was one the site’s administrators. Maybe this is normal to some people, but I was horrified. Then I read about people fasting; 3 days, 5 days, 7 days…

In all the other forums I visited on the site, there was encouragement and sharing of success. But when I found that Detox/Fasting thread, I felt very scared and disappointed. This isn’t going to be the best analogy, but it was like finding out that the good guy in the movie is really the bad guy.

Anyway, then I found this site and it confirmed my suspicions. What really sealed the deal for me was seeing some of the faces and names here that I’d previously seen offering encouragment on Kimkins forums and featured as success stories.

I haven’t decided exactly which low-carb diet I’ll follow for maintenance, but for now I’m enjoying adding high fiber bread and a few Triscuits with cheese back into my diet. Not everyday of course! I’m putting cream in my ice coffee and not stressing over my daily calories.

I’ve only got 12 lbs til I hit my goal weight — if I was still following KK, then I would be restricting hard core, exercising every night, weighing every morning and praying that I saw that magic number –123.

But, you know what? I feel really very calm about it. I hope it takes me six months to lose those last few pounds.

Thanks for everything — even if at first it felt like tough love, you have all really opened my eyes.

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

Popo

2007-10-12T16:30:00.001-07:00

I too was sucked into the KK plan. Was only on it 6 weeks -and did lose a lot of weight , but during that time I knew it was not right . Luckily I did not have any major health issues other having NO energy . I have been adding fats back to my diet and feel so much better. I was not a big poster on the KK site and I have been lurking over there to see if there is any kind of response to all the controversy. Not much. I did see one post where someone brought up the JM blog. The responses were entirely focused on the whole - who is Kimmer issue. They basically do not care - if she is a fraud or not -as long as they are losing. Nothing about the health risks assocaited with the diet. That more than anything is what is so sad about the situation.

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

You Are Missed

2007-10-12T16:29:00.002-07:00

Where once you used to smile radiance, now you are rumpled and frightened, steadfast and wandering, meandering through the vast wasteland of diets gone wrong, and the latest weight loss fads running through your tight fists like so many sands.

You used to glow, and now you sulk, dreary and tired, napping for the energy to nap, eyes withdrawn into yourself, lips thin and pale, kissing indifference where once you embraced life.
I miss you, miss the grand times, miss the communication, how you would make me giddy until I spilled my beverage across the table grabbing my sides in deep howling in laughter. We talked then until there were no more words that needed to be said, smiling smiles.

Now we’re pausing for pauses, and I wonder what happened to that amazing person I once knew, who retreated into herself and pushed everyone away like halitosis after too many meals of nothing, too many ‘I’ll be better tomorrow’s.

I know better. I’m a library book you have shelved, swapped for a glossy promise of svelte hips in 2 weeks. I’m the best friend, your mother, your sister and your daughter. Where did you go?
Did you melt away into the landscape, gaping and harrowing, trying to swim through melting portrait paints, hands flailing for awhile, face resolute, then, finally giving up, let limp hands fall down?

Because then you drown.

anonymous

2007-10-12T16:29:00.001-07:00

These comments really scare me. I tried Kimkins as I was desperate to lose my last 20 pounds, but stayed at 1000 cals. Stuck to it as hard as I could, then got a good result, but stalled as you do, and then started cutting back calories until I was at 500 per day. I was miserable, cranky, tired, I’d stand up aand nearly faint, and almost vomited when I was pushed to my usual limit by my personal trainer. And the constipation! I even took laxatives, got into that rubbish. I kept bagging myself that I wasn’t good enough, couldn’t stick to it and was a downright miserable sod - taking out my hunger on everyone else. I paid $60, but you know what I gave it up, not because I’m weak, or a fat blob, or not tough enough but because I care about myself and my self esteem. This 60 bucks taught me to loathe myself. I hated how this diet made me feel about myself. I lost more than 60 lbs doing Atkins, but some back on, because I lived the high life, too much alcohol and too many empty carbohydrates. I hate eggs, don’t eat them, don’t eat bacon, don’t eat a tub of butter either, I eat lean meat, both red and white, vegies salad etc. And I’m stable at my weight. I have really stuffed my metabolism, so I’m going to do something ‘radical’ for a low carber - refeeds. Follow the body builders. But I’m not eating pizza, I don’t eat that anyway, but increase good carbs starting at once a week to keep my body guessing. You know what - it’s working - but slow and steady, and I don’t have to keep to 500 cals a day. I work in health care and I knew what I was doing was wrong, but my low self esteem sucked me in. I’m not going to bag those who are doing it, as a person who has struggled with my weight for years, would never put anyone else down, all I can say is be careful. And don’t call me a loser, nohoper, fatkins either, you do your cause no good. I’m just like you, struggling with my weight, I wish it was easy, but it isn’t. Don’t be so downright nasty, find the evidence and post it, scientific evidence. I’m just going by the way I felt. It was no good for me but don’t give me cr_p over it, and don’t you dare call me a fatkins. I’m just going to get on with it. I haven’t bagged KK anywhere, so don’t you dare bag me. No you probably didn’t mean me personally, eh? But that’s the whole KK thing, it did and does effect me. Sorry this is a long comment, but those comments made me really mad.

From Kimkins Dangers, comments

To Becky

2007-10-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

Lonely is sometimes doing the right thing, even when it’s not popular.

Even when it’s shirked,
laughed at,
sneered at,
tucked in.

Lonely is sometimes knowing the people you thought you knew never knew you,
didn’t ask, didn’t care.

It’s hard waking up one morning and questioning what’s happening around you, that those figments you thought you knew were wasting away into the ethos, withering on less food than concentration camp survivors, showing brittle smiles and clapping you on bony shoulderblades.
It’s hard asking, “when did things change?” and seeing that, while the technicolor turned to grey and morbid rust, nobody else seemed to notice she was eating too little.

You spoke.
You were silenced.
But you spoke.

Thank you.

anani

2007-10-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Since July I have been watching everything unfold, thru the other forum and all of the anti-kimkins blogs etc. Mostly I have been lurking and just watching things unfold. But recently I decided that I needed to do something tangible to help stop this insanity. And speak out honestly about my kimkins experience.

I am still struggling with the unhealthy attitude and fear I developed towards food, I have had no more “bathroom” episodes but I still have to fight the urge occasionally. I still fear eating more calories and have to work on that on a daily basis. It’s all good though. I am choosing to turn this into a positive experience. And take what I have learned and put it to good use. I may have less hair than I did but I am a better and stronger person. I have learned some valuable lessons and have met some truly remarkable people along the way.10 years ago at the age of 40 I became a SEVERE bulimic. (it’s not just a young person’s disease) I binged and purged no less than 10 times a day. I didn’t know if I was binging to purge or purging to binge. I was addicted to both. It became a life or death issue and I won’t bore you with the looong details of how I overcame it, but overcome it I did. It took time, and it had become so much a part of my past, that I hardly remembered it. That is…until Kimkins. Before starting kimkins I had developed a very healthy attitude about food and had started to reclaim my life and health through my own version of low carb (similar to South Beach) I had lost 90 pounds and had gone from being a very brittle insulin dependent diabetic to being able to go off all meds. But I admit I was getting a bit frustrated with the slow loss and through a series of events found the kimkins site and to my shame was seduced by the promise of fast weight loss…yada yada…you know the story.

Like I mentioned, I never followed the plan as strictly as most, but I did drop my calories far too low. 900-1000. But I still ate 40-50 grams of fat a day. Far more than most members. I lost 26 pounds in the first month and was elated. Despite the severe dizzy spells I was beginning to experience. And yes…enormous hair loss. But something else happened that was far more insidious…I became terrified of food. I was sooo depressed one night ….because I had cheated..on 6 large strawberries! (good Lord) This pattern continued and increased in it’s severity. To the point where if I felt I had eaten too much or the wrong things…I started wanting to run to the bathroom and get rid of it. I had not even come close to having this urge for over 8 years and never DREAMED I could consider it again. I am deeply ashamed to admit that I gave into that urge several times. I was starting to feel really good (emotionally) the less I managed to eat in a day. I was being lured down that very dangerous path to the PBTP. If it hadn’t been for discovering the “other forum” and the valuable info there, who knows where I would be now. Most likely stuck fast in the “cult mentality” and continuing the damage to my health on less and less calories. While everyone patted me on my ever increasing “bony shoulders” I’m sorry, I know many were offended by the “cult” references that have surfaced over the last few weeks..but truly…what else can you call it…when an otherwise intelligent, educated, well read and informed woman can get seduced into doing something so stupid and destructive as this WOE. I am forever grateful to those who tirelessly worked to dig out the truth about this very clever charlatan.

I am still struggling with the unhealthy attitude and fear I developed towards food, I have had no more “bathroom” episodes but I still have to fight the urge occasionally. I still fear eating more calories and have to work on that on a daily basis. It’s all good though. I am choosing to turn this into a positive experience. And take what I have learned and put it to good use. I may have less hair than I did but I am a better and stronger person. I have learned some valuable lessons and have met some truly remarkable people along the way.

I need to state that I do take accountability for my bad choices…Kimmer didn’t hold a gun to my head, but if I had found info like this thread in advance of finding kimkins, I never would have gone down that path. So now I want to contribute what I can to this cause and hopefully open some eyes.

From Active Low Carber Forums “New Anti-Kimkins/Kimmer blogs emerging”

michelemomof2

2007-10-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

I started LCing and lost some weight, but I wanted to lose more, and faster. I tried following Kimmer’s way of eating, when she was on LCF and giving advice. I measured everything and followed it to the T, but the weight would not come off. She made some suggestions to me about eating just protein for 3 days (sort of like an induction, but I didn’t need induction, as I wasn’t eating poorly). Anyway, I started feeling weak, dizzy and breaking out with a sweat and had to lay down and had to have my DH or DD bring me something to eat or whatever…….now, let me say this -

In 1996, I weighed 162, and went to a doctor to lose weight rapidly. I followed his eating plan - RWR (rapid weight reduction), and I was put on a 500 calorie diet, which is very similiar, if not exactly the same as what Kimmer was saying to eat. I followed that diet for a year, until 1997. Throughout this time, I would have bouts of vertigo, weakness, etc. I did, however, lose weight down to 142. In August 0f 1997, I was outside and I started to feel nauseated and weak and dizzy. I quickly came inside and laid on the floor of family room and there I passed out. A while later I came to with my dog licking my face. (Still, that didn’t stop me, as I didn’t know it was from too low of calories). In Nov., 1997, I woke up in the middle of the night and felt the same way. I walked to the bathroom and after leaving the bathroom, passed out from a standing up position. I hit the ground full force and broke ribs on my right side, had a concussion, black eye and I came to hearing my little girl saying: “mommy, mommy, wake up, mommy.” I couldn’t open my eyes at first, nor could I speak. Eventually, my husband tried to put soda in my mouth (almost drowning me) and after a few min. I opened my eyes. I still could not speak. He carried me downstairs and put me in the car and to the hospital we went. By the time we arrived there, I could speak, but I couldn’t remember how old I was.

So, I’m going to stop here and quit boring you all, but it is my belief that the continued low calories/low carbs/no fat is what caused the above reaction. Well, after I started feeling the same way on “Kimmer’s plan” and she told me to cut things out, yet I still was not losing weight, I stopped following it. I believe that the low cal/low carb/no fat is what messed my metabolism up, because I gained from 145 to 197 without eating hardly anything. I have fought tooth and nail trying to get the weight off and it has been a constant battle. So, I do believe I have damaged my metabolism. I just hope that people think twice before following such a restrictive diet. I truly understand wanting to lose weight and feel better and look better, but it is just not worth the health consequences.

(Let me just say that everyone loses weight differently and while one woe works for one person, a different woe may work for someone else…each to his own, but the above starvation diet is the pits and should not be followed, as it is too dangerous.)

From lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer”

CissyLynn

2007-10-12T16:25:00.001-07:00

I’ve been lurking and watching the Kimmer scandal unfold for a few weeks now. Unfortunately, it was after I joined Kimkins and spent three days in the bathroom doing her K/E plan. The evening of the third day I realized my potassium had dropped like a rock due to the loss of so much fluid. I’ve ended up in the emergency room before with low potassium and now I know that when my hearts starts racing like I’ve just ran a marathon (I wish) that I need to get potassium and fast! I have to have blood work done every few months to have the levels checked. Went to see my dr. on an unrelated issue a few days later and told her about Kimkins (which she had never heard of) and she asked, “Are you nuts!”. Well, no just desperate. After I got sick, I discovered LCF and have read this thread daily. Kudos to those instrumental in exposing what a scammer she is. I even notified an investigator at one of the local TV stations who didn’t seem all that concerned about it. He’ll be kicking himself when this goes national. Thanks again to all of you for your support and diet tips. I’m glad to have found such a friendly environment in which to share my thoughts, goals, successes and yes, even downfalls.

from lowcarbfriends.com “Why the fascination with Kimmer, part 2″

tigerr

2007-10-12T16:24:00.001-07:00

I started at 165 pounds and lost 20 pounds on Atkins, stalled and then I dabbled in KK and the Meat and Egg fast for a few months.I weighed 145 pounds before KK and decided to use her plan to lose 8 more.

2 years later I’m hypo thyroid and taking medication for the rest of my life and I can’t lose weight DESPITE the fact I walk 3.5 miles every day and burn around 800 calories doing so. I weigh 160 right now. Step away from the ‘diet’ before you screw up your metabolism like I did.

Right now I have serious issues getting my calories over 1200. I’m a smart, mature woman with a degree under my belt. I went to culinairy school to boot.Kimkins messed with my metabolism and what pisses me off most is that she LIED all the time.She told me to lower my calories when I wasn’t losing, all the while my thyroid was dying. BE AWARE!!!!!!!

from lowcarbfriends.com “Why the Fascination with Kimmer, Part 2″

oceans

2007-10-12T16:23:00.002-07:00

Shortly after I joined the site became very busy because of the WW article and so I never really found a support network there. I mostly read everything and developed my own plan (thank goodness!). I low carbed several years ago and had lost all my weight once, but then had trouble maintaining and gained some back. What helped me was the incentive to get back to basics again and get rid of the frankenfoods. I lost 22 of the 30 lbs I put back on. What I also found is that I was eating too much nuts, cream, and full fat cheeses. There are some things you can really over-do if you are not careful. So, now I am sort of stalled and hoping I will eventually lose the last 7 lbs.

I did not really understand what all the commotion was about over at LCF. Since I never paid much attention to most of the KK threads, I never saw the things anyone was talking about. At the time it seemed to me that people were really getting out of control. Well, after reading what Becky, and Kristin, and Denny wrote in their blogs, I finally have an understanding of what is really going on. I did not notice that others were getting hurt, and I did not read enough to see the bad advice being given. I think much of it is very subtle, and you have to really be paying attention and doing a lot of reading.

After I looked back and read more closely, I can now see those things too. The plans are written in a very sketchy way as to how much fat you are really to be eating. I never went down real low. I always took my fish oil, and ate plenty of fish, olives, and cooked in olive oil. I always ate my vegetables. I didn’t understand how others could not, but I guess many really were going for long amounts of time without any.

from lowcarbdiscussion.com “Kimkins Survivors”

Thank You, Sydney Nelson

2007-10-12T16:23:00.001-07:00

You had power,

and you gave it away to do the right thing.

You had words,

and you spoke them for truth.

You had access,

and you gave it away for justice.

You had love,

and you gave it to your friends.

Kimkins Lawsuit Weblog

2007-10-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

A blog has been put together to answer questions some have had regarding whether or not there is efficacy in joining the suit.

There most definitely is.

You can find it here.

RobinM

2007-10-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is my first attempt at blogging altho not my first attempt at rambling on (hence the name of my blog!)

I need to write about my thoughts on Kimkins. What pulled me in was that it was low carb AND Kimmer’s weight loss of 180+ lbs and the fact that she claimed 5 years maintenance. A real person with real weight loss maintaining her weight and showing others how to accomplish what she did for the low, low price of $39.95 for a lifetime membership. It seemed too good to be true!

As it turns out - it WAS too good to be true! Am I a “victim” of Kimkins? No, I am a victim of my choices. I do however feel extremely betrayed - with more on that later.

I joined Kimkins in January 07 after I saw it mentioned in People magazine. I’ve done low carb before and it seemed to the “perfect” low carb WOE - low carbs & low fat. What I didn’t do before when I did low carb was get all of the info necessary. I didn’t read all of the books - I just read the sections about what you could and couldn’t eat.

Soon after logging into Kimkims I experienced great disappointment. This magical plan that was going to melt my weight off in a few months was laxatives and 500 calories a day. Or less because as I clicked on member’s fitday journals I saw many who were 300-400 calories a day. I swallowed my disappointment and went about my life. Still knowing I needed to lose weight and knowing that low carb was very good for me but still thinking that Atkins was bad because of all of the fat.

From time to time over the next few months I logged back into Kimkins and read posts, etc. I read the success stories . . . . . wondered about some of the before and after pics, read the testimonials, looked at the fitday journals, and then went on about my life.

The article in WW came out. Of course we all know that every diet that WW advertises works, right. And they research it all so it must be valid, right? I mean, after all, hadn’t I bought hundreds of WW magazines because of the diet inside - every time sure that it was going to be “THE ONE” for me?

Since I already had some knowledge of Kimkins I bought the issue about Kimkins. Read the article and was very impressed with Christin’s weight loss. 100 lbs in 5 months - that is a miracle. I’d be ecstatic with 10 lbs a month . . . . 20 would put me over the top.

So with Kimkins in the back of my mind . . . I went on with daily life.

We had booked our 2nd cruise for December and while we were on our first cruise last December I vowed that I would lose weight before our 2nd one. Well, here it was getting into July and I weighed only 8 lbs less than I had at the beginning of the year. “Maybe I should give Kimkins a try.” I thought to myself. SO back to the website I went. I spent a couple of weeks reading message after message. Finally I found a couple of posts that I could rationalize in my mind. One was that WLS patients were restricted to 500 calories a day. And I thought - if they can do 500 calories a day . . so can I, without the surgery.

At the same time, I read a post from a member who said she was doing Kimkins but she kept her calories from 1000-1200 and she was losing weight. So I sent her a PM and asked her some questions.

After thinking some more I decided I could do Kimkins. Especially as a way to get the carbs out of my system. So on 7/30 I started my Kimkins journey to weight loss (short journey that it was!) More to come.

Altho I still have misgivings I joined Kimkins on 7/30. But I really didn’t do Kimkins or if I did I did Kimkins my way . . . . I was doing what I thought was Kimkins but it was more Atkins but counting calories.

In the past, the most I had ever lost was 34 lbs 3 years ago when I did Atkins and it came off over 5 months. I regained all but 3 lbs over the last 3 years.

The weight started “melting” off with Kimkins/Atkins. I started a couple of small group challenges. I set up a Fitday account to track my calories, fat, carbs, and protein. I changed to The Daily Plate because it was more user friendly (for me at least.) I started reading posts where laxatives were recommended and lower calories were suggested as a way to get past a stall or to continue losing more weight. I read posts about hair loss, constipation, and cheat free days. I set up a cheat free ticker from the beginning to track my cheat free days. I did not cheat once during my short stay at Kimkins. Until I found out the cheating meant eating anything that was not on the Kimkins WOE . . . . it wasn’t to track the days you were cheat free from processed carbs, sugar, etc.

I quickly lost my appetite and thought to myself, “This has never happened before that I go for hours and don’t think about eating.” But as time went by I really started feeling tired alot, no energy, not hungry, couldn’t sleep, etc.

And then I found out that Becky had left, then Christin and Deni. The 3 most recognized people on the site . . . . . almost more so than Kimmer. They definitely posted more and supported more than Kimmer. Then I found a link to their blogs and started reading. And questioning and reading more. I am not the kind of person who can bury their head in the sand and go on as if nothing has happened. Nor am I a person who rushes to judgement. But the more I read the more I started feeling betrayed by Kimkins and Kimmer. What I thought was a real person who had lost a lot of weight and maintained that weight loss for several years was all smoke and mirrors.

For more on this:

Deni’s blog: http://www.openbench.blogspot.com/
Christin’s blog: http://the-journey-on.blogspot.com/
Becky’s blog: http://winningweight.blogspot.com/

One of her most ardent supporters, Jimmy Moore, of http://www.lowcarbdiscussion.com/ and http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/ broke ties with Kimmer/Kimkins.

Low Carb Friends has hundreds of posts attacking Kimkins and Kimmer. So many that I had to quit going there because it was so negative, not only against Kimmer and Kimkins but against everyone who was still on the Kimkins site; even tho many of them were former Kimkinites. Other websites came to light such as:

http://kimkinssurvivors.wordpress.com/ andhttp://kimkinsexposed.wordpress.com/

It became clear from the few posts that Kimkins did post that there was something not quite right. She made some odd statements, she wouldn’t refute any of the rumors, claims, etc. A legitimate business person, an honest person would have stepped forward to put her members at ease. She continued to refuse and continued to ban members. It quickly because apparent that her sole interest in Kimkins was financial. The WW cover and article probably brought her over $2 million (minimum) in revenue with very little expenses to diminish the amount.

I felt saddened and betrayed . . . . but I am a big girl, I made the decision to do Kimkins by overriding the many doubts that I had. Freedom of choice . . . . one of the great things about being American. As is Freedom of Speech . . . . . . (anywhere except Kimkins.com that is.)

I came to the conclusion that Kimkins did work . . . . . but a what expense? If the person who founded Kimkins couldn’t keep from regaining the weight she had lost . . . . . and there didn’t seem to be a maintenance plan in place . . . . then how could I or anyone else maintain the loss. It became apparent pretty quickly that maintenance wasn’t a real priority to Kimkins. Selling new lifetime memberships was . . . . . . as long as you didn’t have an opinion of your own that you freely expressed on the Kimkins forums. Selling new “Lifetime” memberships was more profitable . . . . after all current members had already paid for lifetime memberships . . . . in order to keep reaping the cash rewards from Kimkins she had to continually recruit new people.

My experience was much less than so many others. I was only there for 5 weeks. I felt betrayed on one hand and extremely lucky on the other. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what Becky, Deni, and Christin felt as well as many others who had been with Kimkins a long time.

from Random Thoughts and Twisted Threads