To All Current KK Members:

I feel it is my duty and responsibility to let you know that something has been added to the Terms and Conditions SINCE July 30, 2007 (no one else feels obligated to point this out, so I suppose I must).  Here is the section that has been added:

All information on Kimkins.com is of a general nature and is furnished for educational weight management purposes only. No information contained on the Site or in any e-mail or private message sent to you by Kimkins.com or its associates is to be taken as medical or other health advice pertaining to any individual’s specific health or medical condition. While it is our goal to provide quality information to you, Kimkins disclaims any implied guarantee regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or relevance of any content. The advice given on Kimkins.com and within its forums is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or recommendation for a particular course of action regarding your health and is not intended to provide specific medical advice. It remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness, and usefulness of all recommendations and content therein.Kimkins.com is not engaged in rendering medical or professional services. Therefore it should not substitute for the diagnosis and advice of your health care professional and opinions given must not be used in place of diagnosis and advice from your doctor. Do not delay obtaining the counsel of your health care professional should you have any concerns regarding what you may have read or interpreted at Kimkins.com. As with any reduced calorie weight management program, always seek the advice of your healthcare provider before beginning this program.

This program should not be attempted by anyone with the following conditions without prior approval from their physician: pregnant or nursing mothers, patients with history of gout, kidney failure or disease, gallbladder issues, those under the age of 18 and those with blood glucose issues such as diabetes or hypoglycemia. The content relayed on Kimkins.com is not to be interpreted as advocating the self-management of your medical condition(s) or those of your family.

By agreeing to these terms of service you acknowledge that Kimkins is not engaged in the practice of medicine and that all decisions made using the Kimkins content will be the exclusive responsibility of you and your physician.  Kimkins.com expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for any adverse consequences or damages resulting from your reliance on the content therein.  You agree, at your expense, to indemnify and hold Kimkins and its associates harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, or damages resulting from any and all claims, causes of action, suits, proceedings, or demands against Kimkins arising from or related to decisions or recommendations you make using the advice or content received within.

Good to know.  Wish you’d known that earlier? 

Wake Up Call

I don’t feel as if I need to spend very much time on this, because it needs no words.  I am inclined to email this link to all of my dear KK friends who still believe that the “drama” doesn’t affect them, but I do not wish to be seen as one who perpetuates the “drama.”  I am just one of the members who felt I couldn’t discuss my true thoughts “there.”  So I will leave you this link, and nothing more:  Deni’s post 

ETA:  And now this one, and I have emailed those that I have supported with these links.  Christin’s post

I will say to Deni and now Christin:  May the Lord bless you and keep you–not for leaving but for all that you’ve done to help!

What if it were sex?

Let’s just suppose for a moment, that it were a sex site we were talking about. (WHAT??? Bear with me). A 14 year old joins, and instead of being locked out and refunded, the owner keeps her money, the moderators just want to help her make the right decisions about her sex life. Use condoms. Birth Control is discussed. It’s better to give her advice about safe sex, then have her make bad decisions that might alter her life, health, emotional well-being, right? Wait–it is a 14 year old–a MINOR! Would you be more outraged at that site owner than you are at Kimmer? Why? Following her “diet” advice can lead to extremely low calories, a laxative habit, and skewed visions of what it takes to lose weight. Why do we tolerate it? It can alter her life, her health, and her emotional well-being. I don’t see any difference.

In Response to Zebra and anyone else who wants to know….

Thank you for commenting. Interesting calling me a shock blogger. Hmmm…

I, too, have followed the diet plan with no ill effects. I did have a gall bladder attack for the first time ever last year, when following strictly, and the attack can be blamed on my lack of knowledge of my body, how it works, and the decision to eat a Filet O Fish sandwich with fries. I would never “blame” the diet. I wouldn’t agree that the diet is EASILY followed—I have seen MANY more people go on and off plan b/c it is a hard one to stick to through to the end, and I have seen many members beat themselves up for eating things that are GOOD for them—not to mention a bingeing behavior that even I can have a tendency to do more now than ever. I disagree that any doctor worth his/her weight in gold would say that 300, 400, 500 calories is a good thing on a long term basis. And here again, who cares if we debate the “guidelines” of this diet??? The guidelines have differed, changed, morphed, and have never EVER been consistent. Not when the founder of the site says you can fast until goal. Where is that in the guidelines? Moreover, How do you know that the mom knew what her daughter was doing? How does Deni? Did she talk to her in person? Assume everyone is telling the truth when they know they are doing wrong and you will be sorely disappointed. I don’t care whether her mom knew or not. I expected better from Kimmer and didn’t get it. I won’t support someone who throws tantrums over the internet by banning members for disagreeing or for supporting a teenager for eating less calories than she was already eating. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THERE IS NO ARGUMENT OR DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. And I can’t support it.

I have been ultimately grateful for the weight I’ve lost and have said the same as you over and over and over again: The site is a private support network, not about one person. I have had maybe 3 questions answered by “Kimmer” in the course of the last 13 months. I’ve stayed in my support threads—bless them—and we’ve supported and sent cards and emails and supported some more. Well, Becky was one of those people for me. And if you’d been a member for longer you might feel a bit differently about her BANNING. She WAS the glue of that board. She wrote everything you read as a newbie. She genuinely is concerned about the members. Kimmer has proven—PROVEN—she is not. I would not do business with someone if I questioned their MORALITY and I seriously question hers so I no longer will visit the site. I have put off disassociating myself with the site because of my support friends, but if I have to go, it is on my terms. I have collected many emails, and am sure I can get the others.

To me, it really isn’t about the diet itself. I will educate MYSELF about the best way to do LC for me and my family, not take some persona’s word for it—a person who won’t post a picture of herself. (OR—if you actually believe the red dress story, waits until it is a perfect one—I don’t like pics myself but I have posted a few). It is about all the other stuff. I have a good idea and gut feeling about what is what, but it would be pure speculation at this point, and I will resign myself to be a spectator. I have a life outside of this drama as we all do—and it has taken too much time already.

I am so glad you said “Tell us who you are…” b/c after much thought, that’s just what I intended to do anyway…

To my KKs friends and Hotties—I hope we can meet up on another board and keep in touch—I want you all to achieve the lives you so deserve!

Love and health,
~kim~on~kimkins AKA hottieNtraining AKA justKim AKA ~k AKA specialK (the real one, not the rude one on JM’s comment blog) AKA rockinKim and on LCF jeajsmom…will be using KimPossible on blogspot and wherever possible.
ETA: I am KimPossible on LCF now, too…and I forgot but I have posted a few comments here and there under “joanne” b/c I didn’t want to be found out. I don’t care now. LOL–just wanted to be COMPLETELY honest.

WHO HEARS HORSES????

Becky was banned. She says: “I posted my email address on the site a few weeks ago, the first time my password quit working, in case I ever disappeared suddenly. If that cannot be found, I can always be reached here.”

Told you. Who’s the liar? Plain and simple. If she lies about this, what else does she lie about? Horses, people. Horses!

If You Hear Hooves…

Okay staunch KK supporters who are members, let’s examine this. I am writing this post in an attempt to wrap my brain around this whole debacle as well. And I speak from my own point of view, too, so bear with me.

We always knew there were KK “haters” out there. Some of us know the “history” at LCF firsthand, some of us don’t. We have followed the plan and have had success on it. Haven’t (or have) had any of the symptoms described. We are happy with our results, and have made many a contact on the forum, which means a lot to us. These people have supported us. We’ve supported them. Our forum was a happy, nice, friendly place. Then that whole JM thing happened. Man, did he do a 180 or what? May have made us mad. We might have taken it personally. We didn’t like that Just Ducky persona that was attacking JM. Thought it was over the top. So when he dropped us like a hot potato and Just Ducky began to focus on the site owner, we were already up in arms…we’ve seen some of those tactics. The KimATC posting. Makes us mad! Why can’t they just leave it alone? We are thankful to the site and its owner for finally showing us how we can lose. Heck–I couldn’t lose on Weight Watchers, or maintain, so I thought it a gift to find the site. But, all that aside…there are serious misgivings we should be having. Surely they nag at the back of your brain? They don’t? Seriously?

Do you really believe it appropriate for a teenager to be told she doesn’t need more calories? I thought the diet didn’t have restrictions? What happened to the “eat when hungry” tenet? That’s what I thought the diet was about. If a member says I’m hungry, especially a growing teen who NEEDS her calcium and other assorted vitamins AND minerals AND fat, why not say “eat–just pick from protein and healthy fats” instead of “I don’t agree that you need more calories?” And who’s to say a vLCD WON’T have potential health problems down the road? The owner can’t–she’s not a doctor. She won’t even post a picture of herself. oh, red dress pic…yeah, right. sure. NOT. Plus she’s said that she doesn’t promote to teens (”K: I also turn teenagers away. (J: Oh really.) Only because — we have teenagers on site, but teenagers as I know first hand, tend to be extreme. If you say do A, they will do A times a hundred. And, with my experience with teenagers, I, I just don’t wanna do, to encourage them“), yet when a teen joins, does she block her and issue a refund like a responsible adult and business owner? No, she does that to those who disagree with her. HUH???

Let’s talk agoraphobia for a minute. Panic disorders. Anxiety disorders. Those are no joking matter. And we sympthize and feel for those who suffer from such. And why wouldn’t we be sympathizing and believe the owner when she says she suffers from this? Most days, remember–she said so in the podcast (JM’s) and yet she also claims to be a CASA (”She earned a graduate degree in Public Administration and serves as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused children”). Have you seen what it takes socially just to become a CASA? Click here. This includes “Appear at all hearings to advocate for the child’s best interests and provide testimony when necessary.” You think one can fulfill a committment when he/she suffers from these types of disorders? Don’t you just want to ask “so which is it?” without being banned or called rude? Or slammed from “supporting” members of the site for being hostile?

I think, if she truly believed in what she was promoting and that it was harmless and valid, she’d be the person shouting it from the rooftops. She never has been–she enlists others, true believers, to do her work for her. And she lets them lie for her, because her credibility is even more at stake now than ever. I feel for us all, who have defended and been offended by the naysayers. We truly believed. And we don’t want to admit we were duped. We were–gut feeling–and you know how those go. It really doesn’t take a gut feeling though, the evidence of lies is out there. The question is, what will it take to convince you of that?

If you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras.

The Last Word…

It has been said that Becky is not banned.

I know different. LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE. All of you who think everyone showing dissention is a mole, it is time to wake UP.

A Letter to “littlebit”

Dear Littlebit,

I just wanted you to know, and I know that I speak for many many members of the KK website, that you were the heart and soul of that forum. You have spent tireless hours answering posts, pms, and organizing the information and it never went unnoticed or unappreciated by those of us whose lives you have touched. Many a time a member has wondered “Where’s littlebit?” or has said, “I don’t know, ask littlebit.” You have done so well on your own journey and are an inspiration to all of us! I hope that you will continue to post on your blog, Winning Weight Loss, and continue to keep in touch with those of us whose lives you’ve truly blessed. We love ya, sweetie! You deserve many many happy days!
Want to support littlebit? leave a comment!!!

Thin at what cost?

The recent flurry of attention paid to the KK low carb diet has raised the question—what will we pay to be thin? For some, this starts out as an initial lifetime investment: about $60. Now, compared to many weight loss plans out there, a one time investment is a very attractive prospect. What I speak of is only a monetary investment, though. What is the real cost of this WOE? It was reported on LCF this a.m. that a member posted about a recent trip to the ER with what she thought might be a heart attack. It was revealed that her potassium levels were dangerously low. Her question to the forum (specifically, the owner of the site, b/c it is on the “Ask” thread): how can she convince her doctor, with whom she has a follow up appointment, to let her continue the WOE, and is it possible that the diet had something to do with it? She wants to get back on plan, but is nervous about it. Nervous? She should be. Remember Terry Shiavo? Have we really reached the point that our long-term health, even our lives are less important than the weight we carry? Initially, this member paid $60. But consider what the ER charged her. And what her follow up costs will be. Not to mention any damage she might have done to her body that is unseen as of yet that would take more medical maintenance! Even if she escaped damage this time, is it worth it to continue to take the risk? My answer is a resounding NO! It most certainly is NOT!

Now, a poster a LCF did suggest that perhaps the KK post was a plant, a “bait” to see who would suggest that thin wins. Me? I’ve no idea. It is entirely plausible with everything that has transpired within this debate. What I do know is that over my health, thin definitely never wins.

LCF not exactly unbiased…

What exactly gives over at LCF? There has been a lively discussion today about the Kimkins Exposed blog and whether or not the post about KimATC is warranted. Now? There are a total of 8 posts left out of that discussion. 8. The posts went from over 8000 in number to a paltry 7991 as of just a few minutes ago (1:33 PDT). One poster asked “What happened to all the threads?” and not a minute later her post was removed and she received, I am sure, a “friendly” warning message about the Terms of Service over at the LCF. What purpose does this serve? It definitely deflates the discussion, and hasn’t the discussion been productive? I certainly think so…It also prevents people from posting. I won’t post there. Why should I? I am an adult and refuse to have my hands slapped by the “friendly” admin over at LCF. What complete rubbish…I hope that everyone posting there sees, too, LCF’s hidden agenda: make more money. With all their imbedded post links, they stand to make a killing from the traffic generated by all the hooplah. Who suffers? Those of us who are just trying to eat healthier and find a way of eating to suit us. We are being blasted by BOTH sides of the fence, unable to have a true discussion of what is going on…

ETA: Just checked on the “thread” and the crickets are chirping…no new posts and lo and behold, the post count is down to 7987…my guess is that they are removing all links to blogs referenced…great comments, btw!

ETA: Apparently, LCF wants no posts regarding KimATC. Yesterday someone posted that Kim left a goodbye post in the “playground” area, only accessible to those who have 60 posts and 60 days. Then, the posts discussing it–deleted. Did LCF delete Kim’s post too? I wouldn’t doubt it, though I’ve no idea….