Jimmy Moore and the Kimkins.com Controversy
By all accounts, low carb blogger Jimmy Moore is truly a nice guy. He lost an astounding amount of weight following a low carb diet and started blogging about it in April 2005. He has made many public appearances.
Bloggers and Internet marketers could spend days examining Jimmy’s blogging, linking, and marketing techniques and it would be time well spent. The man is a brilliant natural Internet marketer who has built a huge following of dieters — targeted, motivated, repeat customers for the businesses Jimmy promotes.
My wife Catherine MacDonald, who was a founding partner of Kimkins.com, has a great deal of respect, admiration, and affection for Jimmy. As she and Heidi Diaz were dissolving their Kimkins.com partnership, Heidi attempted to smear Catherine’s management of the Kimkins.com affiliate program to Jimmy, and Catherine has never forgiven her for it.
Jimmy Moore’s association with Kimkins.com stretches back nearly to the beginning. Catherine, aware of Jimmy’s pull, contacted him about Kimkins.com as the site was launching and arranged for some links back and forth. Jimmy expressed interest in an affiliate relationship, and so when the Kimkins.com affiliate program was launched Catherine invited him to sign up right away. He did, and a successful affiliate relationship began. Using his very effective “pre-sell” marketing techniques, Jimmy routinely had conversion ratios of 1:30 to 1:40 on the traffic he sent Kimkins.com’s way.
Catherine’s association with Kimkins.com and Heidi Diaz ended in September 2006, and so I have no direct knowledge of the recent affiliate sales numbers. However, judging from his search engine rankings, the ramped up marketing blitz associated with his own switch to the Kimkins diet, and the hype that resulted from the recent Woman’s World article, I would conservatively estimate that Jimmy has pulled in at least $15,000 in affiliate commissions from Kimkins.com.
Yesterday, after I revealed the facts about his Kimmer interview here on the blog, Jimmy stepped up to the plate and openly admited that his first Kimmer interview was done through email, not in person or on the phone. He says that he had a long telephone call with “Kimmer” yesterday and they have a telephone interview scheduled for his podcast late next week — a case of strike while the iron is … uh, cold and with a well-prepared story. Jimmy asked Kimmer for an in-person interview to help clear up the controversy about her identity and weight loss claims, but she once again declined. To my knowledge, nobody interested in the Kimkins.com debate claims that they have met Kimmer/Heidi Diaz/Kim Drake in person.
If Kimmer/Heidi Diaz is truly who she says she is but for whatever reason will not participate in public appearances or video appearances, why not agree to meet Jimmy in person for an audio interview? She could show him some ID to prove that she is in fact Heidi Kimberly Diaz, and let him describe the meeting and vouch for her authenticity. They could have a no published pictures agreement, and Jimmy could be the first person who could say that yes, he has met Kimmer in person and she is everything she claims to be.
Jimmy is an astute marketer and is playing this whole thing very well — but as a decent guy with substantial integrity, he’s got to be having some serious doubts about Kimmer himself now.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:37 am
[…] UPDATE: Jimmy Moore confirms that his Kimmer interview conducted in email and announces an upcoming podcast telephone interview. Once again, “Kimmer” declines a personal appearance. […]
July 7th, 2007 at 9:38 am
It is *very* suspicious that Kimmer will not show herself, even when it is offered.
If it were me and I had lost that much weight in a short amount of time I would be a pic ‘ho’.
July 7th, 2007 at 10:51 am
THANK YOU for your very kind comments about me and my blog. I too think very highly of your wife Catherine who was nothing but kind and professional towards me. That has never changed to this day.
Let me just say that I’m happy you are doing this series of columns about Kimmer and Kimkins. The truth is out there and I intend to get to the bottom of it. I have had nothing but a cordial business relationship with Kimmer up until now and intend to keep it that way so long as she remains forthright with me.
That’s why I decided to do the podcast interview. In fact, I’m taking questions from anyone who wants me to ask Kimmer anything. She told me directly, “I’ll take any question you’ve got for me.” I’ll take her at her word on that.
As for the in-person meeting, she said she doesn’t like getting out in public for any reason because it causes her panic attacks. I can respect that since my own wife takes Paxil to help control her panic attacks. This podcast interview will be the first time we’ve ever heard Kimmer’s voice, so it will be an illustrative first step in getting to the bottom of this.
Again, THANK YOU for shedding some light on this controversy by sharing about Catherine’s issues with Kimmer and Kimkins. I’m sorry things fell apart like they did for her because I REALLY enjoyed working with Catherine.
Anyone who has questions they want to submit to me for my interview with Kimmer should e-mail me directly at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I’m already getting a heavy volume of e-mails, but keep ‘em coming! Deadline is Friday, July 13, 2007.
Take care!
July 7th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I must say that Jimmy’s response has impressed me, even if I don’t necessarily agree with everything he’s said or quoted on his blog. And hooray for differences of opinion. He’s a decent model blogger, and his before/after pics have given me some inspiration over the last year to continue to tell my story.
I agree with Jimmy, that any chats I’ve had with Kimmer in the past have also been cordial. I also understand anxiety and fears of going out in public.
But can we get real here for a second? If you’re going to launch a diet site, and be a spokesperson (and let’s admit it, “Kimmer” has been quite effective on the internet in that regard) and gain an amazing following for promoting a fast weight-loss diet, it stands to reason that many will have questions, doubts, concerns on the legitimacy of the claims made regarding such a diet.
I think agorophibia is quite common, particularly for those who have been fat. It’s hard to shake that. It’s not easy going out there when you’re 300, 400, 500 lbs. Mental illnesses brought on by a siege of society stigma isn’t fun.
Kudos to Kimmer for telling her story. ok. great, fantastic awesome.
But with great power comes great responsibility. Cheesie quote, I know. But valid in this case. Most of us curious about this story are asking the exact same thing: a little integrity. It’s a pity that an article in WW didn’t wash away any of this controversy. It’s time to step up.
July 7th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
i have read all about this kimmer thing and seen the pictures and heard her supporters. i have a membership. I have seen her answer zillions of questions on lowcarfriends which is great, but now she has people anorexic and STILL wont even show her face?? the podcast is a joke, it could be the model in the pictures. I THINK JIMMY SHOULD CONTACT THE FCC OR SOMEONE AND REPORT HER AS A FRAUD. and i agree, shame on ww magazine. her plan may have been simliar to atkins at one point but hers went astray to a deadly but get you thin plan. aniety my butt, there is medication for that and this is too important to be camera shy. that is the biggest fraudulent excuse there is. just my opinion of course
July 7th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
And WHY did she decline Jimmy to come to HER house? He has got to be one of her biggest supporters and bringing a huge dollar amount to her business - why would she not want to have lunch with him, even at HIS expense????
Then and only then will she be able to put all of this to rest. Anything else is just ridiculous and its really insulting that she is taking everyone for a fool by doing email and phone interviews.
Do a frigging You Tube video, do something Kimmer, and prove yourself to the world. this can’t go on forever, and its going to be REALLY ugly when it blows up in her face if she doesn’t do something NOW.
I raised all of these questions about her real appearance a long time ago, and was told to hush up and stop causing trouble. So I’m really pleased that now thousands are also paying attention and demanding answers.
Jimmy, you’ve made money off of this and surely you don’t want to be made a fool of either or have your own name go down the drain with her. Demand that she either meets you in her home for lunch (if indeed she’s agoraphobic - which, I’m totally not buying, funny how she’s mentioned her divorce, her education, her foster children, but NEVER mentioned this so-called disorder in all of her years of posting online, gimme a freaking break) or that she do a live video, or you should refuse to support her any longer.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
If Kimmer is raising foster children, does it not stand to reason that she would be required to leave her home? How else do these children get taken care of properly? If you have to leave the home to grocery shop, take children to various activities, appointments, etc. as well as attend school functions for the children, then surely you could leave your home for a lunch date to clear your good name. And if she cannot leave her home to perform these basic parental functions then is she really a fit parent? Just my own questions.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Take a deep breath everyone and let’s do first things first. I plan on conducting the podcast interview via telephone and will decide from there if further investigative action needs to be taken. There’s more to this story than meets the eye and I intend to get to the bottom of it myself. THANK YOU!
July 7th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I read on HER website by one of the members who had lost weight that she knew her from a Braille Institute where KIMMER volunteered. Sounds like she gets out to me. Too many things just don’t add up…
July 7th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
this is interesting:
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=3066863&postcount=9
now, would someone with agoraphobia be able to do these stuff?
oh, and a telephone interview/podcast would mean nothing. people do not want to hear her voice, they want to see how she looks like. and frankly, if you’re raking in A LOT of money doing a modified Stillman and selling YOUR weight loss success story, you’re obligated to show yourself. the moment she started charging, that opened the door to public scrutiny
July 7th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
No disrespect to you Mr. Moore but you do have something to lose in all of this. Maybe the interview should be done by someone who doesnt have anything to lose, or has no ties to Kimmer/Heidi/Kim.
Just a thought, again I mean no disrepect.
July 7th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
As far as I am concerned Jimmy Moore is already being dragged down with Kimmer just by associating himself with a liar and a deceptive person.
July 7th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Funny how ‘Kimmer’ suddenly came up the claim of being agoraphobic now only AFTER it was recently suggested that it might be her problem on the LowCarbFriends.com forum. There are simply too many obvious lies that she’s trying to cover for and now at this level of attention, things are really getting too hot for her to continue to try to hide and cover her tracks.
An audio telephone interview with the Pope would prove absolutely nothing at all at this point except to further suggest she’s got something serious to continue to hide and why all the supposed “after” pictures aren’t possibly the same as the verified (classmates.com/Heidi [Miller] Diaz) “before” pictures.
And whether or not she’s actually lost and maintained that loss, the diet she’s promoting is nothing more than the same old starvation diets of the 70’s and 80’s, just repackaged and remarketed as “low-carb.” Those crash diets didn’t work in the long-run back then and they don’t work any better now. Can you lose weight quickly by starving yourself? Sure. Been there, done that. Can you maintain it? Good friggin’ luck!!!
Just because some diet is labeled and marketed as “low-carb” doesn’t mean it’s at all nutritionally sound and not dangerous. Anorexia and bulemia can be “low-carb” too! Anorexiakins.com, anyone?
I’m so looking forward to the rest of the installments in this series as well as these bonus posts on the topic.
And thank you and your wife Catherine for being completely upfront and forthright about the truth in this whole scam.
-David
July 8th, 2007 at 12:55 am
Malditangdoktora Thanks for posting that. It proves that Kimmer isn’t telling the truth. If she goes out in every day life but then says she won’t meet with people in person because she claims she has a condition that makes her afraid to out in public what does that tell you? A voice interview says nothing about her credibility. A voice interview is worthless. Why even do it at this point Jimmy? With that link being posted it is obvious that she is lying to you and to everyone else.
July 8th, 2007 at 9:01 am
“If Kimmer is raising foster children, does it not stand to reason that she would be required to leave her home? How else do these children get taken care of properly?”
She wouldn’t be allowed to be a foster parent if she had a severe anxiety disorder, like agoraphobia!
July 8th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Agoraphobics can’t do this and then not be able to meet a person in their house!
Saturday AM: Going to a regional fair. Prep for tomorrow.
Saturday PM: Hosting a bridal shower for a dear friend!
Sunday AM: Taking kids to Gameworks and see the movie “Day After Tomorrow” (is that what it’s called?)
Sunday PM: Lounge like a sloth, exhausted from Gameworks & movie! Prep for tomorrow.
Monday: Hosting & catering a BBQ for 50! (Yesterday I bought quite a bit of beer/wine/liquor for the BBQ … the college aged clerk asked me, in all seriousness, “Oh, are your parents going away for the weekend?”
July 8th, 2007 at 9:07 am
All an interview, via phone, does for Jimmy Moore is send more traffic to the kimkins site with more members signing up and more money made for both Jimmy Moore and Heidi Diaz. What a marketing ploy - say you’re getting to the bottom of something and profit along the way. Sick!
July 8th, 2007 at 9:20 am
“I would conservatively estimate that Jimmy has pulled in at least $15,000 in affiliate commissions from Kimkins.com.”
I would conservatively estimate that Jimmy Moore made a lot more just in the month of June alone. He blogged about how much traffic he’s getting, he’s taken to promoting the idea he’s doing kimkins and linking up the wazoo to drive traffic to the site to make money for himself, and his conversion ratio has to be better now than six months ago as he’s honed his skill at convincing readers to join! I’d make a ballpark guess around 2500 new members, courtesy of Jimmy Moore, which at $15 a pop means he’s made (conservatively) $37,500 in June. If he’s had a higher conversions, say 3500, then that number just keeps climbing and if he’s gotten 5000 over to her, then he could have made by now $75,000.
No wonder he’s not keen on saying or doing anything to interrupt his cash flow! Kimkins is a cash cow for him!
July 8th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I have to agree with you Phantom.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
While I respect everyone’s opinions about this subject, I don’t think personal questions about my integrity or motivations for having Kimkins as an affiliate at my blog should be called into question any more than my other sponsors or affiliates. It’s called business.
Just because I make money when someone purchases a product or service on my blog doesn’t mean there is some ulterior motive or something inherently wrong with that. This is now what I do for my career and nobody is being forced to purchase anything. That’s the beauty of advertising whether it is on the radio, television or on the Internet.
While I will leave the rumor mill to people who choose to live there, the purpose of my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog is to educate, encourage, and inspire as many people to lose weight and get healthy the low-carb way. Whether that’s Atkins, Kimkins, Protein Power, South Beach or any of the other fine low-carb programs, the bottom line is for people to find what works for them.
Kimkins, to me, is NOT Kimmer. It’s two things:
1. It’s the product that I have chosen to offer my readers as an option for their low-carb lifestyle along with my MANY other sponsors. If you don’t want it, then don’t buy it.
2. It’s the diet I have chosen and it’s working quite well for me, too. I’ve now lost 32.6 pounds in 34 days and I couldn’t be happier with these results. Find what works for you and then do it. That’s my philosophy and I’m living it in my own life.
One last thing: The guesstimations being bantered about on the amount of money that I have made from my Kimkins affiliate relationship have been grossly exaggerated. Frankly, it’s none of anyone’s business how much I make from an advertiser just as nobody asks Rush Limbaugh how much he charges for those “obscene profit timeouts” that he has on his show. Again, that’s business.
Martin’s estimate of the total since I started as an affiliate with Kimkins early last year is much closer to the truth.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
“Kimkins, to me, is NOT Kimmer.”
Tell your story walkin’ Jimmy.
You’ve allowed money to compromise your integrity and are naive if you think helping her line her pockets while you’re making money too isn’t keeping you from removing her links from your site. You can’t do it because her links are your money maker, your ‘bread and butter’…what are you going to do when it all comes crashing down and your sucked down the hole with her with nothing left because your readers see you for what you’re doing, settling and compromising to make money.
It’s dirty money Jimmy Moore and when you play in the dirt, you get dirty.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
“Martin’s estimate of the total since I started as an affiliate with Kimkins early last year is much closer to the truth.”
Then you’re doing something wrong in the affiliate game.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Hey Jimmy Moore, you’re an affiliate for a long time aren’t you? That means you’re not getting just 25% commission, you’re getting 40% huh?
Martin, can Catherine confirm his commission rate? He says he’s been an affiliate since last year and the site only changed the commission rate recently.
Jimmy Moore you’re made a lot of money dude, why aren’t you proud of it? One would think you’d be proud of making that much in such a short period of time. Kinda like winning the lottery isn’t it?
July 9th, 2007 at 7:50 am
I disagree. Kimmer has sold herself as a specific image, with her before and after photos, as being the product of her Kimkins plan, so Kimmer IS Kimkins in the flesh.
That’s why it’s important that she come clean, the good, bad or ugly, about what the deal is with the photos.
As I posted earlier, people will likely forgive her, but only if she stops dragging this out and hoping it will go away instead of responding to the questions.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Mr. Moore - the following comments taken from your own blog on 7-5-07 at 3:59 PM, prove that you are NOT on Kimkins nor is it the diet you have “chosen.” You can call it that to stay on the “payroll” and bring in more business and bucks, but the eating plan you describe below is most definitely NOT Kimkins:
“As for feeling the need to be “on plan,” actually I’m not perfectly on the Kimkins plan. But I use it as a basic template for my diet with a few Jimmyfications that I’ve learned along the way will work for me.
This includes eating sugar-free pickles, mayo for my salmon salad, ChocoPerfection chocolate, low-carb bread, low-carb wraps, sugar-free Jello, cinnamon and Splenda, yogurt–pretty much WHATEVER low-carb foods I want to supplement my diet.
In other words, it’s MY diet since I’ve customized it for ME. I long ago removed the grains, starchy carbs, and sugars from my diet and I’m better because of it.”
Fraud begets fraud? I’m appalled by it all.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:56 am
“Jimmy wrote:
Kimkins, to me, is NOT Kimmer.”
I don’t agree with this at all. Kimkins IS Kimmer. She is selling HER success with “her” diet plan. If Kimkins isn’t Kimmer then it is just a slightly tweaked version of Stillman’s and why would anyone pay for that?
Jimmy, I need to ask…what is the point of a phone interview? That proves nothing. The questions people have are:
If Kimmer is who she says she is?
If those pictures are her and if she actually lost weight and kept it off on this plan she is selling?
And also, if the before/afters on her website are real?
How can these questions be answered in a phone interview?
Also, why are you buying the agoraphobic story so easily? You offered to go to her house….how is her agoraphobia stopping an IN HOME meeting?
So many things don’t add up.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:59 am
“As I posted earlier, people will likely forgive her, but only if she stops dragging this out and hoping it will go away instead of responding to the questions. ”
Instead, she is now banning kimkin members who ask questions or are having doubts about her pictures or pictures she has up claiming them to be success stories when it’s clear some are stock photos and not the same person. Check it out! She has before and afters of supposed members and they aren’t even close to looking similar! One actually has a girl with a lanyard around her neck from an event that took place in 2002, long before kimkins was even out there making money!
July 9th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I was trying to give Jimmy the benefit of the doubt with his “attempt” to clear this all up, but two things come to mind that are making me realize that he is as deep into this deception as she is.
On another of his blogs, someone posted about one of her Success Stories photos being fake. The one of a guy, and it was very obvious that the pics were fake, but Jimmy responded - quite snarkily, I might add - that he KNEW FOR A FACT that the picture was real. There was no way he could KNOW FOR A FACT that pic was real, because it was fake, number 1, and number 2, he had to be just going on what Kimmer told him. So he was either blindly trusting her or he was just helping her lie. Either way, I expect much more out of him.
The other, the way he just accepted her excuse of agoraphobia after he was the one that wrote up the original interview where she’s talking so much about going to the theater and how much confidence she has - so why didn’t he instantly call her to the mat on this?? Why would he just accept it and defend her???
And in that “interview”, why did he say, “you look great today” if he wasn’t even looking at her???
Jimmy Moore, shame on you.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Jimmy:
Hopefully, you will get this matter settled and have a person to person interview in the near future with her.
It’s too strange that she is in “hiding” when every other diet guru is all over the news..Kimmer is NOT a diet guru in my mind because she just piggypacked on Atkins/Stillman’s program.
We are counting out you to get to the truth..and investigate to the nines..
Thanks..Curious
July 11th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I think Jimmy more has lost his integrity in all this. He isn’t doing kimkins but says he is. He makes money driving people to the site to make himself and her money. It’s disgusting how his blog has morphed from really good information and personal insights to AD, AD, AD, AD make him money with every damn post made! I won’t read his blog anymore since it’s all advertising anyway and he’s being paid to say good things so readers will click and make him money!
July 11th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Greed is such an ugly thing.
Jimmy, I have lost so much respect for you.
At one time you were a supporter of healthful low-carb living. Now you’ve morphed into this bakery-hoing, chocolate drooling, living la-Greeda low-carb.
I pray that the good Lord will knock some sense into that head of yours and that you’ll get back to your roots of preaching healthful low-carb living.
July 12th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Jimmy Moore is now a media ho who will say anything to make a buck if you ask me!
July 13th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I think something I read sums it up….Jimmy’s Livin’ La Greeda Ho Media!
July 13th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Well, if Jimmy Moore’s drop in comments to his blog posts is any indication of the impact all this is having, it’s telling!
He’s losing readership left and right, as a result of his “all kimkims, all the time, love affair with the commission check” non-stop promotion on his blog, and I seriously doubt anyone is going to take him seriously in the future.
He’s damaged goods for the low-carb movement now, it’s best to let him just fade away into a distant memory.
Any suggestions where to go now for credible information?
July 13th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
MarketingMaven Says: “Any suggestions where to go now for credible information?”
Yes the always credible: www.weightoftheevidence.com
July 13th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
An always great read, without glaring and annoying advertisements is Dr. Mike Eades…
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/
His wife Dr. Mary Eades…
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmd_blog/
Hope this helps!
July 13th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
My favorite blog is Weight of the Evidence, she rocks!
http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot.com/
Then I read Dr. Mike, he has a great sense of humor!
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/
I wish she’d write more, but another good blog is Dr. Mary Vernon’s, she used to work with Dr. Atkins!
http://rjr10036.typepad.com/askdrvernon/
And I like Jonny Bowden’s really cool writing style (he doesn’t write enough either)!
http://www.jonnybowden.com/blogger.html
July 13th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Boy, oh, boy, I used to be a daily reader of Jimmy Moore’s blog! Now his blog is nothing but advertisements for frankenfoods, a low calorie diet or listen to his podcast that has more advertisements!
No thank you!
Best low-carb blogs out there are Regina Wilshire, Mike Eades and Adam Campbell if you want good, solid information. I haven’t seen Jonny Bowden’s blog, but have read his books, so I’ll check him out. Thanks for the link to his blog Tortilla.
July 13th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Your next series should be a case study in how Jimmy Moore ruined his reputation by partnering with an unethical business and ignoring every comment on his blog telling him he’s not doing what he says he is and IS IN IT FOR THE MONEY!
BTW, love the blogs already listed and would add Kayln’s Kitchen, she has some great recipes!
July 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
An interview by phone is supposed to get to the bottom of things?
Puh-leez!
Moore is obviously in this for the money now and can’t see how ridiculous it is for him to try to convince us a phone interview is somehow going to answer all the controversy. Has he even read the forums at LowCarb Friends? GAWD it’s a lot more than just who she is, but what she represents. Wake up Mr. Moore, you’re being had by a very slick and unethical woman!
July 14th, 2007 at 11:47 am
This blog post today by a Kimkins affiliate (http://losingitwithkimkins.blogspot.com/2007/07/fears-doubts.html) includes a very long passage that is attributed to Jimmy Moore; the blogger says it is taken from Jimmy’s member journal at Kimkins.com. It includes the quote:
“People want me to “get” Kimmer, but what’s there to get? She’s a remarkable woman who lost a bunch of weight and now is helping others do the same.”
In my opinion this is the point, Jimmy. If Kimmer is truly and authentically everything she claims to me, then this whole thing is just a diet debate. However, the evidence seems to be overwhelming that she is not authentic or truthful. Everyone can see this — I think even you. The fact that you are ignoring the evidence is what is jeopardizing your credibility. It may be time to cut your losses and walk away from the business relationship if you want to maintain your legitimacy in the low carb world.
All the best,
Martin
July 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I just read the post from losing it with kimkins, yawn, it’s so obvious he’s a cry-baby now too.
I’d like to know who abandon him so I can go congratulate them on having the cahoonie to do so because he is a sell out and it takes guts to stand up and say this isn’t right and I’m not going to continue to support you doing it!
July 14th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
OMG now Jimmy is a cry-baby too! Didn’t he slam someone in his comments that they were being a cry-baby? Hypocrite! Ever heard of “if you can’t stand the heat, get outta the kitchen?” Might be time to consider that option man!
July 14th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
How is it that Jimmy Moore now makes this an issue of the politics of the low-carb community (which I’ve seen no indication of) instead of what it is, his irresponsible and aggressive markting of a website he’s paid to promote, hawking a plan even he admits he can’t follow as written! That’s hypocricy at it’s finest and trying desperately to take the spotlight off himself and shine it on something that isn’t even an issue.
Those wondering where my wonder comes from, take a look at his blog today.
July 14th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Hey, Jimmy should read the “Ask Kimmer” thread at LowCarbFriends.com to really see that even Kimmer would disagree with his rationalization of modification to her plan!
“I hope you won’t think I’m a total snot for saying this, but please don’t “modify” Kimkins. Just call your plan Atkins instead.” - Kimmer
What’ hysterical here is that Jimmy is justifying the things he is eating off the kimkins plan as ok because Dr. Atkins said it was ok. Call me crazy, but what part of Kimmer disdains modifcation does he not understand? If she’s putting up with it, it’s for one reason, he’s making her money.
July 15th, 2007 at 8:58 am
“Jimmy is an astute marketer and is playing this whole thing very well — but as a decent guy with substantial integrity, he’s got to be having some serious doubts about Kimmer himself now.”
Decent guy? Substantial integrity? Surely you jest.
A decent guy with substantial integrity does not find it necessary to revise critical comments levied against him in a public fourm. Oh, but if that’s not enough, then have the balls to reply back to the revision as if it were what was said.
Think I’m nuts?
Last night on Active LowCarber Forums, someone suggested that it appeared that Jimmy altered a comment over at LowCarbNewsline and the person making the original comment could only change one thing to alert others, their identity. In that space they chaneged their name from ’sloe’ to ‘BEWARE! My Comment Was Moderated By Jimmy Moore’
When I first saw the posts about it, I thought, no, Jimmy wouldn’t do that, it has to be a misunderstanding or something.
But, if anyone is interested, this was what the allegedly changed post read:
“You’re the best. Thank you for being the “voice” of low carbohydrate eating. ”
To which Mr. Moore replied:
“Thank you for those kind words, sloe! It’s my pleasure to provide the best low-carb information I can possibly give. God bless you for your appreciation for what I do. Take care!
”
Then this morning, when I returned to see if he’d replied to someone else’s question about whether the comment was moderated, it looks like Mr. Moore DID modify the original comment to be the reverse of its original sentiment (criticism to cheers). He replied first with:
“You got me!
With all the negative vibes surrounding this Kimkins controversy everyone is so caught up in right now at the Low-Carb Friends forum, I thought it would be fun to have a little fun…sure was funny!
I guess you got me in the end, didn’t you? LOL!”
Then finally included the original comment, which was the exact opposite of his revision:
“For those who care, here’s what “sloe mule” REALLY said in his comment:
You’ve lost your credibility as the “voice” of low carbohydrate eating. But carry on. By the way, your use of CAPITALIZATION in an attempt to somehow validate and/or illustrate your opinion as fact is trite and tiresome.
Why THANK YOU, sloe! Is that your given name or a slang description? Just curious. THANK YOU again for your comment! Glad you could take a good practical joke. Hee hee!
”
This guy thinks that’s a joke? That’s integrity? That’s being a decent guy?
If someone had not called him on it, the revision would have stood and none would know it happened. That’s not integrity, that’s deception and says way more than anything else I’ve read so far on this issue. This man, this Jimmy Moore, is not to be trusted. He purposely took a criticism and changed it to a cheer for him and then replied to that as if accepting praise. That’s sick.
July 15th, 2007 at 8:59 am
The link for LowCarbNewsline forum is
http://www.lowcarbnewsline.com/discussion.asp
July 15th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Let me see if I have this right.
Jimmy Moore has a financial tie to Kimkins.
Jimmy Moore promotes Kimkins to his readers in his blog.
Jimmy Moore gets paid for every one he convinces to go to the Kimkins site and signup.
Jimmy Moore is getting slammed online, here and elsewhere, and doesn’t understand why he’s suddenly in the middle of this all?
Jimmy Moore thinks he can get to the bottom of it all, even with his financial ties to the problem?
What is he, stupid or a fool? Or does he think we, his readers are?
I’m not going to read his blogs anymore. Never. Ever. Again.
He’s completely untrustworthy given that he’s now taken to deception as part of his marketing plan and business of blogging and selling something as insane as Kimkins.
July 15th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
“I don’t fault Platkin for espousing his low-fat/low-calorie montra because that’s all he’s ever known as a trained expert in nutrition. He even wrote a book called The Automatic Diet which calls for a portion-controlled, low-fat, low-calorie approach to weight loss. Ho-hum! Can’t they come up with ANYTHING different?”
Jimmy Moore’s post about Charles Platkin (Diet Detective) on June 30, 2005.
I guess Chuck wasn’t paying him.
“So all this recent brouhaha over Kimkins and calories looks to be about 20 years too late. I have to wonder, will these antagonists against Kimkins and the tens of thousands who follow it now as openly berate and deride Dr. Eades for basically espousing THE EXACT SAME DIET way back when? If not, then can someone please explain to me what the difference is?”
Jimmy Moore’s post about something in the comments of Dr. Mike Eades’ blog on June 25,2007.
Somehow he failed to absorb that Dr. Eades replied he’d correct himself in his later work, and the reason for it in previous work as “I used skim milk because, hard as this might be to believe now, at that time there were no protein powders available other than a few used solely by bodybuilders.”
“You’re just a big fraud and I’m happy to expose you as such! But you don’t care since you’re laughing all the way to the bank with the millions of dollars you’ve bilked out of people who have bought your books. Shyster!”
Jimmy Moore’s disdain, directed toward Rick Gallop, author of the g.i. diet. Fruedian slip?
“Finally, make sure you are eating enough fat and calories to sustain your energy needs. With all the exercise you are doing, it doesn’t seem like you are eating enough food. I ate well over 2000 calories a day while losing weight and still do today eating a diet with a fat/protein/carbohydrate ratio of 60/30/10.”
Jimmy Moore’s reply to a reader, May 15, 2007. A bit conflicted Jimmy?
“Sigh. Eating LESS calories is “harder to sustain” for people who are livin’ la vida low-carb, eh? Did it ever occur to the researchers that many of us aren’t paying any attention to calories anyway?
When you are eating a low-carb diet, you don’t need to worry about calories, fat grams, and all those other things that the “diet” mentality make you obsess over.”
Jimmy Moore’s words, April 28, 2007 in his review of a Consumer Reports article. But Kimkins is great, huh, Jimmy>
Then he has the nerve to moan and groan here, http://losingitwithkimkins.blogspot.com/2007/07/fears-doubts.html, that “”concerns” over Kimmer and Kimkins have caused them to think I’ve “sold out” (what the heck does that mean anyway…what have I “sold”?) and lost my mind for supporting Kimkins. They think I should distance myself from Kimkins because it is based on a “fraud” (describing Kimmer) and an “unhealthy diet” (always calling Kimkins an ultra-low-carb, ultra-low-fat, ultra-low-calorie diet)”
He’s coming unhinged!
July 15th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
This was something that just sums it up nicely.
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=8917511&postcount=3701
Originally Posted by rightnow
Regarding the posts mixing Jimmy Moore and his Kimkinathon sales blitz from his (good-honest-guy) blog, more has developed along that particular debate (re: blogger ethics and conflict of interest) and moreover, claiming to BE on the plan and be losing when he’s not on the plan; so is it just that Kim gets buyers from his links and a ’success story’, and he makes tons of money from the links his ’success story’ is selling, even though by his own testimony he is not even following her plan?
In sympathy for the length of this thread, I will summarize as best I can.
1 - There was debate because since last September (maybe earlier but nobody can remember) he’s been mega-promoting kimkins on his blog.
Cutie wrote,
Quote:
…according to what i was told by heidi…he makes GOOD money and has been all along at the top affiliate commission level.
Theory following that included:
Quote:
…So then he gets $23.98 per referral (40% of $59.95) he makes, and $8.99 per referral made by someone he convinced to become an affiliate (15% of $59.95). […] given his site stats (which he brags about), the “all kimkins all the time” atmosphere of his blogs now, and the fact he maintains multiple blogs, in addition to sites he “reprints” his blog posts regularly (LCN, CarbWire, etc.), has dropped the link into even reviews he’s done, and includes it in emails he receives as he encourages the person emailing to try kimkins
…various estimates begin at 15K and go as high as 60K+. Nobody really knows though.
So it seems well established that regardless of opinion he has good financial reasons for changing his personal blog (albeit one overdone with ads) into an actual commercial (only-for-the-money) blog. Essentially that means that ‘trust’ is a thing of the past, because ‘ethics’ became a thing of the past.
Previously in this monster thread, someone said that they had made a comment post on Jimmy’s blog, but it never showed up. In the blogosphere, spam and sometimes active trolls are deleted, but anything that involves suppressing fair opinion or editing content either of opinions or of articles after opinions are posted regarding them, is pretty much a violation of the principles that guide personal blogging. The content in controversy relates to kimkins and his related profits of course.
On another forum, a thread with many good points regarding sales / conflicts of interest / support of the kimkins plan for money despite that he is not even doing it was going on. I pointed Jimmy to it and told him he ought to come defend himself.
His response: I’ve got better things to do with my time.
Then he did post on his blog about it, but he seems to have deliberately avoided all the key points that need response, instead insisting it’s just some irrational prejudice against his choice of plan, he is so victimized by everyone.
Regarding that choice of plan (Kimkins), one of the disputes is that his extensive profitable selling of it is allegedly because he’s on it, but he’s really not, so apparently he’s just claiming it to make the profit from the ’sales’ his ’success story’ blogging posts generate. Regarding the actual dietary plan as he himself has presented it, here’s quoting myself (quoting him) from elsewhere:
On one of his posts/comments about this he mentioned he ate “a bit more fat” than the Kimkins plan, and in another wrote that he “also” eats:
Quote:
ChocoPerfection chocolate, low-carb bread, low-carb wraps, sugar-free Jello, cinnamon and Splenda, yogurt–pretty much WHATEVER low-carb foods I want to supplement my diet.
On another he wrote:
Quote:
For example, I eat a little more fat than Kimmer would probably prefer (I usually put 2 big tablespoons of mayonnaise in my salmon salad) and I’m not as convinced that you shouldn’t be subtracting fiber since it does not impact blood sugar like sugars or even sugar alcohols do. Sugar alcohols also don’t raise my blood sugar, so I allow a little bit of those, too.
Plus, I’m not supposed to eat anything but lean protein sources on K/E, but I eat regular eggs rather than the recommended egg whites or Eggbeaters and I regularly consume sugar-free sweet pickles, Splenda-sweetened yogurt, seeds, and the occasional slice of that fabulous low-carb bread from Francis Simun Bakery.
One of the commenters on one of his posts about this wrote,
…you’re not doing Kimkins, why do you keep saying you are when it’s clear you’re not?
If the calories and fat are higher than her primary plan, not to mention all the frankenfood crap, then it really isn’t any different from any other lowcarb plan (well, except the other plans don’t pay him for link referrals, is that really the difference?).
Quoted from a previous post here, someone wrote:
…considering that on the Kimkins site, K clearly states in the instructional section:
Question: Can I modify the Kimkins Food Lists?
Please don’t. If it’s not the list [sic], don’t eat or drink it!
Regarding slight modifications of the plan, Kim is quoted as having said:
“I hope you won’t think I’m a total snot for saying this, but please don’t “modify” Kimkins. Just call your plan Atkins instead.” - Kimmer
A commenter elsewhere pointed out:
Quote:
I am surprised Kimmer isnt under pressure to tell Jimmy that what he is doing isnt Kimkins. Then again what motivation would she have for doing so? He can eat cake all day and claim its Kimkins and she would turn a blind eye as long as she was making money. I wish someone would post her comment in Jimmys blog. Of course he wouldnt let it go through so there would be little point in it. […] Atkins may have said its okay to customize your plan but Jimmy isnt claiming to be following Atkins, he is claiming to follow Kimkins and it is clearly stated that the plan should not be modified. It does not matter if he can lose the weight or not eating these products. It is not a fair representation.
But wait, there’s more.
3 - Then it turned out that over on the site LowCarb Newsline (co-owned by Moore and another but allegedly an open forum/site) there was a comment made by a user (female) named Sloe Mule on one of Jimmy’s articles related to kimkins that read:
7/13/2007 6:36:01 PM by Sloe Mule
You’ve lost your credibility as the “voice” of low carbohydrate eating. But carry on. By the way, your use of CAPITALIZATION in an attempt to somehow validate and/or illustrate your opinion as fact is trite and tiresome.
Jimmy “moderated” this comment to INSTEAD read, from the user to himself:
7/13/2007 6:36:01 PM by Sloe Mule
You’re the best. Thank you for being the “voice” of low carbohydrate eating
And then he ‘replied’ to the ‘new’ comment he’d invented,
7/14/2007 12:57:33 PM by Jimmy Moore
Thank you for those kind words, sloe! It’s my pleasure to provide the best low-carb information I can possibly give. God bless you for your appreciation for what I do. Take care!
The user, unable to edit their comment, finally changed their username in order to get the message through to others. Suddenly their comment looked like this:
7/13/2007 6:36:01 PM by BEWARE! My Comment Was Moderated By Jimmy Moore
You’re the best. Thank you for being the “voice” of low carbohydrate eating.
When this was commented on by one of the regulars who posts there, and when it became a controversy on another forum, Jimmy went back to the thread and added to the comments:
You got me!
With all the negative vibes surrounding this Kimkins controversy everyone is so caught up in right now at the Low-Carb Friends forum, I thought it would be fun to have a little fun…sure was funny!
I guess you got me in the end, didn’t you? LOL!
In response, the regular (Regina) commented:
Quote:
Jimmy, that you’d tamper with and completely alter a comment, from what can only be “utter disgust” to “complete adoration” speaks volumes and you brush that off as a “joke”?
You may feel like you’re under fire within some of the low-carb community (on other forums) but to bring it here - totally inappropriate IMO.
You want to be taken seriously, yet when confronted with a criticism, you disregard an individual’s right to disagree with you, criticize you unfettered and CHANGE what they said and then have the audacity to reply back, as if you received accolades?
HELLO! How exactly is it funny you just engaged in censorship on your own site - simply because you feel you were being criticized?
and Jimmy replied:
Quote:
I’m sorry you feel that way, Regina, but I didn’t “bring it here.” It was brought here by the very people who are whispering behind my back about me and they know nothing about me. That’s what is so absolutely hilarious about all of this.
The good thing is I DID post EXACTLY what this person sent to me and it was all in good fun. Sorry you didn’t get the joke, my friend.
No censorship, just a little practical joke. HILARIOUS! Hee hee!
By the way, I am remaining positive despite the attempts by those at Low-Carb Friends who are trying to demonize me over my choice of a diet. How much more petty can you get that THAT?
Somehow, he can:
* delete fair comments from his own blog
* radically reverse comments to him in other places from ‘you suck’ to ‘you’re great jimmy’,
* ‘not mention’ the massive financial conflict of interest he’s had on his blog for at least 10 months if not longer,
* deliberately insist for his ad-bloggings that he’s doing kimkins while he is clearly not (but saying so and claiming success is selling it),
* and then…
IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT, LCF-ers!
He is a helpless victim of current discussion on this thread, that is all.
P.S. But making a helluva profit from his misery, heh.
July 15th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Jimmy Moore: Any credibility you had left …..
You. Just. Blew. It. Dude.
July 15th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
It’s obvious that “Kimmer” is a fraud. Otherwise, why is she hiding?
It’s disgusting how Jimmy Moore attempts to cover up this fact just to make more money.
His cover up is reminiscent of the catholic church cover up of peophile priests.
Shame on you Jimmy!
July 16th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Posted as a comment on Jimmy’s “Unilateral Nutritionism” post:
“Are you creatively editing comments posted on your main blog here like you did on LowCarbNewsline or are you just completely censoring comments that you don’t like?”
July 16th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
“Kimmerexia”
…priceless
July 16th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Although I’ve created an account on LCF and performed the “one last step” for registration, I have now been refused to be allowed to post there under this name as “inappropriate.” Jimmy Moore isn’t the only one who is being heavy handed in “moderating” his forum.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Way upthread now, Jimmy writes:
“While I respect everyone’s opinions about this subject, I don’t think personal questions about my integrity or motivations for having Kimkins as an affiliate at my blog should be called into question any more than my other sponsors or affiliates. It’s called business.
Just because I make money when someone purchases a product or service on my blog doesn’t mean there is some ulterior motive or something inherently wrong with that. This is now what I do for my career and nobody is being forced to purchase anything. That’s the beauty of advertising whether it is on the radio, television or on the Internet.
While I will leave the rumor mill to people who choose to live there, the purpose of my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog is to educate, encourage, and inspire as many people to lose weight and get healthy the low-carb way.”
So which is it, Jimmy? A business or a means to inspire? When you want to be able to earn as much money as you want, you hide behind the business moniker. When someone questions your integrity (a valid question concerning you are making money on your “advice”) you hide behind the “educate, encourage, and inspire” rationale.
You can’t have it both ways.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
In August it seems Jimmy Moore was already in deep with kimkins. Heidi was excited enough about a rumour she planted to include him on the list of places to “plant” the rumor blogged about by Martin (author of this site).
KIMMER: I don’t care if it’s one of Martin’s sites, LOL. We have “almost credible” information that Jessica Alba did Kimkins. We can certainly exploit, I mean, post on the blog, website, newsletter, Jimmy?
July 18th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Boy, on, boy!
Jimmy, man, you forgot your waders.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Found this one, linked from another post here, and thought it would be good to include here too!
http://duckyopines.wordpress.com/
July 18th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
“Lauren, I appreciate your perspective as always. Since I’ve put myself out there in the low-carb world, people look up to me and what I have to say. I don’t at all mind that role and I embrace it willingly. But when you have people like this fellow blogger who has now removed a link to my blog just because I am talking about Kimkins, there’s something BAD wrong with this picture.
What did I do to deserve this kind of judgment and wrath? Does it not even matter I’ve lost 34.5 pounds in just over a month? Has all the work I’ve done at my blog the past 2+ years account for NOTHING? Why such rage all of a sudden when Kimkins has been “out there” for over a year?
Maybe I should just shut down the blog for good at this point. What’s the use anymore if people are gonna act like this?”
July 27th, 2007 at 11:54 am
[…] Then Heidi did something so inexplicably vindictive and downright wrong that Catherine has not forgiven her: she attempted to smear Catherine’s honesty and integrity to Kimkins.com’s most successful affiliate, Jimmy Moore. […]
July 29th, 2007 at 6:26 am
[…] In the Kimkins controversy storm that has swirled these past few weeks around the net’s most popular low carb blogger, Jimmy Moore, I had started to wonder whether my admiration of the man had been misplaced. Turns out, absolutely not! […]