In 1999, George weighed 467 pounds and was on disability leave from his job. His fifteen-year-old son weighed 300 pounds, and his older son and wife both topped 200 pounds each. Recognizing the health crisis they were in, the Stella family began a whole new way of eating and together shed more than 550 pounds. With George's background as a chef at some of Florida's finest restaurants, the Stella family was able to create their own recipes for delicious low-carb meals.

Livin' Low-Carb contains more than 125 of these quick, easy, restaurant-quality recipes, including favorites, such as Low-carb Pizza, Tequila Chicken Quesadillas, Maple Pecan Pancakes, and Quick Chocolate Almond Ice Cream. George knows how to feed all kinds of appetites on all kinds of budgets. Even picky eaters will find recipes they like and tips on how to substitute low-carb ingredients and still enjoy their favorite comfort foods.

More than just recipes, Livin' Low-Carb offers the Stellas' own inspirational story and advice for other families looking to transform their health and diets. With sensitivity and a sense of humor, George answers frequently asked questions, such as how to eat low-carb while traveling, which foods are highest in carbohydrates, and whether eating a low-carb diet is safe.

Livin' Low-Carb is a practical and inspirational guide to adopting a low-carb diet the whole family will enjoy.

"The low-carb diet may be a popular fad, but for Stella (host of Food Network's Low Carb and Lovin' It) it's a permanent way of life. By the time he was 40, Stella weighed 467 lbs. and was suffering from congestive heart failure. On a whim, he and his wife decided to try eating a diet low in carbs. Much to their surprise, they both began losing weight while eating things they used to think were off-limits (like bacon, eggs and real butter). Stella never looked back after that. As a great food lover and professional chef, he wanted to make low-carb foods enjoyable and knew he had the ability to do so. Through much trial and error, he came up with what are now his favorite recipes, compiled in his very own cookbook. First, he explains his food plan, playfully stressing that he is a chef, not a doctor. He lists seven simple rules for following the plan, and then delves into his recipes. Each one has a personal introduction, and most also include helpful 'Cook's Tips' and useful inside info (like which brand names he prefers for certain recipes). Stella's enthusiastic, friendly style is enticing, just like his food, and his recipes reflect his lively personality, making them doubly appetizing. Anyone who fears the dreaded diet deprivation will be delighted to find recipes such as Bald Calzone, Low-Carb Pizza, George's Gorgeous Macadamia Banana Muffins and Stella Style New York Ricotta Cheesecake. Equally delightful is his claim that 'when you're low-carbing Stella Style, you don't have to quit eating until you're full.'" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Dana Carpender, author of the best-selling 500 Low-Carb RecipesGeorge and his wife, Rachel, are really truly chefs (unlike me, who is merely a good home cook) with a low-carb story to tell. If you think I'm on a mission from God, wait till you meet George!

George lost weight with Stella Style: "eating fresh foods, using low-carb ingredients to reinvent your old favorites, developing better eating habits, and, most of all — eating food you love!" And he wasn't the only one: The entire Stella family shed more than 560 pounds.

In Livin' Low Carb, George has brought together more than 125 of the Stella family's favorite recipes. For breakfast there are Blueberry Pancakes or George's Gorgeous Macadamia Banana Muffins. For lunch or dinner try Low-Carb Pizza, Tequila Chicken Quesadillas, Spaghetti Squash Alfredo, Lasagna, Anaheim Shrimp Scampi, and Southern Fried Chicken. And don't forget soups, salads, and vegetables! You'll find recipes here for Key West Caesar Salad, Turkey Vegetable Soup, and Garlic Mock Mashed Potatoes. If it's sweets you crave, try Chocolate Pecan Brownies or New York Ricotta Cheesecake. There are also party recipes (Nutty Muddy Trail Mix, Teriyaki Sesame Tuna Skewers), tasty drink concoctions (Strawberry Milkshakes, Lemon-Lime Slushees), and a wide array of condiments and dressings (including Quick and Easy Ketchup and Thousand Island Dressing).

These recipes feature easy-to-find, low-carb ingredients that will fit any budget. More than just a cookbook, Livin' Low Carb is a practical guide to a sustainable low-carb lifestyle.

The Stella family began a whole new way of eating and together shed more than 550 pounds. With George's background as a chef at some of Florida's finest restaurants, the Stella family was able to create their own recipes for delicious low-carb meals.