You may have heard the term insulin resistance. You see the word insulin and figure that it must have something to do with blood sugar. You’d be right! Insulin Resistance is when glucose goes knockin’ at the door to your cells and wants to be let in so that you have energy and feel full. Problem is, insulin has the key and if that key isn’t working then glucose doesn’t get in. This results in you being tired, hungry and in many cases, overweight. Insulin resistance is often called pre-diabetes.
Click here for a ten question quiz that can determine the likelihood that you are
insulin resistant.
Why would you have Insulin Resistance?
If you are carrying around extra weight, especially around your middle, you can become insulin resistant. Overeating is one way that belly fat is created. Another is stress. Cortisol is the hormone that is released when you are under stress. I know that there is not a woolly mammoth chasing you right now but your primitive brain is still….well, primitive. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a deadline at work, dealing with stubborn kids or worry about paying your bills and your protective mechanism of primal fear. In the presence of fear your body will conserve fat in case there is a famine which is what it needed to do when we were cavemen or cavepeople. Just like a camel who has a reserve of water, just in case. Your belly fat is there “just in case.”
If you sit all day with no other activity you can develop insulin resistance. In fact, insulin resistance can occur after even 3 days of bed rest. Your metabolism is the rate at which you convert food or fuel into energy. That slows right down when you are sitting. When the metabolism slows so does the ability to control blood sugar, blood pressure and break down belly (and body) fat.
You might develop insulin resistance if you eat too many high glycemic foods.
I explain it more here…
Health conditions can also cause insulin resistance such as gestational diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome. If you have one of these conditions don’t lose hope. Make an appointment and we can talk about your specialized situation and I can help you resolve it. Pay attention to the signs and symptoms of Insulin Resistance.
Indicators of Insulin Resistance
A waistline over 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women
Blood pressure readings of 130/80 or higher
A fasting glucose level over 100 mg/dL
A fasting triglyceride level over 150 mg/dL
Fasting insulin greater than 6
A HDL cholesterol level under 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women
Skin tags
Dark skin discoloration particularly in the armpits, groin and neck.
What can I do?
If you rated high on the quiz, you are probably insulin resistant or on your way to being insulin resistant. If you are insulin resistant and continue the way you are going you will probably become diabetic. Let’s prevent that together and lose some belly fat as well.
- Avoid simple sugars and limit grains, fruit and starchy vegetables because they stimulate insulin secretion. Increase non-starchy vegetables and protein.
- Make sure your Vitamin D level on a blood test is 70-90 ng/ml. We test it in our clinic regularly and so should you.
- Include resistance training (lifting weights) and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts making sure to modify as needed. Exercising for 30 minutes 5 times a week.
- Get 7-9 hours of good sleep a night. Let us know if you need help achieving this.
- Give yourself some “Chill Time” for 20 minutes a day in the form of meditation, prayer or reflective strolling.
- Join the 10-day Supercharged Cleanse or the 6-Week Supercharged Method Program.
We can get you on the right track and see some amazing results. All by learning how your body and brain works, eating freakin’ delicious whole foods and following The Supercharged Method. It will be more fun than a barrel of monkeys and if you are local we will be visiting my personal Disney world, Trader Joe’s!!! There I will show you all my favorite foods and spices that will rock your world. Join us by clicking….
Here! Yes, right here will take you to more info and registration 🙂
Start times vary. Contact our clinic to find out when our next round starts.
Let’s get this party started!!
Dr. Stacey