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A Weight Loss Example

Holding myself up as a weight loss example.

 

I show signs of insulin resistance.

What are these signs?

 

My exercise level has remained consistent and, for a long time, my eating habits were also consistent. While my eating habits are sometimes as imperfect as I am, for the most part, I kept things mostly in balance.

In spite of fairly clean eating and regular exercise I’ve still managed to store some unwanted body fat.

The trend has continued for awhile so I’ve accepted the obvious. The insulin isn’t working for me the way I would like, and if I keep heading down this road Type 2 Diabetes is a definite risk.

 

Then I read a book and listened to compelling science based evidence from a South African University Professor (Prof. Tim Noakes). After that my diet changed to a low carb, high fat (LCHF) style of eating and things have been changing for the better. One month into my lifestyle change I have reduced 20lbs of body fat, lowered my blood pressure and snack cravings are virtually non-existent.  No starving, no deprivation, no extreme physical training. Just good food and a trimmer waistline.

 

Simply put, if you are insulin resistant your body’s cells are not readily accepting glucose from insulin. Instead the insulin stores the glucose in a fat cell and you get fat. High carb foods provide a large amount of glucose.  By reducing or eliminating carbohydrates from your diet, your body will use fat to provide energy. It’s interesting to learn that there is no conclusive scientific evidence proving that the human body has a minimum carbohydrate requirement. It’s a different story for fat and protein, but carbs can be avoided and your body will get along just fine.

 

Oddly enough, eating fat doesn’t make you fat. Eating carbohydrates to excess does. Seems a little confusing after reading how being fat is bad then reading that eating fat is good.

When you reduce the amount of carbohydrate in your diet you do not “lose” carbohydrate/insulin resistance. You will still be insulin resistant but you will not be feeding the problem with carbohydrates.

It’s like having an allergy to bee stings. You will always have the allergy, even if you aren’t being stung by bees.

 

So what was the name of the book I read? “The Real Meal Revolution” by Prof. Tim Noakes (available at Pharmasave in Summerland). It’s part scientific journal and part cookbook (prepare to salivate). It includes assorted studies and papers detailing how reduction of carbohydrate from your diet will have positive effect on a number of disease states, like type 2 diabetes, as well as case studies and anecdotal evidence proving Prof. Noakes’  theory.

 

I also recommend listening to Prof. Tim Noakes’ many podcast interviews. Particularly a presentation featuring Prof. Noakes on the podcast “Living La Vida Low Carb”. A few more scientific studies are presented there as well.

 

That’s what’s worked for me thus far.

 

Speak to the Live Well Team at Pharmasave to see what lifestyle change options are healthy for you.

 

 

Dan Cassidy, Nutritional Product Advisor