What makes you fat? Carbs? Fats? Proteins?
The scientific answer is Insulin. The hormone insulin makes it possible to store fat. Historically Insulin was the life insurance hormone. During times of plenty, the body uses Insulin to take the extra glucose from the bloodstream and direct it to fat cells that convert the glucose to fat. In times of famine, the stored fat kept our ancestors alive until they could catch more food.
Three cheers for Insulin!!!
Dr. Jason Fung has provided this great graph that outlines the body’s use of insulin to store and burn fat. The red section shows the body in the “fed state” while releasing insulin to store fat. The green section is that wonderful time when the body burns fat to fuel the body and keep us alive.
Ghrelin Levels are from Natalucci G et al. European J Endo 152:845-851
I have added the insulin cycle to Dr. Fung’s chart and also ghrelin Levels. Ghrelin is the hunger hormone. When the body feels it’s time to eat, it releases Ghrelin, and we feel hungry. In other words, when your stomach’s growlin’, your Ghrelins swellin’. Note that you do not just keep getting more and more hungry. The hunger rises and then recedes like the waves on the sea. This means if you can push through the hunger without eating, the feeling will go away, and you will feel fine.
| When having a problem with fasting, tell yourself |
| “I am a good person; I can do this.” So, what can you do? |
| 1. Have a cup of black coffee, hot or iced |
| 2. Have a glass of ice water. |
| 3. Have a cup of hot water. |
| 4. Have a glass of unflavored club soda. |
| 5. Have a cup of green or black tea with no cream or sugar |
| 6. Take three deep breaths, set a timer for 30 minutes, and tell yourself when the timer goes off; I will have something or reset it for 30 more minutes. |
| 7. Get active walk, workout or write a letter or email to a friend or family |
| 8. Weed the flowers or garden. |
| 9. In short – keep busy! |
How often a person eats can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the body’s response to high insulin levels over years and years of overeating. Once a person becomes insulin resistant, it takes more and more insulin to drive the glucose into the fat cells. This process can become so extreme that the person can become prediabetic and eventually develop type II diabetes. The good news is you can reverse the process by controlling the time you eat. Through fasting and limiting eating to a specific time window, you can slowly retrain your body to reduce the amount of insulin it needs to function correctly.
By following a fasting lifestyle, you can avoid a future filled with stroke, heart attacks, and many other obesity-related health problems.
I would love to share more information on weight loss with you. Also, I would love to hear your story. Please feel free to use the email link below to get in touch with me to chat or to set up a complimentary phone consultation.
Please note I am not a doctor or dietitian. The information provided is from my personal experiences, successes, and failures. Before starting any diet or making significant changes in your dietary lifestyle, always check with your doctor or health care professional.
