Ready to Hit the Reset Button and Jumpstart your Health?

Boy do I!!! I have been on vacation in Europe. The main problem with Europe is that I find that I can partake of bread and not break out into a rash. The flour is definitely different and does not cause the reactions that I have here in the states. One thing that is the same…bread goes straight to your middle.

The scale didn’t really show much of a change but the tape measure did. Relying on the scale can not only be deceiving but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Taking your body measurements with a flexible measuring tape is a great way to monitor progress, or in my case, regression.

The scale showed a 3 pound change in my weight but the tape measure showed a 2 inch gain in my waist. My other measurements were also up but very slightly. It was my waist measurement that was the most jaw dropping.

If I ever doubted where my extra carbs (sugar) go, this recent experience removed all doubt.

Insulin is not your friend

Our old friend insulin is at it again.

Sugar from carbohydrates spikes glucose levels in your blood and that in turn causes insulin to increase to sop up the glucose.

The liver takes the excess carbohydrates and turns them in to glycogen which can be used as an energy source. When glycogen storage is full (your liver and muscles), your body converts the excess in to body fat.

This fat is stored around your internal organs called visceral fat, under the skin lovingly referred to as cellulite or , worst yet, in your liver leading to fatty liver disease.

How to Burn Fat

The fat that is stored is for long-term energy. It is only accessed when the supply of glycogen is gone. If you keep eating large amounts of carbohydrates (bread, pasta, sweets, rice, etc) then your body never needs to tap in to its fat storage.

Cut back on the simple carbohydrates and this cycle is broken and fat reserves can be tapped into once all your glycogen stores are empty.

This low carbohydrate way of eating will flatten your blood glucose levels so there are not huge spikes causing insulin to spike as well. When your insulin levels go down, you will be able to access those fat stores in your body.

Not everyone has insulin resistance. We all know people who can eat whatever they want and not put on the weight. If you are that person, this information is not for you.

If you so much as smell bread and gain weight, welcome to my club. I would highly recommend testing your insulin levels. Glucose levels are normally included in your basic blood work but knowing your fasting blood glucose and insulin can give you massive insight into what is going on in your body.

Ordering your own blood work through one of many online labs is the most efficient way to get exactly the blood values you want. Visit several and find the one that has the lowest price on the tests you want. They also run sales periodically so keep an eye out for those as well.

Here are some websites for you to order your own blood work:

Ulta Lab Tests

Walk In Labs – This is a link to my rewards. I receive 100 reward points for referrals which I greatly appreciate.

Personal Labs

Ready to Reset?

The very first thing that I do is to track my food. Use an app for tracking. It is relatively easy to enter what you eat and all the math is done for you. Cronometer and Lose It! are two that I have used but of course there are many to choose from.

Please don’t worry about exact measurements. Make your best estimates and enter it in the app. The only thing that needs to be exact is what you are consuming.

It is hard to hide from facts. Most of the time I eat intuitively since I have been low carb for over 20 years. However, everyone falls off the wagon every now and then and this first step always helps me get back on track.

Give it a try and see what you think!