Well this sucks...

[SilentStalkr]

So, I’m 38 now and have always been in good health. Went in for a checkup the other day and now all of a sudden this last visit to the doc and the one previous, I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and now my fasting blood sugar was 112. That’s no bueno. Damn. So, nothing but gym, water, no processed foods, oatmeal and cooking again several times a week for me.

 

[Veer_G]

So, I’m 38 now and have always been in good health. Went in for a checkup the other day and now all of a sudden this last visit to the doc and the one previous, I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and now my fasting blood sugar was 112. That’s no bueno. Damn. So, nothing but gym, water, no processed foods, oatmeal and cooking again several times a week for me.

Shit happens, and you try and deal. I got diagnosed with congestive heart failure in January, 2001, not much older than you are now. I'm running on good meds and spitefulness at this point.

 

[PPB]

I feel friggin fabulous !! High BP, diabetes, prosthetic hip, arthritic knees. Fukitall. I am still alive and riding dirt, enjoying the good life. Dig in boy. Make it as good as you can make it.

 

[Rthur]

Kick the fast food and chips/soda out of your diet.
Add some workout 3-4 times a week.
As you feel better the above will become easier.

R

 

[Milo 2.5]

At your age the blood sugar would be the concern, pills and exercise will knock your BP down, statins will all but eliminate most of the cholesterol issues other than triglycerides which can be connected to your BS.
Unless you are a hereditary disaster, a diet change and some exercise should bring it in check.
If you really like your beer, it could be a struggle.

 

[MarinePMI]

At your age the blood sugar would be the concern, pills and exercise will knock your BP down, statins will all but eliminate most of the cholesterol issues other than triglycerides which can be connected to your BS.
Unless you are a hereditary disaster, a diet change and some exercise should bring it in check.
If you really like your beer, it could be a struggle.

This ^^^^

I was pre-hypertensive 4 years ago. Started hitting the gym 3-4 times a weak, lost 30 lbs of body fat (and put on about 25lbs of lean muscle mass) and stopped cooking anything from a box, or drinking any calories (soda, sport drinks, etc.). Did wonders. Now, I occasionally indulge in some fast food, but my diet of only food made from scratch has pretty much stuck, and it shows.

I think the quote I heard (that I try and stick by) is: "You can eat anything you want. Pie, cookies, steak, mashed potatoes, whatever. There's just one rule. You have to cook it yourself."

If you follow that rule, you'll be amazed at how much crap you cut out of your diet.

 

[Milo 2.5]

Wishing you luck with this, you do not want to be diabetic in your early 40's. All 3 can be linked together, but diabetes is a life changer, usually not in your favor.

 

[1J04]

Heed the advice Brother, your numbers can correct following the above. When that sinks in it's a no brainer. I've got no choice as well but to get healthier or it's gonna be a fucked up road ahead.........

Best to ya !!!!

 

[Flyingbullseye]

Good luck getting your health back in check. BTW normal blood sugar is 90-120 so you're actually normal. The rest especially cholesterol and high BP, usually because of our bad eating habits in this country.

 

[MarinePMI]

I'd highly recommend reading a copy of "The Barbell Prescription" (whether you intend to strength train or not). It has some very good insights into aging, and the things that impact/retard aging where it can, and things that can at least maintain a higher quality of life over time.

Should be required reading for anyone over 40 yrs old.

 

[Jefe's Dope]

I got no dog in this fight but if I was diagnosed with high cholesterol I'd be reading all I could.

https://www.docsopinion.com/2013/01/28/the-great-cholesterol-myth/

Blood sugar is a whole other issue altogether. That's where I'd focus my energies if this was my diagnosis.

 

[jinxx4ever]

i'm lucky, my wife's a GREAT cook. We raise our own beef, chickens , rabbits for meat. Have our own garden. We Don't like fast food or even eating out. Maybe twice a year. Everyone on my dads side dies of heart attacks. He died at 51. My doc has me take all kinds of blood test every couple years. Says i'm in better condition than most half my age, i'm 62, 6'2" & 215lbs. I show no signs of anything wrong anywhere. Eat 3 eggs, 2 slabs of suasage, and a slice of toast with real butter and honey from our own beehives , every morning, substitute bacon every now and then. We used to have our own milk cows , but i got tired of milking 7 days a week, and the kids wanting milk but not helping out with chores, so i sold them a couple of years ago and we now buy it from a friend that has their own cows. Nothing like fresh whole milk with cream sitting on top. My one vice (besides guns & ammo) I am am ice cream junkie, eat a bowl almost every nite after supper. Kinda hard on the weight in the winter, but i drop the extra 10lbs i gain in the winter, as soon as the days get longer. Little alcohol doesn't hurt either as i own a liquor store, so I like a couple toddies in the evening consisting of crown & coke. Good for the digestion

 

[308220]

Everything is diet/gut related. When you eat junk, your body shows and tells. You should try intermittent fasting or a 5:2 diet.

Fasting heals the body of 95% of ailments.

 

[SilentStalkr]

Wishing you luck with this, you do not want to be diabetic in your early 40's. All 3 can be linked together, but diabetes is a life changer, usually not in your favor.

Thanks! I am going to give it a go but I just found out I may be screwed regardless. My dad is a diabetic, my grandfather on my mom’s side was a diabetic and my grandmother on my dads side was a diabetic. But, I damn sure ain’t going to let that hold me back. Giving it 110% today. I refuse to take pills and all that other nonsense.

Heed the advice Brother, your numbers can correct following the above. When that sinks in it's a no brainer. I've got no choice as well but to get healthier or it's gonna be a fucked up road ahead.........

Best to ya !!!!

Agreed!

Good luck getting your health back in check. BTW normal blood sugar is 90-120 so you're actually normal. The rest especially cholesterol and high BP, usually because of our bad eating habits in this country.

1000% agree with the eating habits and the crap they put in our food being the problem!!!!

Everything is diet/gut related. When you eat junk, your body shows and tells. You should try intermittent fasting or a 5:2 diet.

Fasting heals the body of 95% of ailments.

I’ve got a buddy that does this and he has been encouraging me To try it. So, I may add that in the mix. It can’t hurt by any means

 

[TheMammoth]

As previously said, cut sugar. Like all of it. Focus on exercise, vegetables and unprocessed meat.

It’s amazingly easy once you get past the first few weeks, and you’ll feel great.

My blood panels are perfect now and I’ve lost almost 60 lbs with minimal effort.

 

[jinxx4ever]

Fructose is from corn syrup. Just try finding something in ur food pantry that doesn't consist of corn syrup

 

[SilentStalkr]

I now you hate me, but I'm going to help you anyhow.

All of your symptoms are most likely related to your Fructose intake. Cut out all Fructose and all your problems will go away. Sounds like conspiracy theory horse crap right?
Well, I had the exact same symptoms as you, even had a heart attack.... Yup, I have a stent in my artery. Cholesterol was 300, blood pressure was 160 over something, etc...

Then I watched a video by Dr. Robert Lustig (University of California SF). He's one of those over educated types we love to hate and ridicule. You know, the type that give us the internet, solve medical problems, puts men on the moon, etc.

Sugar, such as table sugar, contains 50% Fructose and fructose is toxic to the human body. There's only one organ in your body that can metabolize fructose and there's only one thing it can do with it. Your liver is the only organ and through a long chain of enzymatic activity, the only thing it can do is turn the fructose into LDL Cholesterol. LDL is the really bad stuff that constricts arteries, raises blood pressure, and causes heart attacks.

And the damn food industry has hidden the fructose everywhere. From breakfast cereal to bread, hotdogs, canned foods, crackers, drinks, etc. Its literally EVERYWHERE in processed food.

Some sugars are fine for you, such as Glucose. Every cell in your body, in fact every living creature on the planet, can metabolize and burn glucose for energy. But fructose is NOT glucose, its a very different molecule and its basically poison.

Sometimes you just can't avoid the sugar, so the solution is to eat a boat load of oatmeal before, or while, consuming the sugar. Oatmeal contains lots of fiber which binds to the sugar, surrounds and encapsulates it, and prevents your body from absorbing it. Kind of like throwing a pieces of wet sticky chewing gum into a pile of sawdust.

My cardiologist had me on 5 different medications to thin my blood, lower my blood pressure, etc etc. And for 4 years, they were about 20% successful. My cholesterol dropped from 300 to about 260 and blood pressure went from 160 to about 140.

Then I discovered the whole sugar thing and cut it all out of my diet... and I mean all of it. Just six months later, the doctor asked me what the hell happened? My blood pressure went down to 118/65, my cholesterol went down to 180. Keep in mind, I never lost a pound of weight, nor did I start any exercise routine beyond what I normally do around the house like chop wood and mow the grass. The key here is that I didn't go on a calorie restricted diet.

I'm off the medications for blood pressure and cholesterol. No longer need them. He said in 30 years of practicing medicine, I'm the first patient he's ever had that was able to get off the meds at my age.

There are 46 different names for sugar, learn them, and learn to avoid the Fructose. Fructose is why all of America is fat. Fructose is WHY we have a health care crises in our country and everyone you meet is a diabetic by the time they're 40.

I'm not selling you anything, there's no political angle or religious angle. Trust me, find the sources of sugar in your food and cut them all out.. All of them.
The only sugars you are allowed to consume are those which are found naturally in the foods. You CAN NOT drink any fruit juice ever again, but you can eat the fruit! You can not drink orange juice, but you can eat a whole orange. No apple juice, but you can certainly eat an apple.

You might think orange juice is good for you and its not a processed food right? Heck, its just orange juice. To which I would say: How the hell does anyone think it became juice? It was processed!

Get on youtube and search Dr. Robert Lustig.. and watch his videos.

I don’t hate you! Lol. Thanks for the info. I will certainly check it out.

As previously said, cut sugar. Like all of it. Focus on exercise, vegetables and unprocessed meat.

It’s amazingly easy once you get past the first few weeks, and you’ll feel great.

My blood panels are perfect now and I’ve lost almost 60 lbs with minimal effort.

Agreed. Getting past those first few weeks will be rough but once I get in a routine I’ll be good to go, I hope!

 

[MtnCreek]

I call dibs on any high end scopes or spotters!

 

[TheMammoth]

I don’t hate you! Lol. Thanks for the info. I will certainly check it out.



Agreed. Getting past those first few weeks will be rough but once I get in a routine I’ll be good to go, I hope!

You can do it, man!

 

[Rthur]

I don’t hate you! Lol. Thanks for the info. I will certainly check it out.

Wonder where the belief came from that if you disagree with someone you must hate them?...

R

 

[TheMammoth]

That would be The Left. Haha

 

[VP47PPC]

Sugar, such as table sugar, contains 50% Fructose and fructose is toxic to the human body. There's only one organ in your body that can metabolize fructose and there's only one thing it can do with it. Your liver is the only organ and through a long chain of enzymatic activity, the only thing it can do is turn the fructose into LDL Cholesterol. LDL is the really bad stuff that constricts arteries, raises blood pressure, and causes heart attacks.

+1

 

[powdahound76]

Kick sugar.

Get rid of crap food, such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweetners, processed crap.

It takes time and effort. What is your health worth?
If you have problems that require meds, take them. If not, adjust your life focused on health.

Like you, I am 38. I do my best to work out 6 days a week and eat pretty clean. Keeps me healthy and my mind more sane (not close to “normal”, just sane for me ?).

 

[VP47PPC]

Ya, sort of, but no, not really.

Pure corn syrup is just glucose, but manufacturers put it through an enzymatic process that converts about 1/2 of the glucose to fructose because fructose is a lot sweeter than glucose. This is where the term "high fructose corn syrup" comes from.

But on its own, corn syrup is not fructose, its almost 100% glucose. Table sugar, which is called "sucrose" is actually a 50/50 combination of glucose and fructose, but table sugar is expensive as compared to just pulling the sweetener from corn, which is plentiful.

Anyone wonder why you can eat an orange but not drink orange juice? Its because orange juice has had the fiber parts of the orange fruit removed and its the fiber that stops your body from absorbing the sugars.

So why don't manufacturers just use healthy glucose in foods instead of fructose? Because fructose, which comes from corn, is a lot sweeter and they can use less of it which saves money.

Ya, I spent 6 months studying this crap to save my own life. Now, my household has no sugar in our foods. My wife is thin, my child is the thinnest in her whole classroom, and I should live a lot longer. All that and without any diet.

But boy to we pig out on fat.. Butters, creams, meats, fried foods.. Ya baby! None of it is bad for you. Just avoid the sugar.

I eat 30 eggs a week and at least three steaks and all of it is loaded with butter. My cholesterol hasn't gone up one bit.

 

[VP47PPC]

"the Perricone Prescription" this book will give you scientific ins and outs of why sugars are problematic and covers a lot of foods that are healthy and why. It empowers you with knowledge. Not everyone can "cure" their cholesterol with diet & activity but if you can better than drugs that are just a bandaid. Good luck.

 

[Seed tick]

Exercise, not high impact seal team 6 shit! But moderate cardio will help keep sugar in check and works immediately. That and watching those dam carbs. It sucks but works like a charm?

 

[MarinePMI]

Carbs are not necessarily evil. A high protein diet with a good ratio of carbs and fats is a good thing (assuming you are exercising/training). The low carb thing is not well understood, and is useful to only a subset of the population within a certain criteria of health related goals. A lot depends on individual physiology, current activities, and is not a blanket cure that many would have others believe.

The same goes for cardio. While it is a form of exercise, it has pros/cons that have to be married to the goals of what the individual is trying to achieve. For example, cardio (especially LISS type) is absolutely the worst thing to do when trying to add lean muscle mass. That being said, cardio (HIIT style specifically) is very beneficial for shedding body fat, while limiting it's impact on lean muscle mass loss.

BLUF: When it comes to exercise, goals/programming need to be established that meet the individual's intent of the exercise/training. This, married with a diet that matches their body type, current physical condition and state of health are what make long term, effective changes. It doesn't happen over night (especially for those of us who are on the other side of 40), and so patience and persistence are things that are paramount to success.

Diet is married to training (exercise). Training is married to physical goals. If you have a certain type of training, it will require a different diet than for some other type of training/exercise.

Nothing is cut & dried. Hence why so many spend (God knows how much) money and time trying different things. Some critical thinking here is necessary...

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Kick the fast food and chips/soda out of your diet.
Add some workout 3-4 times a week.
As you feel better the above will become easier.

R

^^^This^^^, and:

Hide the salt shaker, reduce intake of processed meats (cold cuts, etc.), start taking fish oil and putting dietary fiber in your daily coffee, etc.

BP is largely a product of retained water/fluid. I dropped the beer in favor of mixed drinks, but understand fluid is fluid, whether it's hard liquor or mixers, it all totals up in the same container, you. If I could stand neat whiskey, that would be my route, but... My daily fluid intake limit is 1800ml, and that's not so much after all.

Kep daily track of your weight at about the same time each day. I do after taking my morning meds and coffee. Gain three pounds in one day, or 5 in one week, and your off your program. There is no vacation from the program short of the grave. Drop the prgram, expect to die sooner.

I am looking at all of this from the other side of what you're trying to prevent. You have the chance to avoid what I didn't, and it sucks.

Life is still good, but it's way different; a series of 'never go back' trade offs. Don't be me.

Greg

 

[pmclaine]

Look into Keto.

Carbs are poison.

If it comes from a box it will kill you.

Dairy, meat and produce only. Avoid the middle of the grocery store.

Check with your Dr before doing what some dipshit on the internet, in a gun site no less, tells you what to do.

edit/add - @MarinePMI makes a good point about not all carbs being bad. Note most packages these days break carbs down into fiber and sugar. Avoid the added sugar its crap.

If you are an endurance athlete (in duress) carbs are required for fuel. For most people though they overdo it based on their activity and excess carbs are easy for our lazy bodies to store as fat.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

One thing that hardly ever gets talked about, is 'flour'. All of that "enriched" flour crap that one buys from the store, has had all the 'good stuff' removed.

When people grind their own wheat into flour, to get truly Whole Grain Flour, let me tell you your bread is DIFFERENT. One heck of a lot more healthy, also more filling, and definitely more tasty.

When you read the labels on bread, compared with making your own using honey instead of 'white sugar' and whatnot,,, it makes things better. Keep on the good path, it's something we ALL need to climb/battle/overcome in one way or another.

 

[jinxx4ever]

had a neighbor, ate healthy everyday, was a marathon runner, 30+ years on the fire department. Retired at 60 , 30 days later fell over dead with a heart attack. u just never know

 

[MarinePMI]

One thing that hardly ever gets talked about, is 'flour'. All of that "enriched" flour crap that one buys from the store, has had all the 'good stuff' removed.

When people grind their own wheat into flour, to get truly Whole Grain Flour, let me tell you your bread is DIFFERENT. One heck of a lot more healthy, also more filling, and definitely more tasty.

When you read the labels on bread, compared with making your own using honey instead of 'white sugar' and whatnot,,, it makes things better. Keep on the good path, it's something we ALL need to climb/battle/overcome in one way or another.

You happen to have a recipe for this bread? It sounds interesting (and being a foodie, always curious about something different).

 

[Rthur]

You happen to have a recipe for this bread? It sounds interesting (and being a foodie, always curious about something different).

While not a recipe we have been using English toasting sliced bread.
Much more like the original and better tasting compared to the white/sugar bread.

R

 

[MarinePMI]

Interesting. I'll have to give that a search (though admittedly, I suck as a baker). More reason to practice I suppose. Not a bad skill to have if the world goes sour, now that I think about it...

 

[Bleuz]

"Eat more Weigh Less by Dr. Dean Ornish", Easy to do, you lose weight, eat lots of food, blood sugar gets better, its easy program. Dean was treating patients with this program 30 years ago. It worked for me. My doc just shakes her head when she sees my bloodwork and blood pressure all I did was back off the alcohol, moderate exercise, and Deans eating style.

 

[Unknown]

Once people get to around 34-40 years old, almost everyone has something wrong. It might be a bad back, diabetes, some orthopedic issue, heart trouble, allergies, or who knows what. It is just like keeping an old car running...just keep fixing things, and as long as it gets you to where you want to go, enjoy the ride.

 

[powdahound76]

Carbs are awesome! @pmclaine ?

Depends how you get em. I usually eat fruit for a sweet treat. I use stevia and honey on my oats, real maple syrup on waffles (kids beg for them).
I have a weakness for pita chips. Of course the organic, non gmo kind to dip into my vegan organic hummus.
Other than those, my grains are all whole, all the time. Lots of cool stuff, including @sirhrmechanic favorite, quinoa! Especially with kale....? also wild rice, rice blends, etc. much better carb profile with that stuff.
I eat real butter, full fat greek yogurt, bacon, lots of eggs, red meat, pork, seafood , and occasionally some chicken.
I also eat a lot if vegetables. Mostly raw, some steamed, and rarely cooked.

I dont eat a lot of sweets. When I do (last 2 weeks) my gut is jacked and I fart every 3-5 minutes all day.
If you need sweets at whatever interval you deem appropriate, pure cane sugar is better than high fructose corn syrup all day every day (swear that stuff has a little crack in it) and any artificial sweetener.

Lots of great stuff out there. Lots of great info here from guys who know way way more than me. I focus on a whole diet and feeling my best.
Lots of great workout advice too.
@MarinePMI is consistently a great knowledge library and knows a ton.

Kick butt and feel amazing man!

 

[jbrand11]

Highly recommend The Obesity Code by Jason Fung MD.
Will give you much of the science behind what’s been said above.

 

[SilentStalkr]

Anybody eating Ezekiel bread?

 

[powdahound76]

I eat home made wheat with lots of seeds for my diverticuli or Daves Killer Bread.

The Daves is better than Ezekiel to me.

 

[AIAW]

Tell Little Debbie you'd like to start seeing other people. Let her down easy though, she's a sensitive gal.

Best of luck. Sounds like you are on the right track though, and you've also discovered this early rather than too late!

 

[uffduh]

Not saying I take it as it makes me feel like my commie brother from Boston and can’t tell my wife she’s right, but for gut related issues (and you’ll know if you’ve got them), L-Glutamine powder in the morning does a lot of good.

Phew, now that’s off my chest, time for another whiskey and some lead between the cheek and gum.

 

[clcustom1911]

Good luck getting your health back in check. BTW normal blood sugar is 90-120 so you're actually normal. The rest especially cholesterol and high BP, usually because of our bad eating habits in this country.

Exactly I've been doing medical shenanigans for many moons and blood glucose is anywhere from 70-110, 80-120 depending on which textbook you read, or what studies "they" use when teaching continuing education courses and updates.

Shop in the perimeter of the market... that's where "food" is... everything in the center is "products" - Pat MacNamara in his Combat Strength Training book.

 

[Strykervet]

Lots of good advice on here but none of it will help him if he's got low T but a T injection. It causes all the above and then some. If you take opiate pain meds for longer than six months, chances are you're feeling it.

 

[pmclaine]

Carbs are awesome! @pmclaine ?

Depends how you get em. I usually eat fruit for a sweet treat. I use stevia and honey on my oats, real maple syrup on waffles (kids beg for them).
I have a weakness for pita chips. Of course the organic, non gmo kind to dip into my vegan organic hummus.
Other than those, my grains are all whole, all the time. Lots of cool stuff, including @sirhrmechanic favorite, quinoa! Especially with kale....? also wild rice, rice blends, etc. much better carb profile with that stuff.
I eat real butter, full fat greek yogurt, bacon, lots of eggs, red meat, pork, seafood , and occasionally some chicken.
I also eat a lot if vegetables. Mostly raw, some steamed, and rarely cooked.

I dont eat a lot of sweets. When I do (last 2 weeks) my gut is jacked and I fart every 3-5 minutes all day.
If you need sweets at whatever interval you deem appropriate, pure cane sugar is better than high fructose corn syrup all day every day (swear that stuff has a little crack in it) and any artificial sweetener.

Lots of great stuff out there. Lots of great info here from guys who know way way more than me. I focus on a whole diet and feeling my best.
Lots of great workout advice too.
@MarinePMI is consistently a great knowledge library and knows a ton.

Kick butt and feel amazing man!

I would eat 3-4 pieces of fruit daily - apples, oranges, bananas - before cutting carbs. I probably went too far in that regard as I dont think fruit is bad for you.

If it had a label Im guessing carbs in fruit is the fiber variety as its kind of tough to add sugar unless you are doing it yourself at consumption.

Ive switched my fruit habit over to berries, still sweet but even more fiber.

Processed Carbs are like water injectors in a radial engine, they spike you up power wise but the use should be limited and you need to realize when the effects are gone you feel let down.

Ive changed my energey curve from resembling the Tetons to a wide base rainbow cutting carbs. No more just before meals energy defecit.

Cholesterol went from 185 to 135.

Healthy fats and oils has done some weird shit to my metabolism. I slept good with carbs and I sleep as well now but at night my furnace goes nuclear. The furnace is full of fire and I wake up kind of grossly sweaty. I feel like I burn as much calorie wise in 6 hours of sleep as I do in one hour of PT.

Different bodies, different solutions.

Im down twenty pounds and feeling good.

Aint no way you could restrain any hidden gay tendencies you might have if you saw me .

 

[MarinePMI]

Healthy fats and oils has done some weird shit to my metabolism. I slept good with carbs and I sleep as well now but at night my furnace goes nuclear. The furnace is full of fire and I wake up kind of grossly sweaty. I feel like I burn as much calorie wise in 6 hours of sleep as I do in one hour of PT.

Different bodies, different solutions.

That's likely not your metabolism, per se your excessive heat generated as you asleep. It's more likely the result of your workout/exercise and your body processing carbs, fat and protein (Krebs cycle) to meet your body's recovery needs. People often forget, sleep is probably THE most anabolic thing you can do (hence why some are absolute Nazi's about pre-bedtime nutrition, usually casein protein, for it's long digestion/break down time). IME, sleep regimen is critical to body fat loss and muscle gain. I literally will plateau (both strength and fat loss) if I begin to neglect my sleep (which becomes harder and harder as we age). Your "furnace feeling" is a good sign you're getting the sleep you need.

Ever wonder why pubescent teens always sleep all the time? It because their bodies are swimming in testosterone, and they need the sleep to enable more efficient protein synthesis (and testosterone enables the binding of amino acids to the alpha receptors in the muscle tissue to repair damage from use).

 

[johnnycat]

"Eat more Weigh Less by Dr. Dean Ornish", Easy to do, you lose weight, eat lots of food, blood sugar gets better, its easy program. Dean was treating patients with this program 30 years ago. It worked for me. My doc just shakes her head when she sees my bloodwork and blood pressure all I did was back off the alcohol, moderate exercise, and Deans eating style.

Dean Ornish is one of the most common sense nutrition researchers out there. I generally like what he has to say.

Others have already given [mostly] good advice. The key is cut back on processed food, lose body fat, and exercise.

I've never been a big believer in "fad" diets until last summer. I wanted to see what the "paleo" thing was all about so I did it. When I say I did it, I mean I did it like it was designed - none of this half doing it. I was amazed at how much better I felt after just a short time. I think cutting out processed food and generally cutting back on bad carbs is the key to this diet. There are still a lot of carbs there, they are just in the form of complex carbs in nutrient rich foods. Unfortunately, the paleo diet is a huge challenge in our family and in our town so I fell off the wagon.

 

[pmclaine]

That's likely not your metabolism, per se your excessive heat generated as you asleep. It's more likely the result of your workout/exercise and your body processing carbs, fat and protein (Krebs cycle) to meet your body's recovery needs. People often forget, sleep is probably THE most anabolic thing you can do (hence why some are absolute Nazi's about pre-bedtime nutrition, usually casein protein, for it's long digestion/break down time). IME, sleep regimen is critical to body fat loss and muscle gain. I literally will plateau (both strength and fat loss) if I begin to neglect my sleep (which becomes harder and harder as we age). Your "furnace feeling" is a good sign you're getting the sleep you need.

Ever wonder why pubescent teens always sleep all the time? It because their bodies are swimming in testosterone, and they need the sleep to enable more efficient protein synthesis (and testosterone enables the binding of amino acids to the alpha receptors in the muscle tissue to repair damage from use).

You have the science of this down a lot better than I do.

Im only basing my knowledge on observation of a test case of one - me.

I love my sleep. Truth be told the hotter I wake up the better I actually feel that morning.

 

[MarinePMI]

Here's a pretty good diagram of the Krebs cycle...

The human body is truly an amazing thing, in the way that it can process carbs, protein (amino acids) or fat to create ATP (energy used by the muscles, as well as to repair damage to said muscles). It is the body's multi-path, multi-source insurance that it can continue to function, regardless of what diet may be available (think pre-historic times, when the menu was quite varied, and the body had to adapt to what was available). Essentially, the body has an "easy" path for energy (carbs), and not so easy path (protein), and a really energy intensive (hard) path (the break down of stored body fat) to achieve what it needs.

Being insulin sensitive (your heat furnace feeling) is a (good) sign that (1.) your body is kicking out enough IGF's (insulin Growth Factor) to support recovery and (2.) you're efficiently processing food sources into glucose. You probably also notice a slight visible vascular swelling (similar to a "pump" you get when lifting weights) in your arms when you're insulin sensitive (say, after you eat a really carb heavy meal, like mashed potatoes or some type of pasta). This is a good thing, as it means you system is working properly, primed to break down food sources, and that you are getting a good balance of the three key elements in your diet.

I notice the veins in my arms get very pronounced after carb loading when I'm insulin sensitive (usually when I'm cutting, and limiting fat and carb intake). You may also notice a minor sense of euphoria. This is evolution talking, and is the result of the release of serotonin as a result of eating carbs in an insulin sensitive state. When caveman had a excess amount of energy ingested (especially after being limited/starved), the brain evolved to give that sense of satiety a reinforcement of "happiness" as a reward for doing well in the food gathering department. Hence why after a good meal, 1.) we feel "good" and 2.) why we want to sleep after eating (though when insulin sensitive, drowsiness is usually replaced with alertness and euphoria (or a "sense of well being"). If you're consistently getting drowsy after a carb heavy meal, you're probably eating slightly too many carbs. The drowsiness is an evolutionary reaction, to sleep and store the excess energy as bodyfat.

 

[pmclaine]

Dean Ornish is one of the most common sense nutrition researchers out there. I generally like what he has to say.

Others have already given [mostly] good advice. The key is cut back on processed food, lose body fat, and exercise.

I've never been a big believer in "fad" diets until last summer. I wanted to see what the "paleo" thing was all about so I did it. When I say I did it, I mean I did it like it was designed - none of this half doing it. I was amazed at how much better I felt after just a short time. I think cutting out processed food and generally cutting back on bad carbs is the key to this diet. There are still a lot of carbs there, they are just in the form of complex carbs in nutrient rich foods. Unfortunately, the paleo diet is a huge challenge in our family and in our town so I fell off the wagon.

I agree with avoiding the fad diet thing. Knew lots of people that would drink some shake bullshit and skip meals. Sure they lost weight but they were miserable and blew up like wood ticks when they inevitably came off the plan.

Thing that made me think keto works is observation of my Type I diabetic daughter.

When she is sick her blood sugar level is perfect, in range/flat.

She is not intaking carbs not wanting to eat so there is no spiking or troughing.

But her body needs fuel.

So the body switches over to fats in reserve.

Thats fine for me with my functioning pancreas and extra body lard.

But ten year old girls without a lot of excess fat and no pancreas cant do it. Her body switches over to burning muscle and the ketones build up in her blood stream.

We than have a more imminent issue than diabetes and have to start forcing carbs and insulin upon her despite the fact she is feeling like shit.

A keto diet per se is not bad for a diabetic, in fact I think it would benefit her to cut processed carbs but kids aint giving up mac and cheese. Without insulin and intake of good food its still a dangerous balancing act.

I heard a story that the first person to get insulin was a woman in her 30s. She survived to reach that age eating a crazy restrictive diet that I understand was mostly eggs. She wasnt healthy but she was alive. Basically she was starving and just barely supporting her body. Insulin fixed that.

Anyway seeing how things work with my daughter the switch of my fuel from carbs to fats made sense to me.

Perhaps I saw it wrong but the results have been what I was seeking.

 

[VP47PPC]

I had one brother quit drinking soda and he steadily lost weight to the tune of 30 pounds. Another brother is pre diabetic and cut carbs and monitors his blood sugar. In the second brothers case he found and hour of regular activity, not workout, like bicycle commuting kept his blood sugar in line.

Fruit might be ok because whatever sugars they contain hit your blood sugar levels at a slower rate because digestion takes time to release said sugars. Any sweeter or processed carb spikes blood sugar and its's the sharp spike in blood sugar and insulin dump that triggers a very unhealthy bio cycle in your system.