Yes, this is remarkable, I can not remember how many years it has been since I weighed this weight, maybe 25 years ago. Even when I stopped eating the sweet bread products in 2002, I never dropped to this weight. In 2005, when I added pastas to the avoid-list, I still did not drop to this weight. That is because I still found other ways to include sugar in my meals. I thought as long as I was limiting cakes, cookies, doughnuts, breads, pastas and other sweets, I was doing okay.
Sugar still had its hold on me. Now I realize it was because the snacking in between meals, (especially the fast carbs, or foods with a high glycemic load) left me unable to burn fat and created more intense cravings. Even as I began choosing the healthier snacks, like a handful of nuts, a protein bar with natural sweeteners like dates or honey, fruit, yogurt, etc, the weight was still creeping up there. This style of eating left insulin levels high and therefore increased cravings, the ravenous feeling that I was starving. As much as I wanted to - not give into these cravings, the cravings were winning over.
Now with Metabolic Balance, the cravings have diminished. I can stick to the plan! I can forget about food. That to me, is an incredibly freeing feeling. Because before, Metabolic Balance, food was always on my mind. Within an hour or so of eating, I was scavenging for something to eat, something to nibble on to tide me over. As long as my blood sugars were spiking so was insulin.
Insulin is a major player in metabolism (how our body uses digested food to burn energy). The digestive tract breaks down carbohydrates—sugars and starches found in many foods—into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar that enters the bloodstream.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it effectively. When people have insulin resistance, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells.
Most people with insulin resistance don't know they have it for many years—until they develop type 2 diabetes, a serious, lifelong disease. If people suspect insulin resistance early on, or have a family history of Diabetes, they can often prevent diabetes by making changes to their lifestyle.
The real issue is, not enough insulin, but too much insulin.
"Normally, after a meal, the Beta cells from the pancreas release insulin as soon as it detects sugar in the blood stream. Insulin is the key that opens the receptors of the cell wall to enter and allow glucose to be used for energy. Without insulin, the cells would starve despite an abundance of nutrients at their doors. The nutrients would just sit there. Once insulin unlocks the receptors, allowing the glucose and other nutrients in then they close, insulin then also converts the glucose into fat deposits, storing them in the liver and muscles for later.
If blood sugar levels become too high, there are options to remedy that. One, is to transfer excess sugar to glycogen for storage, but the max is 300-400 g. Second, and easier is for the kidneys to excrete it. The renal threshold is 180mg/100ml. Thirdly, it can be transformed by metabolic means into triglycerides or blood lipids. When blood sugar levels and insulin are too high over an extended period of time, cholesterol is also made. A fourth strategy is the desperate attempt to produce more insulin to try to cope with the excess sugar in the body, almost to force more glucose into the cell. Insulin production may be up to 4x greater then at this point. The cells' sensitivity to insulin degenerates. A chronic insulin resistance results, with all its consequences for the other hormones. ... With insulin resistance, though insulin loses its role as a satiation signal, leading to cravings for food." Info cited from Metabolic Balance by Dr Funfack, M.D.
I love being able to eat balanced meals, nourish my body with what it needs, lose excess weight, plus lessening the stress on my joints, heart and other organs. I am conscious of the fact that I am no longer overtaxing my bodily systems. I am comfortable with the sustenance that the Metabolic Balance program has allotted me. Though I reached my goal weight a month ago, I am still dropping more weight. I no longer have to try. I did reach a plateau for a while, but I was so comfortable with what I was eating, I was in no big hurry to move on to Phase 3 of the Metabolic Balance program. Though I reached a milestone, I am celebrating in comfort staying with the same food intake, while weight is still dropping. I have lost additional 4 pounds making my total weight loss 27 so far in 19 weeks. Plus once a week, if I so choose I could have a lovely dining experience out, or a dessert of my choosing. This, in Metabolic Balance is your treat meal once a week - whatever you want!
Oh, and I finally broke open a Veggie Spiralizer for myself. I made this tasty Spaghetti with ground turkey and zucchini noodles for me and my Metabolic Balance buddy!
It's so easy and clean-up a breeze!
If you would like to get on your own Metabolic Balance journey, check out the link below and pop off an email to me.