Abstinence is better than regret 100% of the time. I have been fairly successful sticking with my new food values when I am home and I have all my tools at my disposal, but sticking with my food lifestyle has proven to be more challenging while traveling or while at social events.
Here’s what I have learned for myself: I can make exceptions to some of my food rules without regret. I can eat a slice of pizza and get back into ketosis within the next 24hrs. I don’t regret those moments. The moments I have regretted have more to do with indulging in sugary treats: the 11pm cookie binges, etc.
As I continue with my low carb diet lifestyle I have come to realize a few things that are true for me. Maybe they will be truths for you as well. I can indulge in items here and there, but I have noticed the most negative responses from my body are when I indulge in sugary treats. This just solidifies my desire to continue to eliminate sugar and ultra-processed foods from my diet. I don’t always have to be in ketosis, I don’t always have to avoid all carbs all the time, but my body does not respond positively to sugar.
As I continue on with my health journey and strive to correct my metabolic health, I am reminded time and time again, how damaging sugar and ultra-processed foods are for my body.
When I look around and see the majority of our population, I feel a sense of despair. When I think about the amount of people relying on medications, I feel a sense of frustration. What do you do when you have information that can transform the lives of people, but they don’t want to hear it?
I am not saying that insulin resistance is the key to every health problem each person faces, but I am convinced that it is the key for the mass majority of people. But, fixing insulin resistance and focusing on metabolic health takes a lot of effort and discipline. All I want to do is share the information that I have learned and that can benefit all of us, but very few people want to hear the truth or put in the effort.
Putting time and energy and effort into yourself is worth it. You are worth it. You can do so much to improve your wellness by focusing on insulin resistance and metabolic health.
I didn’t always know that insulin resistance was at the root cause of my health challenges. It took a lot of research to come to that conclusion. It should be common knowledge! Our health care providers should be advising their patients about this information. This should be the first step. Knowledge is power. Action is healing. Results are validating. It took me hours and hours of listening to podcasts and reading books by health care professionals and researchers to be able to understand what was actually happening to my body. It should not be that difficult. Here are the resources I have leaned on to assist me in my health and wellness journey.
Below is a list of actions I have taken to improve my metabolic health and wellness. I am not advising you to do the same, I’m just sharing what has worked for me.
- Do not eat sugar and ultra-processed foods (if it has a package I generally don’t eat it. If I am in a bind I read food labels)
- Fast-I fast a minimum of 12 hrs. each day, up to 40 hrs. when I feel the need, but typically my fasting window is 16-18 hrs.
- Eat my last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime
- Focus on protein and fat at every meal
- Eat fewer than 20 grams of carbs each day
- Eat fruit sparingly
- Walk after every meal
- Weight train at least three days per week
- Track my blood glucose and ketone production
- Sleep well
- Read books and listen to podcasts from scientist and professionals regarding metabolic health and insulin resistance-knowledge is power
I hope some of this will resonate with you. Striving to fix your metabolic health can be a lonely journey. I am trying to spread knowledge and information so it becomes more common place and socially acceptable to cut out the food that is damaging our bodies.
Please join me in the fight. We are all worth the time and effort it takes to not only live long but to live well.
XO, Blaire
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