Fat Loss Barriers - pt2:
Blood Sugar Gone Wild

Blood sugar gone wild. Sounds like the latest reality show to hit the airwaves. And while it's tempting to dismiss this phrase as being an exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Don't think you have issues with your blood sugar? Didn't you just complain, not to long ago that you've reached a stubborn-I-can't-lose-any-more-weight plateau in your fat burning struggles? exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Yes, indeed. The inability to shed those unwanted pounds is, indeed, one of the signs of "blood sugar gone wild." Now much attention has been placed on the imbalance of our blood sugar -- or glucose -- and the production of insulin. Even I've talked about insulin resistance. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Right about now, you might be thinking, "Not me! I couldn't be insulin resistant. That's one of the reasons I'm working so hard at staying healthy. To avoid exactly that!" exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

That could be, and believe me even several years ago, I would have agreed with you! But now, I'm not so sure. I just read what Bryan Walsh, a naturopathic doctor, has to say about who exactly can be described as insulin resistant these days. "In our practice, we constantly see people with blood sugar imbalances. But these people are not run-of the-mill [candidates for insulin resistance]. These are health-conscious, educated individuals who do not spend their time eating Twinkies, binging at McDonald's and competing in the World's Laziest Couch Potato competition."

"Rather," he explains, they are people "who eat well, exercise regularly, have normal body composition and take supplements, but still don’t' feel well. They, too, are coming in with blood sugar issues of which they weren't even aware." exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

So, now let's go back to that question: Are you at a dieting plateau? And did you know that glucose and insulin issues could make it difficult for you to lose weight? exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Two possibilities exist for blood sugar problems. The first is the one that has been given the most publicity and press recently. That's because it's accompanying the growing obesity epidemic in the industrialized world. And that's insulin resistance. This condition can be recognized easily enough because it has two major traits. The first is that your blood sugar levels are chronically elevated and the second is the subsequent insulin level also rises to meet the occasion in dealing with the blood sugar. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

The second path "blood sugar gone wild" can take is that of hypoglycemia. While not talked about as much, at one time, it too was considered a widespread if hidden health issue. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Hypoglycemia generally refers to low blood sugar. In reality though it's more accurately portrayed as blood sugar that fluctuates. Sometimes it's high and at other times it's low. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

The key is that both of these conditions can create problems in supplying your cells with enough energy to do perform all the tasks that need completed throughout the day. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Some of the symptoms you may experience if you have hypoglycemia include lightheadedness, irritability, shakiness and even fatigue between meals. If you are hypoglycemic, you'll experience insulin surges instead of chronically high levels of insulin. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

In the perfect system, your body should react to the low blood sugar by creating cortisol. This would effectively increase your levels. But, nothing seems to be normal these days -- have you noticed? Because in with this condition, the individual's adrenal glands are sluggish. They in effect rely on adrenaline to raise the glucose levels between meals. And bingo! This is exactly why you may get that shaky feeling and that lightheadedness. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

And of course, the symptoms are relieved through eating, because the meals give your body a source of glucose that it couldn't create for itself. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

You would think if you exercised regularly and are trying to keep your weight under control, you wouldn't experience these problems. Ah, but that's not necessarily so. It seems that our lifestyle today is ripe with an "inadvertent" body abuse. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Hypoglycemia can be acquired through eating improperly. Indeed, eating more sugar than your body can handle or an abundance of carbohydrates can trigger this condition. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

But there's another perhaps more subversive path to hypoglycemia. That's through an elevation in your cortisol level. This could be triggered by stress (no surprise for many of us there!) or through the presence of hidden food allergies, silent inflammation and even parasitic infections. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

And therein lies the problem. With these last traits, you can see how even the person with a "perfect" diet and an "excellent" exercise program may be subject to problems with blood sugar fluctuations. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

So what do I do? exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Well, if you suspect that "blood sugar gone wild" may be one of your "barriers to successful fat burning" the best thing you can do is visit your health-care practitioner. He'll run you through all the necessary tests. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

But, if you want to get a sneak preview of what's going on with your blood, here's an idea. (Just be sure to remember that this suggestion is in no way considered a substitute for necessary medical treatment. Got it?)

All you need is a glucometer, which usually costs about $50. This gives you the ability to look at your blood sugar throughout the day. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

As soon as you wake up in the morning, take a reading. Your blood sugar should register between 85 and 100. Take it again two hours following a meal. The level again should read in the range of 85 and 100. But that reading depends on the size and quality of the meal you enjoyed. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Another way to test your glucose is by eating a meal, then tracking your level in 30-minute intervals for up to two hours. If you're eating "glycemically balanced" foods, your glucose level should not rise much above 120 at any time. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Of course, I'll say it again -- this is no substitute for a doctor's care. And in fact, you do find your glucose level fluctuating . . . well, do I really need to tell you. You already know what to do. Yep, go straight to your doctor's office, where he or she can help you out. exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

Now, once you get your blood sugar tamed, perhaps you can drop the rest of the weight! Good luck! exaggeration -- and even a bit alarmist -- the sad truth is that for many people, it's far closer to the truth than they could even imagine.

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