Why am I insulin resistant?

Insulin resistance is so prevalent now (various statistics I’ve seen say 1 in 4 people, sometimes as high as 1 in 3 (in the US), have insulin resistant bodies. How can it be that this is so widespread?

Yes, a proportion of these people are genetically predisposed to the condition and may already have quite healthy diets and exercise regimes. But the great majority have been affected by what they do/don’t do and eat/don’t eat.

The 3 main factors that have contributed to this huge problem are:

• We are way more sedentary than we used to be. We get in our cars, take the elevator up to our offices, sit at the computer for 8 hours, get in our cars, go home, sit in front of the TV or computer… we barely move. Exercise is forced, a chore or something that has to be planned (and will be avoided if it’s too hot, too cold, raining… believe me, I know)
• We eat processed, packaged convenience foods constantly – from breakfast cereals to snacks, if it’s in a packet it’s just “easy” and it’s likely full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, starch… even sugar from dried fruit can cause a problem
• We try to cut or count calories but we don’t realize what’s really causing the problem. We choose low fat options but they have been modified with more starch and more sugar. Years and years of this behavior makes our bodies insulin resistant. It’s not our fault, we just haven’t had the right information.

Food as fuel

It’s not your fault you can’t lose weight!

The fact that so many people are unable to lose weight shows us that it is NOT a matter of willpower or laziness. It is a sad fact that we don’t all have the same metabolism, but naturally thin people are not necessarily doing things right. They can eat pretty much whatever they want and it doesn’t affect them in the same way. They are lucky but it doesn’t make them superior, it just means their bodies handle food differently, correctly, the way they’re meant to work.

There is no point being jealous or dwelling on how unfair that is. If you accept that you just have to pay attention to food a bit more than they do, and try to work out what to change, you can move closer to your own goals, start to shift the fat – and get healthier.

Understanding what is wrong with your body’s mechanism is the first step; when you know what is causing the problem, it’s in your hands to be able to fix it. Yes, you can reverse insulin resistance, and many people can do it with diet and lifestyle changes alone. I did not need any medication to achieve normal insulin levels once I knew where I was going wrong!

Insulin resistance is reversible

If you’re insulin resistant, don’t lose hope – if you want to switch that little valve back on, to stop the excessive insulin production that is causing you to gain weight, you can! Try to become aware of everything you eat and make choices to increase protein and control what kinds of carbohydrate you consume – make substitutes where possible and think about what kind of meals you prepare throughout the day. Make sure you understand the connection between insulin resistance and exercise.

As a great start to really learn about this condition and how you can quickly and easily start to reverse it, I recommend both The Insulin Resistance Diet and The Glycemic Load Diet – you can buy either by clicking the links. Check out the reviews on Amazon to decide which one is right for you! Knowing that you’re insulin resistant is empowering – now you can really start to do something about it!

Read other posts on this website, join me on Facebook or download my free audio mp3 if you haven’t already – you will find more information and tips there. Get started on your journey now!