Life Transformations Fitness Lee’s Summit Personal Trainer, John Harris, knows what time of year is coming…the holidays. Check out his blog post below on insulin. Have additional questions, contact him at 816-272-0159 or email jeharrislifetrans@gmail.com the recipe below.
Around this time of year, sugar and general carbohydrate consumption seem to sky rocket! As a trainer, I always hear people talking about weight gain before the season even starts, welcoming it, expecting it! Just a tip: joining the gym after the holiday season is like putting your seatbelt on after you’ve been in the accident! This behavior goes back generations and continues to snowball. Humans naturally begin to consume more calories as winter closes in. The biggest factor is obviously the holiday season, but if you think about it – all animals hibernate or “stock pile” food for the winter. It’s an animal instinct! However, none of those should be the case when it comes to being an animal in the gym. There’s no hibernating on gains!!
In order for you to better understand the weight gain process I think a good thing to do is to understand how your body processes and utilizes the excess carbs and fats that we intake over the next several months. In understanding the way your body works you can adjust when and what you’re eating so you can actually enjoy the holiday season and keep a nice shape and manageable weight during the winter. (Even if it is a bit puffier version of your summer shred!)
Today we’ll break down insulin sensitivity and resistance. The differences in the two and why it matters in correlation to diabetes and other serious health risks! Insulin is secreted by the pancreas (an organ that regulates blood sugar) in response to high blood sugar, and cells absorb blood sugar when stimulated by insulin. If you are insulin sensitive then only a small amount of insulin secretion can deposit an x amount of glucose. Insulin resistance is the exact opposite and a large amount of insulin secretion is needed for the same x amount of glucose. Insulin resistance is a huge risk factor for type II diabetes!
General ways to keep your insulin sensitivity under control and avoid diseases such as diabetes are to exercise regularly and take supplements! You can increase aerobic or anaerobic activity for desired weight loss and increased insulin sensitivity! So go outdoors and enjoy a nice run or walk around the neighborhood or stop into Life Transformations and hit the weights to get the blood pumping! Along with regular exercise taking amino acids such as L-Carnitine can help fat permeability and cellular energy to help with weight reduction and improved performance. Lastly, to maintain your weight and keep your health under control this holiday season you can take supplements with antioxidant properties such as Green Tea (pills, drops, tea bags) and resveratrol!
Those are the best every day tips for keeping disease risk low and confidence high! These are very effective and easy-to-remember tips for your everyday health!! Remember to think of food as fuel and eat higher amounts of carb timed around your highest peaks of activity throughout the day! Always remember to do research because before you can implement, you must understand!
John Harris, Life Transformations Fintess, Personal Trainer