Is Your Body Bailing Out On You?
Have you ever reflected on symptoms you are experiencing and thought, “Getting old sucks?” Perhaps you’ve said it out loud to a friend. I hear it frequently. When I ask clarifying questions, they often provide a list of the symptoms they are experiencing. They may comment that they are getting old. Or they may use wording that implies their body is falling apart. But is it really? Is your body bailing out on you?
Even if you look healthy, your body could be experiencing shifts in the way your metabolism functions. It’s a normal response to the information that you give your body through the food you consume. Yet, that food may be secretly working against you.
In reality, your body isn’t bailing out on you. You aren’t “just getting old,” even if your doctor implies that. And it’s not just in your head. For my female readers, it’s likely that your body signaling a deeper challenge – perimenopause.
Perimenopause And Beyond
This phase of life does far more than disrupt your periods. It messes with everything – from how your brain uses energy, to how your body stores fat, to why sleep suddenly becomes so elusive.
So if you’re:
- Struggling to lose weight, even when you’re eating healthy foods
- Waking up tired and hitting the snooze button one too many times
- Feeling bloated and struggling to fit into your clothes
- Feeling anxious, moody, or “off”
- Dealing with brain fog that makes even simple tasks feel hard
You’re not imagining things. You’re experiencing the metabolic impact of midlife. I would say “welcome to the club,” but you may not be thrilled. That’s okay. I’m going to welcome you with key information that I hope will help you to support your body for less hormonal impact.
And for my readers who are male, don’t check out because you think this doesn’t apply to you. There is such a thing as andropause, and you are also susceptible to hormonal shifts and insulin resistance. I’m sure that you have felt changes, too.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas in response to the consumption of carbohydrates. Its purpose is to escort blood sugar (glucose) out of circulation when it can be damaging and into your cells, where it can be used as fuel.
Insulin resistance develops when a person’s diet is steadily bombarding the body with glucose, and the cells become overwhelmed. What would you do when you turn on your car and the radio starts blaring? You would probably turn down the volume. That’s what your body does, too – your cells turn down the volume in their receptors. As a result, insulin is unable to get the glucose into the cells.
The challenge with insulin resistance is that insulin will look for a safe place to stash the glucose – hello, fat cells. Meanwhile, the other cells are lacking the glucose they need for energy. And the result? Your body may send hunger signals when you really don’t need more food. What you need is to help your cells become more insulin receptive.
Start With Food Choices
Insulin resistance doesn’t occur overnight, and shifting your cells to be more receptive to insulin won’t happen that quickly either. But it can be done with mindful choices. The first step is to evaluate the foods you eat regularly.
- Is your first meal of the day based on carbs – cereal, toast, or other foods made from flour?
- Is pasta or rice a staple for most of your meals, or do you eat a lot of packaged or frozen dinners?
- What snacks do you keep on hand? Are they also flour based with lots of sugar?
If your answer was yes to any of these questions, you are likely causing the “radio to blare” and bombarding your cells with glucose. My suggestion would be to start making some adjustments to your food choices.
The most effective change you could make is with the first food you eat in your day. Focus on protein for that meal. It doesn’t have to be eggs and bacon – there’s nothing that says you can’t eat leftover pot roast for breakfast.
Added Momentum For Insulin Sensitivity
Taking a walk after a meal helps to suppress the glucose spike that follows a meal with carbohydrates and added sugar. If you aren’t in a place where you can go for a walk, do squats or walk up and down several flights of stairs. As a bonus, movement after a meal helps with digestion.
Improving your food choices and moving after meals will reduce the glucose spikes. However, most people don’t realize that high stress levels also raise blood sugar. When your body is put in “fight or flight,” it converts glycogen to glucose to supply your muscles. What’s the easiest way to calm stress? Deep breathing.
If your body feels like it’s bailing on you, the good news is you can change your situation for the better. Addressing insulin resistance helps to take pressure off your heart, blood vessels, eyes, feet, and kidneys. And for those in perimenopause, improving insulin sensitivity helps to balance your sex hormones.
It’s a win–win for your health and your future! Not sure you can make the changes on your own. You’re not alone. I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your situation. If we are a fit, I could coach you through the process.
