insulin and glycogen levels

[Brad_H]

So to make a long story short, I used to be naturally fit, did construction and never had any weight problems until I was about 20. I had some medical issues that had made me unable to exercise or do much of anything for about 14 months. I gained about 100 lbs and became very sedentary. Now that I'm able to exercise again, I'm trying to get back in shape. Recently I talked to a few people about losing weight. They're all big dudes. Not Jay Cutler big, but a LOT bigger and more shredded than the average gym goer. They all agreed that losing weight is less about burning calories than it is about lowering glycogen levels and increasing insulin resistance. It makes sense, if your body uses glycogen and insulin as its immediate "fuel" source, so fat burning takes a back seat. Working out helps this cause, but doesn't actually make as much of an impact as most people think. So I wanted to know what kinds of things YOU guys do to cut weight and lower glycogen and increase insulin resistance. Do you use the paleo diet? Use resistance training? Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm making progress just working out, but I'm at a plateau and I don't know where to go from here.

[KingOfChaos]

>.>

I think you mean decrease insulin resistance, not increase....increasing it would make you fat, get type 2 diabetes, and make it damned near impossible to lose weight without medication. I know, I happen to have type 2 at the moment and I am taking Metformin to combat the insulin resistance.

I am personally doing Intermittent Fasting (leangains.com) while also abstaining from grain-based foods. To show you have much it works at increasing insulin sensitivity, my hemoglobin A1C (the protein marker for diabetes type 2) has dropped from an 8.3 (high) to 7 in less than a month. I will no longer have type 2 diabetes in another month if this and my weight loss continues.

[rgaytan]

So to make a long story short, I used to be naturally fit, did construction and never had any weight problems until I was about 20. I had some medical issues that had made me unable to exercise or do much of anything for about 14 months. I gained about 100 lbs and became very sedentary. Now that I'm able to exercise again, I'm trying to get back in shape. Recently I talked to a few people about losing weight. They're all big dudes. Not Jay Cutler big, but a LOT bigger and more shredded than the average gym goer. They all agreed that losing weight is less about burning calories than it is about lowering glycogen levels and increasing insulin resistance. It makes sense, if your body uses glycogen and insulin as its immediate "fuel" source, so fat burning takes a back seat. Working out helps this cause, but doesn't actually make as much of an impact as most people think. So I wanted to know what kinds of things YOU guys do to cut weight and lower glycogen and increase insulin resistance. Do you use the paleo diet? Use resistance training? Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm making progress just working out, but I'm at a plateau and I don't know where to go from here.

Here are some links that will help you understand more about the insulin/glycogen connection to weight gain/fat lose. I hope you dont mind reading cause it really the only way to begin to understand what is happening with our bodies from the people doing research.

This link is really good at explaining the importance of understanding insulin sensitivity insulin.
bodybuilding.com/fun/berardi42.htm

This link is from the same person but its a list of different articles and conversation about him explaining what his research has led him to understand about insulin and how best to control it. Check out this article "The Anabolic Power of Insulin - An Interview with John M Berardi " at this link
johnberardi.com/articles/nutrition/index.htm

Hope this helps out.

[Brad_H]

Damnit Russian guy I can't understand you. Thank you everyone else for the advice.

[kyoudaiai]

eating less carbs obviously will gear your body towards burning abit more fat but you will need to stick with the basics and maintain a calorie deficit. your friends seem to be full time bulkers