Under 200 pounds (again) plus insulin

(Bob M) #1

I went to a doctor yesterday, and I’m under 200 pounds. Lost 12-15 pounds over the last 8 months or so.

But I’m (still) insulin resistant, based on any marker of insulin resistance. HOMA-IR, which is based on fasting glucose and insulin, should be below 2. Mine isn’t. Fasting insulin should be below 8 (or even lower, depending on who you follow). Mine isn’t. See below.

image
image.png714×632 22.4 KB

(I have no idea why there’s such a difference between the HbA1c at the blood drives versus at Quest/Wherever.)

For other metrics of insulin resistance, my values are always poor using LPIR: This was 9/26/24, but they are all alike.

image
image.png1513×41 6.11 KB

I also did everything you’re not supposed to do. I ate dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese); I exercised less (not because I wanted to, but I’m having a hard time jogging with my pup due to weather and other issues); I might eat a few more carbs, eg, tomatoes and onions; I eat some chocolate with sugar.

On the other hand, I have restarted some longer fasts, I think maybe 5 times this year of 3.5-4.5 days. I also usually eat 2 meals a day, but will eat one meal a day on the days I have to drive to work, 2 days a week.

But how am I losing weight if my fasting insulin is high and I’m “insulin resistant” by all metrics?

EVERY keto guru says that high fasting insulin means you can’t lose weight and you’re hungry. But I’m not. Are they wrong?

(Though I DO get hungry when I eat – I can be not hungry AT ALL, and start eating dinner, say of beef, and I’ll end up eating a normal to large meal because I get hungry.)

(Niko Neko) #2

I’ve been pondering this as well. I believe they are wrong, and predict they’ll have to adjust if not change the model of how type II diabetes works from a primary focus on the pancreas to maybe focusing on the liver. I had that all mapped out last night as I was falling asleep, I thought, I think they’re wrong about the insulin resistance hypothesis, and it made a lot of sense as I drifted off to sleep, but I can’t recall my points this afternoon.

I’m unfamiliar with LPIR as a test - I haven’t had that one. Is that the insulin resistance?

Have you thought about a dog stroller for your pup? I have been wanting a pet stroller super bad to go jogging with, even though I have cats (who would hate it - with a passion) and strollers are stupid expensive, but they look like a lot of fun. Not so much of a recommendation as a dream of mine, haha

I haven’t been getting out much and getting exercise, a lot of wildfire smoke here and it is hot. I’ve really stalled lately.

(Niko Neko) #3

Oh and congrats on the weight loss! That’s terrific!

(S O) #4

Yeah, nice work getting under 200 lbs. :+1:

#5

YUP!

Outside of the keto world people don’t know or care about insulin, or carbs at all. When they consistently eat at a caloric deficit, they lose. Don’t forget about the weight lost on the Twinkie Diet done just to prove a point.

Plus, a fasting number is one number at one point. Then there’s the actual entire day that matters a hell of a lot more.

All the different factors matter, but some are way overblown, and some are wrongly minimized.

Welcome to why I’m on GLP-1’s! Once I eat, better not get in my way! If for some reason I don’t eat, 5,6,7,10 hours, no problem. But thinking that was a positive is also why I was awesome at fasting, which lost a ton of muscle for me and made my already crap metabolic rate at the time even worse.

#6

Hunger/satiation is so very individual that we hardly can say general facts about it. Yep, surely they aren’t right in each and every case, you experience that.
Can’t say anything smart about the fasting insulin vs fat-loss thing.

Congrats!

(S O) #7

I have noticed psyllium husk makes me feel full and I almost have to work to reach my protein goal when I use it.