Tired? Bloated? Grumpy? Here’s the Fix You’ve Been Searching For
December 14, 2024 | by emily | Posted in healthy eating, hormone balancing
If you’re a woman over 30, chances are you’ve felt tired, bloated, or just plain off. And despite eating healthy and working out, the weight seems to stick around like an uninvited guest. What gives? The culprit could be a sneaky hormone you’ve probably heard of but may not fully understand: insulin.
Think of insulin as your body’s “traffic cop” for sugar (glucose). Its job is to direct glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later. When this process works smoothly, you feel energized, balanced, and in control. But when it doesn’t? Cue the fatigue, weight gain (especially around the belly), and mood swings.
Let’s dive into what insulin does, why it might be misbehaving, and how you can turn things around.
Insulin: Your Body’s Sugar Manager
Imagine your bloodstream is a highway, and glucose is the traffic. Every time you eat something that contains carbs (yes, even the “healthy” ones), glucose enters the highway. Insulin is the traffic cop who steps in to clear the congestion, guiding glucose into your muscle and fat cells for storage or use.
But here’s the problem: when we constantly snack, eat highly processed foods, or overdo carbs, insulin is overworked. It’s like asking the traffic cop to direct rush hour 24/7—it gets overwhelmed. And instead of clearing the traffic, insulin starts to shove more and more glucose into fat cells. Over time, this leads to insulin resistance.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
In simple terms, insulin resistance is when your cells stop listening to insulin. The more you overwork insulin, the more your body needs to produce to get the job done. But as this cycle continues, your body becomes less responsive, and your blood sugar levels stay elevated.
This not only makes it nearly impossible to burn fat but also signals your body to store even more fat. And the side effects?
Fatigue: Your cells aren’t getting the energy they need.
Weight gain: Especially around the belly.
Bloating and inflammation: Blood sugar spikes and crashes disrupt digestion.
Mood swings: Hormonal chaos can leave you feeling irritable and low.
The Fix: Learn to Work With Insulin, Not Against It
Here’s the good news: you can reverse insulin resistance and train your body to become a fat-burning machine. But first, you need to understand your unique response to food.
That’s where wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) comes in.
Why a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Is a Game-Changer
A CGM is like having a window into your body’s inner workings. It tracks your blood sugar levels in real time, showing you exactly how your body responds to the foods you eat.
– Think oatmeal is a “healthy” breakfast? A CGM might reveal it’s causing a massive blood sugar spike.
– Curious why you crash every afternoon? You may discover your lunch isn’t keeping your blood sugar stable.
By using a CGM, you can start making smarter food choices tailored to your unique metabolism. You’ll quickly learn how to keep your blood sugar steady—one of the most powerful ways to balance insulin, burn fat, and feel amazing.
Strategies to Reverse Insulin Resistance
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start with these simple, science-backed tips:
Focus on Protein and Healthy Fats
Focusing on protein and healthy fats, like eggs with avocado or salmon with leafy greens, can help slow glucose absorption and prevent blood sugar spikes. For those with insulin resistance, aiming for 75 grams of protein per day is a good starting point, as excessive insulin can lead to fat storage. Once insulin sensitivity improves, increasing protein intake to 2.2 grams per kg of body weight can support metabolism and muscle growth.
Practice Time-Restricted Eating
Allow your body time to rest between meals by avoiding constant snacking. Creating a fasting lifestyle can do wonders for inuslin resistance.
Move After Meals
A 10–15 minute walk after eating can help your muscles use up excess glucose and reduce blood sugar spikes.
Prioritise Sleep and Stress Management
Poor sleep and chronic stress wreak havoc on insulin. Aim for 7–8 hours of quality sleep and incorporate stress-busting activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.
Why Balancing Insulin Is Your Superpower
When you learn to work with insulin, you unlock benefits that go far beyond weight loss:
More energy: Say goodbye to the dreaded afternoon slump.
Stable moods: No more feeling hangry or irritable.
Better digestion: Reduced bloating and improved gut health.
A leaner, healthier body: Burn fat instead of storing it.
Hormonal harmony: Balanced insulin helps regulate other hormones, including cortisol and estrogen.
Ready to Take Control?
You don’t have to live with fatigue, bloating, and frustration. By understanding how insulin works and using tools like a CGM, you can transform your body and mind from the inside out.
So, are you ready to fix the tired, bloated, and grumpy cycle for good? The answer is simpler—and more achievable—than you think. CLICK HERE to conact me directly and simply wright CGM in the message to learn more about how you can get started.
Lots of love,
