A question from one of our readers:
Dr. Mericle,
With respect to burning "fat" energy in the mornings before eating, what if you are not a long distance runner? The average person is not, particularly someone who is overweight. A typical run for me in my current condition is 2-3 miles. Would I still be burning fat with a 25-30 min. jog?
JoLee
Answer: Yes, you would still be burning fat as long as you stay in a glucagon state.
This is a very good question since most people today don't run at all -much less even 2-3 miles a day. This touches on one of the most important aspects of the MericleDiet and exercise as it relates to weight loss. Exercise for your immune system, but don't rely on exercise to lose weight and or keep weight off. Even running seven miles a day is not enough to burn any significant calories.
Back to the glucagon state of energy utilization
In the last newsletter I discussed the importance of entering a glucagon state for some part of every day. For me, running helps as it is a real distraction, something I do every day and I have my own rule of never eating before I run. The reason for not eating is that it is a lot easier to run in a state of energy utilization (glucagon) , not energy storage (insulin). Usually in hot weather I will run first thing in the morning. This actually shortens my glucagon phase as compared to running in the late afternoon. Usually if it is hot and I run early, I will try not to eat when I get back from the run until noon at the earliest. This gives me at least four or five hours in a glucagon state -higher energy levels and I get a lot more done. If you are going to eat early in the day, it is best to eat low on the glycemic index. Organic fruit, carrot or celery sticks and fresh organic salads are good choices.
You don't need to exercise to enter a glucagon state
Exercise can help to get you into a glucagon phase but is not necessary. All you really have to do is not go into an insulin state by eating. Most of us are going to eat something during most days but it is optimal if you can limit the time of food ingestion to the mid-day hours, noon to 6:pm or so. You will have a good glucagon phase in the morning and not go to bed on a large load of insulin in the evening. As mentioned previously, hyperinsulinism is implicated in many of our serious lifestyle illnesses.
Dr. Roy Walford and caloric restriction
It may seem hard to believe, but during periods of starvation during WWII, those who had their caloric intake reduced, had improvement in diseases such as heart disease and cancer. It was also noted that they did not age as much. This has been studied by the late Dr. Roy Walford, who was part of the Biosphere. There is no question that calorically restricted mice age much more slowly than those who are allowed to eat what they want. Dr. Walford also made the point that the calories that are eaten must be "nutritionally dense." This is also one of the premises of the MericleDiet. I don't want to suggest that one live a life of caloric restriction, but there is no doubt that reducing your caloric intake and not eating as often or as much will improve your health and slow your aging.
Insulin Glucagon Aging
Somewhere in the basic premise of caloric restriction and retarded aging is the yin and yang of human energy management -Glucagon and Insulin. Too much of either is not good and as noted previously, most people in America have way too much insulin. If you want to feel better and look better while you age more slowly, think glucagon, not insulin. Try to achieve "balance" between them. If you spend four hours a day in an insulin state, try to spend at least as much time in a glucagon state.
Conclusion
Understanding how glucagon and insulin affect your health and your weight is one of the most important concepts one can learn. Not only will you be able to work better, feel better and control your weight more easily, there now is impressive evidence that restricting your insulin secretion by reducing your frequency and quantity of feedings will retard aging.
Reference:
Dr. Walford and Caloric Restriction
http://www.walford.com
Stryer Biochemistry Fourth Edition
Thanks for your time.
Copyright ? John Mericle M.D. All Rights Reserved
For more information on the MericleDiet or to signup for Dr. Mericle's Newsletter click on the link below.
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to... Read More
This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More
What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
I have been seriously working on losing weight for about... Read More
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In... Read More
Although the big push for fad diets has died down... Read More
Fat is fuel. That is basically what it is. A... Read More
Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying... Read More
Have you ever decided to take a trip somewhere relatively... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Everybody knows that 98% of dieters fail. But do you... Read More
"I tried that diet and lost 8 pounds in the... Read More
If anyone knows anything about fitness, it's that a low... Read More
Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More
Most Americans do not get enough calcium in their diets;... Read More
Just the facts on bodybuilding weightloss strategies that work. No... Read More
How did a thin person like me become overweight? My... Read More
Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More
Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet... Read More
If you've been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you... Read More
Although it is obviously not possible to turn the clock... Read More
The underlying principles of low carb diets are based on... Read More
Although all of the risks involved in gastric bypass surgery... Read More
Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..In many cases conventional dieting wisdom simply doesn't work for... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
I just finished working my quads on a weight machine.... Read More
For about 50 years now, Americans have been eating low... Read More
ObesityToday, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
I did it without starving myself or taking pills. How... Read More
The diet that worked for meI have had a lot... Read More
Diet and Exercise. They are the inseparable twins that are... Read More
In my fitness consulting business, I get the opportunity to... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
Just one more day I can do this, I told... Read More
As we look around at the current generation of children,... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
There is no question that having a massage makes you... Read More
There is never any absolute certainty about what the nutritional... Read More
The holidays are now officially over and it's time to... Read More
Please feel free to comment, to provide good information and... Read More
As a weight loss coach I speak will people regularly... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More
With tons of information out there on "Fat Acceptance" does... Read More
You are the GREATEST, aren't you? You are focusing on... Read More
Reading labels is an essential part of any weight loss... Read More
America is a nation of self-disclosers, amiably acceptant of our... Read More
Weight Loss |