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.
high-end home cleaning Morton Grove ...Yep, it is that time of year again! Time to... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Hundreds of products on the market today claim to be... Read More
With tons of information out there on "Fat Acceptance" does... Read More
Many physical problems are related to obese condition, like difficulties... Read More
Cut the Calories, Bring Out the BikiniSummer's almost here and... Read More
How much will power does it take in order to... Read More
I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've... Read More
It would not be surprising to hear your answer is... Read More
The only absolute truth in the area of exercise and... Read More
1. Increase your fiber intake. The body needs a lot... Read More
Losing weight is a tough and demanding task for most... Read More
Visualizing and Declarations are today's topics.Visualize what you want as... Read More
If you've been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you... Read More
We all have aspects of health we want to improve.... Read More
This year, we all made some of the typical New... Read More
Eighteen or twenty years ago, I was into high protein,... Read More
Fats are always looked at as a negative in a... Read More
If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More
On the road to weight loss, fitness, and health,... Read More
Now that everything from a tan to pantyhose comes in... Read More
Cellulite is probably one of the most embarrassing of all... Read More
All of our behavior results from the thoughts that preceded... Read More
As the holidays approach, a frequent question from my clients... Read More
I remember back in my senior year of high school... Read More
expert residential cleaners Lake Forest ...All weight loss diets make you FatThat's right, because on... Read More
Do you know anybody who does not wish to get... Read More
Do a little people-watching, next time you're in the grocery... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
If you've been on a low carb diet for any... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
No doubt about it, when we feel stressed we want... Read More
The Constant Quest for Restriction; Not enough vs. too muchRestriction.... Read More
I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You're... Read More
If you are into herbs and natural cures, you've undoubtedly... Read More
Everybody knows that 98% of dieters fail. But do you... Read More
As many of us know, it's the first few days... Read More
While the gastric bypass may seem like the perfect solution... Read More
What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss... Read More
When we discover that we are heavier than we want... Read More
You have probably heard the old myth, that you should... Read More
Phentermine, like many other prescription drugs, works with chemicals called... Read More
Any food that we take into our bodies is composed... Read More
You gain weight when your calorie intake is more than... Read More
Weight Loss Their Greatest Opponent --------------------------------- Before high school and... Read More
If you have ever been snow skiing you know that... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
There is no such thing as spot reducing. Any fat... Read More
Every weight loss surgery patient I've met said they at... Read More
Weight Loss |