Keto Complexities.....

     We pulled the yellow boat out of the Bay on Friday because Steve decided he had caught enough crab, thank God!  So now I'm looking out at the bay, and the only boat there is our fishing boat.  Our bay is gorgeous this morning. It is entirely still, and a fog bank sits behind the boat as it gently rocks back and forth with the incoming tide.  For dinner tonight, we'll eat the last fresh crab, and I will make shrimp bisque and several salads to go with the meal. We were alone this past weekend for a change. Steve's brother plans to return next weekend so they can go fishing again, maybe for the last time this season.  As far as we know, Kayla's family will be our last visitors this year. We'll leave for Hawaii in November. It's incredible how quickly time passes! It's already cooling off in the evenings, but the days remain in the low to mid-seventies.  Fall is a beautiful time of year in Birch Bay and around Vancouver. We're still going to Canada daily to work out, and on Fridays, we choose a restaurant for a late lunch in White Rock. It is always a treat. I continue to lose weight even with the occasional meal out, so the insulin support is working. I had no idea how vital insulin is when trying to lose weight. Apparently, the keto diet helps initially, but for some, the insulin sensitivity problem is impossible to overcome with diet alone and, therefore, requires further support. Current research claims that the "calories in/calories out" model does not account for complicated biochemical interactions creating energy balance, weight gain, and weight loss.  My own weight loss journey verifies this fact.  My doctor explained the hormonal mechanisms of weight and energy balance.  She said individuals have highly variable glucose responses to food, regardless of calorie content, and hormonal pathways influence energy use, making it a very complex process.  That's why she prescribed a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor.  It prompts the pancreas to release insulin while suppressing glucagon secretion.   It also slows the emptying of the stomach and digestion and prevents the liver from releasing glucagon that spikes blood sugar levels.  Therefore, although the keto diet and physical activity help insulin resistance, I need more.  My insulin levels mirror my relatively elevated glucose levels, impairing my body's ability to burn fat for energy, so controlling glucose levels in my blood improves the fat-burning state.  This information was a huge relief because it explains my inability to reach my weight goal despite my two years of hard work and commitment.  However, I did lose weight and managed to keep it off.  Therefore, the keto diet and exercise remain central to my success, so I plan to press ahead.  

Source:  Understanding blood sugar and weight loss: why tracking glucose with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) may be more insightful than tracking calories - Levels (levelshealth.com)​​