Insulin Resistant? Need Hope?
If you’ve recently found out that you're insulin resistant or prediabetic you might be feeling frustrated and defeated and you probably have a ton of questions.
I know I did.
Does this mean I'm going to become diabetic?
Am I going to have to start taking medications?
Does this mean I'm never going to be able to lose weight?
What does this mean for my health?
If you're anything like I was, you might also be feeling overwhelmed by all the changes you imagine you'll have to make, and worried about giving up all your favorite foods. It's a stressful and confusing place to be.
But I want you to know: there is hope! While insulin resistance is serious and it's a good idea to take control of it sooner rather than later that doesn’t mean it has to be all doom and gloom and deprivation.
My Journey from WTF To AHA
When I first found out I was insulin resistant, I didn't even really know what that meant. I'd heard the term before, but my only understanding of insulin was that it was something people with diabetes took to manage their blood sugar.
And honestly, my doctor wasn't much help. She simply told me to 'cut back on sugar and lose some weight' – but she didn’t tell me how to do it - which was especially frustrating because the whole reason I had gone to see her was because I could NOT lose weight no matter how hard I tried.
So, I went home and did a deep dive. I spent countless hours researching all things insulin resistance. I read, watched and listened to everything I could get my hands on. I was determined to understand what was happening in my body. What I discovered not only allowed me to reverse my own insulin resistance, but it also ignited a passion that led me to become a Metabolism Coach, helping other women do the exact same thing.
The "Blessing in Disguise" (Yes, Really!)
As weird as it might sound, I often say that finding out I was insulin resistant was actually a blessing in disguise. Don't get me wrong – I was definitely upset at first. No one wants to be told there's something 'wrong' with them. But for me, it made a lot of things that never made sense, suddenly make sense.
For years, I struggled to lose weight, trying diet after diet, always hoping I'd find something that actually worked. My energy sucked – it felt like it took all my energy just to get through work, and then all I wanted to do was go home and lay on my couch. I felt like crap all of the time.
I was always bloated, woke up feeling sore and achy (I was only in my 30’s but felt like I was in my 80’s), and had ‘seasonal allergies’ that never seemed to go away even when the seasons changed. My periods were absolutely horrible - painful, heavy and really impacted my life. My hunger and cravings controlled me, and I suffered from pretty severe anxiety and depression.
But here's the magic: when I started improving my insulin sensitivity, all of those things got better. Something that never happened when I would just 'go on a diet' focused on calories or deprivation.
That's why I truly say it was a blessing in disguise. If I had never found out I was insulin resistant, I would never have gotten to the root cause, and I would have probably just continued to count calories, punish myself at the gym, and feel deprived.
The Hidden Impact of Insulin Resistance
Here's the thing: when you're insulin resistant, it affects almost all areas of your health. From your metabolism, to your appetite and cravings, to your energy, mood, and sleep. Insulin resistance is also strongly linked to most of the major chronic health issues we deal with today, like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's and dementia, and even some cancers.
It's one of those silent issues that creeps up on you. You can be developing insulin resistance for years before you start to really notice the effects. So, over time, you might start noticing it's harder to lose weight, you have less energy, you're more impatient or irritable. And because it happens so gradually, it's really easy to blame it on 'just part of getting older' or 'the typical things everyone has to deal with.'
The Good News: You Can Reverse It!
But the truly good news is that when you start to improve your insulin sensitivity, all those other things can start to get better too! Because you're getting to the root cause of the problem rather than just trying to put a band-aid on the symptoms.
Insulin resistance doesn't have to define you. It's about taking control, learning what your body needs, and making positive changes.
If my story resonates with you and you're ready to take control of your health then you're in the right place.
Ready to take control and get started? Grab a copy of my FREE Weight Loss Unstuck Guide – it's packed with actionable tips to help you get started. You can get your copy HERE.