Remedies to Help Target Abdominal Fat?
I have been diagnosed with T2D. I have given birth to 9 children. For my pregnancies, I was super strict with my diet (lots of protein, healthy grains, low carb/sugar). I followed Shonda Parker's (such an amazing and talented woman and sad loss) guidelines for supplements and herbs to support a healthy pregnancy. In spite of all of my efforts, I still developed Gestational Diabetes. In addition to that contributing factor for developing T2D later, I also had gallstones that were so severely impacted that the bile backed up into my pancreas, I developed Pancreatitis, and the Dr. said that I would not have lasted one more day if I had not come to the hospital for surgery to remove my gallbladder. I have no idea what amount of permanent damage was done to my pancreas and if it ever returned to full function. There was no mention of diabetes being present, at that time. That was 16 years ago. I had another pregnancy 13 years ago, and my level of gestational diabetes for that pregnancy was slight. I was able to control it without insulin, so perhaps my pancreas function is not my issue.
For those of you who have T2D, have you had your pancreas function tested and, if so, was the information helpful to you with determining how to best manage your condition, naturally?
My main question, though, relates to the abdominal fat that contributes to insulin resistance and many other health issues. I have lost a good amount of weight over the last six years. I have lost in many areas, but I do not lose any from my upper abdomen. Please do not suggest a Keto diet. I eat very low carb. I eat high protein. I mostly avoid sugar, even fruit. I need to target this issue with vitamins or herbs or some additional combination that will dissolve this hard, difficult fat. I am encouraged, from reading much information on this site, that I can improve my insulin sensitivity (but there are so many suggestions that it is overwhelming). I don't think it is going to be possible as long as this blockage is in the way.
Thank you for your stories and advice.
I highly recommend MarcHamiltonPhD youtube videos. The key is metabolism - more even than diet. His soleus pushups are a Nobel Prize worthy discovery. Sitting = soleus pushups (SPUs). Better than running, better than working out and anybody who has the use of their legs can do it. Keep your metabolism active and your body will take care of the T2D, the sugar and the fat as when the muscle runs out of glycogen, it switches to burning fat rather than becoming fatigued. The hardest part is to remember to do it until it becomes habit. There is an excellent in depth interview with Dr. Hamilton on Original Strength Bodcast episode 182.
SPUs don't cost a dime nor do they take any time away from other things nor require any equipment aside from whatever chairs you're sitting on. You can use a browser extension to pop up the website every hour or the timer on your phone to remind you to do them until it becomes habit.
The soleus muscle provides perfect muscle metabolism with zero muscle fatigue. It's so perfect that if your muscles get tired, all you have to do is relax the fatigued muscles and keep going as you know if you experience muscle fatigue, you're using the wrong muscles.
TN
04/16/2024
Dear mommyto9,
I am a fellow middle Tennessean, also with nine children, my last one born almost 13 years ago. I do not have T2D, but also deal with stubborn abdominal fat. I have lost weight everywhere else. I do not eat low carb or high protein. I eat mostly complex carbs, proteins, and good fats. I do think the diabetes thing has a genetic connection. My doctor recently tested my A1C (which turned out to be in the normal range) because I had a slightly elevated testosterone level. (I did a saliva hormone test.) It was also found that the difference between my estrogen and progesterone levels was greater than ideal. (I'm 57, post-menopause.) She thinks hormone imbalance may be related to the difficulty with the abdominal fat.
I have also had gallbladder issues, though I still have mine.
I wonder if castor oil packs would help you with the potential pancreas issue? Also, obviously you cannot do a gallbladder flush, but I know ladies who do coffee enemas to help with liver issues and stones. I don't know if that is something you can do if you do not have a gallbladder.
Yes, the loss of Shonda Parker was sad and significant.
~Mama to Many~
