Do you want to get rid of belly fat and lower your blood sugar levels?
Fat belly…have you noticed this problem so common once people get into their thirties? No matter what you try… and despite your best efforts, and yours too, that extra weight around the middle just won’t make it into the budget. Call it what you want: abdominal fat, belly fat, or central obesity… it’s not a look we like and besides, it’s also sabotaging your health. Belly fat is also an integral part of insulin resistance, which is one of the reasons you, as a type 2 diabetic, have high blood sugar.
How long have you been overweight??
Is this where your type 2 diabetes started? When you’ve been overweight for twelve months or more, your hormones become unbalanced. Both men and women become increasingly estrogen dominant as various of their hormones go haywire.
Is your body a fat magnet??
High estrogen circulating through your body:
- increases body fat…fat tissue will produce and store more estrogen
- prevents your body from using fat stores for energy, which means extra weight won’t go away even with less food and more exercise
- affects where fat is stored in your body. Men and women then store fat around their midsection…women also store fat around their hips and thighs, and men get that ultimate “spare tire.”
Your insulin levels are affected
Due to hormonal changes and age, blood sugar levels are also affected. Insulin release is also stimulated, you feel hungry more often and then crave sugary foods. You end up eating when you’re not really hungry, so you pack on pounds (kilograms).
Belly fat can be removed
Let’s look at the “belly buster” foods and the foods that also lower blood sugar levels:
- vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, celery, kale, spinach, cauliflower… 2 to 3 servings a day
- citrus: oranges, tangerines, grapefruit… 1 serving per day
- soluble fiber… found in whole grains: whole wheat bread, barley, brown rice, and whole grains. Carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, celery and tomatoes… 2 servings a day
- sesame seeds and flaxseed oil…add 2-3 tablespoons daily to salads or yogurt
- fish: salmon, trout, tuna or mackerel, organic meat and poultry… 1 serving at each meal
- fruit…at least 1 serving a day in addition to citrus
- drink eight glasses of water each day
Will exercise help
?
You can’t reduce belly fat by spot reduction, in other words, crunches won’t work. Although exercise won’t get rid of belly fat, it is part of your type 2 diabetes recovery program and helps:
- lower your blood sugar levels
- sitting will firm and tone the abdominal muscles (this will be noticeable when the abdominal fat has disappeared)
- help reduce stress and therefore control those stress hormones
- reduce overall visceral fat and help keep you fit and healthy
- increase your muscle, which will increase your metabolism and lead to efficient fat burning
This is not a quick fix for belly fat, but with consistent effort, you can reduce belly fat and get your waistline back.