Belly fat, cholesterol, blood pressure, and borderline blood sugar...

Elevated liver enzymes, wonky insulin and blood sugar levels, feeling hungry all the time, skin darkening around the neck, groin, and armpits, plus those little skin tags popping up on the neck and chest... throw in some family history of diabetes and PCOS, and you've got a lot of pieces on the board.

Could this be metabolic syndrome?

Hey, nobody checking this?

Dealing with high fasting blood sugar? Or maybe you crash hard into hypoglycemia right after eating something sweet?

Is your BMI sitting above 25 (or even over 30)?

Got extra weight around the waist—more than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men?

Is your waist-to-hip ratio higher than 0.85 (for women) or 0.9 (for men)?

Are your triglycerides or "bad" LDL cholesterol levels running high?

Or is your "good" HDL cholesterol looking too low?

Blood pressure acting up?

So far, the absolute best way to stop Metabolic Syndrome from turning into Type 2 Diabetes or other issues is just a lifestyle shift: walk at least thirty minutes, five days a week, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, stick to lean proteins (like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, or fish), go for whole grains when you need carbs, and keep the healthy fats in check...

There are medications out there, too...

So, what, you're basically a traveling salesman for some massive corporation?

What’s even the point of this thread? What if we actually have one of these conditions?

The whole point here is that we’re living through an obesity epidemic right now. Give it a few years, and you get a diabetes epidemic. Follow that down the line, and you end up with a wave of heart attacks, heart failure, kidney issues, amputations, and worn-out joints. All because we couldn't handle our coffee without three spoons of sugar instead of one. Or because we couldn't settle for a plate of veggies when we could have a massive bowl of pasta in heavy cream sauce.

That diabetes epidemic currently hitting overweight populations in the US is going to roll through Europe in just a few years. Even in America, you don't see this surge of obesity (or the resulting diabetes, high cholesterol, and vascular disease) in educated circles. Those folks stay informed; they eat their serving of vegetables and a bit of lean protein, then grab some yogurt with whole-grain toast for breakfast while sipping green tea for a little afternoon caffeine kick.

It’s the lower-income and less-educated crowds who are still "falling for" the advertisements that innocently pitch them "cool" alternatives: crunchy potato chips, sugary sodas loaded with caffeine, thick beef patties...

And who actually has the chance to be physically active? You Europeans and us wealthy Americans. Lower-income Americans don't have a safe place to walk or ride a bike without worrying about getting mugged by a neighbor. And if their car breaks down, they can't even make it to a shopping mall—which, at least, is a safe zone.

Why am I bringing this up? Because people won't start talking loudly about Metabolic Syndrome until it hits a huge chunk of the population. And by then, it'll already be too late.

Anonymous said:What if we actually have one of these issues?

The move here is to get all those numbers back where they belong. Try tweaking your lifestyle first. If you haven't seen progress in two or three months, then it’s time to sit down and have a real talk with your doctor.

Aaron Gonzalez6 said:So, what, you're basically a traveling salesman for some massive corporation?

That’s exactly the point. Nobody works for a giant wholesaler that peddles exercise and healthy eating. There's zero profit in promoting lifestyle changes, so no industry is going to step up and market them to us.

It’s only once you actually land a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes that companies like Pfizer, Merck, and Bayer come knocking to help you manage the disease and its side effects—things like high cholesterol, heart disease, kidney issues, or vascular problems like blood pressure and strokes.

Prevention is always better than a cure, sure. But who's actually going to keep us informed on how to prevent it?

http://www.mypyramid.gov/

http://www.5aday.org/index.htm

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Click the "metric" tab.

Anyone got thoughts? Opinions? Is this topic actually hitting home for anyone else?

placidfox55 said:Hello, is anyone interested?

Do you have high fasting blood sugar? Or do you crash into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) easily after a sugary meal?

Is your BMI over 25 (or even over 30)?

Is your waist circumference larger than 34 inches (for women) or 40 inches (for men)?

Is your waist-to-hip ratio higher than 0.85 (women) or 0.9 (men)?

Are your triglycerides or "bad" LDL cholesterol levels high?

Is your "good" HDL cholesterol low?

High blood pressure?

So far, the most effective way to prevent Metabolic Syndrome from turning into Type 2 Diabetes and other complications is lifestyle changes: walking at least thirty minutes, five days a week, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins (like yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, or fish), and for carbs, sticking to whole grains... and some healthy fats...

There are medications, too...

It’s wise to know your family medical history!
We inherit DNA from our parents... some people will never deal with Diabetes because they're lucky enough to have bodies that handle it well, even if they
are "skinny."

Type 2 Diabetes is incredibly widespread today. I remember back in Washington, D.C., people used to be overweight and then just suddenly pass away from strokes or heart attacks while they were still young.

Try telling someone that smoking is bad for them.
I smoked for 32 years, about 60 to 80 cigarettes a day... I know the consequences firsthand. I had a cyst on my neck... if I hadn't quit at 46, I wouldn't be alive today.

If you quit in time, your lungs can recover almost as well as a non-smoker's after ten years.

====
Getting back to the questions.

I've been managing high blood pressure since I was 40. When I was running for three years after quitting smoking, I took a test and my vitals looked like a 48-year-old's compared to a healthy 22-year-old college student.

I'm 5'9", and I've always been heavily built... never the skinny type where you see bones.
I have a lot of muscle but also carry weight... at my best, I was 187 lbs when I didn't have a belly and stayed active.

Every day, 3.1 miles I consider walking to be a normal exercise that is the cheapest option for any healthy person... you don't need a gym.

Personally, I am Borderline for Type 2 Diabetes. I take pills to help my metabolism and try to keep from gaining more weight.

My waist is 46 inches... it's been that way for 15 years. I don't know exactly what that means without the BMI, but I'm definitely over 30. However, I'm talking about someone who has had limited mobility for the last decade.

My cholesterol is fine, and my HDL is very good. When I stop taking my meds for two or three weeks and check my sugar, it isn't high... but I still take Diabex anyway just so I don't have to keep checking.

My main issue is the sheer amount of pills, which messes with my digestion and causes constant IBS
24/7... but I can't function without them.

As for the chronic pain I've dealt with for 37 years, I can't take anything "because I'm allergic to all narcotics"... I simply could never tolerate them.
=====

I wrote before that once you hit 40—or sooner if necessary—you should get a good physical and blood work done once or twice a year.

And that's not even mentioning the later years when illnesses start creeping in... even if we are responsible for our own health, it's not too late to help ourselves with medication.

But primarily, as they say... prevention is better than a cure.

Blood work will catch everything, whether it's a prostate issue, testosterone levels, or vitamin deficiencies. In my case, it's Vitamin D... I don't absorb it well and I don't move around enough.

I'll be 66 soon. Almost half of my acquaintances have died from strokes or heart issues/vascular problems, and the rest mostly die around age 72-74.

placidfox55, thanks... I actually wrote all of that about three or four years ago... just so I could be made fun of.

placidfox55 said:Hello? Is nobody interested?

Do you struggle with high fasting blood sugar? Or maybe you find yourself crashing into hypoglycemia right after a sugary meal?

Is your BMI over 25? Or maybe even north of 30?

Is your waist circumference over 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men?

If your waist-to-hip ratio is over 0.85 for women or above 0.9 for men, you might want to take notice. Weight around the waist is most dangerous.

Are you dealing with high triglycerides or elevated "bad" LDL cholesterol?

Is your "good" HDL cholesterol actually running low?

Dealing with high blood pressure?

The single best way to stop metabolic syndrome from turning into Type 2 Diabetes or other health issues? It’s all about lifestyle changes. Walk for at least thirty minutes, five days a week. Load up on fruits and vegetables, stick to lean proteins like chicken, fish, yogurt, or cottage cheese, and choose whole grains over refined starches. Toss in some healthy fats, too. Simple, but it works.

There are medications available, too...

It’s worth knowing your family history, especially when dealing with health issues.
It looks like we really did inherit our DNA from our parents. Some people will just never have to deal with Type 2 Diabetes because their bodies handle everything perfectly, even if they don't watch what they eat.
I could also be one of those "skinny fat" types.

Type 2 Diabetes is becoming incredibly widespread these days. I remember back when I lived in Washington, D.C., seeing people who were overweight and then suddenly passing away from strokes or heart attacks while they were still so young.

How do you even begin telling someone that smoking is killing them? It's a tough conversation to have.
I smoked for 32 years, averaging about 60 to 80 cigarettes a day. I know exactly what those consequences look like—I even dealt with a clogged carotid artery in my neck. If I hadn't quit at 46, I honestly wouldn't be here today.

If you quit in time, your lungs can recover almost to the level of a non-smoker within ten years.

====
Let's get back to the questions.

I've been managing high blood pressure since I turned 40. After running for three years straight following quitting smoking, I went in for a checkup. The results were a bit humbling—they clocked my physical age at 48, even when compared to a healthy 22-year-old college student.

I'm 5'9", and I've always been a big guy. I was never one of those thin types where you can see your bones.
I’ve got plenty of muscle, but I'm carrying some extra weight too. I was at my absolute best when I hit 85 kg—back when I didn't have this belly and actually felt mobile.

Every single day. 3.1 miles I think it’s pretty straightforward. For anyone who is healthy, the most affordable way to stay fit is just through basic, regular exercise. You don't need an expensive gym membership for that.

I'm currently sitting right on the borderline for Type 2 Diabetes. I've started taking some medication to help get my metabolism back on track, mostly because I'm determined not to let the scale creep up any further.

My waist measurement has been sitting at 46 inches for about 15 years now. What does that actually signify? Even without factoring in a BMI of 30—which puts me in the overweight category—I’m talking about someone who has had very limited mobility for the last decade.

My cholesterol levels are fine, and my HDL looks great. Every few weeks when I stop testing my blood sugar, the numbers come back normal. Still, I keep taking Diabex just so I don't have to deal with the constant monitoring.

I’m struggling with way too many pills, and they’re wrecking my digestion. I've got constant IBS issues because of them.
They’re a constant in my life... honestly, I don't know what I'd do without them.

To be honest, I’m a bit of a medical case study myself. Not exactly the best example to follow, given that I’m dealing with both Apnea and asbestosis.

I've been dealing with chronic pain for 37 years now, and I’m stuck in a bit of a bind. I can't take anything for it because, frankly, I'm allergic to just about every narcotic out there. My body simply refuses to tolerate them.
=====

I’ve mentioned this before: once you hit 40, you really ought to stay on top of things. Even if you feel fine, getting a solid checkup and some blood work done once or twice a year is just smart.

Let's not wait until things reach a breaking point when all these health issues start surfacing—even if we are the ones responsible for them. It isn't too late to step up and help ourselves with the right medication.

But above all, it’s just like they say: prevention is always better than the cure.

A blood panel can reveal just about anything, from prostate issues and testosterone levels to simple vitamin deficiencies. In my case, it’s Vitamin D—living in a place like sunny California doesn't mean much if you aren't moving enough and your body just won't absorb it properly. My wife deals with something similar with Vitamin B12; her digestive system won't take it in, so she has to get monthly injections. I actually got teased for that once. People tend to brush off B12 supplements like they're nothing, having no clue that dealing with Pernicious Anemia is a serious medical condition.

I’m turning 66 soon, and honestly, looking around at my circle, nearly half have already passed away from strokes or heart issues and hemorrhages. The rest seem to be hitting that 72 to 74 range.

placidfox55, thanks... I actually wrote all of this about three or four years ago... just so people could laugh at me.

Thanks for checking in, Jamie Clark74.

I think people struggle to speak up about this stuff because they get how serious the situation is, but at the same time, getting things under control feels like an uphill battle.

The research is pretty clear: there's no such thing as a "quick fix." Real success comes from those tiny, incremental steps you can actually stick to for the long haul...

Some people really struggle to get a handle on metabolic syndrome because they just can't quit the soda, the chocolate, or the heavy pasta dishes...

How are you guys tackling it?

For decades now, we've watched metabolic syndrome sweep through the American adult population.
Now, we're seeing that same epidemic start to take hold in American kids.

What can actually be done to stop—or at least slow down—this metabolic syndrome trend here in the States?

If you've got the bandwidth, check out this report from an international group of researchers and clinicians:

http://www.dietandcancerreport.org

Short on time? The journalists did the heavy lifting for you over at http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=3799715)

Oct. 31, 2007

After five years of reviewing 7,000 Medical Studies, a global team of elite scientists wrapped up their findings: what you eat and how much you weigh play a direct role in your cancer risk.

Watch the body fat. Aim for a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Weight around The waist is most dangerous.

Keep red meat to about 2.5 ounces daily. Adding just another 1.7 ounces bumps your risk up by 15 percent. Realistically, that’s an 8-ounce steak or a quarter-pound burger once a week, max.

Cap alcohol at two drinks a day for guys and one for women.

Stick to under 2 grams of salt a day. That’s roughly a single teaspoon, compared to the 1.5 teaspoons the average person gulps down. To put that in perspective—one cup of cottage cheese hits half your daily limit right there. Most processed junk is loaded with even more.

Focus on getting nutrients from real, whole foods rather than relying on vitamin pills.

Mothers should breast-feed children.

America is drowning in an obesity epidemic that triggers Type 2 Diabetes, which then leads to high blood pressure and cholesterol—a domino effect that ends in strokes and death.

With the stakes this high, you see every major news outlet suddenly preaching healthy living. It’s actually refreshing to see them ditching those "fad diets" and finally telling us what our grandmothers always knew: eat a balanced variety of foods, load up on veggies, stick to lean proteins, include some good fats, and stay far away from the junk.

Here’s a solid resource:
http://health.discovery.com/fansites/droz/tips.html

For my friends over in Europe who haven't fallen for every latest health craze, take note. This is real info you need to hear now, before things get as bad over there as they are here. The data shows the obesity crisis is slowly creeping its way across the Atlantic toward Europe.

Check out this site—it’s built for everyone from total newbies to pros (just hit the link). It's a non-profit setup, so you know the info is actually objective and easy to digest without all the fluff.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/publ...e_wt/index.htm

The short version:

Load up on fruits and veggies at every meal.
Stick to lean proteins—think low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, or fish.
Eat three to five times a day. Don't skip breakfast.
Get some healthy fats in there, like a bit of olive oil, almonds, or walnuts.
Watch your portion sizes.
Keep moving every day, even if it's just a solid thirty-minute walk.

The diabetes epidemic is sweeping the globe because everyone’s obsessed with trendy eating habits: processed junk, fast food, white bread sandwiches, high-fat cheeses, and deli meats... plus snacks like chips or crackers, where the starch hits your system, spikes your blood sugar, and then gets tucked away as fat, which just keeps the glucose levels climbing.

How much effort are we actually willing to put into eating better? Or is it just more important to satisfy our cravings and save a few minutes on meal prep?

Are we just grabbing a sandwich(it’s a convenient way to keep your hands clean, even if you're loading up on way more carbs than your body actually needs)?

Or are we going to eat a few slices of meat and some greens from a plate, using a fork and taking just a small piece of bread, basically just enough to get by?

Look, you’ve got to find some kind of balance with your diet—going to extremes is a recipe for disaster..
The math is pretty simple: don't eat more calories than you actually burn..
At the end of the day, obesity—which is basically the root of all these issues—happens because we’re just fueling ourselves way more than we need..
If you want to keep your weight in check, the move is to switch to smaller, more frequent meals, cut back on those heavy animal fats, and actually get moving—exercise isn't optional here..
For what it's worth, I'm 5'11", weigh about 175 lbs, and my waist is 30 inches..

dustyowl29 said:dieting should be about balance, not extremes...

Spot on.

If your body "realizes" you're starving it, your metabolism basically goes into survival mode. It reorganizes itself to store whatever you eat next as fat, just in case you hit another famine. It's trying to prep for the next drought.

Bottom line? You need to eat. Stick to three solid meals and maybe two snacks. But the real trick is watching *what* you're eating and how much. Don't starve yourself.