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

placidfox55 said:high liver enzymes, messed up insulin and blood sugar levels, always feeling hungry, skin darkening around the neck, groin, and armpits, those tiny little skin tags on the neck and chest area, family history of diabetes, PCOS...

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

Got a waist circumference larger than 34 inches (for women) or 40 inches (for guys)?

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

Are your triglycerides or "bad" LDL cholesterol high?

Is your "good" HDL cholesterol running low?

High blood pressure

1. Nope
2. No
3. Nah
4. No
5. Nope
6. No
7. Not really
8. No
9. Nope
10. No
11. No
12. Nope
13. No
14. No

So... am I caught up in this epidemic thing?

placidfox55 said:The short version:

Load up on fruits and veggies at every meal.
Stick to lean proteins (low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, fish).
Eat three to five times a day. Don't skip breakfast.
Healthy fats: a splash of olive oil, some almonds or walnuts.
Watch your portions.
Move every day (even if it's just a thirty-minute walk).

... keeping it simple... 🙂 😎

What actually happens when people just stop caring about their movement, their diet, and let the belly fat pile up:

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercis...activity-stops

Look, my aunt spent her entire life obsessing over healthy eating. She was always thin, stuck to a vegetarian diet for the last decade, and even translated several nutrition books. Fast forward to now: she’s 75 and completely immobile after suffering a few minor strokes. My grandfather, on the other hand, was in much better shape at 90 than she is today, and he ate beef every single day. Clearly, there was a massive flaw in her dietary regime, especially considering how badly her cerebral arteries were damaged.

You've got a point. There are exceptions. That said, the way you live your life can definitely impact your risk level.

Look, my take is that my aunt was studying this back when nutrition science was still in its infancy. There were definitely books being churned out by so-called "experts," but you have to wonder if they actually followed their own advice. And more importantly, how long did they even last? I’m confident that we're in a much better place regarding nutritional research today.

Five meals a day: three main courses and two snacks.

Vegetables, vegetables, vegetables, vegetables, vegetables. And... more veggies.
Cut back on the heavy starches (potatoes, bananas, corn, beans, bread, pasta, rice), and if you do eat them, stick to whole grain options.
Lean proteins: fish, chicken, egg whites, low-fat milk, yogurt, soy, legumes...
"Healthy" fats: olive oil, canola oil, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts

Consistent exercise (aim for at least three hours a week)

Stress management: staying active, reading, hobbies, family time, friends, and getting enough sleep!!!

placidfox55 said:elevated liver enzymes, shifted insulin and blood sugar levels, feeling hungry all the time, skin darkening around the neck, groin, and armpits, little skin tags appearing on the neck and chest area, family history of diabetes, PCOS...

Do you think this sounds like metabolic syndrome?

Could you please share where you read about this? It’s the first I’ve heard of these specific symptoms, though if you're asking me personally, the answer is yes, I definitely have it. 😢

Nazalos, you're spot on.

Luckily—there’s always a comeback. A total lifestyle pivot. 🙂 😎