Tracking my blood sugar | blog 3 : lifestyle shifts for subtle results!

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This week I noticed that this process of regulating my blood sugar (and lowering it from levels indicative of insulin resistance levels) has felt both complicated and not so complicated. It's weird. I'm realizing this is both lifestyle changes and a long game. Not something I can remedy in a couple weeks with a couple blog posts. Oh the days of being 20-something and throwing myself into starvation diets and over-exercising. These days...I walk (not run) and I still buy chocolate (at least for now!). 

That said, I have been reading, but have not started, the 4-week Sarah Gottfried Protocol from her book Women, Food and Hormones. I want to start as it is a very informative and motivating book. Full of practical medical information which I love. It sounds so balanced and I keep telling myself I can do anything for 4 weeks! Even eat 25 net card a day. : |

The protocol focuses on preparing your body for a woman-friendly 2-week ketogenic stint through supporting your detox pathways and ending with a week of reintegration.

I plan to do it. Which is a phrase she lovingly calls out in her book to make sure the person reading actually does do it because she makes a great case for why this will balance hormones.

So here's my deal. I'm taking it somewhat more easily, because I want to make lasting effects and lifestyle changes. And I hate failing. This protocol requires some food prep, number tracking and recipe reading. I want to be prepared and versed before I dive in. 

I'm still testing my blood sugar though. Every morning, at least, with a finger stick glucometer. I am incorporating small (read: easy) steps I've gleaned from Women, Food and Hormones. And ok, speaking of steps, I'm getting outside and walking. A lot. A lot a lot of walking. I have a hiking trail near my house and trying to get my 10,000 steps a day. So far, I'm averaging 6,000 steps a day. Which, according to my iPhone Health app (don't know how accurate this is) I was averaging about 2,000 steps a day. (This is a judgement free zone!)

Through cutting back on refined carbs, incorporating more veggies and greens into my diet and eliminating any extra fun drinks my more fasting glucose has been lower the past couple days. Lower being below 100. 99 and 97. Normal by most western medicine standards but still elevated by functional medicine standards.