On Fri, 26 May 2000, Ben Balzer wrote:

> Yeh, one big disappointment with this "archetypal perfect diet" is that the
> weight doesn't drop down to perfect. I've wondered if it's the insulin that
> supports the excess flab. Therefore, weight drops until the level of your
> insulin resistance is met, and it won't fall further unless you can drop
> your insulin resistance further (and therefore your insulin levels will drop
> and therefore the flab will go).

At the moment, I would gladly settle for the 17% BF that was my
leanest.  The distressing thing at this time is not that I didn't
get down to what I considered "ideal" (15% or less), but that it
has been *increasing* during the past year, though slowly.  If
insulin resistance is the cause, then something in the
Neanderthin diet is increasing it.  The prime suspect would be
saturated fats, especially in view of the chronically elevated
LDL cholesterol.  But I'm open to other suggestions.

> To reduce insulin resistance you could try:
> 1. Lower carbs than usual, perhaps in your case just less than the Zone

I'm already *way* lower than the Zone.  I cycle in and out of
ketosis, but I almost never get more than 20% of calories from
carbs.

> 2.  Exercise is also good for reducing insulin resistance. In fact, one
> reason I spend less time on this list (which I enjoy very much) is that I
> realised that if I'd spent half of my computer hours out walking, I'd be a
> skinny as a rake, or at least as a cucumber. This goes double for you Todd,
> dare I say.

It's a point.  I lift weights once a week, but on the other days
I walk a couple of miles, which really isn't that much exercise.

> 3. Perhaps a period of fasting would help lower insulin resistance somewhat.

That's interesting.  Does fasting do that?

> 4. If fasting is not your game, then a restricted diet with a big drop in
> calories could help.

Yes, this gets the pounds off, but it's very difficult to
sustain.

But I didn't mean to turn this into a personal counseling
session.  I was only explaining why I am somewhat impatient of
claims that Neanderthin is a miracle cure for all ills, including
obesity.  I am somewhat resentful of having allowed myself to be
beguiled by the promise of being able to eat "unlimited amounts"
of paleo foods while still losing fat.  The old adage, "If it
seems too good to be true, it probably is," applies to
Neanderthin as well.  I do believe that Neanderthin is (or can
be, depending on how you do it) a healthy diet, and any attempt
at weight loss should be based on a healthy diet.  But there is
clearly more to the puzzle of obesity and weight loss than just
this.  But beyond the simple but tedious restriction of calories,
I haven't figured it out yet.

Todd Moody
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