If we assume an average lifestyle, how does the body decide which energy source it will use? There are so many different opinions out there – some conflicting, that I’m now beginning to get lost. The way I understood it, was that for general short/quick movements the body will use creatine as the source of energy (stored in muscle?). I also understand that we only have less than a minute’s worth of this energy stored, but it does replenish itself pretty fast. Oh, and it has no nasty by-product when used?

Then, for more sustained exercise I thought we would go on to use Glycogen (stored in the muscle? – 10 mins worth?) and if we needed more then the body would release glucose into the bloodstream? Also, does the body use glucose directly from the bloodstream or does it just replenish the glycogen and get used as needed from the muscle? Then when we begin to exhaust our supply of glucose/glycogen, would the body turn to metabolising fat? Also does it metabolise fat directly around the area of the muscle, or is fat pushed into the bloodstream from all places to circulate the body?

Someone recently told me the body would use protein (muscle tissue) in preference to fat because it is easier to metabolise. I find this surprising. If you are exercising trying to promote muscle growth, why would the body want to eat it (so to speak)? I could understand that if you were malnutritioned this may be the case. I know this is long, but I have so so many questions. Would anybody care to strike up a private email to email chat about this topic, or is there a good online resource that will answer my questions?

I have heard 1g per pound of body weight, I have heard other numbers too. I know that if you exercise alot you need more. Perhaps when I start exercising (my time is drawing near) I will need more too. But for now, as a *lightly* active adult female, I wonder if I am getting enough. I drink about 3 cups of NF milk per day, but I don’t recall how much protein is in it.

Then I have a garden burger-about 6g of protein. Dinner is usually light, a lean cuisine or similar, or a chicken breast. According to Bob Arnot in “Dr. Bob Arnot’s Revolutionary Weight Control Program”, maximum protein intake should be determined based on a combination of weight and activity level — the more active you are, the more protein you need. Some general guidelines based on the table he provides: If you are sedentary, do light weight training or less than 40 minutes of aerobics a day, your maximum protein intake should be about .36 grams per pound of body weight.

If you are a seasoned body builder who trains four days a week, your max protein would be .55 grams per pound. If you are a serious aerobic athlete training 60 – 90 minutes a day, your max protein would be .59 grams per pound. If you are just beginning a program of building substantial amounts of muscle and plan to train at least four days a week, your max protein would be .77 grams per pound.

You spoke in earlier posts of taking daily walks. Have you done that on the new routine? I wonder how your energy level has been for exercise? Some low-carbers on here have talked of lower A1c’s, but never about exercising. I’m just curious if you’ve been able to keep up your active way of life on the farm without low bg’s, etc. That’s just one area that never gets addressed (in detail) by someone using/trying the low-carb. I’d love to hear your take on it as you’ve always been so active. I do hope things go well for you. I know how hard it can be to try and find the right “fit.”

When I went to the store to buy my ‘new’ supplies for our cupboards (Dave is ecstatic, by the way, he never has taken to the low fat taste) I found myself being embarassed about putting the ‘hight fat’ stuff in my cart. Let alone, doing a month’s worth of shopping in one cart. (We live 15 miles from nearest grocery, thank god for walmart, or it would be 25 miles) It was like the ‘fat’ police were following me around. Everytime I put something in my cart and someone went by, I felt like I should explain about the diet. Hmmm. I am finding I am having a hard time ‘filling up’. For years, it has been small portions, and go away hungry.

Here I am, trying to fill up on the good (?) stuff and it is bothering me. Even Dave raised his eyebrows when I took a second helping of the egg quiche thing, and he said how funny because I usually leave a couple bites of the first helping and here I am actually eating! Hmmm. I am keeping my carbs below 50. The first day was the hardest. Looking everywhere for something I could eat. I ate two entire boxes of low fat, low sugar Jello (prepared). And my celery was so limp it bent when I held it up. Ate it anyway with lots of cream cheese. Have to admit, now it is easier than I thought.

I’m under control with my meds (Glucotrol & Avandia) and I’m eating a healthy low carb diet. Started exercising, and on the dr.s advice, have been testing my levels before and after to make sure I don’t bottom out. Thing is, this morning I did an hour on the tread mill before breakfast. My reading before was 82, and my reading after was 94! I thought exercising would bring it down… I havn’t eaten anything today, and I took my meds when I woke up. Anyone have any similar experience, or know what’s up? When you excercise without giving your body fuel (like Breakfast), it will burn what is handy, and while your body metabolizes your body’s fat your bgs can rise.

I know that when I “feel the burn” while swimming, my bg can be very high when I get out of the pool. I have only a vague recollection about this while talking to my Diabetes Educator, and will defer to superior knowledge on the topic. A rise of 82 to 94 is really nothing to worry about. Really, 94 is a beautiful reading (unless I missed a digit or the “94!” you wrote was in fact 94-factorial . Again I don’t claim to be an expert, but I don’t think that you should *really* worry unless your post-excercise reading is beyond the recommended range (60-140) in either direction. My Doctor wanted me to make sure that my bg’s remained as close to 100 as possible while I excercised.

As your fitness increases, your body will become more efficient at dealing with the sudden demand for energy. Maybe your body is getting ahead of the game. I have a similar experience, but not quite so extreme as to actually increase. I started running at 2.5 mile legs. At first, my BM would drop 6 pts from 10.3 to 3.5; but now, as I get fitter, I am up to 4 mile legs and my BM only drops from 5.5 to 4.9. Try taking another measurement about an hour after you exercise – your increased metabolism will continue after you stop and you should see a net loss in points (assuming you don’t eat anything).