What Makes The Pancreas Crank?

     After starting Ideal Protein roughly 8 weeks ago, I've learned a few things about my body. Lets just start out with my confusion about sugars & carbohydrates. Essentially I was ignorant and thought that my body broke them down all differently. Well I was wrong, VERY WRONG and uneducated on the fact that there is one part of the body that helps breaks them down: the pancreas! 

     What's the pancreas exactly? "A large gland behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum. Embedded in the pancreas are the islets of Langerhans, which secrete into the blood the hormones insulin and glucagon."  This helps control the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. The pancreas works hard to break down BOTH sugars and carbs. Yes I knew that it broke down sugars (good or bad ones) but never did I think about carbs.  I thought that eating carbs weren't as bad as eating sugary treats such as frozen yogurt, large amounts of fruit or even yummie Hersey Kisses (which are quite delicious when you want a quick treat). Sadly I was wrong :(.  I was also ignorant to the fact of "cheat days".  Mainly because at one point I felt like everyday for at least one of my meals was a cheat day!  Bad bad Kiara!!  I don't mean that everyday day I ate fries, huge sandwiches or even sugary treats. I mean more along the lines of a Starbucks frappachino one day, a bagel from Bagel World another day or even 3 dinner rolls at dinnertime with pasta to follow. Also, I didn't realize how many carbs I was actually consuming. I just was hungry so I ate what was readily available to me (tuna salad over a Greek salad was my favorite go-to lunch).  I've leaned that overtime if your continue to eat each day with a higher amount of carbs (because those are definitely my downfall) you will gain weight. Well DUR KIARA!  I look at to now & think "My god! How silly can you be!?!?!"  It's quite embarrassing actually but then again my eating habits have changed drastically for the better.

     Lastly, I also started eating 4 meals a day instead of one large meal. Eating my one meal a day was keeping my metabolism slow & then shot up my blood sugar when I ate my large carb meals. I would shake, get so tired and not control my appetite when I actually ate.  Bottom line: resting the pancreas throughout this diet is the best decision I made. It has helped reduce the amount of carbs that I put into my system and has given me more energy than I could ask for.  I'm not saying never eat carbs again & that they are evil!  They give you the energy, along with protein to keep you full, throughout the day.  Just keep them low & fill at least 2/3 of your plate with delicious veggies!! 

Be happy, be healthy, be beautiful

XOXO theCHUBBYskinnygirl 💋