Makes perfect sense. I remain in deep grief after the death of my wife just over a year ago, and it feels like no matter how much I limit the empty calories of sugar and carbs that the ten pounds of belly fat I've gained stay stubbornly attached. I of course intuitively know that the daily stress of grief impacts me physiologically in profound ways. My daily hikes, eating right and getting plenty of sleep I know are all very important routines for me - but now I know I'm up against a stress response that doesn't really differentiate my grief stress from the daily high level stress of some much younger extended family members immersed in the high pressure 24/7 world of modern professional working lives. People in mid-40's who because of intense chronic work stress that literally never shuts off - can only focus on diet to control belly fat accumulation, because finding time to "hike" and getting enough "sleep" are absolutely impossible options for them. Their work-life is by definition - daily chronic stress with no clear path out of it for them. It is very helpful to have this information as I try to maintain my basic health in the midst of the stress of deep grief. It explains a lot also about our "obesity epidemic."
This is fascinating & hugely important - thank you! I found that the Covid years definitely had me put some fat on despite being an athlete & having my nutrition dialed in. It wasn’t until I started addressing stress (prioritizing sleep , mediation, remote ischemic conditioning) that the fat gain started coming off.
The psychiatric ward observation is wild. The idea that depressed patients losing total mass but gaining viscerl fat while eating almost nothing flips the entire CICO model on its head. I've tried hardcore caloric restriction before and the stress around food tracking alone probably spiked my cortisol more than the deficit helped, which explains alot in hindsight.
My 34 yrs daughter diagnosed with diabetes type 1. she is struggling. could some of this info help her? she has anxiety and an oversized lower belly too. not sure how to help her in a more natural way thanks
Therein lies the problem. She is struggling. I know all about Type1. No professional, just know. Stress, anxiety, anger, denial, grief will shoot your sugar level to the rooftop just like a piece of apple will. Some how, some way, your daughter must take control of these stress points. Throw it all away. It can be done. Just like diet changes can be done.
This diagnosis is life changing in every way imaginable. Spontaneity is gone. Every mouthful you take has consequences. Constantly being armed with insulin wherever you go,
My son called me some months back saying he couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want to do this anymore. He's 40, been struggling with weight and diet 28 years after he contracted diabetes1 at 12 from the Hepatitis vaccine. I was so frightened as his voice convinced me of his seriousness.
I suggested he start fasting. Three days of water, no food. He did 5 days. After those 5 days he no longer used his nighttime slow acting insulin, now he does use it but much less, and daily Humalog was reduced significantly. He lost 50 lbs in about 3 months doing intermittent fasting. He has taken control of his disease. I pray your daughter does the same.
A protein deficiency, specially a low level of albumin.
Albumin is the most abundant protein in human blood plasma, produced primarily by the liver.
It's main function in people who are starving but gain belly weight is to maintain oncotic pressure, which is the pressure that keeps fluid within the blood vessels.
Albumin maintains fluid balance, transports substances, serves as a source of amino acids for tissue repair and other metabolic processes, it also helps neutralize harmful free radicals protecting from cell damage.
Eat quality protein with every meal, lower the carbohydrate intake (not to low) support and nourish the liver (milk thistle, bitters, dandelion root) and kidneys (cranberry, dandelion root, tumeric, ginger root, basil) and drink at least 1-2 litres of pure water daily. Proper sleep, NO blue light at night (or wear blue light filtering glasses) due to effects on hormones.
A great article, but are you really saying that fasting is unhealthy? Is there a way to do a 24 hour water fast where you don’t increase the cortisol levels and build up visceral fat?
The psychiatric ward observation is devastating in how clearly it breaks the calorie model. People literally wasting away while their visceral fat grows contradicts everything mainstream nutition teaches about energy balance. What makes this particuarly important is how it reframes dieting effort itself as potentially counterproductive, the anxious dieter creating the exact hormonal environment that drives visceral accumulation regardless of intake. I've watched this pattern play out in people around me, disciplined restriction producing minimal results while stress levels stay elevated. The 24x concentration multiplier through the portal vein also explains why belly fat isn't just cosmetic.
Makes perfect sense. I remain in deep grief after the death of my wife just over a year ago, and it feels like no matter how much I limit the empty calories of sugar and carbs that the ten pounds of belly fat I've gained stay stubbornly attached. I of course intuitively know that the daily stress of grief impacts me physiologically in profound ways. My daily hikes, eating right and getting plenty of sleep I know are all very important routines for me - but now I know I'm up against a stress response that doesn't really differentiate my grief stress from the daily high level stress of some much younger extended family members immersed in the high pressure 24/7 world of modern professional working lives. People in mid-40's who because of intense chronic work stress that literally never shuts off - can only focus on diet to control belly fat accumulation, because finding time to "hike" and getting enough "sleep" are absolutely impossible options for them. Their work-life is by definition - daily chronic stress with no clear path out of it for them. It is very helpful to have this information as I try to maintain my basic health in the midst of the stress of deep grief. It explains a lot also about our "obesity epidemic."
Carnivore diet helped me. BMI 18.5 🙌
This is fascinating & hugely important - thank you! I found that the Covid years definitely had me put some fat on despite being an athlete & having my nutrition dialed in. It wasn’t until I started addressing stress (prioritizing sleep , mediation, remote ischemic conditioning) that the fat gain started coming off.
The psychiatric ward observation is wild. The idea that depressed patients losing total mass but gaining viscerl fat while eating almost nothing flips the entire CICO model on its head. I've tried hardcore caloric restriction before and the stress around food tracking alone probably spiked my cortisol more than the deficit helped, which explains alot in hindsight.
My 34 yrs daughter diagnosed with diabetes type 1. she is struggling. could some of this info help her? she has anxiety and an oversized lower belly too. not sure how to help her in a more natural way thanks
Therein lies the problem. She is struggling. I know all about Type1. No professional, just know. Stress, anxiety, anger, denial, grief will shoot your sugar level to the rooftop just like a piece of apple will. Some how, some way, your daughter must take control of these stress points. Throw it all away. It can be done. Just like diet changes can be done.
This diagnosis is life changing in every way imaginable. Spontaneity is gone. Every mouthful you take has consequences. Constantly being armed with insulin wherever you go,
My son called me some months back saying he couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want to do this anymore. He's 40, been struggling with weight and diet 28 years after he contracted diabetes1 at 12 from the Hepatitis vaccine. I was so frightened as his voice convinced me of his seriousness.
I suggested he start fasting. Three days of water, no food. He did 5 days. After those 5 days he no longer used his nighttime slow acting insulin, now he does use it but much less, and daily Humalog was reduced significantly. He lost 50 lbs in about 3 months doing intermittent fasting. He has taken control of his disease. I pray your daughter does the same.
Thank you, again!!!
Starving with a fat belly:
A protein deficiency, specially a low level of albumin.
Albumin is the most abundant protein in human blood plasma, produced primarily by the liver.
It's main function in people who are starving but gain belly weight is to maintain oncotic pressure, which is the pressure that keeps fluid within the blood vessels.
Albumin maintains fluid balance, transports substances, serves as a source of amino acids for tissue repair and other metabolic processes, it also helps neutralize harmful free radicals protecting from cell damage.
Eat quality protein with every meal, lower the carbohydrate intake (not to low) support and nourish the liver (milk thistle, bitters, dandelion root) and kidneys (cranberry, dandelion root, tumeric, ginger root, basil) and drink at least 1-2 litres of pure water daily. Proper sleep, NO blue light at night (or wear blue light filtering glasses) due to effects on hormones.
A great article, but are you really saying that fasting is unhealthy? Is there a way to do a 24 hour water fast where you don’t increase the cortisol levels and build up visceral fat?
Come to confluence 2026 at sovereignty ranch in April
The psychiatric ward observation is devastating in how clearly it breaks the calorie model. People literally wasting away while their visceral fat grows contradicts everything mainstream nutition teaches about energy balance. What makes this particuarly important is how it reframes dieting effort itself as potentially counterproductive, the anxious dieter creating the exact hormonal environment that drives visceral accumulation regardless of intake. I've watched this pattern play out in people around me, disciplined restriction producing minimal results while stress levels stay elevated. The 24x concentration multiplier through the portal vein also explains why belly fat isn't just cosmetic.
Indeed, visceral fat is the killer...