Can somebody give me an overview of the Obesity Code please?

[sheshootssheimplores]

I know loads of people said the book is life changing. I plan on ordering it later and have it waiting there for me when I get back from holiday. In the meantime though can anyone give me an overview. It’s fasting right?

Fasting, lowish carb, low sugar.

I think the author has affiliations with dietdoctor.com and there’s various video clips explaining it all on there.

So Dr Fung believes obesity is a hormonal problem. When you eat carbohydrate you release insulin. Insulin is a hormone that encourages your body to store energy. When you are trying to lose weight you want to use up your stored energy which is fat and glycogen.

When you fast your body has to maintain a constant blood glucose level. If you're not eating then it does this by converting glycogen to glucose. Once glycogen stores are depleted then the body uses fat stores to ensure your blood glucose level remains constant. In addition the body uses fat stores to produce ketones which are used as fuel for your cells in place of glucose. So the diet sets your body up to burn fat.

So as well as fasting you eat low carbohydrate otherwise you would constantly be releasing insulin and topping up your glycogen stores.

Apart from fasting and low carbohydrate it's also no sweetener, proper food rather than processed.

I lost weight easily following the diet. There is a Facebook group that can help support.

I have just skim read it. Totally goes against calorie in calorie out stating that hormones, particularly insulin, are responsible for weight loss.

Your body will burn sugar or fat for energy. Sugar is easy to access like the food in your fridge. Fat is harder to access like the food that is in your freezer in the garage. You only start to burn fat when your sugar stores are depleted and you go into ketosis. Or something like that.

All food, except pure fat, raises insulin levels so fasting is the way to keep levels low for a period of time. Even artificial sweeteners raise insulin so they should be avoided. Carbs are worse than protein and should be avoided but too much protein can raise insulin too.

There are different levels of fasting. Intermittent fasting ie 16/8. 24 hour fast ie one meal a day. 36-48 hour fast etc. Water coffee and tea are allowed. You can add some fat ie butter or cream to you drinks and you will still be fasting according to Dr Fung.

If you manage to fast for over 48 hours your levels of growth hormone increase. This is a good thing. There is also something called autophagy where your body start to get rid of old cells.

However when not fasting you should eat to your TDEE and not cut calories too much as he says this lowers your metabolism.

I need to go back and study it more closely but that is the gist.

Also the fasting might sound hard/impossible but once you're in ketosis you just don't feel that hungry.