exactly. The old addage about calories has long been proven to be false. For some reason, someone came up with all that hoopla and the medical community bought into it. And it makes no sense…I mean, if you have to walk for 3 hours to burn off one candy bar…how much sense does that make? Most of us would never, ever be able to exercise off the calories we eat. While it is true that a calorie is a measure of energy, it has nothing to do with weight control. Weight control is the food we eat. Exercise does use up excess insulin, which, for us, is a good thing and I am not saying to not exercise…because it is good for you in so many ways…just NOT the key to weight loss…
It may not be the key to weight loss, but for those of us with chronic and stifling insulin resistance, exercise helps lower the amount of basal insulin needed - and that, my friend, leads to weight loss…so while I agree that exercise is not THE key, it is certainly an important ingredient for folks like me.
As for calories, I don’t count calories - but in addition to choosing foods carefully, I do practice portion control, which I consider to be even more important. As Bernstein explains, the Chinese Restaurant effect can spike your BG if your portion is too large - even while eating “free” foods like lettuce.
Yes, Cheri…we are in complete agreement there. As I said…exercise does help use up “extra” insulin that would otherwise be stored as fat, but the whole calorie thing is a total myth…
Hi Sue - not to put too fine a point on it, but I believe exercise does more than use up extra insulin - it can reduce your basal - and eventually bolus insulin needs.
Yes…I believe you are correct. Exercise does use insulin, and help us use it better. Sorry…sometimes in my eagerness to say something, I abreviate and dont’ say all that I should. The only thing that I know to be true is that calories don’t mean squat. Carbs are the main key to weight loss. Exercise is so good for many things. Heart health being number 1. I think that if you eat the right carbs…high in fiber…you will find that the exercise doesn’t come as much into play because you won’t need “extra” insulin to begin with. I think that is more what I was trying to convey…
iv always eaten very well but still experienced weight gain after going on the pump. some people said that by going on the pump you go into a mentality that you can eat whatever you want, but that never happened to me. i ate the same maybe less after switching to the pump. i’ve spoken to several people who have gained weight just like me simply because you are on a steady regimen of insulin 24/7. the first few months i suffered from highs and lows while i figured out my basal/bolus rate but as i settle into something that works for me i’m hoping the weight will come off. im assuming i was on too much insulin and as a result i was having to eat more and gained weight.
i really enjoyed hearing everyone’s comments and advice thank you!
You are welcome, Dallas - and good luck! Yes, whatever you can do to reduce your insulin will likely allow that extra weight to come back off.
I just went on the pump… like literally TODAY I started pumping insulin. I’ve gained about 15lbs in the past 4 months on MDI’s. Partially due to tighter control, but I think the weight gain is largely due to the fact that I was experiencing so many bad lows, especially overnight. All those extra correction calories add up! I’m hoping that I’ll have fewer lows on the pump and can continue to eat well and exercise to kick these extra pounds! My endo said that if I don’t lose any weight in the month until I see her next that she wants to put me on weight loss meds. Is that normal? I typically exercise for at least an hour a day and eat around 1,600 calories. All in all, I would like to drop 10-15 lbs, but am only about 10lbs overweight right now. I’d rather not take any drugs to lose weight if I don’t have to.
Hi There -
I wouldn’t personally go on weight loss medication - I would instead look at ways to reduce my insulin. As talked about throughout this post and many, many others - insulin can and does put weight on lots of people - through no fault of their own (esp. those of us who are insulin resistant). If you doc doesn’t realize that, it would make me worried. Not only that - I can’t stand the idea of a doc holding an extra RX over your head if you don’t lose weight. And remember - you do not have to take it.
Cheri
And you are fortunate…btw, doesn’t really have to do with the pump - it’s insulin, in whatever form, and it depends on your own metabolism, whether you are insulin sensitive (often no weight gain) or insulin resistant (often weight gain). It also has to do with how tightly you control your BG.
You forgot the most important part of reducing insulin needs…eating different foods. That works the best of any of the above…
I believe she already stated that she eats well - by that I take her at her word.
Yes over the past 2.5 years that I’ve been pumping I’ve gained quite a bit of weight (about 35lbs). To me it’s a fair trade-off for the control I get with my pump. I’m making a more concentrated effort to workout and eat right lately though, because I know I need to do all I can to avoid gaining more. In turn I’ve lost 5lbs in the past 3 weeks - so that leads me to believe it wasn’t ALL the pump 
it was partly my lazy habits!
Yeah, it’s sad, huh? Sometimes weight follows tight control and great A1c numbers. I’ve added Symlin and that has helped reduce the insulin.