The Real Reason Low-Carb Women (& Men) Become ‘Skinny Fat'. The Real Solutions (That Actually Work Over 40) Eat enough - not just low carb A lot of low-carb women are secretly under-eating, which drives up- - Cortisol - Blood sugar - Insulin resistance FitnHealthy Fix - - Eat proper amounts of protein for your body - Eat enough calories for your body - Add small, strategic carbs (fruit, potatoes, squash) to reduce stress hormones Build Muscle (Non-negotiable) Muscle = glucose disposal. No muscle leads to no place to store sugar leads to prediabetes or Diabetes.. FitnHealthy Fix- - Strength training 3x/week - Lift heavier over time - Increase protein to support muscle recovery for your body Reduce Stress Hormones You can be low carb AND have high sugars because of cortisol, not carbs. FitnHealthy Fix- - Add carbs at dinner in the proper amount for You - Improve sleep - Adjust your fasting windows for You Support the Thyroid Low carb reduces T3, and low T3 which leads to higher blood sugar. FitnHealthy Fix- - Add more minerals. The proper amount for You. - Add a little more carbs. The proper amount for You. - Improve sleep - Increase total calories. The proper amount for You. Support Liver Function Many women over 40 have livers that are stressed from- - Low carb - Too much fat - Under-eating - High caffeine - High stress - Menopause shifts FitnHealthy Fix- - Add fruit (best carb for the liver) Caution - The proper amount for You. - Remove excess PUFA oils. (Seed Oils) - Eat enough protein. The proper amount for You. - Stop under-fueling. The proper amount for You. So is protein the most important? YES - protein is the anchor.But… If you ONLY increase protein without fixing stress, sleep, carbs, or muscle? You won’t fix prediabetes or Diabetes. If you increase protein and combine it with - - More muscle - More minerals - Less stress - Better sleep - Small carbs