Blog Layout

Belly Fat: More than just cosmetic—what about cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer?

carriesuepepper • Feb 03, 2014

Your weight is largely determined by how you balance the calories you eat with the energy you burn. If you eat too much and exercise too little, you’re likely to gain unwanted weight — including belly fat.

However, aging also plays a role. Muscle mass typically diminishes with age, while fat increases. Loss of muscle mass also decreases the rate at which your body uses calories, which can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight.

Many women also notice an increase in belly fat as they get older — even if they aren’t gaining weight. This is likely due to a decreasing level of estrogen, which appears to influence where fat is distributed in the body.

Belly Fat – More Than Skin Deep

The trouble with belly fat is that it’s not limited to the extra layer of padding located just below the skin (subcutaneous fat). It also includes visceral fat — which lies deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your internal organs. Although subcutaneous fat poses cosmetic concerns, visceral fat is linked with far more dangerous health problems, including:

Cardiovascular disease

Type 2 diabetes

Colorectal cancer

ageLOC TR 90 goes after both types of fat

To share my experience:

I saw TR 90 as a life-saving program. I had gotten rather soft (hard to admit) after two hip replacement surgeries and I had fallen into a routine of having a glass of wine—or two (or more) with most meals as well as that spiffy little cocktail before dinner. I knew things had to change. TR 90 plan revamped my body, my mind and my attitude.

During the 90 days, I experienced a reduction in belly fat and much more tone in my mid-section. My tightest (sexiest!) jeans are now comfortable and my regular ones are a bit looser. When I place my hands around my waist, I’m actually surprised at the difference in the level of muscle tone—so much tighter. This change actually occurred within the first month; the Jumpstart powder, taken for the first 15 days, kicks off the program and begins to change your metabolism. My arms have more muscle tone (like they used to) and it’s not from lifting weights! My inner thighs are more toned as well. TR 90 made me more aware and more conscious of my choices. Overall, I lost ___ inches.  Also, there was a “bulge” of fat on my left hip that was prominent after my 2 nd hip replacement. My surgeon said, “every hip is different,” when I asked him why I had this when there was nothing on the right side. After TR 90, the “bulge” is quite a bit smaller. I plan to get rid of it forever after the 2 nd round of TR 90!

The biggest improvement for me was retraining myself how to eat with the simple “Eating Plan” provided with the system. I was always one to grab something in the morning—toast or coffee—and run out the door, never paying much attention to protein or anything else. Just something to fill that empty tummy. Now, my mind is thinking healthier—seeing balance on my plate (do I have enough protein? Veggies? Fruits? I don’t eat much bread anymore (and never white bread). I was actually eating more than I was used to! And, the biggest change , I no longer crave sugar or alcohol.

Now, my taste buds are different; wine just doesn’t taste as appealing; I still have a half glass at times, but no longer does it (as a friend of mine said) hit the spot. The hard liquor tastes terrible; I’ve mixed a few and after tasting it, end up pouring it down the sink! Why? My mind and body are starting to crave the HEALTHY choices! Burning fat by increasing lean muscle—that’s what TR 90 does in a nutshell. I absolutely fell in love with the Trim Shakes and can hardly wait to be able to add them to my daily regimen. When April 23 rolls around, I will do the program again—this time, paying closer attention to the eating plan, making sure that I increase my exercise significantly so that I can get even better results—and get into those new jeans that I have (a size smaller than my current sexy jeans!)

Carrie Pepper

Relaunch

By Carrie Pepper • 15 Feb, 2024
Separate Lives

Time to Fly

By Carrie Pepper • 04 Feb, 2024
Today, while out on a walk in a very high wind, I spotted a little bird way up in the tip top of a bare oak tree; she was holding on every so tightly as the wind tossed and shook the branches. Hold on, little one, I thought. And just then, this quote came to mind. “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not in the branch, but in her own wings.” ― Charlie Wardle As I watched her, I imagined my own wings and wondered just how hard the wind is going to need to blow in my life for me to loosen them, pinned tightly to my sides, unfurl them—then TRUST as the currents lift me off my (branch) and I soar effortless and without fear.

Street Signs Can Be Memory Joggers

By Carrie Pepper • 30 Nov, 2023
Out on my morning walk, street signs acted as memory joggers. Perhaps they were nudges so that I could remember, and be grateful for, these two women who were there for me as a kid. BRADFORD was the first sign. Grammy Bradford. I never called her anything else and I have no idea what her first name was, but I do remember she was there to tend to me when I was little while my mother went off to work at her government job "in procurement," which she hated. I know nothing, really, of what she did there, but I do remember the room. It seemed there were hundreds of desks in this huge room, no partitions. Dark grey desks and heavy black telephones. I visited her there a few times and she'd give me tablets and pens to keep me busy. I was ALWAYS thrilled to have a tablet and a pen! What she did there is a mystery to me, but when she and my father would argue, which was often, she'd always say, "I want my own money," and so off she went to work every morning at the Defense General Supply Center. He told her she didn't need to work, that he could support her, but, again, she wanted her own money. Back to Mrs. Bradford, Grammy. She was a bit on the heavy side (which I thought made for the best, most cuddly hugs) with long grey hair that she wore up with tons of bobby pins. She always wore a floral bib apron with large pockets and she'd fill them with pears when we'd go to that special corner of our back yard. Oh the smell! Those yellow pears and the carpet of yellow leaves. Memories of Grammy Bradford brought back memories of Thelma Massenburg. She looked exactly like Aunt Jemima (OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES, we can't say Aunt Jemima anymore!) Recently a friend told me he'd made pancakes and I asked what kind of syrup he used. When he said, "Pearl Milling," I thought it sounded kinda cool, but when I looked it up I found out it was the new name for Aunt Jemima syrup. SERIOUSLY? Anyway, she was wonderful. She cleaned our house, scrubbed the floors and walls and worked harder than anyone I'd ever seen. I loved her. She always wore a bandana tied around her head. She lived in a tiny reddish tar papered house with ten children. Who knows where they all slept! She was diabetic and I was a little stinker and liked to tease her with Hershey Bars. I'd wave one in front of her nose and she'd smile and say," "You bad, chile." The last time I saw her she was in the hospital and her eyes were very, very yellow. Liver disease. The scarf that was always wrapped around her head was gone and I am sure that I could hear her say, "You bad, chile," although she probably didn't. Thank you my sweet Thelma. My Aunt Jemima.
More Posts
Share by: