Originally Posted by wcollier

leptin is very complex. I've just read the book for the 2nd time b/c I wasn't grasping everything. Leptin is the primary controller of thyroid, adrenal, pancreatic and sex hormones. These hormones can't function properly without leptin. Problems with leptin also set the stage for obesity, anorexia, immune problems, bone loss, GI problems, liver problems, cognitive problems, nerve problems, fibromyalgia, heart disease and cancer. Therefore, our adipose tissue (that we are trying desperately to get rid of) has a significant endocrine function.

The authors define leptin as "a hormone secreted by fat cells in white adipose tissue, which is sent to the brain to let it know how much fat is stored. The hypothalamus gland in the brain senses leptin levels, so that it can tell how much fuel is in storage. If enough fuel is in storage, metabolic rate can go faster". So the subconscious brain doesn't even know how much fat is stored in the body, yet it's in control of eating behaviors! Leptin is the most important hormone signal gauging fuel (energy) supply.

So technically, if leptin is low, the brain will put out signals to eat. You eat, replenish the leptin stores which then signal the brain to reduce its appetite. But the problem is that almost all overweight people have too much leptin! Our bodies were never genetically programmed to have food available at the blink of an eye. Overeating raises leptin, a side effect of having access to way too much food. Leptin has gone awry. There is a breakdown in proper communication and the brain doesn't get the signal that there is enough leptin on hand. The brain thinks that the body is starving and orders the storage of more fat (slows the metabolism). This is called leptin resistance. Functionally, the body acts in starvation mode.

Not only is the amount of leptin important, but the timing of leptin is also an issue. Leptin levels follow a daily pattern. They peak a few hours after sleep and fall to their lowest level in the morning. Therefore, you should be least hungry at night and famished in the morning. Look what society has done to our hormones. We hardly eat in the morning and eat our biggest meal in the evening. Anyone who is hungry or craves food before bed is leptin resistant. Out of control eating after dinner is the biggest clue that a person is leptin resistant.

Leptin problems are an issue for anyone over the age of 30. Leptin controls energy regulation and without proper energy supply, nothing can work correctly. This is why people have to get healthy before embarking on weight loss.

According to the authors, dietary protein is the "raw material that tells the liver to get into gear". Since leptin is what regulates energy (the metabolism), protein is paramount. They say that metabolism can increase by 30% for as long as 12 hours from a high protein meal. Also a high protein breakfast helps prevent leptin fluctuations later on in the day (as well as control blood sugars). They emphasize paying attention to your energy levels later on in the day and basing them on what you ate for breakfast. For people who don't feel like eating breakfast, it's a symptom that their digestive system is too full of toxic waste from an inadequate job of "house cleaning" the night before.

These are the basics to why the authors created the Five Rules to Mastering Leptin. If you are interested, I will post each rule and explain the reasons for each. I might have to do it over several days.