Insulin Resistance and Fat Gain
Up until the year 2000, I was in pretty good shape. I exercised regularly, and I thought I ate well—but in reality, I had no real understanding of basic metabolism, macronutrients, the importance of protein, or the role of quality fats.
In the mid-90s, I went through a phase where I juiced around 40 kilograms of carrots every week, convinced this was the key to ultimate health. I had discovered books by Norman Walker, dove deep into juicing, colonics, and raw food, and for a time—at least on the surface—it seemed to work for me. I was in my early 40s, full of energy, and had no reason to question what I was doing.
Fast forward to the 2000s. Life got complicated. I faced immense challenges as a father, dealt with crushing financial stress while building an art gallery with no formal training, and at 48, my wife Georgie and I had a son. Slowly but surely, my priorities shifted. I stopped going to the gym, cut back on running, started eating more processed food, and worst of all—I got into alcohol. Not a smart move.
Needless to say, I transformed from a lean, healthy guy into something entirely different. Over time, I developed insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. I put on a lot of weight, crashed every afternoon from hypoglycemia, and woke up nearly every morning with what felt like a hangover. I was in a mess. But, as I tend to do, I played the role of the great pretender. I convinced myself that my issues were purely stress-related, and to be honest, I had no clue where to even begin looking for real answers. So, I let things slide.
I’ve written about this period of my life elsewhere, but even now, looking back, it’s hard to confront how far I had fallen. Then, in early 2019, I made a life-changing decision: I stopped drinking completely and committed to turning my health around. Over the next six years, I was diagnosed with cancer and, through a combination of natural protocols and lifestyle changes, I defeated it. I lost weight, regained my fitness, and Georgie and I built an alternative life in Bali, where we now spend half the year.
Somewhere along the way, I became “obsessed” with understanding my body—how it works, how to repair the damage I inflicted over those two decades, and how to apply this knowledge in a disciplined, intentional way.
Now, at 73, I am strong, fit, and constantly improving. I track my blood markers, monitor key health metrics, tweak my lifestyle protocols, and work toward one goal: to live as long as I can in a healthy, fit, and happy state.
I’d love to inspire others to take an honest look at their health and take action. I’ve proven to myself that transformation is possible—you can go from a worm to a butterfly. But the first step in overcoming insulin resistance is understanding what it is and the serious consequences it has on the body. Armed with this knowledge, you can take control of your life and make lasting change.
Professor Benjamin Bikman is a distinguished scientist and professor at Brigham Young University (BYU), renowned for his extensive research on metabolic disorders, particularly insulin resistance and its profound impact on health and obesity.
Personal Background
Dr. Bikman hails from a small farming community in southern Alberta, Canada, where he was the ninth of 13 children. This upbringing instilled in him essential life lessons and a robust work ethic. After serving a mission in Samara, Russia, he pursued higher education at BYU, focusing on exercise science. He earned his Ph.D. in bioenergetics at East Carolina University, where his research interests shifted from exercise adaptations to the mechanisms underlying obesity. He further honed his expertise during a postdoctoral fellowship at the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, concentrating on metabolic disorders.
Scientific Research on Insulin Resistance
At BYU, Professor Bikman leads the Laboratory of Obesity and Metabolism, where his research centers on understanding the molecular mechanisms that link weight gain to increased disease risk. His work places particular emphasis on the etiology of insulin resistance and disrupted mitochondrial function. He investigates how chronic elevation of insulin—a condition known as hyperinsulinemia—adversely affects tissue metabolic function. His studies also explore the contrasting effects of dietary macronutrients on insulin regulation, the role of insulin in brown adipose tissue activity, and insulin-induced alterations in brain function.
Dr. Bikman is also the author of the book “Why We Get Sick,” which delves into insulin resistance as a foundational pillar of many chronic illnesses prevalent in the Western world.
Through his research and publications, Professor Bikman has significantly advanced the understanding of insulin resistance, highlighting its central role in metabolic health and its implications for obesity and chronic diseases.
I’ve posted 2 amazing podcasts below both featuring Professor Ben Bikman. It may seem arduous to listen to so much data but I promise you will be inspired to take a good look at yourself and the lights will turn on and the room will seem brighter.
