How does my blood sugar level affect my weight?

from www.caloriesperhour.com FAQs

When we eat, our bodies convert digestible carbohydrates into blood sugar (glucose), our main source of energy. Our blood sugar level can affect both how hungry and how energetic we feel, important factors when we are watching how we eat and exercise. It also determines whether we burn fat or store it.

Our pancreas creates a hormone called insulin that transports blood sugar into our body's cells where it is used for energy. When we eat sugar and other carbohydrate-rich foods that are quickly processed into blood sugar (e.g., most refined foods including white flour and white rice), the pancreas goes into overtime to produce the insulin necessary for all this blood sugar to be used for energy.

This surge of insulin causes our blood sugar level to drop below normal which makes us feel tired and hungry. The unfortunate result of this scenario is that it makes us want to eat something else with a high sugar content. When we do, we start the cycle all over again.

This is, IMHO, the most important thing to know in gaining control of your eating habits. It was taking out the sugar in my diet that put me back in the driver's seat in terms of eating - I decide when and what to eat, not my hunger pangs. -- YY