Your metabolism and why it matters
What Is Your Metabolism (and Why It Matters)
We all know that person — the one who can eat all the food and somehow stay lean, energetic, and infuriatingly smug about it.
I had a friend like that. He could eat and eat and eat — and I’m not exaggerating. I used to watch in awe, half expecting the food to start overflowing out of his mouth mid-conversation. What shocked me even more was that he wasn’t 200 kilos and immobile. Nope — he had what we’d all call a “good metabolism.”
And yes, I told him it would catch up with him one day - Spoiler alert: it hasn't yet!
For most of us, that kind of “metabolic magic” feels unfair — like our metabolism is something we’re just born with. You either win the genetic lottery or you don’t, right?
Well… not quite.
The Truth About Genetics and Your Metabolism
Yes, you are born with some aspects of your metabolism, but it’s not solely determined by genetics. A few key players decide how fast or slow your metabolic engine runs — and the good news is, most of them are within your control.
Here’s what really matters:
Genetics: Your genes do influence your metabolic rate, which means some people are born with a naturally faster or slower metabolism than others. (Lucky them.)
Age: Metabolic rate naturally slows down as we age — partly due to hormonal changes and muscle loss.
Muscle Mass: Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, even when you’re doing nothing. So the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism ticks along.
Hormones and Environment: Your hormonal and nervous systems control your metabolism, and lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, diet, and even environmental toxins can influence how well it functions over time.
So yes — some people do have a head start, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a “slow” metabolism forever. You can absolutely train, nourish, and support it to perform better.
Your Metabolism: The Engine Room
Your metabolism is basically your body’s engine — a complex web of chemical reactions working 24/7 to keep you alive. Every breath, blink, and Pilates plank requires energy, and that energy comes from food.
Think of it like your body’s power plant:
Food goes in - Energy comes out - Life happens.
But it’s not one single organ doing the job — it’s a whole team:
Your digestive system breaks food down into usable bits.
Your liver fine-tunes your blood sugar and nutrient balance.
Your thyroid and hormones control the speed of the whole show.
Your muscles burn most of your energy at rest.
Your nervous system decides when to rev things up or chill out.
When this crew works well together, you’ve got steady energy, healthy weight regulation, glowing skin, good sleep, and that general “I’ve got my life together” vibe.
So, What Does It Actually Do?
Your metabolism has three main jobs every single day:
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – The fuel you burn just to stay alive (think: breathing, thinking, keeping your organs humming).
Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) – The energy used to digest, absorb, and process your meals. Fun fact: protein burns more energy to digest than carbs or fat.
Physical Activity – All the moving, shaking, and accidental workouts you do (like running late, carrying groceries, or chasing the dog).
Add them up and you get your total daily energy expenditure — the amount of fuel your body needs to function and thrive.
How Things Go Wrong
Here’s where it gets messy. Your metabolism is designed to adapt — but modern life throws it curveballs daily.
1. Blood Sugar Rollercoasters
Skipping meals or snacking on processed carbs can send your blood sugar soaring, then crashing. Cue cravings, mood swings, and a body too busy firefighting glucose spikes to burn fat efficiently.
2. Hormone Havoc
Your thyroid, cortisol, insulin, oestrogen, and leptin all control energy use and fat storage. Stress, poor sleep, or perimenopausal changes can send these hormones off-key faster than a bad karaoke night.
3. Muscle Loss
Muscle is your metabolic gold. It burns calories even when you’re lounging on the couch. Lose it — through inactivity or low-protein diets — and your metabolism slows right down.
4. Chronic Stress
Cortisol (your stress hormone) tells your body to store energy “for later.” Great if you’re running from danger, not so helpful if you’re just running on caffeine and deadlines.
5. Nutrient Deficiency
Your metabolism relies on certain nutrients (zinc, iodine, selenium, magnesium, B vitamins) to do its job. Missing those is like trying to bake a cake with no eggs — it’s not going to work out.
6. Under-eating or Over-dieting
When you chronically eat too little, your body slows down to conserve energy. That’s why those 1200-calorie “miracle” diets eventually hit a wall.
7. Age & Hormones
As we age (especially through our 40s and 50s), our muscle mass and hormone balance shift. But here’s the kicker — you can retrain your metabolism with the right food, movement, and mindset.
The Good News
Your metabolism isn’t broken — it’s trainable. With a few smart tweaks, you can stoke the fire again:
Eat balanced meals: include protein, healthy fats, and colourful carbs.
Build muscle: strength training or Reformer Pilates works wonders.
Sleep and de-stress: your hormones love routine and rest.
Don’t skip meals: your body likes consistency.
Hydrate and nourish: water and key minerals keep things running smoothly.
The Bottom Line
Your metabolism isn’t your enemy — it just needs a little TLC (and maybe a nudge in the right direction).
If you’re tired of running on fumes or feel like your body’s been stuck in low gear, my Metabolism Makeover is the perfect reset.
Over two weeks, you’ll get:
Easy, delicious, metabolism-friendly meal plans and recipes
Simple shopping lists and prep guides
The energy and clarity to finally feel like you again
You can start whenever you like — it’s flexible, only two weeks, and perfect timing to sort things out post–Cup Day but before the Christmas chaos hits.
It’s the kickstart your body’s been waiting for — no fads, no starvation, just real food and smart strategy.
Join the next Metabolism Makeover here and get your metabolic fire burning again.
