Metabolism: a word that’s tossed around frequently these days. But what is it? How does it work? Can it really be “reset?”
So often we hear people say that their weight is the result of slow metabolism, but what does that mean? Is there such a thing as reversing metabolic damage and reinvigorating our bodies so that losing weight feels less like an uphill battle?
In this article, we’re going to explore the concept of a metabolic reset, starting with an introduction to what your metabolism is, how it works, and why you might be in need of a reset in order to kick start your metabolism and get your weight loss journey rolling.
What is Metabolism?
Simply put, metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. While the explanation of metabolism is simple, the process is not, it’s actually pretty complicated. During this process, the calories you consume from your food and drinks are combined with oxygen to release energy into your body which is needed for you to function.
Even at rest, your body is at work, and it needs a constant supply of energy produced through your metabolism to operate. The number of calories that your body uses to carry out basic functions like breathing, blood circulation, and hormone production, is known as your metabolic rate, or your metabolism.
Factors that Influence Your Metabolism
There are several factors that play a role in your unique metabolic rate, including;
- Your body size and body composition
- Your gender
- Your age
- Your genetics (biology)
- Your past dieting history
- Your daily habits
- Your medical history
What’s a Metabolic Set Point?
According to studies, we have something called a biological “set point,” which can essentially be explained as the weight our bodies will work hard to maintain, regardless of whether or not it’s a weight that’s healthy for our bodies.
Your individual set point is based on the interaction between your biology, genetics, and environment. It’s based on how your metabolism responds to things like the foods you eat, your sleep patterns, exercise, and even the emotional stress you’re under.
In order to protect this set point, your body will adapt by slowing down your metabolism to save energy. Meanwhile, it will also do things like increase the production of the hunger hormones, decrease your production of fullness hormones, and ignite cravings that will drive you to replace any lost calories by eating more food than your body actually needs.
Can You Lower Your Set Point?
Great news; yes, you certainly can! But it’s not likely to happen in the ways that you might expect it to. For example, diving into the next fad diet or supplement isn’t going to cut it. In order to actually change your metabolic set point for the better, you’re going to need to take a comprehensive approach that targets the underlying biology of metabolic health.
It’s important to note that your metabolic health is about so much more than a decreasing number on the scale. It’s about being healthy and balanced on the inside, too. Your metabolism affects your total wellness, including your immune system, gut health, and mood. To effectively tackle and transform your metabolic health, you need a metabolic reset.
What is a Metabolic Reset?
A metabolic reset is a whole-body rest that encourages a healthy response from every part of your biological system to experience a healthy response to food, exercise, sleep, and emotional triggers. By resetting your metabolism, you gain the ability to have control over your entire body, including your weight on the scale.
In order to properly reset your metabolism and decrease its set point, you will need to combine behavioral changes in the areas of food, exercise, sleep, and emotional health, and potentially include an FDA-approved metabolic medication to help the process along. This combination of dietary and lifestyle changes along with appropriate prescription medications has been clinically proven to work and to help you achieve long-term weight loss success.
How Does Prescription Medication Play a Role in a Metabolic Reset?
Prescription medications like GLP-1s are used to support weight loss and your metabolism by influencing how your body handles blood sugar and by sending metabolism-regulating symbols to your brain that will also play a role in your satiety signals and hunger cues.
Furthermore, prescription medications can also help you to fight the natural increases in hunger and appetite that begin when you start losing weight. Instead of a short-term, quick fix, medications like GLP-1s can help to reset your metabolic system and set you up for long-term, sustainable weight loss.
Four Key Factors to Metabolic Health
Studies have found that weight loss is most impactful and longest-lasting when you incorporate key lifestyle changes. Particularly, there are four main pillars to long-term weight loss: nutrition (food), sleep, exercise, and emotional health – all of which play a key role in your biology and your metabolism. Let’s take a look at how each of these plays a role in your metabolic health next.
Nutrition (Diet)
When it comes to optimizing your metabolism, the quality of your food matters. It’s important to focus on getting high-quality, nutrient-dense foods into your diet without restricting calories or doing anything drastic. The idea is that you’ll get to know and understand your body and how it responds to different foods, encouraging you to add more of the right foods to your diet.
Sleep
One of the most underrated factors in weight loss and overall health is sleep. Getting enough quality sleep each night is critical for a healthy metabolism and appetite. To optimize your metabolic rate, you will want to establish a healthy sleep schedule that you can maintain over time.
Exercise
Exercise and movement are key to your health and longevity. Resistance training, in particular, can help you to build more muscle mass and increase your metabolic rate naturally. By finding movement that you enjoy and feel good in your life, you’ll be able to make strides towards improving your metabolism.
Emotional Health
Stress plays a major role in your overall health, influencing the hormones that affect your eating habits, metabolism, and weight. With the right stress management tools and techniques, you can learn to control your emotional triggers that can influence your weight and your metabolic health.
Bringing It All Together With Calibrate
Calibrate is a weight loss program that takes a research-backed approach to sustainable weight loss by taking you through their metabolic reset program which includes an emphasis on all four of the critical pillars listed above.
Research has shown that programs like Calibrate can help you to change your metabolic symptoms and help you lose at least 10% of your body weight and keep it off. While 10% might seem small, it’s clinically significant as it reduces your risk of diabetes, lowers several risk factors for cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure and cholesterol, and improves mood while also reducing symptoms of depression, arthritis, and sleep apnea.
If the thought of doing this all on your own feels daunting, rest assured that you’re not alone when you choose to partner with Calibrate. The Calibrate team which consists of real licensed medical professionals will walk you through your metabolic reset every step of the way.
As part of Calibrate’s program, you will be connected with their dedicated Coaching Team who will be your accountability partners, and the Calibrate Medical Team who will make sure that you’re on track and making progress medically.
Take the first step to a better you today with Calibrate. You have nothing to lose but your excess weight.