The New Science of Metabolism

The following is adapted from Dr. Jade Teta by Next-Level Metabolism.

Every person’s metabolism has one quality in common: it is never static. Metabolism is not like a calculator, prepared to spit out the same answer no matter how often you input the equation. It’s more like a barometer and a thermostat, surveying its surroundings and always changing its response based on the conditions to which it’s exposed. It’s adaptive and reactive, always measuring, sensing, assessing, then developing the appropriate response. It does this every second of every day, never taking a break, never missing a single thing.

As it does this, it’s constantly striving for balance, all the while determining how hungry you are, what you’re craving, how much energy you have, what kind of mood you’re in, and how well you sleep.

The fact that metabolism is never static means that to master it, you must become comfortable with change. The way you work with your metabolism will evolve as you move through your life. Illness, stress, pregnancy, menopause, andropause, and aging are just a few things that can impact metabolism. You will have to learn to adapt to such changes and manage the stress they are capable of creating.

The process is not about some one-time thing someone can try, then run back to their old way of life, which is what most dieters do. The most hidden, insidious cause of obesity and weight gain in the first place is dieting, which is nothing more than starvation from your metabolism’s perspective. When it finds itself in that place, it is going to do everything it can to recoup energy, which only makes it harder to lose fat in the long run. Here are just a few stats to illustrate just how bleak the results of traditional “dieting” can be:

• Ninety-five percent of people who lose weight on the standard eat less, exercise more way of dieting end up regaining it all back within a year.
• Sixty-six percent end up fatter.
• Within two years, 97 percent have gained it all back.
• Within three years, almost every single person has regained it all and then some.

The reason for the relapse is simple: metabolism is constantly adapting. It is never not paying attention. So when you allow yourself to keep doing the same thing day in and day out for an extended period of time, your metabolism is literally laughing at you. It’s saying, “What the hell is wrong with you? I already have adapted. Time to switch things up!” It’s why your approach to losing the weight has to be different than your approach to maintaining your weight.

It’s why you must alter your approach as you age. Most importantly, it’s why you have to learn to speak the language of metabolism so you always know exactly what it’s trying to tell you.

Metabolism’s one job is to keep us alive long enough to reproduce. It’s always making sure we have enough fuel to support reproduction (this is why female metabolism is more sensitive and refined than male metabolism). So what does metabolism perpetually respond to? One thing and one thing only: stress, meaning anything that knocks metabolism out of balance. Not all stress is bad — a small amount that only rattles metabolism slightly can help it adapt and become stronger. This short-lived stress, known as eustress or hormetic stress, can be highly beneficial. However, any stress that knocks metabolism too far out of balance for too long will cause it to respond and react too intensely.

The most significant stress the metabolism encountered throughout its evolution is starvation. When it senses starvation, the metabolism activates all of the behaviors that can save us from it, including increased hunger and cravings. Starvation also wreaks havoc with your energy because if you don’t have enough fuel, the best thing for your metabolism is to sit still, do nothing, and conserve its energy. At the same time, it also wants to motivate you to go out and find food. This causes your energy to be unpredictable and unstable. One minute you’re wired, motivated, and focused, and the next you’re drained, foggy-headed, and can think of nothing but sleep. Basically, you’re a mess, and a hungry one at that.

All of these factors constantly tell you whether your metabolism is balanced and how it functions when under stress. If you want to understand how to take mastery of your metabolism to the next level, you need to know what it’s designed to do first, then learn to decipher all the messages it’s constantly sending you.

For more information on integrative medicine, you can find Next-Level Metabolism on Amazon.

Entrepreneur, bestselling author, and integrative physician Dr. Jade Teta is a renowned expert in physical and personal development, specializing in functional endocrinology, metabolic conditioning, and humanistic psychology. A continuing education provider for health and fitness professionals, Dr. Teta has sold more than one million books, video workouts, and online health programs to the general public. He’s a contributor to the Textbook Of Natural Medicine and Integrative Sexual Health, the founder of Next Level Human, and host of the Next Level Human podcast. For more information, visit jadeteta.com and nextlevelhuman.com.