Working with a Metabolic Optimization Health Coach
At Metabolic Living, we show you how to evaluate your own metabolism… how to find the right metabolic tools (like diet and exercise) that optimize your metabolism… and empower you to design a lifestyle you love… so you can get the results you want, for life.
Our Mission at Metabolic is to empower people to create a “metabolism-first” lifestyle, so they can thrive and enjoy every day to the fullest.
But what does that even look like? Let’s dive into the metabolic detective process so that you can start creating your own “metabolism-first” lifestyle. As you learn to master your metabolism, you will always know how to get results, no matter what happens in your life.
Tracking Progress with Weight, Measurements and SHMEC
Let’s get something straight. The number on the scale is important, but it’s not the only metric that we use to track progress. Many of us use body weight to track and measure progress. The use of this metric is limited because it doesn’t provide clinically meaningful information about a far more relevant metabolic parameter – your body composition.
Body composition includes muscle mass and fat mass and its distribution in the body. We ask our clients to track their body composition changes with weekly measurements around the waist, stomach and hips.
When it comes to heart health, waist circumference is a critical piece of data. Folks with extra weight around their stomachs are more likely to have insulin resistance, which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Keep in mind that non-scale victories matter too, such as having a routine that gives you more energy to exercise and keeps your cravings in check. This is where SHMEC comes in handy!
SHMEC as your hormonal compass
The core of this program is teaching people how to read and understand their hormonal clues – using SHMEC as a compass. We say that SHMEC is like a window into your metabolism. Over the course of our Level 1 program, we work closely with our clients to learn their body’s biofeedback clues and what they might mean in the context of their health status and lifestyle habits.
By getting “SHMEC in check” first, we often see positive trickle-down effects on overall metabolic health, which is foundational work for sustainable weight loss.
Stress can throw “SHMEC out of Check”
Often, our clients tell us that something hormonal is at play when it comes to their weight and overall well-being. Trust your intuition, folks!
When we stack the health stressors of multiple injuries, health issues, and past surgeries on top of daily stressors associated with work, family, finances, etc., we set the stage for chronically elevated cortisol levels. Over time this can throw our SHMEC out of check, which initiates a reinforcing loop that keeps us feeling stuck.
Taken together, the behavioural and hormonal implications of chronic stress make it difficult to continue making progress on our health goals. This program is uniquely suited to addressing the hormonal effects of stress on the metabolism – in a holistic and science-driven way.
Addressing obstacles using structured flexibility
Together with our clients, we have the opportunity to create systems and routines for eating, moving, exercising and managing stress using our “structured flexibility” approach. When eating out, how do you modify your nutrition and eating habits so that it still aligns with your goals? If travelling for work, how do you flex and adapt your exercise routine accordingly? This is what our “structured flexibility” approach is all about.
By the way, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do this. There’s “what works” and “what doesn’t work”… for YOU!
A metabolism-first lifestyle — designed for you, by you — can help you feel your best, look your best, and perform your best… so you can enjoy life to the fullest.
Next, I just want to share some information on the connection between stress and metabolism. Often, it’s a neglected piece.
The metabolism is like one big stress barometer
Stressors come in many forms – mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual; some are exciting, and others provoke feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. No matter the stressor or its source, the brain can’t discern “good” stress from “bad” stress. Stress is stress. As such, stress has a major impact on people’s motivation and desire to make healthy choices that align with their goals. Even with the best intentions, stress can be a significant obstacle.
We can’t hide from stress, but we can improve how we respond to it. We can even grow from it, especially when we adopt strategies that make us stronger and more resilient in the face of stress. From that place, stress and its effects will have less of an impact on overall health and the pursuit of our health goals. That’s the “mindfulness” part of Dr. Jade’s 4Ms of Metabolism.
How we choose to respond to stress or to buffer stress is foundational work for sustainable fat loss.
Here’s a quick overview of our 4Ms of Metabolism. Picture your metabolism as a stool with 4 legs. Each of the legs represents 1 of the 4Ms of Metabolism.
- movement (your steps in a day)
- meals (what you eat and drink)
- metabolics (fancy word for exercise & includes supplements)
- mindset/mindfulness (how you perceive stress, buffer stress and its effects on metabolism)
The goal is to support all 4 legs of your metabolic stool, so it is well-balanced. Everyone’s stool is a bit wobbly because we tend to neglect one, two, three, or even all four of these important metabolic legs.
Just a reminder. Consider your starting place as a jumping off point. Meaning, stay flexible and open to changing things up. In the beginning, we need a roadmap to give us a bit of structure to work from. Your roadmap should evolve as you learn about your metabolism and adapt your approach accordingly.
How much you eat, the composition of your meals, and how frequently you need to eat will depend on many individual factors, including your goals, health status, stress tolerance, biofeedback (sleep, hunger, mood, energy and cravings), and personal preferences.
