Is Metabolic Flexibility your midlife Superpower?

And why both men and women would benefit from caring about it!

The other day, I was listening to a podcast whilst driving and one of the guests, Dr Camilla Stockholm, mentioned a term that immediately caught my attention: metabolic flexibility. I had never heard it used before, but lately, it seems to be everywhere—and for good reason. So, what exactly is metabolic flexibility.

The biggest surprise is that it’s not about being skinny or hitting a certain number on the scales. It’s about your body’s ability to switch between fuel sources—burning fat for energy when you’re between meals and burning carbs when you need them.  In other words, metabolic flexibility is about giving your body the freedom to use stored energy efficiently, which is something we should all be working on, especially in midlife.

Have you ever had constant cravings for sugary foods or snacks?  Experienced energy crashes in the afternoon, and felt “hangry” if a meal is delayed?   All are signs of metabolic inflexibility as is struggling to lose weight even when you’re eating well and exercising. (providing there is no underlying medical condition or side effect of medication).  All of these are something I am aware that some clients struggle with.

However, when your metabolism is flexible, your body is able to tap into stored fat for fuel which will reduce sugar cravings, (so no more sugar highs followed by crashing lows), balance your hormones and give you steady energy throughout the day;  allowing your body to become more resilient so able to deal with mental/emotional/work stress and exercise stress more efficiently. 

The good news is that metabolic flexibility can be trained.  It does take time and dedicataion, but you will feel the benefits within a few weeks.  It is about feeding your body balanced meals with good ratios of protein, healthy fats, fibre and smart carbohydrates to give your body the building blocks it needs.  Moving daily, even gentle walking to keep your metabolism active.  It has been noted that experimenting with meal timing or gentle fasting (my recommendation is 12-14hrs max) can help your body become more efficient at burning fat.  (dependiing on stress levels).  Cutting back on both alcohol and sugar will help remove more obstacles that make your metabolism sluggish.  Time out to rest and reset, whilst prioritising sleep is the magic bullet for me! 

In a nutshell, metabolic flexibility is about freedom. Freedom from energy crashes, freedom from constant cravings, and freedom from the frustration of feeling stuck in your body. It’s the freedom to feel strong, lean, and energised throughout the day—something every midlife man and woman can benefit from and something I would love to help you achieve.

To find out more about coaching and weight loss programmes, give me a call.