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Let’s talk metabolism—the mysterious engine inside you that determines whether your food fuels you or clings to your thighs like a bad ex.
If you feel like you’re doing everything right—eating well, moving more, cutting back on the biscuits—but the weight still won’t shift, then listen up. Your metabolism might not be playing ball, and no amount of wishful thinking will fix it.
But don’t panic—I’ve got you. We’re about to break down why your metabolism might be sluggish, how to rev it up, and the game-changing tool that can help you take control of it once and for all.
First Things First: What Even Is Metabolism?
Metabolism is basically your body’s engine—it determines how efficiently you burn calories and use energy. If it’s running smoothly, you’ll feel energised, burn fat more effectively, and not have to think about every bloody calorie you eat.
If it’s running like a dodgy second-hand car? You’ll feel sluggish, store fat more easily, and struggle to lose weight even when you’re doing all the right things.
And here’s where most people get it wrong—your metabolism is NOT set in stone. You can tweak it, optimise it, and even train it to work for you instead of against you.
Why Your Body Clings to Fat Like It’s a National Treasure
Right, let’s break this down properly. Your metabolism isn’t just some random function ticking away in the background—it’s actually a highly strategic system designed to keep you alive.
And sometimes, that means it works against you when you’re trying to lose weight.
At the heart of it all? TDEE and BMR.
BMR: Your Body’s Minimum Energy Budget
Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body needs to just exist. No movement, no exercise, just you lying in bed doing absolutely nothing (tempting, I know).
BMR covers all the essentials—breathing, pumping blood, digesting food, repairing cells—you know, the life-sustaining stuff. And guess what? It accounts for up to 60-70% of the calories you burn daily.
That means even if you did absolutely nothing all day, your body would still burn calories just to keep you alive.

TDEE: Your Body’s Full Daily Energy Burn
Now, your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) includes your BMR plus everything else you do—walking, working out, fidgeting, even standing up to make a cup of tea.
It’s made up of:
- BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) – Calories needed just to keep you alive.
- NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) – Calories burned through daily movement that isn’t structured exercise (like fidgeting, walking to the fridge, or gesturing wildly in a conversation).
- TEF (Thermic Effect of Food) – Calories burned while digesting food (yes, eating burns calories)
- Exercise Activity – Calories burned from actual workouts.
Put it all together, and you get TDEE—the real number of calories you need daily to maintain your current weight.
How Your Body Works to Keep Your Weight Stable (Even When You Don’t Want It To)
Your metabolism’s main job? Survival.
It doesn’t care about your dream body or how you want to fit into those jeans from five years ago. Its number one priority is making sure you don’t starve to death.
So when you cut calories too aggressively or go on an extreme diet, your body sees it as a threat and tries to compensate.
Here’s how it fights back:
- It Lowers Your BMR – Your body gets stingier with calories, burning fewer at rest.
- It Increases Hunger Hormones – Your appetite ramps up to make sure you eat more.
- It Reduces NEAT – You unknowingly move less to conserve energy.
- It Adapts to Exercise – Over time, your body burns fewer calories for the same workout.
This is why crash diets and excessive cardio can backfire—your body is wired to resist sudden, dramatic weight loss.
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So, What’s the Fix?
To lose weight without making your metabolism rebel, you need to:
- Create a modest calorie deficit (not too aggressive, so your body doesn’t panic).
- Eat plenty of protein to maintain muscle and keep BMR high.
- Move more throughout the day (even small movements add up).
- Give your body enough fuel so it doesn’t go into emergency mode.
And here’s where Lumen comes in handy—it shows you exactly how your body is using fuel, so you can work with your metabolism instead of against it.
Lumen: The Secret Weapon for a Faster Metabolism
(Disclaimer: I am an affiliate of Lumen, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link. However, I only recommend products I genuinely believe in and that align with the science behind optimising metabolism and nutrition.)
If you’ve ever wished you could peek inside your body and see what’s actually going on with your metabolism, you’re in luck—now you can.
Lumen is a portable metabolism tracker that tells you whether your body is burning carbs or fat in real-time—so you can stop guessing and start making smart choices that actually work.
Why Lumen is a Total Game-Changer
- Tells You What to Eat (and When) – No more guesswork. It helps you tweak your diet to improve your metabolism.
- Shows You if You’re Burning Fat or Carbs – Helps you understand what’s actually fuelling your body.
- Helps You Become More Metabolically Flexible – This means your body can switch between burning carbs and fat efficiently, which is key for better energy, fat loss, and long-term health.
- Personalised Daily Insights – It adapts to you, making it easier to fine-tune your nutrition and lifestyle based on how your body responds.

Why You Need This in Your Life
If you’re sick of:
- Trying every diet under the sun with no results
- Feeling tired, sluggish, and stuck in a plateau
- Not knowing whether you’re doing the right thing for your metabolism
Then Lumen will change the game for you. Instead of fumbling in the dark, you’ll have real-time data that helps you make smarter, faster, and easier decisions.
Ready to Take Control of Your Metabolism?
Here’s the deal: optimising your metabolism is the key to sustainable weight loss, better energy, and feeling amazing. And while food, movement, and lifestyle tweaks are essential, having the right tools makes all the difference.
If you’re ready to ditch the guesswork and finally take control of your metabolism, Lumen is the best place to start.
Check out Lumen HERE
And remember—your metabolism is not broken, and you are not stuck. You’ve got the power to change it.
Now, go get that metabolism firing on all cylinders.
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