Tried every diet you have heard or seen on the internet or social media (such as keto, low-carb, intermittent fasting, paleo, low calorie) only to end up exhausted, frustrated, and yo-yo’ing in weight? Well you are not alone! What many of my patients come to realise after working together is that their struggles with energy, cravings, weight, and mood have little to do with their discipline, but rather everything to do with their metabolic health. So before you try another diet, perhaps consider a metabolism reset.

As a result, many people experience the “yo-yo effect” – initial weight loss, followed by rapid regain, and accompanying fatigue and brain fog.

Instead of thinking about weight loss as the goal, it is more effective to think about how well your metabolism is functioning. A healthy metabolism is not just about how fast you burn calories, it is about how efficiently your body uses energy from food, balances blood sugar, manages stress, and repairs itself.

Signs your metabolism might be out of balance

If your metabolism is not working optimally, your body will send you little signals, such as:

• Low energy despite a good night’s sleep
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight no matter how healthy you eat
• Craving sugar or carbs (main culprits such as chocolate, hot chips, and soft drinks)
• Brain fog, mood swings, or afternoon energy crashes
• Trouble staying asleep or having poor quality sleep 

Nodding your head to some or all of the above? Then take this as a sign that your metabolism is slowing down and needs support or a metabolism reset.

How to tell if you need a metablosim reset

Fatigue, cravings, or weight gain might all look similar on the surface, but the root cause can be completely different from person to person.

Blood tests

A great starting point to obtain baseline markers of your metabolic health and understanding which areas are struggling. Key markers include:

• Blood sugar (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HbA1c) – shows us how well your body processes blood sugar and insulin and whether insulin resistance or prediabetes is starting to develop
• Lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) – elevated levels can reflect poor fat metabolism and increased cardiovascular risk
• Thyroid function (TSH, T4, T3, rT3) – a slow thyroid reflects a slower metabolism, making weight loss more difficult
• Cortisol curve – reveals how stress hormones may be driving cravings, belly fat, and fatigue
• Inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) – chronic inflammation often underpins metabolic dysfunction

Microbiome Mapping

The bacteria in your gut play an important role in metabolism, energy, and weight regulation. Testing your stool can help us understand many things, such as:

• Microbial balance – an imbalance of beneficial to negative bacteria can promote inflammation or blood sugar dysregulation 
• Nutrient absorption – you may be eating the right foods but are you absorbing the nutrients from your foods? Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels and secretory sIgA can tell us how well your gut is functioning and in turn, fueling the cells of your body for energy
• Macronutrient breakdown – a lack of digestive enzymes and bile acid production and release can impact the body’s ability to breakdown protein and fat, meaning the body is inefficient at burning fuel and support is needed 

DNA testing

Genetic testing provides insight into your unique metabolic blueprint, ensuring we are personalising your diet, nutrition, and exercise routine rather than providing you a generic ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment plan. Testing your DNA via a saliva test can help us understand processes such as: 

• MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) – how you process nutrients such as folate (vitamin B9) needed for energy and detoxification.
• LIPC – how well your body processes and breaks down dietary fats
• PPARG – how well your body regulates fat storage 

Author: Lauren Lee
BHSc with Distinction (Naturopath)