Your metabolism is not a tiny campfire hiding behind your pancreas.

You cannot “stoke” it with lemon water, maple syrup and spicy peppers.

Eating six miniature meals per day does not keep it roaring like a blast furnace at a steel mill.

And no supplement is going to crank it up while you sit motionless on the couch watching videos about how to crank it up.

Metabolism is much bigger than the number of calories you burn at rest.

It is your body’s entire energy-management system.

A flexible system can use carbohydrates when demand is high and rely more heavily on fat when demand drops (al metabolic flexibility).

It supports the muscle you have worked hard to build.

Then, when training, poor sleep, travel, work, and stress collide like four shopping carts rolling downhill toward your parked car, it helps you recover and adapt.

I recently fly to the big Apple to join Don Saladino in person on the Stronger Podcast to discuss what metabolism actually is—and what you can realistically do to improve it.

We dug into:

• Why a “fast metabolism” is not necessarily the ultimate goal
• How muscle mass influences metabolic health
• The growing importance of strength training as you age
• Where sleep, stress, movement, nutrition, and recovery fit into the equation
• Why burning more fat during a workout does not automatically mean losing more body fat
• How to build a system that handles more physiological chaos without folding like a discount lawn chair

The real goal is not to hunt for another metabolic shortcut.

Build more muscle.

Improve your aerobic fitness.

Move frequently.

Eat enough protein and total food to support the work.

Recover long enough for your body to adapt.

None of those will look as exciting as a neon bottle promising to melt abdominal fat while you sleep.

They just have the irritating advantage of actually working.

Listen to the full conversation here:

>> Stronger Podcast << itunes

>> Stronger Podcast << YouTube

Give it a listen and send it to the person convinced one weird spice will accomplish what muscle, movement, and sleep apparently cannot.

Much love,

Dr. Mike

PS- I think you will enjoy this one and hit reply here as I would love to know your thoughts on it!

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Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag

Mike T Nelson is a PhD and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.

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