Metabolic markers are key to understanding how the body is reacting to what you are eating. As previously mentioned the sympathetic nervous system’s primary process is to initiate the flight or flight response in the body. While the parasympathetic nervous system’s primary process is maintenance of the body.

Throughout the day these two systems should trade off dominance as we react to stimulus and then take time to recover. But in our society it is extremely common to see people exhibiting signs of chronic sympathetic dominance in which they have a lot of anxiety.

Additionally, instead of the gradual passing of control that should occur between the two systems a lot of people have more dramatic swings that can be seen in emotional reactions going from mania to extreme fatigue.

To make matters worse a low-metabolic rate works to constantly suppress the parasympathetic nervous system contributing to the chronic elevation of stress hormones which in turn leads to low-metabolic rate and a vicious cycle has begun.

Thyroid is a principle hormone of the parasympathetic nervous system, and cortisol is a principle hormone of the sympathetic nervous system and as one increases the other should decrease back and forth.

The most common disruptor of this cycle is – you guessed it – dieting. Dieting lowers thyroid and raises cortisol. So, when the body is deprived of energy, the stress load is too great, and the bodies reaction is to lower the resting metabolic rate in order to preserve energy.

But wait, it gets worse, as fat tissue decreases during a calorie deficit leptin falls which causes a decrease in metabolic rate, and the metabolic rate now stays suppressed until the fat energy stores are replenished plus an additional store to help get the body through the next crisis.

Now, intellectually we have all experienced this for ourselves. This is what ALWAYS happens when people diet. We see it over and over but we blame ourselves thinking we didn’t have the willpower, or some other excuse but we see this everywhere in western society.

And then here comes the anxiety, because stress hormones will rise as the metabolic rate falls, and as the body spends more time in the sympathetic dominant state the extra cortisol and adrenalin will contribute to insomnia.

As we addressed in the last lesson, we are going to measure physical energy with quantity, specifically do we have high energy or low energy. Do we drag ourselves through the day? Do we have energy crashes throughout the day? Do we have cold hands and feet? Is our thinking foggy?

Temperature and heart rate are great indicators of adequate energy production. And if you are taking this course the chances are that your waking temperature and heart rate are low. So for the next four days we are going to start by taking our waking temperature and heart rate before we even get out of bed.

To do this you are going to need a thermometer. The fastest easiest way to do this is to use an infrared forehead thermometer, however check your instructions because many brands are a degree off from an oral thermometer. If you want to use an oral thermometer that is fine.

To take your pulse you can do it manually with a watch or use a smartphone app. To use these apps you place your finger over the camera and it takes about ten seconds to take your pulse rate.

This is going to serve as a base number we will use throughout the course to measure progress.

The reason this is important is because as long as our metabolism remains depressed we will carry excess fat and our immune function will be compromised. We want to stimulate your metabolism.

This is an excerpt of the RESOLUTE online weight loss and metabolic repair course inspired by the work of Dr. Ray Peat, Dr. Broda Barnes, Dr. Brene Brown, Dr. James Prochaska, Dr. Martha Beck, Dr. Judith Beck, and Dr. Hans Selye.   

Taiso Fitness and Nutrition

If you are looking for a shared personal training experience try Taiso Fitness and Nutrition. We are Tacoma’s fitness and nutrition gym for people who want to get out of pain or improve performance, who need immediate, measurable results, and want to make educated decisions to take control of their health.

Shared personal training provides the coaching of a personal trainer with the social support of a bootcamp style class.

Set up a complimentary consultation, or start a 21 Day Risk Free Trial. Stay up to date on the latest information through our website at www.taisofitness.com

Looking for an online course to help lose weight by repairing your metabolism and lowering your stress? Try RESOLUTE The Step-By-Step Program for People Who Want To Repair Their Metabolism.