Metabolic Balance and Why I Love It
The Metabolic Balance program has been part of my toolbox for over 5 years, and I still get excited about it! Aside from the fact that it is well over 20 years old, it is a food based individualised program, is based in science and testing, has research supporting its claims and is like German engineering for the body (devised in Germany by a doctor, naturopath wife and food tech sister in law). Aside from ALL of that…there are many more reasons to jump in and change your life with Metabolic Balance. You can check out the Australia/New Zealand site here or the international one here.
What the problem with generic diet advice was…
When I introduced it to Simply Healing, I was seeing clients with multiple health issues, confused about what to eat, when to eat and really wanting to lose weight but were bamboozled with all the online noise around weight loss . Every. Single. Case. Was. Different. Generic dietary advice simply wouldn’t cut it. Even with all my training in nutrition, clients were still needing a lot of supplements long term. This was because the core problem was the food they were eating - but which foods were going to be perfect for them and which were inflammatory? Without cutting out big food groups altogether it was impossible to advise on every individual protein, carb or fat.
Add that to the fact that I had my own weight struggle at the time (you can read more about that here) and I knew I needed a better solution than supplements and generalised dietary advice. I’ll be honest, when Metabolic Balance fell across my desk, I was skeptical lol. I was a trained nutritionist. How could this work better than the advice I was already giving? Isn’t it like weight watchers? Or any other generic weight loss program? Wow, was I wrong!
Why Metabolic Balance is different…
For a start it’s based on a thorough blood test using over 36 parameters and your individual health history. Every plan is different. In over 5 years I am yet to see even similar plans to be honest. Every food on your list has been chosen for you and your unique needs. And it can be tailored further, so long as the core of the program is maintained, as it is only ever guided by a trained professional. I have a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy plus advanced diplomas in Nutrition and homeopathy.
I often talk about it as learning to eat again. It gives you a solid structure in the beginning to achieve your health goals and is designed to wean you off relying totally on the plan to maintain your goals. You take what you have learned about the optimal foods for you and how best to eat through the day and apply it to the rest of your life. And when you come unglued with holidays or Christmas then you simply pull back to the plan. This is not a program that gets you results then leaves you needing a subscription or premade meals to maintain it.
What the benefits of Metabolic Balance are…
So far you probably think the biggest benefit of Metabolic Balance is weight loss. It actually isn’t. Once you get started you realise that weight was literally a side effect of so many other issues. Because you are eating only foods that are optimal for you there is a massive reduction in inflammation. This means we see a reduction in pain, in digestive issues like indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome. Auto immune disease often settles down as the body is no longer inflamed and fighting itself. Skin issues like psoriasis and eczema calm right down as your gut health improves, skin integrity improves, allergies relax.
And then the obvious metabolic concerns melt away. This includes blood pressure reduction, better blood sugar regulation, a reversal of insulin resistance and yes, type 2 diabetes can be managed with food (and reversed)! Fatty livers can be a thing of your past and you can improve your cholesterol without eating weird ‘butter’. Hormonal concerns like PCOS, perimenopause and menopause are big winners in Metabolic Balance as your body is finally getting the nutrients it needs to function optimally and balance out those hormones. I can’t forget energy! Energy levels improve and often so does sleep. And then there is, of course, weight loss. See how that is suddenly the least of your worries? It is such a relief for people to get their lives back.
And it is all food based. All you are doing is eating real food. That’s it.
Food as medicine at its finest.
I thought this was too good to be true. Cause it kinda does seem like that. All these benefits for just eating food. Come on! How can that be right? Well, it does still depend on you. You still need to choose yourself and your long term health over a quick fix diet. You still need to make changes and embrace a new way of life. This is a LOT easier to do once you start feeling the benefit of eating whole foods that are optimal for you every single day! BUT another big difference is that you get support.
Metabolic Balance includes regular consults over 3 months. Coaching makes a massive difference in your success and Metabolic Balance does not disappoint. You get walked through the initial phases right to the last part where you get the freedom to go off script and use all the tools you have to maintain your goals.
I bet you have questions!
I know you have questions. I had questions right up til the end of my first month following Metabolic Balance when I realised my clothes were fitting, my brain fog had lifted, and my energy was the same as my 20’s. After that the questions didn’t seem so important lol.
I’ve put together a few below to help you but of course you can ask more. Shoot me an email at sarah@simplyehaling.net.au or book a FREE 15 minute call called Metabolic Mapping to ask those tricky individual questions and meet me!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do it after gastric banding?
Absolutely. In fact, it’s a great idea to double down on your success by making sure you are getting exactly what you need nutritionally and to make sure you maintain your weight loss. As your nutritional intake is restricted you need to make sure that every bite counts to keep you feeling great and moving toward your goals.
Can I do it while on GLP1 meds like Ozempic?
Yes! You can do the 2 simultaneously. While the pharmaceuticals can be beneficial short term you really want to be able to manage and maintain your health on your own terms! This is a great opportunity to learn new habits and find out the foods that contributed to your health issues and weight gain previously so you can avoid them by filling your plate and belly with optimal foods in the right portions.
I have multiple health issues. Is it suitable for me?
Yes! There are very, very few exceptions to this as it is a whole foods based program. There is nothing weird or wonderful and the plan takes into account your current health concerns. The intake is very thorough before you start so you don’t need to worry. If you are still concerned, book a FREE 15 minute Metabolic Mapping session to double check.
Who can’t do it?
Women who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding and chronic kidney disease. That’s really all. Any concerns book a FREE 15 minute Metabolic Mapping session to double check.
The only other people that I don’t recommend doing it with are those that are not prepared to change their current eating habits or keep an open mind about learning new habits. If you want change, you need to change. What you were doing wasn’t working so why hold tight to old ways?
Are there recipes or a meal plan?
You will have access to a Facebook group where we share recipes and there is a cookbook available that is Metabolic Balance based. However, as you can appreciate, all the plans are different so coming up with recipes that suit everyone’s plan is very difficult. You can easily alter many recipes to include foods on your list. It’s really easy and you can keep food super simple as well. Good food does not need to be fussy!
There is also an app you can use (free) that helps with planning and I provide LOADS of advice on how to plan your meals and information on prepping to make your life so much easier.
Can my family eat the same foods?
Yes, but not exactly to your plan as it is devised for you. Someone else following the same plan exactly may end up nutritionally deficient. What I suggest is cooking a meal that is based on your foods and introduce extra variety for the family. For example, you might do a stew based on your plan but take your portion out before adding other veg and then serve with potato/rice/pasta for the rest of the family. It takes a little creativity, but you and your health are 100% as important as any other member of your family. Time you put yourself on the priority list!
Research
https://www.metabolic-balance.com.au/metabolic-program/The-study
