Metabolism by Design: How to Use Your DNA to Unlock Sustainable Weight Loss

Think your metabolism is just “slow” and there’s nothing you can do about it? In this episode, Dr. Tamar Lawful reveals how your genetics hold the key to boosting energy, losing weight, and optimizing your metabolism naturally.

If you’ve ever felt like your metabolism is fighting against you, you’re not alone. But what if the issue isn’t your willpower,  it’s your blueprint? In this episode, Dr. Tamar Lawful explores how your genes impact everything from fat storage to food cravings to your ideal exercise routine. You’ll learn the science behind personalized metabolism and walk away with actionable steps you can take to work with your biology, not against it. No crash diets, no overtraining, just sustainable wellness based on your DNA.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What metabolism really is (and why it’s not about eating less)
• Which genes impact your fat-burning ability and appetite
• Lifestyle factors that affect metabolism: sleep, stress, movement, and hormones

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Metabolic Optimization
• 3:35 Understanding Metabolism and Genetics
• 4:40 Personalized Strategies for Metabolic Health
• 7:05 Real Results: Kate's Success Story
• 9:58 Busting Metabolism Myths
• 11:23 Taking Action and Next Steps

Transcript

Dr. Tamar: 0:00

Optimizing your metabolism naturally is about more than just eating less or working out harder. It's about understanding your unique genetic tendencies and using that information to fuel your body in the most effective way possible. If you want to break the mold of traditional pharmacy and healthcare, you are in the right place. Welcome to the Pivoting Pharmacy with Nutrigenomics podcast, part of the Pharmacy Podcast Network. Here's a little truth bomb. We're all unique, down to our DNA, so it's no wonder we react differently to the same medications, foods and environment. Here's a million dollar question how can you discover exactly what your body needs, which medication, what foods or supplements and which exercises are right for you? How can you manage chronic conditions like diabetes without more medications? How can you lose weight and keep it off? How do you tap into your genetic blueprint so you can stop surviving and start thriving in health and life? That is the question, and this podcast will give you the answer. I'm your host, dr Tamar, lawful doctor of pharmacy. Let's pivot into genomics and bring healthcare to higher levels. Hello, welcome back to Pivoting Pharmacy with Nutrigenomics. I'm Dr Tamar, lawful doctor of pharmacy and certified nutritional genomics specialist. Welcome back to Pivoting Pharmacy with Nutrigenomics. I'm Dr Tamar, lawful Dr of Pharmacy and Certified Nutritional Genomics Specialist. You know, today I'm excited to dive into a topic that's at the core of sustainable health optimizing your metabolism naturally. Now, I know that many of us have felt frustrated with our metabolism at some point in our health journey. You've probably tried everything different diets, intense exercise routines with our metabolism at some point in our health journey. You've probably tried everything different diets, intense exercise routines and supplements but you still find yourself stuck. It's frustrating, right? Well, I've got good news for you your metabolism is not set in stone. It's actually something that you can optimize based on your genetic blueprint, and with the right strategies, it can work for you, not against you. Today, I'm going to share how understanding your genetic makeup can make a world of difference in how your body processes food, burns fat and boosts energy. Plus, I'll walk you through simple, actionable steps that are aligned with your genetics to help you lose weight, feel energized and keep it off, without the extremes. I want you to keep this in mind. Optimizing your metabolism naturally is about more than just eating less or working out harder. It's about understanding your unique genetic tendencies and then using that information to fuel your body in the most effective way possible so you can experience sustainable weight loss and increase energy. Let's start with the basics, though. What exactly is metabolism? In simple terms, your metabolism is the process your body uses to convert what you eat and drink into energy. This involves a series of chemical reactions that occur in your cells, and it affects everything from the food you eat to the amount of energy your body burns at rest. Now here's where it gets interesting.

Dr. Tamar: 3:22

Your genetics play a huge role in how your metabolism works. For instance, some of us may have genes that help us burn fat more efficiently, while others might have a slower metabolism that struggles to keep it up. Your genetic blueprint can even determine whether your body is more likely to store fat or burn it for fuel. So why does this even matter? Well, because your genetics influence everything from your muscle mass, which burns more calories, to your hormone regulation and fat burning abilities. This means that, by understanding your unique genetic markers, we can tailor a nutrition and exercise plan that works in harmony with your body's natural metabolic tendencies. No-transcript that's the FTO gene. If you have a variation of this gene, you may have a natural tendency to gain weight more easily. Understanding this allows us to adjust your diet to combat this predisposition, helping to boost your metabolism and control your weight more effectively.

Dr. Tamar: 4:32

So let's dive into some strategies, some simple strategies that you can start using right away, based on your genetics, to help boost your metabolism. Now, granted, we don't know exactly what your genetics is, so this is somewhat generalized, but with a genetic blueprint test, it can become more personalized. Now, these strategies, they are sustainable. They are personalized and designed to work with your body's natural rhythm. So first, we have personalized nutrition that's going to be based on your genetics, because what you eat can either speed up or slow down your metabolism. Now, when you tailor your nutrition to your genetic makeup, you can make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function at its best. For example, some people metabolize or break down carbohydrates more efficiently, while others might need a low-carb diet to avoid blood sugar spikes and fat storage. If you have a genetic variation that affects insulin sensitivity, a low-glycemic, high-fiber diet may be particularly beneficial to help balance blood sugar and boost your metabolism. To help balance blood sugar and boost your metabolism, by understanding how your body processes fats, carbohydrates and proteins, we can optimize your diet for weight loss, increased energy and overall well-being.

Dr. Tamar: 5:48

Now, just like nutrition, exercise can either boost or slow down your metabolism, depending on your genetic profile. Some individuals may see better results from strength training, which helps increase muscle mass and boost resting metabolism, so your body's still going to be burning fat even at rest. But other people may respond better to cardiovascular exercise or high intensity interval training workouts. If you have a genetic predisposition towards fat storage or slower fat breakdown, incorporating strength training into your routine can help build muscle and raise your metabolism. For others, focusing on cardio or high intensity interval training may help burn fat efficiently. But by understanding which types of exercise your body responds to best, you can optimize your workout plan to achieve long-term metabolic benefits and only do the exercises that you actually need to achieve your goal, versus trying to do all the exercises out there, and you can only fine-tune it with your genetic blueprint test.

Dr. Tamar: 6:52

Now, third, there are some lifestyle factors that can support your metabolism, because it's not just about food and exercise, it is about your lifestyle. Things like sleep, stress and daily activity all play a huge role in how your body uses energy. So let's look at sleep. Poor sleep can interfere with the hormones that regulate hunger and metabolism, which can lead to weight gain and sluggishness. So, if your genetics show a predisposition towards sleep disturbances, focusing on improving sleep hygiene is crucial to metabolic optimization. Then there's stress. You know chronic stress leads to increased cortisol levels We've all heard of this right and these increased cortisol levels slow down your metabolism and increase fat storage, especially around the belly. Finding ways to manage stress, whether through meditation, yoga or simply taking time for yourself, can help improve your metabolic health.

Dr. Tamar: 7:48

Now I want to share an example of Kate. She felt that she was just stuck at this point where she just wasn't losing weight and she was frustrated because she had tried traditional methods and she was constantly tired, but these methods just weren't working for her. After reviewing her genetic profile, we discovered that she had a genetic variant that made her more prone to insulin resistance, which was slowing down her metabolism and causing weight gain. But we were able to adjust her diet based on recommendations in her nutridinomics test, particularly reducing carbohydrates, and the test was very specific as to what foods she could replace that with and increase healthy fats. Also for her, she needed to focus on strength training to build muscle. Doing all that, she was able to boost her metabolism and finally start losing weight, and in just a few months, she not only lost 23 pounds but also felt more energized and less dependent on caffeine to get through her day.

Dr. Tamar: 8:46

Now I want to make a note of this that we don't look at just one gene or genetic variant when we do a nutridomate test. The science behind it is looking at a series of different genetic variants to determine what's really going on and the best action plan for each individual. So we don't only look at one gene. Now you might be wondering how do I find out this information about myself? That's a great question. Nutrigenomic testing is a simple process. You usually receive a kit in the mail, you provide a saliva sample from a cheek swab and you send it back to the lab. Comprehensive report that breaks down your metabolism, your nutrient needs, potential sensitivities, how your body processes different macronutrients, even your exercise and fitness potential and so much more. It's comprehensive friend. From there, a trained professional like myself can help you interpret those results and build a personalized plan to support your metabolism, energy, overall health and whatever your goal is.

Dr. Tamar: 9:58

I want to pivot a little bit and bust a few myths before we wrap up Myths about metabolism, because some of these myths can lead to self-limited beliefs that are actually holding you back from progressing on your health journey. So let's bust them, okay. So myth one is I have a slow metabolism and there's nothing I can do about it. You know how many of us have that friend who's just super slim and they can eat whatever they want and they don't gain a pound. And we just breathe some air or smell some ice cream and we gain 10 pounds, you know. So you might find yourself saying this that, oh, my metabolism is slow and there's nothing I can do about it. Well, the fact is, while some people do have genetic tendencies towards slower metabolism, as we've just discussed, lifestyle factors and personalized strategies can still make a huge difference. Your genes are not your destiny. They are your roadmap.

Dr. Tamar: 10:54

The second myth is that all calories are equal. The truth is that they're not equal when it comes to your body's unique chemistry. Two people can eat the same exact meal and have totally different blood sugar responses, energy levels afterwards and fat storage outcomes, because of genetics. Myth three cardio is the best way to burn fat. That might be true for some, but not for everyone. For many people, strength training and recovery-focused workouts like yoga or walking, paired with proper nutrition, can be even more effective. Okay.

Dr. Tamar: 11:30

So if you've been feeling like your metabolism is working against you, please don't lose hope. There's likely a deeper reason that hasn't been uncovered yet, and when you start working with your unique biology instead of against it, everything changes. And remember, this is about more than just losing weight. It's about energy, it's about vitality, it's about feeling like yourself again. So if you're ready to take control of your metabolism and start feeling more energized, I've got something for you.

Dr. Tamar: 12:03

Visit us at wwwthelifebalancecom that's T-H-E-L-Y-F-E balance. com and book a free consultation with us so you can walk away with some actionable, helpful tips that can help you get over that hump, get over the obstacle that you're facing right now in your health, whether it's weight loss and controlling your blood sugars or just having more energy. It's a 30 minute call at the most where we can provide some helpful tips for you. So visit us at www. thelyfebalance. com and schedule your free consultation. I'd also love to hear from you what's one thing you struggle with in terms of your metabolism. You know, send me a message on Instagram or any social media channel that you're on at Dr Tamar Lawful D-R-T-A-M-A-R Lawful. Or you can email hello@ thelyfe balance. com. You know, let's talk about how nutrigenomics can help you feel better, lose weight and optimize your metabolism. Talk to you next Friday. Until then, always remember to raise a script on health, because together we can bring healthcare to higher levels.