The Dr. Chad Larson Podcast

Your metabolism isn't broken. It's overdrawn.

Chad Larson

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0:00 | 7:53

Most people think their metabolism is broken.

In reality, they’re running an energy deficit.

In this episode, I walk through a real clinical case of a high-performing executive who was working out intensely, tracking his metrics, and trying to “do everything right” — yet experiencing fatigue, weight gain, and poor recovery.

The issue wasn’t effort.

It was energy management.

Your body operates like an economy.

Every day, you make withdrawals:

Stress
Poor sleep
Alcohol
High training load

And deposits:

Recovery
Nutrition
Sleep
Circadian alignment

When withdrawals consistently exceed deposits, the body adapts in predictable ways:

Slower metabolism
Hormonal disruption
Increased hunger
Reduced recovery

This episode reframes metabolism through a more accurate and practical lens — one that integrates physiology, stress, and real life.

In This Episode

  • The concept of the “energy economy”
  • Why high performers burn out their metabolism
  • How stress drives insulin resistance
  • Why sleep is the most powerful metabolic lever
  • When exercise becomes counterproductive
  • The hidden reason rest days feel worse

Take the Next Step
Take the Metabolic Health Quiz to assess your current state:

Final Thought

You don’t need more discipline.
You need a better energy strategy.