Do you really need to keep your body guessing?
Sat Jan 31 2026
Today we are unpacking the idea of "metabolic confusion", which is the belief that you need to constantly change your food intake, calories, or training to "shock" your body into losing weight.
You've probably heard things like:
"You're not eating enough"
"Your body is in starvation mode"
"You need high-calorie days to reset your metabolism"
"Cheat days keep your body guessing"
But how much of this is actually backed by evidence?
In this episode, I walk through what metabolic confusion really refers to, what the research says about calorie cycling, and what actually leads to weight loss plateaus
We cover:
What metabolic confusion actually is
Whether alternating high calorie days and low calorie days improves fat loss outcomes
How relevant metabolic adaptation is in your weight loss journey
Pros and cons of cheat days
Hormonal implications of calorie cycling and intermittent fasting Benefits of aiming for consistency with in-built flexibility
I also give an update on the Balanced Body Community and our 30 Day Reset, which you are welcome to come and join! Link below:
Join the 30 Day Challenge: The Balanced Body Reset
1:1 coaching: Message me on Instagram @nutrition.by.helena
More
Today we are unpacking the idea of "metabolic confusion", which is the belief that you need to constantly change your food intake, calories, or training to "shock" your body into losing weight. You've probably heard things like: "You're not eating enough" "Your body is in starvation mode" "You need high-calorie days to reset your metabolism" "Cheat days keep your body guessing" But how much of this is actually backed by evidence? In this episode, I walk through what metabolic confusion really refers to, what the research says about calorie cycling, and what actually leads to weight loss plateaus We cover: What metabolic confusion actually is Whether alternating high calorie days and low calorie days improves fat loss outcomes How relevant metabolic adaptation is in your weight loss journey Pros and cons of cheat days Hormonal implications of calorie cycling and intermittent fasting Benefits of aiming for consistency with in-built flexibility I also give an update on the Balanced Body Community and our 30 Day Reset, which you are welcome to come and join! Link below: Join the 30 Day Challenge: The Balanced Body Reset 1:1 coaching: Message me on Instagram @nutrition.by.helena