The Metabolism Miracle
New Thinking on Metabolism
By Mary Kearl
Diane Kress, R.D., C.D.E. and author of the new book "The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight ... Permanently" offers unsuccessful dieters a highly appealing explanation for failed weight loss attempts. Kress believes that the weight-loss programs themselves are to blame, claiming that diets don't work for 45 percent of dieters because they have a different kind of metabolism, which she calls "Metabolism B."
According to Kress, unlike those with "Metabolism A," calorie restriction doesn't help those with type B. Instead, she posits that people with "Metabolism B" have metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of symptoms including high blood pressure, cholesterol, trigylcerides and blood sugar and fat that collects around the waist. These people, she says, can eat all the calories they want, but need to watch their carbs -- both how many they eat and when they eat them. "Metabolism A" and "B" are not actual accepted medical terms, but we were intrigued by Kress’s argument and decided to dig deeper. See what she -- and other metabolism experts -- have to say about "Metabolism B" and meet some dieters who followed her advice and have reported losing weight.
"Metabolism B" and Metabolic Syndrome -- a Connection?
While metabolic syndrome has been a known health issue for 25 years, the cause -- a hormonal imbalance that leads to excess insulin production -- was only recently discovered, Kress notes. "Insulin is a fat-gain hormone, so it stands to reason that if your body is making more insulin than it should, you're going to have more fat on your body than you should and you're going to have more fat in your blood vessels, higher cholesterol, higher triglycerides and your blood pressure's going to go up," says Kress.
Thus the two-part "Miracle Metabolism" diet -- an initial eight-week low-carb program to ease the stress on the pancreas -- the organ that makes insulin -- and step two, which introduces what she calls "low-impact carbs" -- things like whole-wheat pasta, multigrain breads and fiber-filled fruits and vegetables, which she says must be regulated throughout the day to keep your pancreas from being overloaded with insulin.
What Experts Have to Say About "Metabolism B"
Kress may be taking liberties with some of the exact science, says Stuart Weiss, M.D. and assistant clinical professor at New York University School of Medicine, but he thinks that her plan has the potential to help dieters. "We do know that people who are at risk for metabolic syndrome do respond to a low-carb diet, with improvements in their metabolic parameters." And while he notes that pancreatic rest has not produced enough solid real-world results in the laboratory, "clinically it seems like it should work."
"She's right about two things. Certain carbs are more prone to push out more insulin," leading to fat build-up, says Ray Samoa, M.D. and endocrinologist at City of Hope hospital. Another potential benefit of following this diet is that, "If you lower blood sugar by eating more complex carbs, you won't get as much toxicity from higher carbs." He cautions that while this "makes sense with somebody with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the glycemic index is something that is not well established so it needs a lot of investigation. But anything that increases fiber seems to be a benefit for someone with metabolic disorder."
Click through the photo gallery of people who followed Kress's "Metabolism Miracle" diet and lost weight.
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Metabolism Miracle Success Stories
Scott Seiferheld
Starting weight: 195 Lbs
Growing up, Scott never had a problem with his weight. Then when he hit his mid-20s he gained weight around his middle, without any major lifestyle changes. Next his LDL cholesterol (bad) level went up, as did his blood glucose level. It took him eight weeks on the first phase and eight weeks on the second step to get to the weight he wanted to be. He lost 20 pounds, five inches off his waist and dropped from a size 36 jeans to 32.
Courtesy of Scott Seiferheld
Scott Seiferheld
Current weight: 175 Lbs
Losing the weight and reigning in his carbs saved him from getting diabetes and high cholesterol. He has maintained his weight and been at his desired weight for over a year now. He feels like a different person, says Kress.
Courtesy of Scott Seiferheld
Melissa Ricca
Starting weight: 280 Lbs
This former high school star track athlete came to visit Kress to obtain approval to get a gastric bypass. She was done trying to lose weight. Sidelined by injuries and surgeries during her high school days, stress and inactivity brought on the symptoms of Metabolism B for Ricca. is one of the things She had the stress of the injury and the stress of the surgeries. Though Ricca had tried everything from calorie counting to Weight Watchers, Kress asked her to dedicate three months to her "Metabolism Miracle" program. "She gave me the three months, and she came back and said 'I feel great. I don't' want the bypass.'"
Courtesy of Melissa Ricca
Melissa Ricca
Current weight: 210 Lbs
Over a two-year period she dropped from a size 24 to a 10 to 12 and lost over 50 inches off her body. Kress adds that the bypass most likely would not have been effective for Ricca -- or anyone with Metabolism B -- because a year after having the procedure done the stomach will stretch to the size of a cup, which can fit enough carbohydrates to affect your pancreas, and with that your insulin and fat-burning abilities. "At about two years after the bypass if you have Metabolism B you'll start gaining again," Kress says.
Courtesy of Melissa Ricca
Tara Grande
Starting weight: 265 Lbs
"Tara came in with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder that shows up very often with young girls where their periods are very heavy and they have bad PMS," and can also lead to weight gain and trouble losing weight, says Kress. "Tara struggled with weight for years. She had tried everything. She was beside herself."
Courtesy of Tara Grande
Tara Grande
Current weight: 189 Lbs
"When I met her, she wore sizes 22 to 24, now, a year and a half later, she wears a 10 to 12. [More than that,] she has self-esteem. There are two different women who visited me. Original Tara who slumped in my office saying, "I can't take t his anymore," to Tara now, who feels like she has her life back together."
Courtesy of Tara Grande
What are some of the signs that you're a Metabolism Type B?
Symptoms include overwhelming fatigue, where you feel exhausted even after a good night's sleep; having the urge to nap about one to two hours after eating a meal; a feeling of never being able to get full; a mild depression, not related to a chemical imbalance, but instead related to blood sugar levels dropping throughout the day; anxiety in the face of depression; memory problems; craving carbs; and midsection fat.
For people with Metabolism B, is diet more important than exercise?
"If you have metabolism B, and you follow only the diet, and you say 'forget the exercise,' you're going to lose more weight," says Kress. "Someone hearing that statement would say 'Eureka! I'm going to diet and not exercise.' But it's because you're losing fat and muscle tissue. If you exercise you lose fat and maintain every ounce of muscle and tone. With exercise, it doesn't have to be aerobic. You could do yoga, bike riding, gardening, cleaning your garden. As long as your muscles are moving 30 minutes a day over and above your normal muscle movement, you'll maintain your muscle mass."
Courtesy of Da Capo
How do people stay motivated through the program, which consists of a minimum of two eight-week steps?
"The first three days as your body adjusts to the insulin level going down, it's like a withdrawal, you have cravings and irritability," Kress explains. "By the end of the first week you already start to feel better. The driving force of this doesn't become the scale -- it comes from [increased] energy. People [try the program] to lose weight, and they do, but they also get their lives back."
Stuart Weiss, M.D., assistant clinical professor New York University School of Medicine, cautions, however, that despite the fact that he advises his patients to stick to low-carb diets, he knows that most people find it difficult to maintain them. "If the diet persists for a while the weight loss will follow. It's really about the socialization of food that makes things problematic."
Diane Kress, pictured; Credit: Trish Blackwell
"The Metabolism Miracle" Diet Investigated
The Carb Counting vs. Calorie Counting Debate
As long as you're regulating your carbs -- spreading your "low-impact carbs" throughout the day, you don't need to count calories, says Kress. "The calories are not the issue, [you] could [follow] an 800-calorie diet, but if carbs make up 80 percent of your calories, you're never going to lose an ounce because your body is over-processing that carb," says Kress. "Not eating carbs will cause weight gain too. If you don't hit a minimum of carbs, the liver is designed to self-feed blood sugar … [at] the equivalent of a bagel's worth of carbs. So [you'll learn to eat the] carb amount that is restful to the pancreas, which will lead to weight loss every time for a person with Metabolism B."
Reducing calorie intake may not always work, agrees Dr. Weiss. "When there is insulin resistance in diabetes, the initial dietary changes do not necessarily produce weight loss. It may however change body-fat composition -- causing clothes to feel looser."
Dr. Samoa and Keri Gans, R.D. and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, caution that recommendations call for a well-balanced diet -- one that is balanced in carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean proteins.
"The benefit of a low-carb diet is still being evaluated, [but] the thinking is that it induces a low-insulin secreting state which in turn reduces appetite," says Dr. Samoa. "Insulin in itself is an appetite stimulator. There are so many things that influence insulin -- in regards to hormones, stress levels, one's eating habits, but low-carb diets try to manipulate this to induce weight loss."
Are There Really Two Types of Metabolism?
"I can't say based on science that there are two types of metabolism," says Gans. But, she adds, "The diet for metabolic syndrome would be basically a well-balanced diet. Part of a healthy diet that works for everybody, is monitoring all our nutrients -- not just carbs ... For what I can find, what she is saying might be truly anecdotal ... She does have years of experience and she is a registered dietitian, so perhaps she has seen [this hold true] with her patients."
Next: Registered Dietitian Diane Kress's Personal Struggle With Weight Loss
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Recent Comments
Limeylimey 12:06:52 AM Sep 14 2009
I am desperate to lose weight. Does anyone know what to eat for breakfast on this plan?
samsamdri 09:13:24 PM Jul 21 2009
This metabolism B research-discovery is interesting stuff. I know what it's like to try and lose weight. I lost 47 pounds in 6 weeks using the Rapidthin diet at www.rapidthin.com. Good luck to all. Use what works for you.
Princessemma007 11:44:12 AM Jul 15 2009
Humblestar.... Did you see a doctor to determine whether you have hypothyroidism? Or whether you need horomone replacement. It seems like you are Hypothyroid and if you are... most likely, correction of your thyroid problems will reverse some of the symptoms you are experiencing. (i.e. lethargy, weight gain, bloating, high blood pressure, etc. Check it out. Good luck.
Burdae I R Win 03:32:14 AM Jul 15 2009
I have found at age 60 adding amino for sleep and muscle tone low carbs no sugar lots of water metatonine at night for putarity glands definately have the right thyroid test done. For women hormone bio idental progestone testarone and estrogene. Men if you are getting the man boob and not in the mood low testosrine this can all be tested and rest suzann summers books her latest is the greates also the amino reveloution be responsable for your own health my moto if you like it young your gotsta keep it young. exercise is part of it we were meant to move or we would not have been given legs to move us.
Sangreg99 10:40:39 PM Jul 14 2009
I think I have this one what has helped me a lot is Metagenics Ultrameal recommended by a spa doctor. Take the shake around 4 pm and the maximum you are going to be able to eat after that is just a salad. I had to pay 350 to find this simple solution. Worth trying.
Humblesstar 02:59:13 PM Jul 10 2009
I, too, am 4 years menopause and have gained weight and high BP...no energy and seem to be tired all the time no matter how much sleep I get. My mid section has bloated and I have blobs where I never had before. Not to mention my face seems to be sliding off my head!! We are "normal" people who for the most part, cannot afford all the surgeries celebs our age (45-60) have. So how can a "normal" woman lose the weight and tone up without all the surgeries? How do we age gracefully without being in danger healthwise? My biggest problem is not eating enough adn skipping meals becasue I do not "feel" hungery and food jiust doesn't sound appitizing. All blood work comes back normal.
Warner1res 12:13:48 PM Jul 10 2009
i am a low carbo man --2 yrs ago went from 245 to 185 and have maintained since in a 5 lb range--rules for maintenance=1)no sugar for life--forget it-you won't miss it 2)must eat at least 3 times a day for balance in metabolism 3)weigh often so you don't get careless and out of whack 4) eat whatever you want but sugar and avoid excessive carbos which turn into sugar 5) watch it with the wine --particularly white--4-6ounces scotch/day ok
LilRose96 11:08:38 AM Jul 10 2009
To: SUEBRETT5 I'd like to share a diet with you. But, i need one to share. i don't know where to start. I'm 52, no energy and feel depressed most the time because of the weight I've put on. I would like to talk to someone that is going through the same thing, or can atleast understand how I feel about being overweight. With the feeling I can't lose anymore. I'm LilRose96@aol.com
Jupeckhome 10:43:43 AM Jul 10 2009
Especially for women over 45 or so - - my symptoms: low energy to do much of anything, felt sluggish (figured it was aging and the fact I had put on weight), felt cold a lot of the time and even with a heater at my feet, just never felt warm deep inside (thought it was just because it was winter time), my elbows were so dry and flakey they sometimes bled - again thought it was because I wasn't using the right creams. None of the symptoms were reported to my doctor. She eventually ordered some bloodwork just becasue of my age - - turned out I had an underactive thyroid. As for keeping weight off now, you just have to get more active - walking is so inexpensive, even if you have to go to an indoor mall and go round and round. Also, get more whole grain foods and fruits in your diet and forget the french fries and full sugar pop!
SevenSeasPixie 10:39:20 AM Jul 10 2009
Atkins is Great. I have been eating low carb for a very long, intially I lost about 35 pounds and have kept it off for going on 5 yrs. I do work out at the gym, I walk and cycle as well..all for fun. My new best friend is the AbCircle Pro. Great work out!!!!It is all about bieng healthy no matter the size. I quit weighing myself everyday as well. At one time I was obsessed with the scale. I now weigh about once a month.
