29 | All Roads Lead to Metabolism 2/4 – 7 Metabolic Issues Christians Struggle With and Why

Most Christian women over 50 are facing metabolic issues, but have absolutely no idea. As a result, their metabolism is silently running your life, and not in a good way.

If you’re carrying stubborn belly fat, battling fatigue, struggling with brain fog, fighting cravings, or wondering why the weight won’t shift anymore, this isn’t random. It isn’t just age. And it certainly isn’t a spiritual failure.

It’s metabolic.

In Part 1 of this series, we exposed five lies that keep women stuck. In this post, we’re going deeper into the biology. We’re uncovering seven metabolic issues Christians commonly struggle with — and why they happen. Because, when you understand what’s really going on inside your body, discouragement loses its power.

What Is Metabolism — Really?

Metabolism is not simply how “fast” you burn calories. It is how efficiently your body converts food, nutrients, oxygen, sleep, and even sunlight into usable energy.

Two primary regulators drive your metabolism:

• Blood sugar
• Insulin

When blood sugar rises, insulin is released to lower it, and if this cycle becomes dysregulated, the ripple effects are enormous — impacting fat storage, cortisol, muscle mass, inflammation, and brain function.

When blood sugar is unstable, it results in everything downstream becomes unstable.

And as Christian women, we must resist the temptation to over-spiritualise what is biological. Yes, we pray for healing. But God designed physiology with laws. Just as we cannot pray away debt without addressing spending habits, we cannot pray away metabolic chaos while constantly spiking blood sugar.

Now let’s explore the seven metabolic issues.

1. Metabolic Issues: Belly Fat — A Metabolic Warning Light

I remember in my late 20s and early 30s when I was marathon running. I ate “healthily.” I trained hard. I looked lean — but I had belly fat. And I was perpetually tired.

I was what people now call “skinny fat.”

Belly fat is not just cosmetic. Visceral fat (the fat around your organs) is metabolically active tissue. Research shows visceral fat releases inflammatory cytokines that worsen insulin resistance and systemic inflammation (Després, 2012).

When cells become resistant to insulin, the body produces more insulin. Chronically elevated insulin drives fat storage — especially around the abdomen. It becomes both a symptom and a driver of insulin resistance.

You cannot burn fat efficiently when insulin is high. It is physiologically impossible. Insulin is a storage hormone.

So if you’re fighting belly fat, it’s not vanity. It’s metabolic signalling asking for attention.

Blog-exclusive practical tip:

Measure your waist circumference at your navel first thing in the morning. For women, a waist measurement above 35 inches (88cm) is associated with increased metabolic disease risk. This simple metric often tells us more than the scale.

2. Cravings: Biochemistry, Not Weakness

Cravings are often misunderstood as lack of self-control. There’s often a result of metabolic issues.

Refined carbohydrates and long gaps without protein-rich meals spike blood sugar. Insulin rises. Blood sugar drops rapidly. The brain interprets this as danger and demands quick fuel.

Cue sugar cravings. This is the blood sugar rollercoaster.

A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found high glycaemic meals increase hunger and activate reward centres in the brain shortly after eating (Ludwig et al., 2013).

Cravings are often a rebound effect of unstable blood sugar.

Blog Bonus – Boost Your Metabolism Plan

At every meal, aim for:
• 30g protein
• Healthy fats
• Fibre-rich vegetables

Then stop snacking for 4–5 hours. Allow insulin to fall. This alone can dramatically reduce cravings within 10–14 days and start to improve any metabolic issues going on.

3. Fatigue: Unstable Fuel Delivery

Chronic fatigue is often blamed on age. But more often it is unstable energy delivery.

When blood sugar swings high and low throughout the day, cells receive either too much fuel at once or not enough when needed. The result?

• Mid-morning slump
• 3pm crash
• Wired but tired evenings
• Brain fuzz

A 2019 review in Nutrients linked blood sugar variability to fatigue and cognitive dysfunction in midlife adults.

If you are exhausted, ask yourself:

Have I stabilised my blood sugar for 8–12 consecutive weeks?

If not, you have not yet tested your metabolic potential.

4. Brain Fog: Metabolic Inflexibility

Metabolic flexibility is your body’s ability to switch between burning glucose and burning fat for fuel.

When we snack constantly or over-consume refined carbohydrates, we become glucose dependent. The body loses its ability to efficiently burn fat – a serious metabolic issue.

When blood sugar dips, we cannot access stored fat effectively. The brain feels this first.

Symptoms include:
• Slow thinking
• Word-finding difficulty
• Poor concentration
• Brain fog

Research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience highlights the relationship between insulin resistance and reduced cerebral glucose metabolism — even in early cognitive decline.

It is not always cognitive deterioration. Often it is metabolic inflexibility.

A great tips is to Introduce a 12-hour overnight fasting window (e.g., finish dinner at 7pm, eat breakfast at 7am). This simple rhythm improves metabolic flexibility without extreme dieting.

5. Emotional Eating: Cortisol + Glucose Chaos

Stress elevates cortisol. Cortisol raises blood sugar. Insulin follows. Then comes the crash.

Add spiritual discouragement or emotional fatigue and food becomes fast dopamine relief.

Research confirms chronic stress increases preference for high-sugar, high-fat foods (Adam & Epel, 2007).

This is not merely emotional weakness. It is biochemical.

The solution is not harsher self-discipline. It is calming cortisol:

• Prioritise sleep (7–8 hours)
• Morning light exposure
• Walking after meals
• Prayer and slow breathing

When cortisol calms, emotional eating intensity reduces.

6. Stubborn Weight: Hormonal Signalling

“I’m barely eating.”

I hear this often.

But weight loss is not just calories. It is hormonal signalling.

If insulin remains elevated due to frequent snacking, poor sleep, stress, or high refined carbohydrate intake, fat burning cannot occur.

You can reduce calories and still not lose weight if insulin never drops low enough for fat mobilisation.

Clinical studies confirm hyperinsulinemia predicts weight gain and blocks fat oxidation (Lustig, 2014).

Here’s my suggestion: Track your food intake honestly for seven days using MyNetDiary. Most women underestimate caloric intake by 20–40%. But more importantly, observe meal timing and macronutrient balance. Awareness alone is transformational.

7. Memory Issues: Brain Insulin Signalling

Our brains are metabolically demanding. Impaired insulin signalling in the brain reduces glucose utilisation. Many researchers refer to Alzheimer’s disease as “Type 3 diabetes” due to its link with insulin resistance (de la Monte, 2008).

Early signs may include:
• Forgetfulness
• Slower recall
• Mental fatigue

Metabolic health is brain stewardship.

Bonus Issue: Discouragement

When metabolism is dysregulated, everything feels harder. Low energy reduces motivation. Cravings feel overpowering. Weight gain feels defeating.

Discouragement whispers:
“You’re too old.”
“You failed.”
“It’s too late.”

But metabolic chaos is not a moral failure. When you stabilise blood sugar, insulin sensitivity improves. When insulin improves, fat loss begins. When energy returns, joy returns.

I’m here to tell you: You are not weak. You are not spiritually inferior. You are not destined for decline.

All roads lead to metabolism. And metabolism can be restored. And, dear friend, this is SUPREMELY important, for your life and faith walk…

Because when your metabolism stabilises:
Your mood stabilises.
Your clarity sharpens.
Your stamina strengthens.
Your calling expands.

Grab my FREE 4-Step Metabolic Rest Guide for Christians now.

References

Adam, T. C., & Epel, E. S. (2007). Stress, eating and the reward system. Physiology & Behavior.
Després, J. P. (2012). Body fat distribution and risk of cardiovascular disease. Circulation.
de la Monte, S. M. (2008). Insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.
Ludwig, D. S. et al. (2013). High glycemic index foods and hunger. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Lustig, R. H. (2014). Insulin and obesity pathogenesis. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology.

Resources & Links Mentioned

🌟 Special Offer: Book a 60-Minute Nutritional Metabolic Breakthrough Consultation → https://healthinfaith.com/breakthrough

👉 Health for Life – 6 Month Programme for Christians to Heal, Thrive & Restore Metabolic Health → https://healthinfaith.com/hfl

🎁 FREE 4-Step Metabolic Reset Guide for Christians → https://healthinfaith.com/guide

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Next Steps

If you haven’t done so already, begin here:
Download my FREE 4-Step Metabolic Health Guide for Christians at https://healthinfaith.com/guide

It lays out a simple, faith-aligned pathway to stabilise blood sugar, rebuild metabolic flexibility, and restore energy.

If you’re ready for real change and want expert, Christ-centred support, I invite you to book your Metabolic Breakthrough Consultation with me. In just one hour together over Zoom, we’ll dig deep into your health struggles and goals, and I’ll create a bespoke plan just for you. You’ll get practical action steps and a full meal plan tailored to your metabolic type and needs—all at a special discounted rate for a limited time. I’ve helped thousands of people experience true breakthrough in their health, and I’d love to help you too. Head to healthinfaith.com/breakthrough to grab your spot and you can then book your preferred time in my calendar. Spaces fill up so do book now—I can’t wait to meet you and cheer you on!