Metabolic Renewal Review: Pros, Cons, and How It Works

How Metabolic Renewal Works

Metabolic Renewal is a 12-week weight loss program designed to optimize female metabolism.

The principles are based on a 4-part framework designed by Naturopathic Medicine Physician and Personal Trainer, Dr. Teta.

Whole foods and minimally processed foods are promoted on this diet plan. (1)

The biggest claims are that this program will help you:

• Enhance fat loss (particularly around the belly area)
• Keep your heart, bones, and mind strong
• Boost energy
• Improve sleep
• Balance your mood
• Control hunger and cravings
• Maintain an ideal weight

This program is claimed to tackle hormonal changes throughout the lifespan, working with your hormones rather than against them.

Based on his research, Dr. Teta says most women fall into one of 7 unique hormone types.

Before purchasing this program, you complete a quiz that is supposed to tell you what hormone type you are and, subsequently, what types of foods and schedules you’re supposed to follow.

While hormones can definitely play a role in weight loss, there is no proof that these 7 hormone types exist.

In perusing the Metabolic Renewal website, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of text and “fluff” on each page.

Each page is extremely long, with a lot of filler words on how magical the program is. It felt hard to follow and difficult to quickly locate the program’s main components.

Based on what I was able to decipher, The Metabolic Renewal program embodies what they call a “4M” framework to renew your metabolism, listed in order of importance.

1. Mindset

Techniques are provided to reduce stress, balance hormones, and adopt a more positive mindset.

I do agree that the right mindset is an essential component of weight-loss success, and it’s something I coach my clients on as well.

2. Movement

This area focuses specifically on non-exercise types of movement, otherwise known as non-exercise associated thermogenesis (NEAT).

While dedicated exercise time provides many benefits, it’s also equally important to get more movement throughout the day. Your daily movement can also contribute to your total calorie burn and is beneficial for your health.

A few examples of NEAT activities include increasing your step count, going up and down the stairs, cleaning, playing with your kids, and gardening.  (2)

3. Meals

The Metabolic Renewal program provides an individualized diet plan and meal ideas based on your identified “hormone type.”

A 12-week metabolic meals plan is provided in the program, which includes:

• Recipes based on your hormone type.
• Weekly meal plans for 12 weeks with specific instructions on what to eat and when.
• Shopping lists based on your recipes and meal plans.
• Customization options and suggestions based on your hormone type. It is not clear on the website exactly what type of customization is involved.

4. Metabolics (Exercise)

Regularly scheduled exercise is an important part of this program. The program advises to work smarter, not harder, and thus their workouts are termed “intelligent” workouts.

A 12-week workout plan is provided. It is only required to work out three times a week for 15 minutes.

Proponents of the program claim that these workouts continue to give you results up to 48 hours later by revving your metabolism.

The 12-week exercise program is broken up into 4 “body-sculpting phases.”

Phase 1: Harmony (Weeks 1–3)

This phase is designed to get your hormones in order, preparing you mentally and physically for the later phases of the program. It is said to “awaken” your metabolism.

Phase 2: Inspire (Weeks 4–6)

This phase is said to prep your body to burn fat for fuel. The exercises in this phase set you up to maximize your fat burn and optimize your metabolism.

Phase 3: Enhance (Weeks 7–9) 

During this phase, the intensity of your workouts begins to increase.

It is said that your body should now be able to handle this higher level of intensity because of the prep you did in phases 1 and 2.

Phase 4: Symphony (Weeks 10–12) 

During this last phase of the program, the workout intensity is cranked up further.

The more intense workouts in this phase are designed to stimulate the production of human growth hormone (HGH), which is said to speed metabolism and tone the belly, hips, glutes, and arms.

Higher intensity workouts like the ones in this program can be effective for burning fat. (3)

These are also particularly appealing to many people as they can be done in a fairly short amount of time.

Foods to Eat and Avoid

Metabolic Renewal doesn’t restrict any foods completely, but it does promote a particular diet according to your specific hormone type.

Meal plans are provided based on what Dr. Teta calls a 3-2-1 diet. The plan provides three meals per day, two of which contain only protein and vegetables, and one which allows a small portion of starch.

While low-carbohydrate diets may initially result in faster weight loss and promote satiety, they are typically not sustainable. (4, 5)

Foods to Eat

• Meat: Beef, lamb, and pork
• Fish: Salmon, cod, mackerel, sardines, and halibut
• Poultry: Chicken, turkey, and duck
• Vegetables: Essentially all vegetables
• Fruit (in moderation): Apples, oranges, kiwi, melons, berries, peaches, and plums
• Grains (in moderation): Quinoa, couscous, rice, oats, and buckwheat
• Fats and oils (in moderation): Olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, ghee, and butter
• Beverages: Water, black coffee, and unsweetened tea
• Herbs and spices: Turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, and garlic

Foods to Limit

• Processed foods: Fast food, frozen meals, breakfast cereal, granola bars, and microwave popcorn
• Sweets: Cake, cookies, candy, and baked goods
• Salty snacks: Crackers, pretzels, and potato chips
• Sugar-sweetened beverages: Soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, and energy drinks
• Added sugars: Honey, table sugar, maple syrup, and brown sugar

Can It Help You Lose Weight?

Some research shows that lower carbohydrate diets like Metabolic Renewal can be effective for short-term weight loss. (6)

However, most studies on low-carb diets are only done for up to 6 months, so the amount of weight loss may dwindle over time. (7)

Based on my professional experience with weight-loss clients, almost all of them gained the weight back after coming off low-carb diets.

Another common problem with very low-carb diets is that the cravings for carbs will eventually become intense. This is human nature because we always want what we feel we can’t have.

This can lead you to feel out of control with your eating once you start allowing yourself to have more carbs again and creates a sense of fear around these foods.

It is also possible that cardiovascular disease risk increases with very low-carb diets, where a higher percentage of your diet may be from fat.

Additionally, there are no studies to date that show a need for a specific diet based on hormone type, or that there are actually 7 different hormone types women can have.

Sustainability

The Metabolic Renewal diet is likely not sustainable, as it is restrictive in nature. Plus, it is only a 12-week program.

There is always the risk of gaining the weight back after those 12 weeks and resorting back to old habits, and I’ve seen this time and time again with my clients who have followed short-term diets in the past.

Sometimes, you may end up weighing more than when you first started the diet program in the first place, which can lead to understandable frustration.

In addition, some reviews say some of the recipes provided are time-consuming to prepare.

Accountability

This program has group accountability, but it does not offer one-on-one accountability.

There is access to a private Facebook community when purchasing the program, which can be helpful in addressing questions or for additional peer support.

However, it is a large group of over 55,000 people. Such a large group size would make it difficult to get any type of personalized guidance.

I’m not sure who runs the group or what the group entails, as there are no specifics on the website.

Value for the Price

There are two options for the Metabolic Renewal Program – an online version or an online version plus a DVD.

If you want instant access to everything, they recommend the online version, so you don’t have to wait for the DVD to be delivered.

The original cost is listed as $97, but that amount is crossed out on the sales page to be only $37. This is the total for the 12 weeks, including all meal plans, exercise programs, and guides.

There is a 90-day money-back guarantee if you purchase directly from the program website. It is also sold on Amazon for a similar price.

The price for this program is surprisingly low for a 12-week program. However, it seems like a quick-fix program that would not provide long-term results.

Safety

There are no direct studies on the Metabolic Renewal protocol to confirm its safety.

I disagree with the 3-2-1 diet protocol, as it is too restrictive in carbs.

We all need a certain amount of healthy carbs for proper energy and optimal brain function. Allowing only a one-carb serving, one meal a day is not enough. (8)

The program also encourages high-intensity exercise with a very low amount of carbs, setting you up for fatigue and low blood sugar.

I would certainly not recommend it for anyone with a history of disordered eating or diabetes. Following it may lead to increased cravings, low blood sugar, and trigger disordered eating behaviors.

How Metabolic Renewal Compares to Alternatives

There is not another diet program like Metabolic Renewal that specifically targets hormone types.

The low-carb aspect of the program is fairly similar to Atkins or a traditional low-carbohydrate diet.

The biggest difference is that the carbs are limited to the one dinner meal, versus traditional low-carb diets where the carb allotment is spread throughout the day.

One significant difference is the amount of exercise that is recommended. It is a lot less in duration than most other weight-loss programs.

This may be because the amount of carbs recommended is so low, you wouldn’t have much energy for longer-duration workouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

While the thought of a weight-loss program tailored to your hormone type is appealing, the reality is that there is no proof these seven hormone “types” even exist.

I’m also concerned with the very low amount of carbohydrates recommended, as there are plenty of healthy carbs you can eat that support your weight-loss goals.

I do appreciate that Metabolic Renewal is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as flexibility and customizability increase a program’s likelihood of success.

However, any weight loss that occurs on this program will likely come back once you come off of it. This can lead to frustration and a greater fear of carbs.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this program for weight loss because it’s a short-term fix.

Always check with your medical doctor before starting this or any other weight-loss program.

Additional Tips

If you suspect hormones are getting in the way of your weight loss, the following habits can help you feel more in balance:

1. A well-balanced diet.

Enjoy a diet that is satisfying with plenty of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, healthy fats like fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.

This way of eating will keep your blood sugar in check so that you experience fewer mid-afternoon energy crashes or cravings.

Aim to eat every 3–4 hours for steady blood sugar and energy levels.

2. Engage in regular exercise that you enjoy.

The type of exercise you do does not always have to be of the highest intensity to lose weight.

Sometimes, doing too many high-intensity exercises can actually put your body under more stress. (9)

Instead, employ a combination of high and low-intensity exercises like walking, yoga, and gentle stretching.

3. Reduce stress.

If your stress hormones are out of whack, this can make it harder to lose weight. (10)

Practicing daily self-care such as yoga, meditation, or journaling can help keep stress at a minimum and keep your hormones more in equilibrium.

It doesn’t have to be a lot of time spent; just 10 minutes of daily self-care is plenty to reap the benefits.

4. Drink plenty of water. 

Water is essential for hormonal balance and weight loss.

In fact, research has shown that dehydration can cause direct stress to our organs, which can alter our hormones. (11)

Aim to drink at least half your body weight in ounces every day.

If you need more personalized guidance, seek the advice of a registered dietitian or naturopath that specializes in hormonal balance.