The Metabolism Myth: Why cutting calories won’t help you lose weight (and what will)
If “eat less, move more” worked, why do so many high-performing professionals still struggle with weight, exhaustion, and cravings - despite trying every diet under the sun?
I’m Katherine Froggatt, a Metabolic Health Coach specializing in burnout recovery, and a cancer survivor. I help employees and professionals who push themselves to the limit, struggle to slow down, and unknowingly sabotage their metabolism through chronic stress. After healing my own body post-cancer, I’ve dedicated my career to helping others regain control of their weight, energy, and overall well-being - without restrictive diets or burnout-inducing exercise.
If you’re constantly on the go, stressed, and using caffeine or sugar to power through the day, your metabolism isn’t broken - it’s dysregulated. Here’s why:
The stress and metabolism connection
Stress isn’t just a mental burden - it’s a biological disruptor. When your body is stuck in fight-or-flight mode, it releases cortisol, a hormone that signals fat storage (especially around the belly) while increasing cravings for sugar and carbs.
Chronic stress also spikes insulin, leading to energy crashes, intense cravings, and an inability to lose weight - no matter how little you eat or how much you exercise. This is why traditional diets fail: they stress the body even more, slowing metabolism and triggering binge cycles.
Why calorie cutting backfires
When you drastically reduce food intake, your body slows metabolism to conserve energy. Hunger hormones surge, cravings intensify, and eventually, willpower gives out - leaving you stuck in a cycle of restriction and rebound eating.
The key isn’t eating less - it’s balancing your metabolism so your body naturally burns fat without extreme dieting.
How to reset your metabolism without starving yourself
- Balance blood sugar – avoid sugar crashes by prioritizing protein, healthy fats, and fiber for steady energy.
- Train your body to burn fat – constant snacking keeps your body dependent on sugar. Learning to extend time between meals (without extreme fasting) trains your metabolism to use fat for fuel.
- Support your nervous system – chronic stress locks your body in fat-storing mode. Tools like breathwork, EFT tapping, and mindfulness help shift into a fat-burning state.
- Prioritise quality sleep – poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones and fat loss. Aim for 7-9 hours of deep, restorative sleep.
- Ditch chronic cardio – over-exercising spikes cortisol, making weight loss harder. Instead, focus on strength training and walking for metabolic balance.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re a high-achiever stuck in stress mode, exhausted, and frustrated with weight gain, it’s time to stop working against your body. Download my free guide to reset your metabolism naturally: katherinefroggatt.co.nz/how-to-stop-endless-snack-cycle
Don’t miss my live Masterclass on 8 April, where I’ll reveal the real reason stress is sabotaging your weight - and how to fix it for good. Secure your spot here: katherinefroggatt.co.nz/free-masterclass
