Metabolism Repair for Women: A Compassionate, Science-Based Guide to Balancing Insulin, Losing Weight, and Improving Health

by Lara Briden

If you feel tired and hungry all the time—and can’t lose weight—insulin resistance and metabolic inflexibility could be why.

Through a compassionate lens, Metabolism Repair for Women explores how both eating behavior and energy expenditure are not under conscious control. Instead, they’re subject to the brain’s regulatory mechanism. And if you have metabolic dysfunction (i.e., insulin resistance, hypoglycemia, and/or weight gain), it’s because something is amiss with that regulatory mechanism.

As a solution, the book provides a 10-step plan for identifying your personal metabolic obstacles, such as hormonal issues, digestive problems, ultra-processed food, chronic stress, and medications. It then offers actionable strategies for overcoming those obstacles and explains why a simple intervention like fixing your gut can reverberate through your entire system to feel less hungry and burn more energy.

Written by a naturopathic doctor with more than 25 years of experience, the book contains up-to-date research, patient stories, and practical advice. It’s your reality-based guide to repairing your metabolism and reclaiming health.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Food, Self Help, Nutrition, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published May 31, 2024

About the author

Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor with more than 25 years of experience in women's health. Her books Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and Metabolism Repair for Women are practical guides to better health using nutrition, supplements, and body-identical hormones.

With a strong science background, Lara sits on several advisory boards and is the lead author of a couple of peer-reviewed papers about polycystic ovary syndrome.

Lara is Canadian but spent a couple of decades in Sydney, Australia. She currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.

For more about Lara’s education, qualifications, and scientific advisory roles, visit her blog.

Reviews

[kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a thin person, this book was still incredibly helpful to me -- it's not just about losing weight.
Since I was a kid, I've always struggled with strong sugar cravings, feel like I have to eat every 3 hours, and other signs of what I now know are metabolic inflexibility. I first learned about this and related concepts from her other books and was thrilled to see she'd come out with a book that focused solely on metabolism repair.

I've been taking her "metabolism starter pack" supplements and after 6 weeks I'm seeing some results: I don't crave sugar as much as I used to and I'm less likely to feel hungry soon after eating. My sleep is also better (from inositol apparently), which of course lessens afternoon carb cravings.

And the message throughout truly is a compassionate one: if you are overweight, it’s not your fault; it’s a result of the modern food environment you were born in. Fixing your metabolism/weight is NOT a matter of will-power. Simply restricting calories does not work because of the myriad things that impact your body’s physiology, which is why you have to troubleshoot your unique metabolism issue to figure out the right protocol to repair it. Every person is different: it could be oxalate sensitivity for one person, food-derived opioid peptides for another (making them crave the very things that cause them problems, such as wheat or dairy), or a deficiency in micronutrients that you can only get from organ meat (which we’re pretty much all deficient in since almost no one eats organs anymore). I could go on.

I wish more people knew about this book both because of the compassionate messages and the science-backed troubleshooting guide. Everyone deserves to enjoy food, feel satiated, and live life with zest and energy!

[Brittany Bair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Briden wrote another amazing book. This is great for someone who is at the beginning of their metabolic health journey because it provides a lot of background information and practical tips for getting started. As someone who has studied this topic quite a bit, I still got a lot of value out of the book and am using its guidance to continue bettering my health. 100% recommend.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of technical and helpful information. Some weird evolution and animal-y type descriptions that I disagree with but overall very informative.

[Rosie Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful! Worth a read if you’re a fan of Period Repair Manual. This is NOT a diet book!

[Leslie R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Period Repair Manual, but I found several flaws in this book.

- Briden claims all mini-pill (progestin only) bleeds are anovulatory. This is false. Up to 40% of women ovulate on the progestin only pill. I myself have confirmed ovulation via urinary hormone levels and basal body temperature while on the mini pill.

- Briden suggests a device such as Ava bracelet for tracking temperature. What's the issue with recommending more reliable devices like a regular basal body thermometer rather than promoting expensive femtech companies? Capitalism is fun, huh?

- Briden blatantly says not to read the book if you plan on calorie counting for weightloss. Sometimes you need to calorie count for weight loss. Learning about portions sizes and how to serve yourself through calorie counting can help you get a grip on what you are actually consuming 🙃

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are new to this metabolism rabbit hole and are just starting your deep dive...this book is a great starting place. The author quotes other authors who have written their own books on the subject and with this book, she adds her own thoughts to the mix. I like how she is trying to piece all the different pieces together.

However, with that said, I think that this puzzle is still not yet complete. Sure, read Bikman, Fung, Li, Lufkin, Lyon, Pelz, Gundry, Fuhrman, Inchauspe, Spector, Hyman, etc. They all have something to offer to the grand scheme of 'all things health related.' They all preach their piece of the puzzle....but what I've found, is that there isn't one thing, one way of eating, or one way of exercise that will work for every single person.

What I liked about this book is the author's no nonsense approach to what she preaches. She didn't spend any time on negative talk. She seemed very personable and positive. I liked the focus on amino acids.

Overall, I liked this, so I'm giving it 3 stars. And I'd recommend this to anyone just starting on their journey to better health.

[Laney Dugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful for Lara Briden and the health-related wisdom she makes available to the general public through her books! They’re very approachable, and I’ve learned so much about my body from her over the years. As someone who has been diagnosed more recently with insulin resistance (among other things), I am super thankful for this book and its focus on all things metabolic health. Her holistic, naturopathic approach is something I trust for myself and would pass on to others who are also on a journey related to these things. I wish I could sit down with her, though, and ask her about things not covered in the book… like how to best respond when metabolic health issues bubbled to the surface while living in long-term exposure to black mold. That’s so niche, but I would love to hear from her on that. But even so, this was a great resource book and I have no doubt I’ll be circling back to it as I continue my journey.

[Hope M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly helpful for me to see a full picture of my health. I appreciated Lara’s perspective of finding a way back home to one’s self. I have struggled with a few disorders and health issues noted in this book, and not once did any of my health care providers (naturopath, gyno, family doctor) signal that insulin resistance and metabolic health were the origin of these issues. It’s all too common to see one treatment for one outcome, and not look at the full picture. I learned a lot from this trusted information about supplements I’ve been considering and am able to go my health care providers with more questions and the understanding of what I need.

[Erin Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information for ANY woman, no matter age! But, especially if you are in perimenopause and notice your body changing. “What I was doing before isn’t working now.” I highlighted many notes and will refer back to this in the future. It is “science” tall, but I felt it was easy to digest and understand. Applicable lifestyle changes/tips to try right away!

[Megan Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of quality info on the basics of metabolic health and what can negatively effect it. I like how she breaks down all the different factors in an easy-to-understand form and even includes questions to help advocate for your care with a doctor and get the tests you need.i don't agree with her evolutionary viewpoints but it did not take away from the applicable content.

[Alyssa Lamascus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for essentially anyone who is overweight for reasons such as insulin resistance, prediabetes, diabetes, thyroid issues and other metabolic problems. I've learned more from Lara Briden than our idolized MDs.

[Melisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ended up purchasing.

[Jessica Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to push past all the science based info as it was overwhelming but it was good background knowledge. I would recommend it but would suggest reading simpler explanations elsewhere first.

[Melinda Reichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the key to health, Ladies! (and some parts for guys, too) and it is working for me! Your life literally depends on it!!!

[Emanuel Lindström · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll give this a pre-rating of 5/5 because Lara is such a great voice on this topic. I've listened to a few podcasts and she's really making sense in a pragmatic way where others talking about hormones and female health usually just give sweeping generalizations without any functional, mechanistic explanations.

[Madeleine Booth-Smits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an insightful and inspiring book. Some great new ways of thinking about my body and health. Thank you for writing a book just for woman's bodies as we are different. I loved Lara's style and look forward to reading more of her books. A truly 5 star read. I know I will come back to this book and it's concepts time and time again. 💜

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was worth the wait (libraries seem to be VERY slow in getting it out in circulation). I will be buying this book for my permanent collection as I will refer to it often. I have now read all three of her books and they are excellent. If you are a woman with period problems, metabolisms problems, or just want to know how to live a healthier life, her books are for you.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this very helpful. It is organised in a useful way, both for reading sequentially and as a reference. While it clearly can’t be tailored to every potential reader, it has very helpful suggestions for questions to ask your medical practitioner. That, I think, is a really powerful position to reach as a reader. This is a journey, and this book is helping me to be better prepared.

[Sam With Veggies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! She's done it again. Lara has managed to deliver very complex information in a clear, succinct manner that makes sense and is easy to follow. Everything she spoke about was relevant and we very much need more people to be talking about metabolism.

[Jacqui Heywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource. Explained in plain English. Practical and full of resources.

[Zeyna Tinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really helped me understand what’s going on with my body. As someone with stubborn belly fat, it validated my weight loss challenges and helped me figure out where to start.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good info, didn't manage to finish on borrowbox - want to reborrow and read last third or so

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there was some good information in this book, I found the constant referencing to look at other chapters frustrating and distracting.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous

[alw · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5