To be perfectly honest, I didn't believe that a Lumen device could help me hack my metabolism at all -- let alone easily!
Skeptic and scrupulously I opened the box and unpacked the Lumen.
It's small, black, and for all intents and purposes, resembles a small old-school laser pointer remote.
The set-up was true plug-n-play. Less than the time it took me to unpack the Lumen from the box, I was up and running.
It is literally as easy as breathing! lol
Seriously. All you have to do is sit still and breathe based on the instructions in the guided app.
You'll start to get feedback immediately, but the best part is the device learns you and your habits, trends, and nutritional biases based on the more you use the device.
After about 4 weeks of daily tests, you'll have a baseline and that's where the real hacking of your metabolism begins.
Enjoy the rest of this article as I dive into the nuts and bolts of what makes Lumen a fantastic investment. If you are looking to make nutrition choices that matter and make a difference immediately, then a Lumen is for you.
And before I forget ---
if you'd like to save a few $$$
, use my coupon code "
dai10
" during your checkout to
save 10% off your Lumen device
.
Hacking Your Metabolism?
Lumen is a device and an app that measures your metabolic rate at different times of the day.
You're then given suggestions on modifying your intake of carbohydrates and fats. The idea is to create metabolic flexibility where you can burn carbs and fats efficiently to reach your physiological goals, whether that’s maintaining fitness, losing weight, or entering a state of ketosis where you burn only fat for fuel.
The design of the device itself is sleek and modern. It comes with its own charging stand. The battery lasts about fifty readings or nearly a week.
Background
A breath analyzer has been used in clinical trials for years. Most people don't have access to this expensive equipment.
Lumen
has created a hand-held flow meter and sensor that analyses the user's breath.
The result of the measurement is the
Respiratory Exchange Ratio or RER.
This is the difference between the oxygen intake and the amount of carbon dioxide that is expended on the exhalation. The higher the CO2 number measured when you exhale, the more carbs you’re burning.
The device and app were designed by Ph.D.’s and ironman competitors
Michal and Merav Mor
, for tracking their metabolism while training for an Ironman. We burn through carbohydrates quickly and our bodies carry plenty of fat, so using fat as a fuel source means it’s easier to complete endurance races where thousands of calories are burned in a matter of hours.
The device won’t give you measurements of your metabolism that are as accurate as you would if you were in a clinical testing facility, but it's still very accurate. Setting your baseline takes about four weeks. This provides enough input to give realistic feedback and suggestions to get you on track.
How the Lumen Works
To talk about how the device and app works, we need a little background on how our
bodies burn calories.
Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns fat and carbohydrates for fuel. When carbs are burned, they’re converted into glucose in the liver, which, in turn, is released into the bloodstream. This is where the
pancreas
gets involved by releasing insulin. Insulin gets the glucose to the mitochondria where it’s all used up as fuel for your cells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGVtOw1AGBQ
Fat is converted into ketone bodies. These can be used directly by the brain and other organs for energy, bypassing the need for a release of insulin by the pancreas. This is why keto diets are so popular. They enhance fat-burning efficiency and promote weight loss. Check out this
great article on Lumen’s blog.
Linking the Device to Your Apps
You have to have the device in order to use the native app. It will also link via Bluetooth to Apple iHealth and Google Fit. You can also check your carb state with the CIQ widget for Garmin watches. These are great for checking in after your workouts.
The app is updated regularly. If you're having problems pairing the device, their support team will help you as much as possible.
The app tracks your sleep, nutrition, and exercise routines. It starts out by taking baseline measurements. You’ll be asked to enter your weight, height, goals, and gender.
You sit back and follow the instructions on taking a deep breath through the device, holding that breath for about ten seconds, then exhaling through the device until you’re told to stop.
You'll take an overnight fasting measurement when you wake up. The next measurement is one hour after lunch. The last three measurements of the day are taken three times after dinner.
When taking a reading, it will ask when you are measuring your metabolism. You’ll be given the following options.
- Before eating
- After eating
- After fasting
- Before sleeping
- Custom check-in
- Morning
From these readings, you are given feedback and suggestions on diet strategies to get your body to burn more fat. Most suggestions reflect low-carb diets such as the ketogenic diet, Paleo diet, and even the Mediterranean diet, but there will be days when it will ask you to eat more carbs. If there’s something you just don’t want to eat, it offers substitutions, making it a great alternative to a structured meal plan.
After four weeks of measurements and following the feedback loops, your body should be switching between burning carbs and fat.
You’ll be given a FlexScore which reveals your flexibility in burning fat and carbs.
What If I Don’t Want to Be An Ironman?
Knowing that metabolism training isn’t a one-size-fits-all science, you’ll be asked survey questions that dive deep into your personal physiology and goals.
Take these questions seriously.
The suggestions are customized to meet your objectives. These can include if you want to boost natural energy, enhance fitness performance, or target healthy weight loss.
Why We Need Metabolic Flexibility
If you want to avoid gaining fat and becoming susceptible to all the diseases associated with obesity, you have to put in the work to ensure your body continues to metabolize fat effectively and efficiently. BUT, living life prescriptively is not something I recommend… ideally, finding Metabolic Flexibility is the key.
Read up on this concept more here.
As you familiarize yourself with the substitutions offered, you’ll start making better choices for yourself. Changes come slowly and with your approval, so it’s an easy way to modify your diet.
Everyone should be using this device. Our bodies and metabolism change over time. This device gives us the guidance we need to keep up with those changes. If you’re following a ketogenic diet, it confirms your work. If you want to lose weight, it’ll keep you on track.
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Just a friendly reminder, if you are considering a Lumen device for yourself or a loved one, don't forget
to save 10% on your purchase by using my coupon code ' dai10
' during checkout.
Check out
Lumen.com
for more information, videos and reviews.
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Why This Device Matters
The best part about Lumen is that it's non-judgmental. It tells you what your body is doing and offers suggestions for improving your ability to burn fat.
The only person that will judge you is you. Be kind to yourself, work with your suggestions, and you should reach the goals you're trying to achieve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGVtOw1AGBQ