About this session
Metabolism is the collection of processes the body uses to keep itself functioning, from breathing and circulation to digestion, movement, temperature regulation, and tissue repair.
A large share of daily energy use comes from resting metabolic needs, while physical activity, body size and composition, age, and other individual factors also influence total energy expenditure.
This session helps participants understand what people mean when they talk about a "fast" or "slow" metabolism and separates useful information from common myths.
The group looks at resting metabolism, movement, digestion, body composition, sleep, meal patterns, and how daily routines affect energy needs.
Participants also examine popular ideas such as eating every few hours to "keep metabolism running," metabolism-boosting foods, skipping meals, late-night eating, and whether there is one ideal time to eat.
Foods such as chili, green tea, or caffeine may have small short-term effects on energy expenditure, but they do not meaningfully transform metabolism or produce significant weight loss by themselves.
The session then brings the science back into ordinary working life: desk-based days, commuting, long meetings, exercise, shift patterns, inconsistent meals, and changes in activity across the week.
What your people take away
- Understand what metabolism is and where daily energy expenditure comes from
- Identify the major factors that influence resting and total energy needs
- Test common metabolism claims against what the evidence actually shows
- Explore how food, movement, sleep, and daily routines interact with energy use
- Understand what meal timing can and cannot change
- Build practical habits around eating and activity without trying to "hack" metabolism
Shared with you
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Understand Where Your Energy GoesA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Understand Where Your Energy Goes: break down daily energy use, look at what affects resting metabolism and test "fast" and "slow" metabolism.
- Break down daily energy use
- Look at what affects resting metabolism
- Test "fast" and "slow" metabolism
Covers 3 of 4 points in Understand Where Your Energy Goes.
60 minutes
60 Minutes — How Your Metabolism Actually WorksParticipants break down the main components of daily energy expenditure and test familiar metabolism claims against the underlying physiology.
- Module 1 — Understand Where Your Energy Goes
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Understand Where Your Energy Goes.
90 minutes
90 Minutes — Metabolism, Food & the Working DayThe extended session adds digestion, meal patterns, movement, body composition, appetite, and common workplace routines.
- Module 1 — Understand Where Your Energy Goes
- Module 2 — Connect Food With Energy Use
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Understand Where Your Energy Goes and Connect Food With Energy Use.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Understand Where Your Energy Goes, Connect Food With Energy Use and See How Movement Changes the Picture.
Full day
Half-Day — Build Your Metabolism ToolkitParticipants work through all four modules using energy-expenditure comparisons, metabolism myth checks, meal-pattern activities, movement mapping, and personal routine planning.
- Module 1 — Understand Where Your Energy Goes
- Module 2 — Connect Food With Energy Use
- Module 3 — See How Movement Changes the Picture
- Module 4 — Build a Routine Around What Actually Matters
- Metabolism Explained Guide
- Metabolism Myth Checker
- Workday Movement Map
- Personal Energy Routine Planner
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
Understand Where Your Energy Goes
Every length- Break down daily energy useParticipants explore the different ways the body uses energy across a normal day, including resting metabolism, physical activity, and the energy used to digest and process food.
- Look at what affects resting metabolismBody size, lean mass, age, sex-related differences, genetics, and other individual factors are reviewed using practical examples.
- Test "fast" and "slow" metabolismThe group works through what people usually mean when they describe themselves as having a fast or slow metabolism.
- Bust the metabolism-boosting mythsGreen tea, chili, caffeine, cold water, small frequent meals, and other popular metabolism claims are placed side by side.
Connect Food With Energy Use
90 minutes and longer- Understand the thermic effect of foodParticipants explore how digestion, absorption, and processing food require energy and why different macronutrients have different thermic effects.
- Test the small-meals claimThe group compares eating the same overall amount of food across several small meals versus fewer larger meals.
- Review meal timingMeals are mapped onto morning, daytime, evening, and overnight routines to explore how timing interacts with appetite, sleep, work schedules, and circadian rhythms.
- Build a workday food rhythmUsing realistic office, remote, field, and shift examples, participants review where meals and snacks naturally fit into the working day.
See How Movement Changes the Picture
3 hours and longer- Map movement across the dayThe activity breaks the day into commuting, sitting, standing, walking, planned exercise, household activity, and other movement.
- Compare exercise with everyday activityStructured exercise is looked at alongside walking, stairs, active travel, standing, carrying, and movement during work.
- Understand muscle & energy needsParticipants explore the relationship between lean body mass and resting energy expenditure.
- Review the sedentary workdayLong meetings, desk work, driving, and remote working are used to identify periods where movement drops substantially.
Build a Routine Around What Actually Matters
Full day only- Review sleep & daily rhythmsParticipants explore how sleep timing, irregular schedules, and changing work patterns interact with appetite, activity, and eating routines.
- Look at stress & routine changesBusy periods can change movement, food availability, appetite, sleep, and meal timing all at once.
- Stop tracking "metabolism" indirectlyWeight fluctuations, hunger, tiredness, or one difficult week cannot directly reveal whether someone's metabolism has slowed down.
- Build your personal energy routineThe final activity brings together meals, movement, sleep, work schedule, and common disruption points.
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Understanding Your Metabolism
How long is Understanding Your Metabolism?
Understanding Your Metabolism runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Understand Where Your Energy Goes: break down daily energy use, look at what affects resting metabolism and test "fast" and "slow" metabolism. A 60-minute session covers Understand Where Your Energy Goes in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Connect Food With Energy Use. A 3-hour session adds See How Movement Changes the Picture. A full-day session adds Build a Routine Around What Actually Matters. It is also available as a 4-week program.
Can Understanding Your Metabolism be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Understanding Your Metabolism?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Understanding Your Metabolism to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.