The hidden link between glycogen balance and carb cycling

Nov 7, 2024, 3:15 PM•lumen

Lumen.me

Can't see this email? Click here.

Why balancing your glycogen is essential

Help your glycogen stores fluctuate optimally

Did you know glycogen, your body’s reserve carb storage, impacts many areas of your life, like your metabolic flexibility, weight, fitness, and energy levels?

When you eat carbs and don’t use them immediately, your body stores them as glycogen to use as energy later. Certain activities like intermittent fasting and weightlifting help burn through glycogen, which pushes your mitochondria to use fat for energy.

This interplay of replenishing and depleting glycogen levels helps your mitochondria easily shift between carb and fat burn, which improves metabolic flexibility, weight loss, body recomposition efforts, energy levels, and even sleep.

That’s why carb cycling is preferred over long-term low-carb or keto diets. Constantly tanking glycogen stores and relying on fat for energy can make your body less efficient at using carbs, leading to quick weight gain when you eat carbs. It can also cause you to break down muscle for energy during weightlifting and increase your rate of perceived exertion due to low energy.

Watch video

How to keep your glycogen levels in check

Follow these tips to keep your glycogen balanced:

Measure your metabolism

Practice carb cycling

Perform high-intensity workouts

Time your carbs around exercise

Eat more complex carbs, like lentils, oatmeal, and whole-grain bread

Check out this video to learn more about how glycogen balance impacts your metabolism.

Feel better in your body!
Get 40% OFF Lumen

NOVEMBERSALE

Apply the code above at checkout

Get 40% OFF

Join the movement

Learn from real users and metabolic health experts. Connect with like-minded people, and get first-hand stories, helpful advice, and exclusive member benefits that support your health journey every step of the way.

Join Lumen community

Over 5,000 reviews!

FAQ | PRESS | BLOG | VLOG

Do you want to unsubscribe? Click here

See our Privacy Policy

Meta Flow Ltd. d/b/a Lumen at Fifth (5th) Floor, 44 West 37th Street, New York, New York

Latest Emails from lumen

lumen

9:08 PM (Yesterday)

Break your weight loss plateau for good

Can't see this email? Click here. Discover how to reset your metabolism Get $40 off your Lumen today! Buy now Lumen THRIVE THROUGH MENOPAUSE How women like you are finding their balance This

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Sun 9:04 PM

Join our free webinar on thriving through menopause

Can't see this email? Click here. Discover how small metabolic shifts can be life-changing Join us for a life-changing Lumen Live Menopause is a transition, not a setback. In this webinar you'

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Thu 4:41 PM

⚡ 48-Hour Speed Sale: Get up to $80 OFF!

Only 500 discount codes available – stack your savings now ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Oct 21, 2025, 8:06 PM

Break your weight loss plateau for good

Discover how to reset your metabolism Get $40 off your Lumen today! Buy now Lumen Start burning fat again Why plateaus happen (and how to break them) When you hit a weight loss plateau, it's not

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Oct 19, 2025, 8:12 PM

How to speed up your metabolism to lose weight

Can't see this email? Click here. Simple habits that help your body burn more fat Get $40 off your Lumen today! Buy now Lumen The key to weight loss: Better metabolic rate and metabolic flexibility

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Oct 5, 2025, 2:04 PM

Lumen vs. CGMs: Which is right for you?

Discover the tool that best fits your goals ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Sep 29, 2025, 2:13 PM

Is your metabolism blocking your weight loss?

Discover how to reset it for long-term results ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Sep 25, 2025, 2:12 PM

48-HOUR FLASH SALE ⏰ Get $80 OFF Lumen

Act fast! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Sep 21, 2025, 2:08 PM

See how people like you transformed their lives with Lumen

All eyes 👀 on our amazing community members ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read full newsletter →

lumen

Sep 16, 2025, 3:17 PM

Hear inspiring stories from people just like you

It's official! Season 2 of The Lumen Podcast has launched ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read full newsletter →