I added carbs to my breakfast and couldn't believe what happened next

I wasn't NOT eating carbs. But I was having them later in the day, like for lunch and dinner.



Hydration. Morning coffee, homeschool, workout, a lil work and a late PFF breakfast. That was what i did for a while. And actually, it was WAY better than a decade earlier when I was eating almost entirely carbs only for breakfast. So ... improvement, right??

But then I noticed a pattern ... my blood sugar seemed higher than it should’ve been. Not spiking, just quietly elevated. The kind of pattern that makes you wonder what’s going on under the surface.

So I tested the opposite. I started adding intentional morning carbs again, but balanced ones.


Something simple like oatmeal with 1.5 scoops protein powder and 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds.
Protein, fat, fiber AND intentional carbs.

Now my numbers rise gently after breakfast, then come back down beautifully. And the average for the first half of my day is lower than when I was skipping carbs until lunch.

Here’s what’s happening:

• The dawn effect. Cortisol rises early to wake you up—and that pushes your liver to release glucose.

• Liver overdrive. When you don’t eat carbs, the liver compensates by converting stored glycogen (or even amino acids) into glucose. Your body’s just trying to help—but it can overshoot.

• Morning sensitivity. Most people are more insulin-sensitive earlier in the day -- especially when they get morning sunlight and exercise and / or walk early (like I do). A balanced breakfast signals that fuel is coming, so the liver doesn’t have to overdeliver.

• Muscle priming. A moderate carb meal refills glycogen and helps your muscles “soak up” glucose, improving stability later on.
  
  

So for some people, skipping carbs isn’t discipline, it’s a stress signal. This is particularly potent in people who tend to be "high strung", Type A or are sympathetic-dominant. Often the best thing you can do for your metabolism is feed it early, not starve it longer. And if you want an extended overnight fast, stop eating earlier rather than starting to eat later.

If your mornings feel wired-but-tired, try this:
Add 25–35 g protein and 25–40 g smart carbs with fiber within two hours of waking.
Something steady though, not sugary. Then take a short walk, stretch or get your workout on.

You might be surprised by how much calmer your energy—and your blood sugar—feel by noon!


Let me know if you plan to experiment with this! I'd love to hear.


XO,
Tara

Are carbs helping or hijacking you?

Let’s talk about carbs ... not because you need to cut them, but because how much and when you include them can make or break your energy, cravings, mood, and metabolism.

Most of the women I work with feel better, stronger, and more in control once they figure out their personal carb sweet spot. And spoiler: it’s usually not “as little as possible.” But it IS often more than the low carb people are used to and less than the Standard American Diet people are used to.

When you eat meals that are too carb-heavy -- especially fast-digesting ones without enough protein, fat, or fiber to anchor them -- you spike your blood sugar fast. Then your body releases insulin to shuttle that sugar into your cells. But if it overshoots (which happens often), your blood sugar drops hard. And suddenly you’re exhausted, cranky, and craving more food… even if you just ate. That crash is what pulls you back to the pantry again and again.


When undereating carbs becomes your whole personality, you run the risk of energy crashes, hunger and fullness cues getting wonky, thyroid slowing down, sleep thrown off and worsened moods and anxiety.


So ... Goldilocks.

Most women feel best starting with around 25–35 grams of net carbs per meal (that’s total carbs minus fiber). It’s not about precision or counting everything. It’s about balance and just being informed about how to put together balanced meals without obsession.

Here’s what that might look like in real food:

• 1 medium sweet potato

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup cooked rice or quinoa

• 2 small corn tortillas

• ¾ cup cooked lentils or beans

• 1 banana or a small apple + some squash

• 2 slices of sourdough

• 1 cup cooked, unsweetened oatmeal

• A protein smoothie that includes 1 cup fruit
  
  

Some women do best with carbs at two meals a day instead of three -- especially during fat loss phases, post-menopausal or if they’re more sedentary or insulin resistant. Others need more if they’re lifting heavy, nursing, or rebuilding from burnout. It's very individualized! But this range? It’s a strong starting point for feeling more stable and less snacky all day long.

Inside The Metabolic Edge, every single recipe in the meal guides is built with this balance in mind. The carb load, the fiber, the protein, the fat -- it’s all designed to keep your blood sugar steady, your metabolism supported, and your energy more predictable. And I update the meals every month, so there’s always something new to try without overthinking it.

You don’t have to obsess over numbers. You don’t have to eliminate carbs. And you definitely don’t have to keep wondering why you’re tired, foggy, or reaching for snacks when you’re supposedly “eating healthy.”

This stuff matters. And when your meals are working with you instead of against you, everything else gets easier too.

XO,
Tara