Why you should build your metabolic revenue instead of cutting expenses

I read something recently that made me think differently about how we approach our bodies. A business executive was facing an aggressive profit target with his bonus on the line. Coming down to the wire, he had a choice: start cutting expenses, or sell more.

He went all in on sales. Not only did he not cut expenses, he increased them. Raised commissions, added temporary staff. The result? A record quarter, bonuses earned, and strategies that generated seven figures in new revenue over the following years.

His insight was crucial: “When you’re focused on what you can save, you’re operating with a fixed pool of money. When you’re focused on growth and earning more, the sky is the limit.”

I couldn’t help but think: this is exactly backwards from how most of us approach our bodies.

We’re cutting expenses when we should be building revenue. We’re slashing calories when we should be building muscle. We’re operating with a fixed pool of energy when we could be expanding our metabolic capacity.

I’ve been on both sides of this equation. Years ago, I followed programs that had me eating 1200 calories a day. I’d measure out my tiny portions, skip social events, and feel constantly hungry. The scale might move, but I felt miserable, and it never lasted. During my travelling years, when I wasn’t weight training, it was a losing battle – even with intermittent fasting thrown into the mix.

Now? I can get down to similar body fat levels on 2000-2500 calories a day. Same results, more than double the food. The difference isn’t willpower or genetics – it’s that I’ve built a body that burns more fuel.

Here’s what we know about muscle tissue: it’s metabolically active. Unlike fat, muscle burns more energy around the clock, even when you’re not doing anything. And that’s just at rest.

But the real magic happens during and after your workouts. Strength training triggers an “afterburn effect” – your metabolism stays elevated for hours as your body repairs and rebuilds. You’re literally burning more calories while you sleep.

Most importantly, muscle gives you options. When you’re operating on 1200 calories, you’re painted into a corner. Miss a workout? The scale creeps up. Have a social dinner? You’ve “blown it.” But when your body can maintain or lose fat on 2000+ calories, you have room to live.

The mindset shift is everything.

• Instead of asking “What can I cut?” you start asking “What does my body need to build?”

• You’re not starving yourself into submission – you’re nourishing your body to create the machine you want.

• You’re eating enough protein to repair muscle.

• You’re getting enough sleep for recovery.

• You’re fuelling your workouts instead of dragging yourself through them on fumes.

This isn’t about ignoring calories – they still matter. It’s about understanding that your body isn’t a fixed system. You can actually change how many calories it burns, how efficiently it uses fuel, and how much you can eat while still getting results.

The executive’s Q4 blitz worked because he invested in his revenue-generating capacity. Your metabolic blitz works the same way. Every strength training session is an investment in your calorie-burning infrastructure. Every gram of protein is funding your muscle-building project. Every night of good sleep supports your recovery and growth.

Yes, you’ll still need to create a calorie deficit for fat loss. But imagine creating that deficit from a base of 2200 calories instead of 1200. Imagine having energy for your workouts instead of feeling depleted. Imagine building something beautiful and strong instead of just trying to make yourself smaller.

The restriction approach feels like control, but it’s actually the opposite. You’re dependent on perfect adherence to an unsustainable plan. The muscle-building approach feels like freedom because it is – you’re building a body that can handle more food, more flexibility, more life.

So many women I know have spent years cutting expenses. They’ve mastered the art of eating less, moving more, and trying harder. But they’ve never learned how to build revenue. They’ve never had the chance to see what their body can do when it’s truly fuelled and challenged.

This is the shift I help clients make – from thinking restriction equals results to understanding that building burns more. From fearing food to fuelling muscle.