I’ve always been intrigued by the role our own personal metabolism plays in our overall nutrition and body composition. I was offered the chance the try out the Lumen Metabolism tracker last month in exchange for a review. As a nutrition coach, this product intrigues me and I was excited to check it out. This post contains affiliate links.
What is Lumen?
The purpose of the Lumen tracker is to teach you and your body to increase your “metabolic flexibility”. This is turn, helps you to gain a better understanding of how the foods you eat allow your body to switch between burning carbohydrates and burning fat.
Lumen is a handheld tracker that measures the CO2 in your breath to give out information on your metabolism. It looks a little like a breathalyzer and works in a similar way.
How to use it
Install the app and enter some basic information. You will be prompted to breathe into the Lumen device a number of times per day to get an accurate reading of your current metabolic state. It takes at least a week of using it consistently to get actionable information. However, you do get great feedback right from the start.
What type of information do you receive?
Lumen will analyze your breath and give you instant feedback on whether your body is currently in fat burning mode or carb-burning mode. This information can then guide you on how to fuel both before and after workouts to obtain the results you are looking for.
Important to note that while Lumen can assist with sustainable weight loss, there are many other benefits as well. Tracking your metabolic flexibility can help with diabetes control, consistent blood sugar levels, exercise performance, and recovery. Lumen can also be integrated to work with both Garmin and Apple watches to give you even more insight into your day.
My results
I realized over the last few years that my body does not process carbs as well as it used to. My readings from my Lumen confirm that fact. When I ate a meal with higher carbohydrates in the evening, my morning reading would be higher. Ideally, you are looking to wake up in a fat burning state and start refueling for your day.
I found the pre and post exercise fueling suggestions to be very useful for me. The more information you can give Lumen (testing a few times a day) the more accurate information you get back.
On days with more intense or longer workouts, Lumen would advise me to fuel differently. I found the information to be very useful and on point with my fitness goals. I am using Lumen in conjunction with tracking macros on my fitness pal and this yields great insight for me. Not all calories are equal and I enjoy the feedback in this area.
I still have much to learn and explore about all the features and benefits Lumen can provide. If you are looking to take a look int how the foods you eat and the exercise you do affect your metabolism, Lumen is for you. Want to check it out for yourself? The Holiday sale is going on now. Use code “MOMRUNNER” for an extra discount.
Thanks for helping to make the Runners’ Roundup a huge success by visiting all of the hosts: Laura, Me, Debbie, Jen, Lisa
This sounds like an awesome device, Deborah. Thanks for this helpful review – I’m considering buying it.
I just checked the website and if I understand it correctly, the buyer needs to decide between a 6, 12 and 18-month tracker. Do you know if it’s possible to buy the device without a subscription?
Let me reach out to my associate and get back to you asap
Hi Cat
I just heard back and yes you do need to have a subscription to access all the info. After the subscription time purchased it looks like it moves to $25 a month. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions
Thank you, Deborah! Yes, that helps, that sounds very reasonable considering all the benefits you get from it.
Thanks for clarifying, I appreciate it. 🤗
Let me know how it goes!
Sounds interesting! Its pretty amazing that a device can detect all that just from your breath. This definitely sounds like it would be helpful in learning how to fuel properly before and after workouts.
I have found the info very interesting and useful for just that purpose
Sound interesting. I never of it until Marcia reviewed.
I think it would be helpful to what to eat before and after a race. I always wonder if I can eating enough. Or too much.
I have gotten into such a “fasted cardio” routine, most mornings, this device would really be helpful to see just how much fat is truly getting used for fuel, or if I should be supplementing. That said, most of my “fasted” w3orkouts aren’t longer than an hour, and if I know I’ll be doing something intense (like HIIT and/or stairs), I do eat something light before starting. Still, it’s a mystery how accurate my fueling strategy really is…
Yes it would be interesting to see if the fasted workouts are helping or hurting your performance. I was really interested by the info I received
I’m still using my Lumen and yes, there’s SO much to learn. I do love the Facebook group as well!
There is a lot to learn! I am finding the info intriguing
A very useful device. Thank you for the review.
I think that, getting older (referring to myself of course), it’s very important, for our health, to receive such information
Ha you are not the only one getting older! Yes, it is really interesting to have as much info as possible on our health
As I said to Marcia, I was very intrigued by this product when she reviewed it. I didn’t catch on that it was really a subscription product though (for the app). I would probably invest in it if I didn’t have to pay a monthly subscriptions price. It really does sound fascinating!
I can understand how that might be a drawback. It does continue to provide feedback over time so having the subscription does make sense
Great to hear that you’re getting a lot out of it. I ordered one after reading Marcia’s review and I’m now on day 3 of using it. I’m looking forward to learning from the feedback it provides.
oh good! We should chat about it after you use it for a while
This is very interesting and sounds like a great tool to have. I always struggle with what to eat on the days when I’m so busy with clients that I don’t have a lunch break and have to eat on my 12-minute drive between my gym and the 55+ gym. It makes me wonder if I’m making the right decisions…
it is really interesting information to have. I have learned some fascinating info
Lumen sounds like a really great tool! I didn’t know that your breath could tell you so much information, lol! I would definitely benefit from the fueling advice!
It is really great info to use. I plan to use what I learn in conjunction with the work I am doing with my personal nutrition clients
That’s incredibly interesting, in the lines of “what will they think of next”? I am so glad it was able to offer you some useful information and tips. What a way to monitor your overall wellness!
yes exactly! The more info we have on our how to improve our own health the better
We learned in my sports nutrition class has respiratory measurements can detect substrate use based on CO2 expelled. I’m always curious about how accurate smaller devices are compared to lab ones. It is cool that it adapts recommendations for types of workouts, as carb vs fat use will change based on intensity!
yes, it is really interesting. I also learned about in my Nutrition Cert program but it is fun to see it in action