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I first started using this Lumen metabolism tracker device in 2022.
Most people think Lumen is just a weight loss tool, but on today’s episode of Live Lean TV, I’m breaking down how to use it correctly to understand and improve your metabolic health for longevity, while also helping you burn fat more efficiently.
Let’s dive in.
Want to know how this Lumen device actually figures out if your body’s burning fat or carbs?

It’s simpler, and more science‑backed, than most people think.
You breathe into the device, hold your breath, then exhale back into the device.
Lumen uses a built-in CO₂ sensor and flow meter to take a measurement of how much carbon dioxide is coming out.
Why CO₂?
This is because your body’s fuel source affects how much CO₂ you exhale:
Lumen then converts that CO₂ reading into a simple 1‑to‑5 scale:
Over time, after consistent breath checks, this device builds a personalized profile of your metabolism and gives you a “Flex Score,” showing how well your body switches between fat and carb burning throughout the day.
That info lets you pick your macros, meal timing, and training around what your body is actually doing right now.
In other words, think of Lumen as a real‑time metabolic compass.
I use the Lumen to give me real-time feedback on improving my metabolic flexibility via a Flex Score.

A higher Lumen Flex Score means you have better metabolic flexibility, which is key for longevity and overall metabolic health.
To get a Lumen Flex Score here are the key breath measurement checks you can take.
| Time / State | Ideal Lumen Score | What It Means |
|---|
| Morning Fasted (most important measurement) | 1–2 | Mostly fat burning after overnight fast. |
| Pre-Meal | 1–2 or 3 | Fat burning if it’s been a while since last meal; slight carb shift okay after a small snack. |
| 1–2 Hours Post-Meal | 4–5 | Carb burning after a carb-rich meal; means body efficiently using glucose for energy rather than storing as fat. |
| Pre-Workout (Fasted) | 1–2 | Fat burning; body is ready to use stored energy for exercise. |
| Pre-Workout (Carb-Fueled) | 3–5 | Mixed or carb-burning; ready to use glucose for higher intensity activity. |
| Post-Workout | 3–5 or mixed | Carb-burning after carb-fueled session, or mixed if fasted; shows adaptation to energy demand. |
| Evening / Before Bed | 1–2 | Mostly fat burning; body is recovering and preparing for overnight fat use. |
This is your baseline “fasted” reading and the most important one of the day.
It shows how well your body recovered overnight and whether you woke up in fat-burning mode.
Your Lumen breath measurement score should show a mostly fat burning score of 1, as this indicates your body is efficiently burning fat after an overnight fast.
If it often shows a carb-burning score 4–5, this indicates your body is not efficiently burning fat after an overnight fast.
This tells you what fuel source your body is using heading into a meal.
If you’re already burning carbs, Lumen may guide you toward lower-carb choices.
If you’re burning fat, it can help you decide whether you can use carbs strategically.
This shows how your body responded to that meal, especially carbs.
A person with a high metabolic flexibility should shift into carbs after eating, then gradually return to fat-burning.
This helps you understand if you have enough carbs on board for performance or if you’re training in a fat-burning state.
This tells you whether your body switched fuels during training, which is a strong indicator of improving metabolic flexibility.
A high carb burning reading at night can signal you ate too late or too high carb.
A lower reading means you’re set up for a fat-burning morning.
Overall, if you see mostly fat burning scores in a fasted state and carb burning scores after meals, it’s a sign your metabolism is healthy.
However, if you stay stuck in carb burning, or your Flex Score is low, it’s a signal to adjust nutrition, activity, or recovery to improve your metabolic flexibility.
The key to metabolic health is something called metabolic flexibility, and that’s where Lumen really shines.
Increasing your metabolic flexibility is one of the most impactful changes you can make to work towards overall health and longevity, while also taking the struggle out of weight loss.
Metabolic flexibility is your body’s ability to switch efficiently between burning carbs and fat depending on the fuel available and your energy demands.
People with:
Your mitochondria, which are the powerhouses in your cells, control this switch.
Strong mitochondria equal better energy, body composition, and metabolic health.
Lifestyle factors like nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress all shape your metabolic flexibility.
Lumen measures your metabolism through breath, giving you a Flex Score so you can see how your body handles fuel and make adjustments in real time.
Studies show that improving metabolic flexibility can even help reverse prediabetes.

Is Lumen legit or just another flashy tool?
Here’s an honest Lumen metabolism tracker review in 60 seconds.
Lumen takes a measurement of the CO₂ in your breath to estimate whether you’re burning mostly fat or mostly carbs.
According to this research study that compared Lumen to metabolic carts from labs, Lumen does a solid job at detecting those metabolic shifts.
But here’s the key most people miss.
Rather than thinking that Lumen is a fat-loss shortcut, think of it as a biofeedback compass.
When you use Lumen consistently, it will show you how your body responds to meals, workouts, fasting, and sleep, but you still have to act on the data to actually see results.
If Lumen tells you you’re burning carbs first thing in the morning, cool, now you actually have to adjust your nutrition or training.
Or if it shows you you’re burning fat after a dialed-in evening routine, great, you now have to double down on what worked.
Remember, the insights from Lumen mean nothing unless you change the behavior behind them.
Think of it like a fitness tracker for your metabolism.
It’s helpful when you use it correctly, but useless if you ignore it.

If you want to try it out and dial in your nutrition based on your metabolism, grab your Lumen now, it’s the biggest sale of the year!
Plus stack an extra 15% off when you use discount coupon code: LiveLeanTV.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my Live Lean TV YouTube channel for more quick, science-backed hacks to look and feel your best.
Go check out this post where I share my Lumen review after using it for 1 year.
Keep Living Lean.
Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.