YOU in Balance

Episode 32: What Functional Testing Can and Can’t Tell You Functional testing can give us valuable information, but a lab report is never the whole picture. In this episode, I’m breaking down how I use functional testing as an FDN-P to look for patterns, correlations and clues, and why testing isn’t about finding one marker that explains everything. We’ll talk about what testing can help us better...

Episode 31: Is It Perimenopause…or Is It Something Else? Fatigue. Poor sleep. Brain fog. Changing cycles. Weight and body composition changes. Digestive issues. If you're in your 40s or early 50s, it's easy to wonder: Is this all perimenopause? In this episode, we're talking about why changing hormones may absolutely be part of the picture—but aren't always the whole story. I share...

Episode 30: The Most Underrated Health Habit: Sleep Sleep might not be as exciting as a new supplement, workout, or nutrition trend—but it impacts nearly every part of your health. In this episode, we’re talking about why sleep is one of the foundations I prioritize with almost every client, especially in midlife. We’ll look at what your body is actually doing while you sleep, how sleep affects bl...

Episode 29: Do I Really Need Functional Testing? How to Know When It’s Time to Stop Guessing If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve probably heard me say “Test, Don’t Guess.” But does that mean everyone needs functional lab testing? Not necessarily. In this episode, I’m breaking down when I believe it makes sense to start with the foundations and when testing may help us understand what’s happe...

Episode 28: Why I Care About Muscle More Than Weight For years, women have been taught to focus on getting smaller—but in midlife, I want us thinking much more about getting stronger . In this episode, I’m talking about why preserving and building muscle becomes increasingly important through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond, and why the number on the scale tells us very little about what’s ac...

Episode 27: The “Start Over in September” Trap Summer's over, routines are returning, and maybe you've caught yourself thinking, “Okay...time to get back on track.” But what if you don't need to start over? In this episode, we're talking about why September doesn't need to mean restriction, detoxes or trying to undo your summer. Instead, I'm sharing a different kind of rese...

Episode 26: GLP-1s Aren’t Replacing the Foundations In this episode of the You in Balance Podcast, we’re having a conversation about GLP-1 medications and why they should never replace the foundations of health. We discuss: • the “quick fix” mentality • why root causes still matter • muscle loss in midlife • under-fueling and appetite suppression • side effects and body signals • why nourishment,...

Episode 25: Why I Remove Gluten, Dairy, Sugar & Alcohol in the Beginning of Healing In this episode of the You in Balance Podcast, Jen explains why she has clients temporarily remove gluten, dairy, sugar, and alcohol during the beginning phases of healing. She breaks down how these foods can contribute to inflammation, gut dysfunction, blood sugar instability, hormone imbalances, cravings, poo...

Episode 24: Your Gut Is Talking to Your Hormones — Are You Listening? In this episode of the You In Balance Podcast, Jen breaks down the powerful connection between gut health and hormones — and why symptoms like bloating, fatigue, PMS, constipation, anxiety, acne, inflammation, and stubborn weight gain may all point back to what’s happening in the gut. You’ll learn: How the gut impacts estrogen,...

Episode 23: Normal Thyroid Labs… But You Still Feel Like Crap? In this episode of You In Balance, Jen breaks down why so many women are told their thyroid labs are “normal” while still struggling with fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, anxiety, poor recovery, and feeling unlike themselves. You’ll learn: What the thyroid actually does Why TSH alone doesn’t tell the full story The difference...

Episode 22: She Felt “Fine”… But Her Labs Said Otherwise: A Client Case Study She wasn’t sick. She wasn’t struggling. But she knew something was off. In this episode, I break down a real client case and why being proactive in your 30s and 40s can completely change your health trajectory— before symptoms fully catch up. If you’ve been feeling like something is off—even when you’re doing everything...

Episode 21: Doing Everything Right… and Still Gaining Weight? Here’s Why If you feel like you’re eating well, working out, and still gaining weight… this episode is for you. In midlife, your body isn’t broken — it’s adapting. And weight gain isn’t just about calories… it’s about what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, we break down the real physiology behind midlife weight gain and...

Episode 20: The Hidden Stressors Midlife Women Don’t Realize Are Draining Them Many women in midlife are doing everything “right”—but still feel exhausted, inflamed, and off. In this episode, we explore why: it’s not just stress, it’s stress load . Jen breaks down the hidden stressors she sees most often with clients—like skipping meals, over-exercising, undereating protein, and constant “go mode”...

Midlife Sleep Isn’t Broken—It’s Changing. Here’s Why I f you’re waking up in the middle of the night, feeling wired but exhausted, or struggling with sleep in midlife—you’re not alone. In this episode, we break down why sleep gets disrupted (especially in your 40s) and what your body is actually trying to tell you. You’ll learn how hormones, cortisol, and blood sugar all play a role—and simple shi...

Episode 18: The Stress & Schedule Audit Every Busy Woman Needs In this episode of the You in Balance Podcast , we’re reframing the common belief of “I don’t have time.” Instead of adding more to your plate, we explore how a simple schedule audit can help you understand where your time and energy are actually going—and why that matters for your health. You’ll learn how chronic stress, cognitive...

Episode 17: The Midlife Inflammation Loop: Why So Many Symptoms Show Up in Your 40s Many women in their 40s start noticing symptoms that feel unrelated — joint stiffness, digestive changes, brain fog, sleep disruption, and stubborn weight gain. In this episode, Jen explains how chronic low-grade inflammation can connect these symptoms and why it often increases during midlife. You’ll learn: The di...

Episode 16: Movement in Your 40s — Why Pushing Harder Isn’t the Answer In this episode of You in Balance , we’re talking about why the “push harder” workout mentality can backfire in your 40s — and what to do instead. If you’re feeling more exhausted after workouts, noticing slower recovery, stubborn weight changes, or disrupted sleep, this conversation will help you understand why. You’ll learn:...

Episode 15 — What I Wish I Knew in My 30s In this more personal episode, I share the lessons I wish someone had told me in my 30s — when I believed health meant pushing harder, doing more, and staying disciplined at all costs. We talk about how chronic stress, under-fueling, overtraining, and lack of rest quietly impact hormones, energy, and resilience over time — and why midlife often becomes the...

Episode 14: You Still Have Time: What to Do Now to Support Your Body Before Summer Spring break has passed, summer suddenly feels close, and many women quietly start wondering if they’re already behind. In this episode, we reframe that pressure — and talk about what your body actually needs right now. This isn’t about extreme detoxes, restriction, or rushing change. It’s about supporting your phys...

Episode 13: What Support Actually Looks Like in Midlife If pushing harder doesn’t work anymore, this episode explains why — and what support actually looks like after 40. In this final episode of the mini-series, Jen breaks down why midlife bodies need a different approach to healing and regulation, and why more supplements, protocols, or “doing it right” often creates more stress. You’ll learn ho...

Episode 12: How to Read Your Body’s Signals (Without Overanalyzing or Panicking) In midlife, the body communicates more clearly — but that clarity can easily turn into overthinking or fear. In this episode, Jen explores how to listen to your body’s signals without spiraling or trying to fix everything at once. You’ll learn why symptoms often feel louder after 40, the difference between listening a...

Why Trying Harder Isn’t the Answer After 40 If you feel like you’re doing all the “right” things but your body isn’t responding the way it used to, this episode is for you. In midlife, many women try to fix symptoms with more discipline — stricter food rules, harder workouts, more control. But the real issue often isn’t willpower. It’s regulation. In this episode, Jen explains: Why willpower used...

Why One-Size-Fits-All Health Advice Stops Working After 40 Have you ever wondered why the things that used to work for your body suddenly don’t anymore — even though you haven’t changed that much? In this episode, Jen breaks down why midlife can feel like a turning point for energy, digestion, hormones, and stress tolerance — and why this shift isn’t a failure or lack of discipline. It’s physiolog...

Episode 9: Adrenal Fatigue — Is It Real? In this episode of the You In Balance Podcast , we’re unpacking one of the most talked-about — and most misunderstood — terms in functional health: adrenal fatigue. You’ll hear why this term became so popular, what it helped validate for so many people (especially women), and where it can actually fall short. We’ll talk about how chronic stress impacts cort...

Episode 8: Blood Sugar After 35 — The Hidden Driver of Weight, Anxiety & Fatigue If you’re exhausted by mid-afternoon, struggling with anxiety, or finding weight harder to lose after 35 — even when you’re eating well — blood sugar may be the missing piece. In this episode of The You in Balance Podcast , Jen explains blood sugar in a simple, relatable way and why it becomes more sensitive in mi...