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 understand, what it can’t tell us, why more testing isn’t always better and what I really mean when I say “Test, Don’t Guess.”

Because the goal isn’t to test everything. It’s to use the right information, in the right context, to help determine what makes sense to focus on next.

In this episode:

• What functional testing can and can’t tell us
• Why patterns and correlations don’t necessarily equal causation
• How testing can help prioritize next steps
• Why your symptoms, history and lifestyle still matter
• When testing may make sense and when it may not
• Why functional testing never replaces appropriate medical care

Wondering whether functional testing might make sense for you?

Schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call with me. We’ll talk about what you’ve been experiencing, what you’ve already tried and whether my approach may be a good fit for what you need.

Schedule your complimentary discovery call: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt

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 some of my own experience in my early 40s, the foundational habits that changed how I felt, and why symptoms are worth paying attention to rather than automatically chalking everything up to hormones.

We'll also talk about when it may be time to look a little deeper and why my Test, Don't Guess philosophy isn't about testing everything—it's about getting the right information when you need it.

Plus, I'm introducing Perimenopause in Balance: Support, Health & Real Life, my new FREE Facebook community for women navigating this stage of life. Come join us for education, support, honest conversation, and plenty of “wait…me too” moments.

Join here: www.facebook.com/groups/perimenopauseinbalance/

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 blood sugar, cravings, cortisol, muscle recovery, and metabolism, and why perimenopause can suddenly make good sleep harder to come by.

I’m also sharing simple ways to protect your sleep (without creating a complicated 27-step nighttime routine) and what to consider if you're doing all the “right” things and still waking up exhausted.

Because sleep isn’t something we squeeze in after we take care of everything else. Sleep is part of how we take care of everything else.

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 happening beneath persistent symptoms.

We’ll talk about why fatigue, bloating, weight changes, poor sleep, brain fog, and hormone symptoms don’t always tell us exactly what’s causing them, and why randomly adding supplements, eliminating foods, or jumping on the latest wellness trend can sometimes create more confusion instead of clarity.

I also walk through some of the testing I commonly use in my practice, including the GI MAP, DUTCH hormone testing, and comprehensive thyroid testing, and explain why a lab result is always just one piece of the bigger picture.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why I always start with nutrition, sleep, movement, recovery, stress, and other foundations
• Signs it may be time to look deeper
• What functional testing can and cannot tell us
• Why more testing isn’t always better
• How symptoms, history, lifestyle, and lab results fit together
• How to know which test might actually make sense for you
• Why my philosophy is really “Test, Don’t Guess, but don’t test just to test.”

If you feel like you’re doing many of the “right” things but still don’t feel like yourself, this episode will help you think through what your next step might be.

Ready to stop guessing?

If you’re wondering whether functional testing makes sense for you, schedule a free 30 minute Discovery Call.

Book your call here: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt

We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, what you’ve already tried, and whether testing may be an appropriate next step.

Small, consistent steps can create big change. We are in this together.

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 actually changing in our bodies.

We’ll talk about the difference between weight loss and fat loss, muscle’s role in blood sugar and metabolic health, what women using GLP-1 medications should consider when it comes to preserving lean mass, and why strength training, adequate nutrition, and recovery all matter. And yes—protein matters, but please don’t forget your plants!

Because the goal isn’t just to build the body you want today—it’s to build and protect the body you want to be living in decades from now.

In this episode:

• Why muscle becomes even more important in midlife
• Weight loss vs. fat loss
• GLP-1s and preserving lean mass
• Muscle, blood sugar, bones & metabolic health
• Protein and plants
• Why recovery is part of building strength

🍂 Fall Foundations Reset starts TODAY!

We’ll spend three weeks focusing on fueling, strength, movement, recovery, sleep, stress, and gut health—the foundations that support your body for the long haul.

Sign up here: https://l.bttr.to/SbGaR

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 reset, one that's about coming back to the foundations that help you feel your best.

We'll talk about why health needs to work through different seasons of life, the foundational habits we often overlook, and a simple 5-day “Come Back to Your Foundations” challenge you can start today. The episode also explains why persistent symptoms sometimes mean it's time to look deeper and why testing and your foundations can work together.

Because a reset isn't starting over. It's coming back to your foundations.

My Fall Foundations Reset begins September 14!

Over three weeks, we'll focus on simple, realistic ways to fuel, strengthen and support your body—without perfection or overhauling your life.

🎧 Podcast Listener Bonus: Save $20 with code PODCAST20 through September 9th.

JOIN FALL FOUNDATIONS here: https://l.bttr.to/SbGaR

🍂 Ready to Come Back to Your Foundations?

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, protein, stress management, sleep, and strength training matter for long-term metabolic health

This episode is not about shame or extremes — it’s about supporting the body, protecting muscle, and improving health from the inside out.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to connect.

Check out our website: www.youniquebalancehc.com

Follow along on IG: @youniquebalancehc

Email Jen at: jen@youniquebalancehc.com

Ideas for future podcast episodes? Shoot me an email!

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, poor sleep, and increased stress on the body—especially in midlife.

Jen also shares parts of her own healing journey, including why alcohol was the hardest thing for her to give up and how much better she felt once she reduced it consistently.

This episode covers:
✨ why elimination phases are used therapeutically
✨ common symptoms connected to gluten, dairy, sugar, and alcohol
✨ why healing requires reducing stress on the body
✨ why the process typically lasts around four months
✨ what clients often notice when these foods are removed
✨ why this approach is about support—not punishment

If you’ve ever wondered why certain foods are removed in functional wellness protocols, this episode offers the physiology, mindset shifts, and real-life perspective behind the process.

Small shifts create big change.

For more information on YBHC, head to our website: www.youniquebalancehc.com