Helping women over 35 to upgrade their metabolism so they can build muscle, lose body fat and truly thrive in perimenopause and beyond through evidence-based nutrition, stress management and fitness customized to support the modern midlife woman!
Your labs are "normal"... so why do you feel awful?
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Hi Reader If I had a dollar for every woman who sat across from me and said... "My doctor told me everything looks normal." ...even though she felt like garbage. She's sitting in front of me saying... I can't lose weight. My energy is tanked. I'm waking up all night. My cycles have changed. My hair is thinning. I'm snapping at my family over everything. So… now what? Here’s what many women don’t realize: “Normal” doesn’t always mean “optimal.” Most standard lab reference ranges are designed to identify disease, not early dysfunction. In other words, the goal of most standard lab ranges is to determine whether you have a diagnosable medical condition—not whether you're functioning at your best. They’re based on broad population averages—which include people who are stressed, inflamed, undernourished, sedentary, and managing chronic health conditions. That means it’s possible for your results to fall within the “normal” range… …and still not be functioning optimally for YOU. Another important thing to understand is that hormones don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re influenced by things like: • Blood sugar and insulin • Thyroid function • Iron status • B vitamins • Magnesium • Zinc • Gut and liver health • Stress and nervous system regulation When those systems begin struggling, hormone production and signaling can also suffer—even before estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone ever fall outside the lab reference range. That’s one of the reasons why two women can have similar lab values… …yet one feels amazing while the other feels exhausted, struggles with weight loss, experiences brain fog, or has irregular cycles. This is also why I’m such a big believer in looking at the whole picture. Your symptoms. Your lifestyle. Your nutrition. Your stress. Your habits. Your health history. Because your body is communicating with you long before it reaches the point of disease. Sometimes the conversation isn't about your lab values at all. It's about the labs that were never ordered in the first place. Depending on your symptoms and your provider, important markers like fasting insulin, cortisol, a full thyroid panel, or inflammation markers such as HS-CRP may not always be included in routine testing. These can tell us so much more about your metabolic health. That’s why I love offering this comprehensive panel—it helps reveal patterns you can act on. Now, I want to make one thing very clear. As a health coach, I don't diagnose, treat, or interpret labs for medical purposes. What I DO help women do is connect the dots. We look at patterns alongside your symptoms, nutrition, stress, exercise, sleep, and lifestyle so you can build a strategy that actually supports your metabolism and long-term health. And if you’re simply curious about what’s going on beneath the surface… You don’t need permission to learn more about your own health. One of the things I love about today's healthcare landscape is that women have more access than ever before to their own health information. Many women are surprised to learn that ordering labs this way is sometimes even less expensive than going through their insurance. If you're curious about what's happening beneath the surface, I offer access to the same comprehensive women's hormone and metabolic panel that many of my clients choose to start with. You can self-order it, complete your blood draw at your local Quest lab, and access your results directly. There's absolutely no obligation to work with me afterward. I simply believe women deserve access to information about their own bodies. If you’d like to order your own labs, you can do that here:
Because the more you understand your body… …the better equipped you are to support it. ❤️ Bridgette Metabolic & Hormone Coach for Women 35+ P.S. If you're not quite ready to order labs but you'd like to learn more about metabolism, hormones, and strength in midlife, you can explore more information on my website. |
Women's Hormone and Metabolic Health over age 35
Helping women over 35 to upgrade their metabolism so they can build muscle, lose body fat and truly thrive in perimenopause and beyond through evidence-based nutrition, stress management and fitness customized to support the modern midlife woman!
Hi Reader, One of the biggest shifts I made in my own health journey—and one of the biggest things I teach my clients—is this: Your hormones don't work alone. When most women start struggling in midlife, they immediately assume they need to "fix their hormones." And while hormones absolutely matter... They're only one piece of the picture. Your hormones are constantly interacting with your gut, your liver, your thyroid, your blood sugar, your nervous system, your sleep, and even your muscle...
Hi Reader, A common phrase I hear from women is.... "But I eat SO healthy... why can't I lose weight?" And honestly? I believe them. This used to be me, as a matter of fact! Many of the women who come to me are already eating: ✓ Organic ✓ Low carb ✓ Very little sugar ✓ No seed oils ✓ Whole, minimally processed foods ✓ Lots of vegetables They're making a tremendous effort. So why aren't they seeing the results they deserve? Because healthy eating and strategic eating aren't always the same...
Hi Reader, Happy Friday! If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ve probably heard me mention my Metabolic Mocha. It’s one of my favorite morning rituals and one of the easiest ways I practice what I call Intentional Fuel—taking something I’m already enjoying and making it work harder for my body. Instead of just drinking a regular cup of coffee, I turn it into a creamy mocha that helps support me because it includes: ☕ Protein to help me hit my daily protein goals and support muscle. 🦴...