176: Perimenopause, Weight Gain, and the DUTCH Test

Your labs came back normal. You're eating well, working out, doing everything right — and you're still gaining weight, waking up soaked in sweat, foggy by noon, and barely recognizing your own mood. In this episode, I'm breaking down why that's happening, what the DUTCH test actually shows us that standard bloodwork misses, and why perimenopause might not be the only thing driving your symptoms.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:Why you can have low estrogen and estrogen dominance at the same time — and what that does to your bodyWhat perimenopause actually looks like hormonally (hint: it's not a slow decline — it's chaos)Why night sweats are your body's last-resort detox mechanismThe difference between perimenopause being a bumpy road vs. your wheels completely falling offWhy HRT might not be working for you — and what needs to be in place firstHow I personally lost 10 lbs in 8-10 weeks once I had the right dataTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome from the new office 02:20 Reiki services + in-person consultations in Tea, SD 04:25 Why I skipped two weeks of podcasting 07:30 Introducing the DUTCH Test series 08:57 Perimenopause, weight gain, and hormone detox — what's the connection? 12:54 My personal story: unexplained weight gain, night sweats, and brain fog 14:49 What my DUTCH test revealed 16:41 Estrogen dominance with low estrogen — how that's possible 18:53 What I changed and how I felt within 8-10 weeks 20:00 The perimenopause car analogy 22:38 What estrogen and progesterone actually do for your body 24:29 When it's not perimenopause — it's your environment 26:49 Why HRT isn't working for some women 28:10 The Complete Hormone Package — what's included 35:01 How to get startedRESOURCES:🧪 Book Your Free Hormone Consultation https://melissaeichcoaching.practicebetter.io/#/6490bd200e37c64b346b25c8/bookings?s=69fe864f4b36932a1ec4aba4— Not sure if this is the right fit? Let's talk through your symptoms, your history, and what makes sense for you.💊 Complete Hormone Package — $899 through May 31st Includes your DUTCH test, a personalized 12-week protocol, and three follow-up visits. Click below to enroll today:  https://melissaeichcoaching.practicebetter.io/#/6490bd200e37c64b346b25c8/bookings?p=69fe89114b36932a1ec4c490 Or DM me the word DUTCH on Instagram and I'll send you everything.CONNECT WITH ME:📱 Instagram: @melissa_eich | DM me "DUTCH" to get started 🌐 Website: wwwmelissaeichwellness.com 💌 Email: [email protected] THE SHOW: Hosted by Melissa Eich — nervous system, hormone, and somatic coach. Each week we talk about what's actually happening in your body and what to do about it.LEAVE A REVIEW: If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a 5-star review. It helps more women find this podcast and finally get answers.Keywords: perimenopause weight gain, DUTCH test hormones, estrogen dominance, hormone detox, HRT not working, midlife weight loss resistance, night sweats, brain fog hormones