YOU in Balance

Episode 18: The Stress & Schedule Audit Every Busy Woman NeedsIn 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 load, and constant distractions impact your daily habits, often leading to decision fatigue, multitasking overwhelm, and unintentional time loss (hello, scrolling). This episode walks you through how to observe your patterns without judgment and start identifying small, realistic shifts that support your energy.We also dive into practical strategies like creating non-negotiables, reducing decision fatigue with simple planning, and protecting your focus in a distracted world.Key Takeaways:Why feeling “too busy” isn’t always about time—but about energyHow stress and mental overload influence your daily habitsWhat a schedule audit is and how to do oneCommon energy drains (multitasking, phone use, decision fatigue)Simple, sustainable habit shifts that actually fit into real lifeThe importance of identifying and protecting your non-negotiablesTry This:Pick one day this week and simply observe your time, attention, and energy—no changes required. Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who could use a reset—and remember, small steps create big change.Get more information about Younique Balance HC and working with Jen at www.youniquebalancehc.com

Episode 17: The Midlife Inflammation Loop: Why So Many Symptoms Show Up in Your 40sMany 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 difference between acute and chronic inflammationSigns your body may be dealing with systemic inflammationWhy inflammation often rises in your 40sThe role of blood sugar, gut health, stress, and sleepFoods and habits that help lower inflammation naturallyWhen functional testing may help uncover deeper root causesIf this episode helped you start connecting the dots in your health but you’re still looking for answers, personalized support may help.Learn more about working with Jen at www.youniquebalancehc.com or connect on Instagram @youniquebalancehc.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a new episode.

Episode 16: Movement in Your 40s — Why Pushing Harder Isn’t the AnswerIn 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:• How stress and cortisol impact fat storage and hormones• Why recovery becomes non-negotiable in midlife• What a supportive weekly workout structure looks like• The power of strength training, Zone 2 cardio, and true rest• Why movement should build you up — not break you downMidlife isn’t about doing less.It’s about training smarter and supporting your body’s changing physiology.Favorite collagen mentioned in this episode:Biotics Research Optimal Collagen https://us.fullscript.com/plans/younique-balance-collagen-supportIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.Until next time — small, consistent steps create big change. We’re in this together.

Episode 15 — What I Wish I Knew in My 30sIn 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 moment when the body asks for a different kind of support.This conversation is about shifting from control to partnership with your body — and learning to listen before burnout forces you to slow down.In this episode, we cover:Why pushing through exhaustion backfires long termThe hidden stress effects of calorie restrictionWhy rest is a biological need, not lazinessHow sleep, alcohol, and late-night habits affect recoveryLearning to interpret your body’s signals instead of overriding themIf you’ve ever felt like what used to work for your health no longer does — this episode will help you understand why.If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need this reminder too. And if you’re ready for personalized support, you can learn more about working with me at www.youniquebalancehc.com

Episode 14: You Still Have Time: What to Do Now to Support Your Body Before SummerSpring 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 physiology in ways that create steadier energy, better regulation, and feeling more at home in your body as summer approaches.You’ll learn:Why this pre-summer window matters (without urgency or pressure)The connection between stress load, hormones, and daily habitsSimple ways to support your body now — no testing requiredHow to know if you’re ready for deeper functional testingWhat it’s like to work together using personalized lab testing and coachingWe also discuss how stabilizing blood sugar, improving sleep timing, choosing supportive movement, and reducing overall load can shift how your body feels — and often how it looks — without force.If you’ve been feeling tired, inflamed, reactive, or unsure where to start, this episode will help you move forward gently and with clarity.✨ Your body isn’t behind — it’s responding to the load it’s been carrying.Resources MentionedBeam Minerals Electrolyze: ⁠https://www.beamminerals.com/?ambassador=jennifer966⁠  Code: YBHC20Learn more about working together: ⁠www.youniquebalancehc.com⁠Schedule a Discovery Call here: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt

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 how gentle, consistent, and layered support helps the body regulate itself again — and why foundations like sleep timing, nourishment, movement, and stress load matter more than intensity.This episode is about shifting from control to partnership, and learning how to support your body in a way that actually sticks.Connect with Jen on Instagram @youniquebalancehc or via email [email protected] the YBHC website here: www.youniquebalancehc.com

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 and hyper-monitoring, and how long-standing discomfort can quietly become your “normal.”This conversation reframes symptoms as information — not failure — and offers a calmer way to notice patterns without panic.Connect with Jen on Instagram @youniquebalancehc or via email [email protected] can also check out the YBHC website at: www.youniquebalancehc.com

Why Trying Harder Isn’t the Answer After 40If 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 to work — and why it often backfires after 40What regulation actually means and why it matters for hormones, digestion, sleep, and energyHow a dysregulated nervous system makes even healthy habits feel exhaustingWhy pushing harder can increase stress signaling instead of improving symptomsYou don’t need more discipline.You need a body that feels safe enough to respond.Connect with Jen on Instagram @youniquebalancehc. For more information on services offered, head to www.youniquebalancehc.com

Why One-Size-Fits-All Health Advice Stops Working After 40Have 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 physiology.You’ll learn why generic health advice often falls apart after 40, how cumulative stress changes the body’s capacity to adapt, and why symptoms tend to show up in clusters instead of isolation.Jen also introduces a simple Capacity Inventory to help you better understand what your body can handle right now — without judgment or guesswork — and shares a gentle experiment you can try this week to support regulation instead of pushing harder.In this episode, we cover:Why one-size-fits-all advice ignores midlife contextHow the body compensates in earlier years — and why that changes after 40The role of stress, cortisol, and reduced capacity in symptom clustersWhy willpower-based approaches often backfire in midlifeHow to assess your current capacity (sleep, blood sugar, digestion, stress, recovery)Why support and regulation matter more than intensityA simple stabilizing experiment to try this weekThis episode sets the foundation for a mini-series on regulation, body signals, and what real support looks like in midlife.✨ If something stopped working, it doesn’t mean you failed — it means your body is asking for a different kind of support.You can reach out to Jen at [email protected] or head to the YBHC website: www.youniquebalancehc.comFollow along on IG @youniquebalancehc

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 cortisol patterns, why symptoms can exist even when labs look “normal,” and why looking at the body through a systems-based lens matters more than labels.This episode is about moving beyond buzzwords and toward real understanding of what your body is communicating — without fear, blame, or oversimplified answers.In this episode, we cover:Why the term “adrenal fatigue” resonated with so many peopleHow stress hormones actually behave in the bodyThe difference between validation and oversimplificationWhy symptoms matter just as much as lab rangesA more accurate way to think about energy, resilience, and burnoutIf you’ve ever felt exhausted, wired but tired, emotionally fragile, or like your body just isn’t bouncing back the way it used to — this conversation is for you.Connect with me: If this episode resonated and you want to learn more about your own stress patterns, hormones, or gut health, you can find me on Instagram at @youniquebalance or visit www.youniquebalance.com to explore how we can work together.Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.

Episode 8: Blood Sugar After 35 — The Hidden Driver of Weight, Anxiety & FatigueIf 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 midlife. You’ll learn how blood sugar impacts energy, mood, hormones, sleep, and metabolism — and why this isn’t about willpower or restriction.In this episode, you’ll learn:• What blood sugar actually is and how it works • Common signs of blood sugar dysregulation in midlife • Why anxiety and crashes often start with low blood sugar • How food, stress, sleep, and exercise all influence blood sugar • Why “eating less” backfires after 35 • How functional testing helps identify root causesThis episode is about working with your body — not fighting it. Want personalized support?Learn more about working with Jen through functional testing and coaching at: www.youniquebalancehc.comFollow along on Instagram for more hormone, gut, and metabolism education: @youniquebalancehcReach out to Jen here: [email protected] or set up a call here: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOtIf this episode helped you, please subscribe, share, or leave a review — it helps more women find the support they’ve been missing.

Getting functional lab results can feel like a breakthrough moment — answers, validation, relief. But what happens after the results arrive?In this episode of the You in Balance Podcast, Jen pulls back the curtain on the part of healing that almost no one talks about: why test results alone don’t create change — and what actually does.This conversation is for women who:Have invested in testing but still feel stuckKnow what they should be doing but struggle to implement itFeel overwhelmed trying to “do it all right”Are tired of protocols that don’t fit real lifeJen explains why coaching, accountability, and habit-building are the missing links between information and lasting results — and how her Metabolic Makeover Coaching Program bridges that gap.Results don’t change lives. Support while implementing them does.Healing doesn’t require perfection — it requires guidance, accountability, and someone walking with you when life gets messy.If this episode resonated with you:Subscribe to the podcastShare it with a friend who feels stuckLeave a review to help more women find this workAnd if you’re ready to move from information to transformation, Jen’s Metabolic Makeover Coaching Program is designed to support you every step of the way. Schedule a call here: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt  or visit the YBHC website: www.youniquebalancehc.com Small, consistent steps create big change — and you don’t have to do it alone.

Episode 6: Perimenopause vs Menopause — What’s the Difference (and Why It Matters)If you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but you feel exhausted, anxious, overstimulated, or unlike yourself — this episode is for you.In this episode, Jen breaks down the real differences between perimenopause and menopause, why most women feel their worst before periods stop, and how a functional medicine approach can bring clarity during this confusing season.This is not about doing more — it’s about understanding what your body needs now.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:The key differences between perimenopause and menopauseWhy perimenopause often feels harder than menopauseCommon midlife symptoms that are not “just stress” or agingHow estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones interactWhy standard blood tests often miss the full pictureHow stress and under-fueling impact hormones after 35Functional testing options from an FDN-P perspectiveWhy one-size-fits-all hormone advice doesn’t workWhat support actually looks like in midlifeFunctional Testing Discussed:DUTCH Hormone Test – hormone patterns, cortisol rhythm, estrogen metabolismComprehensive Thyroid Panel – Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, antibodiesGI-MAP Stool Test – gut health, inflammation, estrogen detox supportBlood sugar and nutrient markers – foundational for hormone balancePerimenopause isn’t a failure of your body — it’s a transition that requires different support. When we stop guessing and start listening, symptoms make sense — and healing becomes possible.If you’re tired of guessing and want a plan built for your body, this is the work I do with my 1:1 clients.Learn more about working together: www.youniquebalancehc.comSchedule a call with Jen: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt

In this episode, Jen walks you through what it means to be a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and how FDN-Ps can serve YOU! She also explains the process of working with her and why testing and coaching are both vital pieces of the health puzzle. For more information on Jen and YBHC, follow along on IG @youniquebalancehcCheck out the YBHC website at: www.youniquebalancehch.com

How the gut influences your hormones, mood, and immune system — and what to do about itTune in to hear how your symptoms may be gut related and what to do about it! Ready to take the next step with your gut healing? Schedule a call with Jen: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOtLearn more about YBHC at:www.youniquebalancehc.com Follow along on IG: @youniquebalancehc

What’s Really Going On with Estrogen, Progesterone & CortisolIf you’ve been feeling like your energy has tanked, your mood is unpredictable, or your metabolism has hit a wall… you’re not alone. So many women in midlife feel this way and are told it’s “just aging” or “normal hormones.”But here’s the truth — it’s not just age. It’s about what’s happening under the surface with your hormones — specifically estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol.So in today’s episode, we’re unpacking:What’s really going on with those three key hormones,How those shifts show up in your mood, weight, and energy, andWhat you can do right now to bring your body back into balance.Links: Magnesium:  I love Designs for Health Magnesium Glycinate at night-here is the one I use: https://us.fullscript.com/plans/younique-balance-mom-burnout-kitI also use Earthley Magnesium Lotion most nights: https://earthley.com/?affiliateId=Younique BalanceTake the Hormone Quiz to see if hormone testing is right for you: https://l.bttr.to/VvkSz

Today’s episode is titled Burnout in Your 40s: Why Eating Less and Moving More Isn’t the Answer.Have you been lead to believe that the reason you’re gaining weight, feeling exhausted, or not fitting in your jeans anymore is because you need to eat less and move more?Yep. Me too. We were all taught this, and for a while, it might have even worked. I know it did for me but then 40 hit and it actually started to backfire.Listen in and learn ways to change this mentality and take back your health once and for all. Take the Hormone Quiz here: https://l.bttr.to/VvkSzFor more information on YBHC, head to our website: www.youniquebalancehc.comFollow along on Instagram: @youniquebalancehcReach out to Jen at [email protected] Study Citation:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20368473/Information in this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and it not meant to diagnosis or treat any specific medical conditions.

YOU in Balance: Real talk + real tools for midlife hormones, burnout, and gut health.Welcome to the YOU in Balance podcast--where midlife moms learn to take the guesswork out of their health so they can feel better in their bodies, regain their energy and thrive in this new chapter. After listening to each episode, you should feel empowered to take back your health. You deserve to feel vibrant at every stage of life!In today's episode, you will hear from Jen Alsman, FDN-P and owner of Younique Balance HC. She will be real with you about her own health struggles and journey and also share the mission of the YOU in Balance podcast. For more information on YBHC, head to our website: www.youniquebalancehc.comFollow along on Instagram: @youniquebalancehcHave questions or suggestions for future topics, send Jen an email: [email protected]