781. Why You Can't Think Your Way Out Of Stress

In this episode, I sit down with Leilani Stevens to talk about somatic work, what it really means, and why it can be such a powerful missing piece in healing. We dive into how somatic work focuses on the body, not just the mind. I share how many women try to think their way out of stress and anxiety, but the body can still be stuck in a survival response. If your nervous system is reading your environment as unsafe, no amount of mindset work will fully resolve that. We also discuss how this work helps you reconnect with your body, build self trust, and show up differently in your daily life, relationships, and even medical settings. Leilani shares details about her upcoming immersive retreat, which combines somatic work with aquatic therapy in a heated pool environment. This experience is designed to help the body deeply unwind stress patterns and create a new baseline of calm and regulation. The retreat is a small, intimate experience with guided support, integration, and space to fully reset your nervous system. If you feel disconnected from your body, stuck in stress, or like something deeper is holding you back, this episode will open your eyes to a completely different approach to healing! To learn more about the retreat or see if it's a good fit for you, you can visit this link: https://www.somaticremedies.com/fluid-body-retreat-application

In this episode, I break down why weight loss can feel impossible after pregnancy or during hormone shifts, even when you are doing everything "right." The biggest takeaway is this: it is not about willpower, and it is not just about calories. If your hormones are off, your body will resist weight loss no matter how little you eat or how much you exercise. Calorie deficit only works when your hormones are balanced. If they are not, your body may see restriction as stress and hold on to fat even more. Your body relies on three key steps for hormone health: production, processing, and proper elimination. If any of these are disrupted, your metabolism will not function well. After pregnancy, a drop in progesterone can lead to estrogen dominance, which promotes fat storage and water retention, especially in the midsection. Chronic stress raises cortisol, which disrupts blood sugar and insulin. This leads to increased fat storage, particularly around the belly. Trying to fix this by eating less or exercising more often backfires because it adds more stress to your system. If your hormones are imbalanced, more intense exercise can actually make weight loss harder, not easier. If your body is not clearing estrogen properly through the liver and gut, it can recirculate and contribute to weight gain. Gut health plays a bigger role than most people realize. Even if your habits have not changed, your body has. Pregnancy, stress, and aging all shift how your hormones function, which changes how your body responds. Lasting results come from identifying your specific hormone patterns, whether that is cortisol, insulin, estrogen, or gut health, and addressing the root cause. If you are feeling stuck and want a clear, personalized plan, you can book a free discovery call with my team here: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call

Have you ever felt terrible after just one glass of wine? Or noticed that foods you used to eat just fine are now giving you headaches, bloating, brain fog, or a racing heart? You're not imagining it and you're not just "getting older." This might be a histamine problem, and today we're getting into all of it. Histamine is one of the most missed pieces of the puzzle for so many women. The symptoms can look like inflammation, allergies, or just general mystery symptoms that nothing seems to fix. And here's the tricky part: it's not consistent. You can tolerate something one week and react the next, which makes it incredibly hard to figure out what's actually going on. In this episode I break down what histamine actually is, why your body might be struggling to process it, and the very important connection between histamine and your hormones that almost nobody is talking about. What we cover: Why aged cheese, wine, fermented foods, and even leftovers can trigger a histamine response The "histamine bucket" concept and why your symptoms seem so random The two enzymes responsible for breaking histamine down and what gets in their way Why estrogen and histamine have a feedback loop that feeds itself (fire feeding fire) How progesterone actually helps stabilize mast cells and what happens when it starts to decline The gut connection and why healing digestion matters just as much as anything else Genetic factors that can make you more sensitive to histamine than the people around you The bottom line: Avoiding wine and fermented foods might give you a little relief, but it is not the long term answer. If your hormones are off, if your gut is struggling, or if cortisol is driving the whole thing, we have to address all of it together in the right sequence. Otherwise you are just guessing. Join the Hormone Clarity Workshop I am hosting a live workshop April 14 & 15 where we go through your hormone imbalances and what your body is actually telling you. We cover all of this, including the gut and histamine connection, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and more. You'll walk away with real clarity on what's going on and where to start. It is just $17 and I will be there live to answer your questions. Grab your spot here: https://drbethwestie.com/the-hormone-clarity-workshop/

If you've been feeling more anxious, wired, and exhausted lately and nobody can seem to tell you why, this episode is for you. One of the most frustrating things I hear from women is that they've been told to just relax, go on a vacation, try yoga, journal, do some deep breathing. And look, I love all of those things. I do them myself. But here's the truth nobody is telling you: if your hormones are in a state of low progesterone and high cortisol, those tools literally cannot do what they're supposed to do. If you've ever laid in Shavasana at the end of yoga class and your mind is just racing through your entire to-do list instead of melting into the floor, that's not a willpower problem. That's a hormone problem. In this episode I walk you through why this happens, what's actually going on in your body, and what it actually takes to get unstuck: What we cover: Why stress management advice keeps failing you (and it's not your fault) The progesterone and cortisol connection that drives anxiety, exhaustion, and that "wired but tired" feeling Why testing your hormones at the wrong time of your cycle gives you useless results (and what to do instead) The three steps to actually moving forward: testing at the right time, identifying other contributing systems, and building a protocol that fits your real life Ready to go deeper? I'm hosting a live Hormone Clarity Workshop April 14 & 15: two time options so you can actually make it. We go through your hormone deficiencies and imbalances together, you answer questions, we talk through it, and you walk away with real clarity on where to go next. It's just $17 and it could be the thing that finally makes everything click. Grab your spot here: https://drbethwestie.com/the-hormone-clarity-workshop/

If you've ever said, "I asked my doctor to test my hormones and they only checked one thing," this episode is for you. I break down the difference between conventional labs and functional testing, why you can be told everything is normal while you still feel awful, and what to ask for next. Conventional Labs: Are You Sick Enough? Conventional testing is designed to look for disease. You are either sick or you are fine. The range is narrow, and if your numbers are not far enough outside of it, you are told you are normal. That can happen even if you are exhausted, gaining weight, losing hair, and struggling with brain fog. Thyroid is a common example. Many women are told their TSH is normal, end of story, even when their symptoms clearly point to hypothyroid issues. Functional Testing: Where Is the Imbalance? Functional testing looks at optimal ranges, not just whether you are sick enough for treatment. You can sit in a not great range for years. Not bad enough for medication, but not good enough to feel like yourself. Often, you are working hard just to stay afloat with clean eating, supplements, exercise, and stress management. That effort is keeping you from crashing, but it is not getting you into an optimal range. Why One Lab Value Is Not Enough Using thyroid again, TSH alone is not a full picture. We often need TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and antibody markers to really understand what is happening. You might be making hormones but not converting them properly because of stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or estrogen imbalances. If we do not look deeper, we miss that. Why This Matters  I have lived this. After having kids, I went through postpartum thyroiditis. I was exhausted, foggy, losing hair, and felt terrible. I was told I was just a tired new mom. But I knew it was more than that. That experience is a big reason I am so passionate about functional testing. Too many women are dismissed when their labs do not fit into a narrow box. My favorite functional test is the DUTCH Test, a dried urine test for comprehensive hormones. It looks at estrogen and progesterone patterns, testosterone and other androgens, cortisol and adrenal function, key nutrient markers, gut and inflammation markers, neurotransmitters, melatonin, and more. It connects the dots so we can see what is really driving your symptoms. Ready to figure out what is really going on? Schedule a discovery call with my team and we can talk through your symptoms, your health history, and whether deeper functional testing like the DUTCH test would be the right next step for you. Book your discovery call here: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call

How do you know if you're truly ovulating and more importantly, if your body can support a healthy pregnancy? If you've been tracking your cycle, using apps, monitoring basal body temperature, or wearing a ring or watch… but still don't have clear answers, this episode is for you. Today, I'm breaking down why tracking alone isn't always enough and why the DUTCH Cycle Mapping Test is my favorite tool for uncovering the root cause of fertility struggles. What we cover:  The difference between the three types of estrogen (E1, E2, E3) — and why it matters Why ovulation alone isn't the full picture The 3 essential steps for healthy hormones: Production – Are you making enough hormones? Processing – Are they being metabolized correctly? Pathways out – Can your body properly clear them? How cortisol and adrenal health directly impact ovulation Why gut health and nutrient deficiencies (like B vitamins) can block fertility progress The connection between progesterone metabolites and brain support Why supporting your foundation (cortisol, nutrients, gut health) often comes before pushing ovulation Fertility isn't just about getting pregnant: it's about setting your body up for a healthy pregnancy, smooth postpartum recovery, and long-term hormone stability. If you want help identifying what may be impacting your hormones or fertility, you can schedule a discovery call with my team. During this call we'll talk through your symptoms, your goals, and whether deeper testing like DUTCH cycle mapping may be the right next step for you. Schedule your discovery call here: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call  

If you feel like you've tried everything for your hormones… and nothing seems to stick, this episode is for you. Supplements. Diet changes. Gut protocols. Hormone support. Stress management. You do the research, follow the plan, and maybe feel better for a little while. But eventually the symptoms come back. That's because most women are treating symptoms instead of identifying the underlying hormone pattern driving them. And until you identify that pattern, it's easy to keep chasing solutions that only work temporarily. In this episode, I explain why hormone protocols often stop working and how to start identifying the real patterns behind hormone imbalance. In This Episode • Why treating symptoms alone rarely fixes hormone issues • The difference between root cause and recurring hormone patterns • Why probiotics and gut supplements often miss the real issue • How constipation and gut dysfunction can recycle estrogen in the body • How cortisol, progesterone, estrogen, and gut health all interact • Why hormone programs that worked years ago may stop working now Many women assume they have estrogen dominance or a gut issue when the real driver may actually be stress hormones or cortisol dysfunction. And until that primary pattern is addressed, everything else becomes guesswork. Join the Hormone & Gut Pattern Identification Workshop If you want help identifying the actual hormone or gut pattern driving your symptoms, I'm hosting a live workshop where we break this down step-by-step. In this 90-minute workshop, you'll learn how to: • Identify your dominant hormone or gut pattern • Understand why previous protocols didn't work • Learn which system needs to be stabilized first • Know which labs actually confirm what's happening in your body • Stop stacking random supplements and guessing 📅 Live Workshop Wednesday, March 18 7 PM CST Reserve your spot here: https://drbethwestie.com/the-hormone-clarity-workshop/   Ready to dive deeper? If you want help reviewing your symptoms and figuring out the right next step for your hormones, you can also schedule a discovery call with my team. Book your discovery call here: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call  

Why does it feel like your metabolism slows down after 35… even when you're doing all the "right" things? If you're eating healthy, exercising consistently, and still struggling with stubborn weight, fatigue, or low motivation, this episode explains what may actually be happening inside your body. For many women, metabolism changes in the mid-30s and beyond are not about willpower or discipline. They're driven by shifts in hormones, cortisol, thyroid function, muscle mass, and stress physiology. When these systems become dysregulated, traditional strategies like eating less and exercising more can actually make things worse. In this episode, I break down the real reasons weight loss resistance happens for women over 35 and what a true metabolism reset actually requires. In this episode you'll learn: • Why dieting and calorie restriction can slow your metabolism after 35 • How chronic stress and cortisol impact fat loss and energy • The connection between thyroid function, estrogen, progesterone, and metabolism • Why random supplements and generic plans often fail • What actually needs to be addressed to reset your metabolism Many women I work with have already tried multiple diets, supplements, and health protocols. But the missing piece is often identifying which hormone or gut pattern is actually driving the symptoms. Without that clarity, it's easy to end up stacking protocols that never fully resolve the root issue. That's why I'm hosting a live Hormone & Gut Pattern Identification Workshop where I walk you through how to identify the dominant hormone or gut pattern that may be affecting your metabolism, energy, digestion, and mood. In this 90-minute live workshop, you'll learn how to: • Identify your dominant hormone or gut pattern • Understand why previous health protocols may not have worked • Learn which system needs to be stabilized first • Know which labs actually confirm what's happening in your body • Stop guessing and finally have a clear starting point Workshop Details Wednesday, March 18 7 PM CST Reserve your spot here: https://drbethwestie.com/the-hormone-clarity-workshop/ If you're ready to go deeper and want personalized guidance on what's happening in your body, you can also schedule a discovery call with my team to talk through your symptoms and next steps. Book your discovery call here: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call  

Perimenopause is something the vast majority of women will experience and yet so many of us feel blindsided by it. I'm Dr. Jenny and in this episode, I talk about why perimenopause often isn't discussed in conventional medical appointments and why so many women are left hearing about it through social media instead of their doctor's office. Menopause is diagnosable. It shows up clearly on blood work. Perimenopause? Not so much. The 5–15 years before menopause can feel like a hormone roller coaster: Exhaustion Brain fog Night sweats and hot flashes Mood swings Irregular cycles Low libido Weight changes Feeling like you're "losing your mind" Here's the truth: If you feel like you're on a roller coaster, it's because your hormones are on a roller coaster. In this episode, I break down: Why adrenal health (your stress response system) is the foundation of hormone balance How chronic stress impacts DHEA and testosterone (hello brain fog and low libido) Why blood work can miss perimenopausal shifts How estrogen processing in the liver and gut plays a massive role in symptoms Why progesterone often declines first and what that means for sleep and mood How comprehensive testing (like the DUTCH test) gives us a real map instead of a single snapshot Most importantly, I explain how you can take your power back. We created a FREE Perimenopause Mini Podcast Series to help you understand: What actually is perimenopause (and what isn't) Why symptoms show up years before menopause What works, what doesn't How to get to the root cause of your symptoms quickly Listen to the FREE perimenopause series here: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/perimenopause-3

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I break down what happens when women commit to six months of targeted hormone support using DUTCH testing, personalized protocols, and real lifestyle shifts. I'm sharing real client examples and the behind-the-scenes reasons why so many symptoms finally start to resolve when we stop chasing quick fixes. We talk about why hormone changes don't happen overnight, why six months is the sweet spot for real, measurable progress, and how testing takes the guesswork out of your symptoms so you're not wasting time, energy, or money on things that miss the mark. In this episode, I cover: Why DUTCH testing gives us clarity that standard labs miss What actually changes between your initial DUTCH test and your 6-month retest Why symptoms like low libido, fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, and terrible periods often trace back to cortisol, not what you've been told The difference between capacity and living in survival mode Why regulating your nervous system can feel uncomfortable before it feels better How women regain energy, mood stability, creativity, libido, and resilience What it looks like when your period stops running your life Why seeing your progress on paper helps rebuild trust with your body I also explain why so many women have been dismissed, gaslit, or told to "just deal with it," and how retesting helps you stay connected to what your body actually needs long-term. If you're tired of white-knuckling your way through exhaustion, mood swings, brain fog, painful periods, or feeling like you don't recognize yourself anymore, this episode is for you. Ready to see what six months could change for you? The Hormone Foundations Program is our most popular 1:1 program where we: Run an initial DUTCH Complete test Support you with personalized recommendations for six months Address cortisol, nutrient deficiencies, sleep, cycle issues, and more Retest at six months so you can see your progress in black and white Learn more: https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/