Younique Balance Health Coaching, Chicago, IL (2026)

We will work together to get to the root of unwanted symptoms through functional lab testing and lifestyle modifications.

10/16/2026

Yes, I'm a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and there are absolutely times when I don't think functional testing is the best place to start.

Because more testing doesn't automatically mean better answers.

Sometimes we need to take a closer look at the foundations. Are you eating enough? Sleeping? Recovering? Supporting your body with consistent habits?

Sometimes we're hoping a test will give us a simple answer to a much more complicated question.

And sometimes we're feeling perfectly fine but wondering if we should test because everyone on social media seems to be doing it.

That doesn't mean we should ignore persistent symptoms or put off necessary medical evaluation.

But functional testing should have a purpose.

I want to know what we're looking for, why we're looking for it, and how the results might actually change what we do next.

Test, don't guess. But don't test just to test.

That's how I approach functional testing in my practice.

Have you ever felt like you needed more testing because of something you saw online?

10/13/2026

Functional testing can give us a lot of information.

But information isn’t the same thing as a diagnosis.

As an FDN Practitioner, I’m not using testing to name a disease or tell you that one abnormal marker explains everything you’re experiencing.

I’m looking for patterns. Correlations. Clues.

And then I’m asking: How does this fit with your symptoms, your history, your nutrition, your sleep, your stress, your lifestyle and your conventional bloodwork?

Sometimes testing helps us uncover a layer we may not have considered before.

Sometimes it helps us ask better questions.

And sometimes it confirms that we need to go back and work on the foundations first.

That’s what Test, Don’t Guess means to me.

Not that testing gives us all the answers.

It gives us more information to help us understand the bigger picture.

🎙️ I go much deeper into this in Episode 32 of the You In Balance Podcast: What Functional Testing Can (and Can’t) Tell You.

10/12/2026

What does it actually look like to work with a functional health coach? And how do you know if it's something you might benefit from?

I get these questions a lot. And the truth is, there isn't one answer that fits everyone.

Some women come to me because they're exhausted, their digestion is unpredictable, their hormones seem all over the place, or they just don't feel like themselves anymore.

Others are doing a lot of things "right" but aren't seeing or feeling the results they'd expect.

And some simply want to be proactive about their health as they move through midlife and beyond.

My job isn't to diagnose you or hand you another list of things to eliminate, restrict or do more of.

It's to help you better understand what's happening in your body.

We look at the bigger picture. Your symptoms, health history, nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, recovery and more.

When appropriate, we use functional lab testing to look for patterns, correlations and clues that can help guide our next steps.

But testing is only one piece of the puzzle.

The coaching, the accountability and figuring out how to make meaningful, sustainable changes in your actual life are just as important.

Because you don't need another plan that looks great on paper but doesn't work in real life.

You need an approach that makes sense for YOU.

✨If you've been wondering whether functional health coaching might be right for you, I'd love to have that conversation.

I offer a complimentary 30-minute discovery call where we can talk about what's going on, what you've already tried and whether working together makes sense.

You don't have to have it all figured out before reaching out.

🔗 Schedule your complimentary discovery call through the link in my bio.

TEST, DON'T GUESS.

10/07/2026

Fatigue. Poor sleep. Brain fog. Mood changes. Heavier periods. Changes in body composition.

Yes, these can all happen during perimenopause.

But I think we need to be careful about turning “common” into “normal, so just deal with it.”

Sometimes changing hormones are a big part of what’s going on.

And sometimes there are other things contributing too: low iron, thyroid function, blood sugar swings, under-fueling, poor sleep, gut issues, chronic stress or not enough recovery.

Usually, it’s not about finding one thing to blame.
It’s about looking at the whole picture and asking: What does my body need more support with right now?

Midlife may require different support.

It shouldn’t require you to stop looking for answers

10/06/2026

“But my periods are still regular.”

This is one reason women don't always recognize that they may have entered perimenopause.

Cycle changes are an important part of the transition, but they don't necessarily have to be the first thing you notice.

You might notice that your sleep isn't quite the same. PMS feels different. Your periods are heavier. Your mood or energy shifts at certain points in your cycle. You feel warmer at night. Or your body just seems to respond differently than it used to.

And all of this can happen before you notice obvious changes in your cycle.

Perimenopause isn't a switch that flips the moment your cycles become irregular. It's a transition, and hormonal fluctuations can begin before there's an obvious change in cycle length.

And this is also why I don't think every symptom in your 40s should automatically be blamed on perimenopause.

It's about looking at the whole picture

10/02/2026

Is it perimenopause...or is something else going on?

It's a question a lot of women start asking somewhere in their 40s.

And yes, changing hormones can absolutely affect how you feel. But I think we've gotten a little too comfortable blaming everything on perimenopause.

Fatigue isn't automatically estrogen.

Weight gain isn't automatically cortisol.

Bloating isn't automatically hormones.

Poor sleep isn't something you simply have to accept because you're in your 40s.

Sometimes hormones are a big piece of the puzzle. Sometimes the foundations need more support. And sometimes there is something else worth looking at.

That's a big part of why I created Perimenopause in Balance, my new free Facebook community.

I wanted a place where we can have more nuanced conversations about what happens in midlife without reducing every symptom to “it's just your hormones.”

If you're navigating this season too, I'd love to have you there.

Link in bio to join.

Address

Chicago, IL

Website

http://www.youniquebalancehc.com/

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