Body-Led By Design

Melissa Eich
  • 5.0 (60)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Health, hormone, burnout recovery, and business growth for female entrepreneurs. Restore your energy, grow your revenue, reclaim your life.

  1. 6d ago

    178: PMOS, Weight Loss Resistance & the Dutch Test

    If you've been told you have PCOS — or maybe you were told you might have it and that's where the conversation stopped — this episode is for you. We're talking about what is actually happening inside your body with PMOS: the blood sugar instability, the inflammation, the gut connection, and why advice like "just lose weight" or "just go low carb" completely misses the mark. I'm also walking you through how I use the Dutch test in my practice to find the primary driver of your symptoms so we stop guessing and actually start getting somewhere. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Why PCOS was officially renamed PMOS — and why that name change actually matters for youHow insulin resistance drives androgens up and why your body behaves so differently than someone without PMOS doing the exact same thingsWhy inflammation is likely the primary reason weight loss feels impossible — and why nobody has ever told you thatThe gut dysbiosis loop that keeps PMOS symptoms cycling and why carnivore or extreme low carb gives temporary relief before making things worseWhat the Dutch test actually shows on paper for a woman with PMOS — and why a standard serum lab draw keeps telling you everything looks fineWhy eating less is not the answer and what your body actually needs to start feeling betterWhat's included in the complete hormone package and how to get startedTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome & Who This Episode Is For 02:19 The Name Change: PCOS to PMOS 08:56 What's Actually Happening In Your Body 10:07 Blood Sugar Instability & Insulin Resistance 12:27 Inflammation: The Primary Driver Nobody Talks About 13:56 The Gut Connection & Gut Dysbiosis 17:50 Why Carnivore & Low Carb Are Temporary Fixes 20:32 The Dutch Test Story for PMOS 23:18 What She Actually Needs Instead 26:31 The Complete Hormone Package RESOURCES: 🧪 Schedule your consultation or purchase the Complete Hormone Package https://melissaeichcoaching.practicebetter.io/#/6490bd200e37c64b346b25c8/bookings?s=69fe864f4b36932a1ec4aba4  — Special pricing of $899 available through May 31st. Payment plan available at $299/month for 3 months. HSA accepted. 📖 Related Episodes: Episode 177: The Dutch Test Series — Perimenopause, Weight Gain & Detoxing Your Hormones : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/176-perimenopause-weight-gain-and-the-dutch-test/id1650475536?i=1000767363294CONNECT WITH ME: 📱 Instagram: @melissa_eich | DM me "DUTCH" for all the details on the hormone package 🌐 Website: melissaeichwellness.com 💌 Email: melissa@melissaeichwellness.com ABOUT THE SHOW: Hosted by Melissa Eich — RN turned hormone, nervous system, and somatic coach — this podcast is for the woman who is doing everything right and nothing is working. We dig into the root cause of why you feel the way you do and give you real, tangible tools to start feeling like yourself again. LEAVE A REVIEW: If this episode resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a 5-star review. It helps the right woman find this podcast when she needs it most. Keywords: PCOS PMOS weight loss, insulin resistance hormones, gut dysbiosis PCOS, Dutch test PCOS, androgen dominance weight gain, perimenopause PMOS, hormone testing functional health, blood sugar instability hormones

    28 min

  2. May 19

    177: Cortisol Isn't What Instagram Told You - The DUTCH Test Truth About Weight Gain in Perimenopause

    Social media wants you to believe your cortisol is high, that's why you can't lose weight, and here's a supplement to fix it. But what if your cortisol is actually low? What if your body is producing a ton of it and immediately deactivating it so you can't use any of it? What if the reason you're waking up at 2am has nothing to do with stress and everything to do with what you ate yesterday? In this episode — week two of the DUTCH test series — I'm clearing up the cortisol picture entirely. What it really is, what the DUTCH test actually shows us, and why guessing your cortisol is costing you years of trying everything and never feeling better. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Why "cortisol face" isn't real — and what the internet is actually selling youThe three cortisol patterns I see most often on DUTCH tests (and how to recognize yourself in one of them)Why your body might be producing high cortisol and deactivating it so you can't use it — and what that looks like on a blood draw vs. a DUTCH testWhat late-stage adrenal burnout actually feels like from the insideWhy you're waking up at 2 or 3am — and the blood sugar connection nobody is talking aboutThe cortisol-muscle connection: why high cortisol breaks muscle down and low cortisol means your body won't invest in building itWhy you cannot out-supplement your cortisol pictureA real client story: how not eating enough was showing up as ADHD symptoms, anxiety, and total overwhelm — and what one simple change did TIMESTAMPS: 00:14 Welcome & what we're covering today  02:14 Why social media gets cortisol wrong  04:27 What cortisol actually is and what your adrenal glands are doing  06:51 Pattern 1: High cortisol your body is deactivating (cortisone)  09:04 Pattern 2: Low cortisol — the late-stage adrenal burnout picture  12:51 Pattern 3: Wrong timing — cortisol at 2am and the blood sugar connection  14:06 The cortisol and muscle connection  19:25 Why you can't out-supplement your cortisol  21:43 Client story: ADHD, under-eating, and a cortisol picture that explained everything  25:15 What to do next + the Complete Hormone Package RESOURCES: Book a Consultation — Complete Hormone Packagehttps:// l.bttr.to/EfG9n  — Not sure if this is right for you? Schedule a 20-minute consultation. I'll review your full health history and give you an honest answer on whether this is the right fit. Ready to get started? https://l.bttr.to/xPtJZ  — Complete Hormone Package is $899 (or 3 payments of $299/month). HSA and Flex spending accepted. Available through May 31st only. DM me the word DUTCH on Instagram @melissa_eich — I'll send you everything you need to get started or ask questions. 📖 Related Episodes: Episode 176: Perimenopause, Weight Gain & Detoxing Your Hormones — The DUTCH Test Series Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/176-perimenopause-weight-gain-and-the-dutch-test/id1650475536?i=1000767363294 CONNECT WITH ME: 📱 Instagram: @melissa_eich 🌐 Website: www.melissaeichwellness.com 💌 Email: melissa@melissaeichwellness.com ABOUT THE SHOW: Hosted by Melissa Eich — nervous system, hormone, and somatic coach — this podcast is for women in midlife who are doing everything right and still not feeling like themselves. We go beyond the surface and into what's actually happening inside your body, so you can stop guessing and start feeling better for real. LEAVE A REVIEW: If this episode helped something click for you, I'd be so grateful if you left a 5-star review. It helps more women find this podcast and finally get the answers they've been looking for. Keywords: cortisol and weight gain, DUTCH test cortisol, adrenal fatigue symptoms, low cortisol signs, perimenopause hormones, cortisol and muscle loss, waking up at 3am cortisol, hormone testing midlife, cortisol supplement truth, complete hormone package

    26 min

  3. May 12

    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 body What 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 mechanism The difference between perimenopause being a bumpy road vs. your wheels completely falling off Why HRT might not be working for you — and what needs to be in place first How I personally lost 10 lbs in 8-10 weeks once I had the right data TIMESTAMPS: 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 started RESOURCES: 🧪 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: melissa@melissaeichewellness.com ABOUT 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

    31 min

  4. Apr 21

    175: Debunking Nutritional Myths for Midlife Women

    Learn more about Nourished here: https://melissaeichwellness.com/nourished

    18 min

  5. Apr 14

    174: Why Food Rules Are Making You Feel Worse

    Learn more about Nourished here: https://melissaeichwellness.com/nourished

    27 min

  6. Apr 7

    173: How to Stop Performing Wellness & BE Well

    Episode Description If you’ve been doing everything “right”—tracking, optimizing, staying consistent—and your body still isn’t responding… this episode is going to shift how you see everything. This isn’t about needing more discipline or a better plan. It’s about understanding the relationship you’ve been taught to have with your body—and why it’s quietly working against you. In this episode, I break down why high-achieving women stay stuck in cycles of effort without results, how your body actually determines change, and what it looks like to move out of a performative, transactional approach to health. This is the conversation that changes everything—because it moves you out of control and into understanding. And if you’re ready to actually work with your body instead of against it, this is exactly what we do inside Body Wisdom. 👉 Join Body Wisdom: https://melissaeichwellness.com/body-wisdom What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why doing everything “right” still isn’t creating resultsHow a transactional relationship with your body keeps you stuckWhat your body is actually paying attention to (hint: it’s not your step count)The two biggest reasons consistency feels impossibleWhy under-eating and over-performing block progressWhat it really means to create safety in your bodyHow to shift from control → trust → sustainable results Timestamps 00:00 – Body Wisdom is officially open + who this program is for 02:00 – Why more information isn’t the answer 03:30 – The problem with “do this, get that” thinking 04:30 – The transactional relationship women have with their bodies 05:30 – What your body is actually measuring (and it’s not perfection) 06:45 – Why not eating enough keeps your body stuck 07:40 – Why high-performance habits don’t last 08:30 – The role of nervous system activation (fight/flight/freeze) 09:30 – Shifting from taking from your body → giving back to it 10:30 – Breaking generational patterns around health and body image 11:15 – What it actually means to feel well in your body 12:00 – Why plans and protocols aren’t the real solution 13:15 – Information overload vs. embodied understanding 14:30 – What Body Wisdom is really about 15:00 – How to join + next steps Links & Resources Join Body Wisdom: https://melissaeichwellness.com/body-wisdomDM me “WISDOM” on Instagram for details

    13 min

  7. Mar 31

    172: The Cost of Survival Mode

    Most of us have been in survival mode so long we've convinced ourselves it's temporary. "Just get through this week." But weeks become months and months become years — and your body is paying the price. In this episode, Melissa breaks down why surviving is actually more work than thriving, how the tight-grip control spiral is keeping your body stuck in dysregulation, and what it actually takes to create a body that feels safe enough to function. Spoiler: it's not a perfect meal plan. It's a safe nervous system. What You'll Hear in This Episode [00:02] Why "just get through this week" becomes years of not feeling better [02:21] Surviving feels cheaper in the short term — but it's costing you more than you think [03:30] The Sunday spiral: how we go from chaos to over-curated "perfect week" planning [04:39] Why micromanaging your week actually signals danger to your body [07:00] Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn — how nervous system responses show up in your daily routine (skipping lunch, reactive parenting, inbox emergency spirals) [08:45] Where over-functioning comes from and why it made sense once — but doesn't anymore [09:15] Why midlife changes the math on leaving yourself behind [11:26] Your body is not the problem. The way you've been taught to function is. [13:47] What actual function looks like — and why it takes less energy than survival [14:51] Type A wellness vs. Type B wellness — and which one actually gets you there [16:00] What Body Wisdom is and who it's for Links Mentioned 🎟️ Fed Up (Free 3-Day Live Experience) — Sign up here: https://melissaeichwellness.com/fed-up-org or DM FEDUP to @melissa_eich on Instagram🌿 Body Wisdom Program — Enrollment open through April 10: melissaeichwellness.com/body-wisdom📲 Follow Melissa on Instagram: @melissa_eich📬 Email Melissa: melissa@melissaeichwellness.comLoved this episode? Screenshot and share on Instagram — tag @melissa_eich and tell her what landed for you.

    19 min

  8. Mar 24

    171: Finding Your Natural Weight in Midlife

    If you’ve spent years trying to lose weight—and still feel like your body isn’t responding the way it used to—this episode will help you understand why. In this conversation, I’m breaking down what your natural weight actually means and why it matters more than chasing a number on the scale, especially in midlife. Because the goal isn’t to force your body into a smaller size. It’s to understand what your body needs now so it can feel steady, energized, and supported. We talk about the cycle most women are stuck in (even when they’re doing everything “right”), how your body interprets your actions and intentions, and what shifts when you stop approaching weight loss as a transaction. This isn’t about giving up on your goals. It’s about finally working with your body instead of against it. Timestamps + What You’ll Learn [00:01] Why this conversation matters now The woman this episode is for—and why weight loss has been running in the background of your life for years [02:17] My shift around talking about weight loss Why the industry needs a different approach—and what it actually means to “do this the right way” [04:39] The biggest misconception about weight loss effort Why pushing harder isn’t the real work—and what actually creates change [06:19] The coercion cycle you don’t realize you’re in How “I did this, so my body should do that” is keeping you stuck [08:11] What you’re really searching for Why it’s not actually about the number—and what you’re trying to feel instead [10:27] What your natural weight actually is How to recognize the weight your body feels safest and healthiest at [12:49] Why your body changes in midlife What’s different now—and why you can’t copy and paste what used to work [15:13] The trade-offs most women ignore What it actually costs your body to push for a lower weight [16:49] What it looks like when it finally “clicks” The shift from effort → embodiment (and why this is where results happen) [20:32] Why your body responds to intention, not just action How your thoughts and energy shape your results [22:59] How to start changing your relationship with your body A simple way to shift from control → support in your daily choices [24:59] Your next step Why you’re not starting over—and what your body actually needs now Links & Resources Join Fed Up (Free 3-Day Live Experience) Learn how stress, hormones, and weight are connected in midlife—and what to do differently now: https://melissaeichwellness.com/fed-up-org

    24 min
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5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Health, hormone, burnout recovery, and business growth for female entrepreneurs. Restore your energy, grow your revenue, reclaim your life.

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Eich
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Body-Led By Design
  • Show Website
    Body-Led By Design

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