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. 1d ago

    179: GLP-1 for Midlife Women & Where to Begin | Part 1/3

    You've seen it everywhere. Maybe everyone you know is on it. Maybe you're curious but carrying some shame about it. Maybe you were just handed a prescription and sent on your way with zero context. This episode is for all of you. I'm cutting through the noise and giving you the honest, gray-area conversation about GLP-1 that nobody else is having — so you can make a decision you actually feel good about. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: Why living in the gray on GLP-1 is actually the hardest and most honest place to stand — and why I'm not here to tell you yes or noThe shame piece nobody is talking about: where it comes from, why it's not yours, and how it will color your entire experience if you don't look at itWhy GLP-1 is a tool, not a savior — and what the difference looks like between using it powerfully vs. using it as a shortcutWhat weight loss resistance actually is and why your body isn't broken, it's just responding to its environmentThe thyroid medication analogy that will completely reframe how you think about GLP-1The three things to address before you start: gut health, detoxification, and hormonal balance — and why skipping these is why people feel terrible in the beginningWhy your body stores toxins in fat cells and what happens when you start breaking those down without proper detox supportWhat food noise is and why building habits while you're on the medication matters more than the medication itselfTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome & Why This Series, Now  02:22 What This Series Will Cover (Episodes 1, 2 & 3)  03:35 Who This Episode Is For  06:02 The Shame Around GLP-1  08:18 Where That Shame Actually Came From (Diet Culture & the 90s)  11:20 GLP-1 Is a Tool — With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility  13:31 What It Looks Like to Use It Powerfully vs. as a Shortcut  15:44 Weight Loss Resistance Is Real — and It's Not a Character Flaw  19:08 Listener Questions: "I Only Have 15–20 Pounds to Lose"  25:12 "Why Are People Taking It When They Have No Weight to Lose?"  27:42 How to Prepare Your Body Before You Start  28:55 The Three Foundations: Gut Health, Detoxification & Hormonal Balance  35:20 Food Noise, Hunger Cues & Why Habits Matter More Than the Medication  36:55 How to Work With Melissa + GLP-1 Support Guide RESOURCES: 📥 Grab the GLP-1 Support Guide — foundations, nutrition, supplements, and what to track while you're on the medication: http://melissaeichwellness.com/glp1guide 📅 Schedule a Consultation — whether you're preparing to start, currently on GLP-1, or ready to taper, there's a spot for where you are right now: https://melissaeichcoaching.practicebetter.io/#/6490bd200e37c64b346b25c8/bookings?s=6a0cb936104f4243883a46df 📖 Related Episodes:10 Things to Know About GLP-1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-118-10-things-you-must-know-about-glp-1s/id1650475536?i=1000691076634 CONNECT WITH ME: 📱 Instagram: @melissa_eich | DM me the word CONSULT and I'll send you my booking link 🌐 Website: melissaeichwellness.com 💌 Email: melissa@melissaeichwellness.com ABOUT THE SHOW: Body-Led by Design is a podcast for women who are done doing things the hard way without the right information. Hosted by Melissa Eich — registered nurse and holistic health coach — we talk hormones, weight loss resistance, gut health, nervous system, and the real conversations your doctor doesn't have time for. LEAVE A REVIEW: If this episode gave you a little exhale — like someone finally said the thing — I'd be so grateful for a 5-star review. It helps more women find this show and feel a little less alone in what they're navigating. Keywords: GLP-1 medications, weight loss resistance, semaglutide, midlife weight gain, gut health and GLP-1, detoxification weight loss, hormone balance midlife, food noise, GLP-1 side effects, holistic health coach

    34 min

  2. May 26

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Apr 21

    175: Debunking Nutritional Myths for Midlife Women

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

    18 min

  6. Apr 14

    174: Why Food Rules Are Making You Feel Worse

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

    27 min

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    193
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Body-Led By Design
  • Show Website
    Body-Led By Design

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