Hi Reader,
Stephanie was doing everything right.
Gym three days a week. Whole foods. Lean protein. Plenty of water.
And the scale would. not. budge.
In her mid-40s, she was also dealing with stress and anxiety that seemed to come out of nowhere — snapping at her kids, lying awake with a racing mind, this constant hum of tension she couldn't shake.
She had a hunch it was her hormones.
So she went to her PCP. They ran labs.
"Everything looks normal."
You know that feeling — when you KNOW something isn't right but the person with the medical degree says there's nothing to find?
So Stephanie did what so many of us do. She tried harder. More workouts. Stricter eating. More willpower.
And more frustration when nothing changed.
Standard blood work checks your hormone levels at one single moment in time. One snapshot.
That's like trying to understand a movie by looking at one still frame.
So we ran a DUTCH test — the Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. It measures 35 different hormones and their metabolites, and it doesn't just show how much of each hormone your body is making. It shows how your body is metabolizing them — which pathways it's using, and whether those pathways are working for you or against you.
You can have "normal" levels and still have a metabolism problem keeping you stuck.
One of the biggest keys for Stephanie was her Cortisol Awakening Response — the CAR. Within the first 30 to 60 minutes of waking, your cortisol is supposed to rise by about 50%. It's your body's ignition system for energy, mood, and metabolism.
Research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences has found that when chronic stress disrupts this cortisol response, it creates a pro-inflammatory state that can drive immune dysfunction and make it incredibly hard to release stored weight.
Stephanie's CAR told us her stress response wasn't functioning the way it should. We could see how her estrogen was being metabolized down a pathway that wasn't serving her. Her cortisol pattern revealed why her body was holding onto weight no matter what she did.
For the first time in years, she had answers instead of guesses.
From there, we identified the specific foods and supplements to support what her body needed, and found lifestyle factors she never would have connected to her weight or anxiety that were quietly keeping her stuck.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Sometimes trusting God with our healing means being willing to look in places we haven't looked yet. And, as answers were revealed, the impact of trusting God with every part of her life was also realized.
So, here's what I want to offer you.
I have a very limited number of DUTCH tests available at 26% off — my way of helping you get your hormones tested in 2026. Two options:
The DUTCH Plus with Cortisol Awakening Response — comprehensive sex hormones, adrenal hormones, organic acid markers, and morning cortisol pattern. Best for chronic fatigue, stubborn weight, anxiety, autoimmune symptoms, or sleep issues.
The Cycle Mapping Plus with Cortisol Awakening Response — everything above, plus estrogen and progesterone tracked across your entire menstrual cycle. Best if you're also dealing with PMS, irregular cycles, fertility challenges, migraines, or PCOS.
Both done from home. No lab visits. No awkward gown. No "everything looks normal."
And I walk through every single marker with you so you understand what your body is telling you and what to do about it.
These spots are limited, and once they're gone, they're gone. You can still test with me and discuss results, but without the fun of saving 26%!
Respond to this email if you are interested or have questions.
You deserve answers, not more guessing.
Walking this road with you,
Andrea DuMez, RN, CHN, NBC-HWC
Registered Nurse | Holistic Nutritionist | Integrative Health Coach | Certified Metabolic Balance Coach
