Why Focus on Optimization Instead of “Normal”?

Q: Are my labs normal?

I encourage women to stop asking: "Are my labs normal?" And start asking: "How do I feel?" Because feeling exhausted, struggling with poor sleep, experiencing brain fog, losing confidence, and feeling unlike yourself may be common but that does not mean it should be your permanent reality. The goal isn't normal. The goal is feeling phenomenal.

AIM
1 day ago
2 min read

One of the questions I get asked all the time is:

"Why do you focus on optimization instead of normal?"

My answer is usually pretty simple:

What does normal even mean?

Seriously.

Who is normal?

Have you ever met a normal person?

Because when women come to my office, they are rarely asking me to help them become "normal."

They're asking me to help them feel better.

They're asking me to help them sleep through the night.

They're asking me to help them get their energy back.

They're asking me to help them improve their mood, lose stubborn weight, restore intimacy, think clearly again, and feel like themselves.

That is why I focus on optimization.

Normal Labs Don't Always Mean Optimal Health

One of the most frustrating things women hear is:

"Your labs are normal."

But then they go home exhausted.

They still have brain fog.

They're still waking up at 3 a.m.

They're still gaining weight despite doing everything "right."

They're still feeling disconnected from themselves.

So the question becomes:

If you don't feel good, what exactly are we celebrating?

At Anderson Integrative Medicine, we believe women deserve more than a normal lab report.

We believe they deserve optimal health and optimal quality of life.

Hormone Optimization Is About Outcomes

The goal of hormone optimization is not simply to improve numbers on a piece of paper.

The goal is to improve your life.

I often ask women questions like:

How are you sleeping?
How is your energy?
How is your mood?
How is your weight?
How is your intimacy?
How is your quality of life?

Because those answers matter.

Hormones affect nearly every system in the body.

They influence:

metabolism
cognition
sleep
mood
inflammation
libido
cardiovascular health
overall well-being

If those areas are suffering, we need to pay attention.

Women Deserve More Than Average Care

One of the reasons I pursued advanced hormone specialty training is because I wanted to help women achieve more than average outcomes.

Many women have been told to simply accept symptoms as a normal part of aging.

I disagree.

While hormonal changes are certainly a natural part of life, suffering through them is not something women should simply accept without exploring their options.

Your life is not over after 40.

In fact, many women tell me they feel better in their 40s, 50s, and beyond once they receive the right support and treatment.

Stop Chasing Normal

I encourage women to stop asking:

"Are my labs normal?"

And start asking:

"How do I feel?"

Because feeling exhausted, struggling with poor sleep, experiencing brain fog, losing confidence, and feeling unlike yourself may be common but that does not mean it should be your permanent reality.

The goal isn't normal.

The goal is feeling phenomenal.