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In this episode, Tina sits down with Jennifer Woodward to get honest about their experiences with gut-focused peptides, including BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, and GLP-1s. After years of testing, protocols, supplements, and peptides, they talk about what helped, what didn’t, and why neither of them found the “magic fix” they were hoping for.They also explore the bigger picture behind gut health, including chronic stress, nervous system regulation, and the pressure to constantly do more. Tina and Jennifer share how scaling back, setting boundaries, making time for hobbies, and learning to actually relax may have made a bigger difference than another supplement or peptide ever could. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The gut peptide Tina swore was "the most magical thing" until it stopped working - The real reason GLP-1s and peptides stop working for some women (it's not the dose) - The archetype of person peptides tend to fail on (and why Tina and Jennifer fit it themselves) - Why "food noise" fear might be sabotaging your GLP-1 results - The full list of gut peptides Tina and Jennifer have personally tried and what actually moved the needle - Jennifer's take on why GLP-1s might be the most powerful peptide of all, even for people who aren't trying to lose weight - The peptide Tesamorelin didn't work for and what that reveals about "one-size-fits-all" protocols - Why going off a peptide (or a medication) that's working can undo the progress you made - A first look at their November live cohort for Peptides for Practitioners and the discount for past students Peptides for Practitioners - Live Cohort Only (50% OFF) https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/VTJg2Bnc/checkout?coupon_code=COHORT50 Peptides for Practitioners Course + Live Cohort in November 2026 ($300 OFF) https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/Hrosw4Mc/checkout?coupon_code=TINANOV300 Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals.

In this episode, Tina sits down with Samantha Lander about the numerous ways alcohol can affect women’s health particularly hormones, gut function, nutrient status, mood, and metabolism. Drawing on Samantha’s personal shift from her “wild child” years to her work in functional nutrition, they look beyond the immediate effects of a drink and explore what can happen hours later: disrupted neurotransmitters, depleted minerals, impaired methylation, estrogen clearance, brain fog, and changes in the gut microbiome. They also dive into addiction, GLP-1 medications, and how the two may be connected. Here’s what you’ll learn: - From allergies and being sick as a kid to discovering functional nutrition, her health story is anything but straightforward. - How recreational drug use in college escalated into selling drugs, getting arrested, and spending time in jail - Why addiction needs to be viewed as a disease and how changing that perspective can change the way we approach recovery - The turning point that finally made her question everything she thought she knew about her health and her relationship with alcohol - What happens inside the body when you drink alcohol, and why the effects can go way beyond the hangover - The elephant in the room for women in perimenopause who are struggling with hormones, weight loss, sleep, and energy - The emerging conversation around GLPs, alcohol cravings, and addiction - Why peptides and bioregulators became part of her health journey STACKED: GLP-1 + Peptide Support Membership https://www.skool.com/stacked-glp-1-peptides-8761/about Apply for coaching: https://forms.gle/JT74yhBgxQZRQvgZA https://Elliemd.com/Carrotsncake Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Samantha Lander: http://www.seefitliving.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seefitpt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seefitliving/ About Samantha Lander: Samantha Lander is a St. Louis-based single mom, entrepreneur, and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) practitioner who has been her own boss for over 20 years. Through her practice, See Fit Living, Sam helps women decode their "whole health story" when they just can’t quite put their finger on why they feel "sick and tired". She moves beyond the standard "sick care" model by using functional lab testing to identify the root cause of common "glitches" like hormonal imbalances, gut issues, and chronic fatigue. Sam is known for her radical authenticity, often sharing her own remarkable journey from addiction and divorce to resilience and healing. An international best-selling author and professional DJ, she is an expert at integrating cutting-edge tools—like precision peptides and environmental protection—into a lifestyle that works for busy parents. Whether she’s speaking at a national conference or raising her son, Jaxson, right here in STL, Sam is dedicated to helping moms fix their internal terrain and reclaim their biological edge.

In this episode, Tina welcomes back integrative medicine practitioner Curtis Gillespie Sayers for an honest, nuanced conversation about why fat loss can feel so difficult, even when you feel like you’re doing everything “right.” Drawing from Tina’s own experience with ulcerative colitis, chronic stress, and the process of learning to pay attention to her nervous system, they explore metabolic resistance, perimenopause, gut health, GLP-1 medications, keto days, carbohydrate timing, and popular peptides including MOTS-C and NAD+. Here’s what you’ll learn: - How your nervous system may influence the severity of your perimenopause symptoms and earlier menopause - The surprising connection between stress, detoxification, and stubborn belly fat - Why stress can wreak havoc on digestion, bloating, and SIBO symptoms - Why combining GLPs can produce better results - How strategically using keto days may support metabolic flexibility and insulin sensitivity - The relationship between insulin and cortisol that so many women overlook - How backloading your calories and carbs could change the way you sleep - How nutritional manipulation on a GLP-1 may help when weight loss seems to stall - What’s potentially problematic about NAD+ and MOTS-c and why you might not be the candidate you think you are - Why stool testing can provide important clues when weight loss resistance doesn’t make sense Substack: https://carrotsncake.substack.com/p/im-46-here-are-9-things-i-wish-i STACKED: GLP-1 + Peptide Support Membership https://www.skool.com/stacked-glp-1-peptides-8761/about Apply for coaching: https://forms.gle/JT74yhBgxQZRQvgZA https://Elliemd.com/Carrotsncake Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals.

If you’re 40+ and wondering what you should be doing now to feel stronger, healthier, and more like yourself as you get older, this episode is for you. Tina shares 9 things she wishes she had started at 40—from the health habits she overlooked to the things that have made the biggest difference in how she feels, looks, and approaches aging today. These aren’t about chasing perfection or trying to turn back the clock. They’re the things Tina wishes she had known sooner and the things she would tell any woman in her 40s who wants to feel her best for the next decade and beyond. If you’re 40, 45, 50 or beyond, press play… you might just find a few things you want to start sooner rather than later! Here’s what you’ll learn: - Why I wish I had paid attention to progesterone sooner instead of assuming every new symptom was just part of getting older - The hormone I used to think of as a “male hormone” that I now pay much more attention to for muscle, strength, and healthy aging - Why glutathione became part of my focus as I started thinking beyond weight loss and more about cellular health - The biggest shift I made with protein and why I wish I had stopped being so focused on eating less years ago - The simple skincare ingredient I wish I had started using before I noticed changes in my skin. - Why I started paying much more attention to electrolytes and potassium and the easy food swaps that helped - The surprising lesson I’ve learned about rest days after 20+ years of training and why doing less can sometimes help you make more progress - Why I spent way too many years afraid of fruit and what changed my mind about carbs, fruit, and fueling my body - The one thing I wish I had invested in much earlier and why getting support, education, and community can be one of the best investments you make in yourself Substack: https://carrotsncake.substack.com/p/im-46-here-are-9-things-i-wish-i STACKED: GLP-1 + Peptide Support Membership: https://www.skool.com/stacked-glp-1-peptides-8761/about Carrots 'N' Cake cookbook: https://on.ltk.com/+WOy2AMXxxKv0fjEcHfjkvw Apply for coaching: https://forms.gle/JT74yhBgxQZRQvgZA Start your peptide journey with this 3-minute quiz: https://elliemd.com/recommendation/product?bp=carrotsncake Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals.

In this episode, Tina sits down with Carrots ‘N’ Cake client Meghan to talk about what can happen when you stop chasing quick-fix diets and start focusing on strength, muscle, and long-term health. Meghan shares her experience with reverse dieting, macro tracking, GLP-1 microdosing, and functional testing, along with the everyday habits and mindset shifts, including letting go of all-or-nothing thinking, that helped her get stronger, feel better, and finally feel more at home in her body. Here’s what you’ll learn: - Meghan's journey from chronic dieter to feeling confident in her body again - What motivated her to join Fit + Fueled after years of doing all the "right" things - How years of Weight Watchers, low-calorie diets, and food rules kept her stuck - The surprising reason eating more was the key to finally making progress - The mindset shift that helped her stop letting the scale determine her success - Why building muscle (not chasing weight loss) became her biggest game changer - The timeline shift that made fat loss feel easier (and way less frustrating) - The nutrition habits that moved the needle the most - How she incorporated a GLP-1 to complement (not replace) her healthy habits - A behind-the-scenes look at her current GLP-1, peptide, and supplement routine - What she'd do differently if she had to start her fat loss journey all over again Book peptide consult: https://p.bttr.to/3uiKlRv https://Elliemd.com/Carrotsncake Peptides for Women Course: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/offers/3Q7wttmr/checkout?coupon_code=PEP Peptides for Practitioners Certification: https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/TrVo7mCz?coupon_code=PFPTINA FDN Certification: https://www.anw5astrk.com/SR3WGK/55M6S/ Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals.

In this episode, Tina chats with Kerri Axelrod about why perimenopause can throw your digestion off, from bloating and constipation to changes in your gut health. They talk about how hormone shifts in perimenopause, stress, under-eating, food additives like sugar alcohols and gums, and your nervous system all play a role in how your gut feels. Plus, Kerri shares simple, practical strategies to support better digestion and make meals work better for your body. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The moment Kerri realized her hormones weren't actually the problem - Why perimenopause feels so much harder for some women than others - The reason HRT works wonders for one woman and does nothing for the next - The real reason digestion seems to fall apart after 40 - Why bloating suddenly becomes a whole different beast after 40 - The everyday habit that could be making your bloating worse - Could your stress be showing up in your gut? - Constipated? Your gallbladder might be trying to tell you something - Signs your gallbladder may need more support Book peptide consult: https://p.bttr.to/3uiKlRv https://Elliemd.com/Carrotsncake Peptides for Women Course: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/offers/3Q7wttmr/checkout?coupon_code=PEP Peptides for Practitioners Certification: https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/TrVo7mCz?coupon_code=PFPTINA Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Kerri Alexrod: https://www.kerriaxelrod.com/ Facebook: Kayla Johnson Fitness https://www.facebook.com/KerriAxelrodWellness/ Instagram: kerriaxelrod https://www.instagram.com/kerriaxelrod/ Linkedin: Kerri Axelrod, RD, LDN https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriaxelrod/ About Kerri Alexrod: I didn’t always work in nutrition. In fact, I actively avoided science classes for most of my life and spent my 20s running full speed in the fast-paced world of national politics. I was working long hours on presidential campaigns and the world of DC politics, immersed in policy and communications. From the outside, it looked like I had it all together. But behind the scenes, my health was crumbling. I was anxious, exhausted, constipated, bloated, gaining weight that wouldn’t budge, and wired-but-tired nearly every day. Doctors dismissed my symptoms as “just stress” or “normal.” I tried therapy, one medication after the next, more coffee, and more workouts. But, nothing worked. And even though I grew up in the peak of ‘90s and 2000s diet culture, with an “almond mom” and a low-fat everything lifestyle, I still thought I was doing all the right things. Eat less. Move more. Power through. Right? Until it all stopped working and I realized conventional medicine couldn’t help me. In my late 20s, I hit a wall in my health. In 2011, I first learned about functional medicine and for the very first time I had hope that real healing was possible. But my first experience wasn’t what I expected. Unfortunately, traditional functional medicine just swapped my prescriptions for supplements and my low-fat, low-calorie diet for an elimination diet. I still didn’t get better. Like you, I’m a problem solver and action taker. I knew in my gut there was something deeper going on. So I made a decision that changed everything: I left politics, went back to school, and spent the next decade studying the science behind gut health, hormones, anxiety, nervous system work, nutrition and women’s bodies.

In this episode, Tina sits down with perimenopause weight loss coach Kayla Johnson to unpack why so many women in midlife are struggling with metabolic health and why microdosing a GLP-1 may be the missing piece for some. Kayla breaks down what's actually happening in your body during this stage of life, so you can make informed decisions that support both your health and how you feel day to day. Here’s what you’ll learn: - Kayla was doing everything "right," so why did perimenopause hit her so hard? - The dementia research that made Kayla completely change her mind about GLPs - Why so many women call GLPs a "shortcut" when it might be their smartest move - The one responsibility nobody mentions before you start peptides - What microdosing actually does to your muscle - The sourcing mistake that can ruin your whole GLP experience - Why doing GLPs alone is risky, and what coaching changes - GLPs done right vs. GLPs gone wrong "GLPs are too expensive." Why that excuse doesn't hold up - The real cost of skipping a GLP (it's more than money) - The best peptide and order to use for belly fat Book peptide consult: https://p.bttr.to/3uiKlRv https://Elliemd.com/Carrotsncake Peptides for Women Course: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/offers/3Q7wttmr/checkout?coupon_code=PEP Peptides for Practitioners Certification: https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/TrVo7mCz?coupon_code=PFPTINA Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Kayla Johnson: https://www.kaylajohnsonfitness.com/ Facebook: Kayla Johnson Fitness https://www.facebook.com/p/Kayla-Johnson-Fitness-100063535519220/ Instagram: @kaylajohnsonfitness https://www.instagram.com/kaylajohnsonfitness/ About Kayla Johnson: Hi, I'm Kayla. Entrepreneur and Certified Fitness coach who’s passionate about helping women 35+ take back their energy, metabolism and confidence. As the founder of KJF Academy, I help women in perimenopause stop guessing and start following a proven, strategic approach to fat loss, strength, and hormone support. Because this phase of life? It’s not the time to work harder—it’s the time to work smarter. After coaching hundreds of women through the exact challenges you’re facing, I’ve created a system that actually works with your body, not against it.

In this episode, Tina chats with Jennifer Woodward and gets real about their experience with retatrutide, tesamorelin, and KPV: the wins, the surprises, and the moments that made them rethink their approach. They highlight that more isn't always better and to be paying attention when your body starts sending signals that something isn't working. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The symptom at week 4 that finally made Tina stop Reta (and it wasn't nausea) - Why Jennifer tried retatrutide twice and went back to tirzepatide both times - What a triple agonist GLP actually does to your nervous system and why women feel it differently than men - The dosing mistake most people make with Reta and the protocol that works better - Why tesamorelin + KPV hits differently than tesamorelin + ipamorelin - The one peptide both of us said we'd probably never stop using - Why taking a 2-3 week break between GLPs might actually make them work better when you go back - What vivid dreams on growth hormone peptides are telling you about your sleep quality - Why more peptides isn't always better, and how a flare taught Tina to pull back Book peptide consult: https://p.bttr.to/3uiKlRv https://Elliemd.com/Carrotsncake Peptides for Women Course: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/offers/3Q7wttmr/checkout?coupon_code=PEP Peptides for Practitioners Certification: https://www.carrotsncake.com/offers/TrVo7mCz?coupon_code=PFPTINA https://carrotsncake.substack.com/ https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals.

In this episode, Tina sits down with Curtis Gillespie Sayers to challenge some of the most common assumptions about belly fat and explain why the issue is often far deeper than food and fitness. He shares how gut health, liver function, hormones, inflammation, stress, and nervous system regulation all influence where and why the body stores fat. He also discusses why so many women get trapped in cycles of restriction and over-exercising, and what needs to happen before the body feels safe enough to let go of excess weight. Here’s what you’ll learn: - Why the thing most women do first to lose belly fat is the exact reason it's not working - What belly fat after 40 is actually a symptom of and why treating it like a food and exercise problem keeps you stuck - The surprising connection between your liver, gut, and hormones and why belly fat won't budge no matter what you eat - What your bloating, puffiness, and stubborn belly fat are actually trying to tell you - The one thing you have to fix before supplements, exercise, or diet will ever work for belly fat - Why women who are scared to track their food are often the ones who need it most and what to do instead - Why eating carbs at night might actually be the strategy that finally moves the needle for you - The three supplements worth taking for belly fat and why the order you take them in actually matters - Why women who do everything right still can't lose belly fat and the variable nobody talks about Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Why GLPs Fail Recording: https://carrotsncake.kit.com/fpm Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Curtis Gillespie Sayers: https://lifestylempowerment.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1lifeestyleempowerment/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisfunctionalhealthcoach Instagram: https://instagram.com/that.coach.curtis About Curtis Gillespie Sayers: From a young age I was in and out of the hospital suffering from health complications for as long as I can remember, breathing difficulties being the most apparent but as I grew older more serious issues began to come to light. I was diagnosed with an extremely severe case of sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a pre-diabetic status. At this time, I was also struggling with substance abuse, which would obviously contribute to my health complications, but most were from birth. After receiving the news from running tests, the doctors had informed me that I was lucky to be alive. My psychological health was greatly impacted by my physiological health, evoking feelings of anger, and negativity which caused me to constantly argue with people around me. This affected several of my relationships and was creating a miserable life. This lead me to seek out the help of a bodybuilding coach (not knowing a damn thing about health at the time). The main focus was “getting shredded,” not understanding how much internal health affects one’s physique. Interestingly enough, shedding the weight had really helped with my sleep apnea, but still, quite a few health complications were present. At this time hunger was ignited in me to learn more. I became determined to solve what was going on in my body.

In this episode, Tina sits down with Curtis to dig into what’s really behind weight loss resistance after 40. Because for a lot of women, it’s not just about calories, macros, or workouts. It’s everything happening underneath: chronic stress, inflammation, under-eating, nervous system overload, and a body that’s quietly shifting into protection mode in midlife. They also talk about why fat loss can suddenly stall, what most people miss when they try to “push harder,” and how things like detox pathways, recovery, and unresolved stress load all show up in body composition. If you’ve been doing more and getting less back, this conversation helps connect a lot of those dots. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The real reason you can't lose weight has nothing to do with your macros or your workouts - Why your body is literally designed to hold onto fat and what has to happen before it will let go - The connection between unresolved trauma and weight loss resistance that Curtis sees in almost every woman who has tried everything - Detox is fat loss: what this actually means and why your ability to detoxify determines whether your body will release fat - Why under-eating is making fat loss harder and the slow strategic way to fix it - What food noise is actually telling you and why a GLP-1 not quieting it down is a very specific clue - The training style most women swear by that Curtis says is creating more inflammation than results - Why your body will never prioritize building muscle when you are under-eating and inflamed - The mitochondrial peptides everyone is using for fat loss that Curtis thinks are being used completely backwards - Why MOTS-c works great for some women and causes serious reactions in others - Two books that have changed more of his clients' biology than any peptide or supplement - Why Curtis uses SLU-PP-332 for the exact opposite reason most people think Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Why GLPs Fail Recording: https://carrotsncake.kit.com/fpm Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Curtis Gillespie Sayers: https://lifestylempowerment.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1lifeestyleempowerment/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisfunctionalhealthcoach Instagram: https://instagram.com/that.coach.curtis About Curtis Gillespie Sayers: From a young age I was in and out of the hospital suffering from health complications for as long as I can remember, breathing difficulties being the most apparent but as I grew older more serious issues began to come to light. I was diagnosed with an extremely severe case of sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a pre-diabetic status. At this time, I was also struggling with substance abuse, which would obviously contribute to my health complications, but most were from birth. After receiving the news from running tests, the doctors had informed me that I was lucky to be alive. My psychological health was greatly impacted by my physiological health, evoking feelings of anger, and negativity which caused me to constantly argue with people around me. This affected several of my relationships and was creating a miserable life.

In this episode, Tina sits down with fellow FDN, Gina Harney where she shares a closer look at the deeper connections between lupus, gut health, hormones, and chronic inflammation, and why these issues rarely exist in isolation. Gina discusses how stress, gut dysfunction, nutrient depletion, and hormone shifts can all influence autoimmune patterns over time. Here’s what you’ll learn: - Why “random” symptoms (fatigue, skin issues, hormones, gut problems) are often connected, especially with lupus - How functional testing can uncover root causes when conventional answers fall short - The surprising way an eye infection sparked a deeper path into autoimmune healing - Why exercise intolerance isn’t just “being out of shape” and how it could be making symptoms worse - The link between histamine intolerance and worsening hormone symptoms (plus common high-histamine foods) - How gut dysbiosis and nutrient deficiencies can quietly drive autoimmune flares - The difference between healing your body vs. chasing fat loss (and why this matters more than you think) - How Googling symptoms and spiraling can dysregulate your nervous system and slow healing - Where peptides fit into the bigger picture of supporting lupus and autoimmune conditions Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Gina Harney https://fitnessista.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitnessista Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessista/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fitnessista/ X: https://twitter.com/fitnessista About Gina Harney: My name is Gina – I’m so happy you’re here. On my blog, I like to share the real-life ups and downs of wellness, motherhood, and entrepreneurship, along with quick and effective workouts, nourishing recipes, and sustainable ways to support your health at home.

In this episode, I sit down with nurse practitioner Danielle Brandt to talk about the misconceptions around testosterone for women and why the conversation is way more nuanced than social media makes it seem. We cover common signs of low testosterone in perimenopause, the different therapy options available, who might benefit, and how to know if it’s actually something worth considering for you. If you’ve been curious about testosterone but also overwhelmed by all the conflicting information online, this conversation will help you think about it in a much more informed way. Here’s what you’ll learn: - Why testosterone gets labeled a “male hormone” and why that’s misleading - The role testosterone plays in energy, mood, libido, and muscle for women - Signs your testosterone might be low (that you might be brushing off) - Why you can feel “off” even if your labs are technically “normal” - The barriers women face when trying to even test or treat low testosterone - Different ways testosterone is used (creams, gels, injections, etc.) - Pros and cons of each option (and what to consider) - How to have a better, more informed conversation with your provider - Why testosterone might be the missing piece for some women Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Danielle Brandt: https://www.joinsparqhealth.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparqhealth/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sparq-Health/61552158500991/ About Danielle Brandt: I’m Danielle Brandt, a Nurse Practitioner with over 23 years of healthcare experience, a Menopause Society Certified Provider, and currently working on my board certification with the American Academy of Anti-Aging. As the founder of Sparq Health, my mission is simple: to help you feel strong, energized, and truly alive—at every stage of life. My journey into advanced health optimization didn’t start in a textbook—it started in my own body. Over 20 years ago, I hit a breaking point. I was exhausted, achy, foggy, and loaded with autoimmune markers, yet no doctor could tell me why. I trusted the system, but when conventional medicine had no answers, I took matters into my own hands and turned to functional medicine. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Through a year of relentless dedication—dialing in my nutrition, optimizing lifestyle habits, and experimenting with nutraceuticals and alternative therapies like red light therapy—I reclaimed my health. That experience opened my eyes to what’s possible when we treat the root cause, not just mask symptoms. Fast forward 15 years, and I found myself in another health crisis. After multiple miscarriages, I had my son at 42 (thank you, progesterone therapy!), but the fatigue that followed wasn’t just from sleepless nights. For two years, I battled debilitating exhaustion, body vibrations, palpitations, crushing headaches, and an eerie sense of detachment. Music, chocolate, the outdoors—my favorite things—felt joyless. I knew something was severely wrong, but once again, conventional medicine had nothing for me except a handful of prescriptions.

If you've been doing the work (lifting, eating well, staying consistent), but your body still isn't responding the way you expect, this episode is for you! I sat down with coach Katie Hardie to talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention in the body composition conversation: cortisol. Not in a vague, stress-is-bad, you need a “cortisol coach” way, but in a real, specific, this-might-be-exactly-what's-happening-in-your-body way. We get into how chronic stress, under-fueling, poor recovery, and a nervous system that never fully downregulates can quietly work against muscle growth, even when you're doing everything else right. We also talk about why doing more is often the worst thing you can do, how cortisol affects where your body stores fat, and what it actually looks like to support your body in a way that lets muscle develop over time.This one hit close to home for me. I think it will for a lot of you too. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The real reason you’re training hard but not seeing muscle or fat loss - How stress hormones put your body into breakdown mode instead of build mode - What “cortisol face” and stubborn belly fat might actually be telling you - Signs your body is under-fueled (even if you’re eating “healthy”) - The difference between productive training vs. chronic overtraining - Why dysregulated cortisol makes it harder to build and keep muscle - The subtle signs you’re not recovering properly - Should you take cortisol-lowering supplements (or is that missing the point)? - Why intermittent fasting may be making belly fat worse for some women - What your liver and digestion have to do with fat loss and hormone balance - Simple ways to reduce stress around meals and make nutrition more sustainable Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Katie Hardie: https://www.mypeak365.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypeak365/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardiepeakperformance/ About Katie Hardie: I am a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist and FDN Practitioner who helps health and performance-minded individuals find their peak through energy management, awareness, and knowledge. Whether the performance focus is athletic, professional, or personal, we determine the appropriate types of work, recovery, and diet to maximize energy. Through increased awareness of our body's signals that most of us have been conditioned to normalize or ignore, we learn the feedback our body offers us and pair it with objective biometrics. We also gain knowledge about our internal current state of gut functioning, stress and sex hormones, heart and kidney health, liver and thyroid function, and vitamin and mineral status through running functional labs. Combining my training in strength and conditioning, sport and performance psychology, nutrition, and personal cheffing, I personalize the curriculum throughout virtual coaching sessions in order to optimize energy and as a byproduct, body composition. I support clients along each one's unique journey so he or she can thrive with full potential.

In this episode, Curtis Gillespie Sayers is back to explore one of the more overlooked (and often misunderstood) root causes of gut health: parasites. Drawing from client cases, functional testing insights, and his own evolving perspective, he shares how parasites can contribute to bloating, fatigue, skin issues, stalled fat loss, and more, especially when other interventions haven’t fully worked. He also addresses the nuance: when parasites are worth investigating, how testing like GI-MAP fits in, and why not every symptom points in this direction. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The surprising reason women over 35 may be more susceptible to parasites - Why parasites are rarely the root cause, but still a piece you can’t ignore - What trauma has to do with parasites and why this piece gets missed - The connection between mold, heavy metals, and parasites - The subtle clues on your bloodwork that could point to parasites - The biggest missing pieces in typical parasite protocols (and why they fail) - The mistakes that keep women stuck in cycles of “cleanses” with no results - The link between chronic bloating after meals and possible parasite involvement - Why constipation makes everything worse (and how to actually fix it) - The hormone connection no one is talking about - How most people actually get parasites (it’s not what you think) - Peptides that may support gut repair and resilience in these cases Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Curtis Gillespie Sayers: https://lifestylempowerment.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1lifeestyleempowerment/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@curtisfunctionalhealthcoach Instagram: https://instagram.com/that.coach.curtis About Curtis Gillespie Sayers: From a young age I was in and out of the hospital suffering from health complications for as long as I can remember, breathing difficulties being the most apparent but as I grew older more serious issues began to come to light. I was diagnosed with an extremely severe case of sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a pre-diabetic status. At this time, I was also struggling with substance abuse, which would obviously contribute to my health complications, but most were from birth. After receiving the news from running tests, the doctors had informed me that I was lucky to be alive. My psychological health was greatly impacted by my physiological health, evoking feelings of anger, and negativity which caused me to constantly argue with people around me. This affected several of my relationships and was creating a miserable life. This lead me to seek out the help of a bodybuilding coach (not knowing a damn thing about health at the time). The main focus was “getting shredded,” not understanding how much internal health affects one’s physique. Interestingly enough, shedding the weight had really helped with my sleep apnea, but still, quite a few health complications were present. At this time hunger was ignited in me to learn more. I became determined to solve what was going on in my body. I decided to acquire my first nutrition certification through the ISSA (International Sports Science Association).

Tina sits down with Anna Hartman to talk about what's really happening when injuries linger, recovery stalls, and nothing you try seems to work. Anna has spent years helping women understand that injuries aren't just a physical problem, they're feedback. And until you address what's driving them, you'll keep ending up back at square one. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The difference between an athletic trainer, physical therapist, and personal trainer - How Anna’s mom’s cancer diagnosis completely changed the trajectory of her career - Why physical therapy only works about 60% of the time (and what’s missing) - Why “I’ve tried everything” might be the exact reason you’re still stuck - What your posture reveals about your organs and nervous system - The surprising reason you should never treat the shoulder first - How your nervous system might be the real driver behind your injuries - What back cramps and menstrual symptoms are trying to tell you - The unexpected connection between foot pain and your sex hormones - Why blaming perimenopause or genetics might be preventing you from healing Subscribe: https://carrotsncake.substack.com Join Fit + Fueled: https://carrots-n-cake.mykajabi.com/fit+fueled Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing, peptides, and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Anna Hartman https://www.movementrev.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movementrev/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movementREV/ About Anna Hartman Hey! I’m Anna, and I’m so glad you landed here today! I’m an athletic trainer, educator, anatomy nerd, speaker, aunty, and constant learner based in San Diego, California. I love lounging in a hammock with a good book (or for a nap), any type of dip, Topo Chico lime, Olipop cola, or sparkling water, staying active, and asking good questions. You can usually find me on a plane headed to take care of one of my professional athletes, teaching PTs and ATs in my signature course, the LTAP™ Level 1, taking care of my house plants, hanging at the beach, or being a deckhand with Gone Whale Watching (the BEST whale watching company in Southern California, BTW) and trying to live out my wildlife photography dreams. In my business, MovementREV, LLC, I provide private consulting to professional athletes for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimization. I also teach physical therapists and athletic trainers how to get better outcomes, even for complex cases, using my unique methodology, which combines an osteopathic approach with a traditional orthopedic approach for assessment and treatment (manual and exercise-based) for injuries, pain, and performance. This approach considers the whole organism- including the viscera and the nervous system, not just the musculoskeletal system and the biomechanics. Better outcomes mean fewer treatment sessions needed, less time spent repeating techniques, and the confidence to guarantee results for their patients and know when there are red flags.