- You’re exhausted by 3 p.m.
- Zipping your jeans is a major workout.
- You lie awake at 2 a.m. with your heart racing…wondering if you’re dying (ack, that was ME last night)
You mention this to your doctor and hear things like:
- “Your labs are normal. You’re fine.”
- “It’s part of getting older.”
- “How about an antidepressant and a sleep aid?”
Meanwhile, you still feel like trash!
This is where functional health coaching comes in. Not as a magic cure, but as a structured, science-informed way to finally make sense of what is going on in your body and create a plan that actually matches your real life.
In this post, we’ll walk you through what functional health coaching is, who it is best for, how to choose someone qualified, and why creating a functional longevity road map is one of the smartest investments you can make in midlife.
What Is Functional Health Coaching, Really?
Functional health coaching sits at the intersection of two things:
- A focus on the interconnectedness of body systems and your symptoms
- Real-world behavior change
Functional medicine asks “Why?” instead of “What drug treats/masks this symptom?”
We answer questions like:
- Why are you exhausted?
- Why did your weight jump even though you have not changed what you eat?
- Why are you wired at night and dragging in the morning?
Functional health coaching takes that root cause lens and pairs it with step-by-step support so you actually do something with the information. It is not just about running fancy labs and handing you a stack of information. It’s about walking with you while you implement, troubleshoot, and build new routines that you can stick with.
A functional health coach will typically:
- Take a deep dive into history that includes hormones, gut, sleep, stress, toxins, movement, food, and medications
- Order or review targeted labs when appropriate
- Connect the dots between your symptoms instead of treating each one in isolation
- Create a phased plan, so you are not trying to change fifteen things at once
- Coach you through resistance, setbacks, and real life
The goal is simple: help your body work better so you feel better, day to day, in the life you actually live.
Who Is Functional Health Coaching Best For?
Functional health coaching is not for everyone. It works best for women who are:
- In their late 30s through 60s
- Dealing with stubborn, multi-symptom issues like fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, belly fat, poor sleep, hot flashes, joint pain, constipation, or bloating
- Tired of quick fixes that do not last
- Willing to make changes, even if they need help figuring out where to start
If any of these sound familiar, you are a strong candidate:
- You have been told “everything looks fine,” while you feel anything but fine
- You have a bag or cabinet full of random supplements from social media, and nothing is clearly helping
- You keep trying new diets, lose five pounds, gain seven, and feel even more discouraged
- You feel like your body hit a wall in midlife, and you cannot find the brake or the steering wheel
Functional health coaching is especially helpful if you are a high responsibility woman, the kind of person who gets things done for everyone else and has been running on empty for years. You do not need more information. You need a targeted, clear plan and support.
What Qualifications Should You Look For?
Here is the truth no one likes to say out loud. Anyone can call themselves a “health coach.” That does not mean they are qualified to help you with complex midlife physiology.
When you are choosing a functional health coach, look for:
- Clinical training or deep, credible education
- Degrees or licenses such as pharmacist, nurse practitioner, physician, dietitian, or similar, or
- Robust functional medicine training through respected programs, not just a weekend course
Experience With Midlife Women
- Ask how much of their practice is devoted to perimenopause, menopause, and longevity
- Ask what kinds of problems they help their clients solve
Ability to Interpret and Explain Labs
- This includes conventional labs and, if they use them, functional tests like hormone panels or organic acid testing
- You want someone who can translate the numbers into a clear plan, not scare you or confuse you
Clear Scope of Practice
- If they are not licensed to prescribe, they should say that plainly
- They should be willing to collaborate with your other providers when hormone or medication changes are needed
Coaching Skills, Not Just Knowledge
- Do they know how to help you create realistic goals, navigate your perfectionism, and stay the course
- Or do they just hand you a long to-do list and wish you luck
You are looking for a mix of science, pattern recognition, and real human support. Someone who can speak “medical” and also speak “normal person who has a job, a family, and limited time.”
For context, my background is pharmacy plus functional medicine certification, and I’ve spent over a decade working almost exclusively with midlife women. That combination is what shaped the VIBRINT framework and the Longevity Roadmap work I do today.
Want to create a custom longevity health plan?
You’re in the right place.
I can help you with a functional approach to midlife women’s health including hormone balance, gut health, autoimmune issues, bone health, heart health and more!
Why A Functional Longevity Road Map Beats Random Trial And Error
Let me be blunt. Most midlife women are already investing a lot of time and money in their health.
They’re just doing it in a hit-or-miss way.
Here is what I see all the time:
- Hundreds of dollars a month spent on random supplements that their friends recommended
- A new diet or program every few months
- Visits to multiple providers, none of whom talk to each other
- Hours spent in Facebook groups or on Google, or now, ChatGPT, trying to decode symptoms
- Allowing the insurance company to tell you what you can and can’t do for your health
The result is exhaustion, confusion, and very little progress.
A functional longevity road map takes all that noise and organizes it into a clear, staged plan.
When we create a Longevity Roadmap together, we:
- Clarify your top problems right now, not ten years from now
- Review your history, your current reality, and any labs you have
- Identify the key systems that need attention first, for example, sleep, stress response, gut, inflammation, and hormones
- Map out what we will tackle in the first 90 days, and prioritize what comes after that
You walk away knowing:
- What is driving your most miserable symptoms
- Which levers are truly worth pulling now
- Where to stop wasting time and money
This is not about chasing immortality. It’s also not about feeling 80 when you are 48! Women live to be an average of 81 years…and only 63 of them are vibrant according to statistics. I don’t think that’s acceptable! I want you to have the energy, focus, and physical stability to get through your day without needing a nap, sugar, or wine to survive it.
That is the heart of longevity for midlife women. Less suffering now, better odds of staying functional later.
Why This Is A Smart Investment, Not A Luxury
If you have ever thought, “I cannot keep going like this,” then you already know there is a cost to staying where you are.
The cost shows up as:
- Missed workdays or dragging yourself through your work at half capacity
- Snapping at people you care about because you are exhausted and overstimulated
- Buying bigger clothes again, then feeling defeated every time you open your closet
- Endless co-pays and visits that do not move the needle
A functional longevity road map compresses the learning curve. Instead of spending years trying random things, you get a tailored plan that reflects your body, your labs, your genetics, and your reality.
You can keep buying quick fixes and hoping this time will be different. Or you can decide that it is time to approach your health like the important project it is, with a clear strategy and an experienced guide.
Ready For Your Own Longevity Roadmap?
If this hit a nerve, you are exactly who I created my Let’s Talk Call for.
In this call, we will:
- Dig into your main symptoms and health history
- Identify the most important areas to address first
- Talk honestly about what level of support you need to follow through
- Figure out the best next steps to design your roadmap
If you are tired of feeling awful and guessing, it is time for a different approach.
You can schedule your call here: www.drannagarrett.com/lets-talk
No fluff, no false promises, just a clear path forward.
Dr. Anna Garrett is a menopause expert and Doctor of Pharmacy. She helps women who are struggling with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause find natural hormone balancing solutions so they can rock their mojo through midlife and beyond. Dr. Anna is the author of Perimenopause: The Savvy Sister’s Guide to Hormone Harmony. Order your copy at www.perimenopausebook.com.
Dr. Anna is available for 1-1 consultations. Find out more at www.drannagarrett.com/lets-
