How to Advocate for Your Health in 6 Minutes: Functional Health Coach Debbie Wright on Bloodwork, Wearables, and Doctor Visits

This is StRest! In this episode, Kerstin Lindquist is joined by her best friend and board-certified functional health coach, Debbie Wright, for an empowering, practical conversation that will change how you think about your health. From how to prepare for your doctor’s visit to what wearables actually matter, they walk through the top five things you can do to get the most out of your (often brief) medical appointments. Kerstin and Debbie unpack the truth behind “normal” bloodwork ranges, how to interpret your health data from devices like WHOOP and UltraHuman, and why glucose monitoring may be the single most powerful thing you can do to prevent chronic disease. They also model exactly what to say to your doctor when they push back, how to self-advocate with grace, and what functional medicine can offer when traditional healthcare falls short. If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s appointment frustrated or confused, this episode gives you a roadmap—and the mindset—to walk in prepared, collaborative, and confident. Major Themes & Concepts ✅ What your wearable metrics (HRV, RHR, VO2 Max, etc.) actually mean ✅ How to talk to your doctor—even if you only have six minutes ✅ Why “normal” lab ranges aren’t the goal (and what to ask for instead) ✅ Connection between glucose spikes, sleep, stress, and chronic disease ✅ How food scanning apps help you beat marketing lies on food labels ✅ Power of informed consent and requesting blood panels with confidence ✅ Prevention is cheaper than sick care ✅ What to do when insurance won’t help ✅ How knowing your genetic risks can make you healthier, not more afraid ✅ Functional medicine vs. traditional care: building your full health team ✅ Why you deserve collaborative care—and how to find the right provider Chapter Breakdown 00:00 – Introduction to Health and Wellness Coaching 05:12 – Maximizing Your Doctor's Appointment 08:01 – The Power of Wearable Technology 10:38 – Understanding Health Metrics (HRV, VO2 Max, Deep Sleep, etc.) 13:38 – Proactive Health Management and Using Data to Drive Change 16:13 – Navigating Blood Work and Doctor Relationships 28:21 – Understanding Health Metrics and Blood Work (continued) 32:10 – The Importance of Glucose Monitoring 34:19 – Navigating Doctor Consultations and Medication Prescriptions 36:24 – Food Scanning and Label Reading for Health Awareness 40:13 – Genetics, Lifestyle, and Beating the Odds 42:33 – Finding the Right Healthcare Provider for You 45:52 – Empowering Yourself in Doctor Visits and Knowing What to Say 50:51 – Building a Supportive Health Community and Advocating for Yourself 58:15 – CTA: Join Coaching, Get the Blood Panel List, Plug Into the Community Resources & Recommendations Work with Kerstin 📅 Workshops & Events – Join upcoming events & retreats. 💡 Health Coaching with Kerstin – 1:1 coaching for stress reduction & wellness. Vita Hustle Protein  or  https://bit.ly/KERSTIN20 Use code KERSTIN20 for 20% off your first order Dr. Denese Skincare –   Use code STREST Apollo neuro - https://apolloneuro.com/kerstinlindquist-llc  Code: KERSTINLINDQUISTLLC   Lumen  https://www.lumen.me/shop?fid=12736&utm_source=influencer&utm_medium=influencer  code: CoachKL Ultrahuman - Discount link: http://ultrahuman.com/kerstinlindquist  - Discount code: KERSTIN10 Connect with Debbie Wright🌐 Website📸 Instagram📘 Facebook🔗 Linktree🧪 Functional Lab Tests – Designs for Health🥣 Fasting & Metabolic Support – Prolon FMD Program More about Kerstin🌐 Website📸 Instagram📘 Facebook📺 YouTube🎵 TikTok Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production and The Tallawah Group 🌐 Massif Website💼 Massif LinkedIn🌐 Tallawah Website💼 Tallawah LinkedIn📩 Sponsorship inquiries: [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices