Sarah sat across from me last Tuesday with a thick folder of lab results.

"Three different doctors told me everything looks normal," she said.

"But I can barely make it to 3pm without crashing."

I looked at her TSH: 3.5 mIU/L.

Her fasting glucose: 98 mg/dL.

Her vitamin D: 32 ng/mL.

All technically "normal" according to standard lab ranges.

All suboptimal according to elite wellness standards.

Here's what those doctors didn't tell her:

"Normal" lab ranges are created by averaging the results of everyone who gets tested.

Including diabetics.

Including people with thyroid dysfunction.

Including people who haven't seen optimal health in decades.

When you average sick with sicker, you get "normal."

But normal is not optimal.

Sarah's TSH should be closer to 2.0 for optimal metabolic function.

Her fasting glucose should be under 80 for peak insulin sensitivity.

Her vitamin D should be above 65 for proper hormone synthesis.

These aren't opinions.

They're the ranges where high-performers actually perform at their highest level.

The assembly line doesn't have time to explain the difference between surviving and thriving.

Insurance doesn't pay providers to optimize.

It pays them to manage disease after it appears.

This is why Sarah felt terrible despite being "healthy" on paper.

Her metabolism was running on fumes.

Her thyroid was struggling.

Her cellular energy production was compromised.

But she fell within the statistical average of a sick population, so she was told she was fine.

After we corrected her ranges to elite standards, Sarah's 3pm crashes disappeared.

Her brain fog lifted.

Her energy became consistent throughout the day.

Same person.

Different standard.

The problem isn't your labs.

The problem is the standard they're being measured against.

Elite wellness requires elite standards.

Not the average of a sick population.

If you're tired of being told you're "normal" when you know something is off, I can help.

I take a limited number of clients who understand that optimal isn't the same as normal.

And who are willing to invest in the data and precision required to get there.

Reply "ELITE" and I'll send you the details.

Until next time,

Beyond The Exam Room

Kristen Chase, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Founder, Chase Elite Wellness & Concierge