What if feeling constantly tired, stressed, or “off” isn’t just part of life—but a gap in knowledge about what’s happening in your body?
In this episode of the Untitled Coaching Podcast, Justin Estes is joined by coach and nurse practitioner Alicia Lewis for a conversation that blends practical health insight with everyday coaching wisdom. Together, they explore why understanding your body—through things like regular blood work, vitamin levels, and stress markers—can dramatically change how you approach training, recovery, and overall health.
Alicia breaks down the science behind vitamin D, explaining how it functions more like a hormone than a typical vitamin and how it impacts everything from bone health and fertility to mood and energy levels. They also discuss the surprising ways sunlight, sleep hormones, and serotonin are connected—and why low vitamin D levels can quietly affect both physical and mental health.
Justin shares his own experience of getting extended blood work and discovering elevated cortisol levels, which led to deeper conversations about stress, sleep, and the importance of understanding what’s actually happening inside your body instead of guessing.
Throughout the conversation, they emphasize a simple but often overlooked principle: many health frustrations aren’t failures—they’re information gaps. And once you have the right information, you can make better decisions about training, recovery, and lifestyle.
In this episode, they cover:
- Why vitamin D plays a major role in hormones, mood, and overall health
- How sunlight affects serotonin, sleep, and seasonal mood changes
- Why regular blood work can reveal what training alone can’t
- The connection between stress, cortisol, and recovery
- How slowing down training intensity can sometimes improve performance
Whether you're training hard, navigating stress, or just trying to understand your body better, this conversation offers a reminder that clarity often leads to better health—and better coaching.
Plus, stay to the end for a couple of classic dad jokes that officially close out the episode.