Introduction: Why Sequence Matters More Than You Think

You've completed your assessment. You know your primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary root causes. You understand your inflammation profile.

Now comes the critical question: In what order do you address them?

This isn't a minor detail. The sequence in which you address your root causes determines whether you succeed quickly or struggle for months.

Why sequence matters:

• Addressing the wrong root cause first wastes time and resources
• Some root causes naturally improve when others are addressed
• Addressing multiple causes simultaneously causes overwhelm and failure
• Strategic sequencing accelerates results and prevents burnout
• The right sequence creates cascading improvements; the wrong sequence creates frustration

This lesson teaches you the Dominant + Supportive Model—a framework for understanding which root cause to address first, which to layer in second, and which to save for later.

The Dominant + Supportive Model: Understanding Priority

The Dominant Cause (Your Primary Root Cause)

This is the root cause with the highest assessment score and the clearest active pattern in your life right now.

Characteristics of a dominant cause:

• Highest assessment score (typically 70-100/100)
• Most obvious symptom pattern when reading Lesson 2.1
• Symptoms that directly impact your daily life
• Clear timeline connection (you can identify when/why symptoms appeared)
• Symptoms correlate with specific triggers

Why it's dominant: This is the mechanism creating the most inflammation in your body right now. Until this is addressed, other interventions will have limited effect.

Your protocol focus: 80% of your initial effort and attention should go here.

The Supportive Causes (Your Secondary and Tertiary Root Causes)

These are root causes with moderate scores (typically 40-70/100) that are either:

• Created by the dominant cause (e.g., stress creating blood sugar issues)
• Contributing to the dominant cause (e.g., nutrient deficiency preventing gut healing)
• Independent but less impactful (e.g., omega imbalance alongside primary gut issues)

Why they're supportive: They matter, but addressing the dominant cause first often improves these naturally. Or they require layering in after the dominant cause is stabilized.

Your protocol focus: Layer these in after 2-4 weeks of addressing your dominant cause.

The Minimal Causes (Low Scores)

These scored below 40/100. They're present but not driving your inflammation significantly right now.

Your protocol focus: Don't address these until your dominant and supportive causes are stable (usually 2-3 months in).

The Danger of Trying to Fix Everything Simultaneously

Let's be clear about what happens when you try to address all your root causes at once:

Protocol Overwhelm

What it looks like:

• Trying to eliminate trigger foods (gut protocol)
• While practicing daily meditation (cortisol protocol)
• While balancing blood sugar at every meal (sugar protocol)
• While taking 10+ supplements (deficiency protocol)
• While detoxing (toxin protocol)
• While tracking everything

Result: You can't sustain it. Within 2-3 weeks, adherence collapses. You abandon the entire approach, convinced "nothing works for you."

Conflicting Interventions

Some protocols work against each other when implemented simultaneously:

Example 1: Trying to do intensive gut elimination (strict AIP) while also addressing cortisol-driven inflammation.

• The conflict: Strict dietary restriction adds psychological stress, which elevates cortisol, worsening the very problem you're trying to fix.
• The solution: If cortisol is primary, start with stress management and flexible anti-inflammatory eating. Layer in gut healing later if needed.

Example 2: Trying to do intensive detoxification while nutrient-depleted.

• The conflict: Detoxification requires significant nutrient resources. If you're deficient, aggressive detox can worsen symptoms.
• The solution: Address deficiencies first, then support gentle detoxification.

Unclear Results

When you change everything at once, you can't identify what's actually working.

Scenario: You eliminate gluten, start meditation, begin omega-3 supplementation, and start eating balanced meals—all in the same week. Your symptoms improve.

Question: Which intervention helped? You don't know. If symptoms return, what do you troubleshoot? You can't tell.

The strategic approach: Change one primary variable at a time. Track results. Layer in the next change once you understand the first.

The Matrix: Common Root-Cause Combinations & Strategic Sequencing

These are the most common inflammation profiles and the strategic sequence for addressing them.

• Combination 1: Gut-primary + Cortisol-secondary
• Combination 2: Cortisol-primary + Sugar-secondary
• Combination 3: Sugar-primary + Omega-secondary
• Combination 4: Gut-primary + Deficiency-secondary
• Combination 5: Autoimmune-primary + Gut-secondary + Deficiency-tertiary
• Combination 6: Toxin-primary + Cortisol-secondary
• Combination 7: Omega-primary + Sugar-secondary

Timeline: When to Add Secondary Protocols Without Overwhelming Yourself

Here's the general timeline framework:

Week 1-2: Primary Cause Only

Focus: Get comfortable with your primary protocol. Learn the basics. Build initial habits.

Don't: Try to layer in anything else yet. Master one thing first.

Week 3-4: Primary Cause Deepening

Focus: Deepen your primary protocol. Increase adherence. Troubleshoot challenges.

Don't: Add secondary protocols yet unless they're naturally integrated (e.g., AIP includes gut support).

Week 5-6: Assess and Layer

Assess: Are you seeing initial improvements? Is your primary protocol sustainable?

If yes: Begin layering in your secondary protocol (start with 1-2 practices, not everything at once).

If no: Continue primary protocol; troubleshoot what's preventing adherence or results.

Week 7-12: Integration and Optimization

Focus: Both primary and secondary protocols running. Optimize based on results.

Monitor: Track symptoms. Adjust as needed. Notice what's working.

Month 3+: Consider Tertiary (If Needed)

Assess: Have primary and secondary causes improved significantly?

If yes: Consider adding tertiary support if scores were moderate (40-55/100).

If no: Continue primary and secondary; don't add more yet.

Key Decision Points: How to Know If You're Ready to Layer In Secondary Support

Decision Point 1: Is my primary protocol sustainable?

• If you're struggling with adherence, don't add more yet
• If it's becoming routine, you're ready to layer

Decision Point 2: Am I seeing initial improvements?

• If yes (even subtle improvements), you're on the right track—layer in secondary
• If no improvements by week 4-6, troubleshoot primary before adding more

Decision Point 3: Do I have capacity for more?

• Emotional capacity: Can you handle another change?
• Time capacity: Do you have time for additional practices?
• Mental capacity: Are you overwhelmed or comfortable?

Decision Point 4: Is my secondary cause truly separate, or will it improve naturally?

• If your secondary is created by your primary (e.g., stress creating blood sugar issues), it may improve naturally—wait to see
• If your secondary is independent (e.g., omega imbalance alongside gut issues), layer it in actively

Key Takeaways from Lesson 2.3

1. Sequence matters more than you think—addressing the wrong root cause first wastes time and resources
2. The Dominant + Supportive Model helps you prioritize—focus 80% on primary, layer in secondary after 3-4 weeks
3. Trying to fix everything simultaneously guarantees failure—protocol overwhelm, conflicting interventions, unclear results
4. Common combinations have strategic sequences—use the Matrix to understand your specific combination
5. Timeline matters: Week 1-4 focus on primary only; week 5+ layer in secondary
6. Decision points help you know when to layer in secondary support—sustainability, initial results, capacity, and independence

What's Next?

In Lesson 2.4, you'll create your Baseline Snapshot—documenting your current symptoms, patterns, and starting point so you can measure progress accurately.

But first, use the Resources Tab to find your specific profile combination and map out your personalized protocol sequence.