Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast

In this solo episode, Lindsey gets real about why the conventional fertility model isn’t built for the high-achieving, fit, Type A woman struggling with a missing or irregular period. If you're eating clean, working out, and doing everything right—but still not ovulating—this episode is for you.

You’ll hear:

• Lindsey’s personal fertility story and how she got pregnant naturally—three times—after being told IVF was her only option

• Why a "normal" BMI, healthy labs, and regular workouts don’t mean your body is hormonally ready for pregnancy

• How under-fueling and overtraining can silently sabotage your fertility, even if you look healthy on the outside

• The research behind body fat, energy availability, and ovulation—and why increasing your intake might be the key

• Why IVF may not be the golden ticket (and what to do before going that route)

• The exact 4-part framework our team uses to help clients restore cycles and get pregnant naturally inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society

💡 Whether you’ve been told IVF is your only option or you just know something deeper is going on, this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and hopeful.

🎧 Mentioned in This Episode:

In this powerful and honest episode, Lindsey sits down with past client Caitlyn, a nurse practitioner who went from a decade without a natural period to pregnant in under 6 months—all while working 12-hour hospital shifts and navigating a deeply ingrained identity around health and fitness.

In this Episode:

• Why working in  healthcare can help you identify the root cause of your missing period

• The daily “healthy” habits that might actually harming your fertility

• How to not let your work schedule interfere with recovery 

• Why you shouldn’t put recovery off just because it’s summer 

• How to advocate for yourself when your doctors ignore your symptoms 

• Tips for Type A women struggling to conceive naturally

  
  

Leave a Review + Share:If this episode encouraged you, please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend who's ready to take charge of her fertility.

In this packed listener Q&A episode, Lindsey dives into some of the most frequently asked (and misunderstood) questions in the HA recovery and fertility space. Whether your period is back but ovulation is still MIA, or you're unsure if you're doing “enough” to support your fertility—this episode breaks it all down with compassion, science, and practical steps you can take today.

Questions Answered in This Episode:

• "How long after cervical mucus should I expect a period?"

• "Why is it so hard to eat carbs consistently throughout the day—and why does it matter?"

• "My period is back, but I’m not ovulating. Is it still an under-eating issue?"

• "Is HA recovery about total calories or specific macros—especially carbs?"

  
  

Key Takeaways:

• Cervical mucus is a positive sign but not a guaranteed countdown to ovulation

• Nutrient timing matters as much as total intake—especially for LH and FSH signaling

• Eating all your calories at night may keep your body in survival mode

• Mindset blocks like “earning your food” or fearing fullness can silently sabotage your progress

• Carbohydrates are critical—not optional—for hormone production and ovulation

• Recovery isn’t just about food—it’s also about stress, sleep, movement, and mindset

  
  

Resources Mentioned:

Today’s guest is Sarah—a former college basketball player whose journey with missing periods began during her time as a student-athlete. After college, Sarah pursued a career as a gym teacher and athletic director, but despite her active lifestyle, her period never returned. For years, she was reassured that it was “normal” for athletes, but everything changed when she got married and began trying to start a family. 

When lower-intervention fertility treatments failed and her doctor began recommending IVF, Sarah found herself at a crossroads. That’s when she discovered she was severely underfueling—and connected with Lindsey to begin a new chapter in her fertility journey.

In this Episode 

• The information that gets missed after getting diagnosed with HA

• Take charge of your fertility journey after 5 failed Clomid cycles 

• The accidental under fueling that can happen as a 3 sport athlete 

• Getting your period back in just 3 weeks

• Natural pregnancy just 2 months later 

• Why you should care about a missing period as a college athlete

Susan Portz is a registered dietitian specializing in nutrition for women with unexplained infertility and those undergoing fertility treatments like IVF. After experiencing her own six-year infertility journey—including multiple rounds of IVF—Susan understands firsthand the emotional and physical toll of trying to conceive. Now a mom, she is passionate about helping other women optimize their fertility through science-based nutrition and sustainable lifestyle changes.

Through Fertility Nutrition Simplified, she provides expert guidance, compassionate support, and practical strategies to help women take control of their fertility. She offers a free training and a comprehensive course designed to help women improve their chances of conception with the power of nutrition.

In this Episode:

• Why nutrition matters even if you’re doing IVF

• Understanding a realistic timeline for pregnancy when using fertility assistance

• Why so many millennial women are under fueling for fertility

• Top foods and supplements for boosting fertility

• How eating perfectly for fertility can be a gateway into disordered eating

• Helpful mindset shifts to make if you’ve been TTC for multiple years

In This Episode:

– Average recovery times for clients following the Food Freedom Fertility method

– Why it doesn’t matter how long your period has been missing

– Understanding weight restoration and what it means for your fertility 

– Will exercise delay your recovery time?

– Unpacking what full recovery from HA looks like

– Why more information isn’t what you need to get your period back

Links and Resources:

Mallory Cooper is a devoted wife to her husband, Colton, of five years, a proud dog mom to her two golden doodles, Dood and Doodette, and, most recently, a loving mother to her little miracle boy, Hendon. She is passionate about her faith, cherishes time with family and friends, and embraces every opportunity to soak up the sunshine.

In this Episode:

– The toxic environment of them gym when battling exercise addiction

– Why a missing period should be a red flag for disordered eating support

– Unpacking the financial and emotional costs of IVF

– Moving out of denial and into alignment with your true values

– Advocating for yourself and why permanent period loss is a myth  

– Using recovery tools to support your body postpartum 

– The importance of addressing your relationship with exercise  

– How to go from no period to pregnant in 5 months without fertility treatment 

Connect with Lindsey:

Maggie lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and cat. She works in IT audit, and in her free time she loves spending time outdoors, reading, and exercising (now--in moderation!). Maggie and her husband welcomed a baby boy just a few weeks ago at the end of January!

In this Episode:

Connect with Lindsey:

Jennifer L. Gaudiani, MD, CEDS-C, FAED, is the Founder and Medical Director of the Gaudiani Clinic. Board-certified in internal medicine, she completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical school at Boston University School of Medicine, and her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Yale. Dr. Gaudiani served as the medical director at ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders prior to founding the Gaudiani Clinic, which is a Denver-based outpatient medical clinic that offers telemedicine throughout the US and is dedicated to caring for people with eating disorders, disordered eating, and malnutrition. Dr. Gaudiani’s first book, Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders is available on Amazon.

In this Episode

Connect with Lindsey:

In the Episode:

• What is set point weight?

• Is it possible to overshoot your setpoint and when will your weight return to baseline?

• Expectations for your 2nd recovery period 

• Why cycle tracking is an important tool for hormonal health

• How to know whether or not you’re ovulating

• Troubleshooting if your period are irregular after recovery 

• The role body and exercise plan in fertility

  
  

While the etiology of HA and PCOS are very different, the two conditions can present very similarly in the clinical setting. In this episode, Sam and I unpack the similarities and differences between HA and PCOS and share some foundational nutrition and lifestyle habits that are beneficial for healthy hormones and fertility if you’re unsure which condition you have.

Jamie joined the Food Freedom Fertility Society in April 2024 after being told IVF was her only option. She is a 28-year-old nurse with a love for running, living in St. Louis MO. She dove in and started diligently following the FFF Method. In just 2.5 weeks, Jamie saw a return of her period! 2 months after that, she got pregnant naturally.

In the Episode

• Why rapid weight loss should be met with concern, not praise 

• Losing your period when on the pill and why that’s not normal

• Is ovulation induction a waste of time with HA? 

• Overcoming the fear of gaining all the weight back

• Why it’s unhealthy to restrict and overtrain during fertility treatment 

• The power of community for motivation in your recovery journey

• How to approach your fertility journey with confidence 

Connect with Lindsey:

Renae lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, Trevor, and goldendoodle, Derby.

She works as a Physician Assistant in Dermatology and loves all things - SKIN.

Reane and her husband are currently pregnant with a baby boy, due in December 2024!

In this Episode:

• Can you recover from HA while doing IVF?

• The role proper nutrition can play in egg retrieval

• Creating safety in an over-stressed body

• Tracking recovery progress while using supplemental hormones

• Why many doctors will tell you to skip IUI

• Honesty is key when working with a fertility specialist

• How to make HA recovery a positive experience

• Overcoming the fear of gaining weight

Connect with Lindsey:

Becca lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with her amazing husband, 3 fur babies, and a human baby on the way! Becca shares that she always struggled with body image issues, stemming largely from being a cheerleader in college and competing in bikini and figure competitions post-college. As a result, she suffered several negative consequences with her relationship with food, turning to over-exercise and control. This eventually led to fertility problems, which is why she joined the Food Freedom Fertility Society! Becca shares that since recovering from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, she’s never looked back because her life has forever changed for the better!

In this Episode:

• In this episode:

  • PCOS misdiagnosis and the light bulb moment recognizing you have HA

  • The psychological impact of high-dose hormones used in fertility treatment

  • Can macro counting be a stepping stone to food freedom?

  • The true freedom of letting go of numbers and learning to trust your body

  • The power of positive thinking during your recovery journey

  • The work that needs to be done even after you get your period back

  • Navigating miscarriage and getting pregnant with your rainbow baby

  • Why healing your relationship with food matters for motherhood

Everest is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner certified in functional medicine. She founded and runs Everest Functional Psychiatry and Wellness, one of the only Functional Psychiatry practices in Texas. Here, she takes a holistic approach to healing and believes in the connection between the body and mind. Integrating lifestyle, diet, medicine, and other innovative technologies, she views each patient individually to help them take control of their health and improve their quality of life and well-being.

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In this Episode:

• Combining functional medicine with psychiatry
• How media has shaped your relationship with food and body
• Are you blaming your missing period on the wrong things?
• How under eating makes your anxiety worse
• Coffee and cortisol: do you need to quit it altogether?
• Why food sensitivity tests often aren’t helpful for identifying food intolerances
• The power in community and connection for overcoming disordered eating
• The role between cortisol, exercise, and progesterone

Connect with Lindsey:

Laura lives outside of Philadelphia PA with her husband and almost 2-year-old son. Her journey began over 20 years ago in high school when she wanted to lose a little bit of weight, which quickly turned into an eating and exercise disorder. For years she struggled with finding peace with food and her body, while trying to focus on recovery. It wasn't until she reached her mid 30's and wanted to start a family that she realized quasi-recovery wasn't going to help her reach her goals, which ultimately led her to the food freedom fertility society.

In this episode:

• The downsides of “DIY”ing your fertility journey

• Why you need to gain at least 25 lbs. during pregnancy

• How to know what “quasi recovery” looks like

• Using period recovery as an opportunity to finally find food freedom

• Getting in touch with what you body really wants and needs for be healthy

• The first step to moving out of quasi recovery

• Calling out the lie: “it’s not the right time” to work on recovery

Connect with Lindsey:

Caroline Shermer is a registered dietitian, eating disorders specialist, and many of her clients' biggest cheerleader. She founded Meant To Eat Nutrition Counseling with one mission: to empower women to learn all that they are meant to eat and to be a part of disordered eating, excessive exercise, and body image concerns. She lives in Nashville and is passionate about pouring into her local community.

In this Episode:

• Can becoming an RD be a breeding ground for developing disordered eating?
• The importance of variety in your exercise routine
• The role food plays into an exercise addiction
• How small changes in your routine can help decrease dependence
• The power of a full exercise break during ED and HA recovery
• Identifying the 4 different types of hunger
• The simplest thing you can do to improve body image this week
• The connection between Taylor Swift’s music and women with EDs

Connect with Caroline:

Brittany is a Registered Nurse who lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two Children, and dog Paisley. She enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time with my family and friends. After getting married at age 26 and coming off of birth control, Brittany’s cycles never returned. She and her husband, and I were informed by an endocrinologist that IVF was our only option to conceive. After years of fertility treatments, they were blessed with their daughter and son, but Brittany always wondered if her lifestyle was the cause of my HA diagnosis. After taking the leap to join the Food Freedom Fertility program, Brittany was able to regain my period and conceive our third child, due in November, naturally on my second recovery cycle.

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In this Episode

• Why IVF isn’t the fast track to baby
• Finally, getting the right diagnosis on your fertility journey
• When your missing period symptoms become a burden, you can’t ignore
• How over-exercise can play into poor hunger cues
• Overcoming denial that your nutrition habits aren’t contributing to your lack of period
• When period recovery just takes a little longer
• Why weight gain won’t go on forever during recovery
• Setting yourself up for success to avoid postpartum relapse
• Why you need to step away from calorie burn goals on your fitness tracker

Connect with Lindsey:

Kaely McDevitt is a Registered Dietitian specializing in nutrition for women's health. She owns a virtual private practice where she and her team help their clients reclaim their energy, optimize fertility, and overcome hormone symptoms through personalized nutrition. Having experienced the pitfalls of a conventional approach to women's health firsthand, Kaely is passionate about empowering women to build health from a place of connection: to self, to nature, and to community.

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In this episode:

• Looking at period symptoms as clues into your health
• Why millennials are a generation deprived of Progesterone
• Why body size isn't a great reflection of how well you're fueling
• The importance of creating safety in your body for optimal fertility
• Why you need to care about ovulation even if you don't care about pregnancy
• Reliable forms of natural birth control so you can break up with the pill forever
• HA or POI? Exploring elevated FSH and the connection with under fueling
• How functional testing can give you a closer look at hormone imbalance.

‌Connect with Kaely:

Jordana is a 31-year-old mom of one, and one is on the way! In 2022, she got married and realized she wanted to get pregnant right after her wedding. Since she didn’t have a period, she went to see her doctor out of concern and was told to just give it time. Jordana knew in the back of her head that something wasn’t right. She happened to stumble across Lindsey’s Instagram and knew she needed to reach out for support. After joining the Food Freedom Fertility Society, she not only got her period back in less than 2 months, but she also found out she was pregnant!

She’s now pregnant with baby #2 and looking forward to welcoming her second boy this fall.

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In this Episode

• How being in a smaller body can be a trigger for period loss
• The challenging dynamic between moms and daughters and diets
• Looking at your long-term fertility goals over losing weight for your wedding
• How period recovery works to bring your body back into balance
• Building out your “A Team” for support during recovery
• Adding life back into your marriage by finding food freedom
• Going from no period to pregnant in 2 months
• The difference between mental and physical recovery
• What it looks like to live a recovered lifestyle

Connect with Lindsey:

Emily Everton, PT, DPT is a holistic Women’s Health Doctor of Physical Therapy and the founder of Embody Physical Therapy & Wellness, LLC in Hopkinton, MA. Emily specializes in Orthopedic and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and is especially passionate about all things menstrual health, fertility, and perinatal care. Emily also supports women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and irregular menstrual cycles in her role as a Women's Health coach, where she helps women restore ovulation, get their period back, regulate their menstrual cycles, and if hoping to get pregnant, do so naturally. Both during and outside of her clinical work, Emily loves to talk about taboo topics and challenge unsustainable societal standards to help girls/women find peace with their bodies and live their fullest, symptom-free life. Though Emily’s work was initially inspired by her own lived experience with disordered eating, orthorexia, RED-S, Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, infertility, and a poor relationship with her body…she is consistently inspired by the wonderful girls and women she is so fortunate to support on a daily basis.

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In this Episode

• Why athletes are at a higher risk for amenorrhea
• Defining RED-S and understanding the signs and symptoms
• How body comments can trigger disordered eating
• How to improve body image during period recovery
• Working through recovery before you’re ready to get pregnant
• Using HA recovery as a “permission slip” to rest and nourish

Connect with Lindsey:

Shannon is a retired Division One soccer player who struggled with her identity outside of being an athlete. After college, she turned to weightlifting and became a certified personal trainer, which made it easy to mask her health and exercise obsession. Shannon got married, quit working, and now travels around the country with her husband, who is a professional baseball player. She had always dreamed of being a mom, and with the help of Lindsey, her husband and she will be welcoming their baby girl later this year in September!

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In this Episode

• How the athlete mindset can set the stage for disordered eating
• Signs of underfueling even when you do get your period
• Overcoming the fear of undereating if you don’t track your food
• The overlap between eating disorders and addiction
• Calling out the lie, “I won’t care about gaining weight once I’m pregnant.”
• When a full exercise break is necessary for changing your mindset
• FINALLY getting pregnant after a 2 year infertility journey

Connect with Lindsey:

Taylor is a Registered Dietitian specializing in identifying and treating the root causes of hormone imbalances. She has a particular passion for educating women about the rarely discussed negative side effects of hormonal birth control. She works 1:1 with women in her private practice, helping them navigate how to support their body on and/or how to safely transition off of birth control, symptom-free.

She has an extensive background working with clients with eating disorders and practices from a non-diet, weight-inclusive perspective.

Sam lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and GSP dog, Millie. She was a collegiate runner turned marathon runner, which inevitably led to disordered eating and unhealthy exercise habits. In January of 2023, she and her husband decided they wanted to start their family. After going off birth control, it became clear this wasn't going to be easy, as her period was nonexistent. Over 10 years of a missing period, Sam was able to recover her cycle naturally through the Food Freedom Fertility Society and is now happy to share she is expecting her first baby boy in September.

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In this Episode:

• The athletic background that can set the stage for period loss
• Red flags of hormone imbalances that are often brushed under the rug
• Why your Obgyn won’t be the one to tell you how to get your period back
• Why you can get weight and still not get your period back
• The mental prison of disordered eating and exercise obsession
• Overcoming the fear of what others will think if you gain weight
• Why it’s so hard to push yourself to eat enough when you’re working on your own
• Getting pregnant again after loss and avoiding relapses into disordered eating
• The magic of getting a positive pregnancy and re-establishing trust in your body

Connect with Lindsey:

Dr. Kelsey is a licensed Naturopathic Physician from Portland, OR, who specializes in fertility + menstrual health. Balancing roles as a devoted mother of 2 and a thriving practitioner, she weaves comprehensive medical expertise with a holistic approach that nurtures physical, emotional, + energetic wellness. In both her busy private practice and nationwide support for couples, she sees the incredible impact digestive + hormone health have on women's health + fertility. She is very passionate about bridging gaps in comprehensive healthcare, empowering women with education, and nourishing the transition into Parenthood.

In this episode:

• Can micronutrient deficiencies cause amenorrhea?
• Simple ways to incorporate mindfulness to support nervous system regulation
• The best ways to support your detox pathways
• Ways to limit endocrine-disrupting chemicals to support your fertility
• Signs of lingering low hormone levels even when you are getting your period
• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency vs. Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
• How often to test your hormones to get a full picture of your fertility
• Financial considerations during your fertility journey

Have you been told your labs are normal, but still missing your period? In this solo episode I’m going to walk you through what typical labs look like with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea.

In this Episode

• Why labs can be “normal,” but you’re still missing your period
• Best labs to have to done to distinguish between HA and PCOS
• When to test Progesterone to confirm ovulation
• What does low AMH mean with HA?
• Is it possible to improve low AMH?
• Pros/cons of using labs to assess your progress in recovery

Episodes referenced today:

Beth is a registered nurse and nursing professor with a background in obstetrical nursing from just outside St. Louis, Missouri. In an effort to "get in the best shape possible" before she and her husband tried to conceive, she unintentionally set herself down a path of severe disordered eating, over exercise, and consequently developed HA. After two years of no period returning after coming off hormonal birth control, seeking fertility assistance with a REI, and attempting recovery on her own, she made the decision to join Lindsey's program to get the additional support, guidance, and encouragement needed to get her period back and get pregnant naturally!

Show notes:

• Taking your fitness journey too far and losing your period
• Maybe tiny tweaks and not getting results
• Being tapped out on fertility treatment and getting serious about recovery
• Thinking about period recovery as a prescriptive diet
• When you need more than spousal support to recover
• Getting pregnant in under 3 months after over a year of infertility
• Take pride in healing from disordered eating to be a role model for your kids

Courtney is a registered nurse and women’s fitness specialist. She provides sustainable fitness programs for women by incorporating menstrual cycle periodization, which means timing your workouts to the four phases of your cycle. As a mom and former athlete, she’s passionate about making fitness accessible to real-world women who are tired of burnout but want to feel strong and healthy.

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In this Episode:

• Overcoming an ED and becoming a health expert
• Why there’s a need to train around your menstrual cycle
• Explaining what a “normal” cycle looks like
• Using cyclical fitness to help regulate your cycle
• Understanding how your hormones impact motivation and exercise performance
• Approaching fitness without being overly focused on changing body composition
• Adjusting fitness to the life stage that you’re in and making it fun!

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Links Mentioned in the episode:

Jean wrestled with an eating disorder and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea from her late teens until her 30s. She started working with Lindsey at age 30 with the hopes of becoming pregnant. After over a decade of period loss, excessive exercise, and a complicated relationship with food, she was not only able to regain her cycle, but she is now 32 weeks pregnant with a healthy, happy, amazing baby girl! Jean lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two dogs, and plans to get back into her work as a Pilates instructor at some point postpartum.

In this Episode

• Overcoming denial about disordered eating
• Hitting your breaking point in “quasi-recovery”
• When measuring food turns into a crutch that perpetuates under-eating
• Understanding what foods help you to feel your best through recovery
• Getting pregnant naturally on your first ovulation
• The benefits of having food freedom during pregnancy
• How to avoid disordered eating relapse during pregnancy
• Why you need to break up with your scale ASAP
• Exposing the lie “I won’t care about weight gain once I’m pregnant”

Dr. Goldstein is the founding physician of Beverly Hills Fertility. She is one of the most trusted names in fertility and is highly recommended by her patients for her communication, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Dr. Goldstein obtained her MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and is a double board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist. In an industry that is continually becoming less personalized, Dr. Goldstein is proof that you can provide world-class fertility care and empower hopeful parents to choose a fertility journey that aligns with their goals before anything else. She weaves her way through the often overwhelming world of fertility care with intuition and empathy, to make sure her patients have a clear understanding of their diagnosis and treatment options. Dr. Goldstein lives in Santa Monica with her two children and her husband. When she is not taking care of patients, she enjoys rowing, kayaking, yoga, traveling, and hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains.

In this Episode

• Understanding the physiology of Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
• Distinguishing between HA and PCOS
• Diagnosing HA when your labs are “normal”
• How set point comes into play with regard to fertility
• Should you do IVF if your period is still missing?
• Why some women lose their period with HA, and others do not
• Why some Obgyns aren’t up to speed on how to properly diagnose HA
• The questions your REI should be asking upon your initial fertility assessment

Connect with Dr. Goldstein

Kelly has been a physical therapist for 7 years and lives in eastern Pennsylvania w/her husband of 5 years. Shortly after getting married, Kelly lost her period due to Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. After months of trying recovery on her own, Kelly joined Lindsey's program in the summer of 2023 after realizing she couldn’t keep putting recovery on the back burner if she wanted to get pregnant ASAP. By the end of the summer, Kelly had not only gotten her period back, she found out she was pregnant! Listen as Kelly, and I visit through her experience going from no period to pregnant in 8 weeks!

In this Episode:

• Linkage between Physical Therapy and a potential pathway to developing HA

• Leaning into your gut feeling that something is off with your body

• How weight status can impact your body’s ability to get a period

• Flipping the script on weight gain: tips and tricks to reframe your mindset during recovery

• Achieving pregnancy naturally in 8 weeks after going 4 years without a period

• Lessons learned from HA recovery that can serve you well in pregnancy

Connect with Lindsey:

Rachel is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband, Alec, and their dog, Sloane. Rachel grew up with a very positive relationship around food and exercise; however, her desire to "lose a little weight for senior prom" spiraled into an eating disorder, and she was diagnosed with anorexia in her freshman year of college.

After going through treatment and weight restoration, her period never returned. She was placed on birth control and was told this would "jump start" her cycle and protect her bones. A few years later, she developed an exercise addiction as she won half marathons and became an Orangetheory fanatic, all while restricting food and living with many food rules. These behaviors continued for nearly 10 years. Deep down, Rachel knew there was still a problem, but her doctors never seemed concerned and assured her she would be able to get pregnant when she was ready. Rachel began reading and researching all things HA last year. She got married in January of 2023, and a few months after she said "I do" to her husband, she said "I do" to go "all-in" for period recovery. She attempted recovery on her own for 2 months but ultimately needed more support and direction. She joined Lindsey's program, and with the guidance, encouragement, and support she received, her period returned in just 8 weeks.

In this Episode:

• Recovering from an ED but still no period

• The temptation to “put off recovery” until after your wedding

• Digging deep into why you want your relationship with food to change

• Tips to keep going when you feel uncomfortable in your body

• Going years without a period and recovering in just 8 weeks

• Recovery wisdom for when you’re feeling stuck

Stay up to date with all things Food Freedom Fertility and gain access to my free Period Recovery Meal Plan.

Abbie Attwood is an anti-diet, weight-inclusive nutritionist with a master of science in nutrition. She is also a body image coach, business owner, obsessed dog mom, and lover of the outdoors.

Abbie worked in healthcare policy and at start-ups for a decade before returning to graduate school. The decision to change careers was a result of her own battle with disordered eating, a slew of injuries, and several autoimmune disease diagnoses. She is passionate about helping others heal from disordered eating and body shame so that they can live their most authentic, meaningful life.

Abbie lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two dogs, where she runs a virtual nutrition and coaching practice. Her work is rooted in supporting her clients to rebuild a relationship with food and their body that is compassionate, respectful, liberating, and peaceful.

In this Episode:

• Understanding the Anti-Diet Movement

• Why period loss is often overlooked in runners

• Unpacking body image and questions to ask when you’re struggling

• The ambiguity between food intolerances and underfunding

• Getting to the bottom of period loss when you’ve been on the pill for 10+ years

• Digging deep on your “why” when kids aren’t a motivator

• Holiday tips to support healing from disordered eating

  
  

Stay up to date with all things Food Freedom Fertility and gain access to my free Period Recovery Meal Plan.

Andrea Hunter is originally from Colombia but has been in the US since 2010. In 2014, she met the two loves of her life: her husband, Zach, and running. As a goal-oriented person, Andrea set a goal to run the 6 major marathons in Boston, Chicago, NY, London, Berlin, and Tokyo. She pushed herself to the limit, overstressing her body through training, keeping her food intake very meticulous and just enough to fuel her runs. It wasn’t until she and Zach decided they wanted to start a family that Andrea realized she wasn’t getting a period and that she would have to make major changes to recover it and be healthy. Andrea shares that through all of her accomplishments, recovering her period is one she’s most proud of!

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In this Episode:

• The normalization of period loss among runners
• Why you shouldn’t rely on birth control for bone loss prevention
• Recovering from a femoral stress fracture
• Learning to view food as more than just fuel
• How to stay positive during your period recovery journey

Join me as I talk through various factors that play into how long it may take your body to recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and have a healthy period again.

In this Episode

• How eating disorders play into period loss
• Can you permanently damage your hypothalamus?
• Why you can get to a healthy weight and still not see your period return
• Fast versus slow responders to a proper recovery plan
• The #1 thing that will delay your time to recovery
• Understanding and accepting what’s realistic for you

Connect with Lindsey:

Robin is a proud mother of a 14-month-old boy and is expecting baby number 2 in February. She works full full-time time as a surgeon.

She was a competitive gymnast growing up and a three-season athlete throughout high school. After her competitive athletic career, she struggled with disordered eating and exercise addiction. When preparing to start her family, she was diagnosed with hypothalamic amenorrhea.

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In this Episode

• The impact coaches can have on food and body image
• Why even logical thinkers need emotional support in recovery
• Understanding the importance of gaining enough weight during pregnancy
• What it feels like to not need Clomid after all
• Breaking the habit of calorie counting and control

Connect with Lindsey:

Dr. Samantha Briguglio is a Naturopathic Doctor and owner of Walk the Natural Path Hormone Health and Fertility Care. She began her practice because of her passion for helping women achieve their wellness and fertility goals. As an ND, she is licensed to treat – and teach – patients from a mindset of natural healing that treats the root cause of symptoms.

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In this Episode:

• Pros/cons of IVF
• Most common causes of “unexplained” infertility
• Understanding AMH and what it means
• When to worry about male factor infertility
• How much does diet really matter for egg quality
• How to plan if you want to be pregnant in the next 3-6 months

Connect with Lindsey:

Summer Mastain is an actor and acting coach living in Los Angeles with her husband, Schuyler. Thanks to Lindsey, Emily, and period recovery, Schuyler and Summer are expecting their first child in September 2023. NYU Tisch alumni. Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kansas City Chiefs fanatic.

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In this Episode:

• What it really feels like to go through IVF (twice)
• Why period recovery shouldn’t be your plan B
• Overcoming pressures to be thin in the acting world
• How to get pregnant on your first ovulation
• How recovery prepares you mentally for becoming a mom

Connect with Lindsey:

Join me for a deep dive into what body systems suffer the most when you aren’t getting your period. We’ll discuss the short-term and long-term health consequences of remaining in a low estrogen state as well as the psychological impact amenorrhea can have on your body. If you’re struggling with finding motivation with choosing recovery from HA, this episode will help outline why recovery is worth it for your body, your mind, your relationships, and your future.

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In this Episode:

• The impact of low estrogen on your bones
• Irregular cycles and risk for heart disease
• Emotional and financial cost of fertility treatment
• Why HA and depression and anxiety go hand in hand
• Amenorrhea and cognitive decline
• Where to start when recovery feels overwhelming

Connect with Lindsey:

Sophia is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who specializes in women's fertility. Her greatest area of expertise is helping women tailor their nutrition to their lifestyle and support healthy progesterone production, strengthen their luteal phase, and increase their chance of a healthy implantation and pregnancy.

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In this Episode:

• What low Progesterone can look
• Best way to test Progesterone
• Signs you may be pushing yourself too hard in the gym
• Biggest mistakes about tracking ovulation
• How to boost cervical mucus quality

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Connect Sophia:

Tune into this month’s solo episode as I walk through the differences between Lactational Amenorrhea and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea to help you understand if/when you can expect to get your period back postpartum. I will also be answering a few listener questions, so be sure to listen until the very end!

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In this episode:

• What is lactational amenorrhea?
• The “hormone reset” theory after having a baby
• When you should expect your first postpartum period
• How to avoid relapsing back into HA during pregnancy
• Tips with get your period back while breastfeeding
• Seeking support after relapse

Connect with Lindsey Lusson: 

Jenna Werner is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and owner of Happy Strong Healthy, a weight-neutral, behavior-focused, health-first, mindful eating private practice that works to help clients heal their relationship with food, fitness, body, and self. Jenna is also the co-host of the What the Actual Fork podcast, a platform that uses research, experience, and fun to help all humans realize that they are made for so much more than chasing a smaller body. Jenna loves food and helping people bring back the true enjoyment of food in their lives.

In this Episode:

• Hitting rock bottom with exercise addiction

• Evaluating what you want fitness to mean to you

• Calling out unhealthy trends on social media

• Going from no period to pregnant…twice!

• Tips for getting out of the pit of disordered eating

Connect with Jenna Werner: