This is part one of a three-part series on functional lab testing with our Functional Fertility Dietitian, Anabelle. Over the next few episodes, we’ll dive into the three main labs we use to help clients get to the root of:

• Hormone imbalances

• Fatigue and burnout

• Missing or irregular cycles

• Fertility struggles and unexplained infertility

In today’s episode, we’re starting with one of our favorite tests: the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA).

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why HTMA is often the first test we run for clients who feel stuck in their fertility journey.

• How mineral patterns reveal your body’s ability to handle stress, produce energy, and support hormone balance.

• The three stages of stress (alarm, acute, and burnout) and how HTMA shows where your body is on that spectrum.

• Why even women who “eat really clean” may still be mineral deficient due to soil depletion, stress, or under-fueling.

• Real-life client stories where HTMA uncovered hidden burnout and helped guide targeted support—leading to restored fertility and pregnancy.

• How this simple, low-lift test offers insight into thyroid health, adrenal function, hydration, and overall resiliency.

  
  

Why This Matters: Many women are told their labs look normal—yet they still feel exhausted, anxious, or struggle to get pregnant. HTMA helps uncover what’s going on beneath the surface by showing us the mineral imbalances that drive hormone and energy dysfunction. This can be both validating and empowering, giving you the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

Next Steps:We run HTMAs inside our Food Freedom Fertility Society as an add-on, and they’re included in our new Functional Fertility Package with Annabelle, which offers private coaching and personalized lab interpretation.

👉 Curious if minerals are the missing link in your fertility journey? Take our free quiz: 

What’s Blocking Your Fertility (and What to Do About It)

It only takes a few minutes and will point you toward the best next steps.

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠⁠⁠

Just because you’re bleeding doesn’t mean your cycle is healthy—or that your body is ready for pregnancy.

In this episode, I’m walking you through the five most common red flags I see in women who have gotten their period back but are still struggling to get pregnant. This is especially relevant for the 40% of our clients who come to us already cycling but still facing hidden hormone imbalances, cycle irregularities, or subclinical signs of under-fueling and stress.

If you've worked hard to restore your period but are still facing frustrating fertility setbacks, this episode is going to help you understand what your body is trying to tell you.

We’ll cover:

• What an irregular cycle really means (and why it may be anovulatory)

• The most overlooked signs of weak ovulation

• Why a short luteal phase matters (and how it's connected to under-fueling and stress)

• What your bleed quality can reveal about hormone balance

• Why periods sometimes disappear again—and what to do about it

  
  

You'll also learn how we help clients inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society move from “just cycling” to thriving hormonally with regular ovulation, balanced hormones, and cycles that are truly ready to support pregnancy.

Whether your period just came back or you’re still dealing with short cycles, no ovulation, or low progesterone—this episode will help you connect the dots.

🔍 Related Resources & Links:

• 👉 Apply for the Food Freedom Fertility Society

• 🎧 Episode 79: Low Blood Sugar, High Cortisol & No Period: A Fertility Red Flag

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠⁠⁠

If your doctor told you “everything looks normal” but you still can’t get pregnant… this episode will blow your mind (and validate your gut instinct).

I’m joined by Dr. Aumatma Simmons, board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and the powerhouse behind @‌holisticfertilitydoctor, to talk about why unexplained infertility isn’t actually unexplained—and how to uncover what your body’s been trying to tell you all along.

We dive into the root causes missed in traditional fertility care, how to tell if your labs are actually optimal (not just “normal”), and what high-achieving women need to understand about stress, estrogen, and their nervous systems if they want to get pregnant naturally.

Dr. Simmons also shares the real deal on the age and fertility myth (spoiler: it’s based on data from the 1800s) and gives us a first look at her AI-powered root cause analysis tool, Madre Fertility.

• Why “unexplained infertility” is a lazy diagnosis—and what’s actually going on

• The 5 most common root causes most doctors miss

• Why normal labs ≠ optimal fertility

• How high-achieving women accidentally block ovulation

• Easy ways to regulate your nervous system and boost hormones

• What it actually takes to increase estrogen and restore ovulation

• Take the Root Cause Quiz → www.madrefertility.com

• Work with Dr. Simmons → www.holisticfertilityinstitute.com

• Follow her on Instagram → @‌holisticfertilitydoctor

  
  

Episode Highlights:

• [03:10] The personal fertility journey that led Dr. Simmons to this work

• [09:30] Where the “fertility cliff at 35” myth actually comes from

• [14:45] Toxins, gut health, stress & the real root causes of infertility

• [25:40] Why your estrogen is low (and what to do about it)

• [33:10] Why normal labs can be misleading

• [41:00] How perfectionism and high cortisol block your cycle

• [50:00] 3 free tools to regulate your nervous system and boost hormones

• [58:00] What to do if you feel like you’ve tried everything

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠⁠

Are you eating more, gaining weight, and still not getting your period back? Or maybe you’ve gotten one bleed and assumed you were fully recovered—but still can’t get pregnant? In this episode, Lindsey breaks down the 10 most common mistakes she sees women make when trying to restore their cycle and support natural fertility.

Spoiler alert: it’s not always about the calories, and it’s definitely not just about weight.

Whether you’re tracking macros, still overtraining, or waiting for a doctor to “diagnose” you before taking action, this episode will help you identify what might be holding you back—and what to do instead.

In this Episode:

• Why tracking calories might actually be slowing your recovery

• The hidden harm of “clean eating” when it comes to hormones

• Why fiber isn’t always your friend if you have low estrogen

• The role of your nervous system in ovulation

• Why one period ≠ full recovery or full fertility

• Why fertility treatments don’t always work (and what to do first)

• Why it’s never too early to care about getting your period back

📚 Referenced Episodes:

• Ep. 14 –Disordered Eating and Digestive Issues

• Ep. 39 – What Happens if you don’t Recover your Period

• Ep. 76 – You don’t have to be Underweight to Lose your Period 

• Ep. 86 – What Every Woman Needs to Know About Carbs & Fertility

📥 Links & Resources:

• 💻 Free Training: How to Get Pregnant with a Missing Period

• Submit a listener question for the podcast

🧪 Grab our Lab Guide: Understand Labs with HA

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠⁠

If the idea of “slowing down” makes you panic… this episode is a must-listen.

Jennifer is a Yoga, Pilates, Meditation & Breathwork teacher who specialises in fertility & women’s health. During a long & difficult fertility journey of her own, Jennifer eventually found the practice of Fertility Yoga. This practice was able to ease her anxiety while TTC, relieve chronic insomnia, re-balance a thyroid condition…and eventually it helped her to fall pregnant naturally. She now runs an online business, Element Pilates & Yoga, helping women all over the world to overcome fertility challenges & find their way to motherhood. 

In this Episode

• Why giving up high-intensity workouts felt impossible—and why she finally did it

• How fertility yoga helped regulate her cycle, balance hormones, and heal insomnia

• What most doctors miss when diagnosing cycle issues or "early menopause"

• The real science behind blood flow, nervous system regulation, and fertility

• Practical tips to shift out of fight-or-flight and reconnect with your body

  
  

If you're stuck in the "all or nothing" mindset around exercise, think fertility yoga sounds boring, or feel like rest equals failure—this episode is here to change your mind (and maybe your cycle).

Want to try fertility yoga with Jen?Jen is hosting a free 3-day Fertility Yoga Workshop! You’ll get daily practices, breathwork, and calming tools to help regulate your hormones and reconnect with your body.

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠

I’m tackling one of the most common and misunderstood topics in the world of hormone health and fertility: carbohydrates. Specifically, how well-intentioned choices—like following a low-carb or "clean" eating plan—might be silently disrupting your cycle, impairing ovulation, and delaying your chances of getting pregnant.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why eating “clean” or low-carb might backfire when it comes to hormonal health

• The science behind how carbs fuel ovulation, thyroid function, and estrogen balance

• How low energy availability—even if you're eating a lot—can shut down your reproductive system

• What happens to LH pulses, T3, and gut health on a low-carb or high-stress lifestyle

• Why mindset matters as much as macros when it comes to recovery from hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA)

  
  

I’m breaking down the exact physiological reasons why your cycle may still be MIA—even if your labs look “normal” and you’ve already increased calories.

This isn’t just about how much you eat… it’s about what you’re eating (and what signals you’re sending your brain).

You’ll also hear:

• Why we see so many Type A women, athletes, and “wellness girlies” struggling to ovulate

• Real stats from our program (91% get their period back in 90 days!)

• Why your gut health and hormone health are more connected than you think

  Resources mentioned:

• Free Quiz: Are You Too Healthy to Get Pregnant?

• Episode 14: Disordered Eating and Digestive Issues with Dr. Heather Finley

• Episode 85: Why Healthy, Type A Women Might Be Struggling to Get Pregnant

💛 Ready to stop second-guessing and start ovulating again—without going low-carb, burning out at the gym, or dropping $1,000s on supplements?

Take the quiz linked above and find out what’s keeping your period and fertility stuck. Your body wants to heal—you just have to give it the right tools.

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠

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:

• Episode 1: Lindsey’s Full Fertility Story

• Episode 64: Natural Pregnancy after 3 years of IVF

🎥 **Free Training: **How to Get Pregnant with a Missing Period — Learn the 3-part framework our clients use to restore ovulation and get pregnant naturally (even if they’ve been told IVF is the only option)

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson⁠

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.

📥 Ready to get your period back ASAP?  Apply now to work with our team and get the support, structure, and strategy that helped Caitlyn go from no period to pregnant in just 3 months.

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson

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:

• Free Training – How to Get Pregnant with a Missing Period

• Episode 69: Nutrient Timing for Period Recovery

• Low Carb for Period Recovery? What the Science Says (Blog Post)

• Submit a question for a future Q&A episode → Listener Q&A Form

  
  

Want support from Lindsey and her team?
Check out the Food Freedom Fertility Society to get expert guidance and community support through every stage of period and fertility recovery.

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@lindseylusson

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

Want to learn more about how to go from no period to pregnant in under 6 months? Grab my free training here 

Connect with Lindsey:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@food.freedom.fertility⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠foodfreedomandfertility.com⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@lindseylusson