Nutrition plays a HUGE role in the creation of life and the health of both mum and baby.

In this episode and just 4 days before I gave birth to my first daughter, Nova, I  spoke to fellow dietitian Stefanie Valakas on a very broad range of topics from  Preconception, Pregnancy, Postpartum and Fertility Concerns.

In this episode we talk about common factors affecting fertility including HA, PCOS and endometriosis. We also look at the role the male plays in fertility, chat about miscarriage and IVF.

Stefanie Valakas, also known as The Dietologist, is an expert fertility dietitian & nutritionist. 

Stefanie runs her virtual nutrition practice from her Sydney home and loves to help women and couples trying to conceive enhance their fertility through scientific nutrition recommendations. 

Stefanie not only works with clients one-on-one but has recently launched online programs to help reach and support more women during the COVID-19 pandemic.  You can visit her website at https://thedietologist.com.au/

You can find Stefanie on all social media platforms @the_dietologist, listen to her podcast, Fertility Friendly Food, and check out her new Instagram profile @endo.dietitian to learn about all things nutrition for endometriosis.

For more information on my services, including my self paced online program “Recover Your Period and Rediscover Intuitive Eating” visit my website.

If you enjoyed this episode I would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to leave a 5 star rating and review. This will help get this information to women who need it!

And if you are active on Instagram please share a screen shot and tag me so we can connect!

You will find me on Instagram at @amyleegiannotti.

When it comes to the treatment of Hypothalamic Amenorrhea or HA, many of us wish that there was a magic pill we could take or that there was another reason why our period has gone missing.

Lets face it, eating more, cutting out or reducing exercise and for some, needing to gain weight is a scary concept.

Many of my clients have sought alternative treatments hoping for a way to bypass doing the deeper work, working on the root cause.

Many of my clients have tried acupuncture, saw naturopaths, gone on liver cleanses, tried to mediate, do more yoga, tried seed cycling, gone all organic or cut out gluten and dairy hoping to maintain their current lifestyle and practices that make them feel safe and in control. I was once here too. They find that alone, they just don't work.

In this episode I chat to Dr Amanda Waaldyk, a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor who specialises in fertility and female endocrinology. Amanda is the founder and director of Angea Acupuncture & Yoga, an integrative Chinese medicine practice.

Amanda’s approach is soul meets science, guiding her patients to ultimate health with a whole body system. Amanda has worked and studied internationally with some of the best fertility experts in both chinese medicine and yoga. 

Amanda is author of her book Body Baby Ready, blogger and proud mother of two. Her passion for yoga led her to co-found Mindful Pregnancy Yoga training.

Although we have quite diverse backgrounds in our education and professional practices, we share very similar aims for treatment for HA. We both agree that addressing the root cause of the problem is crucial and that involves supporting the body to feel safe and that energy is available. Lifestyle modifications including food or eating habits and exercise are important to allow the body to heal and a shift in mindset, relationship to self and approach to life is where lies the most deepest and healing work.

Amanda combines both eastern and western medicine practices and uses acupuncture and TCM to support the body in finding the place of safety and balance.

In this episode we also talk about other common issues or conditions women present with including PCOS, endometriosis, infertility, IVF support and how she helps these women. We both agree that menstrual cycle health is very important and can also tell us a lot about what is going on in our bodies and lifestyles. 

For more information on Amanda check out her website or follow her on Instagram - @angea_acupuncture_yoga

For more information on my services, including my self paced online program “Recover Your Period and Rediscover Intuitive Eating” visit my website.

If you enjoyed this episode I would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to leave a 5 star rating and review. This will help get this information to women who need it!

And if you are active on Instagram please share a screen shot and tag me so we can connect!

You will find me on Instagram at @amyleegiannotti.

My passion to help women have a healthy relationship with food, exercise and body was not found at university. Nor was my dedication to help women recover their period and fertility.

It was fuelled by my own personal journey, challenges and growth.

Many of you may know that when I started out as a dietitian I worked mainly in the area of weight loss. Through my university degree and then stepping straight into private practice I just did what I felt I was trained to do and what my clients were asking for. I didn't know any other way.

Although I was busy, making money and doing what I thought was my “dream job”. It just didn't feel right, nor was it fulfilling. 

Years down the track when I came across new approaches to health including Healthy At Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating it was a huge pivotal moment in my life personally and professionally. Part of me wished I could unsee it because it brought up a lot of questions and discomfort. 

It showed me that I had work to do on myself, that how I prescribed weight loss diets was NOT aligned with why I wanted to become a dietitian in the first place and that I was doing more harm than good. 

My purpose in becoming a dietitian was to help people feel and function their best with nutrition and exercise. 

I started to see that I was prescribing disordered eating behaviours, telling people to ignore their bodies and supporting them on a belief that they will be more happy, loved and successful if they lose weight.

It also shined a light on my health and relationship with self. Without a period for 7 years was an obvious sign that I had to do work on myself before I could really help others!

In the beginning I didn't even have the language or full understanding of why I felt so off track, confused and stuck but I knew I had to follow my heart and gut instinct and I would find clarity.  And I am so glad I did!!

In this episode I invite fellow dietitian Bonnie Roney who helps women find food freedom by ditching diet culture and learning to eat without guilt or shame. Bonnie shares a similar journey with feeling the need to change direction and overcome the guilt, shame and judgement. 

Growing up, Bonnie too struggled with her relationship with food, along with many other women in her family which inspired her to pursue a career as a Registered Dietitian and help other women overcome similar disordered eating struggles. 

In her free time, Bonnie loves spending time at Florida beaches, going to wine tastings, and having fun with her husband and high school sweetheart Andrew, and Golden Retriever, Cooper. 

To learn more about Bonnie and her services visit her website or follow her on Instagram - @diet.culture.rebel 

For more information on my services, including my self paced online program “Recover Your Period and Rediscover Intuitive Eating” visit my website. 

If you enjoyed this episode I would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to leave a 5 star rating and review. This will help get this information to women who need it!

And if you are active on Instagram please share a screen shot and tag me so we can connect!

You will find me on Instagram at @amyleegiannotti.

In this episode we delve deep into what's at the roots for disordered eating for many, we will help you to understand why you may have come to a place of fear, disconnect and distrust in your body and provide relatable concepts and practical strategies to help you develop a healthy and more self compassionate relationship with yourself.

If you are struggling with your relationship with food, exercise or body and feeling stuck or confused this episode is a must to listen to!

This episodes guest, Dr Libby is a Clinical Psychologist that has undertaken and completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has worked solely in private practice for 10 years. Her mission in life is to SERVE, GROW + have FUN! 

Libby has her own personal journey with bullying, an eating disorder and post natal depression which fuels her passion to now support women to OPTIMISE their psychological well being through the provision of evidence-based therapy. 

Outside of the therapy room you can find her reading books, eating, and playing on the beach with her two very energetic boys and husband.

For more information on Libby and her services visit her Instagram and website.

For more information on my services, including my self paced online program "Recover Your Period and Rediscover Intuitive Eating" visit my website.

If you enjoyed this episode I would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to leave a 5 star rating and review. This will help get this information to women who need it!

And if you are active on Instagram please share a screen shot and tag me so we can connect! 

You will find me on Instagram at @amyleegiannotti.

Poor digestion is a common symptom in those with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA), which is the loss of period and in those with disordered eating or eating disorders.

The main underlying driver is low energy availability. When there is a chronic energy deficiency the body responds by becoming more “energy efficient”.

The loss of period is a common and more obvious outcome for women. Stopping menstruation and fertility is a way the body responds to the stress of low energy availability. But there are many other systems of the body affected. These include poor temperature regulation, decreased bone mineral density, poor growth of hair and nails and poor or sluggish digestion. This may be experienced as frequently feeling bloated and either constipation or diarrhea.

Working with many women with HA and disordered eating and having my own journey I recognise there are many other influences on both poor digestion and recovery.

One major one in recovery is fear. Fears acting like barriers to recovery can include fear of weight gain, of eating certain foods e.g. foods high in carbs or fat, of reducing exercise volume and intensity to allow the body to heal, of losing their “fitness Identity”, letting go of all their “hard work” and of what other will think of them for example thinking they have let themselves go! Many report that they do not “trust” their appetite. 

I thought this topic was an important one to cover because for many women who experience poor digestion or IBS this leads to further restrictions of certain foods, fear of foods and pushes them further away from recovery, feeling at peace with food and restoring a healthy menstrual cycle, fertility and ultimately allowing their whole body to heal! 

I recently learned about gut hypnotherapy with research having some positive outcomes and today I have invited a past guest, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Counsellor Bianca Skilbeck to chat much deeper on this area.

Bianca is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Counsellor from Melbourne Australia and founder of Freedom From Food. Bianca has a special interest in the treatment of eating disorders and body image related disorders.

She has a special interest in working with and understanding the mind-body connection, and how the individual can work to integrate all parts of themselves to create more peace and acceptance in their lives.

You can find more about Bianca and her services via her website Freedom From Food or follow her on Instagram.

More information on my services:

I help women with HA recover their periods, overcome food fear, inappropriate exercise behaviours, body dysmorphia and poor body image and help them to eat intuitively. I also help women who have had HA become pregnant.

My 1:1 coaching program is my most personalised service I offer for women who prefer 1:1 support. This program runs over 3 months via Virtual Video Call. Limited spots available.

I also offer a Self Paced Online Course - Recover Your Period and Rediscover Intuitive Eating!

My online, self paced program contains my proven frameworks that have successfully supported many of my clients to regain their periods, make peace with their body and discover food freedom!

Apply now through my website or book a free discovery call to give me the opportunity to learn more about you, your biggest struggles and discuss ways I can support you.

Body Image is a VITAL piece in the Recovery of an Eating Disorder and Disordered Eating.

Too often it is neglected that Eating Disorders are psychological illnesses and that weight restoration does not mean full recovery. Further, people suffering from eating disorders and a poor relationship with food can live in ANY size body. 

Treatment goes much deeper than just “food” and “eating” and will involve improving one's RELATIONSHIP with food, exercise and body. Recovery will involve looking at beliefs and understanding the LENS one looks through.

In this episode I have invited Bianca Skilbeck to chat further about the role of body image in eating disorders as a risk factor and also in treatment.

Bianca is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Counsellor from Melbourne Australia and founder of Freedom From Food. Bianca has a special interest in the treatment of eating disorders and body image related disorders. 

She has a special interest in working with and understanding the mind-body connection, and how the individual can work to integrate all parts of themselves to create more peace and acceptance in their lives. 

You can find more about Bianca and her services via her website Freedom From Food or follow her on Instagram.

More information on my services:

My 1:1 coaching program is my most personalised service I offer for women who prefer 1:1 support. This program runs over 3 months via Virtual Video Call. Limited spots available.

I also offer a Self Paced Online Course - Recover Your Period and Rediscover Intuitive Eating!

My online, self paced program contains my proven frameworks that have successfully supported many of my clients to regain their periods, make peace with their body and discover food freedom!

Apply now through my website or book a free discovery call to give me the opportunity to learn more about you, your biggest struggles and discuss ways I can support you.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 12-18% of women of reproductive age and up to 21% in some high-risk groups, such as Indigenous women. PCOS can cause irregular periods, trouble falling pregnant, acne, excess hair growth, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and difficulty managing weight.

Hypothalamic Amenorrhea is a condition that shares some similarities with PCOS including absent or irregular periods and polycystic ovaries.

Having a special interest in this area and working with many women to recover their periods I have learned the importance of distinguishing between the two as many people with HA are misdiagnosed with PCOS. The big difference between the two is the HA is treatable whereas PCOS is about managing symptoms. The treatment for HA is about correcting the energy deficit and in many cases weight gain and reducing exercise volume and intensity to allow the body to feel it is safe and to heal. In HA, essentially the body has been forced into energy conservation mode, most often from restrictive eating.

In this episode I talk to fellow dietitian Stephanie Pirotta who is completing her PhD in PCOS and has great knowledge and experience in this area to help us provide more clarity on PCOS diagnosis and management.

You can follow Steph on Instagram @stephanie_pirotta_apd .

More information on my services:

My 1:1 coaching program is my most personalised service I offer for women who prefer 1:1 support.

My Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Recovery Small Group Coaching Program contains my proven framework that has successfully supported many of my clients regain thier periods, make peace with food and discover food freedom. This was created as is an affordable alternative to my 1:1 coaching that still offers 1:1 attention, support and the accountability you need to break through fears and adopting healthy behavior changes.

Together with a maximum of 5 other women just like you, you’ll take courageous and supported action together to:

• Get clear on what you need to do in order to get your period back

Also Included:

• Individual attention during each call, in addition to the group coaching and education

Next Small Group Course Dates: 20th April 2020. Limited spots available.

Apply now through my website or book a free discovery call to give me the opportunity to learn more about you, your biggest struggles and discuss ways I can support you.

In this episode I talk to fellow dietitian Joanna Baker who specializes in gut health to uncover the cross over between gut health and digestive function with Eating disorders and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA).

It is common for people with HA and Eating disorders to struggle with digestion function and in this episode we explain why and the best way to treat and manage your symtoms and overall health.

Joanna also talks about the importance of gut health and your gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is like a community of healthy bacteria in your gut. We all have about 1-2kg of gut bacteria and this has a big influence of mental health, emotional health, body weight, chronic disease and immunity.

People who eat 30 or more different plants foods per week have a much more diverse gut microbiome than those that have 10 or less. Plant foods contain prebiotics which contain the fuel and nourishment for your gut bacteria. When they are fed well they will grow and thrive. Different types of bacteria are picky eaters so the more variety in the food you eat, especially plant foods the better!

Joanna Baker is a dietitian and registered nurse who loves food. Her own struggles with gut health have led her to work exclusively in food intolerance and IBS. She loves to help people enjoy food and keep their gut happy at the same time.

To find out more about Joanna check out her link below:

• Website 

In this episode Joanna refers to gut hypnotherapy research and the qualitative study about how people with IBS feel about themselves. This can be found below.

The American Gut Project re: Gut microbiome and plant foods here 

More information on my services: I help women with HA recover their periods, overcome food fear, inappropriate exercise behaviours, body dysmorphia and poor body image and help them to eat intuitively. I also help women who have had HA become pregnant.

My 1:1 coaching program is my most personalised service I offer for women who prefer 1:1 support.

My Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Recovery Small Group Coaching Program contains my proven framwork that has successfully supported many of my clients regain thier periods, make peace with food and discover food freedom. This was created as is an affordable alternative to my 1:1 coaching that still offers 1:1 attention, support and the accountability you need to break through fears and adopting healthy behavior changes.

Together with a maximum of 5 other women just like you, you’ll take courageous and supported action together to:

• Get clear on what you need to do in order to get your period back

Also Included:

• Individual attention during each call, in addition to the group coaching and education

Next Small Group Course Dates: 20th April 2020. Limited spots available.

Apply now through my website or book a free discovery call to give me the opportunity to learn more about you, your biggest struggles and discuss ways I can support you. I would love if you would connect with me over on Instagram (@amyleegiannotti)

Julie Duffy Dillon is a Fat Positive Dietitian, PCOS Specialist, and Food Behavior Expert who partners with people along their Food Peace journey. 

In this episode I talk to Julie about PCOS and how she supports women with this condition without restrictive weight loss diets.

Julie shares with us some of the common struggles women with PCOS experince such as confusion, hunger, weight gain, their relationship with food, poor body image, stress and anxiety and difficulty in falling pregnant and HOW she helps them.

We also talk about the difference between Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in terms of treatment/management and diagnosis. 

For more on Julie visit her website, Instagram (@foodpeacedietitian) or Podcast - Love Food

More information on my services: I help women with HA recover their periods, overcome food fear, inappropriate exercise behaviours, body dysmorphia and poor body image and help them to eat intuitively. I also help women who have had HA become pregnant. My 1:1 coaching program is my most personalised service I offer for women who prefer 1:1 support. I also offer a small group coaching program that still offers 1:1 attention, support and the accountability you need to break through fears and adopting healthy behavior changes. Apply now through my website or book a free discovery call to give me the opportunity to learn more about you, your biggest struggles and discuss ways I can support you. I would love if you would connect with me over on Instagram (@amyleegiannotti)

I believe you cannot heal your relationship with food without addressing your relationship with exercise.

When it comes to the treatment of disordered eating, eating disorders and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (the loss of period) addressing one's relationship with exercise and behaviors cannot be ignored.

Often dieting and compulsive exercise are looked at separately but often the drivers of the behaviours share the same beliefs. For example fear of gaining weight and/or needing a sense of control.

Exercise has an endless list of health benefits but sometimes the way we go about it, exercise can be health limiting. 

Today I am excited to invite Sarah King to the Podcast to share her personal experience with disordered eating and hypothalamic amenorrhea and how that changed the way she works with her clients now and the role of exercise in recovery.

Sarah King is an accredited exercise physiologist, speaker, and health coach, specialising in helping women and girls overcome disordered eating, get their period back, and heal their relationship with food and exercise. Through her own personal journey of overcoming an eating disorder and hypothalamic amenorrhea, she discovered her passion for helping others live their happiest healthiest lives free from body image hang-ups, food rules, or rigid exercise routines.

To learn more about Sarah you can check out her website or follow her on Instagram - @sarahlizling !

More information on my services:

I would love if you would connect with me over on Instagram (@amyleegiannotti)

If you love this episode and think someone else would benefit from listening, please leave a written review, 5 star rating and screen short and share on your socials!

XX