What happens when you finally get your period back… only to lose it again?

In this deeply honest conversation, Cynthia sits down with Audrey to talk about her experience with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), exercise obsession, food rigidity, perfectionism, and the identity crisis that can happen during recovery.

Audrey shares how calorie counting, overexercise, and chasing the “healthy girl” image slowly disconnected her from herself — and why getting her cycle back required so much more than simply eating more food.

Together, they discuss:

• Why HA recovery is about more than food and exercise
• The hidden identity piece behind missing periods
• Why getting your period back once doesn’t always mean full recovery
• Exercise addiction, perfectionism, and needing external validation
• Learning to feel safe in your body again
• The emotional side of weight gain during HA recovery
• How hormones impact mood, relationships, joy, and creativity
• Why community and accountability changed everything
• Dating, relationships, and regaining emotional capacity after HA
• The difference between “looking healthy” and actually being healthy
• What helped Audrey keep her period long-term

This episode is for any woman struggling with:

• Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA)
• Missing or irregular periods
• RED-S
• Exercise obsession
• Food guilt and rigidity
• Fear of weight gain
• Identity loss during recovery
• Fertility concerns
• Overtraining and underfueling

You are not broken. Your body is communicating with you.

Listen in for one of the most powerful recovery conversations yet.

Apply for Recipe for a Period coaching w/Cynthia: https://www.periodnutritionist.com/applyforcoaching

New to HA? Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Trying +3 months to get your period back? Click here to download the Safety Worksheet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theperiodnutritionist

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

If someone you love is recovering from hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), period loss, or disordered eating, this episode is for you. Cynthia Donovan shares what women in HA recovery wish their partners, parents, family, and friends understood about weight gain, food fears, exercise loss, fertility struggles, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm during recovery.

In this episode:

• What NOT to say to someone recovering their period
• Why comments like “you’re eating enough” can hurt recovery
• How HA recovery impacts relationships and mental health
• The emotional side of hypothalamic amenorrhea
• How to truly support a woman recovering from HA

This episode is designed to help women feel seen while helping loved ones better understand the recovery journey.

And, be sure to refer back to Isabelle and Dylan's episode to hear more from a partner's perspective: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-partners-perspective-navigating-love-and/id1623840946?i=1000649981061

Apply for Recipe for a Period coaching w/Cynthia: https://www.periodnutritionist.com/applyforcoaching

New to HA? Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Trying +3 months to get your period back? Click here to download the Safety Worksheet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theperiodnutritionist

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

#HypothalamicAmenorrhea #HARecovery #PeriodRecovery #MissingPeriod #FertilityRecovery #AmenorrheaRecovery #WomensHealth #DisorderedEating #HormoneHealth #ThePeriodRecoveryPodcast

If you’ve lost your period, are struggling with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), or feel like you’re doing everything right but still not seeing results, this episode will open your eyes to a missing piece most women overlook.

In this conversation, Cynthia Donovan, Registered Dietitian and period recovery expert, sits down with breathwork and nervous system coach Sally Davidson to explore how chronic stress, anxiety, and an overactive nervous system can directly impact your hormones, fertility, and ability to get your period back.

Inside this episode, we cover:

• What hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) actually is and why your period goes missing
• How stress and nervous system dysregulation shut down ovulation
• Why food alone isn’t enough to get your period back
• The connection between anxiety, overtraining, and hormone imbalance
• How breathwork supports nervous system regulation and healing
• Simple ways to start slowing down—even if you feel stuck in go-go-go mode

If you’re currently dealing with:

• Missing periods
• Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA)
• Fertility struggles
• Hormone imbalance
• Overtraining and under-fueling

This episode will help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you all along and give you practical tools to start shifting it.

Apply for Recipe for a Period coaching w/Cynthia: https://www.periodnutritionist.com/applyforcoaching

New to HA? Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Trying +3 months to get your period back? Click here to download the Safety Worksheet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theperiodnutritionist 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

Sally Davidson is a Conscious & Embodiment Leadership Coach, Registered Nurse with over 30 years of clinical experience, Shamanic Reiki Master, and trauma-informed breathwork and somatic healing practitioner with a focus on the nervous system. She is the founder of Rooted Soul, co-founder of Rooted & Radiant Retreats, and host of The Connection Project podcast.

Sally works with clients virtually and in-person through private 1:1 coaching, group containers, transformational retreats, and immersive corporate experiences , and is based in Remsen, NY.

Connect with Sally Davidson:

Website: sallydavidsoncoach.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @sallydavidsoncoach  https://www.instagram.com/sallydavidsoncoach_breathwork/

Facebook: sallydavidson
Linkedin: Sallydavidson 

If you’ve lost your period, are struggling with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), or feel like you’re doing everything right but still not seeing results, this episode will open your eyes to a missing piece most women overlook.

In this conversation, Cynthia Donovan, Registered Dietitian and period recovery expert, sits down with breathwork and nervous system coach Sally Davidson to explore how chronic stress, anxiety, and an overactive nervous system can directly impact your hormones, fertility, and ability to get your period back.

Because here’s the truth:
You can’t heal a body that doesn’t feel safe.

And for many high-achieving, active women, their body has been stuck in fight-or-flight mode for years, making true recovery from HA nearly impossible.

This episode we cover:

• What hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) actually is and why your period goes missing
• How stress and nervous system dysregulation shut down ovulation
• Why food alone isn’t enough to get your period back
• The connection between anxiety, overtraining, and hormone imbalance
• How breathwork supports nervous system regulation and healing
• Simple ways to start slowing down—even if you feel stuck in go-go-go mode

✨ And most importantly, you’ll leave this episode with 2 tangible ways to start practicing breathwork in your daily life, so you can begin supporting your nervous system immediately.

Sally also shares her personal story of burnout, panic attacks, and chronic pain, and how learning to regulate her nervous system through breathwork completely transformed her health.

Cynthia ties this back to period recovery, emphasizing that while proper nourishment is essential, your body also needs safety, rest, and regulation to restore your cycle and fertility.

If you’re currently dealing with:

• Missing periods
• Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA)
• Fertility struggles
• Hormone imbalance
• Overtraining and under-fueling

This episode will help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you all along and give you practical tools to start shifting it.

Apply for Recipe for a Period coaching w/Cynthia: https://www.periodnutritionist.com/applyforcoaching

New to HA? Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Trying +3 months to get your period back? Click here to download the Safety Worksheet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theperiodnutritionist 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

Connect with Sally Davidson:

Website: sallydavidsoncoach.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @sallydavidsoncoach  https://www.instagram.com/sallydavidsoncoach_breathwork/

Facebook: sallydavidson
Linkedin: Sallydavidson 

In this episode of The Period Recovery Podcast, Cynthia talks with Julia about her journey through hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), being told IVF was likely her next step, and how she got her period back naturally before going on to become a mom.

Julia shares what life looked like when she was over-exercising, under-fueling, and being praised for looking “healthy” while her period was missing. She opens up about the fear of body changes, the pressure to keep up her identity around fitness, and the internal dialogue that made recovery feel overwhelming.

Together, they talk about:
 what it was like to be told she may need IVF
 how HA recovery helped her get her period back naturally
 the mindset shift from control to surrender
 why support made all the difference
 how period recovery changed her relationship with food, movement, and motherhood

If you have hypothalamic amenorrhea, a missing period, or have been told IVF is your only option, this episode will show you that recovery may be more possible than you think.

Apply for coaching w/Cynthia:  https://0u8h3wddwmr.typeform.com/StrategyCall

Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Website: https://www.periodnutritionist.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

For the full show notes - please visit my website: periodnutritionist.com 

If you feel like you are doing everything “right” in period recovery but still do not have your period back, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I am talking about something so many women experience during hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery but rarely say out loud: living in your head during recovery.

Maybe you are eating more, resting more, cutting back on exercise, and trying so hard to follow all the “rules” of HA recovery… but mentally, you are exhausted. You are constantly checking symptoms, questioning if you are doing enough, worrying that it is not working fast enough, and wondering if your body is the exception.

In this episode, I break down why overthinking, perfectionism, fear, and constant mental checking can keep your body stuck in urgency even when you are making changes with food and exercise. I also share simple tools to help you feel safer in your body, regulate your nervous system, and stop treating recovery like a problem to solve.

We also talk about:
 • why period recovery is often the first place women hit the limits of over-functioning
 • the connection between stress, body safety, and missing periods
 • why you cannot overachieve your way into getting your cycle back
 • how nervous system support matters in hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery
 • signs you may be stuck in timeline anxiety during HA recovery
 • practical tools to stop spiraling and come back to the present moment
 • a real client story about what changed when she stopped living in constant urgency

If your missing period recovery feels mentally exhausting, this episode will help you understand what is happening beneath the surface and why recovery is about more than just food and rest.

If this episode resonated with you and you want support, you can apply for my Recipe for a Period program through the link in the show notes.

Apply for coaching w/Cynthia:  https://0u8h3wddwmr.typeform.com/StrategyCall

Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Website: https://www.periodnutritionist.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

For the full show notes - please visit my website: periodnutritionist.com 

 What do you wear when your body is changing in missing period recovery?

In this conversation, Cynthia Donovan and Nicole Garfunkel talk about the part of hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery that no one really prepares you for: getting dressed in a changing body. From cleaning out your closet to shopping for clothes that actually fit, to handling summer clothes, swimsuits, and body image triggers, this episode is a real and practical conversation for women in period recovery.

Inside this episode:
 missing period recovery and body image
 how to dress a changing body
 shopping for clothes during hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery
 summer outfit struggles in HA recovery
 how clothes can support confidence, comfort, and nervous system safety

If you’ve been avoiding shopping, holding onto clothes that no longer fit, or feeling stuck in your body during period recovery, press play.

Apply for coaching w/Cynthia:  https://0u8h3wddwmr.typeform.com/StrategyCall

Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Website: https://www.periodnutritionist.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

For the full show notes - please visit my website: periodnutritionist.com 

In this episode, Cynthia Donovan, period nutritionist and women’s health advocate, sits down with Laura Ligos, RDN, a registered dietitian with 14 years of experience in women’s health, fertility, and hormonal health.

Together, they unpack the reality many women face when navigating fertility treatments like IVF and IUI — including dismissal by healthcare providers, rushed timelines, and a lack of focus on nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

If you’ve ever felt unheard in your fertility journey, this conversation will validate your experience and equip you with tools to advocate for yourself.

We discuss:

• The critical role of nutrition in fertility and hormonal health
• Why lifestyle factors matter before IVF or IUI
• The emotional impact of tracking ovulation
• How fertility treatments can sometimes overlook underlying issues
• Why women’s health advocacy is essential in today’s healthcare system
• The importance of self-care during fertility treatments
• How community support changes outcomes

Laura shares practical insight into how hormonal health affects fertility and why women deserve comprehensive care — not just a prescription or procedure.

Whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, considering IVF or IUI, or simply want to optimize your women’s health, this episode offers grounded, evidence-based insight rooted in both nutrition science and real clinical experience.

You deserve to be listened to.
 You deserve informed care.
 You deserve community.

Apply for coaching w/Cynthia:  https://0u8h3wddwmr.typeform.com/StrategyCall

Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Website: https://www.periodnutritionist.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

Connect with Laura Ligos, RDN

Website: https://thesassydietitian.com/

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thesassydietitian https://www.instagram.com/thesassydietitian

TikTok: @thesassydietitian https://www.tiktok.com/@thesassydietitian

Cookbook 1: https://amzn.to/4bDgI3D
Cookbook 2: https://amzn.to/4bzgiez

For the full show notes - please visit my website: periodnutritionist.com 

In this episode of The Period Recovery Podcast, I’m sitting down with Sarah, a registered dietitian and former D1 swimmer, to talk about what it looks like when you “technically never really had a period,” get placed on birth control as a teenager, and then come off the pill years later… only to realize your body still isn’t ovulating.

Sarah shares what it was like being told “it’s normal” because she was lean, athletic, and stressed, how intense training and under-fueling quietly shaped her hormones over time, and why she refused to go back on birth control when her doctor suggested it. We also go deep into the part women don’t expect: how period recovery isn’t just about getting bleeding back — it’s about safety in the body, identity, nervous system regulation, and learning how to let go when your brain is wired for discipline.

If you’re dealing with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), missing periods after stopping birth control, or you’re “doing all the things” (eating more, resting more) but still stuck in your head… this one will land.

What we cover:

• “I never really had a period” — primary amenorrhea, birth control, and the confusion it creates
• D1 training, under-fueling, and why your nervous system may never feel “safe”
• Missing periods after stopping the pill (post-pill amenorrhea vs HA)
• Why doctors often recommend the pill (and what that misses)
• Estrogen, bone health, and cardiovascular risk when cycles are absent
• The discipline trap: when athlete mindset becomes food control
• The hardest part of recovery: uncertainty, identity, and weight gain fears
• Why some women get their period back right after committing to support
• How life can feel “fine” and still get bigger, deeper, and more beautiful in recovery
• What to do when you get 1–2 cycles and the next one doesn’t show up

If you want support restoring your cycle while keeping an active lifestyle (without living in your head), apply for coaching here:  https://0u8h3wddwmr.typeform.com/StrategyCall

Discover the truth about HA:  click the link to download Cynthia's fact sheet that debunks common myths and misinformation! 

Website: https://www.periodnutritionist.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist

For the full show notes - please visit my website: periodnutritionist.com 

Have you been eating more, resting more, doing all the “right” things for period recovery and still feel anxious, stuck, or mentally exhausted?

You’re not crazy. And you’re not alone.

In this episode of The Period Recovery Podcast, Cynthia Donovan, registered dietitian and period recovery expert, speaks directly to the woman who feels like she traded one obsession for another  from food and exercise to constant overthinking about getting her period back.

We explore:

• Why period recovery can feel mentally harder than the physical changes
• Why eating more and resting more doesn’t always feel calming at first
• How anxiety, overthinking, and guilt are linked to your nervous system
• The difference between intuition and old programming
• Simple nervous system tools to help you get out of your head and back into your body

This episode is not about what to eat or how to exercise, it’s about understanding why your thoughts feel so loud, why food can feel “unsafe,” and how to create real safety in your body so hormones can heal.

If you’re recovering from hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), missing your period, or struggling with anxiety during period recovery, this episode will help you feel seen, grounded, and supported.

 Listen now and remind yourself: your body knows exactly what it’s doing.

For the full show notes - please visit my website: periodnutritionist.com