Joyful Eating for PCOS and Gut Health

Ep 75: No Period, Now What? HA & Fertility with Victoria Myers, RD

Today, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked reasons women lose their periods and struggle to conceive: hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA). Joined by dietitian Victoria Myers, we explore how under-fueling, over-exercising, and chronic stress can cause the brain to essentially shut down ovulation - and why so many women are misdiagnosed with PMOS/PCOS in the process. We also dive into why “just eat more and move less” is unhelpful, the overlap between HA and PMOS/PCOS, and the emotional side of recovery - especially for high-achievers and perfectionists.   We chat: * The physiological connection between under-fueling, stress, and lost cycles * Why the advice to “just eat more and move less” often creates even more confusion in recovery * The overlap between HA and PMOS/PCOS, and how to distinguish between the two * The long-term health consequences of untreated HA beyond fertility * The emotional and psychological side of recovery, including perfectionism, body image, control, and fear around changing exercise habits * Why high-achieving women, athletes, and “healthy eaters” are often the most susceptible * The identity shift that recovery often requires - and why healing is about far more than food alone   This conversation is nuanced, compassionate, and deeply validating for anyone navigating missing periods, fertility struggles, overtraining, or confusion around their hormone health. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “healthy” on paper but your body is telling a different story, this episode is for you.   Want to connect with Victoria? You can reach her virtual nutrition practice at Nourished Fertility [https://www.nourishingmindsnutrition.com/] or follow her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/victoriamyers_/].

Ep 74: PCOS and Binge Eating - Is There a Connection?

If you have PCOS and you've ever eaten past the point of fullness and asked yourself what's wrong with you, then this episode is for you.   The binge-restrict cycle is one of the most common and least talked-about experiences in the PCOS community. And it's never about willpower. In this episode, we're breaking down the real biology behind why blood sugar crashes, insulin resistance, and PCOS-specific hormones make eating feel so hard to control, and what actually helps.   We cover: * Why insulin resistance creates a physiological drive to overeat (and why skipping meals makes it worse) * How leptin resistance, elevated androgens, and chronic inflammation affect your hunger cues * The ADHD-PCOS connection and why this cycle can feel even more intense if you're neurodivergent * What eating patterns actually support steadier blood sugar and appetite regulation * When nutrition alone isn't enough - and what working with a therapist, and nurse, alongside a dietitian actually looks like   This is not a episode about eating less or trying harder. It's about understanding what your body is actually doing, and giving it what it needs.   Ready to work with a team that actually gets PCOS?   Nest & Nurture is a virtual hormone health clinic with dietitians, nurses, and therapists, available across Canada. We take a whole-body approach to PCOS care: nutrition, medical support, and mental health, all under one roof.   Book your first appointment here [https://www.nestandnurturehealth.com/]. We'd love to support you.

Ep 73: 4 Reasons Your “Healthy Lifestyle” Isn’t Fixing Your Hormones

You're eating “healthy,” hitting 30g of protein each meal, getting your 10k steps - but still dealing with blood sugar crashes, bloating, irregular cycles, and ongoing PCOS or endometriosis flare ups. If this sounds familiar, this episode will help you make sense of what’s going on.   We break down 5 common reasons why this is happening and how it shows up in the body: * Why “clean eating” can still leave you under-fuelled and stressed * How too much structure (yes, even with healthy habits) can backfire hormonally * Why blood sugar crashes are often hiding under “good” meals * The stress response your body can stay stuck in, even with perfect routines   And we also give you practical tips along the way so you know what to start shifting right away. Most of the time, it’s not about more effort, it’s about a mismatch between your strategy and what's going to work for you long-term.   If you’re ready for deeper, personalized support, you can work with us 1-on-1 inside our nutrition coaching programs [https://www.nestandnurturehealth.com/personalized-care]for tailored guidance based on your body and lifestyle.   Enjoyed this episode? We'd love to hear it! Add a review, rating and shared with a loved one.

Ep 72: From Fatty Liver to Improved Labs and Daily Energy: A PCOS Success Story

In this episode, we’re sharing a powerful PCOS success story of a client who went from struggling with fatty liver, low energy, and frustrating lab results to seeing meaningful improvements in her health, labs, and day-to-day wellbeing. We walk through what was really going on beneath the surface, the key nutrition and lifestyle shifts we focused on, and how she was able to create sustainable changes without extreme dieting or restriction. This episode is a reminder that progress is possible with the right support, strategy, and consistency - and that improving your labs often starts with small, realistic changes.   In this episode, we cover: * The connection between PCOS and fatty liver * What her labs and symptoms looked like before vs. after * The nutrition strategies that supported her energy and metabolism * How we approached sustainable habit change * What made the biggest difference in her day-to-day symptoms   If you’re ready to get personalized support for your liver function, hormones, gut health, and energy, our 1-on-1 nutrition coaching program is where we help you do this work every day. Apply through the link [https://www.nestandnurturehealth.com/personalized-care] to start your own success story.   Enjoyed the episode? We'd love to hear it! Leave a rating and review to support our show.   References Franciscatto,M.E., Taniguchi,J.B., Wohlenberg,R., Riedi,I.L., & Oppermann,K. (2024). Prevalence and factors associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia,46, e-rbgo81.

Ep 71: 5 Morning Habits That Work for IBS

Mornings can set the tone for the day, and if you have IBS, what you do in the first hours can make a big difference in symptoms like bloating, urgency, constipation, and abdominal pain.   In this episode, I’m sharing five simple morning habits that support gut motility, more regular bowel movements, less bloating, and a calmer nervous system - all key for managing IBS! These aren’t complicated or unrealistic routines, just practical habits you can start right away to make mornings feel less stressful and help your gut feel more predictable throughout the day.   In this episode, we cover: * Why mornings are so important for IBS and digestion * How your nervous system affects your gut first thing in the morning * What to eat for breakfast with IBS * Simple routines to reduce bloating throughout the day * How to create a gut-friendly morning routine that actually sticks   If you’re tired of Googling and want a clear place to start towards better digestion, download our Gut + Hormone Health Toolkit here. Y [https://thegoodlifedietitian.myflodesk.com/hormone-gut-toolkit]ou'll get a free practical guide with daily habits, nutrition strategies, and a planning worksheet to help you start feeling better.   If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to hear it, please leave a rating and review!   References: Ajabnoor, S. M. (2025). Effects of meal regularity and snacking frequency on irritable bowel syndrome. Frontiers in Public Health, 13.  [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1675975] DoiFrontiers | Effects of meal regularity and snacking frequency on irritable bowel syndrome [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1675975] Li, C., Li, J., Zhou, Q., Wang, C., Hu, J., & Liu, C. (2024). Effects of Physical Exercise on the Microbiota in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nutrients, 16(16), 2657–2657. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162657 [https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162657] ‌Salari-Moghaddam, A., Hassanzadeh Keshteli, A., Esmaillzadeh, A., & Adibi, P. (2020). Water consumption and prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome among adults. PLoS ONE, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228205 [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228205] ‌Zhang, C., Zhang, J., Wang, Y., Lang, R., Su, L., Yu, M., Zhao, X., Yang, G., & Ren, Z. (2021). Association between breakfast consumption frequency and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome among Chinese female college students. Medicine, 100(41), e27541. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000027541 [https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000027541]