Functionally Speaking

29. Amenorrhea in Fit Women: What Practitioners Are Overlooking

Why is it that the “healthiest” looking women in the room are often the ones silently missing their periods? In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we unpack one of the most overlooked clinical patterns we see in practice: hypothalamic amenorrhea in lean, active, high-achieving women. We talk about why this gets missed in conventional care, how birth control becomes a band-aid instead of a solution, and why underfueling and overtraining are still wildly under-addressed in “healthy” populations. We also share why this conversation matters even more right now—with GLP-1 use rising, macro coaching everywhere, and cultural pressure to stay lean at all costs. In this episode, we cover: * 01:30 Podcast hiatus announcement  * 02:03 What is Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA) and why it’s missed in “healthy” women * 03:32 Better intake & activity screening * 05:34 Red flags in consults * 06:08 Fertility clinics, low-carb advice, and the birth control “band-aid” problem * 09:18 Recovery reality: energy availability, timelines, and why it takes months * 12:04 Competing goals: endurance training, leanness standards, and fertility tradeoffs * 15:23 How to coach women through change * 18:35 Unqualified macro coaching, low-fat dieting, and missing periods * 20:33 GLP-1s and period loss * 23:15 3 practitioner takeaways Connect with Unconventional Collaborative: Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/ [https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/] Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com [http://unconventionalcollaborative.com] Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative [http://instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative] Connect with Laura Ligos: Website: https://thesassydietitian.com [https://thesassydietitian.com/] Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian [http://instagram.com/thesassydietitian] Connect with Danielle Kepics: Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co] Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics [http://instagram.com/danielle.kepics] The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified provider with questions about your health and never delay seeking care because of something you heard here. Nothing shared by Unconventional Collaborative is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and supplement statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient, provider–client, or supervisory relationship. All practitioners are responsible for interpreting and applying information within the legal and ethical scope of their own training and credentials. If unsure what falls within your scope of practice, consult your licensing or certifying body. Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility for outcomes resulting from use or misuse of this information.

28. Are We Overprescribing Supplements? A Practitioner Reality Check

Are we reaching for bottles before we’ve truly addressed the basics? In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we have a very honest conversation about the supplements we see most overused, overhyped, and misunderstood in practice. We’re not anti-supplement—far from it. But we are pro-context, pro-foundations, and pro-clinical reasoning. We talk about where things like DIM, oregano oil, berberine, zinc, and greens powders can absolutely make sense…and where they turn into shortcuts that bypass the real work. In this episode, we cover: * 02:12 Why we’re talking about the most overrated and misused supplements * 03:28 DIM — when it’s actually appropriate, understanding estrogen pathways, and why it’s often thrown in too quickly * 07:14 Oregano oil — “kill phase” pitfalls, chronic use mistakes, and why timing matters * 10:07 Berberine (aka “Nature’s Ozempic”) — blood sugar benefits, gut impact, and why it should be cycled intentionally * 13:39 Zinc — high-dose mistakes, nausea, mineral imbalances, and how to decide when it’s truly needed * 16:51 Long-term zinc mistakes — copper depletion risks and choosing better forms * 18:00 Greens powders — when they’re overrated, when they’re overused, and when they can actually serve a purpose * 21:14 Fat burners — appetite suppression, elevated heart rate, and the money-grab marketing behind them * 22:15 Biotin and “hair, skin, nails” formulas — why more isn’t better * 24:06 Pre-workout formulas — hidden caffeine and what clients forget to disclose * 26:26 Honorable mentions — iron and multivitamins in the right context (but not indefinitely) * 28:46 Wrap-up, how to connect with us, and what’s coming next Connect with Unconventional Collaborative: Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/ [https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/] Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com [http://unconventionalcollaborative.com] Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative [http://instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative] Connect with Laura Ligos: Website: https://thesassydietitian.com [https://thesassydietitian.com/] Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian [http://instagram.com/thesassydietitian] Connect with Danielle Kepics: Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co] Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics [http://instagram.com/danielle.kepics] The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified provider with questions about your health and never delay seeking care because of something you heard here. Nothing shared by Unconventional Collaborative is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and supplement statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient, provider–client, or supervisory relationship. All practitioners are responsible for interpreting and applying information within the legal and ethical scope of their own training and credentials. If unsure what falls within your scope of practice, consult your licensing or certifying body. Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility for outcomes resulting from use or misuse of this information.

27. When Wellness Becomes a Mask for Disordered Behavior

Is it wellness or is it just disordered behavior in disguise? In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re naming what’s really going on behind the clean eating trends, detox culture, step-count obsession, and hypertracking disguised as health. From “I need to track to eat enough” to “I can’t skip a workout,” we’re breaking down the disordered behaviors that are getting rebranded as commitment, control, or self-care. If you’re a practitioner, you need to know what to look for and how to guide your clients back to true nourishment, flexibility, and health that includes their nervous system too. In this episode, we cover: * 01:22 The rise of disordered behaviors in wellness * 02:33 Why “clean eating” might be harming your clients * 12:33 The deeper issue behind macro tracking and step-count streaks * 23:16 Detoxes and parasite cleanses: wellness or depletion? * 26:13 The hidden obsession behind never missing a workout Links and resources: * Episode 26. Why Postpartum Care Fails and How Practitioners Can Fill the Gaps: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18608520 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18608520] * Episode 25. Let’s Be Honest About Peptides, GLP-1s, and the Real Problem: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18568972 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18568972] * Episode 02. GLP-1s Explained: Risks, Benefits, and Real-World Applications: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/17622871 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/17622871] * Episode 22. The Parasite Cleanse Craze: Marketing, Myths & What You Actually Need: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18452084 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18452084] Connect with Unconventional Collaborative: Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/ [https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/] Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com [http://unconventionalcollaborative.com] Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative [http://instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative] Connect with Laura Ligos: Website: https://thesassydietitian.com [https://thesassydietitian.com/] Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian [http://instagram.com/thesassydietitian] Connect with Danielle Kepics: Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co] Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics [http://instagram.com/danielle.kepics] The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified provider with questions about your health and never delay seeking care because of something you heard here. Nothing shared by Unconventional Collaborative is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and supplement statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient, provider–client, or supervisory relationship. All practitioners are responsible for interpreting and applying information within the legal and ethical scope of their own training and credentials. If unsure what falls within your scope of practice, consult your licensing or certifying body. Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility for outcomes resulting from use or misuse of this information.

26. Why Postpartum Care Fails and How Practitioners Can Fill the Gaps

How did postpartum become a performance sport? Somewhere along the way, we stopped honoring the transformation of motherhood and started racing to “get back” to a body, a life, and a version of ourselves that no longer exists. This week, we’re unpacking all of it—from toxic bounce back culture to body image in preconception care, influencer pressures, postpartum mental health, and how practitioners can help clients navigate this intense season with compassion and realism. In this episode, we cover: * 01:22 The problem with bounce back culture * 02:17 Transparency in postpartum fitness * 03:29 Societal pressures on new mothers * 07:22 Challenges of breastfeeding and returning to work * 08:56 Inadequate postpartum support in the U.S. * 11:44 Why prenatal care needs a radical upgrade * 15:09 Navigating social media while postpartum * 15:52 Real talk about body image and postpartum reality * 16:23 Helping clients embrace body neutrality * 17:21 Unpacking the pressure to ‘get your body back’ * 19:45 Encouraging nourishment and rest over restriction * 20:50 Preconception care and body image support * 25:01 Addressing anxiety in the trying to conceive community * 28:18 Final thoughts and how we can do better Links and resources: * Listen to Episode 13. Postpartum Fitness: Why the Bounce-Back Culture Misses the Point: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18040501 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506559/episodes/18040501] Connect with Unconventional Collaborative: Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/ [https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/] Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com [http://unconventionalcollaborative.com] Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative [http://instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative] Connect with Laura Ligos: Website: https://thesassydietitian.com [https://thesassydietitian.com/] Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian [http://instagram.com/thesassydietitian] Connect with Danielle Kepics: Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co] Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics [http://instagram.com/danielle.kepics] The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified provider with questions about your health and never delay seeking care because of something you heard here. Nothing shared by Unconventional Collaborative is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and supplement statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient, provider–client, or supervisory relationship. All practitioners are responsible for interpreting and applying information within the legal and ethical scope of their own training and credentials. If unsure what falls within your scope of practice, consult your licensing or certifying body. Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility for outcomes resulting from use or misuse of this information.

25. Let’s Be Honest About Peptides, GLP-1s, and the Real Problem

Is it just us, or does it feel like everyone online is suddenly a weight loss expert? Between the nonstop social media promotions for GLP-1s and influencers flaunting their “bounce back” bodies postpartum, the noise can get overwhelming—and dangerously misleading. In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we revisit our conversation on GLP-1s and peptide therapy, but this time through the lens of ethics, marketing responsibility, and how all of it is impacting real people, especially postpartum women. We break down how overprescription happens, how misleading messages go viral, and why so many people are skipping over the foundational questions we should really be asking. In this episode, we cover: * 01:02 A quick refresher on GLP-1s and peptides—why we’re still talking about them * 02:04 What we’re seeing with GLP-1 overprescription (and why it’s concerning) * 05:03 How influencer culture is shaping health decisions—often the wrong way * 06:40 Body image, societal pressure, and the impossible postpartum bounce back * 10:15 Where are the ethics? A real talk on prescribing responsibility * 17:59 Why postpartum women are especially vulnerable to misleading messaging * 25:48 What we want you to take away from this conversation Links and resources: * Listen to Episode 02. GLP-1s Explained: Risks, Benefits, and Real-World Applications: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/02-glp-1s-explained-risks-benefits-and-real-world/id1831430877?i=1000721517545 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/02-glp-1s-explained-risks-benefits-and-real-world/id1831430877?i=1000721517545] Connect with Unconventional Collaborative: Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/ [https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/] Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com [http://unconventionalcollaborative.com] Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative [http://instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative] Connect with Laura Ligos: Website: https://thesassydietitian.com [https://thesassydietitian.com/] Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian [http://instagram.com/thesassydietitian] Connect with Danielle Kepics: Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co] Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics [http://instagram.com/danielle.kepics] The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified provider with questions about your health and never delay seeking care because of something you heard here. Nothing shared by Unconventional Collaborative is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and supplement statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient, provider–client, or supervisory relationship. All practitioners are responsible for interpreting and applying information within the legal and ethical scope of their own training and credentials. If unsure what falls within your scope of practice, consult your licensing or certifying body. Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility for outcomes resulting from use or misuse of this information.