The Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Podcast

358. What Is True Health? Why Your Menstrual Cycle Matters More Than How You Look

In this episode, Dani, Mishi, and Abby sit down to unpack a question that most people think they know the answer to…What does it actually mean to be healthy? Because right now, we’re being flooded with wellness advice, trends, and “healthy” lifestyles… But much of what’s being sold as health is actually just a look. And that’s where things start to break down. In this conversation, we challenge the mainstream definition of health and bring it back to what actually matters: 👉 your physiology 👉 your menstrual cycle 👉 and your overall well-being (not just how your body looks) We talk about why your cycle should be front and center in the health conversation and how ignoring it is one of the biggest blind spots in modern wellness. In this episode, we cover: 1. Why most “health” advice is actually selling you an aesthetic 2. The difference between looking healthy vs. being healthy 3. Why your menstrual cycle is a key indicator of true health 4. How to use your cycle (charting/FAM) as a diagnostic tool 5. The disconnect between diet culture and female physiology 6. How societal conditioning shapes your definition of health 7. The mental and emotional side of health (that often gets ignored) 8. Why many women are praised for habits that are actually harming them 9. How to redefine health in a way that actually supports your body Key Takeaway: Health isn’t something you can see at a glance. It’s reflected in how your body is functioning and for women, your menstrual cycle is one of the clearest signals you have. If your version of health is costing you your cycle, your energy, or your relationship with food… it’s worth asking: 👉 Is it actually health? Or just what you’ve been taught to chase? Metabolism article and video: https://www.thehasociety.com/articles/why-weight-gain-happens-during-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-recovery [https://www.thehasociety.com/articles/why-weight-gain-happens-during-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-recovery] Learn more about HHAP: https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/ [https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/] Work 1:1 with us to get your period back http://thehasociety.com/coaching [http://thehasociety.com/coaching] Visit us on YouTube https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff [https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff] Follow us on IG http://instagram.com/thehasociety [http://instagram.com/thehasociety] http://instagram.com/danisheriff [http://instagram.com/danisheriff] https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_ [https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_] https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia [https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia] https://www.instagram.com/abbylowekey/ [https://www.instagram.com/abbylowekey/] The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.

357. From Rock Bottom to Recovery: How Lucy Got Her Period Back After a Lifelong ED

In this episode, I sit down with past client and HHAP graduate, Lucy C, to share her powerful recovery story from a long-standing eating disorder and hypothalamic amenorrhea. Lucy opens up about how her eating disorder began early in life as a response to bullying, and how it evolved into a severe coping mechanism that impacted both her physical and mental health for years. In this episode we cover: 1. The reality of living with a severe eating disorder 2. Navigating recovery while following a vegan lifestyle 3. The moment Lucy surrendered to the recovery process and allowed her body to change 4. How weight gain played a crucial role in both her mental and physical healing 5. Being advised to go on HRT and how she navigated that decision 6. What actually helped her restore her cycle after years of HA Lucy also shares what it’s been like stepping into the role of a practitioner through the HHAP certification, and how she now supports other women on similar journeys. This episode is a reminder that no matter how long you’ve been struggling, you are not too far gone to heal. Become a HHAP Coach: https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/ [https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/] Work 1:1 with us to get your period back http://thehasociety.com/coaching [http://thehasociety.com/coaching] Visit us on YouTube https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff [https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff] Try our beef liver & oyster: https://www.joolwellness.com/ [https://www.joolwellness.com/] Follow us on IG http://instagram.com/thehasociety [http://instagram.com/thehasociety] http://instagram.com/danisheriff [http://instagram.com/danisheriff] https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_ [https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_] https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia [https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia] The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.

Lucy (Dr. Weeks), a Dr for 13 years before she figured HA out...(Replay)

Lucy (Dr. Weeks), a student of the HHAP program, comes on the show today to share her story of amenorrhea, many unsuccessful rounds of IVF, two successful rounds of IVF, her experience as a student doctor and practicing doctor who is also dealing with this issue. Join The Period Recovery Mastermind https://holistichapractitioner.com/mastermind [https://holistichapractitioner.com/mastermind] Work 1:1 with us to get your period back http://thehasociety.com/coaching [http://thehasociety.com/coaching] Visit us on YouTube https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff [https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff] The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.

356. Accepting You Need To Rest to Get Your Period Back | The Disciplined Woman

In this episode we're talking about a topic of conversation that has been coming up a lot inside of The HA Society (our community for women with HA) so I wanted to share it. When you're a highly motivated, strong willed and disciplined woman, it's hard to put those things down in the name of rest. For so long your body has been a vehicle for you to achieve, achieve, achieve... so when your body finally tells you enough ... in the way of losing your period, chronic fatigue, infertility - whatever it is, and you have to listen... listening to it is hard. It's like hearing from a neglected friend how you've hurt them but also not really wanting to change your treatment of them. You desire to want to change, but you don't really want to. That's a hard spot. Let's talk about it! Join the Mastermind https://holistichapractitioner.com/mastermind [https://holistichapractitioner.com/mastermind] Work 1:1 with us to get your period back http://thehasociety.com/coaching [http://thehasociety.com/coaching] Visit us on YouTube https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff [https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff] Follow us on IG http://instagram.com/thehasociety [http://instagram.com/thehasociety] http://instagram.com/danisheriff [http://instagram.com/danisheriff] https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_ [https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_] https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia [https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia] The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.

355. Lab Work in HA: What Does It Look Like and When Do You Pull It and How Do You Use It?

This podcast episode walks through how we use lab work before working with a woman with hypothalamic amenorrhea, when we use and how to understand it for your missing period. Join the Mastermind https://holistichapractitioner.com/mastermind [https://holistichapractitioner.com/mastermind] Become a Coach: https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/ [https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/] Get the Lab Guide https://thehasociety.com/labguide [https://thehasociety.com/labguide] Work 1:1 with us to get your period back http://thehasociety.com/coaching [http://thehasociety.com/coaching] Visit us on YouTube https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff [https://youtube.com/c/danisheriff] Follow us on IG http://instagram.com/thehasociety [http://instagram.com/thehasociety] http://instagram.com/danisheriff [http://instagram.com/danisheriff] https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_ [https://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_] https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia [https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia] The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.