Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast

Lindsey Lusson
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Welcome to the Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast! Here we discuss the challenging, rewarding, and life changing process of recovering your period and finding freedom with food and exercise. Whether you’re hoping to regain your cycle and get your health on track or you're ready to become a momma- this podcast is for you. While the recovery process isn't always rainbows and butterflies, it’s my hope to bring you both information and inspiration during your own recovery journey. I’m your host, Registered Dietitian and fellow HA woman Lindsey Lusson.

  1. FEB 9

    Episode 102: Your Body Isn’t Broken: The Missing Piece in HA & PCOS Recovery

    In this episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey breaks down a complex client case where hypothalamic amenorrhea and PCOS overlapped and why mislabeling the problem kept ovulation from happening for years. This client came in after nine months with no period, a failed Provera challenge, failed ovulation meds, and multiple PCOS diagnoses — even though her labs, symptoms, and history told a very different story. What ultimately helped her ovulate wasn’t trying harder or restricting more — it was proper sequencing, lab-based insight, and restoring safety before treating PCOS physiology. If you’ve ever felt confused by mixed diagnoses or stuck despite “doing everything right,” this episode will help you understand why and what actually works. In this episode, we cover: Why this client’s history and labs pointed to HA, not classic PCOSWhat a failed Provera challenge and low estrogen really indicateHow HA can mask underlying PCOS physiology — and unmask it during recoveryWhy treating PCOS too early can suppress ovulation furtherThe importance of sequencing: restoring safety before addressing insulin and androgensHow lab trends (not single snapshots) guide recovery decisionsThe strategy that led to two natural ovulations — and a spontaneous pregnancy Ready for a Clearer Path Forward? If you’ve been told it’s PCOS, but your story includes restriction, overtraining, or missing periods — there may be more going on beneath the surface. You can apply to work with our team inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society. That application helps us understand your history, your goals, and whether we’re the right fit to support you. Because your body isn’t broken it just needs the right strategy to ovulate again.

    23 min

  2. JAN 26

    Episode 101: When “Eating Enough” Isn’t Enough to Get Your Period Back

    In this clinical case episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey breaks down one of the most confusing period recovery scenarios she’s seen: a client who was eating 2,500–3,000+ calories per day, had gained weight, stopped intense exercise, and still didn’t ovulate for over five years. This episode explores why calories alone don’t turn ovulation back on, and how safety, signaling, nervous system regulation, and control around food and movement can quietly keep reproduction shut down. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m eating enough… so why is nothing changing?” — this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: Why eating more calories doesn’t automatically restore ovulation How ovulation depends on perceived safety, not just intake or weight Why rigid food tracking can suppress fertility even at high calories The difference between weight gain and hormonally supportive body fat How exercise and lifting can divert energy away from reproduction Why fertility meds fail when the brain still feels unsafe The key shifts that allowed ovulation to return within weeks This case is a powerful reminder that the body doesn’t need to be forced into fertility treatment before asking the right questions. When the brain finally believes energy is abundant, reliable, and safe, ovulation can come back online even after years of silence. Ready to Measure Progress and Stop Guessing? Download my free Lab Guide to understand: Which hormone labs to request What optimal ranges look like for health and fertility How to use labs to track real progress (not just effort)

    30 min

  3. JAN 12

    Episode 100: What I’d Do If I Lost My Period Again Today (With Everything I Know Now)

    In this milestone 100th episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey shares a deeply practical, no-fluff conversation about what she would actually do if she woke up tomorrow without a period armed with everything she knows now after helping 400+ women restore their cycles. Instead of a highlight reel or celebration episode, Lindsey walks you through how she would think, prioritize, and sequence recovery not as a checklist, but as a strategic approach rooted in physiology, pattern recognition, and support. If you’ve been “doing all the right things” but still feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure why your period hasn’t returned, this episode will help you zoom out, stop chasing the wrong problem, and reframe what recovery truly requires. In this episode, we cover: Why the first step is zooming out and looking at the last 6–12 months instead of the last week The HA spectrum and how hormonal red flags often appear long before your period disappears Why quick fixes and tweaks fail when the foundation itself needs rebuilding How food becomes both a physical and psychological stressor in period loss Why low energy availability shuts down ovulation regardless of BMI or diagnosis The double impact of under-fueling + fear of food and weight gain Why reducing training is essential to signaling safety, not “giving up” How chronic fight-or-flight keeps reproduction turned off Why objective progress tracking matters and how labs can guide recovery The blind spots of DIY period recovery and when support becomes essential Ready to Measure Progress and Stop Guessing? Download my free Lab Guide to understand: Which hormone labs to request What optimal ranges look like for health and fertility How to use labs to track real progress (not just effort)

    22 min

  4. 12/29/2025

    Episode 99: Getting Honest About Your Relationship With Exercise — You Can’t Heal What You Don’t Acknowledge

    In this episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey has an honest, grounding conversation about exercise, identity, and why so many women stay stuck in recovery without realizing their training habits are part of the problem. If you’re trying to get your period back or hoping to get pregnant in 2026, this episode is a must-listen. Lindsey breaks down why movement that once felt empowering (especially for former athletes or women with a history of restriction) — can quietly work against ovulation and hormone balance when your goals change. Drawing from physiology, lived experience, and years of working with women inside the Food Freedom & Fertility Society, this episode explores how old identities, fear-based movement, and unintentional underfueling can keep your body in survival mode — even when you believe you’re “doing everything right.” If you’ve ever thought: “I eat pretty well and exercise responsibly — why hasn’t my period come back?” this conversation will help you see what might actually need to shift. In this episode, we cover: How athletic identity, discipline, and “pushing through” can quietly work against ovulationThe difference between training for performance vs. training for fertilityHow underfueling happens even when you’re not dieting or intentionally restrictingWhy low energy availability is one of the most common (and overlooked) reasons ovulation doesn’t returnThe physiology behind why your body is saying “not yet” — and why that doesn’t mean it’s brokenWhat training for fertility actually looks like (and why it often feels uncomfortable at first)The mindset shift required to move from fear-based movement to body trust and safetyThe honest questions that reveal whether your current habits are truly aligned with your fertility goals Resources Mentioned: Research on Low Energy Availability (LEA) and ovulatory suppressionSports medicine guidelines on menstrual dysfunction in active womenEpisode 1 of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast (Lindsey’s personal recovery story)Ready to Restore Your Period Without Letting Old Food and Fitness Rules Run Your Life? Watch my free training: How To Recover Your Period and Get Pregnant With the Food Freedom Fertility Society You’ll learn exactly what’s keeping you stuck — and the proven path to recovery inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society.

    27 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    Episode 98: 5 Things That Helped Me Overcome My Fear of Weight Gain

    Episode 98: 5 Things That Helped Me Overcome My Fear of Weight Gain In this episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey opens up about one of the biggest fears women face in hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery: the fear of weight gain. After years of disordered eating, compulsive exercise, and living in a body that was far below her natural set point, Lindsey shares the mindset shifts, science, faith, and lived experiences that helped her finally let go of control — and ultimately restore her period, heal her relationship with food, and get pregnant naturally. If you’ve ever thought: “I know I need to gain weight… but I’m terrified,” this episode is a must-listen. These are the exact tools Lindsey used to overcome 15+ years of body image struggles and build the freedom-based relationship with her body she has today. In this episode: How curating your social media feed can rewire body image beliefs and stop reinforcing the “smaller is better” narrativeThe science behind HAES, set point theory, and weight bias — and how education dismantles fearGetting radically honest about under-eating, over-exercising, and long-term weight suppressionWhy weight gain is often the missing link for ovulation and pregnancy (even when your BMI is “normal”)How faith, surrender, and true exposure to weight gain helped Lindsey break free from quasi-recoveryWhy avoiding full weight restoration keeps you stuck — and the identity shift that happens when you finally let goWhat real freedom feels like when you stop fighting your body’s natural sizeResources Mentioned: Health at Every Size (HAES) frameworkIntuitive Eating principlesEpisode 1 of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast (Lindsey’s personal story) Ready to Restore Your Period Without Obsessing Over Every Bite? Watch my free training: How To Recover Your Period and Get Pregnant With the Food Freedom Fertility Society You’ll learn exactly what’s keeping you stuck — and the proven path to recovery inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society.

    29 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    Episode 97: From HA to Healthy Pregnancy: How a Touring Musician Got Her Period Back Naturally

    In this episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey sits down with former client Taylor, a full-time touring musician and songwriter who went from years of restrictive eating, industry pressure, and a completely missing period… to restoring her cycle naturally and getting pregnant on the very first month she and her husband tried. If you've ever felt like your lifestyle is “too busy,” “too demanding,” or “too public” for recovery — or you fear what will happen if you stop controlling food and movement — Taylor’s story will remind you what’s possible when your body finally feels safe again.In this episode: How childhood body comments and teasing can shape your body image as adult The hidden pressure of the music industry — and how praise for extreme leanness can reinforce disordered habitsWhen your wedding diet spirals into panic attacks, IBS, and insomniaWhy Taylor chose to join the Food Freedom Fertility Society (even though she was terrified to change)Getting your first natural period in just 5 weeks — after years of suppression on birth controlHow to protect progress while performing, traveling, and touring across multiple statesThe shocking way Taylor found out she was pregnant on her first “try” Advice for the high-achieving woman who keeps waiting for the “right time” to start recoveryReady to Understand What’s Keeping You Stuck?Take my free quiz: Fertility Fix for the Fit GirlGet your personalized report and the next steps your body needs to restore ovulation naturally.

    54 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    Episode 96: She Got Pregnant on Her 1st Ovulation… After Thinking Recovery “Would Never Work”

    In this episode of the Period Recovery & Fertility Podcast, Lindsey sits down with former client Tori, who went from years of missing periods, two rounds of amenorrhea, and “DIY recovery”… to restoring ovulation and getting pregnant on her very first ovulation inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society. She’s now 27 weeks along and thriving. If you've ever thought “Why isn’t this working for me?”, “I should be able to fix this myself,” or “I’m scared to ask for help,” this episode will speak straight to your heart.

    32 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    Ep 95: Stress, Missing Periods & Your Long-Term Health: Understanding HA with Dr. Chrisandra Shufelt of Mayo Clinic

    If you’ve ever been told to “just go back on the pill” when you lost your period, or you’ve been dismissed with a misdiagnosis like “PCOS type D,” this episode is a must-listen. Today, Lindsey sits down with Dr. Chrisandra Shufelt, Chair of General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and a leading researcher in Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (FHA). Dr. Shufelt has spent decades studying how hormones, stress, metabolism, and lifestyle interact to influence women’s health—especially heart health. Together, they break down: What FHA actually is (spoiler: it’s not just “no period”). Why high-functioning, health-conscious women often miss the diagnosis. How low estrogen + chronic stress impacts bone density, cardiovascular function, inflammation, and brain signaling—even when you feel “fine.” Why one in every three women with FHA may already be showing early cardiovascular changes, even in their 20s. How ongoing research is working to improve diagnosis, treatment, and awareness—including two major new studies that need participant voices. This is a supportive, science-backed, empowering conversation that every active woman needs to hear. About Our GuestDr. Chrisandra Shufelt, MD, MS Chair, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville International researcher in women’s hormonal health, cardiovascular risk, and menopause Principal investigator on multiple studies examining FHA and long-term health outcomes Resources & Research Participation Dr. Shufelt and her team are actively recruiting for two important research studies: 1. REVEAL Registry (Virtual / Worldwide)For women with missing or irregular cycles, with or without a formal diagnosis.No clinic visit required. → Join the REVEAL Registry: https://noperiod.info/reveal 2. ARCH FHA Study – Mayo Clinic Jacksonville (Travel Stipend Provided)A 3-month research study evaluating cardiovascular + bone health in women with FHA.Travel expenses are covered. → Apply for the ARCH Study: https://noperiod.info/arch Connect with Lindsey: Instagram: @‌food.freedom.fertility Website: www.foodfreedomandfertility.com/ Twitter:@lindseylusson Tiktok: @‌food.freedom.fertility

    40 min
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About

Welcome to the Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast! Here we discuss the challenging, rewarding, and life changing process of recovering your period and finding freedom with food and exercise. Whether you’re hoping to regain your cycle and get your health on track or you're ready to become a momma- this podcast is for you. While the recovery process isn't always rainbows and butterflies, it’s my hope to bring you both information and inspiration during your own recovery journey. I’m your host, Registered Dietitian and fellow HA woman Lindsey Lusson.

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