340: Why We Lose Our Periods from Excessive Exercise

As part of the celebration of the new release of Get Your Period Back Playbook available as an anytime purchase, I wanted to record today's episode on a component of hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) that we have yet to discuss, and that's how excessive exercise contributes to HA.   The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis or HPG axis refers to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and gonadal glands almost as if they are a single entity. This axis plays a critical role in the development and regulation of several different body systems like reproduction and immunity. The HPG axis is what controls the cascade of your hormones releasing to create your monthly menstrual cycle, and also what can stop it from happening altogether, too. Remember, HA is when the brain (specifically the hypothalamus) turns "off" the ovulation switch.   The HPG axis is extremely sensitive to the environment. And today we are going to address this from a lens of excessive exercise.   Exercise has benefits no doubt. In a very basic explanation, exercise teaches our bodies to adapt to stress. It's actually a form of stress to the body, typically viewed as a positive stressor, teaching our bodies how to handle stress more effectively.   But when the allostatic load is too much, this positive stressor becomes a negative stressor. And when we have numerous stressors in our lives, from exercise but also our daily lives, work, family, our health habits, and mental stress...it becomes too much stress on our bodies. Listen to today's episode to learn more!   If you struggle with HA and you are ready to regain your health and fertility from HA, you're a perfect fit for Get Your Period Back Playbook. Join GYPB to get your period back with our tested strategy and with the guidance from the team at Nourishing Minds Nutrition.   Announcements: Food & Body Peace Playbook is also open for pre-sale for our April enrollment, if you join before March 11th  you will get a FREE 60 minute session with me, that way you can have a personalized coaching session to help you better implement the strategies you'll learn inside FBPP. We are currently booking for March for individual counseling at our virtual practice, Nourishing Minds Nutrition. If you're looking for intuitive eating and body image support and/or you're in need of anti-diet advice for HA, PCOS and IBS we would love to support you.    Resources for you: Learn more about our services at Nourishing Minds Nutrition. Read testimonials from our amazing clients here.  Join our FREE support group for like-minded women, the Nourishing Women Community for more community & support. Take a look at our online shop, the Wellness Without Obsession Shop, which now includes a self paced online course to begin your intuitive eating journey, the Beginner's Guide to Food & Body Peace.   Let's hang out! Connect with Victoria and the staff at NMN: Victoria's Instagram Victoria's Website Nourishing Minds Nutrition Instagram Nourishing Minds Nutrition website