Postpartum Healing, Weight Loss Journey, And Getting Back To Myself

In this solo episode, I open up about one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life, when I was deep in PCOS flare-ups, facing months of negative pregnancy tests and irregular cycles, and quietly questioning if I would ever become a mom. I share a pivotal moment at a friend’s wedding that completely blindsided me and brought up intense jealousy, shame, and the painful feeling that I was “so far behind,” especially within an Orthodox Jewish community where marriage and babies can feel closely tied to your sense of progress and belonging.Listen in to hear me share:What infertility and PCOS flare-ups felt like emotionally and socially in a tight-knit communityThe identity and worthiness struggles that surfaced when motherhood felt out of reachHow opening up to the right person helped break the isolation and normalize my triggersThe coping tools that helped me survive that season, including distraction, intentional joy, and feeling proactive through medical and lifestyle changesWhy expanding your identity beyond “trying to get pregnant” is so crucial for your mental health+So much moreConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In today's episode we're going to talk about about a common concern I hear from women before they start focusing on eating for fertility: What if this morphs into unhealthy obsession/disordered eating?It's a great question and a fair concern. How do we balance the importance of striving for a consistently healthy diet while also maintaining a healthy relationship with food?In today's episode, we're talking all about intuitive eating, and how it can actually go hand-in-hand with eating for fertility.Here’s what I break down:Why so many women are afraid that having nutrition targets will automatically turn into food obsessionWhat Intuitive Eating actually is, including the 10-principle framework created by dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch for eating disorder recovery, and why it wasn’t specifically designed to regulate cycles, treat PCOS, or improve fertilityWhy intuitive eating and fertility nutrition are not opposites, but why nutrition education often needs to come firstHow our cravings, “healthy meal” ideas, and food rules are shaped by upbringing and diet cultureWhy many gut-health habits, like eating enough fiber or fermented foods, are not naturally intuitiveWhy extreme calorie restriction can slow your metabolism and negatively affect ovulationWhy ignoring hunger cues can damage trust with your bodyWhat “making peace with food” really means to me, including letting go of “good” and “bad” food languageHow I personally had to learn to honor fullnessWhy your hormones respond to consistent patterns over time, not one imperfect mealWhy women with PCOS are at higher risk for eating disorders, and the red flags I want you to watch for, like anxiety around social meals, skipping events, compensatory exercise, or obsessive trackingThe difference between intentional, flexible nourishment and punishing, rule-following eatingHow to adjust protein and blood sugar targets when life is hectic without falling into all-or-nothing thinkingAnd why your nutrition plan should calm your nervous system, not stress you out+so much moreConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you...

In this episode, I address a common and often confusing question many women ask when preparing for pregnancy: do you need to detox first?I break down the myths around detoxing and reframe the conversation around supporting the body’s natural detox systems rather than relying on extreme or stressful approaches. I wok a lot with women coming off birth control and trying to conceive, offering practical, realistic guidance that feels accessible and grounding.Listen in to hear me share:Why “detoxing” before pregnancy is important, but not by doing juice cleanses or other extreme protocolsThe key detox systems in the body, including digestion, liver function, lymphatic system, and the kidneysSimple ways to support natural detoxification through food, hydration, and movementHow reducing everyday environmental toxin exposure can make a meaningful differenceHow to detox after coming off of hormonal birth control+So much moreConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Dr. Yardena Bauer is a psychologist and researcher specializing in psychology, physiology, dietetics, nutrition, neuroscience, and endocrinology.She works at the intersection of women’s hormonal health and behavior, with a particular focus on how modern lifestyles impact fertility and overall well-being.Her work centers on translating complex hormonal and neurological science into practical, actionable guidance for women. Dr. Bauer holds advanced degrees in psychology and related health sciences and is known for her integrative, science-based approach to women’s health. Originally trained in the clinical and research worlds, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to understanding hormones, behavior, and fertility.Listen in to hear Dr. Yardena Bauer share:How insulin resistance, dopamine, and willpower fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and what that means for daily life The often-overlooked impact of modern lifestyle factors, especially sleep deprivation, on hormonal balance and fertility Practical, realistic strategies women can use to improve hormonal health without overhauling their entire lives A nuanced discussion on birth control pills, including benefits, trade-offs, and long-term considerations Why sleep may be the single most powerful lever for regulating hormones, reducing stress, and supporting fertility+so much moreConnect with Dr. Yardena BauerInstagramWebsiteConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, I explore why so many healthy habits fail to stick and what actually leads to long-term, sustainable change. Instead of chasing short-term outcomes, I break down the importance of building a health-oriented identity that supports consistent habits over time.Listen in to hear me share:Why healthy habits often fail to stick long termHow creating identity-based habits can solve the problemHow small habits reinforce self-trust and long-term consistencyNavigating modern challenges like technology, convenience, and burnoutAdapting your habits to fit the season you're in without abandoning your progressA quick challenge to help reinforce the identity you want to build+so much moreConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Victoria Myers is a registered dietitian and period recovery specialist who has spent over a decade helping women recover from hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), restore their fertility, and feel at home in their bodies again. She works closely with women who have lost their periods due to chronic under-fueling, over-exercising, and high stress, guiding them toward sustainable healing rather than quick fixes. Victoria holds professional credentials as a registered dietitian and brings deep clinical experience in fertility, hormone health, and disordered-eating recovery.Listen in to hear Victoria Myers share:What hypothalamic amenorrhea is, how it develops, and why it is fundamentally different from PCOSKey red flags and “healthy” habits that may actually be contributing to HA, including over-exercise and restrictive eatingWhy jumping straight to IVF or fertility treatments can be risky for women with HA, and what needs to be addressed firstWhat’s really happening hormonally with estrogen, cortisol, LH, and progesterone during HASurprising symptoms of HA, like frequent urination, and why they’re often overlookedHow pregnancy and postpartum can be vulnerable periods for relapse, and what women with HA need to prioritize during those stagesThe impact of chronic stress, social media health culture, and misinformation on women struggling with HAPractical insights into labs, recovery timelines, and rebuilding a healthy relationship with food and movementso much moreThis episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating missing periods, fertility challenges, or the blurred line between “healthy” living and disordered behaviors—and for anyone who wants a clearer understanding of why HA requires a completely different approach than PCOS.Connect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, I address one of the most common and frustrating messages women hear when trying to conceive: that you must lose weight in order to get pregnant. I unpack the nuanced relationship between weight, metabolism, and fertility, drawing from research, clinical insight, and my work with clients, with a particular focus on PCOS, insulin resistance, and newer medical tools like GLP-1 medications. My goal is to move this conversation away from shame and oversimplification and toward clarity, empowerment, and true metabolic health.Listen in to hear me share:The connection between BMI and fertility outcomes, and why this doesn't tell the whole storyWhat actually drives fertility challenges, including insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and stressHow improving diet, lifestyle, movement, and nervous system regulation can support fertility without obsessing over the number on the scaleWhy weight loss may happen as a side effect of treating the root cause of your fertility challengesMy thoughts on GLP-1 medications and fertility, including when they may be helpful, their limitations, and why habits still matterHow to reframe fertility support around nourishment, metabolic health, and long-term well-being, and why that shift can be so powerful+ so much moreConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Download my new, FREE guide:Help! I Just Got Diagnosed With PCOS hereIn this solo episode, I speak directly to women who have recently been diagnosed with PCOS. I share my own journey from the fear and confusion of diagnosis to understanding my body, healing my hormones, and ultimately achieving natural pregnancies. This episode is both personal and practical, grounded in lived experience and evidence-based guidance, with the goal of helping you feel informed, empowered, and hopeful.Listen in to hear me share:A clear explanation of what PCOS actually is, how it’s diagnosed, and why it looks different for every womanThe root causes of PCOSHow each root cause impacts hormones and ovulationWhy diet and lifestyle changes compliment medical interventions for PCOSPractical, actionable steps you can start taking to balance blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and address PCOS at the rootWhy knowledge, support, and small consistent changes can be incredibly empowering when you’re managing PCOS naturallyFree resources to help you take charge of your PCOS with confidence and clarity+ so much more!Connect with Lauren:InstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Today's episode is brought to you by Masterclass.Sign up for Masterclass here: https://masterclass.pxf.io/LKvJZZIn today's episode, I’m sharing part two of my postpartum healing journey.In this episode, I share:The physical and emotional toll of postpartum recovery after a painful pregnancyHow I navigated prenatal depression, weight changes, and limited mobilityThe fitness and rehab routines that slowly helped me walk againWhy self-care and support — especially a summer with family — made all the differenceHow I’m using meditation to support my mental and emotional healingWhat it looks like to balance motherhood and self-growthso much moreIf you’re in a season of rebuilding, this one’s for you. You're not alone — and healing is possible.Connect with Lauren:InstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode I sat down with Brittany Metka from The cycology lab to talk about what it really looks like to prepare for pregnancy in today’s world — a world filled with toxins, stress, and confusing advice.This episode is full of actionable tips, compassionate insight, and validation for anyone who’s trying to do pregnancy prep better, not harder.Listen in to hear us talk about:Why the modern world is making fertility harder — and what you can do about itHow Brittany uncovered root issues through functional lab testingThe role of blood sugar, muscle strength, and a colorful diet in fertility prepWhy nervous system regulation and stress relief are essential for hormone healthPractical, real-life steps you can take today to prep your body for pregnancyso much moreIf you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything but still not getting answers, this episode is for you.Connect with Brittany:InstagramConnect with Lauren:InstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy