322: HA After IVF: Recovery Story with Ellen Diefenderfer

In this episode, Ellen shares her honest journey through IVF, body image, and eventual recovery. She opens up about the unexpected stress and rigidity of IVF, the pressure she felt to look a certain way during pregnancy, and the moment she hit rock bottom and chose recovery. Ellen also discusses her traumatic birth experience, turning to running as a coping mechanism, and how that ultimately led her back to the same unresolved struggles. She reflects on the mental side of recovery, the power of support, and the tools that helped her finally reconnect with her body. If you've ever thought pregnancy would “fix” your food and body image issues or you're stuck in the cycle of coping without healing, this episode is for you.Join The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_https://www.instagram.com/rosay.way_wellness/The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

In Part 2 of Kate’s story, we pick up where we left off. After 15 years without a period, Kate defied the odds once… but her journey didn’t stop there. In this episode, Kate opens up about multiple miscarriages, the pain of pregnancy loss, and the deep surrender that came with realizing she couldn't control the outcome.She shares how her mindset shifted from control to trust, from fear to respect for her body’s wisdom. At the time of recording, Kate is 22 weeks pregnant and reflecting on what it really means to let go and support your body, even when the path is uncertain.If you’ve struggled with fertility, loss, or letting go—this conversation will meet you right where you are.Join The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

In this episode, Dani sits down with Alyssa Challey—former Restore Your Fertility client, HHAP student, and now a recovery coach. Alyssa shares her full HA journey, from life as a Division I college basketball player to losing her period and finding herself stuck in restriction, overexercise, and burnout.She opens up about the pivotal mindset shifts she made inside Restore Your Fertility, what helped her actually let go of control, and how recovery transformed her so deeply she felt called to help others do the same.If you're navigating HA and wondering if full recovery is possible, Alyssa's story is a powerful reminder that peace, freedom, and even purpose can be on the other side.Restore Your Fertility is open for enrollment and starts June 17th:https://www.thehasociety.com/restore-applicationBecome an HA Recovery Coach:https://www.holistichapractitioner.com/Connect with Alyssa:https://wholecyclehealth.comhttps://instagram.com/wholecyclehealthJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_https://www.instagram.com/rosay.way_wellness/The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

In this episode, Ashley chats with longtime HA Society member Megan Viggers about what happened when her cycles started to get a little wonky — longer lengths, PMS symptoms, and increased fatigue after exercise. Megan shares how these changes triggered some old fears from her original recovery and how she moved through them with more self-trust this time around. She opens up about the simple shifts she made, what worked, and how it brought up deeper body image reflections. This episode is a must-listen if you’re wondering what to do when recovery isn’t linear. It's a powerful reminder that setbacks don’t mean you’ve failed, they’re often invitations to reconnect with your body on a deeper level.Megan Viggers Blog:https://meganv.substack.com/Past Episodes:Megans Recovery StoryFinding Balance After Recovery Jool Wellness - Use HASOCIETY for 12% offhttps://joolwellness.comTempDrop:Discout Code: AFHASOCIETYJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

Listener questions I answer today:Im recovered and a nurse but things are still a bit whacky. Do I need to do HA recovery steps or try something else?I'm triggered by eating more than my husband - help?!Im recovered but now I'm having strange 10 day bleeds... help?Want to submit one? [email protected] The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffThe Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

In this episode, Dani chats with Mishi's client Tatum, who shares her recovery story. Though she never identified with having an eating disorder, Tatum realized her rigid food rules, exercise habits, and loss of her period were signs something was off. Through recovery, she challenged what she thought was “healthy,” learned to rest, nourish her body, and ultimately found more joy and freedom in life. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t just physical—it’s mental and emotional too.Recovery also helped Tatum reconnect with her passion for music. She even wrote and recorded a song called "Running," which reflects her journey through restrictive eating, overexercising, and HA recovery.The song is called "Running".Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0dBQTGSE6WnuS5EHhDy30T?si=e1c6dbaa5eeb43e0Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/running/1797804839?i=1797804842Follow Tatum and her music!https://www.instagram.com/tatumtreffeisenJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

In this episode, Dani chats with Mishi's client Tatum, who shares her recovery story. Though she never identified with having an eating disorder, Tatum realized her rigid food rules, exercise habits, and loss of her period were signs something was off. Through recovery, she challenged what she thought was “healthy,” learned to rest, nourish her body, and ultimately found more joy and freedom in life. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t just physical—it’s mental and emotional too.Recovery also helped Tatum reconnect with her passion for music. She even wrote and recorded a song called "Running," which reflects her journey through restrictive eating, overexercising, and HA recovery.The song is called "Running".Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0dBQTGSE6WnuS5EHhDy30T?si=e1c6dbaa5eeb43e0Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/running/1797804839?i=1797804842Follow Tatum and her music!https://www.instagram.com/tatumtreffeisenJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

Take my 7 Day Period Recovery Kick Starter Challenge: https://thehasociety.com/7-day-challengeHere is a replay from a live Q&A I did inside of The HA Society and on YouTube!I go through about 6 listener questions. Some of the questions are:- Is being cold after getting your first period back normal?- How do I know how much food to eat once I start reintroducing exercise?- Acne after recovery- I'm young and don't want to give up all my favorite activities. I'm torn, help?!THEN I answer a question from long time listener Staci, about kidney stones.Jool Wellness - Use HASOCIETY for 12% offhttps://joolwellness.comJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffThe Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

Laura Hetherington is a recovered HA'er turned recovery coach! In today's episode she shares her story of having a past eating disorder, recovering her missing cycle and dealing with reoccurring miscarriage. She also talks about her passion-led decision to become a Certified Holistic HA Practitioner so that she can help other women going through a similar journey to her.Learn more from Laura:https://www.instagram.com/herhythm_platformPodcast: HERhythm Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3VapWi4RPDhCrNH9vEZIVC?si=k6jGNtE6ShGRcTuB1oFMBgJool Wellness - Use HASOCIETY for 12% offhttps://joolwellness.comJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffThe Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

In today's episode I'm bringing you a mash up of Q&A's about hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery from my YouTube Channel. I do LIVE Q&A's inside of The HA Society and post those videos here a few months later.Question's answered:What does a LOT of cervical mucus mean when you're postpartum trying to get your period back?I don't want to lose my period again so how do I safely bring exercise in?Is it normal for my first recovery period to be light after HA?Look at my mucus patterns... is my body trying to ovulate?Can I Run at a Very Very Low Intensity (zone 2) and still recover? It's been 22 months.I'm postpartum and eating 1900 calories to get my period back. Is this enough?Join The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffCheck out Jool Wellnesshttps://www.joolwellness.comFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations