Hormones & Periods

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Can you believe summer is over? If you're anything like me you haven't dismissed your sandals and shorts to the back of the closet just yet, but chilly winds and dropping temperatures are telling us loud and clear - summer is over, and fall is here.In the summer we rush around, spending time with friends and family and getting as much fun, fun, fun in as we can! But in the fall, it feels better to be more introspective, to stop catching up with others and catch up with yourself.You inner guide is nudging you to take time for yourself at this time of year, while your to-do list is growing, Growing, GROWING - GAH!So what's a savvy woman to do?Give up? Hell no. But it is time to Let Go.Here are some signs that you’re holding onto garbage that you should really give the heave-ho before winter sets in:

• You hold your feelings in rather than release them
• Your mind and surroundings are disorganized
• You suffer from mucus issues such as sinus problems and frequent colds
• You can’t remember the last time you had a bowel movement OR you spend all your time on the toilet (neither is fun)
• Digestive issues like IBS, stomachaches, gas, bloating, and indigestion are plaguing you

Add one of these above symptoms to your ever-expanding to-do list, and what do you have? A recipe for disaster – depression, weight gain, hormonal imbalance, infertility… I could go on, and on, but I won’t because -I have a solution for you! The FLO Living Fall Cleanse (Now through October 7th get $10 off by applying this promotion code at checkout: FallFun)Our whole-foods-based cleanse was specifically designed to help your body adjust to the seasonal transition by using food medicinally to balance your hormones and clear up your symptoms. It is the perfect training ground for you to let go of what's no longer needed in your body and your life, create deep healing within your key organ systems, and get rooted in yourself. Purchase your Cleanse - Click Here!(Now through October 7th get $10 off by applying this promotion code at checkout: FallFun)So let's take a break for a second.Think of one thing you've been carrying around that you would like to let go. Is it anger at another person or even anger at yourself? Is it sadness about a relationship that didn't work out? What is it? Now take a deep breath " how would it feel to just let it go? Aaaaahhhhhh.This cleanse can help you let go of that one important thing while also freeing you from hundreds of other nagging little issues. By embracing the Fall Cleanse you will:

• Kick-start weight loss and increase energy.
• Clean out toxins, waste, and mucus that interfere with digestion.
• Heal exhaustion and help prevent seasonal depression.
• Boost immune function to beat cold and flu season.
• Clean out intestinal bacteria and yeasts that create high estrogen levels.
• Reduce constipation to prevent diseases of the breast, lungs, and colon.
• Balance hormones and metabolism by regulating adrenal-output.
• Build energy at the root of your reproductive system.
• Reduce the toxic effects of stress hormones.
• Break the cycle of emotional eating.

Purchase your Cleanse - Click Here!Â

(Now through October 7th get $10 off by applying this promotion code at checkout: FallFun)

If you’re thinking, I’ve got enough on my plate without adding something else, I understand! That’s why I’ve made the fall cleanse so simple and easy-to-follow.The transformation you will experience will actually reduce the stress in your life! So here’s the low-down -Each day, there are 4 areas of focus:

1. Meal Plan: what to eat – recipes are easy and delicious & will help you simplify your food, detox your organs, and clear clutter from your life. I’ve provided you with a shopping list, preparation instructions and guidelines for creating a cleanse-friendly environment. AND I’ve given you a sneak peak below!Â
2. Focus on Digestion: how to improve your eating experience
3. Getting to Thriving: short activities to help you process what you are learning
4. Clean Sweep: releasing the old and welcoming the new in your physical environment and your body

Your Cleanse Program Includes:

1. 7 days of step-by-step instructions and online support from the FLO Living counselors.
2. Easy-to-follow dietary and lifestyle plan to simplify your food, detox your organs, and clear clutter from your life.
3. A shopping list, recipes, preparation instructions and guidelines for creating a cleanse-friendly environment before you begin.
4. Access to the FLO Living online community for insight and group support as you go through the cleanse.

Don’t crash and burn before you decide to do something about your health. Arm yourself now with this powerful cleanse and soar through the rest of 2011!Purchase your Cleanse - Click Here! (Now through October 7th get $10 off by applying this promotion code at checkout: FallFun)What are women saying about the cleanse?“On the physical and emotional levels, I feel amazing: less tired, and like my body is not working so hard to process food. And, I had a clot-free, pain-free, anxiety-free, period, which was great!" – SG"It was amazing how much space this cleanse freed up in my mind, and how it spurred me to let go of symbols of the past that were holding me back.” – SS

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!

Alisa Vitti Natural Health UK Article

I hope you enjoy this article from Natural Health UK. If you would like to read it, just click on the photos and zoom in until you can read the type. Enjoy!!!

Remember that story I told you a couple of weeks ago? The one about my husband being the only one in a room full of guys whose significant-other didn’t suffer from PMS?Well I’m writing today to make a pact with you that I will no longer be one of the only ones who doesn’t suffer from PMS. Are you in?You see, the PMS-phase of the cycle – technically called the luteal phase – actually contains an amazing opportunity for you. When your hormones are working in a balanced way throughout your cycle and when your symptoms are not clouding your judgment, you’ll have this time of the month to practice prioritizing yourself. It’s an opportunity to really tune in to what you need most and then find a way to set the proper boundaries so that you can honor yourself while continuing to help others in your life.I’ve been practicing this for most of my menstruating years, and I can tell you that it only gets easier and more rewarding over time! But you have to start somewhere. Especially if you’re someone who gets moody and irritable before your period, you might find self-prioritization difficult. Perhaps you’re more likely to lash out at your love ones, or get overly sensitive and cry over small things. There are hormonal reasons behind these reactions, as well as emotional ones, and you need to be aware of both in order to prevent them from getting the best of you.

Here are the 3 types of PMS you might experience:

1.) Anxiety & Irritability2.) Feeling Sensitive & Depressed3.) Bloating, Breast Tenderness, HeadachesYou can have any combo of these three, but what’s important to note is that they are all affected by your overall hormonal performance and your endocrine system.The typical solutions – Midol, Prozac, coffee, to name a few – are not really working because they are not addressing the whole picture. You need a solution that goes beyond the quick fixes and addresses you as a whole person. That’s exactly what I’ll be covering later this week in my top selling audio class, Banishing PMS Forever.I want you to have exactly what you need so that you start feeling great all month long! Here’s what I’ll be covering: Why you have: mood-swings, sugar cravings, acne, bloating, and cramps How to get 2 key hormones balanced to end PMS for good The key supplements to take to banish PMS Prioritizing you – the real opportunity of the luteal phase In short, you will learn how to banish PMS for good!Good things come in threes:

Now, I want to hear from you!

First: What type of PMS do you experience? Second: What was your favorite tip from my audio class?Third: You know every one you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a quiz to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.

Click here to get your quiz!

Alisa was recently featured on lifebyme.com. Life By Me is a really amazing project. Sophie Chiche, the founder of Life By Me, asks one question of the people she interviews: "What is most meaningful to you?" Then, she sits back and listens, she really listens. One original answer is featured every day on the website. We love this website (and Sophie)!So when Alisa was asked what is most meaningful to her, I know you won't be surprised when she answered "aligning with what's uniquely female about my body."Here's an excerpt of the interview (below) - to read the entire interview, and to explore the rest of the Life By Me site, CLICK HERE.I've derived my life's purpose and joy, my understanding of myself, connections and collaborations with others, and magical serendipitous opportunities from aligning with what's uniquely female about my body.It took getting slapped around by health issues to recognize my body's magic. When I was 19, my body broke down completely, from a hormonal standpoint. I weighed 200 pounds, was covered in acne, was severely depressed, and got my period twice a year, if I was lucky. At the time, I was studying at Johns Hopkins to become an OB/GYN. One night, I decided I couldn't take it anymore and spent the night in the medical library. I finally found a tiny article and a likely diagnosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, which turned out to be confirmed by testing. My body had given me a clear, meaningful direction and I'd followed it.I asked my doctor, "Now what do we do?" Her answer was, basically, nothing. I'd be medicated and get used to dealing with things like diabetes, infertility, heart disease, and increased likelihood of cancer. But the cells of my body screamed a big NO at me. I said, "Thank you. I'm going to take my expensively trained mind and go figure this out." She chuckled and said, "Okay, well, when you need the meds, let me know."Over the next years, I explored alternative therapies and apprenticed myself with naturopaths, acupuncturists, applied kinesiologists, underwater basket weavers - you name it --- to read more CLICK HERE

How does dance affect the body and your hormones?

As you know, we here at FLO Living are always interested in the places where science meets women’s bodies. Here we share with you exciting research that shows how a more feminine mode of exercise - Dance - can affect your hormones in a positive way. (And it just so happens that a few of our core team members are dancers, so even more reason to love this topic!)Allow us to introduce you to Dr. Peter Lovatt, a psychologist and former professional dancer who heads the Dance Psychology Lab at the University of Hertfordshire in England.His research is exciting to us for 2 reasons:

1. It supports the fact that dance can actually improve our mental ability to problem solve and think creatively, which for us translates to the power of the body and feminine energy to support the mind and masculine energy.
2. It demonstrates another way that women’s changing hormonal patterns throughout the month actually do affect the way we act and move. The more we are aware of this, the more we can learn to live in tune with our cycles and utilize our energy in the best ways possible.

Check out Dr. Lovatt’s TEDx talk below, where he shares these fascinating findings and some pretty awesome dance clips:(Skip to the 18:50 mark for the real good stuff!)

So this week, we hope you dance at whatever phase of your cycle you might be in!Has dance ever affected your hormones in a positive OR negative way?Share with us below and read on for a dance- and health-inspired story from Jessica, one of our counselors whose journey with dance went from health-damaging to healing and life-changing.Find out how we can help you get in the FLO with your body and hormones!

The defining moment for me came 12 years ago, when I decided to go on the pill at the age of 20. I was suffering from a hormonal imbalance called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. At my worst, I weighed 200 pounds, I had severe cystic acne on my face chest and back, I was deeply depressed, and I had my period only about three times a year. It was quite traumatic.

I didn't even know what I had for quite awhile. Doctor after doctor suggested that maybe I had a slow thyroid, or an endocrine problem, or even candida, but all their tests came back inconclusive. I finally diagnosed myself with PCOS after tremendous research on my own. And that's when I was hit with even worse news: PCOS is considered incurable by Western medicine.

The one thing my doctors agreed on, after finally performing the right diagnostic testing with my guidance, was that I should start taking oral contraceptives. They all believed that artificially regulating my hormone levels would reduce my unpleasant symptoms, even though they didn't know what the cause was. The pill never felt like the right option to me. But after saying no repeatedly, and not getting any other answers, I realized I had to take a scientific, experimental approach to my situation. I had to admit that, having never tried the pill, I didn't know how it would affect me. So I went ahead and tried it.

Less than two weeks later, I knew my original intuition to say 'no' was absolutely right. I was having ocular migraines, which caused me to lose my vision temporarily, in addition to the searing migraine pain, fluctuating body temperature, and heart arrhythmia. I realized that my body was not reacting to the artificial hormones in the pill the same way it would to hormones produced naturally in my body. The simple solution prescribed by all my doctors just wasn't going to work for me.

In that defining moment, I finally realized that it was up to me to empower my own healing process. If I had had access to the best medical thinking on these issues, as I was myself planning to be a GYN while studying at Johns Hopkins University, then what were women to do who didn't have my access for this condition and other GYN castaway conditions?

So that's what I began to do. I started studying everywhere and anywhere I could. I felt that there were answers available outside of Western medicine, so I apprenticed myself to alternative healthcare practitioners. I studied the whole gamut of herbology, naturopathy, homeopathy, acupressure, elimination diets, and tried everything. I used myself as a guinea pig to see what could be done.

During these experiments, I found that the only thing that worked on powerfully impacting my own body chemistry was food. When I found the right combination of medicinal foods to heal hormonal imbalances, I saw tremendous positive changes in my health. I lost 60 pounds, my skin cleared up, and my depression lifted. Best of all, I have had regular menstrual periods for the last decade. Out of all of this experimentation came an understanding of what the true underlying causes of hormonal imbalances are and the discovery of what has become my 5 step healing protocol and foundation of my company.

After completing my studies in Integrative Medicine and Nutrition, I formalized my protocol and opened up my center Laughing Sage Wellness, now FLO Living - in midtown manhattan. At first I began reaching out to other women with PCOS to let them know that their condition was not incurable. In those early years of my practice, I realized something very critical - the underlying causes of hormonal imbalances are very similar, and my protocol was effective for all the GYN castaway conditions.

Fast forward to today, I have a 10 year old center in Columbus Circle Manhattan, I have worked with many hundreds of women in the US and in four continents to heal naturally from these conditions, I educate ten thousand readers weekly through the LSW Newsletter, I hire and train other health counselors to deliver this protocol, and my company is poised on the precipice of major expansion.

The protocol I designed, which uses the science of food (nutrigenomics) to manipulate a woman's hormonal biochemistry, is now the study of a year long clinical trial spearheaded by a brilliant reproductive research scientist and physician from Columbia University in conjunction with the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine. It should be noted that the lead physician for this study spent 10 years in his lab researching the effects of turmeric on the vascular health of ovaries!

I have been a woman on fire with a mission for a long time and now my vision for revolutionizing the way women's healthcare is delivered is coming to fruition. FLO Living was founded to treat women with chronic GYN issues such as PCOS, PMS, Fibroids, Cystic Ovaries, Thyroid Issues, Adrenal Fatigue, IBS, Amenorreah, Dysmenorreah, and HPV. If you've gone to the GYN and have discovered one of these issues and you've heard the following options given to you: drugs, surgery, or we'll see you in 6mos - then you need to know about what's possible for you at FLO Living.