Today I have news that might be shocking to you: it’s time to turn off the vibrator.

Using vibrators to self-pleasure might seem like the easiest, quickest way to reach the big O, but there are a few very important reasons why it’s not doing your entire body justice.

To help explain why, it’s important to know the 4 stages of sexual response, as originally outlined by scientists Masters & Johnson in the 1960s. You might also recognize them from Chapter 8 of my book, WomanCode: Initial Arousal: the excitement phase, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Sex organs become engorged with blood and glands in the vaginal walls secrete lubricating liquid to make you feel wet.‍

Plateau: a continuation of arousal, when tissues swell and breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure continue to rise. You may even make a moaning sound at this point.

‍Orgasm: vaginal lubrication increases, muscles in the vaginal wall constrict, and overall pleasure increases. If you climax (which is not always a given), you’ll experience quick cycles of contractions in your pelvic floor muscles.

‍Resolution: After climax, your muscles relax and your body releases from its aroused state.

When you use a vibrator, you’re skipping a large part of the Plateau stage and moving right into climax. This means you’re also missing out on some of the most hormonally-healthy, natural chemicals your body produces during this Plateau phase! For instance, one of these chemicals, nitric oxide, is what Viagra is manufactured from. The more you can generate it naturally, the more you’ll experience its anti-aging benefits, increased sexual response, as well as adrenal health which you’ll read more about below.

Especially if you’re working on your fertility, trying to get your sex drive back, or managing your periods, having a bigger Orgasmic Plateau phase is the way to help.

‍

Here are 3 ways vibrators impact you:

1. You miss the benefits of nitric oxide and oxytocin. Using a vibrator forces your body to bypass a large part of the Plateau and Orgasm phases, which cuts down on your exposure to oxytocin and nitric oxide. These natural chemicals provide you with better immunity, improved cervical mucus, and regular ovulation patterns.

‍2. You limit your orgasmic potential. Quick vibrator-induced orgasms lengthen what we call the refractory period between orgasms. This means the sensitive nerve endings get fried by the strong vibrations, so you have to wait longer until you’re ready again for your next orgasm. Essentially, this means you can only have one orgasm at a time, maybe two if you’re lucky. Bummer.

‍3. You deprive your body of the stress-reducing benefits. The bigger and better the orgasm you experience, the more cortisol gets flushed out of your system. Cortisol, if you don’t remember, is one of our body’s main stress hormones that contributes to adrenal burnout, blood sugar whackiness and that extra layer of belly fat that doesn’t seem to go away.

When you skip the orgasmic plateau, you lose out on the stress-relieving, waist-slimming benefits of sex!

“So what do I do without my vibrator, Alisa?” So glad you asked!

First of all, be sure you’re setting aside at least 20 minutes for your self-pleasuring sessions. This might seem like a lot, so make sure you’re getting into bed a little bit earlier or doing what you need to do to make it possible.

Next, be sure to use lubricant - Aloe Cadabra is the only one I use and recommend. When you’re using your hands to get the party started, you’ll need to be lubricated. I think you’ll be amazed at what happens to your orgasmic experience when you go au natural.

So you have PCOS and you want to get pregnant? You may have already googled the saddening statistics about infertility rates amongst women with PCOS. I myself was told that I would probably never conceive naturally, but here I am 5 months pregnant at 37 years old -- and it happened without any kind of fertility treatment, other than my diet and lifestyle! Now even though I got pregnant easily, I’d be lying if I said that the fear-based mentality around infertility didn’t cross my mind from time to time prior to conceiving. With all the common rhetoric that tells you how hard it is to get pregnant with PCOS, it’s hard to completely shake it off, even when you know what you’re doing. But being able to conceive at an age that is challenging for many women - with or without PCOS - is confirmation that living this lifestyle really does make a life-changing, life-giving difference. It was the best outcome I could’ve asked for from a terrible diagnosis. So what does this mean for you? If you’re trying to conceive and are having doubts or difficulties because of your PCOS, there’s actually a lot you can do and it would be my honor to help you get there. The surprising fact you should know is that PCOS gives you the blessing of naturally prolonged fertility. Why? Because you’re not ovulating regularly, you end up having more egg reserves for a longer period of time. What a relief - right? But this doesn’t solve all your problems. You still need to manage and address the underlying causes of your PCOS so that you can use that time wisely! This means you need to :

1. Get off the birth control pill or other hormonal contraceptives
2. Get your weight stable and get your blood sugar balanced
3. Restore regular ovulation
4. Do the right kind of exercise for your body type
5. Help your body efficiently eliminate estrogen and naturally raise progesterone levels

And I share all my best tools for exactly how to do this in my popular audio class, Conquering PCOS: My Secrets to Success! Stop wasting money on things that don’t work and join me in making PCOS a thing of the past :)

Are You Trying to Conceive?

If you want to do everything in your power to improve your chances of becoming a mom—then we want to help you optimize your fertility.Whether you are just starting to think about having a baby, or have already tried naturally or have been trying with IVF, our Fertile FLO Program will help improve your chances of conception.Click here to download my FREE guide, The 5 Health Foods to Avoid to Get and Stay Pregnant.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed many women in a state of hormonal breakdown - when they are so incredibly frustrated with the symptoms that keep popping up and feel totally out of control of their physical selves.If you’re also in the midst of frustrating hormonal problems - PMS, PCOS, weight gain, acne, mood-swings, related to your cycle - then you might feel similar. You might be fed up. You might be telling yourself, “If only I could get control of my cycle and my body!”Here’s the thing - I have a problem with this word “control.”When it’s used in this context, very often what’s indicated is the absence of problems. Meaning, “If only I could make all these symptoms go away forever, I’d finally be in control of my body and not have to deal with it!”Can you relate?If you’re thinking that way, I feel your frustration, but I also want to open to your eyes to the fact that this definition of control is completely dysfunctional. It positions you as separate from your body, as if it were something that you could live without. True control of your body is not the absence of symptoms or not dealing with them - It’s actually the opposite.

If you want control of your cycle, you have to participate.My definition of control goes like this:Control = Understanding & PartnershipGetting control of your cycle and your body means taking the right steps to nourish your hormones so that they can do their job. First and foremost, you must understand how your body and hormones function, and then you can create a healthy partnership to keep them working properly.If this definition of control resonates with you and if you’re ready to create true understanding and partnership with your hormones, I invite you to check out my webinar, Secrets of Cycle Syncing: The 4 Part Blueprint.In this class, I teach you how to gain true “control” of your symptoms, improve your productivity, and have the relationships you dream of by accessing the success blueprint encoded in your monthly hormonal patterns.I will help you unlock “the power in your panties” by outlining the 4-part blueprint embedded in your monthly cycle and show you:

• the neuro-hormonal patterns of each phase and their effects on your mood, physical energy, and cravings
• how to strategically plan your work and social scheduling to best optimize your productivity during these phases
• how you can use all of this to get more done at work, lose weight, feel better and have rockin’ relationships

Can't wait to get started!Your partner in the process,Alisa

P.s. 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!

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If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS and experiencing PCOS symptoms, chances are your doctor has also suggested you take some kind of pill. Metformin and the birth control pill are two of the most common medical treatments for PCOS, but - if you’ve been around us at FLO for awhile - you’ll know that medications like these are not really treatments at all, but rather band-aid solutions for a much deeper problem. We wanted to spend time with each of them today, so that you can make the best informed choices when it comes to treating your PCOS.Let us help you get to the root of the problem and avoid the potential side effects of these

Birth Control Pill

What it does: The hormones in the birth control mask your natural hormonal patterns to prevent ovulation from happening, and therefore prevent pregnancy. The period you experience on the pill is not an acutal period, but rather a “break-through bleed” that occurs from the drop in estrogen. So even though it might be regulating your cycle, once you get off the pill chances are your period will return to the same state is was before.Side effects: We’ve spoken about significant side effects of the pill before, but the one side effect most relevant to PCOS is that it increases testosterone uptake, which can make your androgenic symptoms worse. This means if you’re experiencing hirsutism (hair growth in unwanted places), head-hair loss, or acne, it could potentially get worse with the pill.Alternative solutions: Re-establish your monthly ovulation and menstruation through restoring key micronutrients and helping your body to eliminate excess estrogen or other hormones that could be impeding your natural flow. Addressing adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues is also key here. And the great news is - all of these can be achieved through your diet and lifestyle!

Metformin (Glucophage)

What it does: Metformin helps with blood sugar and insulin management by suppressing glucose production by the liver. It’s commonly used for diabetes and PCOS with insulin resistance.Side effects:In a recent study, metformin was found to cause an impairment mental cognition. It’s more commonly known to cause serious digestive issues like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and more uncomfortable symptoms.Alternative solutions: Address your blood sugar balance through your diet and key supplements. The WomanCode System has an extensive lesson and instructions on balancing blood sugar through food, and in severe cases you can also supplement with a chromium picolinate supplement, as well as cinnamon.

Conclusion

Very often you’ll be told that the only thing you can do is take a pill, but I hope this article has opened your eyes to other possibilities and helped give you your power back when it comes to making informed decisions about treating your PCOS symptoms.There is no quick fix to treating PCOS. It is a systemic issues that needs to be managed through diet and lifestyle.

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!

When I’m talking with women about their fertility, one of the most common questions I get is this:

“I’m not ready to get pregnant now, but how do I know I’ll be able to in the future?”

If you’re in the same boat in your 20s or 30s - not exactly ready to put a bun in the oven but considering it for the future - then it’s time to get real about the signs your body is telling you now. Every woman should be able to get pregnant naturally when she’s ready, but in today’s hormone harming environment, we have more working against our fertility than ever before. If you find yourself, like so many other women, ignoring symptoms that might seem insignificant and even unrelated now, we here at FLO Living want you to be able to evaluate if these symptoms are early warning signs that your future fertility might be problematic. You must understand how they could affect you down the road, and you must not make the common mistake of waiting to address these symptoms/issues until you actually want to get pregnant. From our experience over the past 12 years - this is a recipe for fertility stress.Today I want to share with you 4 specific symptoms you might be experiencing that are indicators of potential compromised fertility. It’s not meant to frighten you, but rather to empower you with the information you need to start evaluating as soon as possible the action steps you need to take immediately to improve your fertility in the future. (And if you’re actively trying and feel you’re out of time, we’ll have more tips for you in the coming weeks!)

So here are 4 signs your fertility is compromised:

1. PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) - Experiencing monthly mood-swings, cramps, headaches, and more before your period are signs of PMS. This indicates that there is something off with the critical balance between estrogen and progesterone in your system, and most often progesterone is too low. Since this is the hormone that allows you to hold on to the embryo once you conceive, it can make conceiving difficult and potentially increase your risk of miscarriage.
2. Lack of cervical fluid around ovulation - If you haven’t been noticing any changes with cervical fluid or vaginal discharge throughout the month, it’s time to start paying attention! One of the biggest indicators of healthy ovulation is having a very wet, uncooked egg-white-like mucus (called cervical fluid) for 3-4 days mid-cycle. This paves the way for sperm to make it to your eggs, and so if it’s not happening it could interfere with the process.
3. Irregular cycles - Whether or not you have a diagnosed condition like PCOS, if you’re noticing your cycles are not regular each month it will become a huge problem when you’re trying to get pregnant. When you address the irregularities now, you will have an easier time making sure you are timing sex correctly for conception and you’re body will be more fertile and ready later on when you want to conceive.
4. Adrenal issues - Experiencing insomnia, anxiety, stress, low energy, and sugar addiction are all signs that your adrenal glands are suffering. This unfortunately not only makes you feel lousy, but it indicates a high cortisol and low DHEA ratio that compromises ovulation regularity and diminishes egg quality, both essential factors in your fertility.

Take a moment to evaluate your own symptoms -

Can you identify with any of the 4 we listed? Are some more extreme than the others?

Think of your fertility factor as a 1 to 10 scale, 1 being fertility compromised and 10 being fertility optimized. Based on your evaluation of the 4 signs listed above, where do you fall on the scale?

Please share in the comment box below. I want to know exactly what you’re dealing with so that we can continue to help you in upcoming blog posts and classes.

It’s time to bump your fertility factor up to a 10 so that you can be as ready as possible when the timing is right!Your body can do what it’s meant to do naturally IF you feed it the right foods in the right sequence. Let us show you how.

Are You Trying to Conceive?

If you want to do everything in your power to improve your chances of becoming a mom—then we want to help you optimize your fertility.Whether you are just starting to think about having a baby, or have already tried naturally or have been trying with IVF, our Fertile FLO Program will help improve your chances of conception.Click here to download my FREE guide, The 5 Health Foods to Avoid to Get and Stay Pregnant.

I wanted to give my deepest thanks to you for being part of the WomanCode paperback release last week! Last night’s webinar was so inspiring and reminds me of why I’m so grateful to be doing the work I’m doing.Since the whole book celebration has left me speechless, I thought it would be wonderful for you to hear from a handful of other women today - women who have unlocked their WomanCode and want to share their stories with you.Click through to hear real life stories from women who:

• got her period back after 5 years
• healed adrenal fatigue
• lost 40 lbs
• increased energy
• normalized blood pressure
• healed long-standing digestive issues
• cleared up ovarian cysts completely
• increased her quality of life
• created a new relationship with her body

In the words of our friend Lindsay, “It’s so simple and so profound at the same time…”Click below to watch!

I hope it inspires you to know what your body is capable of when given the right support.If you haven’t yet joined the WomanCode System, consider starting today, and prepare to unlock your WomanCode!In support of your brilliance,Alisap.s. Next week I’ll be announcing our June webinar on the topic of PCOS, so stay tuned!

There’s a safety saying in the NYC subway system that says: “If you see something, say something.”

Today I want to apply that very same saying to your hormonal health, in particular, your PMS symptoms!Did you know that relatively harmless symptoms today could lead more serious issues down the road?As it was researched in a study published by the NIH, having PMS symptoms in reproductive years can increase the development to the big four major diseases of inflammation (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, alzheimer’s) down the road.Once again, we shouldn’t just accept the fact that PMS is a normal part of being a woman - We need to acknowledge that when you have symptoms, you must take immediate action through dietary changes.Banishing PMS means more than just covering up your current symptoms. If you were part of the master class on PMS last week then you’ll know why. If you missed it, you can still purchase the class below, and in the meantime here are three of the typical “spot-treating” remedies you might be using and what you can do instead.

3 PMS Remedies to Avoid

1. The birth control pill: While the pill is often a go-to fixer-upper for your PMS and cycle issues, it can be problematic when used over long periods of time just to mask your symptoms. Why is that? Well, the pill is putting temporary artificial hormones in your system that quiet down your body’s natural hormonal flow. You might be avoiding PMS, but you’re likely going to experience other side effects of the pill such as depression, lack of libido, and weight gain. Plus, when you get off the pill, your PMS symptoms are likely to return with a vengeance.

2. Caffeine: Coffee, diet soda, and energy drinks might give you a temporary pick-me-up, but in the long run they are only doing more harm. Caffeine jolts your adrenal glands into a stress response which, over time, will further contribute to adrenal fatigue and thyroid conditions. Modern day life is already stressful, so why make it worse?

3. Midol or other pain relievers: Yes, popping a Midol might be helping to ease the pain and discomfort, but it’s not doing anything to solve the issue from the root of the problem. Over-the-counter pain medications make your liver work harder, as they are another substance that must be broken down and eliminated from your system via your liver and digestive tract. During your luteal (pre-menstrual) phase, your liver is already overworked with eliminating excess hormones your body is producing (as well as sugar, if you’re having those carb cravings!). The liver congestion that this causes puts you more at risk for serious issues down the road.

So what’s the real solution?

You must get to the root of your hormonal imbalances and begin healing through one of the most simple and common drugs we have access to: food.

The food you eat has a powerful effect on your estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as on the function of your adrenals, thyroid, and liver - all major players in this hormonal conversation. There are 3 major food-related changes that will have a huge impact on your hormonal balance and PMS symptoms:

• Blood-sugar balance
• Adrenal health
• Liver detoxification

We cover all of this in more in the WomanCode System, but for those of you haven’t yet joined, let me help you.

You can’t afford to ignore PMS any longer.

Are you stuck in a nightmare of frustrating symptoms and mood swings every month and wondering what’s really 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!

Are you sick and tired of your monthly period problems?

Do you deal with moodswings, headaches, cramps, bloating, weight gain and more?

Has this just become something you deal with, popping a few Midols and pushing through?

If your answer is yes, I’m not surprised but I am concerned.

You see, PMS has become a catchphrase for this unfortunate monthly occurrence that women just expect to have, as if it’s a given part of being a woman.

I want to share a story with you that my husband recently shared with me to illustrate my point:

When it got to be Vic’s turn, he had nothing to say. His friends encouraged him to share, but his response was simply: “My wife doesn’t get PMS.”My husband Vic was at dinner last week with a group of his guy friends. The topic of conversation somehow led to how they deal with their wives’ or girlfriends’ “time of the month.” Each guy went around the table sharing their story about his experience of her PMS.  Each of them felt confused and in the dark: “We get into unnecessary arguments. It’s like she’s a different person at that time of the month!  I feel like no matter what I do, I can’t make her happy.”

Jaws dropped. They couldn’t believe that was possible.

Of course, Vic encouraged his friends to get WomanCode read it and share it with their partners so they could “have what we’re having” so to speak.

That’s my man! ;)

Now, all silliness aside, there is something wrong with this picture! The fact that PMS has become the norm is not something to take lightly.

There is no reason why you should be suffering from monthly bloating, cramping, or moodswings.

There is no reason why you should feel like a different person half the month and have that affect the quality of your relationships.

The fact is that you are a busy woman and you just don’t have time to be held down, slowed down, or inconvenienced each month. Am I right?

‍If you’re ready to banish your PMS symptoms and resolve your period problems so that you can feel your best all month long, click here to learn how in my special audio class, Banish PMS Forever!

‍Part of the problem of the PMS epidemic is that most women just keep quiet and deal with it, aside from a bit of complaining and commiseration with their girlfriends or sisters.

But I know that you’re here because you’re different - You don’t just want to accept the suffering, you want to take a proactive approach to feeling better. You want to be at a dinner party celebrating with your girlfriends rather than complaining or worse yet, staying home because of your symptoms!

And if you’re here, you probably already know a lot about your body and about what you “should” be doing. So rather than start with all the hormone-balancing tips and diet factors that you can focus on, let’s get to the real motivating factor that will help you make the change. Shall we?

This means we’re going to get clear on what this problem is actually doing to your life, outside of just the annoying physical symptoms.

So get started by answering this question in the comment box below:

How is your PMS or other period problems interfering with your life?

Aside from your physical health, what other areas of your life are affected?

I will be reading every response, so go ahead and take a minute to talk to me.

By sharing your story, you’re not only beginning the process of improving your period health and overall happiness, you’re breaking the cultural norm that tells us we should just suck it up and deal with the suffering.

I don’t know about you, but I never liked to follow the norm anyway!

Speak up and let’s take back our time of the month!

Standing with you and your ovaries,

Alisa

It’s time to take our next step into the spring detox conversation, so I figured we’d start from the outside and work our way in.

Where is the outside, you ask? Your skin!

Your skin is a way in to the deeper workings of your hormonal system and internal organs of elimination, i.e. your liver, large intestine, and lymphatic system.

If any of those are out of balance, it’s bound to show up in the form of acne, cyclical breakouts, redness, dry or flaky skin, overly oily skin, cystic acne, or other frustrating symptoms.

Your diet is a huge factor in clearing up these issues – and we’ll get into a more in-depth discussion around diet in next week’s webinar!

So in the meantime, I wanted to help you detox your skin care regime so that we can be sure everything you’re putting on the outside is just as good as what you’re eating. After all, anything that touches your skin enters your bloodstream, so if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth you certainly shouldn’t be putting it on your body or face!

Here’s my list of the Top 15 Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid:

1. Aluminum Chloride: in all antiperspirants – aluminum build up in the brain is linked to Alzheimer’s

2. Ammonium Xylenesulfonate: in nail polish - inhalation can cause central nervous system damage and coma

3. Benzalkonium Chloride: a germicide – toxic if taken internally, skin allergies

4. BHA/BHT: a preservative for packaged dry foods and skin care products made from petrochemicals – causes benign and malignant tumors

5. Butyl Alcohol: in clear shampoos – causes dermatitis, breathing problems, dizziness, drowsiness and headaches

6. Diazolidinyl Urea/Disodium EDTA/DMDM Hydantoin: a preservative, made from formaldehyde a known carcinogen

7. Ethanol: in acne products and skin toners gives cool feeling, perfumes – ingestion can cause nausea, stupor, coma, and death

8. Ethylene Glycol: in many shampoos, aka antifreeze- can cause respiratory problems

9. Imidazolidinyl Urea/Urea: a preservative synthesized from known carcinogens

10. Lithium Chloride: used in soap and long life batteries – very toxic to kidneys

11. Methylene Chloride: nail polish remover – skin irritant, narcotic when inhaled and carcinogenic

12. PABA: in sunscreen – causes allergic eczema, skin rashes, swelling

13. Phenoxyethanol: a preservative derived from poisonous Phenols

14. Poly Quaternium 7, 10, 11, 15 : the American Academy of Dermatology lists this as a skin irritant and combines with natural body substances to form potent carcinogens called nitrosamines

15. Talc: implicated in causing ovarian cancer

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,

Alisa

I want to hear from you!

First: What toxic products and ingredients are you trashing today?Second: Share your #Flobeauty experience with us!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 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!

You might have heard us talk before about the underlying causes of hormonal problems and how it’s so crucial to address your symptoms from the root of the issue, rather than putting a band-aid solution on top of them.

When you mask your symptoms with a band-aid to create a temporary quick fix, you’re just suppressing the issues, which are bound to pop up with a vengeance at a later date.

In today’s blog post, we discuss the most powerful underlying cause, estrogen overload, and how you can properly detox the excess estrogen from your system to create lasting health.

Estrogen can be a wonderful hormone, but in excess it causes everything from PMS and fibroid growth, to infertility and low libido.

When you want to clear out excess estrogen, a detox sounds like a good idea – right?

Yes, but not all detoxes (also known as cleanses) are created equal. Most detox programs actually strip the body of the micronutrients needed to break down and eliminate estrogen. So while just drinking juice for 10 days might sound like a good idea theoretically, it can actually be quite harmful for the female system – especially if you’re already prone to hormonal sensitivities.

The real goal in doing a detox or cleanse should be to support the liver in its ability to breakdown estrogen, as well as other hormones and toxins. It should move the hormones and toxins through the bloodstream and into the digestive tract in an efficient way so that the body can clear them quickly.

In order to do this properly, certain micronutrients must be present for the liver. These include vitamin C, the B vitamins, and selenium.

How do you ensure you’re getting what you need?

By 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!

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups chickpea flour

1 cup of water

½ cup olive oil

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup vegan kimchi

1/4 cup of cilantro

ponzu sauce for dipping

In a large bowl, combine the 1st four ingredients and mix until well blended. It will form a batter. Then add in the kimchi. (You can add more or less kimchi to your taste preference!)Heat a skillet and coat with oil, then pour the batter into a pancake formation. Flip it over after a minute or until the first side is golden brown. Heat the other side until fully cooked and move to a serving dish. Continue cooking the pancakes until all batter is used.Serve with ponzu sauce for dipping!Makes an excellent appetizer to a Korean-inspired meal :)

Ready for more food support?

Don’t forget that recipes like these are only one part of an entire system designed to help you eat in sync with your cycle all month long!Stay in the loop and get more recipes like these by subscribing to our complimentary weekly women’s health newsletters:[gravityform id="3" name="Get on the road to hormonal health!" title="false" description="false"]

If you’re a new mom and dealing with unstable moods or a lacking libido, you’re not alone.Unfortunately, the more I hear from hot mamas around the world, the more I hear the same complaints and concerns. Women tell me:

• “I have no energy, no sex drive, and I can’t lose weight!”
• “I’m trying to fake it, but inside I feel MISERABLE! Not in the mood for much of anything…”
• “My baby is 8 months old and I still have no sex drive. Is it the breastfeeding? What can I do?”

Ladies, I hear you! As a mom of a 2 year-old toddler, I have now experienced the postpartum shift for myself and felt, firsthand, how your hormones evolve and change with this huge transformation. After years of helping other women overcome the sex drive downturn, mood swings, and more that can come after motherhood begins, I got the chance to put my teaching into practice for myself and I can say, it truly works!

If you’re ready to change this reality, keep reading because I have great news: the way to get your sex drive back is through sugar – but not in the way you might think! Right now I know you might be turning to sugar (the white stuff) to boost your energy, stay awake, feel up and peppy, and even just for comfort. But I’m no fan of the white stuff and how it wreaks havoc on your hormones and health.

What I actually mean by “sugar” here is that you can improve your sex drive by 50-75% within 2 months by making sure your blood sugar is stable throughout the day and taking the following recommendations. More is outlined in my book WomanCode on stabilizing blood sugar every day and long-term, but I hope this post gives you the head-start you need.

Motherhood & Food

Before I talk about supercharging your sex drive and balancing your moods, let’s talk about why this is all happening in the first place, why exactly you have these concerns and complaints about how you feel as a new mom.

When you’re pregnant, your body is mostly concerned with supplying essential nutrients to your growing baby. If your diet is not adequate during that time, it’s likely that it won’t keep you fully stocked on all the essential nutrients that you need beyond what your baby needs.

As you breastfeed once baby is born, nutrients continue leaving your body if your diet is not restocking them quickly enough. They’re all going to baby, which isn’t leaving enough for you to feel good.

Therefore I would strongly advise you to work on your diet first and foremost. Not only will it keep your cycle regular, but it will protect your bones, your mood, your sex drive, and keep perimenopause progressing slowly. Basically, focusing on eating the right foods and enough of them is going to fix your symptoms short term and benefit your long term health goals.

Synthetic hormones, like the birth control pill or Depo shot, or any of those other hormonal contraceptives women are often offered postpartum to prevent pregnancy and mask symptoms of hormonal imbalance, will not reset you or heal the underlying cause of your issues here, but science shows that food will!

First and foremost, you’ve got to get your blood sugar stabilized throughout the day. Grazing on snacks here and there just will not do. Prioritizing meals for yourself with the right balance of protein and carbohydrates is essential. That means 3 meals per day plus snacks.

This is what I was eating postpartum. It may sound like a lot, but it revved my metabolism, allowing me to lose all my baby weight (60 lbs. of it) within 6 months. Within just 3 months, I’d already lost 40 lbs. So you don’t need to deprive yourself after baby is born, and in fact, if you do - you’ll only suffer with the physical and mental side effects of your body’s deprivation of nutrients.

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Breakfast – Steel cut oats with black sesame seeds, coconut oil, flax, cinnamon, goji berries

Snack – 2 eggs scrambled in coconut oil with turmeric

Lunch – Salmon and quinoa with lentils and fermented sauerkraut

Snack – Avocado on black rice bread

Dinner – Bison/lamb/beef burger with green beans and sweet potato baked ‘fries’

Snack – 2 Dates or dried figs with 3 Squares Dark Chocolate with Mother’s Milk Tea

Snack – Macaroon or gluten-free lactation cookie

Snack – Bone Broth with black rice bread and chicken liver pate

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In addition to changing how and what you eat, I would encourage you to do the following:

• After you eat anything, walk around the block once or up and down a flight of stairs for 5 minutes after a meal. This will turn OFF the fat storage program in your body and cause you to start using calories for fuel. Lowering body fat will absolutely help reduce estrogen dominance issues that are contributing to your low libido. We all know babies like a bounce in the stroller so it’s a good excuse to get out of the house too!

You likely won’t get your period for some time after you give birth - especially if you’re breastfeeding. However, if you’re worried about where your period has gone, eating these Flo-centric foods, will bring it back when it’s the right time.

Motherhood & Moods

Here’s another reason why nutrient-dense food is essential postpartum: You need to give your brain the building blocks for mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters.

• Protein, complex carbohydrates and good fats are essential during this time.
• Calcium and magnesium, B vitamins, and Omega 3’s are safe supplements to take while breastfeeding.

Although clinical postpartum depression can be a real problem for some women that requires treatment by a doctor, there are mood changes across a spectrum that impact yet more women - including mild and subclinical postpartum depression and anxiety.

Focusing on food and getting the necessary micronutrients in your body will help prevent many of the most common mood changes that occur postpartum for the majority of women. Of course, other factors can be compounding - poor sleep, lack of childcare support, work demands etc - but you will be better prepared to face these challenges if you have a strong food foundation.

I highly recommend the book “The First Forty Days”  as an excellent resource on postpartum nourishment to enhance your health, physical and mental, as well as that of your baby. I like to call this approach an “active recovery” – instead of assuming and hoping your body will spring back or assuming and hoping that once you’re physically healed that the work is done, know that you have to be active in your post-birth recovery every single day. Don’t see it as an additional responsibility, see it as something you’re doing to take care of yourself and, as such, excel at taking care of your child.

Motherhood & Sex Drive

Sex drive is complex in women, but it can be broken down into elements that you can improve and boost to get the libido you want! First is the hormonal component: the estrogen/progesterone/testosterone blend. Then there’s the adrenal component. Both of these elements can be improved with food and some strategic supplements.To get you started, take these recommendations:

• Begin taking daily a B-complex vitamin and vitamin C – both help heal the adrenals.
• Try to eat poached eggs a few times a week – the yolk helps boost progesterone levels naturally and this can offset higher levels of estrogen that might make you feel less in the mood.

The other issue of course is the reality of motherhood, the strain on your time, the free space in your mind, and your own relationship with your changed body.

• I would definitely recommend one session per week of self pleasuring (no vibrators!) – give yourself 20 minutes to feel pleasurable touch as it boosts oxytocin and nitric oxide levels both which can help you recover your libido. Try my 5Cs of self-pleasure to get yourself there.

Remember to feed yourself super nutrient dense foods and spend a little time with yourself and you WILL get your sex drive turned back on in no time.

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‍Here’s a little mama blessing for you and for your new baby: ‍

All is Well. Everything is conspiring for your highest good. Only good things are coming to you now. You are safe. You are loved.

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Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!

To your FLO,

Alisa

Do you wish your “monthly curse” would just go away for good?

Does it cause you pain and interfere with your life?

Are you ready for a solution how to stop your period?

Well I’m glad you’re here. The answer I share might not be the answer you expect, so brace yourself ;)

How I stopped my period

Years ago, when I was in thick of my hormonal health condition PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), my period stopped on it’s own.There’s something about not having a period that makes you feel less like a woman and a little bit alienated from your female friends. Girls in school would complain about their monthly visitors and I would either pretend to have mine or make no comment.

Yes, it was freeing in some ways – not having to worry about having it at the beach or not having to deal with buying pads and tampons – but I would trade all of that just to feel like I was part of the clan.

Fast forward to now, thanks to FLO Living, I’m menstruating regularly and have discovered that having a period gives me much more than I had even hoped for. Not only do I feel like a woman, but I’m more connected to my intuition and my creativity than ever before. I’m dancing and writing again after years of feeling blocked.

Being in line with my own cyclical rhythm and knowing I’m deeply connected to the greater cycles in the world around me makes me much happier and freer.

That’s what I want for you.

If you’re reading this, chances are you either hate your period because of how painful and annoying it is, or you’re similar to how I was and aren’t getting it regularly.

If you want to stop your period, here’s what you need to know:

There actually are medical ways to stop your period. You can take birth control continuously so that you skip the bleeding week, or get the Depo Provera shot, which simulates menopause in your body. Neither option comes without risks.

When you take external hormones like the ones listed above, you may feel temporary relief but may be contributing to longer term issues. Weight gain, depression, and migraines are a few of the regularly occurring side-effects of these drugs.

Interrupting your natural hormonal cycle is confusing to your delicate endocrine system and when the time comes that you must come off of the medication, your body will be left even more confused than it was. (Not to mention, you might be 20 lbs heavier and dealing with a load of new symptoms.)

Rather than jumping into hormonal medications, I’d like to suggest taking a more natural approach that will balance your hormonal patterns and eliminate the annoying period symptoms you’re experiencing.

Start with food.

What you eat changes your biochemistry.

I didn’t realize this until I physically experienced it. When I first came to FLO Living, I thought I was pretty healthy but then started making changes with Alisa’s recommendations and experienced dramatic shifts in my moods and physical symptoms.

I’ve worked with enough clients to know this has universal effectiveness. I’ve watched women eliminate cramps and pain, get pregnant naturally, and learn to actually love their periods. No joke.

The same is possible for you.

Address your mindset.

In addition to food, it’s important to look at your relationship to your womanhood. Yes, this might sound a little “woo-woo” but I can assure you it’s relevant.

If you inherited beliefs from your mother or other ladies that said anything like this:

“It sucks being a woman.”

“Women always get the short end of the stick.”

“It’s not safe to be a woman.”

…then chances are you’ve adopted some unconscious beliefs that make you not want to be a woman, and therefore want to stop your period.

Sometimes the negative woman beliefs are subtle, so if you’re unsure if you have any, I suggest doing some writing on this topic and see what comes up for you.

If you’re constantly pushing to get ahead and exhausting your body in the process, your body will rebel in the form of menstrual cramps. Or painful periods. Or moodswings. Or other annoying symptoms.

It’s totally possible to get out of this mindset, and when you do you’ll see drastic changes with your periods. Start by having conversations about this with your friends, and surround yourself with women who are supportive, like the ones on our online community here.

What you can do now:

At FLO, we are here for you. If you want to stop hating your period and learn to use it as a tool for your happiness and success, join us.

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Do you feel like you’re in the mood for a few days, then not so much the rest of the month?

Or maybe you rarely get the impulse and just figure, “Oh well! I guess I’ll live without sex”?If this is happening, and you’re also under the age of 45, then you are not experiencing the sex drive nature intended!And to my 45+ ladies – have no fear, it can get better for you, too!This topic is so important to me because I know it affects so much more than the time you spend in bed. Your sex drive affects your vitality, fertility, creative power, and experience of a pleasure-full life. A healthy sex life has amazing hormone-balancing power and health benefits as well. Did you know that orgasms have a whole lot of benefits - from boosting your fertility, to regulating your cycle, to increasing the strength of your immunity?Why would you miss out on all that?Let’s look at why you might be having a less-than-ideal libido? A few underlying causes could be plaguing you:

1. High estrogen. Of course it's natural and biochemically appropriate to have ups and downs with estrogen throughout your cycle. But if your liver and digestive system are not operating ideally, you won’t be clearing out the excess estrogen efficiently which will result in much higher levels of circulating estrogen than is needed. This is a no-no for your libido. This is also called estrogen dominance or estrogen overload.
2. Fried adrenals. Oh the poor little adrenal glands that seem to take the brunt of our stress-heavy modern lifestyle! You’ve probably heard it from us before, but these powerhouse glands are responsible for the output of your stress hormones and most of your testosterone, which is where that desire for sex comes from. Increased output of stress hormones means decreased output of juicy sex hormones. You do the math.
3. Medications and Birth Control Pill. If you’re on the pill, anti-depressants, or other medication, this is something important to consider when it comes to your sex drive and your hormonal balance, as very often a side-effect is the decrease in sexual desire. We encourage you to talk to your doctor and other practitioners to find the right kind of support and possibly wean off what is not necessary. The birth control pill can lower your libido and impact your relationship in many negative ways. The affect of the pill on your sex drive can continue once you come off unless you support your body to make its own hormones again. Anti-depressants are over-prescribed and not always the best treatment for women’s feelings of depression.

What’s the recipe for a “normal” sex drive?

If you’ve identified why this may be happening, now it’s time take action on the ways you can significantly improve your sex drive and energy.The best way to boost your low sex drive is with a combination of food and supplements. Food as the foundation and supplements as a super-charger. Once you’re libido is back to the level it can be for all women, then you can start to see how your desire for sex changes throughout your cycle and actually Cycle-Sync your sex life for improved intimacy and more orgasms.When it comes to food, you need to focus on increasing testosterone-boosting ingredients in your every meal. Tailoring which of these well-research aphrodisiacs you eat to your cycle phase is going to increase the benefits and speed up the libido boost. There are also simple lifestyle hacks you use to change how and what you eat and drink so you’re avoiding estrogen overload and nourishing those important adrenals.Supplements are there to super-charge your efforts - I recommend maca root powder, plus Rhodiola, Magnesium, EFAs, and Zinc. These target your body’s core needs and will bring you back into hormonal balance.After 3 months of committing to these foods and supplements, I am sure you will feel sexier. Take a look at how you approach and think about sex and your relationship as a whole. Sometimes a low libido can be a sign that something is awry in your relationship. I’ve been Cycle-Syncing my marriage for years and highly recommend it as a way to increase intimacy, passion, communication, and reach those #relationshipgoals.With the MyFLO app I’ve made it super easy for you to do this for yourself. You get tips and advice on the best time in your cycle to talk something out, have a date night, go on an adventure, try something new in the bedroom, or spend some time apart. Plus you can request that your partner is sent automatic updates via email about where you are at in your cycle that are full of tips and advice on how to treat you right and support you - I call it the Partner Sync option.Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

Do You Know the Easiest Way to Fix Your Period Symptoms?

You don’t need to keep suffering with annoying symptoms that drain your energy for 1-2 weeks every single month. In fact, you can start having a better period as soon as your next period.MyFLO is the first-ever functional medicine period tracker that ALSO helps you fix your symptoms. MyFLO will help you understand why you have symptoms and what to do to improve them with food. It will also teach you how to Cycle Sync™ the 5 main areas of your life: food, exercise, work, relationships, and sex.Have a Better Period with MyFLOWhen you follow MyFLO’s weekly recommendations, you’ll get rid of frustrating symptoms and learn how to optimize your energy to be more productive and have better relationships.Click here to get MyFLO for iPhoneClick here to get MyFLO for Android

It’s one thing to eat well and stay healthy if you’re home all the time and able to cook and make your own food choices, but it becomes more challenging when your schedule is full of parties and family dinners…which are bound to come up during the holiday season!

Too many rich foods or alcoholic beverages might not seem like a big deal as they’re happening, but over time they will have serious effects on your weight, moods, and hormonal balance.As women, our monthly cycles are extremely sensitive and require the proper nutrition and self-care to stay balanced.I wanted to give you a quick checklist of the things I do before, during and after holiday parties to ensure that I don’t get stuck with what I call the Holiday Hangover. If you’ve ever woken up one winter morning feeling 5-10 lbs overweight and overly tired and foggy-headed, you’ll know what I’m talking about.There are bound to be lots of sweets and festive cocktails floating around at these events, but they don’t have to be your undoing. You can have a fantastic time over the holidays while still taking care of yourself and staying in your FLO, if you follow these guidelines.

The preventative measures:

1. Eat dinner – Eat dinner before the booze or sweets! Foods rich in protein and healthy fats like salmon, chicken, and avocados are best before or along with alcoholic beverages. Eating a meal might also prevent you from reaching directly for the sweet stuff, which is not great to do on an empty stomach!2. Stay hydrated - Drink lots of water before and during the event. Being dehydrated will cause your body to crave salty things which will lead to a craving for more sugar or alcohol. Also, the more you can drink water in between any alcohol that might consumed, the more equipped your body will be to detox afterwards.

During the party:

3. Mingle & Explore – If you’re walking around the event and seeking out the company of new and interesting people, or if you’re exploring the architecture of the space, the artwork, or the hanging mistletoe, you’ll be less likely to overindulge in the comforts of too much alcohol or sweets. Challenge yourself to get out of your shell and try something new!

The post-party support:

4. B-Vitamins – These badboys are essential for replenishment on the day after a party. Pick up a B-complex supplement for the proper balance of all B-vitamins, drink lots of water along with them, and stay nourished!5. Coconut Water – This “natural Gatorade” is loaded with potassium, electrolytes, vitamins, & minerals – drink lots of it to rehydrate and replenish after a night of mulled wine or spiked egg-nog.

Here’s the scenario:

Girl meets boy.

Girl is already on the pill and stays on it.

Girl and boy continue dating and get serious.

Girl and boy get married.

Girl gets off pill when they want to start a family.

Girl has a quarter life crisis as she starts to find conflict in her relationship now that she is off the pill.

What happened?

Of course this is an extreme example, and we’re not suggesting that it’s the only option that could happen, but the point is that your hormones do play a factor in your relationships.

If you remember from earlier studies we shared, when given a sampling of sweaty mens t-shirts to choose from, it was proven that women on the pill were drawn to partners whose pheromones do not genetically compliment their own. On the other hand, women who were not on the pill chose partners with genetic compatibility. This suggests that being on the pill can have an effect on the kind of partner you are attracted to, and would explain why the Girl above ended up in her quarter life crisis.

Among other side effects of the pill could be low libido or depression, which can obviously have an effect on your relationships, too.

If you’re on the pill and sensing that something is off in the love department - perhaps you’re not quite feelin’ the one you’re in, or having trouble finding the right partner - it could be a great time to experiment with getting off the pill. Rather than quit cold turkey, taking part in the WomanCode System will prep your body for the transition off and help your hormones adjust to their natural cycle.As we gear up for the month of February, here at FLO we want to do everything possible to ensure it’s as love-filled as possible. And we know that happy hormones = a happy love life.Click here for more guidance on love, relationships, and hormones in my webinar, where I address:

• How to improve your bad moods and lagging sex drive so you feel happy, sexy, and receptive to love all month long
• The ideal time of day for you to have the most mind blowing orgasm with your partner
• What to feed your man so his moods and libido are ideal for you

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaNeed 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!

Well, it’s the last week of holiday madness, and we’ve been through a lot together:

• healthy holiday gifts
• parties and hangovers
• digestion and blood sugar balance

But once all of that is through, we’re still not done because now it’s time for your body - and your liver in particular! - to recuperate with a holiday detox.

Today I want to share with you my favorite tips for post-holiday detox support. A more in-depth and guided version of the detox is included in my book WomanCode and my online program the WomanCode System - I hope you pick up one or both this week if you haven’t yet!The new year is the perfect time to set new habits in motion and create a new relationship with your hormones.

Start with these 3 tips:

1. Love your liver. Since your liver will be doing a lot of extra work this holiday season, it’s a good idea to love it up even more this week. One of my favorite herbs for liver support is Milk Thistle - you can take it in capsule form once a day for extra detoxifying power.

2. Juice up your intestines. Your intestines might also be feeling some inflammation if you’ve been indulging in more sugar, gluten, or dairy than usual. Fresh green juices daily, preferably first thing in the morning, are a great way to support your internal pathways of digestions and elimination.

3. Get your lymph flowing. Your delicate lymphatic system is another important player in the detox process. The right kind of exercise is important for physically moving that lymph through your system and helping to sweat out toxins. Jumping on a trampoline is my favorite way to flush out lymph, but other modes of exercise are great too!

With the proper support, your body will be back in the FLO in no time!

A smarter way to detox

Want to improve your skin, endocrine system, and overall health for the long-term? Now you can learn how.Sign up here to continuing getting quality women’s health guidance and start feeling better in your female body NOW![gravityform id="3" name="Get on the road to hormonal health!" title="false" description="false"]

Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving!

Before you start getting down on yourself for having that extra piece of pumpkin pie, try being extra loving to your body.As you continue on your holiday adventures, I wanted to be sure you were armed with 3 of my favorite supplements. They are especially helpful for digesting heavy meals and keeping your blood sugar balanced if you’re eating things your body might not be used to.

My 3 favorite supplements for digestive health:

1. Chromium Picolinate - This trace mineral can boost your insulin’s response, so is especially good for meals heavy on the carbohydrates.

2. Cinnamon - This power-food has been proven to reduce blood sugar levels and triglycerides in patients with type 2 diabetes, which means that it can be super-effective for those of us with hormonal blood-sugar sensitivities. Sprinkle it on your meals, or pick up a supplement packed with the good stuff.

3. Digestive Enzymes - These enzymes help you break down the food you eat and absorb nutrients better. If you experience indigestion, gas, or bloating, try them out! Rainbow Light is one of my favorite brands.

Don’t forget that supplements are exactly what the word suggests: supplemental boosts to an already balanced diet. If your diet is not working for you, supplements will have little effect. Check out the details in my most popular Holiday detox audio class: Sex, Turkey, & the Extra 5 lbs.

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!

I believe your body is magic. I do.

You are continuously cycling through the neurohormonal phases that facilitate birth, growth and renewal. All you have to do is channel this kinetic energy into whatever area of your life you want to create change in, and allow the magic to happen.You can create new things in your life because of your body.This past year has been full of change and I have my body to thank for making it all possible: launching my book WomanCode 10 weeks early, my menstrual history-making appearance on Dr. Oz, going on a multi-city book tour, moving to a new home after superstorm Sandy, and my first year of marriage.

I’m so grateful for all that has happened with such grace and all along the way, you have been there with me cheering me on and encouraging me with your stories of reclaimed health through your experiences of my work. I want you to know this holiday season that I’m so thankful for you, your support, your emails, and our shared belief that our bodies are magical.

Since I spent so long living the WomanCode lifestyle on my own, it’s incredible to know that I have sisters living it with me now, all over the world. It’s been amazing meeting you at events and seeing you share the WomanCode message with your sisters and friends. Thank you to each of you who came out to show your support and bought books for your friends and coworkers. And to all of you who tagged us, tweeted us and let your community know about us - thank you thank you! It’s been a joy to think about future travels to different cities, knowing I can reach out and connect with more of you! I imagine us having a chat over a healthy lunch or taking a yoga class together, gathering with other women to share our stories. As I look at my 2014 speaking schedule I’ll look forward to meeting more of you soon!

I hope you’ll share my book WomanCode as a gift for the women who are most special to you this year. Sharing this message is about opening up a woman you care about to a new possibility for great things to happen in her life - because of her body, not inspite of it.I’m looking forward to another year with you and bringing you more of what you need to feel good in your bodies and thrive in your lives.

Of course everything that this company has become is based on this conversation that I’ve been having with all of you over the years. Thank you to each of you who have connected us with companies and doctors to partner with. I welcome all of your ideas to help us reach more women. I read your emails so keep em coming!

I believe that aligning with our hormonal patterns is the single most important thing a woman can do for herself and her success. I believe our power to continuously change is our greatest power as women. Not only for our own health but for our lives and the world around us.I believe in you.Thanks for being with me on the journey.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Love,

Alisa

P.S. Everything happened so fast with my book launching early this spring that I wanted also to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me during my book launch not only the 4 city tour but also online. A big thank you to the following people for making the online launch and each of those nights possible:

1. Selena Soo for working her magic with all of the media coverage of the book. And toRuth Tewkesbury for getting me all the amazing UK press and event support.

2. Rachel Goldstein and Agent of Change for organizing the most amazing book launch parties in NYC and LA and for making miracles and doing the impossible when my book launched 10 weeks early.

3. DKNY NYC and LA, Pigment Studios in SF, and Eileen Fisher London for hosting me and my guests in their gorgeous spaces and providing hot men and champagne for everyone.

4. To my photographers, JJ Ignotz in NY, Manali Sibthorpe in SF, Sidney Bensimon in LA, and Vanya Melnik in London for capturing all the love and joy during these celebrations.

5. To my amazing hosts:

NY - Meggan Watterson, Melanie Notkin, Melisse Gelula

LA - Sophie Chiche, Elisa Hallerman, Ashley Turner, Robyn Youkilis

SF - LiYana Silver and Sarah Jenks

London - Janet Thompson and Jelena Petrovic

I am so blessed to call you sisters and to have been showered with your loving words at these events.

6. To my support at each of the events - Jemma Lester, Heather Reinhardt, Susan and Stephanie Papa, thank you so much for making everything FLO!

7. To all of our wonderful sponsors, Rawpothecary Juice, Flat Belly Bakery, Mylk Man,Zico and Mariposa Bakery and to Somaly Mam foundation for being the beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds from our events.

8. To Well & Good, Organic Avenue, ABC Home, Stonehenge, Soho House, Hay House for hosting me at various events - thank you for having me be a part of the family.

9. To all the writers who featured us in blogs and in articles, everyone who shared the book, posted on FB, tweeted, emailed their communities - thank you for throwing me a virtual book baby shower - I am so lucky to have been so loved up by each of you and your words.

10. Some special love to Kris Carr, Nitika Chopra, Alexandra Jamieson, Jennifer Kass, Colleen Wachob, JJ Virgin, Michael Fishman and Nisha Moodley for lending your magic.

11. My incredible team at FLO Living for building a new website in 10 days before my Dr. Oz episode aired - Jessica Grippo, Brandi Hand, Stefanie Torrieri - i love you ladies!

12. My amazing husband Victor Russo for being the best cheerleader a woman could have!

I'm sure there are people I forgot to thank, forgive my memory lapse and please know you have my love and gratitude!!

Peak through all the photos and leave a comment on the blog….

Give the Gift of FLO!

If you want to support your lady friends in finding their FLO, without the anxiety of any awkward conversations, Woman Code is a wonderful gift idea this holiday season and does all the talking for you!

Order a copy HERE!

Have you ever gotten a well-intentioned gift that just wasn’t usable because it contained products you don’t use or food you don’t eat?

Let’s be proactive and start giving healthy holiday gifts we would want to receive - gifts that are hormone-supportive and FLO-friendly!

Everything on this list has been personally tried and tested by me, Alisa.

From my family to yours…

Here are my top picks for healthy holiday gifts!

1. For the Product Junkie: beauty products that are NOT endocrine-disruptive and amazing:

• John Masters Organics: blood orange & vanilla body milk (my favorite!)
• Red Flower: revitalizing sea salt scrub
• PritiNYC: - organic nail polish

2. For the Foodie: luxury pantry items we can’t get enough of:

• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: “the purest salt on earth”
• Bee Raw Honey: supports family-owned apiaries and the sustainability of our planet
• Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut Oil
• Vosges Chocolate Black Pearl and Chuao Chocolate Spicy Maya

3. For your friends with epic pinterest pages of interior design: eco-friendly, hormone-friendly hostess gifts:

• Infusion Organique: organic candles
• Sister Bliss: aromatherapy spray (formula 19) good for your room, sheets, and you!
• Soma: eco and hormone healthy replacement for your Brita pitcher/filter

4. For your friend who needs to see herself in a more beautiful light: self care is sexy

• Journelle: my favorite lingerie store

5. For Every Woman: the ultimate guide to your body, hormones, and vitality

• WomanCode: the book

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As the weather here in New York gets colder, I’m reminded of the value in slowing down and taking time to assess what’s been going on, rather than constantly pushing forward.When was the last time you slowed down and took time for reflection?If you’re following our cyclical life planning method based on your hormonal patterns throughout the month, you’ll know that your menstrual phase (i.e. the time of the month when you are bleeding) is when it’s best to take extra time for yourself and assess how you’ve been feeling. You can then set new intentions and make course corrections to move forward in a way that feels most aligned with your desires.Try this once a month and watch your world transform!In that spirit, we’re taking a moment to recap the specific Hormonal Health Challenges we’ve been sharing throughout this last month and hope that you’ll take a moment to read through the list and pick out the ones most relevant to you:1. Taking prescription drugs to heal hormonal imbalances? Evaluate your reliance on them here.2. Are you BPA-free? Get the list, especially if you’re pregnant.3. Trying to conceive? Eat this meal to improve fertility.4. Feel alone in your hormonal fluctuations? Talk to your partner about your period.5. Dry skin? Make sure your moisturizers are hormonally safe.Start your November off by getting in the FLO with your body and your cyclical rhythms and report back in to let us know how the month unfolds for you!In support for your lady parts,Alisa

A new study was recently conducted among patients with type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance, to determine the factors responsible for cognitive impairment. The results show that those who were taking the drug Metformin were twice as likely to exhibit cognitive impairment and that Metformin and brain impairment were linked. They also discovered that the only way to slow down the damage to the brain was with micronutrient changes - aka food!

The relevance for you, WomanCoders, is that glucose sensitivities and Metformin prescriptions are common occurrences in women with hormonal imbalances, particularly PCOS. But how often are you made aware of the potential side effects?As more studies are revealed that show the chronic, long-term side effects of commonly prescribed drugs, it’s becoming clear that we can’t afford to buy the idea that a pill can fix you. Additionally, the new research makes a stronger case every day that food can correct the imbalances that the medication is trying to manage on the symptom level. The most obvious and effective solution is to use food as your medicine.So this week’s Hormonal Health Challenge is:

Evaluate your reliance on prescription drugs that are supposed to be healing your hormonal imbalances.

Use this set of questions:

• How long have I been taking it?
• Was it prescribed to “fix” a certain symptom, and is that issue still being addressed?
• What side effects do I experience?
• Am I neglecting to look at the role my diet and lifestyle play in what’s happening with my hormones?

We’re not by any means suggesting to go cold turkey with any medication you’ve been prescribed. Rather, we are suggesting that you start a dialogue with your body and your physician to make sure that you’re taking an approach that best suits you.The WomanCode System was designed to facilitate this dialogue by teaching you a specially sequenced food-therapy protocol that will naturally bring your body back into balance. As we’ve seen women’s success stories with it over the years, I’m pretty sure your doctor would be happy to know you’re taking a proactive approach to your hormonal health.Get the details and see if it’s for you by clicking here.

Today’s Hormonal Health Challenge of the week is this:

Talk to your partner about your period!

That’s right, ladies. This week it’s time to loop in your partner - your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, roommate, or whoever you tend to be spending lots of time with.We get questions from you all the time about how best to communicate your changing hormonal patterns with those closest to you. Especially if you’re dealing with mood changes, physical pain, energy shifts, low libido, or baby-making efforts, it’s really important to be on the same page with things.To help aid your discussion, here are a few points to share. You might even want to print this out and read it over together!What you should know about my cycle:Before we get into more specific details, here’s a cheat-sheet of the different phases of my cycle:Follicular: right after bleeding stops, for about 7 daysOvulation: 3 or 4 days of the most fertile time, midway through the cycleLuteal: the 10 days or so after ovulation and before menstruationMenstruation: the 2-7 days of bleeding(note that the exact amount of days will vary from woman to woman)My communication style will change week to week. I tend to be the clearest and most verbally inclined right after my period and up to ovulation. This is because the left hemisphere of my brain is more dominant. Starting right after ovulation, about 10 days or so before my period, my brain chemistry changes and the right brain is more accessible. This means I tend to be more emotional and sensitive and have less ability to communicate exactly how I’m feeling verbally.My needs for sex change throughout the month. Ovulation time is when I’m the most fertile and so my sex drive will be heightened, but this is not the only time! My testosterone peaks during my luteal phase, somewhere during the 10 days before my period. (Every woman is a little bit different with this, so be sure to communicate how you notice your specific needs changing.)My body image will also vary week to week. I tend to be more critical of my body in the week before my period. This is when I need you to be extra loving and reassuring. When I’m ovulating I’m usually feeling great about how I look and will not have problems picking out outfits because everything feels fabulous!Let’s go out sometimes, and stay home other times. I’m the most energetic and ready to be social in my follicular phase (the week after my period) and the week that I’m ovulating. Let’s plan dates during this time! Once I get closer to my period, though, I’d much prefer dark chocolate and a night in watching Netflix. While I’m on my period, I also crave a significant amount of alone time, so don’t be offended if I feel like closing the door to do some reflecting.And finally, ask your partner what he or she thinks and how you can best stay in communication at all times of the month. Come up with a system you both feel great about and watch how your relationship blossoms!Ready for a more in depth look at every phase of your cycle? Get your copy of WomanCode today and share it with your loved ones!

In recent years, the chemical BPA, or bisphenol A, has caused quite a stir.

In 2010 the FDA deemed it as being possibly hazardous to the health of young children and infants, and now a more recent study is linking BPA exposure to miscarriage.

In high doses BPA acts as a hormone disrupter, which explains why it could contribute to miscarriage in those who are already hormonally sensitive or genetically prone.

What does this mean for you, WomanCoder?In this week’s Hormonal Health Challenge, read through the following list and minimize your BPA exposure as much as possible. Whether or not you’re trying to conceive, your hormonal balance will benefit big-time from these small changes!Your BPA-free checklist:

• Don’t put hot foods or liquids in plastic containers! This goes for microwaving, too -- always use glass containers.
• Check to be sure your reusable water bottles and baby bottles are BPA-free. (Most will have it clearly labeled.)
• Reduce your use of canned foods, but if you must, make sure to store them in a relatively cool area.
• Support your liver in daily detoxification by increasing your intake of fiber, vegetables, and fresh water.

Reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors is one step on the path of hormonal health. If you’re ready to follow a tried and true method of natural balance, optimal fertility, and vibrant energy, get your copy of WomanCode today and join us in our growing online community!