Q&A: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea/Overtraining Syndrome

Time Stamps Below!
:15 Irregular cycles when first getting period back
3:42 Painful, burning legs, and fatigue in recovery from OTS
6:25 Can I eat more protein and continue to train (OTS)
7:22 Link between celiac/autoimmune disease and HA
12:42 Preparing for recovery
15:06 How does culture affect HA
16:05 Can Acetyl L Carnitine help me get my period back?
Get the full eBook of FAQ's here: www.acaseofthejills.com/new-p...
IG: @acaseofthejills
FB: / acaseofthejills
email: [e-mail]

[@emilycriswell9816]

So happy you are making videos!

[@lm9423]

Also, love your channel. I wish more people knew about it, because you do such thorough work and are great at communicating your point.

[@sabinahart1593]

Jill, thanks for continuing to share this message from such a genuine and intelligent place. It's been years, and although I've put on a good 6-8 pounds since finding your channel, I know I've got a bit more to go if I want to restore my hormones and health. It's definitely a challenge when one's profession is in the health/fitness field. But I must applaud you for your continued care, support, and skilled communication style. The key is finding out what we are running from with compulsive exercise and preoccupation with "healthy eating" eh? When we're brave enough to face that, we can find greater passions and callings centered around selflessness....And that requires true forgiveness of ourselves and others.

[@jillcolangelopsych]

Absolutely true. Gaining compassion is part of the beauty of recovery! Thank you for the kind words XO

[@jessicacampbell1903]

Thank you, Jill. Much needed thjs.

[@jillcolangelopsych]

You're so welcome Jessica!

[@laram.1272]

Very interesting!! Good Video!

[@saara-5847]

I just wanted to say thank you Jill so much for your videos, we really need more people talking about OTS! I feel like the online fitness community is very unhealthy and there's really no one talking about the other side of it. I went through the rabbit hole of exercise addiction and ed and in the process developed OTS. It's been a year now since I got the diagnosis and I'm really losing my hope here... My symptoms are still really bad, both mental and physical, I'm struggling with deep depression and find it hard to even have the will to fight this..

[@jillcolangelopsych]

Sara, I am so sorry to hear that you are struggling. You are so right! There should be more conversation about OTS. I promise to keep it going here and on my website too. Feel free to email me if you'd like to share more details about your situation [e-mail]. I might be able to offer some words of advice :) Sending hugs! XO

[@In-the-spirit]

@@jillcolangelopsych I Am struglin with this also ower 2 years.

[@Crumbly123]

Hey Jill, appreciate your videos, just wanted to add an extra point for some of the guys who are busy crushing themselves or have recently had to stop. I hit the wall about 15 months ago and I’m just now getting back to a reasonable level of strength and energy, and don’t expect to be 100% any time in the next year. If you run your body all the way to zero then this is the kind of time frame you could be looking at. It was helpful for me to understand that recovery was going to be a very long process and this understanding allowed me to hold a better mindset and remain patient as I get back to training in a more sensible and balanced way. I feel like the dudes who asked questions in this video might benefit from reading this. At least I hope they do. Thanks again, Jill. Peace to all.

[@jillcolangelopsych]

I love this comment. You are completely right and it is important to have realistic expectations for recovery. Sometimes it takes us longer to reverse the damage than actually DO the damage. Also important to know: we are much more susceptible to relapse/overreaching and will get symptoms again very quickly if we start pushing before our bodies are ready. Thank you so much for sharing this!!

[@ellynash4922]

Hello Jill! I've been watching since I started anorexia recovery 18 months ago, mainly to see experience views on getting my period back of course. I am at a healthy weight having been very underweight since I lost my period aged 18 or 19. I am now 49 years old!!!!!!! The point is, 3 weeks ago I had my first period in 30 years I AM NOT KIDDING!!!! I have never been able to have children and am actually very emotional about this. Anyway I want to ask if you have ever heard of anyone else with a similar story? Have they had kids? Do you think, as I do, that this is literally miraculous?? Please please reply to help me out. Thank you for everything you do. Elly x xxx

[@jillcolangelopsych]

Hello Elly! Goodness! Hormones really are something else, aren't they? Go ahead and email me [e-mail] to chat more in detail there :) XO

[@lindsayfoster4759]

Did you ever end up deciding to try for kids? 30 years- wow. The body is incredible 😊

[@MsSoul2009]

congrats!! I almost can feel how emotional you are , 30 years are quite long years I've lost my period for 4 years , I aware I have anorexia recently and start watching lots of vedio about those Syndrome . Still can not totally change my mental thought... first I'm trying eat more.. hope I can get my period back.

[@lucianalima2776]

this hairrrr 😍

[@Riksi6]

Hi Jill, thanks so much for all your content on HA. Not sure where best to ask this question. I'm wondering if you've had many people talk about acne with HA and whether or not it can get worse for some during recovery due to increasing hormones. Mine is mild on the acne scale but i'd like it gone!

[@jillcolangelopsych]

Great question! For people who have hormone-influenced acne, there is no doubt that any fluctuation (whether due to HA or something else) will probably bring some breakouts. The good news is that as the body adjusts to normal cycles of hormone production, the breakouts typically chill out. Getting through the initial annoyance might be bothersome, but remember that it is usually temporary. Hope this helps!

[@Riksi6]

@@jillcolangelopsych Thanks Jill. I'm hoping it's a good sign of something happening! Fingers crossed.

[@littililith]

It got a lot worse for me! But now I’m back to a clear face 1 year later 💪🏻

[@jasonbarci8141]

I just wanted to mention the book which is the ABSOLUTE best reference on the subject (if not possibly the only credible reference available on the regular book market) written by an AMAZING doctor Nicola Rinaldi, the global leading expert on the subject of hypothalamic amenorrhea No Period Now What. I repeat the book you need and must get is No Period Now What by Nicola Rinaldi. Its a must in recovery!!!

[@martinag.104]

Never was an ultra runner, but am a workout enthusiast, and I go on longer runs occasionally. But my job turns out to be super active (8h on my feet, running around and carrying heavy objects) and very stressfull. Laely I've been working overtime, but still worked out, and went on a run 'to destress' even more often. My whole body always starts to swell up in the evening, and then I can't make fists because my fingers are so swollen. Never knew where it came from, I had been to a variety of doctors because of this unbearable fatigue I experienced, and I had so much blood drawn with no real result. So I guess I 'just' have to take time off of my workouts and just rest, but its really scary to think about that tbh 🙈

[@jillcolangelopsych]

If your job is that strenuous, yes...it's possible that the runs/training are only adding to physical stress. Exercise is a great mental stress reliever UNTIL a certain point, after which, it actually compounds the problem. If you'd like to email me to talk more about this, you can: [e-mail]

[@Isabella-vm3ir]

Hi! I have a question! Btw this was a great video and answered so many of my questions! So I think I have Hypothalamic Ammenorrea. Or maybe I don’t. Ever since I have gotten my period, it’s NEVER been regular, always skipping months. It’s been like that for 3 years, expect this time I’ve lost for for over 5 months. I’ve been eating good and feeling good which is the weird part! I work out 4 times a week for only 40 minutes so I don’t go bananas or anything. And I finally feel confident in myself in how I look and feel. I only lost 2 pounds since working out and am not at an unhealthy weight at all, I’m actually exactly where I should be. I’m going to have a physical this month and just want to sort things out because I want my period but I don’t know where to begin. Thank you if you read this!!😊

[@jasonbarci8141]

I really reccomend the book No period now what? by Nicola Rinaldi order on amazon or her site its a must for recovery!!!

[@Isabella-vm3ir]

Jason Barci ok thanks I’ll have to check it out!!

[@jillcolangelopsych]

Hi Lola, before you get too far down the rabbit hole with information that you may/may not need (from me or anyone else), it's important that you explain your situation thoroughly to your doctor and ask for some baseline testing to understand what is happening with your hormone production. This is important for you since you say that you have never had regular periods (in contrast to the many women with HA who had regular periods only to loose them due to overexercise/poor nutrition). I would focus on working with a certified healthcare practitioner FIRST. Once you understand your situation, research can support whatever diagnosis you may have...but, I wouldn't work backwards :) Keep me updated!! XO

[@Isabella-vm3ir]

acaseofthejills ok thank you so so so much I really appriecate this!!!!!☺️☺️☺️❤️❤️❤️

[@lm9423]

How long did it take for your cycles to normalize and for your weight to get back to normal (your stable weight now)?

[@jillcolangelopsych]

I have a huge amount of videos, my ebook, and tons of other info at acaseofthejills.com...all of that is addressed :)

[@nestranestra4071]

Hmm, I m confused. You said whatever your body don't need will be pooped out. As far as I know, usually it will be stored as fat. Otherwise everyone would be slim and there would be no obesity.

[@jillcolangelopsych]

Sigh...here we go: You do not seem confused to me at all since you seem to have a basic understanding of the human body's digestive process. Therefore, I must ask YOU what the purpose is of attempting to single out something in this video. As I always remind commenters... the content on this channel is specifically directed toward athletes, people trying to get their periods back, people who train too much, might have anxiety, might have a dependency on exercise, might have celiac disease, might actually have a sense of humor...

[@nestranestra4071]

@@jillcolangelopsych I know what your Channel is about. I know a lot of other recovery channels too, because I made my own experience with ED. I don't think my question was offending, but your answer tell me everything I need to know. Thank you! 😊