Recovering from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea on a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet

Are you experiencing seemingly unrelated health issues with no known cause? Perhaps it's time to take a step back and reflect on your current health, work, and family habits to determine any potential imbalances. In this video, I discuss what I am doing to downshift, rest, and reverse my hypothalamic amenorrhea.
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Please leave comments. I love hearing from you guys and learning new helpful ways to make this lifestyle more efficient!
WFPB RECIPES & RESOURCES:
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@Physicians Committee
@Plantiful Kiki
@Well Your World
@NutritionFacts.org
@The Jaroudi Family
NutritionStudies.org
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@CHEF AJ
OTHER PLANT-BASED RESOURCES:
@Physicians Committee with Dr. Neal Barnard
@NutritionFacts.org with Dr. Michael Greger
@Dr. Fuhrman with Dr. Joel Fuhrman
Dr. T. Colin Cambell, author of the China Study
@Forks Over Knives
Disclaimer:
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2. The information in this video is from my personal experience, opinion, and knowledge/education of plant-based nutrition. I am not a doctor and this information is not intended to be a substitute for treatment by or advice from a medical professional.
For more helpful information on plant-based nutrition, printable grocery lists, meal plans, cooking demos, original research, and in-depth blog articles on sustainable plant-based living visit my blog @ ModernNutritionDesigns.com

[@hayleysunnex1208]

Well done Karli for listening to your body and taking those courageous steps in giving it what it's asking for - even though it feels hard and against your drive to slow down. Hopefully this will be a time of renewal for you and you'll find yourself feeling refreshed in time and enjoying a new perspective/ energy for your life 💕 I have definitely been guilty of over exercising and under nourishing at times, and I also really thought I was being super healthy. When I lost my period I actually thought it was because I was eating so clean that my body didn't have waste to get rid of but the fatigue was a great indicator that things were out of balance. I also applaud you for sticking to your desire to nourish yourself with whole plant foods instead of following the bad advice of going for the junk foods. It's better nourishment and more rest that will help turn things around 😊 Wishing you all the best! And enjoy your sweet precious girl, they grow way too fast 💕

[@NaturallyKarli]

I appreciate that, Hayley. I was really nervous to come out publicly with this info, but I'm really glad I did. I was also practicing these extreme behaviors in the name of health. It's scary how detrimental some of the current scientific research can lead us down these rabbit holes. I am really enjoying this final year with my baby before she starts kindergarten. My how time flies!

[@cloveronyotube685]

my wife had ammenorhea but she was strict like you and ate same foods/salads etc no oils or fats. turns out those were crucial nutrients her body needed. you once said you gain weight easily on dried fruits, nuts, nut butters. perhaps your body needs that and you shouldn't fear weight gain if it means better health and hormone health. not eating enough and feeling the need to diet, exercise where it disrupts a menstrual cycle can be disorder.

[@NaturallyKarli]

I'm definitely eating those high cal foods now lol!

[@foxruneec]

🤗thinking positive thoughts for you! Reconnecting, meditation, and getting in touch with nature - are all good things. You're so smart, you will work through this. And I love the way you are willing to document your journey so we can all learn from you.

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks Ame. That’s very kind of you. I’m really shooken up and humbled by this experience. I thought long and hard about whether I was in a good place to be broadcasting my recovery but I truly want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else that may take things to an extreme the way I did. I appreciate your support ❤️‍🩹

[@noramaddock4165]

I dealt with this years ago and absolutely recovered eating a WFPB diet. Eating until I genuinely felt totally satisfied was key, but I stuck with whole plant foods. I also did no intense exercise-just gentle walking to help my mood. Justine Froese would probably be a great person to touch base with in the WFPB realm. She really seems to have a great grasp on issues like this. All the best!

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. That's funny you mentioned Justina. I'm interviewing her on this topic next week. She has been coaching me through this process. What a Doll!

[@heavenlyflower_sl]

Thank you for sharing your story! I'm cold all the time, got bruised easily, and blood work is still inconclusive (probably because not extremely low level) i just got re-tested this afternoon (my doctor ordered me so because that inconclusive thing). hope i can recover as well with WFPB and let's see what my doctor says next week.

[@valeriewilson12]

Karli, I admire and respect you for sharing this part of your life with us. I will miss you, but want the best for you, so please take all the time you need to care for yourself. I, and I'm sure so many others, will be here when you get back. With love to you 💗

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks, Valerie! It's so hard to just RELAX! lol

[@luluandmeow]

Hello lovely Karli, I'm glad you are looking after yourself, I did think your high-intensity gym routine was a little too much, personally I exercise at home with some weights and a yoga mat and I find that's enough or I get too tired, I also walk, not run, all the runners I know have injuries and I'd rather look at trees and buildings and nature properly instead of whizzing past it while running or cycling. We're all refining and improving this lifestyle and the best thing we can do is listen to our body and be healthy as the moment we look ill that's when people start the annoying criticism. Anyway take care of yourself, you have already achieved a lot!

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks Lulu. That's comforting. And yes, I am definitely taking this time to reflect and evaluate how I got here and how to adjust to a new healthier norm. These can be great life lessons.

[@runningwithjane]

I'm so proud of you for sharing this, Karli. Take care of yourself - that's absolutely number one right now. ❤

[@NaturallyKarli]

You’re too kind, Jane. Thank you for your concern 😊❤️‍🩹

[@jilldigwood4328]

Take care and recover 😘

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks Jill❤️‍🩹😊

[@valeriewilson12]

Karli, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Sending you love and healing ❤

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks Valerie. I’m glad I have your support. I also will be following up on this video soon if all goes well 🤞

[@Elizabeth-dg8dn]

Do your blood tests show you have low estrogen? How long have you had hypothalamic amenorrhea? Did you notice that you were suffering from low energy prior to being diagnosed? Thanks for sharing. Glad you are taking steps to reverse this condition and hope you are enjoying taking things more slowly.

[@NaturallyKarli]

Hi Elizabeth, yes, my blood work was highly indicative of HA on several occasions. It took awhile for me to understand the causes and mechanism of action. And I have been suffering from severe fatigue for 3-4 years. I just thought it was a normal part of being a new parent lol. Thanks for your kind words.

[@Elizabeth-dg8dn]

@@NaturallyKarli If you have HA, does your bloodwork still show normal estrogen levels even though you are not ovulating? I thought I had early menopause, but dr said estrogen normal so should be ovulating. She wanted to try some hormones to induce period, but I didn't. I think now I'vbe probably gotten to menopause, but I haven't had my estrogen levels tested for a few years. Hopefully everything okay. I find it strange that female ultra runners can have normal periods, so hard workouts should be okay for some, right? I guess it is on an individual basis what our bodies can handle or not?

[@NaturallyKarli]

Hi Elizabeth, my estrogen levels along with the rest of my sex hormones are all low. And you make an excellent point about how different we all are. Essentially, we can all be ultra runners and maintain our menstruation, it's just a matter of fueling ourselves properly for the extreme energy utilization. But yes, there is a small genetic component. There is still limited research in this area. I hope you get things straightened out with your hormones: )

[@sandypluss5017]

I was in amenorrhea for 5 years (absolute bliss to be honest given how disgusting periods are) but 💯 able to recover with wfpbno, I did! A heads up though that I found the severe lethargy lags and consequently when periods restart it often comes with severe iron deficiency. And from the women I've chatted to about this also means the weight piles back on even when eating wfpb, which sucks. Currently trying to avoid an infusion and raise levels naturally but its challenging! The lethargy is exhausting to have to cope with and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Enjoy your period free time, but also in a way that looks after yourself.💗💗💗

[@NaturallyKarli]

That is an interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing your experience. I just assumed my period would resume after breastfeeding but the months turned into years and the healthy issues kept piling up. I wish I had known I was causing all of my symptoms ages ago. Thanks for the heads up about the lethargy and weight gain. I’m experiencing both but hoping to feel like myself again soon.💜

[@sandypluss5017]

@@NaturallyKarli I know you speak highly of intermittent fasting, but you might want to give that a break too if you're hoping to restore energy and a natural cycle. 😚😚😚😚

[@NaturallyKarli]

Absolutely, I stopped IF right away when I found out my proper diagnosis. I will be discussing that in a video very soon. Thanks for your advice: )

[@sandypluss5017]

@@NaturallyKarli hope you are slowly but surely starting to feel better😚😚😚

[@NaturallyKarli]

I am! So much better. Thanks for checking in on me🥰

[@serenityjewel]

You’re probably fine now but Dr Fuhrman’s nutritional program is healthy for women, even athletes. He advocates healthy fats, like nuts, minimally processed tofu, and beans. He works out all the time and isn’t weakly skinny like a lot of WFPB men. His daughter is young and healthy with a normal weight and fat in her face. For most people, especially women, the last place the body will pull fat is their face. Once you can see the bones and muscles in the face of a woman, she’s not slim “naturally.”

[@NaturallyKarli]

Thanks for your insight

[@abaslesregimes.sarahb.8366]

This is orthorexia.

[@NaturallyKarli]

I have never found labels to be helpful. I just know what my body responds well to and what it doesn’t 👍