An introduction to Megan and Alex, as well as details on what is covered in this 24 podclass series. Episode 1 explains the basic premise of the 4 Phase Cycle Approach and briefly explains what is happening in the body throughout the feminine cycle. It also goes into why someone would be interested in learning and living this new way of approaching female health. On January, Debut - Weightloss: How your beliefs are sabotaging your weight loss.

Episode 4 gets started on the details of the first phase, the Release Phase. This phase happens from days 1-7 (for a 28 day cycle) and is focused on releasing what no longer serves you, physically or mentally. With how the brain is primed during this portion of the cycle, this phase is best for planning, information gathering, and strategizing.   The Release Phase is also a time for supporting a healthy inflammatory system. Since modern women are bombarded with inflammatory compounds and constant stress on a daily basis, promoting a healthy inflammatory response can have a major impact on resolving hormonal imbalances. But it’s not all about decreasing inflammation! Some women, such as those with chronic viral infections and autoimmune diseases, need help with this protective function of the body. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about the 4 Phase Cycle Approach. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 5 gets specific on the second phase of the cycle, the Rise Phase. This is one of our favorite phases! This phase happens from days 8-14 (for a 28 day cycle) and is characterized by a powerful surge in hormone creation. With the insight gained from the introspective Release phase, this is the phase to get things done and be a boss babe!   But it’s not about getting more done on a never-ending to do list. We want to get very specific with our goals for the cycle so that we can be most effective with the least amount of stress. Whether that’s doing an elimination diet, starting a new exercise regimen, or promising yourself that you’ll get to bed earlier each night, this is the time to build up new habits in a way that is sustainable and effective.   The Rise Phase is similar to the first phase (Release) in that the emphasis on the inflammatory system--and all of the systems that work with it--is highlighted.  A dysfunctional inflammatory system of any cause will hinder good hormone production and often leads to problems with ovulation. By supporting these actions to happen healthfully, it sets up a healthy rest of the cycle. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about the 4 Phase Cycle Approach. Read zestyginger.com/phases for a more thorough explanation of what happens at each phase. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 6 jumps into the third phase of the cycle, the Plateau Phase. This phase happens from days 15-21 (for a 28 day cycle) and gets its name because hormone levels even out following ovulation. Our actions for this phase mimic what is happening in the body because we want to keep moving forward with the goals we set for ourselves in this cycle.   The start of the Plateau phase following ovulation shifts the focus from supporting the inflammatory system to supporting healthy detoxification, which is crucial for healthy hormonal levels. This episode explains why we believe the health of the liver, lymphatics, gut, skin, and kidneys is necessary for all portions of the detoxification process...and how hormones get processed by each of these organ systems. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about the 4 Phase Cycle Approach. Read zestyginger.com/phases for a more thorough explanation of what happens at each phase. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 7 rounds out the last phase of the cycle, the Pause Phase. This phase happens from days 22-28 (for a 28 day cycle) and marks the transition point from one cycle to the next. This portion of the cycle is where the most amount of women have issues, everything from hormonal acne, migraines, cravings, bloating, and mood swings. In supporting a smooth transition from one cycle ending to a new one beginning, it paves the way for rapid health improvements.   This last phase of the cycle is even more strongly focused on proper mobilization, metabolism, and elimination of hormones...and this involves a healthy detoxification system in the body. As this process begins working more smoothly, it sets the stage for each following cycle. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about the 4 Phase Cycle Approach. Read zestyginger.com/phases for a more thorough explanation of what happens at each phase. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 8 brings us right back into the first phase, the Release phase. This time however, we’re getting even more detailed. This episode is all about the action items that are most important for beginning to live in sync with healthy cycles, starting from the time your period starts. It’s your guide to taking action to learn more about decreasing unpleasant symptoms--like anxiety and bloating--and approaching your world in a less frazzled way. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 9 is all about the best action steps to take during the second phase, the Rise phase. We often talk about this being our favorite phase and it’s because of how much we’ve been able to accomplish with much less effort in our lives and in our health by approaching them this way!   These action items are also focused on helping to support a healthy inflammatory response. This means optimizing hormone and ovulation signaling so that all of these important aspects of the cycle occur smoothly. It also helps downregulate an overactive central nervous system, which is common in our modern lifestyles and is a reason so many women struggle to find hormonal balance in the long term. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 10 digs deep in the most important action items for the third phase of the cycle, the Plateau phase. After an action-packed Rise phase, it’s the perfect way to transition to the post-ovulation rhythm of the female body AND keep moving the needle forward on your goals for the cycle. The action steps we love for the Plateau phase are all focused on comprehensive support of the detoxification organs of the body, which are the liver, lymphatics, skin, gut, and kidneys. Each of these organ systems have to be functioning properly for us to avoid hormonal imbalances like estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 11 outlines and explains the most important action items for the last phase of the cycle, the Pause phase. The two phases prior to this one are all about moving forward and establishing new, healthier habits. The Pause phase asks us to slow down, once again doing some retrospective work on how our goals align with our overall lives.  One major pitfall that women run into in terms of meeting their goals is that they have an all-or-nothing mentality. In living in sync with the cycle, periods of action and reflection allow for “cheating”--which is another way to say that this allows for freedom from perfection or rigidity. This last phase is similar to the Plateau phase in that good detoxification pathways are actively supported. With estrogen dominance and conditions like PMS, acne, fatigue, and emotional instability on the rise, helping to support metabolism and elimination of excess hormones and hormone-mimicking substances is crucial. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 12 kicks off our exploration of cycle related issues that are common to many women. And dieting within the setting of the cycle is a major topic! If you’ve ever been successful with a certain diet plan and then found that you failed repeating it at a later date, it likely has nothing to do with your willpower! There are types in the cycle where your body is naturally primed to stick with healthy habits...and other times that aren’t ideal for starting these kinds of ventures. Linking your diet to your cycle is also important for finding a balance between new healthier ways of fueling yourself and living a practical life where you enjoy your food! Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 13 is about disordered eating, something that both Megan and Alex have dealt with. With disordered eating being such a common issue in women of all ages and confusion about food philosophies in general, this is an important subject to address through living in sync with the cycle. Periods of starting new healthier habits and integrating those new habits within the context for real life makes this process easier and much more sustainable. You won’t hear about prescribed diets from us! Although we have a few of our favorites. Instead, we believe that a personalized approach to finding the perfect diet for your individual body is the most high-yield lesson you can learn for your health. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 14 is about birth control use in the setting of a healthy feminine cycle and common hormonal imbalances. This episode details situations where birth control, as well as other supplemental hormones, may be used as a temporizing measure but also explains why it is not a long-term answer to hormonal problems. Besides that, there are a number of important organ systems to support while taking or recently discontinuing supplemental hormones...and this podclass goes through the most important ones. In the links below, you can find our Safely Stopping Birth Control course. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. If you’d like access to our Safely Stopping Birth Control course, please email us at support@zestyginger.com Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss!   Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 15 is about some of our very favorite detoxing tools. We believe in supporting all the organ systems behind detoxification. That means that the lymphatic vessels and blood vessels need to be effectively brining stored toxins from the periphery to where they can be processed.  The liver needs to have both phase 1 and phase 2 reactions working properly, and these metabolized products need to be efficiently moved out of the body through the gut and kidneys. This episode covers easily and inventive ways to support all of these important functions. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. If you’d like access to our Safely Stopping Birth Control course, please email us at support@zestyginger.com. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss!   Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 16 follows our detoxing topic from the previous episode but covers common detoxing pitfalls. Namely, this episode describes why detox symptoms mean that the body is unable to process the hormones and hormone-mimicking substances that are being carried to the liver...and that this means that there is a bottleneck in the detoxification organ systems somewhere along the line. Luckily, there are many ways to help manage these problems and still support the body in the way that it needs. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. If you’d like access to our Safely Stopping Birth Control course, please email us at support@zestyginger.com. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 17 is on the benefits and uses of journaling in the setting of the cycle and for help with common hormonal problems. Since we’re not big journaling folks by nature, this episode has recommendations and tips for getting started with journaling even if you’ve never stuck with it before. It also covers what types of questions are best used during each of the 4 phases of the feminine cycle...and how that can be crucial for meeting the goals for your life. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. If you’d like access to our Safely Stopping Birth Control course, please email us at support@zestyginger.com. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 18 discusses the role of meditation and intentional self-exploration in the setting of the cycle. Meditation has been shown to change the output of the central nervous system to the body which is a site of dysfunction in women with hormonal imbalances. Even with great testing and supplementation, it’s hard to overcome longstanding hormonal problems without addressing a constant distress signal from the brain and spinal cord. Since modern women often feel the pressures of trying to be everything to everyone, this episode is an especially important one to take action on! Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. If you’d like access to our Safely Stopping Birth Control course, please email us at support@zestyginger.com. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 19 is on the super fascinating subject of hormone testing. This episode discusses timing of testing, the comprehensive hormone panel that we like above all others, and why we always get neurotransmitter testing along with hormonal lab work. This is the primer before we dig into the details behind each common hormonal imbalance and it’s crucial to understand the role of testing before starting to treat active issues. All of this is made practical as we explain how we use personalized protocols inside our Healthy Hormones Group Program. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. If you’d like access to our Safely Stopping Birth Control course, please email us at support@zestyginger.com. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss! Zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results.

Episode 20 is all about cortisol within the setting of the feminine cycle and common abnormalities seen on functional lab work. This episode covers the general trend of cortisol throughout the cycle and how it relates to other important hormones, such as the sex hormone, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and detoxification. It also details some of the most important interventions when it comes to restoring healthy cortisol signaling, creation, and elimination. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Have issues with cortisol or other important hormones? Check out zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss!

Episode 21 is a big one! This episode is about estrogen dominance and deficiency, both of which are huge problems in modern women. It explains why symptoms aren’t a great a way to diagnose hormonal imbalances, since estrogen abnormalities can result in a huge range of overlapping symptoms (like fatigue, acne, mood swings). We also discuss the signaling pathways required for creation, processing, and elimination of estrogen...regardless of whether you have high or low estrogen. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Have issues with estrogen or other important hormones? Check out zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss!

Episode 22 is another huge topic! This episode is about progesterone imbalances, with progesterone deficiency being a cause of many common but disruptive problems, such as endless spotting and recurrent miscarriages. We discuss what progesterone abnormalities look like on functional testing and how they can be addressed with a personalized protocol. Potentially more so than other hormonal problems, progesterone issues have a strong emotional and mental component so a large part of this rebalancing work has to do with stress management. Important Links: Zestyginger.com to learn more about us. Have issues with estrogen or other important hormones? Check out zestyginger.com/healthyhormones to join our 3 month Healthy Hormones Group Program. This program includes functional lab work with a complete hormone and neurotransmitter panel, with a personalized protocol created for each participant based on their results. Zestyginger.com/cycle to get our FREE Wild Feminine Cycle Guide to get started with everything you need to know about living in sync with your cycles. It’s our ultimate freebie guide and one you don’t want to miss!