Dr. Vonda Wright

So we see that this dysfunction happens first before we start seeing a change in our lean mass development.

So if we are already in the habit of lifting heavier loads, then we can offshoot some of that myosin dysfunction that occurs with the estrogen change.

So in my niche of active women, we see there's a very, very high incidence of recreational active women and low energy availability.

meaning they're not eating enough to support daily life as well as their training.

So the subclinical aspect of not eating enough creates a myriad of issues that does create lower bone density, menstrual cycle dysfunction, greater inflammatory responses.

So

you know, the end result would be hypothalamic amenorrhea, so their periods have stopped, which is that low estrogen standpoint.

So, you know, keeping track of your period, make sure you're eating enough is one of the first stopgaps that we have in the athletic realm.

It's like, we want you to eat enough.

And if you're looking at bookending our calories on either end of the day, that's not appropriate.

We have to look at how your circadian rhythm works because the circadian rhythm, like we talked about in the first half, was about the pulses of our hormones.

So if we're holding our calories on either end of the day, then there's this big space in the middle of the day where your body thinks it's under a starvation threat.

So you start to have this downturn of all of our metabolic functions.

We see after four days of low energy availability, there's a direct impact on thyroid function.

So we have to be very cognizant that women who are saying, I haven't had a period in seven years or my periods are really irregular, we have to bring it back to the energy function as well.

So I know, unfortunately, we're still in this environment of aesthetics.

And I'm always like, we need to eat.

And if you eat in and around your training and fueling appropriately for what you're doing, it has a positive impact on body composition.

You're not going to gain body fat.

You're going to gain lean mass.