In the FLO

In the FLO Plot Summary

Introduction

Sarah sat in her biology class, eagerly awaiting the lesson on human reproduction. When the textbook description of male reproductive processes used words like "powerhouse" and "efficient production," she felt a surge of anticipation for the female section. But what followed was disappointingly brief – a mere paragraph describing the female cycle as either successful (pregnancy) or unsuccessful (menstruation). The stark contrast in tone and detail left her feeling confused and somehow diminished. This classroom experience mirrors what many women encounter throughout their lives – a profound miseducation about their bodies. From an early age, we're taught that our menstrual cycles are burdensome, unpredictable, and something to hide or "deal with." The cultural narrative frames our hormonal fluctuations as liabilities rather than the powerful assets they truly are. The truth is that our female biochemistry offers us tremendous advantages when we learn to work with it rather than against it. Our hormonal cycles aren't random disruptions but sophisticated biological rhythms that affect everything from our brain function to our immune system, offering unique strengths and capabilities that change throughout the month.

Chapter 1: The Hidden Power of Your Second Biological Clock

Emma always felt something was wrong with her. Some weeks she'd be bursting with creative energy, easily tackling complex projects and social events. Other weeks, she'd struggle to focus, feeling withdrawn and foggy-headed. No matter how many productivity systems she tried, nothing seemed to create consistent results. Then she discovered something revolutionary: women don't just have one biological clock – they have two. While everyone operates on a 24-hour circadian rhythm that regulates daily bodily processes, women of reproductive age also function on a 28-day infradian rhythm tied to their menstrual cycle. This second clock profoundly influences brain chemistry, immune function, metabolism, microbiome, and stress response throughout the month. When Emma began planning her life around both clocks instead of just the 24-hour one, everything changed. She stopped fighting her body's natural ebbs and flows and started working with them. The infradian rhythm consists of four distinct phases – follicular, ovulatory, luteal, and menstrual – each bringing unique strengths and challenges. During the follicular phase, rising estrogen promotes creativity and learning. The ovulatory phase brings peak communication skills and social energy. The luteal phase enhances attention to detail and analytical thinking. And the menstrual phase deepens intuition and evaluation abilities. By understanding these patterns, women can schedule activities to align with their biological advantages rather than working against them. Our culture's obsession with perpetual productivity ignores this fundamental aspect of female biology. We're expected to perform at the same level every day, following schedules designed for the male 24-hour hormonal pattern. This mismatch creates unnecessary struggle and contributes to the epidemic of hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, and burnout among women. The solution isn't managing time better – it's managing energy according to our cyclical nature, allowing women to access their full range of gifts and talents while protecting their health and wellbeing.

Chapter 2: Nourishing Your Hormones: Phase-Specific Nutrition

Allie's periods disappeared after she stopped taking birth control pills. As an organic chef, she was already eating what most would consider a healthy diet, but something wasn't working. Despite her nutritional knowledge, she relied on caffeine, chocolate, and sweets for energy boosts, followed by inevitable crashes. When she learned about cycle-specific eating, she was skeptical but willing to try anything to regain her hormonal health. Allie began by mapping her meals to the four phases of her cycle. During her follicular phase, she focused on fresh, light foods rich in phytoestrogens – sprouted beans, fermented vegetables, and lean proteins – supporting her body as estrogen levels began to rise. In her ovulatory phase, she emphasized raw vegetables and antioxidant-rich berries to help metabolize peak estrogen levels. For her luteal phase, when metabolism naturally speeds up, she increased complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and brown rice to stabilize blood sugar and prevent cravings. During her menstrual phase, she prioritized iron-rich foods and healthy fats to replenish nutrients lost during bleeding. The results surprised her. Within two months, her period returned to a regular 28-day cycle. The bloating and breast tenderness she'd experienced before diminished significantly, and what used to feel like painful cramps transformed into what she described as "a buzzing, singing sensation." All from changing a few elements in her diet. This approach works because each phase of the menstrual cycle creates different nutritional needs. Rising estrogen in the follicular phase suppresses appetite, while progesterone in the luteal phase increases hunger and calorie burning. Traditional diets ignore these fluctuations, expecting women to eat the same way every day. Popular trends like intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets can be particularly problematic for women, as research shows they may worsen insulin sensitivity and disrupt ovulation in females while benefiting males. By working with your body's changing needs rather than against them, food truly becomes medicine, creating a foundation for hormonal harmony and overall wellbeing.

Chapter 3: Movement as Medicine: Exercise Aligned with Your Cycle

Emily, a 28-year-old fitness instructor, taught about twenty classes weekly and prided herself on never missing a workout – even during her period. She pushed through pain and fatigue, fearing weight gain if she took time off. But despite her dedication, she felt constantly drained and her period problems persisted. Something wasn't working, and her body was screaming for a change. When Emily discovered cyclical exercise, she was skeptical. The idea that she could work out less and get better results seemed too good to be true. Nevertheless, she began experimenting with phase-specific workouts. During her follicular phase, she embraced cardio and dance classes as her energy naturally increased. In her ovulatory phase, when estrogen and testosterone peaked, she channeled that power into high-intensity interval training. During her luteal phase, she shifted to strength training and then gentler yoga as her hormones declined. Most revolutionary of all, she allowed herself complete rest during the first days of her period. The transformation was remarkable. Not only did her energy improve, but her hormonal symptoms diminished. She no longer experienced the severe cramps that had once forced her to teach through pain. Her body composition improved without the extreme measures she'd previously employed. "I've come to a place where I feel balanced," she reported, adding that she no longer even bothered weighing herself. Emily's experience reflects what science has been discovering about female physiology and exercise. Research shows that women burn fat more efficiently and build lean muscle more effectively during the follicular phase. Conversely, intense exercise during the luteal phase can increase cortisol, leading to muscle wasting and fat storage – the opposite of desired results. This cyclical approach to fitness represents a profound shift away from the "no pain, no gain" mentality that dominates exercise culture. For women, doing less at the right times actually produces better results than pushing hard every day, allowing them to optimize workouts, prevent burnout, and achieve sustainable fitness without sacrificing hormonal health.

Chapter 4: Cyclical Productivity: Working with Your Natural Rhythms

Larissa, a graphic designer, constantly felt overwhelmed by her to-do list. She'd tried every productivity system and planner on the market, but nothing seemed to work. Some weeks she'd power through projects effortlessly, while other weeks she'd struggle to focus on even simple tasks. The inconsistency left her feeling like a failure, questioning her abilities and work ethic. Everything changed when Larissa stopped trying to manage her time and started managing her energy according to her cycle. She began tracking her hormonal phases and aligning her workload accordingly. During her follicular phase, she scheduled brainstorming sessions and creative concept development. Her ovulatory phase became dedicated to client presentations and collaborative meetings. In her luteal phase, she focused on detail-oriented tasks like editing and project finalization. And during her menstrual phase, she prioritized evaluation, planning, and administrative work that required less creative energy. "It felt like the fog lifted," she explained. Though occasionally she'd slip back into old patterns of pushing herself regardless of her phase, the difference in results was undeniable. "When I honor my cycle, the next week I'm just unstoppable and it's effortless. The things on my to-do list are just bam, bam, bam, done, versus forcing and trying to push and trying to make it happen all the time." This approach works because it aligns with our biological reality. Traditional productivity systems are designed for the 24-hour circadian clock that governs male hormonal patterns. They expect consistent performance day after day, which simply doesn't match female biochemistry. Our 28-day infradian rhythm creates natural variations in our cognitive abilities, energy levels, and creative capacities throughout the month. By cyclical productivity, we build momentum by working with our natural strengths in each phase, doing the right things at the right times and allowing us to accomplish more with less stress and greater satisfaction.

Chapter 5: Relationships Through the Cycle: Communication and Connection

Jocelyn and her partner Mark were caught in a frustrating pattern. Every month, they'd have the same arguments about intimacy, with Mark feeling rejected and Jocelyn feeling pressured and misunderstood. "I don't understand why you were so into it last week, and now you're not interested at all," he'd say, leaving her feeling guilty and confused about her own changing desires. Everything changed when Jocelyn began tracking her cycle and sharing her insights with Mark. She discovered that during her follicular and ovulatory phases, her libido naturally increased, making her more receptive to physical intimacy. During her luteal phase, especially the second half, her desire decreased, and she needed more emotional connection and foreplay. And during menstruation, her preferences varied day by day. Instead of taking these changes personally, Mark began to understand them as natural fluctuations. They started planning date nights during her ovulatory phase when her social energy was highest, and quieter, more intimate evenings during her luteal phase. They experimented with different approaches to physical intimacy throughout her cycle, discovering what worked best in each phase. Most importantly, they developed a shared language around her cycle that removed blame and frustration from their interactions. "It's like we finally have a map for our relationship," Jocelyn explained. "We're no longer taking things personally or feeling rejected. We understand that my changing needs and desires are normal and predictable." Their communication improved dramatically, and both reported feeling more satisfied and connected than ever before. Mark even began to appreciate the variety that came with relating to the slightly different versions of Jocelyn throughout the month. This cycle awareness extends beyond intimate relationships to all connections in a woman's life. By understanding how hormonal fluctuations affect communication styles, emotional needs, and social energy, women can navigate friendships, family relationships, and professional interactions with greater ease and authenticity. The key insight is that these natural variations aren't flaws to overcome but opportunities to experience connection in different, equally valuable ways throughout the month.

Chapter 6: Reclaiming Your Health: From Symptoms to Solutions

When Natalia first sought help for her endometriosis, she had been suffering for five years with pain so intense she sometimes couldn't walk. Her doctor had prescribed birth control pills, but they hadn't helped. Desperate for relief but hesitant to pursue surgery, she decided to try a different approach—one that addressed the root causes of her condition rather than just managing symptoms. She began by eliminating endocrine disruptors from her environment—switching to natural cleaning products, organic foods, and chemical-free personal care items. She incorporated anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, wild salmon, and flaxseeds while removing inflammatory triggers like dairy, alcohol, and processed foods. Most importantly, she started tracking her cycle and adjusting her nutrition, exercise, and work demands to support her body's changing needs throughout the month. The transformation didn't happen overnight, but after six months, Natalia's endometriosis pain had diminished dramatically. Where once she rated her pain at a nine or ten on a scale of one to ten, now she occasionally experienced mild discomfort around a two during ovulation. She was no longer missing work or social events due to pain, and she had stopped taking pain medication entirely. "I feel like I've reclaimed my life," she shared. "For years, I thought I just had to suffer through this, that it was my lot as a woman. Now I know better." Natalia's story illustrates a profound truth about women's health: hormonal symptoms aren't inevitable, and they aren't something to simply endure. By understanding the interconnected nature of our biological systems and how they respond to our environment, nutrition, and lifestyle choices, women can address the underlying causes of hormonal imbalance. This approach stands in stark contrast to the conventional medical model that often treats symptoms in isolation or suppresses them with medication. True healing comes from recognizing that our bodies are sending important messages through symptoms, and by listening and responding with appropriate support, we can restore balance and reclaim our health.

Chapter 7: Embracing the Feminine: Creativity and Intuition

At fifteen, the author abandoned her creative pursuits – dancing, singing, sewing, jewelry making – believing she needed to "get serious" to succeed in life. This shift coincided with puberty, when her second biological clock activated. Though no one explicitly told her creativity was frivolous, cultural conditioning had seeped into her consciousness, suggesting that success required constant productivity and masculine energy. She began overworking, resting less, and ignoring her body's signals, developing anxiety, overwhelm, and eventually, severe hormonal imbalances. Years later, after healing her PCOS through nutritional changes, she realized something was still missing. During a trip to India to study with a female zen master, she experienced meditation practices that engaged the body rather than ignoring it. This revelation helped her understand how she had disconnected from her feminine energy in pursuit of success. Instead of asking, "How can I do more to achieve happiness?" she began asking, "What does it look like to live as an embodied woman, connected to my inner wisdom and creativity?" The answer lay in her menstrual cycle – a perfect blueprint for balancing feminine and masculine energies. Each phase offered different gifts: creativity and planning in the follicular phase, communication and collaboration in the ovulatory phase, completion and nurturing in the luteal phase, evaluation and intuition in the menstrual phase. By honoring these natural rhythms, she reconnected with her creative essence and discovered a more sustainable path to success. This reconnection wasn't just about resuming abandoned hobbies. It was about healing the deeper wound of feminine disconnection that affects so many women. Our culture's emphasis on masculine energy – linear, goal-oriented, competitive, static – comes at the expense of feminine energy – cyclical, process-oriented, collaborative, flexible. The Cycle Syncing Method offers a practice for rebalancing these energies, healing the psychospiritual wound that tells us our value comes solely from what we produce. We learn that rest is as essential as action, that intuition is as valuable as logic, that being is as important as doing. This integration of feminine and masculine energies doesn't just improve hormonal health – it transforms our relationship with creativity, productivity, and success itself.

Summary

The revolutionary insight at the heart of cyclical living is that a woman's changing hormonal landscape isn't a liability but her greatest advantage. When we align our nutrition, exercise, work, relationships, and self-care with our natural rhythms, we unlock extraordinary potential for health, creativity, and fulfillment. The stories shared throughout reveal a common pattern: women who stopped fighting against their cyclical nature and instead began working with it experienced profound transformations in every area of their lives. This approach invites us to reimagine success not as constant productivity but as sustainable engagement with life's natural ebbs and flows. It challenges the cultural narrative that women should be the same every day and offers instead a vision of feminine power that embraces change as strength. By honoring our biological rhythms, we can achieve more with less effort, experience deeper connections, and enjoy greater vitality throughout our lives. The cyclical advantage isn't just about managing symptoms or optimizing performance—it's about coming home to ourselves and discovering that the wisdom we've been seeking has been within us all along, pulsing in the rhythm of our second clock.

About Author

Loading...

Alisa Vitti

Alisa Vitti, HHC, Integrative Nutritionist, Reproductive Endocrinology, Author of WomanCode, Founder & CEO of FLOliving.comAlisa is an integrative nutritionist who teaches women how to use their hormonal and neurochemical patterns to create extraordinary lives. She is the best selling author of WomanCode and the founder of FLOLiving.com, a virtual health center that supports women’s hormonal and reproductive health. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she is the creator of the WomanCode System, a one-of-a-kind online learning and support program for women in the 20s, 30s, and 40s based on her revolutionary functional nutritional protocol. Alisa is a popular media guest and has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, has a web series on Lifetime, CBS, Fox, Shape, Huffington Post, has a popular TEDx talk and has presented at [email protected] began her journey in women's hormonal health 15 years ago, when she was battling frustrating health symptoms. At the time, Alisa weighed 200 pounds, was covered in painful cystic acne, had her period about twice a year, and felt chronically fatigued. Doctors could not figure out what was wrong. Eventually, Alisa discovered she had PCOS.The problem had been identified, but numerous doctors told Alisa that she faced a life of continual medication and a future of diabetes, obesity, infertility, heart disease, and cancer. A voice inside of Alisa said "No!" She was not willing to accept this as her reality and took matters into her own hands. Through rigorous study and implementation, Alisa healed herself from all hormonal imbalances and created a five-step protocol to help women around the world do the same. After over 15 years of running a thriving women's wellness practice in Manhattan, Alisa took her business online. Today, thousands of women in five continents are practicing Alisa's protocol daily through her WomanCode Hormonal Sync System. It also serves as a trusted resource for many GYN and IVF specialists who want to recommend a natural solution for their patients. For more information and to get in your FLO, visit www.floliving.com.

Read more