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WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source
With WomanCode, holistic health coach Alisa Vitti shows women how to maintain health and vitality with a food-based program to rebalance their hormones.
Alisa Vitti found herself suffering through the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and was able to heal herself through food and lifestyle changes. Relieved and reborn, she made it her mission to empower other women to be able to do the same.
Whether you are suffering from irregular periods, fertility issues, depression, or lack of sex drive, Alisa Vitti says that meds and anti-depressants aren’t the only solutions. Groundbreaking and informative, WomanCode educates women about hormone health in a way that’s relevant and easy to understand. And the five-step protocol can markedly improve health and overall quality of life.
Bestselling author and women’s health expert Christiane Northrup, who has called WomanCode the "Our Bodies, Ourselves" of this generation, provides an insightful foreword.
Alisa Vitti found herself suffering through the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and was able to heal herself through food and lifestyle changes. Relieved and reborn, she made it her mission to empower other women to be able to do the same.
Whether you are suffering from irregular periods, fertility issues, depression, or lack of sex drive, Alisa Vitti says that meds and anti-depressants aren’t the only solutions. Groundbreaking and informative, WomanCode educates women about hormone health in a way that’s relevant and easy to understand. And the five-step protocol can markedly improve health and overall quality of life.
Bestselling author and women’s health expert Christiane Northrup, who has called WomanCode the "Our Bodies, Ourselves" of this generation, provides an insightful foreword.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2013
About the author
Alisa Vitti
22 books236 followersAlisa Vitti, HHC, Integrative Nutritionist, Reproductive Endocrinology, Author of WomanCode, Founder & CEO of FLOliving.com
Alisa 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 Talks@Google.
Alisa 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.
Alisa 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 Talks@Google.
Alisa 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 695 reviews
June 19, 2013
While this book was filled with silly shit like swearing an "Oath To Your Ovaries" (fuck off), I really did find a lot of helpful information between its Price-purple-rain colored covers. If you appreciate or can withstand the eccentric snatch-worship hippie shit (not that I don't worship at my own temple...I'm fucking awesome) it's got some cool science minded information about how your hormonal cycles affect you, what foods help to alleviate symptoms, cure hormone-related problems and have more sex (holla!)
It's got a yummy sounding 4-day detoxifying cleanse that involves...wait for it...EATING FOOD. That's right, contrary to what you'll be bracing yourself for after oathing to your ovaries, she never suggests insane fasting diets or a juicy road to starving yourself clean. In fact, I was really expecting some batshitty shit but she never really rockets into total loo-loo land.
Sure, you may find the idea of syncing your life with your menstrual cycle bizarre but not me. I will take any excuse to tell the world to fuck off while I am PMSing because my sacred bodytemple is simply crying out for rest. And Project Runway marathons. It's in a book, people. That shit is FACT.
Overall this is a quick, interesting and slightly insane read.
It's got a yummy sounding 4-day detoxifying cleanse that involves...wait for it...EATING FOOD. That's right, contrary to what you'll be bracing yourself for after oathing to your ovaries, she never suggests insane fasting diets or a juicy road to starving yourself clean. In fact, I was really expecting some batshitty shit but she never really rockets into total loo-loo land.
Sure, you may find the idea of syncing your life with your menstrual cycle bizarre but not me. I will take any excuse to tell the world to fuck off while I am PMSing because my sacred bodytemple is simply crying out for rest. And Project Runway marathons. It's in a book, people. That shit is FACT.
Overall this is a quick, interesting and slightly insane read.
December 27, 2015
A LOT of self-promotion, branding and pep-talks. In between all the rah rah being a woman is so awesome, and your "Flo" is awesome too, there is some pretty good advice.
My advice? Get it from the library.
My advice? Get it from the library.
June 17, 2013
I really despise the name of the book, because it's actually about your endocrine system and bringing it into balance. Super interesting (and not as condescending as the name suggests) so far.
Now that I'm done...I liked it! The author shares her system for working with your cycle to bring your endocrine system (adrenals, blood sugar, fertility - it's all related) into balance. She's got good info on managing your blood sugar, your stress, and then syncing up your life to your natural cycle via exercise and nutrition....which sounds cheesy when I write it, but it makes a lot of sense (you have different levels of energy at different stages in your cycle, you crave and need different food, etc)
Now that I'm done...I liked it! The author shares her system for working with your cycle to bring your endocrine system (adrenals, blood sugar, fertility - it's all related) into balance. She's got good info on managing your blood sugar, your stress, and then syncing up your life to your natural cycle via exercise and nutrition....which sounds cheesy when I write it, but it makes a lot of sense (you have different levels of energy at different stages in your cycle, you crave and need different food, etc)
May 27, 2018
I was really excited to read this book, but it ended up being a huge disappointment. I felt like Alisa spent too much time talking about less important matters and not enough time touching on the aspects that I was truly interested in. For example, she spend page after page talking about how important it is to eat the proper way for balanced blood sugar levels but then spends only 3 pages giving the actual information on how to eat this way. I, for one, do not need more motivation to eat the right way but like to have much more specific information on why I need to eat a specific way. For example, she says to avoid tuna but then doesn't ever say why. That was the kind of information I was looking for. I was excited to change some of my habits and create better health, but Alisa simply did not motivate me. I could see how meeting with her 1:1 in person through her consultation practice could be beneficial, but without a 1:1 consultation, the information was way too broad for me.
February 2, 2017
This book contains:
35% promises of big revelations that will be soon revealed (and never really will), "success stories" and advertising for online courses;
25% strict 'advice' about how to live your life which I feel can be triggering and/or discouraging for people with ED/self-acceptance issues, as well as impossible to reach if you're a human being;
20% information about the menstrual cycle and related biological changes and effects (the endocrine system);
20% woo-woo rambling about energies and presumptions about the reader's experiences.
A disappointment, particularly when it promotes a miraculous cure for everything when the main idea is really quite simple: eat more vegetables, consume less meat, prioritise sleep, reduce stress.
35% promises of big revelations that will be soon revealed (and never really will), "success stories" and advertising for online courses;
25% strict 'advice' about how to live your life which I feel can be triggering and/or discouraging for people with ED/self-acceptance issues, as well as impossible to reach if you're a human being;
20% information about the menstrual cycle and related biological changes and effects (the endocrine system);
20% woo-woo rambling about energies and presumptions about the reader's experiences.
A disappointment, particularly when it promotes a miraculous cure for everything when the main idea is really quite simple: eat more vegetables, consume less meat, prioritise sleep, reduce stress.
June 1, 2020
I started the book with an open mind, but the amount of bullshit was just overwhelming. The thing that I hated the most is that scientific facts, such as the way your endocrine system works or the phases of your menstrual cycle, are presented together with alternative medicine mumbo-jumbo such as traditional Chinese medicine, chiropractic treatment and naturopathy. And then Alisa starts talking about "feminine energy" vs "masculine energy", which is a bit too esoteric for a book that claims to be "scientific". You end up wondering "what should I believe and what should I throw away?" The book is full of promotional anecdotes which follow a similar structure:
Step 1: a heroine has a desease/can't conceive/suffers from low libido.
Step 2: the heroine goes to a doctor, alas the traditional healthcare fails her.
Step 3: the heroine goes to FLOliving, Alisa's company, where she is miraculously treated, very quickly and effortlessly, so she can live the happiest life possible.
The End.
I think it is important to understand that the author is not a medical doctor and most of her claims about magically treating your diseases with foods haven't been scientifically researched.
Finally, If there is one thing I took away from this book is that as long as healthcare will keep ignoring women's issues (because there is still a lot of sexism in healthcare worldwide), women will be bringing their money to charlatans hoping for miracles, which is sad.
Oh, and one more thing: buy a trampoline for your office. According to the book it should get your lymphatic system moving. Whether it's true or not, having a trampoline in your office sounds kinda cool.
Step 1: a heroine has a desease/can't conceive/suffers from low libido.
Step 2: the heroine goes to a doctor, alas the traditional healthcare fails her.
Step 3: the heroine goes to FLOliving, Alisa's company, where she is miraculously treated, very quickly and effortlessly, so she can live the happiest life possible.
The End.
I think it is important to understand that the author is not a medical doctor and most of her claims about magically treating your diseases with foods haven't been scientifically researched.
Finally, If there is one thing I took away from this book is that as long as healthcare will keep ignoring women's issues (because there is still a lot of sexism in healthcare worldwide), women will be bringing their money to charlatans hoping for miracles, which is sad.
Oh, and one more thing: buy a trampoline for your office. According to the book it should get your lymphatic system moving. Whether it's true or not, having a trampoline in your office sounds kinda cool.
September 9, 2020
I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I like the practice of respecting/planning your life around your cycle, that is, doing certain activities (e.g. cleaning house, creative tasks, starting projects, forms of exercise, social engagements, emphasizing leisure, etc) during certain phases on the cycle.
Vitti also recommends certain foods or whether to eat vegetables raw or cooked based on your phases, and knowing how estrogen/progesterone affect digestion (and can cause constipation or diarrhea) this makes sense to me.
That said, if a woman has irregular periods or no periods, peri menopause, menopause, secondary amenorrhea, PCOS, etc. most of this book would be lost on her. I would be okay with that IF this wasn't a book targeted to women with hormonal/endocrine/period problems, written by an author who claims to have had PCOS and cured herself. 🤨 😔
If you have a regular cycle, you might enjoy the chapters and find it helpful to live more in sync with your cycle. Thinking about female friends I admire for being "in touch" with their body, I see how they do this automatically.
Another problem I had was the information seems contradictory. For example, Vitti insists on eating breakfast within 1.5 hours of waking (okay) but you're also supposed to poop 💩 within 20 minutes of waking and exercise first thing in the morning. 🧐
I am self-employed, with no children or a commute to work. Still, I would not be able to wake, poop, workout, and get ready for work, and eat my breakfast (prepared the night before) in 90 minutes. 🙅🏻♀️ To do her way, I would have to get up, Chug water, poop, make breakfast, eat, go to yoga (or do something else if a class wasn't offered at the time), OR not eat and shorten my practice to 30 min in order to eat on time and then get ready for work.
1) I cannot imagine exercising immediately after eating or even within 20-30 minutes of eating, and 2) this requires me to pass on the benefits of working out in a fasted state. 3) I don’t want to rush any of those things and 4) I also like to eat when I'm hungry -- listen to my body, rather than shovel food in as soon as I'm awake. 😬 Plus, if you have blood sugar issues (and most people with endocrine issues have blood sugar problems, according to Vitti) there are numerous positive benefits to only eating 12 hours a day...
Another contradiction for me was around supplements. Vitti says supplements (esp. vitamins) aren't a solution (many hormonal issues are caused from nutrient deficiencies) because the body cannot utilize synthesized/processed/extracted forms (I agree) and to eat real, whole, nutritious foods as nature intended instead (I agree) and to avoid processed foods (still agree). HOWEVER, she recommends protein shakes. Granted she suggests vegan ones but even vegan protein shakes are very processed/extracted/not wholesome. 🤷🏻♀️ She also tells vegans to take omega supplements... confusing. BUT AT LEAST she recognizes vegans/plant-centered eating
Lastly, there is so much self-talk. 🙄 🙄 🙄 (It's extra nars-y. Maybe it would have been better to put at the end of the book if someone actually wanted to read about how she started a period club in 6th grade). Skip the first 2 chapters.
You can also skip chapter 3 unless you want a lesson on the endocrine system.
The protocol starts at Chapter 4. (see below) The book also frequently promotes her coaching program, which fine—sell it honey 💵 , but the one I clicked on was a whopping $3,000 (there may be cheaper ones). 😳
Here is the protocol:
drink 8-oz water at wake up
no caffeine before breakfast
protein-rich breakfast (max 30g carbs unless you are skinny/fast metabolism, then 50g)
lunch 3.5 hours later
eat most calories at lunch
only 1 complex carb (beans OR rice 🍚)
1 good fat (eg avocado 🥑 or nuts 🥜)
take digestive enzyme 💊
snack, nutrient dense, 2.5-3 hours later if needed (eg berries and nuts)
dinner 2.53 hours after the snack. Protein with raw and cooked vegetables, no grains or sugar
Go to bed 3.5-4 hours after eating.
Also only use 7th generation products (avoid chemicals).
—————-
Interestingly, that ☝️ is the exact way I was eating for the past 5 years (except no added fat) and I ended up with endocrine issues (namely, adrenal fatigue) 😑
Her 4-day reset also seemed low in calories or like a crash diet even though its "real food" It is basically the same thing all 4 days (Day 3/4 you get to add a little avocado).
Breakfast:
8-oz water
fiber supplement
1 1/2 c mixed berries, squeeze lemon juice, 1T flax seed, green juice or chorella tablets (WHat the what?)
Lunch:
whole grain (1/2 c), 1 T flax and 4-oz white fish OR if you're a vegetarian, 1/3 c beans (no grain)
unlimited salad
Snack (water, tea, approved veggies or fruit)
Dinner:
vegetable soup (water boiled vegetables-unlimited) or mung bean minestrone (1.5 cups; it’s mung beans and veggies in water)
unlimited salad
To end on a positive, ⭐️ I did find the research she shared about how overeating, especially on refined carbohydrates, causes you to feel hungry again (even though you do not actually need more calories) because of the hormones/blood sugar response. I also liked that she said there is no such thing as willpower (I agree) because once the NAc and hormones join the fray, you lose.
Bottom line: If you have a relatively normal cycle and want to improve/feel better/live more in sync and protect your lady bits, this book might have some helpful things to try in terms of readjusting your life (eg how you exercise and socialize) and when you eat what kinds of foods.
On the one hand, I like the practice of respecting/planning your life around your cycle, that is, doing certain activities (e.g. cleaning house, creative tasks, starting projects, forms of exercise, social engagements, emphasizing leisure, etc) during certain phases on the cycle.
Vitti also recommends certain foods or whether to eat vegetables raw or cooked based on your phases, and knowing how estrogen/progesterone affect digestion (and can cause constipation or diarrhea) this makes sense to me.
That said, if a woman has irregular periods or no periods, peri menopause, menopause, secondary amenorrhea, PCOS, etc. most of this book would be lost on her. I would be okay with that IF this wasn't a book targeted to women with hormonal/endocrine/period problems, written by an author who claims to have had PCOS and cured herself. 🤨 😔
If you have a regular cycle, you might enjoy the chapters and find it helpful to live more in sync with your cycle. Thinking about female friends I admire for being "in touch" with their body, I see how they do this automatically.
Another problem I had was the information seems contradictory. For example, Vitti insists on eating breakfast within 1.5 hours of waking (okay) but you're also supposed to poop 💩 within 20 minutes of waking and exercise first thing in the morning. 🧐
I am self-employed, with no children or a commute to work. Still, I would not be able to wake, poop, workout, and get ready for work, and eat my breakfast (prepared the night before) in 90 minutes. 🙅🏻♀️ To do her way, I would have to get up, Chug water, poop, make breakfast, eat, go to yoga (or do something else if a class wasn't offered at the time), OR not eat and shorten my practice to 30 min in order to eat on time and then get ready for work.
1) I cannot imagine exercising immediately after eating or even within 20-30 minutes of eating, and 2) this requires me to pass on the benefits of working out in a fasted state. 3) I don’t want to rush any of those things and 4) I also like to eat when I'm hungry -- listen to my body, rather than shovel food in as soon as I'm awake. 😬 Plus, if you have blood sugar issues (and most people with endocrine issues have blood sugar problems, according to Vitti) there are numerous positive benefits to only eating 12 hours a day...
Another contradiction for me was around supplements. Vitti says supplements (esp. vitamins) aren't a solution (many hormonal issues are caused from nutrient deficiencies) because the body cannot utilize synthesized/processed/extracted forms (I agree) and to eat real, whole, nutritious foods as nature intended instead (I agree) and to avoid processed foods (still agree). HOWEVER, she recommends protein shakes. Granted she suggests vegan ones but even vegan protein shakes are very processed/extracted/not wholesome. 🤷🏻♀️ She also tells vegans to take omega supplements... confusing. BUT AT LEAST she recognizes vegans/plant-centered eating
Lastly, there is so much self-talk. 🙄 🙄 🙄 (It's extra nars-y. Maybe it would have been better to put at the end of the book if someone actually wanted to read about how she started a period club in 6th grade). Skip the first 2 chapters.
You can also skip chapter 3 unless you want a lesson on the endocrine system.
The protocol starts at Chapter 4. (see below) The book also frequently promotes her coaching program, which fine—sell it honey 💵 , but the one I clicked on was a whopping $3,000 (there may be cheaper ones). 😳
Here is the protocol:
drink 8-oz water at wake up
no caffeine before breakfast
protein-rich breakfast (max 30g carbs unless you are skinny/fast metabolism, then 50g)
lunch 3.5 hours later
eat most calories at lunch
only 1 complex carb (beans OR rice 🍚)
1 good fat (eg avocado 🥑 or nuts 🥜)
take digestive enzyme 💊
snack, nutrient dense, 2.5-3 hours later if needed (eg berries and nuts)
dinner 2.53 hours after the snack. Protein with raw and cooked vegetables, no grains or sugar
Go to bed 3.5-4 hours after eating.
Also only use 7th generation products (avoid chemicals).
—————-
Interestingly, that ☝️ is the exact way I was eating for the past 5 years (except no added fat) and I ended up with endocrine issues (namely, adrenal fatigue) 😑
Her 4-day reset also seemed low in calories or like a crash diet even though its "real food" It is basically the same thing all 4 days (Day 3/4 you get to add a little avocado).
Breakfast:
8-oz water
fiber supplement
1 1/2 c mixed berries, squeeze lemon juice, 1T flax seed, green juice or chorella tablets (WHat the what?)
Lunch:
whole grain (1/2 c), 1 T flax and 4-oz white fish OR if you're a vegetarian, 1/3 c beans (no grain)
unlimited salad
Snack (water, tea, approved veggies or fruit)
Dinner:
vegetable soup (water boiled vegetables-unlimited) or mung bean minestrone (1.5 cups; it’s mung beans and veggies in water)
unlimited salad
To end on a positive, ⭐️ I did find the research she shared about how overeating, especially on refined carbohydrates, causes you to feel hungry again (even though you do not actually need more calories) because of the hormones/blood sugar response. I also liked that she said there is no such thing as willpower (I agree) because once the NAc and hormones join the fray, you lose.
Bottom line: If you have a relatively normal cycle and want to improve/feel better/live more in sync and protect your lady bits, this book might have some helpful things to try in terms of readjusting your life (eg how you exercise and socialize) and when you eat what kinds of foods.
June 25, 2017
eat veggies, drink water, listen to your body, rest, there are four main hormone cycles a month. I purchased the app 'hormone horoscope PRO' to help me keep track. very long winded, could have been a Ted talk
December 1, 2016
Well. I heard about this book from listening to The Lively Show podcast. As a sufferer of PCOS, I thought this might be helpful, but much of the diet kind of stuff is what you can read on any uber-healthy trendy blog--wheat, dairy, and sugar are out; vegetables and lean protein are basically the only things that are in. I can't subscribe to such a restrictive diet.
I DID like the in-depth explanation of different phases within the menstrual cycle, along with her tips on how to maximize your natural ebb and flow of energy and hormones during those phases. I've implemented what I could, and I have to say (skeptical though I was), it really has made a difference in how well I ride through my cycle. It seems odd to think I needed someone to explain to me that when I am feeling fragile, I should be gentle and nurturing to myself--and while my energy and spirits are high, I should use that time to be social and get things done and enjoy being out in the world. Following this has really helped me balance my introvert/extrovert qualities as well. I feel like my needs are being met better, because they are being met at the appropriate time. I feel empowered treating myself this way.
So why just 3 stars? Well, informed as Vitti seems to be, I am turned off by any writer taking a hippie-dippie approach to health. I like natural, I like healthy, I like incorporating mental & psychological health into the overall picture of a person's general wellness. What I strongly dislike is anecdotal proof and phrases like, "If THIS is true, it stands to reason that this other thing is true." There's nothing wrong with studies and applying the scientific method to holistic-style medicine. Give me studies, research, science, etc.
The other big turn off for me was Vitti's suggestion that a woman structure her work life around her cycle. I just can't imagine telling a client, "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't actually deliver this for you for another three weeks, because that's when I'm at the optimal point of my menstrual cycle to deliver the best results for you." I'm not saying this is a bad idea, necessarily, just laughably impractical. Unless a woman works in an office of mostly women who also happen to believe in structuring their work around their cycles, this simply won't fly.
I DID like the in-depth explanation of different phases within the menstrual cycle, along with her tips on how to maximize your natural ebb and flow of energy and hormones during those phases. I've implemented what I could, and I have to say (skeptical though I was), it really has made a difference in how well I ride through my cycle. It seems odd to think I needed someone to explain to me that when I am feeling fragile, I should be gentle and nurturing to myself--and while my energy and spirits are high, I should use that time to be social and get things done and enjoy being out in the world. Following this has really helped me balance my introvert/extrovert qualities as well. I feel like my needs are being met better, because they are being met at the appropriate time. I feel empowered treating myself this way.
So why just 3 stars? Well, informed as Vitti seems to be, I am turned off by any writer taking a hippie-dippie approach to health. I like natural, I like healthy, I like incorporating mental & psychological health into the overall picture of a person's general wellness. What I strongly dislike is anecdotal proof and phrases like, "If THIS is true, it stands to reason that this other thing is true." There's nothing wrong with studies and applying the scientific method to holistic-style medicine. Give me studies, research, science, etc.
The other big turn off for me was Vitti's suggestion that a woman structure her work life around her cycle. I just can't imagine telling a client, "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't actually deliver this for you for another three weeks, because that's when I'm at the optimal point of my menstrual cycle to deliver the best results for you." I'm not saying this is a bad idea, necessarily, just laughably impractical. Unless a woman works in an office of mostly women who also happen to believe in structuring their work around their cycles, this simply won't fly.
March 19, 2023
This book was recommended by my doctor and I do like the concept of it. It presents a powerful and empowering message about finding healthy, natural ways for women to heal their hormones. Vitti's message about listening to your body and really leaning in to what makes women unique is an important one. I too have gone to doctors for a host of hormonal issues only to be put on birth control (which resulted in everything getting worse.) I've benefited from nontraditional doctors who have focused more on eating, exercising, acupuncture, etc. So, it didn't take much to convince me that this is a good direction to go.
Buttttt sometimes this book feels a little too self-help. "Utilize my 5 easy steps and you too can take back your life!" It made it hard for me to take her seriously. Maybe it was listening to it on audio, but I felt like there was no counter-story. Every part involved glowing self-praise and recommendations from women who were miraculously cured after following her steps. And I just am skeptical that this method works quite that well 100% of the time.
Her final chapter about female energy also felt hard to swallow. I get the big idea she is aiming for. Embracing creativity and making sure to take time to check in and communicate with the people around you is important for everyone. But self-care and loving those around you isn't something uniquely beneficial to women. I don't think she meant to imply it was, but the way she presents it came across very mystic and transcendental. It was an odd direction to go after spending every other chapter focusing on the science and "demystifying" female anatomy.
At the same time, I did enjoy this book and could see myself recommending it to others depending on the circumstances. I have a hard copy of In the Flo: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life so perhaps I will that a try.
Buttttt sometimes this book feels a little too self-help. "Utilize my 5 easy steps and you too can take back your life!" It made it hard for me to take her seriously. Maybe it was listening to it on audio, but I felt like there was no counter-story. Every part involved glowing self-praise and recommendations from women who were miraculously cured after following her steps. And I just am skeptical that this method works quite that well 100% of the time.
Her final chapter about female energy also felt hard to swallow. I get the big idea she is aiming for. Embracing creativity and making sure to take time to check in and communicate with the people around you is important for everyone. But self-care and loving those around you isn't something uniquely beneficial to women. I don't think she meant to imply it was, but the way she presents it came across very mystic and transcendental. It was an odd direction to go after spending every other chapter focusing on the science and "demystifying" female anatomy.
At the same time, I did enjoy this book and could see myself recommending it to others depending on the circumstances. I have a hard copy of In the Flo: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life so perhaps I will that a try.
January 7, 2016
Has some good principles. I'm going to try this for a few months and see if it makes a difference. Must be pretty convincing if it got me to quick eating sugar and soda. I feel better and think more clearly. I've lost weight and am sleeping better. We'll see in a couple of months if it is helping with my hormones.
Update: It has been 2 months and I am feeling much more calm and haven't had as much PMS and anger. I think it is helping. I have eliminated some of the endocrine inhibitors in my routine and I am really noticing the changes that I feel during the 4 different phases of my cycle. It is textbook what I am experiencing. You just have to embrace that there are different times of the month that you are better at certain things and enjoy the changes that occur during the month. When I don't expect to be the same all month long - I am a much happier person.
Update: It has been 2 months and I am feeling much more calm and haven't had as much PMS and anger. I think it is helping. I have eliminated some of the endocrine inhibitors in my routine and I am really noticing the changes that I feel during the 4 different phases of my cycle. It is textbook what I am experiencing. You just have to embrace that there are different times of the month that you are better at certain things and enjoy the changes that occur during the month. When I don't expect to be the same all month long - I am a much happier person.
June 8, 2018
Having been raised in Texas—where our women’s health education consisted of a five-minute anatomy video, a stick of deodorant, and a maxi-pad—I possess a shockingly limited knowledge of the functions of my own body and hormones. In addition to strengthening my mind-body connection, this book has been influential in informing me of those seemingly mysterious hormonal processes that should have been taught to me long ago. It has taught me, too, that what happens in my body doesn’t have to be a source of shame but of strength and even pride.
Vitti’s basic premise is that as women, what we feed our bodies dictates our physical, mental, and emotional states. The information Vitti provides is thorough and well-researched, and she does a good job of explaining the complicated, ever-shifting cocktail of hormones in a woman’s body. Her mission is to provide a more holistic and essentially feminine view of healthcare that is available to all women. Vitti writes with a great deal of heart: she obviously cares very deeply about helping all women to become more in tune with their bodies.
That being said, Vitti leaves no space for trans or non-binary folks, and when she talks about relationships it is always between a feminine woman and a masculine man. I happen to fall on the feminine side of the binary, so I was able to benefit from the information she provided. Nevertheless, Vitti could have made more of an effort to widen her definition of “all women,” especially since this text was published in 2013—it is evident she was writing to a specifically cisgender, heterosexual audience.
Vitti’s basic premise is that as women, what we feed our bodies dictates our physical, mental, and emotional states. The information Vitti provides is thorough and well-researched, and she does a good job of explaining the complicated, ever-shifting cocktail of hormones in a woman’s body. Her mission is to provide a more holistic and essentially feminine view of healthcare that is available to all women. Vitti writes with a great deal of heart: she obviously cares very deeply about helping all women to become more in tune with their bodies.
That being said, Vitti leaves no space for trans or non-binary folks, and when she talks about relationships it is always between a feminine woman and a masculine man. I happen to fall on the feminine side of the binary, so I was able to benefit from the information she provided. Nevertheless, Vitti could have made more of an effort to widen her definition of “all women,” especially since this text was published in 2013—it is evident she was writing to a specifically cisgender, heterosexual audience.
January 13, 2022
News flash mates, women’s health is important and we treat ourselves like trash a lot of the time even when we think we aren’t. I was a bit ambivalent about diving into this, because I’m not a fan of the ‘woo-woo’, culty dialogue around ‘finding your power’ etc. Although there’s a little bit of that here (and obviously a bit of marketing) it’s underpinned by a lot of super clearly explain science. I learned some new things so this was a worthwhile read. Quite a practical follow up to books like ‘ Your Brain on Birth Control’.
July 22, 2016
This book is really excellent! It has been a life saver for me this year and I'm so glad I decided to follow much of the advice as a new year's resolution. Vitti also has brilliant videos on Youtube. Some of the best advice is to eat plenty of fruit and veg. It's a given but your 5 a day is not enough. You need to vary them a lot more and rotate them so instead of having a large serving of broccoli with your dinner, make that broccoli, cabbage, asparagus and green beans.
Also, not eating when you're hungry is just as bad as eating sugary snacks. Your blood sugar level drops and because I like to wait for the lunch time rush to calm, it was one of my big mistakes so now I carry around some nuts to snack on when I get hungry.
Finally, Vitti strongly recommends switching to paraben free and organic cosmetics. I have done this and although it was a huge commitment and an investment of money and time researching, I have not looked back. It has actually been very enjoyable experimenting with new products from health food stores and researching them online. To date, I particularly like the brand Neal's Yard. Their skin care range is excellent as is their make up. Beautiful blushers and bronzers and Kielh's do a lovely BB cream. With the benefits of eating lots of fruit and veg, you will no longer need as much make up as you thought you needed before. This is definitely a life changing book.
Also, not eating when you're hungry is just as bad as eating sugary snacks. Your blood sugar level drops and because I like to wait for the lunch time rush to calm, it was one of my big mistakes so now I carry around some nuts to snack on when I get hungry.
Finally, Vitti strongly recommends switching to paraben free and organic cosmetics. I have done this and although it was a huge commitment and an investment of money and time researching, I have not looked back. It has actually been very enjoyable experimenting with new products from health food stores and researching them online. To date, I particularly like the brand Neal's Yard. Their skin care range is excellent as is their make up. Beautiful blushers and bronzers and Kielh's do a lovely BB cream. With the benefits of eating lots of fruit and veg, you will no longer need as much make up as you thought you needed before. This is definitely a life changing book.
July 30, 2017
Oh my word. Self-help-y books either gel with you or don't. This one and I are a super-don't. Our personalities are at complete odds with one another. Ovary oath? Umm...no. The branding forcefully sprinkled throughout is nauseating. The bibliography is sparse and short, and there are very few footnotes matching data or statistics to conclusions. As a scientist, I do not trust her, at all.
However: it's obvious to me that this has worked for some women, and majority of recommendations are hardly likely to make one worse, as they consist mainly of "eat more vegetables, drink more water, make sure you're getting enough fiber."
If this sort of language works for you, have at it. But ughhhhh not for me.
However: it's obvious to me that this has worked for some women, and majority of recommendations are hardly likely to make one worse, as they consist mainly of "eat more vegetables, drink more water, make sure you're getting enough fiber."
If this sort of language works for you, have at it. But ughhhhh not for me.
October 28, 2020
2020 update - I reread this book because I wanted a "refresher course" on women's health. This book discusses the endocrine system in general and then breaks everything down to every day life in a super accessible way that even the layman can comprehend. This time around I found these sections most useful: causes of hormonal problems and how to fix it.
Did you know that the 5 most common causes of hormonal problems are :
1. mismanaged blood sugar.
2. overexertion of the adrenal glands.
3. congestion throughout the pathways of elimination.
4. a lifestyle that works against the patterns of your menstrual cycle.
5. separation from your feminine energy.
2019 - It is my opinion that every woman should read this book! This book is full of scientific evidence and research for supporting your endocrine system , healthy fertility and menstrual cycles. The author has practical ideas on how to get these areas under control and in a healthy state. While she can be a bit repetitive, her information is easy to understand. Loved this book!!!!
Did you know that the 5 most common causes of hormonal problems are :
1. mismanaged blood sugar.
2. overexertion of the adrenal glands.
3. congestion throughout the pathways of elimination.
4. a lifestyle that works against the patterns of your menstrual cycle.
5. separation from your feminine energy.
2019 - It is my opinion that every woman should read this book! This book is full of scientific evidence and research for supporting your endocrine system , healthy fertility and menstrual cycles. The author has practical ideas on how to get these areas under control and in a healthy state. While she can be a bit repetitive, her information is easy to understand. Loved this book!!!!
May 27, 2017
I heard the author on a podcast and immediately purchased this book. It was pretty informative about how everything works together in your body and how food and lifestyle choices impact a womans health. The author did not go very in depth as far a food and life style choices that are most beneficial, only briefly touching on it. I found that this book was basically meant to overview these topics and serve as a brochure guiding you to buy the authors $300 program. That was a little disappointing because I wanted more information out of the book and not for it to just be a promo for buying something. That made it feel a little disingenuous but it was still informative in a get your feet wet sort of way and I will continue to learn about the subject and try to implement changes into my life.
February 21, 2020
After all the cheerleading/advertising for online courses and promises about how much following the WomanCode protocol will change your life, there is some useful information about syncing the foods that you eat with different stages of your cycle and how foods affect your hormones. However, I wish there was a more useful section where all the information about each cycle phase, what to eat, exercise, and what to expect from your body/emotions was all broken down into an easy to follow chart. But I suppose she can’t actually make the book practical because then who would sign up for the online programs that 30% of the book is an advertisement for? I did request her next book from the library so maybe that will build on the information from this one.
April 23, 2019
The first 70 pages of this book are floof, personally when I buy a book that is supposed to help an aspect of my life I want it to cut to the chase. I don’t want to read 70 pages about how the book will eventually explain to you what to do. I preferred Code Red by Lisa Lister in regards to this topic.
November 15, 2023
There was a lot of useful information packed into these pages, especially around supporting adrenal health, how the endocrine system works, how to understand your menstrual cycle, stabilize blood sugar levels and optimize hormone health. HOWEVER. Once she veered into seriously unscientific claims around the importance of finding your “feminine energetic balance,” the difference between feminine and masculine energy (ugh), and how many modern women are guided by their masculine energy and that’s a reason why our hormones are out of sync (literally what) I just could not abide. Luckily most of that is kept to the last chapter so I just recommend skipping that.
March 4, 2020
1 star - whiff
OMG - I thought I maybe I was somehow rereading the same page over and over again but nope, this book is just SO repetitive it's painful! It reads like one of those websites where you scroll and scroll and they're all confident and excited and bright and colorful and they keep telling you what you'll learn and how they'll teach you something and you keep scrolling and scrolling until you eventually get to the end and see that it's only 9 easy payments of $675 and you click away disgusted. She very nearly never gets to anything concrete, she just keeps repeating the same stuff and telling you what you're GOING to learn.
SPOILER ALERT: the main tenet is to stop eating crap, go to a whole foods based diet and move daily for your context (ie, if you are already a massively stressed out person, don't do crossfit, just go for a walk). There are other chapters about understanding the phases of your cycle and taking them into consideration in diet and exercise and chronobiology. Chronobiology was the one I was most interested in learning about but man - I couldn't plow through the monotony to get there so I'll just have to go Hey-Google it.
This book was free. Thank goodness.
OMG - I thought I maybe I was somehow rereading the same page over and over again but nope, this book is just SO repetitive it's painful! It reads like one of those websites where you scroll and scroll and they're all confident and excited and bright and colorful and they keep telling you what you'll learn and how they'll teach you something and you keep scrolling and scrolling until you eventually get to the end and see that it's only 9 easy payments of $675 and you click away disgusted. She very nearly never gets to anything concrete, she just keeps repeating the same stuff and telling you what you're GOING to learn.
SPOILER ALERT: the main tenet is to stop eating crap, go to a whole foods based diet and move daily for your context (ie, if you are already a massively stressed out person, don't do crossfit, just go for a walk). There are other chapters about understanding the phases of your cycle and taking them into consideration in diet and exercise and chronobiology. Chronobiology was the one I was most interested in learning about but man - I couldn't plow through the monotony to get there so I'll just have to go Hey-Google it.
This book was free. Thank goodness.
May 9, 2020
Have found this book bc I'm using MyFlo app and was curious to know the rest. Basically Alisa Vitti's assumption is women have a 28 days cycle, not a 24h one as men, therefore to get the best of our bodies and mind and our way of living we should eat/do workout/plan and make love paying attention to the phases of the cycle we're in (lutheal/ovulatory/menstrual/follicular). And I find it extremely fascinating, and definitely relevant
TMI from here= I have cramps during period and it's mostly heavy, and I'm overweight enough. So basically she says everything is connected, hormones and your whole endocrine system is affected by what you eat, among the rest, and she has found the best nutrients for each phase to help the system work at its best, [+ no cheese, no sweets, little animal protein, much less coffee]
Well, I'm using it as a textbook and it's helping a lot! Plus it started a whole change in my eating habits.
TMI from here= I have cramps during period and it's mostly heavy, and I'm overweight enough. So basically she says everything is connected, hormones and your whole endocrine system is affected by what you eat, among the rest, and she has found the best nutrients for each phase to help the system work at its best, [+ no cheese, no sweets, little animal protein, much less coffee]
Well, I'm using it as a textbook and it's helping a lot! Plus it started a whole change in my eating habits.
February 5, 2021
While this book has helped me SO MUCH to understand by body and hormones, and I have a sticky note on almost every page, the amount of self promotion ruined the vibe. I understand she runs a business, but for three whole chapters, plus the last two, all she talked about was how great she is and how successful her program is. Like, you don’t need to talk about it, just prove it with the method you’re supposed to be writing about.
June 19, 2019
Definitely did not live up to expectations. Everything could have been summarised in a 20 pages PDF instead of the bunch of meaningless pages loaded with self high fives. I wish she would have focus more on the diet and provide support evidence of why she suggest each food item for each cycle. Quite a let down.
October 6, 2021
I read this book very apprehensively, especially because it has a sales-pitch/miracle-cure tone, but it actually taught me a lot about the endocrine system, the menstrual cycle, and how to regulate blood sugar. I also liked the discussion of masculine and feminine energies at the end. If you can breeze over about half of it, you might benefit from the other half.
September 29, 2019
This book is like 200 pages too long. It’s filled with so much fluff and maybe like 3 helpful hints. Watch what you eat and listen to your cycle. I sort of already knew that. It also feels pretty anti-scientific. Go read Woman’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom instead
April 15, 2024
pretty good information, I liked the notes about the birth control pill. Found the need to constantly try to brand “woman code” a bit annoying though
August 12, 2024
I really enjoy learning about the endocrine system and how to align our food and movement choices to our cycle. Quite a bit of self promotion and fluff. Overall provides helpful day to day changes to make.
September 8, 2015
3.5 Stars. This is a book about women's health with a particular focus on how our cycle of hormones affect so many parts of our lives—not just our periods, but our skin, weight, appetites, and energy levels—and what happens when these cycles get thrown off through stress, poor diet, or by being artificially controlled by birth control pills. I was inspired to read this book about women's health after hearing the author speak on one of my favorite podcasts, The Lively Show. She had a compelling story and perspective, so I was eager to read the book. Having a number of similar health issues to the author, and having already embraced a more natural, holistic approach to health, I was fairly sure that the book would be right up my alley. A good portion of the book was informative, scientifically-based, and useful, especially the first half, although it mostly served to reinforce what I'd already come to believe. I'd definitely recommend it to other women who are curious about more holistic and natural health care and learning about their bodies and cycles in a more intimate way. However, I will warn women that some sections do contain a bit of hippie, "woo woo" language, particularly about honoring masculine and feminine energies within yourself. But I've come to expect some of that in these holistic health type of books. I will also warn that the author recognizes the importance of the birth control pill from a feminist standpoint, but she is quite anti-Pill from a hormone-controlling standpoint. I happen to agree with her for my own body, but I sort of felt uncomfortable with her broad suggestion that women shouldn't take the Pill. My main criticism is that a lot of the information in charts and lists (recommended foods, supplements, physical activities) could have been better integrated into the book to feel more helpful and less textbook-like. I wish the book would have provided some recipes that support this way of living, especially since she recommends different foods for each part of your hormonal cycle. Instead, the last section of the book serves to promote the author's online community and resources, but I would have preferred the book to be a stand-alone resource.
November 16, 2018
I don't know how to feel about this one.
On the one hand, this made me think about my cycle, and how everything affects my hormones. It made me more aware of my own body, and taught me some natural ways to take care of symptoms and prevent them from happening (at least according to her, I haven't tried it yet). I also like that this method of cycle syncing doesn't require much of you to give it a try. Some adjustments in food and exercise. So I will give it a go, and see whether it works for me.
On the other hand, there were a lot of things that bothered me. When you think the content of this book through, it's mostly common sense? Eat healthy, make sure you have nutrient-dense food, exercise depending on how you feel, don't drink too much caffeine or alcohol, learn to deal with stress. I know all of that already! I will try to adjust my food to primarily the ones she recommends per phase of the cycle to see whether that made a difference.
I also already knew quite a bit about our hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, since I was taught that in biology in high school.
What annoyed me the most, however, is that this book could've been at least 80 pages shorter. The author spends SO MUCH time telling us all that your lives will change thanks to her program, that she has healed from PCOS and has helped other women to do so, and that she will tell us how to live our best lives. She could've just told me, instead of telling me she'd tell me. There was also so much promotion of her FLOliving website and program that it made me roll my eyes.
Lastly, I am not a fan of the title. Not every woman has a uterus, or a menstrual cycle for that matter. This was very focused on ciswomen. Granted, the target audience of this book is people with a menstrual cycle. But still.
On the one hand, this made me think about my cycle, and how everything affects my hormones. It made me more aware of my own body, and taught me some natural ways to take care of symptoms and prevent them from happening (at least according to her, I haven't tried it yet). I also like that this method of cycle syncing doesn't require much of you to give it a try. Some adjustments in food and exercise. So I will give it a go, and see whether it works for me.
On the other hand, there were a lot of things that bothered me. When you think the content of this book through, it's mostly common sense? Eat healthy, make sure you have nutrient-dense food, exercise depending on how you feel, don't drink too much caffeine or alcohol, learn to deal with stress. I know all of that already! I will try to adjust my food to primarily the ones she recommends per phase of the cycle to see whether that made a difference.
I also already knew quite a bit about our hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, since I was taught that in biology in high school.
What annoyed me the most, however, is that this book could've been at least 80 pages shorter. The author spends SO MUCH time telling us all that your lives will change thanks to her program, that she has healed from PCOS and has helped other women to do so, and that she will tell us how to live our best lives. She could've just told me, instead of telling me she'd tell me. There was also so much promotion of her FLOliving website and program that it made me roll my eyes.
Lastly, I am not a fan of the title. Not every woman has a uterus, or a menstrual cycle for that matter. This was very focused on ciswomen. Granted, the target audience of this book is people with a menstrual cycle. But still.
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