You’ve probably heard it before: “You can get pregnant any time in your cycle.”
It’s one of the most common myths in women’s health and it’s completely false.
Here’s the truth:
You’re only fertile for about 5–6 days per cycle. That’s it.
Understanding which days those are can make all the difference—whether you’re trying to conceive or trying to avoid pregnancy naturally.
Your fertile window isn’t random—it’s based on your body’s hormonal rhythm and subtle signs that often get overlooked.
What determines your fertile window
Your body gives you clues throughout your cycle, including:
🌀 Cervical mucus: This changes in texture and appearance as estrogen rises. Around ovulation, it becomes clear and stretchy—your body’s natural signal that you’re fertile.
🌀 LH surges: The luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation, and testing for this surge helps pinpoint your most fertile days.
🌀 Temperature shifts: After ovulation, your basal body temperature slightly increases. Tracking these changes confirms that ovulation actually happened.
🌀 Hormonal patterns: Beyond apps and averages, understanding your body’s hormone signals gives you the most accurate insight into your fertility window.
Why this matters
Many women rely on period-tracking apps that use generic algorithms, but these often miss the nuances of your personal cycle. If your hormones, thyroid, or gut health are out of balance, your cycle might not follow “textbook” patterns—and that’s when confusion and frustration set in.
Learning how to recognize your own fertile signs puts you back in tune with your body. You’ll start to notice how energy, mood, and even cravings shift throughout the month—all valuable information that can help you support your hormones naturally.
Supporting your body through your cycle
When you understand your fertile window, you can begin making small adjustments that support your body’s rhythm.
- Eat balanced meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep blood sugar steady.
- Prioritize rest and gentle movement around ovulation and your luteal phase.
- Manage stress through breathwork, journaling, or simply spending a few minutes outdoors.
Your cycle isn’t something to control - it’s something to understand.
When you know how to read the signs your body is giving you, you can make more informed choices about your health, fertility, and overall well-being.
This recipe offers a nutrient-packed boost thanks to antioxidant-rich pumpkin, heart-healthy cashews and oats, and a balanced mix of carbs, protein, and healthy fats. Together, these ingredients support overall wellness, promote steady energy, and help protect the body from oxidative stress and heart disease.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup Pureed Pumpkin
- 2/3 cup Cashews (raw)
- 1/4 cup Pitted Dates
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/3 cup Oats (rolled)
- 2 tsps Water
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients except for the water to a food processor. Process until you get a smooth texture with a few chunks of dates and nuts. Add the water if necessary to help the mixture stick together.
- Use a one inch cookie scoop or a teaspoon to scoop out the mixture and roll it into balls. Continue until all of the mixture is used.
- Store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set. Enjoy!
7 servings
They talk to your gut, your brain, and your nervous system 24/7. I’m talking about your hormones—and this constant communication is why stress can throw everything off. Energy, cycles, moods, even digestion often pay the price when your nervous system is stuck in overdrive.
For years, I thought the solution was to just try harder. Eat cleaner. Take more supplements. Stick to the “perfect” routine. But the truth? No amount of kale or capsules could override the stress signals flooding my body. What I really needed was nervous system support.
When your body doesn’t feel safe, your hormones can’t do their job. Cortisol stays elevated, your sleep suffers, blood sugar dips and spikes, and your cycle can feel unpredictable or downright chaotic. It’s not because you’re failing—it’s because your nervous system is begging for calm.
So what actually helps? Here are three things that shifted everything for me:
1. Daily Walks Outside
Walking might sound too simple to matter, but it was a game-changer. Being outdoors gave me a reset that my body desperately needed. The fresh air, grounding in nature, and gentle movement helped regulate cortisol and calm my mind in a way that no supplement ever could.
2. Swapping Coffee for Matcha
I love coffee. But when my stress was already high, caffeine poured fuel on the fire. Matcha gave me a gentler lift without the jittery crash. Plus, its L-theanine content promotes calm focus—a double win for my stressed nervous system.
3. Lavender + German Chamomile Oils at Night
Sleep was another piece of the puzzle. Using calming essential oils in the evening helped signal to my body that it was safe to rest. Deeper sleep meant I woke up more resilient and better able to handle whatever stress came my way.
Here’s the biggest lesson I learned: your body doesn’t need perfection. It doesn’t need you to follow every health trend or restrict yourself into misery. What it really needs is safety.
When your nervous system feels supported, your hormones finally have the space to function the way they’re designed to.
If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of “doing more” to fix your health, maybe it’s time to try doing less—and focusing on calm instead.
This snack is more than just delicious — it’s doing your body good! 🌿
Packed with oats, hemp seeds, and sunflower seed butter, it supports heart health, provides steady energy, and keeps your digestion happy. With a balance of carbs, healthy fats, and protein, it’s the perfect nutrient-dense treat for busy days or active lifestyles.
I seriously love these types of 'protein' style balls. Sometimes I will actually add protein powder to them as well which means I have to adjust the fluid present in the recipe, usually I just add more water and it works!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Oats (rolled)
- 1/2 cup Rice Puffs Cereal
- 2 tbsps Hemp Seeds
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/2 cup Sunflower Seed Butter (runny)
- 1/3 cup Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the oats, rice puffs, hemp seeds, cinnamon, and salt.
- In large bowl, combine the sunflower seed butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to combine. Refrigerate for 25 to 30 minutes to set.
- Use a 1-inch (2.5 cm) cookie scoop or a teaspoon to scoop the mixture and roll it into balls. Continue until all of the mixture has been used.
- Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to allow them to set. Enjoy!
5 servings
These days, life looks a little different. 😅 When a child enters your world, everything shifts—beautifully, wildly, and in ways that can sometimes leave your own health feeling like it’s on the back burner. Late nights, unpredictable schedules, and the constant juggle of responsibilities can make it seem almost impossible to focus on your body’s needs. But here’s the truth: your hormone and gut health still matter in every season of life, and they don’t have to look perfect to make a difference.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that balance doesn’t stay the same forever. What supported my body before baby is not the same as what supports me now. And that’s okay. Our bodies are designed to adapt, and the way we care for them should adapt too. Hormone balance isn’t about following rigid rules—it’s about tuning in to what your body needs today, in this moment. Sometimes that looks like a carefully planned routine, but other times it’s about finding small, practical shifts that make life feel a little lighter.
Perfection isn’t the goal here. In fact, chasing perfection often leads to more stress—which is one of the fastest ways to throw hormones and digestion off track. Instead, focus on practicality. Maybe that means keeping quick, nourishing snacks on hand so your blood sugar stays steady. Maybe it’s stepping outside for ten minutes of fresh air when the day feels overwhelming. Maybe it’s choosing rest over another task on your to-do list, knowing that your body repairs and recharges while you sleep.
Gut health and hormone health are deeply connected to how we show up in daily life. When digestion feels supported and stress feels manageable, energy is steadier, moods are more balanced, and the body can function as it was meant to. The good news? It doesn’t take an elaborate plan to get there. Even small, consistent habits can create a ripple effect. Drinking enough water, moving your body in ways that feel good, eating more whole foods, or simply practicing deep breathing can all support the foundation your hormones and gut need.
Life after kids may look nothing like the life you had before, but that doesn’t mean your well-being has to disappear from the picture. It just means finding a new rhythm. Your health matters in every season—not because it looks perfect, but because it’s what helps you feel present, energized, and capable of enjoying the life you’re building.
