Motherhood

You Don’t Have to Rush: Why Preparing Your Body Before Pregnancy Matters

You Don’t Have to Rush: Why Preparing Your Body Before Pregnancy Matters
If you’ve ever felt the pressure to “hurry up and start trying,” you’re not alone. Between the endless ticking of the biological clock and well-meaning advice from everyone around you, it’s easy to feel like you need to start yesterday. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to rush.

In fact, slowing down and giving your body the support it needs before you ever pee on that stick can make a world of difference—not just for getting pregnant, but for how you feel through the entire journey.

Why the Prep Work Matters
Your body is about to take on one of the most incredible tasks it will ever do: growing a human. And while prenatal vitamins are a great start, they’re only one small piece of the puzzle. Think of this season as creating the healthiest soil before planting a seed. When your body feels nourished, balanced, and safe, it can do its job so much better.

That means:
✅ Supporting gut health so you actually absorb the nutrients you’re taking in.
✅ Balancing blood sugar to keep your hormones steady (because hormones control everything when it comes to fertility).
✅ Reducing toxins that can disrupt your cycle or impact egg quality.
✅ Eating real, nutrient-dense foods that fuel both your body and your future baby.

You Deserve to Feel Good First
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a strong foundation so you can feel good in your body now—not just when you’re pregnant. When you slow down and take the time to reset, you give yourself space to build confidence and energy instead of diving into TTC stressed and depleted.

Because the truth? Pregnancy doesn’t fix exhaustion. It doesn’t magically balance your hormones or erase years of burnout. If anything, those things become louder when you’re growing a baby.

Your Timeline, Your Terms
There’s no rule that says you have to start trying right away. Giving yourself even three months of intentional support before TTC can dramatically improve your fertility and how you feel. This is your permission slip to take that time—to nourish, to reset, to breathe.

Because you don’t just deserve a positive test. You deserve to feel strong, supported, and confident on this journey from the very beginning.

You’re Not Lazy - Your Body Is Asking for Support

You’re Not Lazy - Your Body Is Asking for Support
One day, you're on top of the world—checking boxes, making meals, managing meltdowns like a pro. The next? You're staring at your to-do list like it's written in another language, wondering why you're so tired even after a full night’s sleep.

You feel bloated after meals you thought were healthy. You lose your temper over spilled goldfish. You can't remember where you put your phone... again. And the brain fog? Thick enough to swim through.

Let’s pause right here.

You’re not lazy.
You’re not broken.
You’re not doing something wrong.

Your body is just asking for support.

The truth is, we’ve been taught to push through. Hustle harder. Add more to the routine. But when your hormones, nervous system, and digestion are all shouting for help, pushing through only makes the crash hit harder.

That mid-afternoon slump that hits like a truck? It’s not just “mom life”—it could be blood sugar instability or high cortisol. The irritability that seems to pop out of nowhere? It might be low progesterone or nutrient depletion. The bloat that shows up after your salad? That could be your gut struggling with raw veggies or a sluggish digestive system.

Our bodies are constantly working to keep us balanced—but they need the right fuel to do that well.

So what can you do?

Start small.

✨ Eat balanced meals with protein, fat, and fiber to keep blood sugar stable.
✨ Drink water before reaching for that third cup of coffee.
✨ Get sunlight in the morning and take a 5-minute walk after lunch.
✨ Swap diet culture for nourishment and rhythm.

And most of all? Listen.

Your body is wiser than you think. That fatigue, that mood swing, that feeling of being off—it’s all communication. Not failure.

If you're ready to go deeper, to understand why you feel the way you do and how to support your hormones through every season, I created the Cycle Syncing Recipe Book just for you. Because healing shouldn’t be overwhelming and feeling good shouldn’t be rare.

💛 You don’t need to be “fixed.” You just need a plan that works with your body, not against it.

Why Rest Might Be the Most Productive Thing You Do This Week

Why Rest Might Be the Most Productive Thing You Do This Week
Let’s get one thing out of the way: rest is productive.

Yep, I said it. Even if the world around you is still shouting about hustle culture, “no days off,” and showing up 24/7... your body is saying something completely different, especially during the second half of your cycle.

If you’ve found yourself feeling more tired, craving cozy foods, less motivated to crush your to-do list, and longing for quiet mornings... it’s not because you’re lazy or uncommitted.

💛 It’s because your body is doing a lot behind the scenes.

The luteal and menstrual phases of your cycle are naturally slower seasons for your body. Progesterone rises and falls, inflammation can increase, and your energy dips are completely normal—not something to fight against.

For years, I pushed through. I’d ignore the signals and keep doing everything at full speed… until I hit a wall and burned out—again. But once I started learning about cycle syncing and truly listening to my body? Everything shifted.

I stopped fighting my natural rhythm and started honoring it. I gave myself more rest when I needed it, and what do you know? I felt more grounded, more steady, and even more productive during the phases when my energy naturally rose again.

Resting isn’t about giving up. It’s about giving your body what it actually needs—so it can keep showing up for you in all the right ways.

🌿 So if your body’s been asking for rest lately, give it some.
Snuggle up with a good book. Eat the warm soup. Let yourself sleep in. That’s not falling behind—it’s a beautiful, necessary part of the cycle.

Want to dive deeper into syncing your life and meals with your cycle? I’ve got a free guide to help you get started. Just click here and I’ll send it your way.

Why Your Cravings Change Throughout the Month (And What to Do About It)

Why Your Cravings Change Throughout the Month (And What to Do About It)
Ever wonder why one week you’re craving smoothies and salads... and the next you want to dive face-first into a giant bowl of mac & cheese?

Spoiler alert: It’s not a lack of willpower—it’s your hormones talking.

Your body’s needs actually change throughout your cycle.

➔ Different phases = different nutrients, cravings, and energy demands.

And when we ignore those changes, it’s like showing up to a marathon in flip-flops—you're trying, but you’re not exactly set up for success.

For years, I thought I just needed more discipline. More willpower.
But what I really needed was to start listening to my body.

During different parts of your cycle, your body asks for different things. In the follicular phase (the first half after your period), you might crave lighter, fresher foods like smoothies, berries, and crisp veggies—because your estrogen is rising and your energy is naturally higher. But as you move into the luteal phase (the week or so before your period), progesterone takes the lead. Your metabolism speeds up, your body retains more water, and you might find yourself craving warm, comforting meals like hearty stews or that irresistible mac & cheese.

✨ That’s why I created my Cycle Syncing Recipe Book—to take the guesswork out of it.

Your hormones don’t want you eating the exact same thing every day. They’re doing a delicate dance behind the scenes, and they’re asking for support—not a rigid diet plan.

And when you start feeding your body what it actually needs in each phase? Everything gets easier. Your energy stabilizes. Your mood feels lighter. Even the dreaded cramps can calm down. 💛

It’s not about perfection. It’s about partnership—working with your body instead of fighting it every month.

If you're tired of feeling like your body is betraying you... maybe it’s time to start supporting it instead.

🎯 Grab the Cycle Syncing Recipe Book and learn how simple, delicious meals can help you feel better, all month long.

4 “Healthy” Habits That Might Be Messing with Your Hormones

4 “Healthy” Habits That Might Be Messing with Your Hormones
Ever feel like you’re doing all the “right” things for your health, yet your hormones are still all over the place? Like no matter how hard you try, your body isn’t cooperating? Turns out, some so-called “healthy” habits might actually be throwing your hormones out of whack. Let’s break down a few common ones and what to do instead.

1. Over-Exercising & Undereating
We’ve been conditioned to believe that working out more and eating less is the key to results. But your hormones? They’re not on board with that plan. Over-exercising and undereating can spike cortisol (your body’s main stress hormone) and tank progesterone, which can lead to irregular cycles, fatigue, and overall hormone imbalance.

Instead of pushing your body to exhaustion, focus on strength training, rest days, and properly fueling your workouts with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs. Your hormones will thank you!

2. Running on Coffee Instead of Real Food ☕
If your morning starts with caffeine before food, you’re setting yourself up for a blood sugar rollercoaster. I get it—I used to do the same thing (throw in a sugar-free Red Bull, and I was really doing my hormones dirty). But when you rely on caffeine instead of nutrients, it spikes cortisol and messes with insulin, which can lead to energy crashes, cravings, and hormone chaos.

A simple fix? Eat a meal with protein and healthy fats before your first cup of coffee. This helps stabilize your blood sugar and keep your hormones happy.

3. Too Many “Hormone-Friendly” Seed Oils
For years, we were told that vegetable oils were the “healthy” choice, but the truth is, most processed seed oils (like canola, soybean, and sunflower oil) are highly inflammatory and can throw off estrogen balance. Chronic inflammation makes it harder for your hormones to function properly.

A better option? Stick to hormone-friendly fats like avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and grass-fed butter. They support hormone production and help reduce inflammation.

4. Ignoring Stress (Because, Mom Life)
You can eat all the right foods and work out consistently, but if stress is running the show, your hormones won’t cooperate. High cortisol (your stress hormone) steals from progesterone, which can lead to cycle issues, mood swings, and feeling constantly drained.

The fix? Find small ways to lower stress throughout your day. Deep breathing, morning sunlight, a quick walk, or even setting boundaries (yes, saying “no” counts as self-care) can make a huge difference in balancing your hormones.

The Bottom Line: More Balance, Less Burnout
Your hormones don’t need perfection—they need support. Instead of extreme diets or overloading your schedule, focus on nourishing foods, mindful movement, and stress management. Small, consistent changes will help your body find its balance again.

Because feeling good shouldn’t be a struggle—you deserve to have energy, stable moods, and a body that works with you, not against you. 💛

 
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Meet Leah Negrin

 
I am a bold, beautiful, sometimes timid, usually happy, essential oil, nutrition junkie. Although at 39 I feel as if I've had several careers over a lifetime (or at least sometimes when I look back at my resume that is what shines through). I've been a paralegal, an office manager, an administrative assistant, worked in commercial lending and have finally landed on nutrition.

My journey to nutrition started many years ago when my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease and food had to change for the family. From there, along my own health journey I’ve helped people not only figure out what to eat but how to do it so that it can work for them sustainably. For almost seven years I’ve been counseling people on their nutrition and weight loss journeys. 

Finally getting some sunshine in Southern California *Photo credit  Brittany Hassett 

I am knowledgeable about what purpose food serves your body and I focus on finding sustainable options when it comes to food; this also led to my love of essential oils. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where a registered dietitian spoke about using essential oils in her practice to help her patients. I was floored. I knew that #plantsheal but I didn't realize that others in the 'conventional' medical community thought that as well!! Learning that it was possible to incorporate these magical little bottles gave me a huge sense of hope.


Alina, myself and Caitlin (oily bffs) *Photo credit Anne Negrin

 
As I learned more about these oils I was diagnosed with increased intestinal permeability or as many of us know it, leaky gut. Leaky gut has been around for quite awhile but many of us are just learning what this is or why this is even more common these days than ever before. Many issues can be related to leaky gut including autoimmune diseases. Receiving this diagnosis just led me down a path further to learn about nutrition and how to best serve my body and take care of myself.


Enjoying a vegan ice cream cone in Budapest! *Photo credit to Michelle Owen 

Since birthing our sweet baby boy at home earlier this year I’ve been incredibly passionate about helping other women too who are pregnant and new mothers with their nutrition. Eating healthy for your pregnant body and your postpartum self is a game changer for both mother and baby.

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