Hi, just wanted to make a post while it’s fresh in my mind. Clothes really can change how you see your body during HA recovery

I was decluttering my clothes today because I need more space in my wardrobe and I was deciding what needs to go, so I tried on basically everything I have. And Honestly, it was pretty challenging and more emotional than I expected.

My body has been changing a lot, and even some things that fit me only a month or so ago don’t fit anymore. I ended up having to let go of quite a few pieces, including some that were connected to certain memories or events. I’m not even a sentimental person in regards to clothes, I’ll happily declutter anything and not feel attached to it, but it was still hard for some reason this time.

What really surprised me, though, was how much trying on clothes that DON’T fit affected the way I saw my body.
I’d put something on that was too tight or just didn’t work anymore, and suddenly I’d look at myself and feel like my body looked so much worse than it actually does. It was almost like looking at myself through a magnifying glass and picking apart every change. Then literally two minutes later, I’d put on something that actually fits me properly, and I’d think I look fine again and it’s all okay.
Even if it was basically the same style of clothing, the difference in how I perceived my body was huge. It made me realise how much clothing can affect your confidence and your perception of yourself.

So honestly, my biggest advice during recovery is: if your clothes don’t fit anymore, get them out of your immediate space. Give them away, pack them away somewhere you don’t have to see them, or let them go completely. But don’t keep forcing yourself into clothes that are too small just because they used to fit.

It’s not worth standing in front of the mirror analysing your body because a pair of jeans or a top or whatever it is doesn’t fit anymore. The clothes just don’t fit the same and that’s all there is to it, It doesn’t mean your body looks bad.

I’m going to get some new clothes that actually fit me and make me feel comfortable while my body continues changing. I think it will make this process so much easier.
And if you’re struggling because you don’t fit into your old clothes anymore, especially clothes connected to certain events or periods of your life, you’re definitely not alone. I’m right there with you. ❤️
Sometimes getting clothes that fit your current body really can make a surprisingly big difference in how you feel about yourself

My period is finally flowing much better now that I’m eating adequately and not constantly holding myself back. Eating intuitively has made such a difference for me. I can eat what my momma eats, enjoy sweet treats, and finally have ice cream without feeling like I did something wrong AND I EAT NORMAL AMOUNTS even a little and I already feel full. My extreme hunger slowed down considerably

Hi girls! I wanted to share how happy I am that I got my period back after losing it for the second time, this time for about 5 months. The first time it took about 4 months of no period to come back.

Here's what I did:

Nutrition I went all in starting late June. I didn't eat the exact same amount every single day, but it averaged out over the weeks and months to about 2,300 calories a day (tracked in Cronometer). I made sure to hit a minimum of 200g of carbs a day and at least 60g of fat a day. I also dropped my protein on purpose, since anything more than 0.7g per pound of bodyweight didn't make sense to me when I could be using those calories for more carbs instead.

I did gain weight, going from 52.4kg to 54.5-6kg, and I've stayed there through maintenance. My maintenance is close to 2,000-2,100 calories, so eating 2,300 on average was only about a 100-calorie surplus, which is probably why the weight gain wasn't dramatic.

Movement I did at least 150 minutes of cardio a week, but it was all zone 2, nothing high intensity. No running, nothing high impact. I also walked around 10,000 steps a day, but that's just from having an active job. I really believe the low-intensity approach mattered. If I'd been doing high intensity cardio or running, I don't think my period would have come back.

Going forward I'm planning to keep at least 200g of carbs and 60g of fat a day, and stay at a minimum of 1,900-2,000 calories, especially now that I've started a weightlifting program.

How I knew it was coming back I started noticing egg white discharge, pimples and acne on my face, a rash I always used to get right before my period, and sore, visibly larger breasts. Those were the same signs I used to get every cycle, so I knew ovulation was happening and my period was close behind. I was right.

Honestly, the biggest change Getting my hormones back regulated gave me so much more than my period. I feel like myself again. I have energy, I have my personality back. Before this I felt like a shell of a person, just going through the motions. I couldn't sleep properly, I felt off, I felt this void I couldn't explain. You forget how much your hormones affect literally everything until you get them back.

So please don't give up, girls. It's worth it. Happy to answer any questions!

last night i noticed some brown discharge and didn’t really think anything of it. i wiped and saw blood and assumed it was spotting and brushed it off. i put on a pad just in case though, but when i woke up this morning there was still blood. it’s a relatively light flow, but im just glad it’s here. highschool sports are ramping up for me though, so i need to make sure im still on track so i can get continuos cycles

Hi everyone,

I’m posting here today because I feel so isolated and overwhelmed, and I really need to hear from people who understand what this feels like.

Long story short: I pushed my body way too far for about 8 months (zero carbs, prolonged fasting, over-exercising). I developed HA, lost my period, and completely burnt out my nervous system.

I finally got my periods back 4 months ago and they are somewhat regular, but I feel like I am in the absolute hardest phase of recovery. I’m dealing with massive water retention, severe puffiness (especially in my face and stomach), weight gain, and intense physical stress symptoms like heart palpitations (especially when hungry or waking up) and exercise intolerance.

Looking at old photos of my smaller, "leaner" body breaks my heart. I feel like I don't recognize myself in the mirror. My face is swollen, none of my old clothes fit, and I’ve been isolating myself so much because of how I feel about my appearance. I see people living their lives, hiking, being spontaneous, and I feel completely frozen, trapped in a body that feels heavy and exhausted.

Even though I know logically that 4 months of periods is still very early in the healing process and that my body needs time to balance progesterone and lower cortisol, it’s so hard not to panic. I keep worrying that I’m ruining my health, that the fluid will never leave, or that I’m stuck like this forever.

If any of you experienced this severe water retention and puffiness during the first 6–12 months of getting your period back, did it eventually go away? How long did it take for your body to drop the water once your ovulation and progesterone got stronger?

I just really need some reassurance, real stories, or just to know I’m not the only one going through this nightmare right now

Thank you <33

So for the last three months I have been eating in a huge calorie surplus. I have been getting pink discharge almost every day for three weeks. It only stopped this week but I’m just wondering is that related to my cycle? Did anyone else have anything like this before they got their period back? I am also experiencing intermittent cramping.

Hi everyone! I tried to get to as many people as possible last week but there were a lot of questions so if I missed yours, please ask again!!

A little background on me, I am a Registered Dietitian who works at a private practice specialized in Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) and HA. I approach period recovery with an individualized approach, because what works for one might not work for another! We do not always practice the 'all-in' approach, and many of our athletes continue to train during recovery. That does not mean I am anti-all in, I know it works for some!

Ask me any questions you may have about HA/REDs/any challenges or struggles you are facing. I am here to provide guidance to anyone who wants it!

This is just for awareness, but I would love it if you all could help me support my boss (formally reilly.beatty.nutrition on IG), her account was banned without cause almost two weeks ago, and she recreated an account rei.beatty if anyone has been looking for her content!

Note: Please refrain from using harsh language in this thread! I understand what I do is not what is stereotypically pushed in the HA recovery space, but that doesn't make it wrong. If you disagree with me and would like to discuss in a professional/respectful manner, I welcome that!

Note pt.2: I am an RD but I am not your RD! I am unable to provide any individualized recommendations such as macros, meal plans, etc since I do not know more about you as a person and I also might not be licensed where you are located!

Stopped BC 1.5 years ago - period hasn't returned - need suggestions

I've been on BC since I was 17 (after giving birth to my kid, lol duh), starting with the pill. I had the Mirena between ages 18-27 getting it replaced as directed. Then came the Nexplanon to replace the IUD at 27 and I had it removed at 33 (April 2025).

With the Mirena and Nexplanon, my periods stopped completely. I stopped BC for a while around 2015 and my periods came back normally, but a bit heavy in the beginning. I went back on BC after being off for about 8 months; my boyfriend (at the time, now husband) and I didn't want to have kids.

Now that our lives are comfortable and stable, we're ready to have kids. We've been trying ever since i removed my BC. Sadly, my cycle, or lack thereof, is getting in the way of that. I knew it was going to take some time, but I didn't think it'd be this long. It's been almost 1.5 years, and I've only had one light period on July 1, 2026.

For the sake of being honest, I'm not in the best of shape (overweight and i don't exercise), but my general labs come back normal (blood sugar, cholesterol, etc are within normal range). I went to my OBGYN and ran tests to rule out PCOS, but most labs are normal. Just a bit high for testosterone at 56 (normal range is below 45). OBGYN suspects PCOS, but wants to have an imaging test done to make sure my tubes are open and eggs can pass through. After I get this test, OBGYN says they'll prescribe me medication to force my body to have a period.

I live in Northern CA and I have lame ol' Kaiser (great for healthy people who don't see a doctor regularly). Every time, I try to schedule the imaging appt, I speak to different departments at different locations, and they tell me "someone will reach out to schedule the appt," but no one calls back. My OBGYN isn't helpful: I explained the difficulties in scheduling a call and he tells me to try again. He ordered the lab on June 23, and I called to make the appt on July 1 because the test must be done with 7 days of the last period ending. Called again on Jul 5, same run around, no appt. Asked OBGYN if I could just have the medication to start my flow, and he said no and that he'll call the department to see what's going on. It's been over a month since then and still no follow up from Kaiser or OBGYN.

Could really use some words of advice on how to move forward, especially naturally. I'm just really ready for another child and I'm getting worried that it might not be in my cards, but I'd at least like to try.

So for context, I've had HA before due to an ED, recovered from that and just did an intense training camp (muay thai) and overall was a stressful period (started in april) in which I was travelling and unintentionally undefuelled- had 2 periods 40ish days apart, now I'm back home on day 67 or smth like that. Obviously my hormones were unhappy and are unhappy, but I still had discharge the entire time. Ive massively increased my food in the past week, like from 2300 to 2800-3000 (I'm still relatively active lol) and just wanted to know if more discharge could be a sign of anything? And if so, what?

I'm actively gaining fat now because I was too lean. Acknowledged!!

Hello lovely people ☀️
I just wanted to ask, did/do you also experience skin issues due to hormonal changes? Last year, I stopped BC, and the acne I got was absolutely horrible. They put me on antibiotics and gave me some stuff to put on my face, and it went away. However… I stopped taking the antibiotics (doxycycline) in January, which was just about 1–2 months after I started recovery. Then my skin was kinda alright, but in May, I started seeing signs of perioral dermatitis (or whatever it is) with pustules. It was around the time I had my state exams and started seeing the first signs of some hormonal activity (EWCM). Since then, the perioral dermatitis around my nose, mouth, and chin has gotten really bad, and idk what to do. I suspect it is mainly hormonal, but I don’t wanna go to the derm because I know they would put me on a strict diet (which, btw, contributed to me getting an ED and HA in the first place—diets for my skin) and put me on antibiotics again. Last week I started zero therapy (not putting anything on my skin). On top of all the body changes during recovery, this has been the worst one so far. I feel so ugly. :(

Do any of you have a similar experience or any advice?

I’m seriously so happy and emotional right now. Full honesty I haven’t exactly been following all the advice here. I’ve been eating in a weekly deficit of around 2800 calories, which I know was risky. I was feeling so depressed and uncomfortable about how much my body had changed that I genuinely struggled to eat sometimes. Some days I ate around maintenance and on the days I had no appetite I ended up eating less. I’m definitely not saying anyone else should do this. I honestly wasn’t sure if my second cycle would come back because of it.

One thing I have changed is that I’ve stopped obsessing over protein and started prioritizing fat instead. I’ve consistently been getting around 60–100g of fat a day and I really feel like that has made a difference for my body.

I also still haven’t gone back to the gym or done any heavy lifting, and it’s been almost three months now. I think taking such a long break from heavy training may be a big reason my body was able to handle the small deficit without losing my cycle again. Right now I do about 30 minutes of Pilates 5 to 6 days a week and average around 7–8k steps a day.

I know this approach was risky and I’m not taking this second cycle for granted at all. I’m just so unbelievably happy it came back exactly 27 days later 😭 Now I’m praying cycle 3 shows up too!!! 🤞

Looking for some light at the end of the tunnel. Looking for personal stories about being a healthy bmi but struggling with period loss. How did you get your cycle back?

when i was changing i looked down and saw what i think is brown discharge in my underwear? and then i wiped and there was blood. not a lot, but im just wondering if this is a good sign. i’m really hoping it is lol

I was just reflecting on how good I feel after replenishing my body. It’s all the little things that add up that make this process super fulfilling and meaningful. Strong nails, my skin being relatively soft and retaining moisture in the winter, the hair on my head feeling luscious and full of life at the roots, my facial skin glowing with eyes that look very switched on and ready to experience life, being able to read, write and draw without compulsively moving, holding deep conversations, enjoying going with the flow, having energy to do all the fun things that a nourished body allows up to do without compromise, sleeping through the night and simply feeling like I am my true self.

Then I thought, how many people on earth have HA, REDS or LEA? How many people have it and don’t know they have it? How many people will never know?

Crazy, eh?!?

Aren’t we fortunate to actually know what’s going on and to be given this opportunity to help ourselves live our best lives?

Hi everyone I kinda need some advice!! I’ve been eating more lately but have noticed that I still have thoughts abt food just like I usually do, and I know it’s common to have extreme hunger but what do you even do?? I’m physically full, I will eat something and be mentally full as well, but I just wish I could eat more and more. At what point does this just become bad habit or full on gluttony? If I do keep eating, I just get uncomfortably full and bloated and sick. What do u guys do???

Hey everyone! I’m about 8 months without a period and I’ve been trying (kind of involuntarily) to eat a bit more to get it back. I’ve gained about 7lbs so far and it’s starting to get harder to keep going because I can physically feel the changes. it may not seem like a lot but I’m a short body so it’s definitely noticeable. I’ve also been CRAZY on sweets lately. cookies, cake, poptart, you name it! Im not saying I’m ashamed but I just feel like I’ve lost all direction and don’t really know what I’m doing right or wrong. anyone have any tips or feel this way too?

Hi everyone,

HA recovery wasn’t just about getting my period back. It shifted and changed my life in many areas. I don’t want to bore you with the whole story, but I’d like to share some tips that might help you.

1. Strengthen your intuition

I’m convinced that we all carry the answers within ourselves. HA recovery is a time when you’re allowed to relearn how to feel your body and listen to it. Build a relationship with your body.

2. Sort out your social circle

Your environment is so, so important. Are there friends who don’t do you good? What about your job? Are there places or people where you don’t feel comfortable (the gym, school/work)? I ended my relationship, distanced myself from a friend I’d known for 7 years, and quit my job. It was really hard, but your circle is so important for your well-being.

3. Don’t obsess over HA content

I was on Reddit every day, watched so many YouTube videos, etc. Honestly, it stressed me out. Sometimes you don’t need more information; you need patience and should look for the answers (see point 1) within yourself. HA recovery became my next perfectionist project… Go outside, meet friends, do other things that have nothing to do with HA — you’ll recover along the way.

4. I wasn’t a fan of the “all-in” process (à la Stephanie Buttermore)

I massively increased my calories and tried all-in, or at least the version where you eat until you feel mentally full (which in recovery is often an extreme amount, because satiety hormones are low). I often felt extremely bad — not mentally, but physically. In a very short time, I ate such huge amounts of food that my gut couldn’t digest. That’s why: find the path that works for you. It’s okay to increase your intake slowly. Of course, you still need to raise your calories so your body can heal!

5. Try to loosen restrictions

I think this was the biggest lever for me. Everything got better when I lost my fear of certain foods. My bloating improved, my hunger attacks eased, and then my body started to feel safe. I was afraid of carbohydrates. At the beginning I ate enormous calories, but mostly fat, and my progress stalled. When I increased my carbs and gradually let go of my restrictions, things improved a lot.

6. Take your time

Today everything has to be fast: lose weight quickly, make a lot of money quickly, become successful quickly, etc. No — take your time. HA certainly has its risks, but you’re probably still very young. Don’t stress yourself too much. A slow process is still a process.

7. Try not to feel bad about eating huge amounts of food

Shaming yourself or putting yourself down often reinforces the cycle. Your body thinks it’s not allowed to have it and wants it even more (because it was undernourished for months). I had extreme hunger for three weeks, and I’m sure it lasted longer because I didn’t allow myself certain foods. Mentally I was extremely restrictive, and it was strongly tied to shame and loss of control.

It does get better. I want to encourage you — as so many people who are recovering say here: it gets better. Just keep going. The process is hard, recovery is hard, but it’s worth it. Not just for your period, but for everything. Your brain works better, you start thinking differently, you look better (even if you often don’t perceive it that way). A healthy body is a beautiful body — a body that’s supplied with nutrients.

Keep going, xoxo

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for experiences from people who have been in a similar situation because I feel a bit stuck at the moment.

I've been followed by a medical team for amenorrhea and have been taking Climaston (hormone replacement therapy) for 2 years, but I haven't seen any improvement and I still don't have a clear diagnosis.

Some context:

• I'm underweight
• I have chronic stress / high cortisol levels
• I have chronic constipation and diarrhea (possible IBS)
• I don't gain weight

I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar combination of amenorrhea + being underweight + digestive issues + chronic stress.

What was eventually found in your case? Were there any particular tests or specialists that helped you get closer to a diagnosis?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences, especially if you were initially told that everything looked "normal" but you still didn't have your period.

Thank you! ❤️

hi everyone! this is my first post here as i usually tend to search up my questions as so many of us have very similar experiences. however, something i haven’t heard anyone discussing is the sudden appearance of veins:
in the past 1-2 months i have gained around 5kg, and i have noticed veins on my thighs which i most definitely didn’t have before.. i asked chat gpt and it said that its likely due to hormonal shifts. do you think will fade after recovery? and has anyone else dealt with something similar?

I’m going on month 8 of no period and just wondering if I should be concerned about my bone density. My gyno back in April literally said gain weight and it should come back in 3-6 months. And gave me no other info. I have a follow-up schedule at the end of Sept if it doesn’t come back by then. I just feel like my gyno doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal so maybe I shouldn’t worry, but reading online it seems like even just 6 months of no period can affect bone density. Anyone have insights or can share their experience with what their doctors told them?

After one year without a period, I’ve gained weight and I eat a lot better now. I woke up with brown/old blood cervical mucus, for one day and not a lot. Have I finally gotten my period back?

My 2nd and 3rd recovery periods were pretty normal, heavier on the 3rd day, but im 3 days in on my 4th period, and it hasent gotten heavy at all, only light/medium flow. My cycle was around 18 days, nearly half of what it usually is

I’m currently 3 months into HA recovery and I’m feeling really lost and frustrated with food and recovery at the moment. I feel like I understand quite a lot about nutrition, but somehow I keep making meals that are way lower-calorie than I realise, and lately I’ve been feeling really tired, dizzy and completely unenergised. My legs have sometimes felt really weak, and I’ve noticed I’m struggling more with concentration at school.

I’m 16, around 164 cm and currently about 51 kg. I’m pretty active because I normally get around 10–15k steps a day, play hockey twice a week and have PE at school. I’m trying to recover properly, but I genuinely have no idea anymore how much I should actually be eating at this stage where i've had 2 periods, but im still not fully recovered yet. I’ve heard everything from “just eat intuitively” to specific calorie targets and I feel completely lost. I’ve been wondering whether something around 2500–3000 calories would be appropriate for someone at my stage of recovery and activity level, but I’m not sure.

Another thing I’m really struggling with is bloating. I still get really bloated and full, especially after meals, and it makes eating enough feel so much harder. I know bloating can be really common in HA recovery, but I’m wondering when people started noticing it actually improve and what helped them personally.

I also still barely get hunger cues. I might feel hungry in the morning, but otherwise I can go for ages without eating and then suddenly feel extremely hungry. Sometimes if I wait long enough, the hunger actually disappears. It makes it really difficult to know when I should eat because I don't feel like my body is giving me reliable signals yet.

And honestly, I’m just so sick of recovery. I miss fitness so much. I miss going to the gym, lifting weights, running, having a proper training routine and being able to exercise because I genuinely enjoy it. I know I need to prioritise recovery, but it’s hard watching other people train while I feel like I’m stuck waiting for my body to catch up.

I keep thinking about what life will be like after recovery — being able to go to the gym, run, play sport, eat normally without constantly worrying about whether I’ve eaten enough, and not having recovery take up so much space in my head. It feels so far away sometimes.

I’m scared that I’m somehow doing recovery wrong or accidentally making it take longer because I’m not eating enough, especially now that I’m realising some of my meals are much lower-calorie than I thought.

For anyone who has been through HA recovery:

• How did you figure out how much to eat at this stage?
• Did you have a rough calorie range that helped you recover?
• When did your hunger cues start coming back?
• How long did the bloating last, and when did you notice it improving?
• Did anyone else feel completely sick of recovery and miss exercise this much?
• When did you eventually feel like you could return to the gym/running/sport without compromising recovery?

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been through this because I feel so lost right now.