In the Flo: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life

by Alisa Vitti

The bestselling author of WomanCode presents a biohacking program for women, teaching them how to use their natural 28-day cycle to guide their time, diet, fitness, work, and relationships.

Women have been conditioned to think of their bodies as burdens, especially when it comes to our periods. We suffer from cramps, PMS, bloating and mood swings, all while overlooking the extraordinary power that lies within us. We cram as much as possible into our day, striving to accomplish impossible to-do lists, and scheduling our lives based on a 24-hour time cycle, ignoring the intuitive time our bodies naturally keep: a montly cycle with four hormonal phases that offer incredible advantages.

In the FLO presents a simple but revolutionary 4-week solution to manage your energy and time according to your female biochemistry. By working with each phase, you’ll support your hormones, unlock peak creativity and productivity, and avoid burnout. You’ll know exactly when to eat certain foods, clear your social calendar, or ask for a raise—and you’ll have the tools to do so, including:

Meal plans and recipes for each phase Charts for phase-specific exercises, work tasks, and relationship activities A daily planner that helps you align with your strengths in each phase A biohacking toolkit for navigating period problems and hormonal birth control

Alisa Vitti, functional nutritionist, women’s hormone expert, and bestselling author of WomanCode, has been teaching women how to sync with their cycles for nearly twenty years and has witnessed the incredible rewards it offers, including losing stubborn weight, regaining energy, clearing endometriosis and resolving infertility issues.

By tapping into this natural power source, you’ll get more done with less effort, you’ll feel better consistently throughout the month, and you’ll enjoy the freedom that comes with living on your own time.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Womens, Feminism, Science, Audiobook

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2020

About the author

Alisa 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.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give the concept of cycle syncing 5 stars, but the execution of explaining it in this book 2 stars. I read this as a follow up to Vitti’s Woman Code, hoping that it would have more specific, practical steps about introducing foods and exercises according to each phase of the menstrual cycle. But, this book falls into the same pitfalls as Woman Code: too much of Vitti telling you that her steps will make your life perfect but not enough of her actually telling the reader how to implement her steps, a whole lot of woo-hooing over feminine energy (*rolls eyes*), and that uncomfortable feeling that most of the book is actually an advertisement for her online course and supplements.

There IS a lot of good information in here and I had a lot of “aha” moments as I read about something I had observed occurring in myself but didn’t know why—or that it was an indication of a problem, for that matter. Since reading both Vitti’s books I have been following the foods for each phase and the info about exercises for each and have seen vast improvement in the quality and stability of my moods as well as i mprovement of other physical symptoms of hormonal imbalance. But, the food and exercise info in this book are pretty much the same as in WomanCode, and I was looking for this to be giving me more specifics. I think In The Flo is good for rounding out your knowledge about hormonal imbalance, but it doesn’t deliver in terms of practicality more than Woman Code.

[Darryl Burling · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good research here and it would be incredibly helpful to many. Unfortunately this book is aimed at a popular audience which means that great content is somewhat loaded with leftist ideology which greatly detracts from and even at times contradicts the research.

[Caitlin Da Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every person that menstruates needs to read this book….wow, wow, wow! 🤯

[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tough one for me. I agree some of the ideas in this book, but just couldn't get over how it was executed. It felt like one long advertisement for her app, resources, and center, which really diminished the trust I might have placed in her information. A+ for putting it out there that the 24 hour cycle doesn't work for everyone & in general, American culture has been built around what works for men, not women. Yay for the message of listening to your body and managing your diet and exercise accordingly, but so many people don't have the freedom to shift their work as she recommends and that was not even acknowledged. Worst parts were how she treated eating disorders, her insistence on talking about "adrenal fatigue" even after admitting it's not an accepted disorder, and she completely lost me at spotting being caused by holding grief in your womb. Nah.

[Tara Chalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book after listening to the author on a podcast. She mentioned it was lengthy because of all the information. My opinion is that is was lengthy because it was full of stories of how it could change your life. I was looking for hard evidence and details on the protocol. I think it could be summed up in 6 page document. The recipes are good and there was definitely some interesting info on how women’s bodies are different, but too much fluff for me.

[Anna Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book but the whole "patriarchy" thing wasn't mine. I am not a victim and don't like to be portrayed like that.

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me lo advirtieron: las opiniones están divididas con este libro. Y es real. Tengo muchísimos sentimientos encontrados después de haber leído In the Flo (y un dolor de cabeza considerable por el esfuerzo de hacerlo rapidito y en inglés, socorro).

Vamos a ver, para empezar me flipa el tema del ciclo menstrual. Eso cualquier que me conozca un poco lo sabe. He leído muchos libros sobre este tema y claro, llega un momento en el que se hace repetitivo. Quizás si lo hubiese leído sin saber nada no me lo habría parecido. Hay que ser justos, ¿no? Igualmente, es un libro con mucha paja. Le sobran páginas y páginas de conceptos e ideas repetitivas (de ahí que se puedan leer más de trescientas páginas casi de una sentada). Y esto no tiene nada que ver con saber más o menos del tema.

¿Hay información útil e interesante? Sí, y un listado de referencias bibliográficas bastante extenso (gracias). Aunque la mayoría de los recursos son de su página web (de eso hablaremos ahora). Cualquier libro que explique cómo organizarse cuando eres una persona cíclica me parece útil. Además este habla de trabajo, relaciones, ejercicio y hasta comidas. ¡Todo está relacionado! Por todo esto se merece, al menos, las tres estrellas.

Lo peor del libro -además del relleno- es la publicidad absolutamente invasiva e innecesaria. Citar tu página web una, dos, tres veces... bueno, vale. Pero ¿varias veces en un mismo capítulo? Y con su app más de lo mismo. Entiendo que hay que ganar dinero y hacer negocio, de algo hay que vivir pero esto es intrusivo y molesto. Los recursos son: su página web (mil veces) y su bendita app. Una app que por cierto, en su día probé (y si no recuerdo mal hasta pagué) y la desinstalé porque no me convencía del todo (una pena, porque eso de conectar con la pareja molaba).

En resumen, sí pero también no. No está mal, pero no es la panacea. Un recorte en relleno, menos publicidad y ser algo más esquemático le habría venido de lujo.

P.D. No es un inglés difícil, es bastante básico.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially wanted to give this book 2 stars, but added an extra because while I don't think I'm the target audience for this book it could be helpful for some.

I listened to Alisa talking about this book on the Organic Olivia podcast and was super intrigued. I then quickly downloaded her app and it quickly became my favorite "period tracking" app yet and ordered the book.

This book was like "intro to functional medicine for Girlbosses." For women who are very career focused, love to jump on health fads, are wary of more holistic forms of medicine, but still want to live more in tune in their bodies and cycles. I truly don't mean any of that negatively! If that sounds like you then I bet you would get a lot out of this book! However, if you're already familiar with cycle seeding, lunar rhythms, TCM, etc. then you probably already know a lot of this info.

I also think this book would be great for a 15-19 audience. It talks a lot about period shame, stepping into your power as a woman and how to still crush your goals while not harming your body. It also sets the stage for a lot of foundational nutrition habits that could be really beneficial for that age group.

I was just expecting something a lot more....well, "revolutionary". Alisa made it sound on the podcast like she had stumbled upon something totally new that was going to rock the world when in reality she just compiled teachings from TCM, Ayurveda and other functional health systems and then re-branded it as her own method wrapped up in millennial pink. Her charts were helpful, but there really wasn't anything in this book that I didn't already know.

Alisa also has a tendency to pop in with assumptions and unconfirmed "success stories" as a means to assert her expertise (on areas where I don't see that she has any actual credibility) in order to keep selling her "method". For example, when talking about the diet she suggests in this book, she adds this note on eating disorders:

"Many women with anorexia, orthorexia, or binge-eating disorders have told me that cycling their foods helped them finally unhook from disordered eating. Some women develop eating disorders following puberty, which could be in response to society's overarching message that we should feel the same and act the same way every day. When menarche unlocks our cyclical nature, we feel the need to find ways to deny our biological reality, and some of us have begin controlling our food intake. Syncing your food with your cycle gives you permission to unravel the thinking that pushes you toward unhealthy eating patterns."

What?! I don't even know where to start with that insane paragraph. The generalizations are shocking. There is absolutely nothing to back this paragraph up and the entire purpose is to continue hawking her own goods. It was super insane to me that a supposed medical professional tells readers with potentially disordered eating "it's okay...don't seek help from an actual medical professional just let go of the menarche...."

Soooo yeah.

NOT TO MENTION: That the entire book is a sales pitch for her online Cycle Syncing Membership program priced at $28/month. All throughout the book she makes a short statement and then tells you to "find more info at CycleSyncingMembership.com". I assumed it was a page with bonuses and free downloads with the purchase of the book....nope. It's a completely separate membership. Why the hell did I buy the book if all the actual info is behind an online paywall?

I just talked mega smack on this book because it clearly wasn't written for me. But that being said, if you're brand new to tracking your cycle, are in late high school/early college, or are wary of functional medicine and want something more neatly tied up in a Boss Babe bow then this book would probably have some good gems for you.

If you're looking for something less sales-pitchy that has less ulterior motives for the author's personal financial gain than this book I would recommend: Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read WomanCode first — and am a big fan — so that may have colored my experience with In The FLO but it felt like a poorly organized regurgitation of WomanCode with strong addition of advertisement for her program and app.

It felt like the book spent a lot of time telling you what it was going to tell you and little time actually going into the method.

[Mindy Nguyen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author makes many claims that are not backed by modern research. She often references journal articles published in the 1980s to support her method. The book is filled with SO MUCH FLUFF before even getting to any useful information, and even at that her sources are so dated. The graphs and tables she provides are good tools, but the rest of the book is incredibly wordy and focuses very heavily on herself. She Repeatedly says “you’re going to what learn how to —-“ and then uses up 100 pages before actually telling you anything useful. This book could have been a pamphlet. Two stars because I like the info she is trying to put out there, but there are many pieces that are not consistent with 2021 research. She claims that the follicular phase causes slower metabolism because of higher estrogen levels, when in fact estrogen actually increases metabolic rate (this is one reason why menopausal women gain weight). She is correct about metabolism being slower in the follicular phase, but her lack of precision with her rationale was irritating. The author is not a medical professional and is a “licensed nutritionist” through an a UNACCREDITED nutrition program. Interesting read, but take what she says with a grain of salt.

[abigailscupoftea · Rating 4 out of 5]

the female body is so incredible! 🤍 this was such an empowering read and i loved learning about the different foods and workouts to support each phase in the menstrual cycle. the cycle syncing method is about leaning into your body’s monthly cyclical nature instead of the 24 hour male cycle. i really enjoyed studying the different strengths of each phase, and i now feel better equipped to heal my hormones and overall health.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is so hard to rate.
i chose neutrality...

PROS:
1- the book has important information, that have never been addressed before, not in this manner, and not in this way
2- talks about the woman's monthly cycle, and how it effects everything that we are, and everything that we do.
for ex: understanding your cycle and going in sync with it, would help reduce PMS symptoms, help with your diet, help with your tasks, and with your routines (which apparently should not be teh same everyday of teh month for us women)
it would also increase focus, and better our health and immune system. which i see why,
3- have great sections, most of it is summarized
4- have good tables, and lists, and different ways to learn and understand, and hopefully track ( easy), also has diet ideas, and recipes
5- can be easily understood and memorized and have good tables and lists to be referenced.

CONS:
1- OH MY GOD< very very very repetitive. the amount of useless (to me) anecdotes, a nd stories, and ides that are repeated over an dover an dover again, got on my nerves!!
2- it is the written version of those ads that are 30 minutes long, you cannot skip, and claim to have the one great idea... if yo know what i am referring to.
3- could have been waaay better if it was shorter and straight to teh point, maybe a section for anecdotes for those who like them, but teh way it was executed, was just useless and negatively affecting the content of teh book!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great concept, a disappointing book.

Vitti calls for women to embrace their menstrual cycles to optimize their health and happiness, because everything we think we know about nutrition/fitness/health is based on research that largely excludes fertile women (because we are considered too hormonally complicated and fertility too precious - fuck off patriarchy).

This book makes a great case for *why* it is important, but the *how* is disappointing. It is one long advertisement: the author desperately wants you to buy her resources for the Cycle Syncing Method (TM!!!!). But the evidence it is based on is outdated, pseudoscientific or anecdotal. (depending on your personal hormonal imbalances, much of the advice is to avoid: gluten, alcohol, sugar, sweeteners, caffeine, dairy, avoiding dairy, red meat, soy products, peanuts, white starchy foods, farmed fish, cooking oils, margarine, inorganic foods, strict veganism, overexercising, underexercising, lack of sleep, lack of sunshine, stress, drinking from plastic bottles, unnatural hair and beauty products, unprocessed grief and repressed emotions...)

I'm really excited at the prospect of proper research into these things, but it's not here yet. Until then I will just practice listening to my body.

[Isha Chhaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is really repetitive, the tables are the most useful parts. I enjoyed learning more about each phase of my period, however, I feel that she is lacking the background to scientifically dig into each of her claims. Most of the book is based on anecdotal evidence.

[Kristin C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author destroys her credibility with tired, overdone feminist tropes and acknowledging men who think they can be women for syncing menstrual cycles. We’re talking straight female biology here, men cannot participate because men do not have a menstrual cycle.

That said, I have heard of cycle syncing and similar advice from more credible doctors and nutritionists with a tighter grasp on reality than this book has overall. So I think the few pages of actual advice in this book are useful so I gave it two stars.

[Vishakha Motwani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the information provided but too much repetition so I skipped to the important stuff! Took notes about food and workouts but honestly if you have the app that has same information too. Book has a bit more direction but to get a head start just purchase the app.

[Libby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find the idea of exercising in different ways at different parts of your cycle or similarly scheduling activities according to the same very useful, as well as the advice about diet changes you can make (which I was already following before reading this book) that may help the symptoms of some conditions. But to say that menstrual conditions are caused by emotions and they will go away if you address those emotions? That’s just irresponsible. Endometriosis will, in most cases, not resolve unless you have surgery. Yes it’s important to pay attention to your emotions and practice self care, but your endometriosis will not disappear if you start paying more attention to your emotions, just like cancer doesn’t disappear if you do the same. I hate this victim blaming narrative and that genuinely useful advice about doing different exercise according to your cycle and dietary changes you can make that may help reduce your symptoms is coupled with this guff. Enough with the victim blaming.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not science-based, just the author's experience. She lost me when she said soy was bad for you - this is a long debunked myth. Not filled with any really helpful info, unfortunately.

[Haley Baumeister · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the parts related to the biology behind women's cycles, and the ways she wove in research on how hormonal contraceptives (The Pill) wreak havoc on women's physical, hormonal, and mental health, among other things.

But I think it was a little odd she sidestepped describing what charting & identifying the 4 phases of your cycle would actually entail. I think there was a couple sentences(?!) on the different methods. There are other books & resources that go deeper into that, obviously. I just know if this was the first book a person picked up not knowing about fertility awareness at all it would be... a lot.... to practically implement her tips.

I could have done without the woo-woo *feminine goddess* lingo, the social commentary that obviously biases certain life choices (sex is purely for you! those poor homemakers!), dragging the lunar cycle into women's cycles (they are totally different and unrelated!), and trying to include transgender people in this particular book's advice. And the whole thing felt like an ad for her company and app.

If you can pick out the meat & spit out the bones of some truly weird and obnoxious advice/tangents.... there are some good tips. There ARE other women out there doing work related to "cycle syncing" (living in ways that support the phases of your menstrual cycle when it comes to nutrition, workouts, social life, work, etc...) that have more straight to the point information. And a plethora of others in the fertility awareness sphere. This author may be well-known but is certainly not the only resource out there! Other reviewers mentioned her previous book, WomenCode, has more or less the same info in a more coherent & worthwhile book.

[Amy Solner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book for the information not her thoughts on how men suck. A lot of feminist bullshit woven into concepts. I’m not a victim for being a women and that’s how I feel she portrayed the whole book. 0/10.

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover how women/ people who menstruate can improve their lives by leveraging their hormonal advantage and rethinking their approach to well-being. You’ll learn why an AFAB body differs from the male one, and how hormones affect your diet, exercise, and sex. We can biohack our bodies depending on what stage of our monthly cycle we are at. I struggle because I suffer with the chronic illnesses adenomyosis and endometriosis. It is more than likely that I am going to need a hysterectomy. But there is useful diet and exercise information that could help me contained here, I highlighted a lot of notes!

Read on the Headway app, which condenses non-fiction books by their key-points to maximise quicker and more helpful learning. ✨🧠🖤

4 Stars

[Pegah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

This book is a comprehensive guide to understanding and optimizing women's health through the lens of hormonal balance. Vitti dives deep into the intricate workings of the female body's menstrual cycle, offering invaluable insights into how hormonal fluctuations affect various aspects of life.
Her approach is empowering, encouraging readers to embrace their natural rhythms rather than fight against them.

However, one significant downside is the excessive promotion of the author's app and website throughout the text. While these resources may be helpful, their frequent mention can feel intrusive and distracting, detracting from the otherwise insightful content.

Another point of critique is the initial chapters' focus on societal issues in a male-dominated world. While these discussions are relevant to understanding the broader context of women's health challenges, they may seem redundant for readers who are already well-versed in such issues. A more concise introduction could have sufficed, allowing more space for practical guidelines and actionable advice.

Overall, "In the Flo" is a commendable book with a wealth of knowledge on women's health and hormonal balance. It would be immensely beneficial if integrated into educational curricula, especially for young girls, to foster a better understanding of their bodies early on.

[Amethyst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to women's health awareness and presents a lifestyle designing method that is based on the predictability of female hormonal patterns. While there is a certain amount of practical advice inside, it is largely similar to the information in the author's other book, WomanCode, and I believe it is not the main takeaway from this one. Rather, the underlined framework's strong points are in it being intuitive, flexible and gradual.

To me, this book was eye-opening for personal reasons. Having grown up only around male siblings, and having had few female friends throughout my life, I only knew the precious little that was taught in biology class and was never really exposed to such an open talk about female biology, which left me mostly clueless as to whether my symptoms were normal or not. To me, this book acted as long overdue Talk and more. It changed my dismissal of hormonal health and made me aware of what an intuitive, optimal and natural way of living as a woman could be, and why it was not a necessarily good idea to mimic the daily patterns of a man as I was always trying to do, or to suppress the natural cycling of hormones to hide symptoms as mainstream healthcare commonly suggests.
In other words, this book would be prime beginner material, especially for women struggling with social norms of female biology, productivity, and every aspect of our lives that involve discomfort being considered normal and even essential to fit in as a female but not as a male. For people who already have a good understanding of female hormones and natural rhythms, I believe there might still be a lot to take from this book, even though it would not read as the epiphany I've waited for my whole life as it did for me.

[Olivia Alcock Gardiner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this because as a young woman, I wanted to make sure I was helping my reproductive system rather than hindering it. After hearing the author on a podcast, I was intrigued to learn that traditional "biohacking" such as keto, intermittent, and extended fasting (all of which I've dabbled in) may be working against my physiology. I was eager to dive deeper into the new world of female biohacking, and couldn't wait to read the book.

I got about half way through before I gave up. The two stars are because there is genuinely interesting and well researched information in this book if you have the patience to dig for it. The rest of the time, the book is mostly split between extolling the virtues of "Flo" theory (more so than actually explaining the practical applications of said theory), and exhorting its readers to dismantle the patriarchy. The actually useful information could have been distilled into around 20 pages.

If you want to learn about your body whilst simultaneously getting to feel empowered and self-righteously indignant about how oppressed you are as a female, this book is for you.

However, if, like myself you'd like to learn about your body without a side of politics, there are better options out there. I'm currently using an app called Wild AI to learn how to eat and workout at different times in the month, and pretty much anything else you want to know can be found on Google.

[Asparagoose · Rating 1 out of 5]

This whole book is just an ad for her monthly program and app she wants you to buy.

[maya venice · Rating 4 out of 5]

a must read for everyone, girls AND boys

*i read chapters of this throughout 2023, and not all at once (that's how i personally read nonfiction/helpful books)*

[Jordyn Langhans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. If you’re a woman you NEED to read this book. Like no excuses go read it now!! Normally I don’t read non fiction but this book had me hooked from the start. Will be re-reading!

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was strange that Alisa Vitti would pause, at several points, of In The Flow, to pacify the reader that following our menstrual cycle doesn't mean we are un-feminist or too feminist. After skimming some GoodReads reviews, I guess I see the reason why Vitti has to do some reaching across the aisle to those readers who don't care about "leftist" ideology (?!) and "feminine" power.

This is hilarious that some reviewers treat any talk about energy as woo-woo or feminism as anarchy. These ideas are radical but they are not impossible. It's such an indictment of our patriarchal society that values masculine energy over feminine energy. Not to mention that Vitti tries so hard to make this about science. Vitti is not even a radical teacher in the sense that she is still using the language of self help and dieting ("it's NOT a diet but a lifestyle", "I've did research into TCM!", "biohack your system to be more productive!") to sell her app and program, as other reviewers rightfully noted. Like, she *really* dropped in her app every other sentence.

All this to say that I found In The Flow a refreshing, enlightening, and empowering read.

I feel much more connected to my menstrual cycle because Vitti is completely right in that we don't learn about the wonders of our menstrual cycle, and are living out of sync with it, which is what causes us so many hormonal imbalances in our life. Vitti argues poignantly for educating young girls about their menses and for scientific tests to include women of menstruating age because of the harm that has been caused when women live and judge their worth based on the circadian rhythm instead of syncing up to our infradian rhythm. A lot of scientific studies do not include menstruating women after a woman had birth defects after being part of an experiment, although this is changing. Acknowledging our differences is what makes us stronger, and that means living cyclically, in tune with our menstrual cycle - not the biological clock that works for men.

I found myself saddened to be reminded of the fact that women have been told to suffer through their PMS, that women have been taking the pill - which is honestly so fucked up, especially when you remember that there is the technology for men to take an oral contraceptive but researchers decided not to due to the side effects, even though they are similar to women. It's made me determined to take care of and honour my life-affirming body.

I'm probably not going to use Vitti's recommended recipes but I will be tracking my menstrual cycle for my energy + productivity, and I think it'll be an interesting experiment.

[Caroline Mead · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone brand new to cycle syncing I felt like this book was super informative ! It opened my eyes to how women should be taught earlier on that we don’t have to fight with our bodies every month, and that by deepening our knowledge of our cycle we can optimize them.

However, it was a little extreme at times (ex. recommended no caffeine), and took a strong stance against hormonal birth control, when I know for many women that has also been life-changing, like she describes this way of living to be.

[kim thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I like:

being aware of my cycle phases and understanding how different hormones affect my body.

the idea of cycles in life that go beyond the 24 hour day

listening to my body, respecting the need to rest and not have to do everything all the time

i downloaded the app and I’m now tracking/journaling which has been helpful for my mental health

What I didn’t like:

the repetitive sales-pitchy promises to revolutionize my life

the words “bio hack” and “detox”

How “the cycle syncing method” had a trademark symbol every time it was mentioned

when she suggested using nail polish and non-organic food was “stacking the deck against my hormones”

when you have bad period cramps, instead of ibuprofen, she suggests eating a few almonds. I haven’t tried it but I assume it’ll have the same effect. 😳

how googling the author brings me to a page full of “nutraceutical supplements” to buy

when she describes her struggle with hormones (before she was cured by cycle syncing) and how she was “tipping the scales at 205 pounds”.

how she seems to have a feminist agenda, challenging the patriarchy and all the myths about the female body but keeps mentioning weight loss and calories and BMI and being fit.

At one point she recommends trying different fad diets during the phases of your cycle. So like doing calorie restriction in the follicle phase and keto during the menstrual phase. What? That sounds insane.

Oh, and then she appears to claim that cycling can cure eating disorders (with zero supporting evidence other than “many women she knows”)


Anyway, I think the IDEA of cycle tracking is worth two stars and everyone should learn a bit more about the different phases - everything else was trash.