Make Your Menstrual Cycle Work for You
Get the exact strategy I implemented to have a pain free period and feel empowered about your period
The first time I experienced a pain-free period, I cried…
Hi there, I’m Brenna!
After years of experiencing debilitating pain on my period it was such a relief to know that it was possible to experience true healing. I used to be at war with my period. But finally, I decided to uncover the root cause because hating being a woman every month, just wasn’t working for me anymore.
Were you ever told that being miserable during your period was normal? Or taught to feel shame towards your period?
It’s time we rewrote the narrative. PMS is common, not normal
I want to help you get to the root cause and heal. To be able to embrace something so integral in women’s lives and to discover the beautiful transformation our body goes through each and every month.
I remember in high school having to call my mom to come pick me up. I would be in so much pain, almost to the point where I would throw up. The solution? I was put on the birth control pill at 18 and sent on my way with very little information.
And for a time, it was great. My “periods” were easy breezy and I could skip them altogether if I wanted to. What I didn’t realize was, the pill was a bandaid, instead of a resolution. Fast forward, 5-ish years and I switched brands of birth control because the pharmacy ran out. Immediately when they switched it, I noticed my mental health plummeted. I was angry, emotional, irrational, and was having depressive thoughts that scared me. It got me thinking, what else could birth control be doing to my body?
After 7 years on the pill, I decided to come off it (without properly supporting my body, but that’s a story for a different day). My period came back worse than ever before and I was right back to where I started.
Instead of fighting my body this time, I decided to get to know it. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
I started tracking my cycles, learning about the in’s and out’s of the menstrual cycle, synced my lifestyle with where I was at in my cycle, and learned some really interesting cultural and historical views on women’s moon cycles. I also developed practices around the time of my period that helped me to view it as this really beautiful time to connect instead of wishing I were a man (let’s be honest, it would be easier). And I decided I wanted to share it with you!
Myths About Women’s Cycles
Painful Periods are Normal
There’s a difference between normal and common. Your menstrual phase doesn’t have to be a painful, miserable week out of your month and most symptoms that women are experience can be fixed by dietary and lifestyle changes. In Nourish & Flow, I outline common PMS symptoms, their potential root cause, and how to fix them. You will also learn how to decrease inflammation overall, which helps immensely with PMS.
Hormonal Birth Control is My Only Option
There are plenty of ways to prevent pregnancy (if that’s your goal) without being on hormonal birth control. Not only do they not interrupt your ovulation, but you also get to learn more about the in’s and out’s of your cycle, making you an expert on your body! “Natural” forms of birth control get a bad rep for being inconvenient or just simply not effective, but they’ve come along way and I outline all options in my book.
Periods are something to be embarrassed about
Okay, so not really a “myth” per say, but something I want to discuss. Have you ever hid a tampon in your sleeve while walking to the bathroom, been paranoid blood would seep through and everyone would see, or been embarrassed (or shamed) about periods? One of my goals in writing this book was to empower women to start seeing their bodies for the incredible gift that they are. Your body has the ability to grow a literal human being and we’re over here not treating ourselves like a freaking goddesses? Let’s knock that off.
Menstrual blood is gross and inconvenient
Many cultures throughout history have viewed menstrual blood as powerful and healing. Even today, menstrual blood is being studied in stem cell research! I would encourage you to do a little research into different cultures perceptions on the menstrual cycle, but I do cover some different beliefs and perspectives that you may find pretty interesting.
Testimonial
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!! This is the first time that I haven’t been lying in bed for days on end. I can’t thank you enough for the advice, especially the cycle syncing guide. While I’m still working on seeing it as a blessing instead of a curse, I’m definitely on the right path haha”
-Taylor, M.
01 — Cycle Basics
Every woman deserves to learn the basics of what is happening throughout each cycle. It can give you a better understanding of why certain symptoms might be manifesting on the outside and at the very least establish appreciation for your body.
02 — Cycle Syncing
With such huge fluctuations in hormones comes changes in energy, motivation, foods your body needs, and even how your skin responds. Cycle syncing is a way to work with your cycle, instead of against it.
03 — Connect with Your Period
This chapter is my favorite as it’s all about connecting with your cycle and finding your own little “ritual” to make your period a little more special. It’s eye opening and extremely empowering when you decide to get intimate with that part of yourself as a woman.
04 — Cycle Issues
Often the root cause of PMS can be tied back to inflammation. In this chapter, I go over different cyclical issues such as heavy periods, light periods, cramps, headaches, acne; their root causes and potential interventions for each.
05 — And More!
You will also get a guide to the fertility awareness method, diet & lifestyle tips for an easier period, as well as 15+ recipes that align with each phase.
Testimonial
“I’ve struggled with horrible hormonal acne for most of my adult life and would get really bad migraines and breast pain around my period, so I decided to give this a try before going back on the pill. My favorite chapter was on connecting with your period. It really changed my whole perspective and through the diet changes I’ve made, I have seen some significant improvement in my pain.”
-Sarah, S.
“I couldn’t wait to tell you, but I had ONE day of minor cramps this past month!!! I actually can’t believe it and I wanted to thank you again for all the help you’ve given to me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it!!”
-Hannah, G.
Meet the Author
Hi there, my name is Brenna!
I am a holistic dietitian who specializes in hormonal imbalances and gut health. I live in Nashville, TN with my dog Winston and love all things food, health, and wellness! I became passionate about women’s health after suffering from hormonal imbalances due to the birth control pill and The Balanced Buzz was born.
I’ve helped dozens of women heal from hormonal birth control and to free themselves of painful, debilitating PMSS & PMDD. It’s been an absolute pleasure to help my inspiring clients, hear their stories, and watch them transform their lives.
I hope you’ll stick around and join the balanced buzz community, where we aim to empower and inspire women to to get in touch with their cycles and body’s. You can reach out to me at hello@thebalancedbuzz.com or connect with me at @brenna_allard on instagram.
Testimonials
I really appreciated the information in Embrace Your Feminine. I feel like I don’t have to hide this part of myself anymore and instead I’ve learned to embrace it. My friends and I have even started a little moon cycle group where on the new moon we get together and honor our bodies in some way. It’s my favorite part of the month!"
-Elizabeth, A.
"I bought the bundle: Embrace Your Feminine and Nourish & Flow when I came off hormonal birth control. After my period returned, I began tracking my cycle and it’s so cool to be able to track the patterns that Brenna discusses in the book. I would highly recommend it for women of all ages!”
-Remi, C.
“They should teach this information to all women in high school health class or something. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit this, but I was today years old when I learned that women can’t get pregnant any day of the month…”
-Summer, L
FAQ’s
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Nourish & Flow is for any menstruating individual of reproductive age! If you’re someone has a period or are trying to get your period back, then it is for you!
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Great question! I’m a registered dietitian who specializes in hormonal imbalances and gut health. I believe in a whole body and holistic approach to healing and take my clients physical, mental, and spiritual needs into account.
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Every person is unique and comes with their own bio-individual needs. So while results are not guaranteed, this book offers the best guidance for setting yourself up for success. However, if you can provide valid evidence that you’ve tried out all of the recommendations in the book for at least 3-6 months and have seen no improvements in PMS or PMDD symptoms, I will give you your money back!
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Absolutely! Email me at hello@thebalancedbuzz.com and I will send you your own link to purchase the bundle for $37 or all 3 for $56.
Have a Look Inside:
Embrace Your Feminine
$22.22
Guide to non-hormonal birth control, highlighting the fertility awareness method
5 Pillars to Coming off the Pill
Nutrient deficiencies and how to correct them
Diet & Lifestyle Guide
Troubleshooting