Welcome back to Thrive Beyond Size! This week I have another great interview for you all, with Coach and Founder of The Ally Method, Allison Yamamoto. Allison’s business is built around helping active women stop over-training and under-fueling in order to regulate their periods and assist them in achieving freedom around food and exercise. While it’s common to not have a period for a while, especially while training hard, it’s not normal and it’s a sign that something is wrong. Allison’s story is compelling, she’s a dynamic speaker and very relatable. I think this episode will resonate with a lot of us.

We tend to applaud when anyone says they’re doing something for their health, even if that thing is contributing to disease or lack of health or wellness. It’s a hustle culture where discipline and overwork are prized, especially in sports training, and we’re celebrated for that. But whether the issue is eating too much or not enough or exercising too much or not enough, we can all learn from what Allison has to share about the underlying causes. Allison first talks about being a cheerleader in college and her interest in running, training, and nutrition after college. She was exhibiting a lot of control over her exercise and food, which earned her praise for being healthy, but she also wasn’t getting a period. We talk about how medical professionals dismissed her lack of period because she was focused on healthy activities, how there are a lot of ways to experience disordered eating, how we compare ourselves to the standards and discipline of others, and how with nearsighted goals we can tend towards over-exercising and falling into behaviors that are too disciplined and rigid to be healthy. Allison shares how she works with women now to understand their motivations and how they can have healthy goals that are not rigid and detrimental to well-being. This is such an important conversation and I’m so grateful for Allison for having this talk with me.

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About Allison Yamamoto:

Allison is a founder and coach who has built a business that helps active women stop overtraining and under-fueling in order to regulate their period and gain freedom around food & exercise.

As a former NCAA cheerleader, health tech executive, and marathoner, Allison struggled with disordered eating and RED-S for years, and her recovery journey inspired her to help others do the same.

Her business Ally has now helped hundreds of others improve their relationship with food, exercise, and their bodies.

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• Free resource from Allison to help us understand what's keeping us trapped in our routines around food and exercise

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Learn more about Allison Yamamoto:

• Website: TheAllyMethod.com
• Instagram
• TikTok

Learn more about Dr. Michelle Tubman and Wayza Health:

• Website: www.wayzahealth.com
• Follow me on Facebook and Instagram
• Email Michelle: michelle@wayzahealth.com