Think weight is the only factor standing between you and pregnancy? There’s more to the story—and it starts with your stress and mindset.
In this powerful episode, Dr. Katie Wood sits down with Dr. Priyanka Venugopal, an OB-GYN turned weight-loss and mindset coach, to unpack the real impact of stress, cortisol, and inner dialogue on fertility. Whether you're navigating PCOS, obesity, or burnout from high-achieving motherhood, this conversation will open your eyes to a more compassionate and effective path forward.
In this episode you'll discover...
-How mindset and stress affect ovulation and hormone balance
-The truth about weight, fertility, and medications like Ozempic
-Three actionable tools to lower cortisol, lose weight naturally & support your fertility
Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
Dr. Priyanka emphasizes that mindset and inner dialogue play crucial roles in managing stress, weight, and fertility. Many women, especially working moms, feel disconnected from their bodies, leading to stress-induced habits that affect overall health. She shares her personal journey from being an OBGYN struggling with weight issues to discovering the transformative power of mindset coaching. Her approach highlights that it is not about having a stress-free life but managing stress effectively so it doesn't become a constant coping mechanism.
Hormones and Fertility
Stress directly impacts fertility, primarily through the hormone cortisol. Dr. Priyanka explains that while cortisol in small doses is beneficial, chronic stress signals to your body that it isn’t a safe time to conceive. Understanding how hormones like cortisol, estrogen, and insulin affect your body is pivotal. For instance, excess body fat can lead to a hyper-estrogen state, disrupting ovulation and menstrual cycles.
Strategies for Reducing Stress and Achieving Weight Loss
1. Practice Self-Compassion: Start by acknowledging your feelings of stress or anxiety. Place a hand on your heart and vocalize your experiences, which helps in releasing oxytocin and counteracting cortisol.
2. Answer Your 'What-Ifs': Instead of leaving anxious thoughts open-ended, address them directly. This practice helps prevent anxiety from spiraling and empowers you to confront challenges head-on.
3. Embrace the Journey: Focus on enjoying the process, not just the end goal. This mindset shift releases dopamine, improving both your mental and physical well-being.
Lifestyle Changes
Dr. Priyanka advises incorporating small, actionable changes in daily routines. She stresses not to aim for perfection but to implement small habits like waiting for genuine hunger before eating and choosing whole, minimally processed foods over refined options. These changes can significantly improve insulin pathways and reduce weight, which in turn can enhance fertility.
The Role of Medical Interventions
For some, medical tools like Ozempic might be suggested to assist in weight management. Dr. Priyanka notes that while these can be helpful, they are not a panacea. They should be part of a broader strategy involving lifestyle changes and mindset shifts to achieve sustainable health and fertility outcomes.
Conclusion
The path to fertility and wellness is deeply personal and should be approached holistically. By understanding the interplay between stress, weight, and hormones, you can make informed decisions that support your body and mind. Dr. Priyanka's insights are a reminder that while the journey can be challenging, it is also an opportunity for growth and transformation.
For those seeking further guidance, Dr. Priyanka offers a free comprehensive training on hormone pathways that impact women's health. Her podcast, "Burn Stress Lose Weight," is an additional resource filled with actionable strategies, mindset insights, and personal stories aimed at empowering women on their wellness journeys.
▶️Tune in now to learn how changing your mindset could be the key to weight loss, hormone balance, and finally getting pregnant—without burnout or shame.
Follow and connect with me on Instagram @the_wellness_pharmacist to fast-track your fertility so you can finally get and stay pregnant naturally!
Connect with Dr. Priyanka:
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnstressloseweight/
-Website: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/
-Freebie: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones
-Podcast: Burn Stress Lose Weight
Finally Get Pregnant Naturally is your go-to TTC podcast for holistic fertility support to help you get pregnant naturally by addressing the root cause of unexplained infertility, secondary infertility, and recurrent miscarriage. Hosted by Dr. Katie Wood, a pharmacist and holistic fertility practitioner, this show offers natural fertility solutions for those on a fertility journey struggling to conceive, navigating miscarriage, or dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, or failed IUI or failed IVF. Whether you're trying to conceive, increase egg quality, optimizing sperm health, or healing after a miscarriage, each episode delivers practical guidance to support your fertility journey. Learn how to improve fertility, balance hormones, regulate your fertile window, and conceive naturally through root cause healing, emotional wellness, and mind-body tools—because true fertility starts from within.
Are you currently on your TTC or fertility journey?
✅Register for the Four Steps To FINALLY Get Pregnant Masterclass HERE!✨
Email - katiewood@happynourishedmotherhood.com
Discover how to work with me here. (P.S. Follow + leave a review of the podcast, screenshot and DM/email me to save $250 on one of my high-level fertility programs)
Happy Nourished Motherhood Website
Connect on Social:
Fertility & Hormone Facebook Group
Feminine Formula Etsy Shop: use code MINDFULMOTHERHOOD10 for 10% off
Dr. Katie Wood is a pharmacist and integrative fertility consultant certified in Integrative Nutrition, Fertile Foundations and Womb Embodiment with over a decade of experience. She helps couples to restore their fertility so they can finally *get and stay* pregnant.
DISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use it as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. This podcast offers information to help the listener cooperate with physicians, mental health professionals or other healthcare providers in a mutual quest for optimal well-being. We advise listeners to carefully review and understand the ideas presented, and to consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. Under no circumstances shall Pharm to Wellness LLC, any guests or contributors to the Rising into Mindful Motherhood podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Pharm to Wellness LLC be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hi, I'm Katie
Host of Finally Get Pregnant Naturally Podcast
Listen now on
SPOTIFY APPLE IHEART RADIO AMAZON MUSIC
.png "Get Pregnant Now Masterclass")