Narrator: Imagine a young woman, driven and ambitious, excelling in school and climbing the career ladder. From the outside, she's the picture of success. But internally, her body is staging a rebellion. She’s plagued by anxiety, insomnia, unexplained weight gain, and persistent acne. Her periods have vanished. She tries every diet, every workout plan, every productivity hack she can find, but nothing works. The more she pushes, the worse she feels, as if she's fighting a battle against her own biology. This isn't just a hypothetical scenario; it was the personal reality of Alisa Vitti, a hormonal health expert who realized her struggle was a symptom of a much larger problem. She discovered that women have been trying to succeed in a world that was not designed for them, a world that operates on a 24-hour clock that ignores their unique biological rhythm. In her book, In the FLO, Vitti reveals how women can stop fighting their bodies and start working with them, unlocking a hidden hormonal advantage that can revolutionize every aspect of their lives.

Narrator: The fundamental problem, Vitti argues, is that modern society is built around a single biological rhythm: the 24-hour circadian clock. This clock governs the daily hormonal cycle of men, which is characterized by consistent, predictable patterns. Corporate culture, with its demand for constant productivity and linear progress, is a direct reflection of this male-centric model. However, women in their reproductive years operate on two clocks. Alongside the circadian rhythm, they have a second, more dominant clock: the infradian rhythm. This is the roughly 28-day cycle that governs the menstrual cycle.

By ignoring this second clock, women are forced to fit their cyclical nature into a linear world. They are expected to have the same energy, mood, and cognitive abilities every single day, which is a biological impossibility. This mismatch, Vitti explains, is a primary driver of burnout, chronic stress, and a host of hormonal health issues. Women are conditioned to believe their cycle is a burden to be managed or suppressed, rather than a source of power. They internalize the message that to succeed, they must push through their natural fluctuations, leading to a state of constant internal conflict that weakens their health and dampens their potential.

Narrator: The infradian rhythm is not a flaw; it's a feature. Vitti breaks down the menstrual cycle into four distinct phases, each with its own unique hormonal profile and corresponding set of superpowers.

First is the Follicular Phase, which begins after the period ends. Estrogen begins to rise, boosting energy, creativity, and a desire for new beginnings. This is the time for brainstorming and starting new projects. Next comes the Ovulatory Phase, when estrogen and testosterone peak. This is the peak of verbal and social skills. Communication, collaboration, and important conversations are most effective during this time. Research shows the female brain can change by up to 25 percent during the monthly cycle, with rising estrogen boosting synaptic connections and mental sharpness.

Then comes the Luteal Phase, the longest phase. Progesterone rises, turning energy inward. This is the time for focus, detail-oriented work, and completing tasks. It’s also when metabolism speeds up, with the body burning up to 16 percent more calories. Finally, the Menstrual Phase arrives. Hormone levels are at their lowest, prompting the body to rest and reflect. This phase enhances intuition and the ability to evaluate situations from a big-picture perspective. By understanding this four-part blueprint, women can stop fighting their biology and start leveraging these distinct phases to their advantage.

Narrator: One of the most powerful ways to work with the infradian rhythm is through nutrition. Vitti introduces the Cycle Syncing Method™ as an "undiet," a way of eating that supports the body's changing needs in each phase. This isn't about restriction; it's about providing the specific micronutrients required for optimal hormonal function.

For example, in the follicular phase, the body benefits from light, fresh foods like salads, lean proteins, and sprouted beans. During ovulation, it needs raw vegetables and fruits to help metabolize the estrogen peak. In the luteal phase, when the body needs more calories, roasted vegetables and complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes can help stabilize blood sugar and prevent cravings. And during the menstrual phase, iron-rich and comforting foods like seafood, dark leafy greens, and bone broth are ideal.

Vitti shares the story of Allie, a 26-year-old organic chef who lost her period after stopping birth control. Despite eating a healthy diet, she relied on caffeine and sugar for energy. By adopting cycle-based eating, she swapped these for nutrient-dense, phase-appropriate foods. Within two months, her period returned to a regular 28-day cycle, and her PMS symptoms, like bloating and cramps, dramatically improved. This demonstrates that food is not just fuel; it's information that can either disrupt or harmonize our hormonal system.

Narrator: The Cycle Syncing Method™ extends far beyond the kitchen and into the workplace. Vitti argues that women can achieve more sustainable success by managing their energy, not just their time. This means aligning work tasks with the strengths of each hormonal phase.

She tells the story of another client, also named Allie, an entrepreneur who was constantly traveling and working, pushing herself to the limit regardless of her cycle. Her relentless schedule led to burnout and worsening period problems. After learning to sync her work with her cycle, she transformed her approach. She scheduled brainstorming and creative planning during her follicular phase. She saved important meetings and networking for her ovulatory phase, when she was most articulate and social. She dedicated her luteal phase to focused, detail-oriented project completion. And she used her menstrual phase for evaluation and strategic planning. By doing so, she found she was more productive, avoided burnout, and felt a renewed sense of balance and fulfillment in her career. This approach allows women to stop forcing productivity and instead tap into a natural, cyclical flow of energy and creativity.

Narrator: A major "FLO Blocker," according to Vitti, is the widespread use of hormonal birth control as a catch-all solution for period problems. She argues that the pill doesn't fix underlying hormonal issues like PCOS or endometriosis; it merely masks the symptoms by shutting down the body's natural hormonal communication. This suppression comes at a cost, including potential micronutrient depletion, increased risk for depression and autoimmune conditions, and a disconnection from the body's innate wisdom.

Vitti points to a telling 2016 study on a male contraceptive injection. The trial was halted early because male participants were unwilling to tolerate side effects like mood swings, acne, and depression—the very same side effects women have been expected to endure for decades. This highlights a profound gender bias in medicine. Vitti advocates for women to become fully informed about the risks and to explore non-hormonal options and natural solutions, like the Cycle Syncing Method™, to address the root cause of their symptoms. For women like Shawna, who used the pill for years to control her acne, syncing with her cycle before quitting allowed her to finally stop the medication without her skin issues returning, proving that healing is possible when the body is given the right support.

Narrator: The single most important takeaway from In the FLO is that the female hormonal cycle is not a curse, a weakness, or a problem to be solved. It is a biological superpower. For generations, women have been taught to ignore, suppress, and even feel ashamed of their cyclical nature, forcing themselves to operate in a world that devalues their unique biological rhythm. Alisa Vitti dismantles this harmful narrative, providing a scientific and practical roadmap for women to reclaim their hormonal advantage.

By understanding and aligning with the four distinct phases of their infradian rhythm, women can optimize their health, enhance their creativity, and achieve a more sustainable and fulfilling form of success. The book challenges you to ask a profound question: What would your life look like if you stopped fighting your body and started living in its flow?