27. Life as a Strength Trainer AFTER Amenorrhea | Returning to Exercise, Training with Confidence & Building a Health-First Fitness Business

Olivia shares her personal story of discovering she had hypothalamic amenorrhea after years of a competitive fitness mindset. Despite working with a coach focused on muscle gain, her hormones and cycle never normalized. That turning point led her to work with a dietitian who specialized in HA, join the HA Society, and ultimately recover her cycle.

After recovery, Olivia faced a new challenge: how to return to exercise without slipping back into old patterns. She opens up about working in a commercial gym environment, the mental strain of aesthetic-focused fitness culture, and how those experiences shaped her approach to training today.

Now a personal trainer based in Toronto, Olivia works with women both online and in person, helping them rebuild strength, confidence, and consistency after HA — without fear that exercise will “break” their cycle again.

Returning to Exercise After Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

One of the biggest fears women have after HA recovery is whether they can safely exercise again. Dani and Olivia discuss:

• Why exercise itself isn’t the enemy, but under-fueling and stress are
• How regular, well-fueled training can actually support a regular menstrual cycle
• What a healthy transition back to movement looks like after HA
• Why performance-based goals (strength, energy, resilience) matter more than weight loss

Olivia explains how she helps clients coming out of HA focus on strength, function, and confidence, rather than aesthetics, and how cycle awareness plays a role in long-term training success.

Building a Fitness Business That Prioritizes Health Over Aesthetics

Olivia also shares the behind-the-scenes reality of building her business, Lifted with Liv, which prioritizes holistic health rather than weight loss. She talks openly about:

• The challenges of marketing a health-first message in a weight-loss-obsessed industry
• Why word-of-mouth has been essential to her growth
• The importance of long-term client relationships, especially for women with eating disorder histories
• The mental load of running a values-aligned business while navigating life stressors like planning a wedding

Dani reflects on similar challenges in the HA recovery space and why performance-focused training is becoming more appealing than traditional fat-loss narratives.

What This Episode Is Really About

This conversation is for women who are asking:

• Can I exercise again after HA?
• How do I train without obsessing over my body?
• What does “health” actually look like long-term?
• Is there life — and fitness — after recovery?

If you’re navigating HA recovery, returning to exercise, or trying to build a healthier relationship with movement and work, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, hopeful, and empowered.

Listen now and get ready for a new era of conversations about life after HA.

Learn more from Olivia:

https://www.instagram.com/liftedwithliv_

Follow Dani:

https://instagram.com/danisheriff