Why I Stopped Listening to “General Health” Advice
How Ignoring Male-Centric Health Advice Helped Me Reclaim My Body and Redefine Performance for Women
Five years ago, I was taking up to 30 different pills a day. I followed all the latest advice on recovery, performance, and longevity - supplements, trackers, nutrition strategies - but still, I felt off. Tired. Inflamed. Flat. Despite all the effort, I was losing myself.
And then it hit me.
Almost all of it was based on research done on men.
The supplements, the training protocols, the recovery metrics - even most medical recommendations - were designed around male biology. No wonder it didn’t work for me. I wasn’t a small man. I am a woman. With hormones. With a cycle. With a completely different physiological rhythm.
So I stopped listening to “general” health advice.
And I started listening to my body instead.
A Revolution in Women’s Health Is Long Overdue
Here’s the truth: women have been underserved in health science for decades. Most research still uses male test subjects - because they’re “easier to study.” Hormonal fluctuations in women were seen as too complicated, so we were simply left out. The result?
We’ve been handed one-size-fits-men advice. And we’re expected to make it work.
But women aren’t difficult. We’re different. Our bodies follow powerful biological rhythms that deserve to be understood, respected, and supported. From menstruation to menopause, we’re constantly adapting, shifting, and regenerating.
That’s not a flaw - it’s a superpower. And now, it’s time we start treating it like one.
Your Biology Is Not a Burden - It’s a Blueprint
Throughout the month, our hormones change everything from metabolism to sleep to how we respond to training and stress. Understanding these shifts is the key to sustainable health and peak performance. Since, you’re not inconsistent - you are cyclical.
Here’s what I’ve learned after years of testing on myself, failing forward, and finally thriving:
Eat With Your Cycle
In your follicular phase (Day 1–14): Your body is anabolic. Eat more protein, train hard, and build.
In your luteal phase (Day 15–28): Your metabolism is faster, but stress sensitivity is higher. Increase complex carbs and protein by 10–15%, reduce alcohol and sugar, and prioritize recovery foods like omega-3s and magnesium.
Train Smarter, Not Harder
Week 1–2: Lift heavy. Sprint. You’ll recover faster and build muscle more efficiently.
Week 3–4: Shift to lighter loads, more mobility, and breath-led sessions. Your body is working hard behind the scenes, even if it doesn’t “feel” like it.
Recover Like a Queen
In the luteal phase, progesterone disrupts sleep. Add 30–60 minutes of rest or power naps.
Use breathwork (longer exhales, diaphragmatic breathing) to calm the nervous system.
Supplement wisely - magnesium, L-theanine, and adaptogens can make a real difference.
What Can You Start Doing Today?
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Here are three simple steps to begin listening to your body instead of generic advice:
Track Your Cycle: Start journaling how you feel across the month. Energy, sleep, mood, cravings - patterns will appear.
Adjust Your Stress: Push when your body says yes. Rest when it says no. Periodization isn’t just for athletes - it’s for anyone who wants to thrive long term.
Support Your Biology: Add foods, recovery, and supplements that match your cycle. That’s why I created BKM Harmonized - to finally offer something that works with women’s bodies, not against them.
You Deserve More Than “One Size Fits All”
This isn’t about doing less - it’s about doing it right.
You’re not broken. You’re brilliant.
And when you learn to work with your physiology, health becomes intuitive, strength becomes natural, and your cycle becomes your secret weapon.
I stopped listening to general health advice the day I realized my biology was never the problem.
And if you’re reading this, maybe today is the day you stop too.
Here’s to becoming the healthiest, strongest, most harmonized version of yourself - not in spite of being a woman, but because of it.
With strength and rhythm,
//Li