The Power of Cycle Syncing: How I’m Reclaiming My Hormonal Health at 37

Kristina Cavallari
Jul 13
4 min read

For most of my life, I’ve struggled with my cycle.

While my periods have always been regular, they weren’t exactly smooth. Sometimes they were shorter than average, but what I remember most was the pain — the kind that knocks the wind out of you. Heavy clotting, cramping that felt unbearable, and a sense that something wasn’t quite right.

When I was 16, things took a scary turn. I started experiencing recurring pain in my ovaries that wasn’t tied to my period. It would come and go, enough to send me to the hospital multiple times. One night, I woke up feeling like I was dying. My mom rushed me to the ER. What followed was emergency surgery — I had a tubular cyst, and my fallopian tube had wrapped around it in an attempt to “pop” it. They drained the cyst, which brought relief, but the question lingered: What was the root cause?

Since then, I’ve learned to listen more closely to my body. These days, my cycle is consistently 28 days — a blessing. But even now, how I treat my body the month before dictates how painful or peaceful my period will be. If I’m stressed, undernourished, or overextending myself, my cycle lets me know. Loudly.

That’s why I’ve decided to take it a step further — to not just track my period but to truly honor my full hormonal cycle. That means syncing my movement, diet, and supplements to where I’m at hormonally. It may seem extreme to some, but for me, it’s deeply intuitive. It feels like a return — a homecoming to my body.

Especially now, at 37, as I begin to think more about the transition into perimenopause (which is closer than we like to admit), I want to feel empowered and supported every step of the way.

What Is Cycle Syncing?

Cycle syncing is the practice of adjusting your lifestyle — including movement, nutrition, and productivity — based on the four phases of your menstrual cycle: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal. Each phase brings different hormonal shifts that affect how we feel, perform, and function.

Just like the moon, we cycle. Many women naturally sync with the moon's rhythms — bleeding on the new moon (the “white moon” cycle) or the full moon (the “red moon” cycle). These ancient rhythms still live in our biology, and when we begin to live in harmony with them, our energy stabilizes, our symptoms lessen, and our sense of self deepens.

The Four Phases of the Cycle & How to Sync:

🌑 Menstrual Phase (Days 1–5): Rest & Release

Hormones: All hormones are at their lowest. Energy is also low.
Movement: Gentle stretching, yin yoga, walking, or full rest.
Food: Warm, grounding foods like soups, stews, root vegetables, iron-rich foods, and lots of hydration.
Supplements: Magnesium, vitamin C, and warming teas (like ginger or raspberry leaf).

🌒 Follicular Phase (Days 6–13): Rebirth & Momentum

Hormones: Estrogen rises, boosting energy and mental clarity.
Movement: Light cardio, strength training, new classes or challenges.
Food: Fresh, vibrant foods like leafy greens, lean protein, sprouted grains, fermented foods.
Supplements: B-complex, probiotics, adaptogens like maca to support estrogen metabolism.

🌕 Ovulatory Phase (Days 14–16): Peak Energy & Connection

Hormones: Estrogen peaks, LH surges. Libido and communication peak.
Movement: HIIT, dance, group classes — whatever makes you feel radiant.
Food: Raw veggies, antioxidants, fiber-rich foods to support liver detox and estrogen clearance.
Supplements: Zinc, vitamin E, glutathione or NAC to support detox pathways.

🌖 Luteal Phase (Days 17–28): Reflection & Grounding

Hormones: Progesterone rises, estrogen drops. Energy starts to wane.
Movement: Moderate strength training, Pilates, slower flows.
Food: Complex carbs, cooked vegetables, seeds (like sesame and sunflower), turkey, and magnesium-rich foods.
Supplements: Magnesium (again!), B6 for mood, evening primrose oil, and calming herbs like ashwagandha.

Why Cycle Syncing Matters (Especially in Our 30s & Beyond)

As women, our bodies are cyclical by nature — yet the world we live in expects us to operate like machines, producing the same output every day. But when we begin to align with our natural rhythms, something shifts.

We move from frustration to flow. From symptom management to whole-body wisdom. We stop overriding ourselves and begin responding with care and curiosity.

Especially as we approach our 40s and begin the slow shift toward perimenopause, syncing with our cycles helps us regulate hormones, ease PMS, prevent burnout, and feel connected to our feminine power.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just About Periods, It’s About Power

For me, cycle syncing is not just a wellness trend. It’s an act of reclamation. It’s how I anchor myself in a world that often asks us to abandon our bodies. It’s how I prevent pain, fuel joy, and stay present through the seasons of womanhood.

If you’ve been struggling with painful periods, mood swings, or burnout — or simply want to deepen your connection to your body — I invite you to begin listening to your cycle in a new way.

You don’t have to do it all at once. Start with awareness. Start with one shift — maybe it’s adding magnesium before your period, or saying no to high-intensity workouts on day one of your bleed.

Little by little, your body will respond. She just wants to be heard.