Episode
The Truth About PCOS & Hypothyroidism: How I Lost 40 Pounds Eating MORE | ft. Micaela Riley
- Podcast
- The EMPWR Podcast
- Published
- May 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4151
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode, I sit down with Micaela Riley, a functional nutritionist and women's health specialist who transformed her own life after years of struggling with PCOS, Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism, SIBO, and leaky gut. Her story starts at 14 years old when a quick doctor's appointment led to birth control, weight gain, hair loss, exhaustion, and a decade of being told she just wasn't working out enough or eating little enough. What followed was years of over exercising, under eating, and chasing answers that traditional medicine couldn't provide. We dive deep into what actually worked: reverse dieting, eating more instead of less, cutting back on cardio, prioritizing strength training and walking, and addressing root causes through functional lab testing. Micaela shares how she lost 40 pounds over five years by doing the opposite of what doctors told her, got her period back after losing it for six years, and finally healed her gut and balanced her hormones without birth control or restrictive dieting. This conversation gets real about the five things she would never do again: over exercising, fasting without proper nutrition, taking random supplements without lab work, neglecting sleep, and ignoring blood sugar balance. We talk about the power of eating a high protein breakfast, why intermittent fasting isn't for everyone, how continuous glucose monitors can change your approach to food, and why lifting weights is one of the most powerful tools for insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. We also get into peptides, GLP-1s, the fab five supplements everyone should consider, sleep hygiene, and why so many women are stuck in cycles of restriction and inflammation. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right but still struggling with weight, energy, hormones,…