Can you briefly introduce yourself and what you do?
I’m Zuzana. I live in Amsterdam, originally from the Czech Republic. I work as a strategy and research manager in a company focused on sustainability solutions.
And I would also say I’m a health and longevity enthusiast. I try to spend as much of my free time as possible learning about how to take care of myself cooking, working out, reading research. That’s really my thing.
“Health is your biggest asset. For me, it’s about long-term quality of life.”
Looking back to before you started the program, how were you feeling, and what was the biggest frustration?
Honestly? I was super healthy on the outside. I ate well, I exercised, I tried a lot of things… but my situation never changed. Even though I was doing everything right, I still had no regular period. I had PMS, digestive issues, bloating.. I just thought: maybe this is how it is for me. That women like me just have to live with these things.
“I thought there was not much I could really do about it anymore.”
What signals was your body giving you? When did you realize, this can’t go on like this?
I was diagnosed with PCOS. I had been on the pill for years, and when I stopped, my body just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t get my period for over a year. And after that, my cycles were all over the place, sometimes 45 days, sometimes nothing for two months.
My PMS was really bad. Bloating, pain, mood swings… and my digestion was off, especially before my period.
For almost 10 years, I didn’t have a regular period. I was just dealing with symptoms without understanding them.
“The longer the cycle, the worse the PMS. And the worse I felt in general.”
What had you already tried to feel better? And what was missing?
I saw a few gynecologists, but they didn’t really help. The last one just told me: “Yeah, women deal with this. I can offer you hormonal treatment.” That was it.
So I started researching myself, looking into herbal supplements, reading online… but I wasn’t really tracking anything, and I wasn’t sure what was helping.
There’s so much information online, it’s overwhelming. I just needed someone to guide me and help connect the dots.
“I’d been searching for answers for years, but I didn’t know what was actually working.”
What drew you to working with me?
It was your holistic approach. I liked that everything was evidence-based, structured, but also intuitive. The app, the cycle tracking, the book on nutrition and hormones, it helped me connect all the dots. And you didn’t just give me information. We looked at patterns. What phase I was in. What was going on in my digestion, my energy, my mood. The small things add up and over time, they made a big difference.
Was anything about coaching scary for you? And how did that shift during the journey?
At first I went in with low expectations. I really didn’t think I could change that much. But pretty quickly I saw that I could track, I could adjust, I could take care of myself in a different way. But right from the beginning, I felt understood.
I liked the regular check-ins, the visual tools, the simple way of tracking symptoms even just writing down what I felt, every day. That gave me clarity.
What mindset, habit or pattern did you really have to shift?
I was always going full speed. Even during the luteal phase, when I had low energy or digestive issues, I just pushed through. Now I know: this is not the time to force.
I don’t train the same way all month. I look at how I’m feeling. I work from home when I need space. I even move my meetings if I know I’m not in the best phase. I used to just handle the stress. Now I notice it, step back, and do something about it.
“Now I know when I need to step back and I actually allow it.”
What has changed physically, mentally, or emotionally since the program?
My cycle is now around 30-32 days. That’s a big change for me. My PMS is much milder. My period pain is still there on the first day, but it’s not as bad. The biggest thing is how I feel: I’m not confused by my symptoms anymore. I understand them. I understand my patterns and can adapt to them. I also feel less bloated, and my digestion has improved around my period.
“Last month I had zero digestive issues before my period, that’s new for me.”
How do you care for yourself differently now? How do you make choices?
I check in with myself each day. I ask: where am I in my cycle? How is my energy? What do I need? I adjust my workouts, my food, even my work schedule when possible. I also take walks or work from home when I feel stress building.
“Now I base decisions on what my body needs, not just what I think I should do.”
How has the journey changed your relationship with your body?
I feel more connected. I understand myself. I can see the signs and know they’re valid. That gives me a sense of trust. And I feel stronger, mentally and physically. Like I can work with my body instead of against it.
“I feel much better in my body and that was not the case for many, many years.”
What surprised you most about what you now feel, do or dare?
That I can actually feel good. I never thought I’d say that. I feel more familiar with myself. I know where I am in my cycle. I know if something’s off.
And I can even talk about it: with friends, with my partner. I feel more confident.
I never thought that would be possible for me. I thought I was too complicated or broken somehow. But it turns out my body just needed the right support.
What would you tell a woman who sees herself in your story?
You can change things. Even if doctors told you to “just live with it,” or you feel stuck, you’re not. Invest in your health. Trust the process. It’s not instant, but it’s real.
