Today I have Dr. Becca Chilczenkowski, board-certified practitioner and hormone specialist who was a top 100 CrossFitter yet gained 15 pounds in one month and lost her cycle for three years from overtraining. Genetic testing revealed her inflammatory system turns on easily and struggles to turn off, making extreme exercise backfire. Becca reveals why detoxification—liver, gallbladder, bile support—is foundational, why she cut training from 6 days to 3 days weekly and became leaner, and why peptides are a "privilege you must earn" through lifestyle work first. She shares healing weight loss resistance, autoimmune, and MCAS through nervous system regulation, faith, and honoring rest as productive.
Key Takeaways
- Genetics: Some bodies turn on inflammation easily, struggle to shut off
- Detox first: Liver, gallbladder, bile before hormone optimization
- Exercise less: 3 days strength beats 6 days HIIT
- Rest is productive: Body forces rest if you don't choose it
- Protein moderation: 80-90g/day works better for some
- Peptides privilege: Earn through lifestyle, not replacement
- Bile crucial: Main hormone detoxifier, methylation support
- Genetic testing: Infron Pro 7 validates struggles
- Nervous system: Faith, journaling, vagus nerve essential
- Mindset matters: Self-talk sabotages healing
Chapters & Timestamps
01:11 Becca Fitness Origins
02:28 Injury IVF And Weight Gain
03:10 Functional Medicine Awakening
05:35 Beyond Hormones Root Causes
06:27 Inflammation Stress And Metabolism
08:19 Where To Start Cell Detox
10:20 Exercise Stress Perimenopause
11:56 Nervous System Grounding Tools
15:28 Bile Liver And Gut Support
17:47 Fitness Myths Rest Protein
21:42 Learning To Rest And Reset Mindset
24:22 Gut Rebuild Strategy
26:54 Methylation Detox Basics
28:58 Labs That Matter Most
31:48 Genetics For Personalization
34:00 Muscle Bone Without HRT
36:38 Training Styles That Stick
39:16 Nutrition For Strength
41:16 Peptides Safety First
44:02 Peptides Pros And Cons
47:24 Mindset Faith And Support
49:35 Where To Find Becca
Guest Details
Dr. Becca Chilczenkowski — Board-Certified Practitioner & Hormone Specialist
Background: Former top 100 CrossFitter. Lost 40-50 lbs competing, then gained 15 lbs in one month despite perfect diet/exercise. Lost cycle 3 years from overtraining.
Discovery: Genetic testing (Infron Pro 7) revealed highly responsive inflammatory system—turns on easily, struggles to turn off.
Practice: Virtual practice for weight loss resistance, autoimmune, MCAS, long COVID. Chicago-based.
Philosophy: Detox first (liver/gallbladder/bile). Rest is productive. Peptides require earning through lifestyle. Faith-based.
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About Your Hosts
Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.
Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.
About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast
Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy
AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.
Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy
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