Reclaim Your Rise
with Lauren Bongiorno

Six months postpartum, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again, and in this episode, I’m opening up about what it took to get here. This season has been full of challenges, healing, and unexpected lessons. I’m sharing the honest truth about what I’ve learned, what I wish I had known, and how I’ve been navigating this transition. I’ll also walk you through the top five things I believe every new mom and her support team should know during those early months. My hope is that this conversation helps you feel more supported, more prepared, and a little less alone. You are not meant to figure this all out on your own, and you are doing better than you think. Quick Takeaways: The unexpected emotional and physical toll of postpartum, even with strong support How breastfeeding affects insulin needs and blood sugar patterns The shift in diabetes motivation  What managing type 1 diabetes REALLY looks like in the newborn trenches Why reclaiming time for yourself isn't a luxury but a necessity Timestamps: [02:48] My general experience so far as a new mom: the good, the bad, and the ugly… [05:40] The ‘newborn bubble’ [06:34] What made things hard for me  [6:45] Reality of breastfeeding  [08:25] Postpartum anxiety + the mental load of becoming a mom  [14:33] Going back to work  [18:55] The 5 things I wish I knew before What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.  Want to hear more from Lauren’s pregnancy journey? Catch up on these episodes: 162. Giving birth with T1D: What I didn’t expect and no one warned me about  153. How I'm advocating for my T1D birth plan as a high risk patient

Is it normal to grieve the life you imagined before T1D? In today’s episode, we’re joined by registered psychotherapist, founder of her own private practice, and fellow T1D, Kirsten Davidson, to explore just that. Together, we unpack the emotional layers of type 1 diabetes that often go unspoken. From the quiet grief of “what could’ve been,” to how blood sugars impact our emotional state, to the ways avoidance can quietly shape our relationship with T1D. Kirsten brings both personal insight and professional expertise to this conversation, offering powerful validation for the mental and emotional weight that comes with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into your journey, this episode is a gentle, much-needed reminder: your emotional experience matters, and you’re not alone in it. Quick Takeaways: Understanding of the interplay between T1D and mental health The importance of allowing yourself to grieve your T1D diagnosis and process the emotional weight that often goes unspoken ​​How trauma, stress, and survival mode responses can shape your relationship with diabetes over time The emotional impact of blood sugar fluctuations and how they affect more than just your body  BONUS TOPIC: How parents can model emotional awareness and foster empowered, supportive relationships with their T1D children Timestamps: [02:50] Blood sugar check to start today’s episode  [05:29] Physiological and physical side effects of a high blood sugar  [06:13] “What are the symptoms? And then what's the story we tell ourselves about the number?” [06:36] Stress hormones & how they impact blood sugar  [10:53] Working through trauma: “I had this one experience. And now anything resembling it is going to equal that experience.” [11:34] “When we're in a moment of survival, we have four options - fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.” [15:19] Allowing yourself time to grieve after your diagnosis  [16:00] Rewriting the narratives you are telling yourself  [20:51] Being aware of what you are thinking AND why  [22:43] Navigating the emotional toll on the relationship between a parent and their T1D child   [25:10] Parental modelling & empowering your T1D child  [32:27] Learning to ‘sit in the mess’ [34:10] “Grieving the life that you would have had without type 1 diabetes” [38:39] The truth about having a 'it is what it is’ mindset What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop. Connect with Kirsten: on Instagram @kirsten.davidson or on her website MindTheGaps.co Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Joelle Cavagnaro for a powerful conversation on what’s really going on with weight loss, insulin sensitivity, PCOS, and GLP-1s, especially for women living with T1D. We dive into the science behind smarter workouts, why more cardio isn’t always better, and how strength training plays a key role in improving blood sugar and hormone balance. With a Master's in Exercise Physiology and a passion for educating & guiding others, Joelle brings a refreshing blend of real-life experience and evidence-based guidance to help you stop chasing quick fixes and start building a sustainable foundation for health. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of trying to “figure it all out,” this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and less alone. Let’s rise above the noise together and talk about what actually works. Quick Takeaways: Navigating hormonal challenges + PCOS The role nutrition plays in weight loss  Understanding insulin sensitivity, exercising + CGMs (and how they all connect)  The truth about GLP-1s: How and who they benefit Timestamps: [03:08] Meet Joelle + the beginning of her fitness journey  [07:23] Key to finding the right support (for weight loss, exercising, diabetes, etc.)  [08:51] Insulin sensitivity and the benefits that weight training has for that  [10:53] Most superior workout (in Joelle’s opinion)  [16:06] How nutrition + food play a role in reaching body composition goals [16:12] “The rule for weight loss…” [17:08] Making appropriate diet changes [19:49] Joelle’s journey with PCOS + hormones  [26:03] “I stepped on the scale and the number went down…without starving or killing myself with cardio.” [29:43] Current era of GLP-1s: Who are they helping?  [39:45] Non-diabetics using CGMs  [53:59] Rapid-fire: Joelle’s take on what’s trending in the health and fitness space What to do now: Ready to master your body’s patterns around exercise and support insulin sensitivity + body composition? Download our FREE guide HERE.   Apply for coaching with Joelle and/or follow along her journey HERE.  Listen to Episode 117:   T1D Hormones, Appetite, Insulin Sensitivity, and Weight Loss with Ginger Vieira  The Supply Solution I Wish I Had Sooner: After five years of using Byram Healthcare , I can say it’s made managing my supplies one less thing to worry about. Between their reliable and free delivery, seamless reordering, and access to tools like the mybyram app, it’s a total game-changer. Learn more HERE or contact them at: 866-884-0857   Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop

In today’s powerful episode, I’m joined by Steph Hauser—writer, ultrarunner, and NICU mom of four—whose son Zev was born at just 23 weeks with only a 1% chance of survival. Steph opens up about what it was like to spend 147 days in the NICU, how she turned that pain into purpose through her nonprofit 4Those , and the healing journey that led her to run 147 miles—one for each day her son fought to live. We talk about the emotional toll of medical uncertainty, the unexpected crossover with the T1D community, and how a simple question—“Tell me what’s good?” —can help shift even the darkest moments. Steph’s story is a reflection of what’s possible when we choose to rise, not just for ourselves but for others walking similar paths. Her voice is a reminder that even if it feels like the end, your story still has so much life, strength, and hope left to unfold.