Well hey friends! We’ve had a lot goin’ on ’round here!
First off, I’m another year older now. Sigh. My birthday was on the 9th and now I am FORTY THREE! What in the world? This whole aging thing, watching my kids grow up and seeing how quickly time flies just floors me. It seriously messes with my mind.
I don’t really mind getting older. I try to remind myself to enjoy every stage of life. I also think life would get old pretty darn quick if we all just stayed the same age all the time and never progressed.
It’s just weird to slowly see myself turning into an old lady though. The wrinkles are multiplyin’ and I’ve seen a few white eyebrow hairs showin’ up!? What the????
I had a fun birthday and enjoyed plenty of not healthy food! The night before my birthday my mom and my sister and her family came over. It was fun! We had pizza and cake and played games. I loved every minute.
On my actual birthday, I enjoyed spending time with the fam, taking a blessed nap and eating awesome food! It was pretty much a perfect day.
I don’t really like to over-plan my birthday; I just love to take it easy, chill and do fun things with the ones I love. I always try to do something fun that includes the kids and something fun with just Kev and I, so that’s what we did!
I knew I wanted to get some donuts for my birthday and I’d heard the donuts at Fresh Donut and Deli (such a basic and forgettable name!) were really good, so we got some!
Aaaaand, I didn’t take any pictures of the donuts, but oh my goodness, they WERE so good! Wow.
Afterward, we took the kiddos (the ones that were available!) to lunch at The Spaghetti Factory.
It was yummy and so nice to be with my sweet fam.
Afterward, we went home for a bit and took a short nap (heavenly!) Then Kev and I went shopping and I got a couple things at Nordstrom Rack (one of my all-time favorite stores!)
I got these New Balance Coreform Nergize shoes and I love them!
They are so comfortable and lightweight! I almost feel like I’m just wearing socks. I wanted a basic gym shoe that would match everything and this fit the bill!
I also got me a cute, comfy Zella hoodie that I love! I can’t find a picture online and I don’t feel like taking one myself (ha ha!), but just know that I love Zella! They’re an activewear company that I think are just sold in Nordstrom. They have so many cute things and when I buy them at The Rack, I always get a great deal!
Afterward, Kev and I stopped at Cubby’s for a late dinner because I wanted to get a burger and fries!
Kev and I both love Cubby’s so much! Every single thing I’ve ever eaten there is sooooo good! They also use healthy, top quality ingredients so I don’t feel too bad indulging!
Their burgers are on the smaller side too, which is good because it seems to be just the right size. It fills me up, but it doesn’t feel like a gut bomb! Their sweet potato fries are the best around too! Kev never used to like sweet potato fries, but after trying Cubby’s, he’s a fan!
Usually when I go to Cubby’s (when it’s not my birthday), I get a salad and some sweet potato fries and it’s just right. ALL of their salads are so good!
That pretty much sums up my birthday! It was such a nice, relaxing, enjoyable, stress-free day! <3
We also had a fun Valentine’s Day! Kev and I went out to dinner and a movie. We went to see The Upside and we both LOVED it!
It was just a nice, feel good, entertaining and hilarious movie! Kev said it’s one of his new favorites. We had a fun night.
Earlier that day I helped with my two little boy’s Elementary School classroom parties, which is always crazy, but fun. I’d also spent the night before helping to make a couple Valentine boxes for them….
My 10 year old son has a very creative mind and always wants to make a grandiose box! I was glad he finally settled on a tank, which was doable. My sweet 8 year old wanted a PikachuValentine’s box.
When my oldest son saw their boxes, he said “I always just decorated a box with stickers and put my name on it!” Ha ha! I think he grew up in the days before Pinterest! Crazy.
These two little boys have enjoyed making Valentine’s boxes the last few years which is fun, but a LOT of work! I’m grateful we only have to do it once a year!
*****************************************
Well, today I thought I’d share some of my very favorite supplements that I love and take on a regular basis.
First off, I want to say that there are a ZILLION different supplements out there and I’m skeptical of so many of them. There are so many vitamins, protein powders, herbs, natural remedies, pre-workouts, post workouts, fat burners, etc. It can be quite overwhelming!
I do extensive research before I take anything. I try to find things that will actually help my body, that are supportive to the body and that are based on good common sense and health.
I try to support my body with whole foods and adequate nutrition first, but I’ve definitely felt the benefits of the supplements I take as well! I think it’s important to remember that supplements are just that though….supplements. They are not meant to replace healthy practices, but rather enhance the healthy choices you’re already making in your life!
Vitamins
I started taking vitamins regularly years ago after my doctor recommended them! I went to my doctor because I felt like I got sick often and just felt tired and run down more often than I thought I should! She put me on a high dose of several mainstream vitamins and then recommended a couple I’d never heard of before too. You can click here to read all the details about my appointment and the specific vitamin amounts I took if you care to!
Anyway, I’ve since cut out the random vitamins and I’ve lowered the doses of some of the typical vitamins. This is what I’m taking on the regular right now….
When I eat my first meal of the day (anywhere between 12-2 PM), I take one 1000 mg Fish Oil capsule, one 1000 mg Vitamin C tablet, an Essential Enzyme (helps with digestion) and a 2000 IU tablet of Vitamin D.
In the evening around dinnertime, I take another 1000 mg Fish Oil capsule and two 100 mg tablets of magnesium.
My doctor recommended the Fish Oil, vitamin D and Vitamin C. I started taking the digestive enzyme several years ago after hearing a lot of good things about it. It just helps the body to break down foods easier and promotes healthy digestion.
Thankfully, I’ve never really had any major problems with digestion, but the enzymes definitely seem to help with bloating and gas causing foods. I used to only take an enzyme when I ate foods that I knew were hard to digest; now I take one with my first meal of the day and then I’ll take another one later on if I eat foods like onions, broccoli, beans, etc. It helps!
I started taking magnesium a couple of years ago when I heard from multiple sources that it was helpful to take for many reasons. I used to go to the gym, F45 and they were big proponents of magnesium. Apparently it helps with energy production, promotes better sleep, improves muscle soreness and repair and has a positive impact on blood glucose and insulin levels. Shortly after I heard from F45 to take Magnesium, my friend’s husband who is a doctor also recommended taking a magnesium supplement every day. I was sold.
Protein Powder
I started including protein powder in my diet about 10 years ago when I really started getting into health and fitness. I’ve since learned a lot about protein powder! There are so many different varieties (whey, casein, soy, vegan brown rice, egg, pea, hemp, etc.)
I’ve tried several different whey varieties and some brown rice, pea and hemp varieties too. I decided several years ago that I prefer a whey/casein blend. I’ve learned from my research that it’s very effective with muscle strength, growth and recovery. Also, the whey is quickly digested and the casein is slower to digest, which makes it perfect to take after a workout or before bed. I also like the macro makeup of whey/casein (higher in protein, lower in fat and carbs.)
It’s obviously personal preference. Some people may prefer a vegan variety or may not be able to digest dairy well. This isn’t an issue for me, so I love whey!
I’ve tried lots of different brands over the years, but this has been my go-to the past several years….
I really love PEScience Protein Powder because it tastes great, the ingredient list isn’t too scary and I love the macro ratio (110 calories, 1.5 g fat, <1 g carbohydrate and 24 g protein.)
It does have sucralose in it, so I’m debating about switching it up and finding one that’s made with a natural sweetener after I use up all of the protein I already have!
I also gotta say, that it’s obviously much better to consume protein from whole sources, but protein powder definitely makes living a healthy lifestyle a lot easier! I make myself an awesome protein shake almost every day full of tons of goodness.
I’m sure grateful that protein powder simplifies my life and makes my shakes taste good! I also use protein powder in various things like protein pancakes, mixed into Greek yogurt, or I make several yummy treats with it.
BCAAs and Glutamine
BCAAs stands for Branched-Chain Amino Acids. Amino acids are the “building blocks of proteins” and BCAAs are considered “essential” amino acids, meaning they are not made by the body. BCAAs are also found naturally in protein rich foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products.
I won’t take the time to thoroughly talk about what BCAAs are, but in my research and experience I’ve found that they are very helpful in an active lifestyle. The main benefits of BCAAs are that they:
- Increase muscle growth
- Help relieve muscle soreness after a workout and help with muscle recovery
- Helps delay fatigue during prolonged exercise
- Helps fortify the immune system
BCAAs can be very beneficial for people who live a very active lifestyle or for people who may not get enough BCAAs that are found naturally in food. I strive to workout 3-6 times a week and I workout VERY HARD when I do, so I have found BCAAs to be very helpful with recovery and just helping me to feel good! I typically take my BCAAs during my workout, but if I’ve had a particularly tough workout, I will take some more the next day too.
I’ve been using this Scivation Xtend brand that I found on Amazon and it’s great! I also saw it at Walmart the other day when I was there.
I also bought the Scivation RAW BCAAs because it is JUST BCAAs, nothing else. No artificial colors, sweeteners or flavors. Love that!
It tastes a little nasty though, just sayin’, so I like to mix in a little True Lime or True Lemon natural drink mix to make it taste better.
I also use Glutamine Powder (in the first picture) for post workout recovery and I SWEAR by this stuff! I also bought it on Amazon, but have seen it at Walmart too.
Glutamine is also an Amino Acid, but it is a non-essential one meaning that it is made by the body. It’s also found in many foods.
For people who live a very active lifestyle, the body may not make enough glutamine to support it adequately. Glutamine is similar to BCCAs in that it helps the muscles to recover and not break down and supports the immune system.
I typically take glutamine at night before going to bed on the days I’ve had a strenuous workout. I always notice a big difference! If I take it, my muscles aren’t nearly as sore and if I forget to take it, they are always MUCH more sore! Glutamine is one supplement that I can actually FEEL the benefit from. Love it!
Collagen Peptides and Greens Powder
Collagen is very popular right now! Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is found in our bones, skin, hair, ligaments, tendons and nails.
Our natural collagen production slows down as we age and as we put a lot of stress on the body, so a collagen supplement can help a lot! Collagen has been shown to improve skin health, reverse aging, ease joint pain, help build muscle and lose fat, prevent bone loss, increase the strength of hair and nails and improve gut health.
I also love to take collagen because each scoop provides ~10 grams of protein. I really like this Sports Research brand that I found on Amazon.
It’s high quality, a great price and it doesn’t taste like anything, which is a plus! Vital Proteins is probably the most popular brand out there, but it’s quite expensive! I’ve found this one by Sports Research to be equally as good and a much better value.
I also love a good Greens Powder. There is so much good crap crammed in that powder! I really like this one by Nested (I got it on Amazon) because it doesn’t taste like dirt! It doesn’t taste good, but it just doesn’t have a really strong taste, which is a HUGE plus for a greens powder!
I love that a greens powder includes so many things that I could never get in my body otherwise. Here’s a list of all of the goodness in there (click to enlarge)…
I usually add a scoop of greens powder into my protein shakes or if I’m in a hurry, I just put some protein powder and greens powder into a shaker cup with water and call it good!
Super easy!
I also buy Amazing Grass products quite often.
I love the quality, but MAN, most of them taste disgusting! I found that the Orange Dream and Chocolate Peppermint flavors tasted decent, but it doesn’t look like they make those flavors anymore! So lame.
Well that pretty much sums up all of the supplements I take on the regular. I like to think that each thing I take is helping my body AND simplifying my life. I change things up from time to time, but these products seem to keep staying in my life!
Well, I’m sorry this post is so darn long. When I don’t post often, I always have a LOT to say!! I hope you all have a wonderful evening!
Leave a comment....I would love to hear from you!