Alix- can you explain your morning drinks? The recipes and why you drink them?
The two beverages I have every morning is my Athletic Greens and coffee. I drink the AG over ice and add fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. You can read on their website all the ingredients and benefits, but I have been taking it for a year and a half consistently and love it. It’s taken the place of many of my supplements, helps with energy and gut health. The added ACV also helps with gut health and managing blood sugars. The lemon is just some extra vitamin C and adds flavor. I’ll sometimes add the lemon vital proteins instead. Drinking over ice is key. I also have my coffee with vital proteins every morning because it’s an easy way to add protein and collagen to my diet. The jury is still somewhat out if collagen supplements are worth the hype to be honest, but it does add protein and if it helps my joints at all I will take it! No down sides but cost really.
If I’m lucky and have extra time I will try and make a juice using my Magic Bullet mini juicer and just add what I have in the fridge. I like to be veggie heavy with my juices and not have a bunch of fruit sugar in them. Cucumber, ginger, turmeric, celery, etc. are all very hydrating and anti inflammatory. Nice way to start the day if I can.
You both seem to have good daily routines and habits. How do you get started with a routine?
Thanks! It’s something we have both really been honing in on over the past few years. It takes time and consistency to start and maintain routines. I think having kids almost forces you to be very productive and structured with your time in order to get things done. I would say start with morning or evening routine (not both) to focus on first. Pick the area that you feel the most unstructured/chaotic about. Write down a list of goals you’d like to accomplish and write down a schedule of how you’d fit those in. This might mean you need to wake up earlier or get into bed earlier. A habit tracker might be helpful to get you started as well. If you search the blog we have both done a few posts on our morning and evening routines.
Alix do you have any tips for lowering cortisol?
Well cortisol should naturally be at it’s highest in the morning to help you get you up and going then tapper off as the day winds down. Cortisol isn’t all bad, but you definitely don’t want it high all day esp. at night.
First step is obviously to get your cortisol checked and review with a functional medicine doctor or naturopath. We’ve both done the at home saliva kits and had our NDs review the results with us. Heather wrote a post on her experience working with a ND. There are certain supplements that can help, but I would want them to recommend that for you.
Things like getting enough sleep, exercise, well balanced diet, limiting caffeine, etc. The things we are all ideally doing 😉 Acupuncture is also a great tool to help manage cortisol levels as well. I’m terrible at meditation practices, but obviously that and breathing exercises to help the management of stress and increased cortisol levels.
Where should I start with figuring out what supplements to take and how to improve my nutrition?
Good question. Supplements are very overwhelming because there are so many different ones out there, lots of health claims, and o regulation from the FDA. Being savvy when choosing what supplements to take and what brands of supplements to take can feel like a daunting task. Once again working with a dietitian, naturopath, functional medicine doctor, or a savvy PCP is a really smart starting point. It’s ideal to get labs drawn first so you can supplement appropriately.
I did this post last year on my supplement routine that needs to be update because I’ve added a few things- so will do that soon.
Improving nutrition should come before supplementation. Supplements are meant to fill in the gaps in our diet. I have a lot of nutrition content on the blog, so just search for specific topics of interest. This post might be a good starting point and working with a Registered Dietitian would be really beneficial 😉
What are your most comfortable pair of shoes for walking.. not necessarily athletic shoes.
I packed these for Italy and they’ve been the best walking shoe while also looking cute with my outfits.
Any recent Amazon posts? I haven’t seen one in awhile!
This is my most recent with designer inspired accessories.
What is your favorite pair of jean shorts?
Alix has these and they are on my (H) wish list!
Where are you going in Italy?
We are in Rome now, leaving tomorrow for Tuscany, followed by Florence, Venice and Lake Como. Looking forward to the countryside and Lake Como the most but enjoying every minute exploring, window shopping, drinking the most delicious aperol spritzes, and people watching.
xx, H&A
