I know you’ve done lots of posts on skincare but can I get the 101 on just facial sunscreen? For everyday.. budget and splurge!
By now, you know that wearing SPF is a non-negotiable for both of us. Daily SPF is the most important thing you can do for your skin. No moisturizer or miracle serum in the world is as beneficial as basic sun protection. So here are the ones we love and why:
I’ve heard of people counting their Macros for fat loss and gaining muscle. Have you ever done it?
I’ve never done it because well…that sounds exhausting. Counting macros means counting the grams of each (carbs, protein, and fat) and having specific percentages you’re trying to achieve daily. General recommendations are:
Carbs: 45–65% of total calories
Fats: 20–35% of total calories
Proteins: 10–35% of total calories
Ideally, you’re working with a registered dietitian to help you properly adjust these ranges to meet your specific health goals (ex. fat loss). Sure there are apps to help you track all of this, but I still feel like it can trigger an obsession/unhealthy relationship with food. I’d rather encourage you to get a balance of all 3 macros from good quality sources + lots of fruit and veggies to get in all those micronutrients and fiber.
You’ve probably talked about this before and I know you’re anti-diet but can you give me your take on Whole 30?
I think it’s REALLY restrictive, so it depends on what your motives are for wanting to do it. Whole 30 claims to change your life in 30 days…sounds great right?! To be fair, I’m sure some people really do feel amazing because of the extra attention they are paying to their nutritional intake and how significantly they are cleaning up their diet. If someone is consuming a ton of processed foods, sugar, and booze and replaces that with vegetables, lean protein, and water of course they are going to feel way better.
I think there are some aspects of the diet that are great (limiting alcohol, processed/junk food, added sugars, etc) things everyone should be working on. However, it limits complete food groups which is always a red flag with any diet. After 30 days …now what? This can often lead people to get on a binge/restrict cycle and increase feelings of guilt around food once the diet is over. I like some of the “whole 30” recipes and think many of the aspects of this diet can be incorporated into your diet, but overall this diet is really strict and rigid and not realistic for most people and can set you up for a yo-yo dieting cycle. I like to pick and choose different aspects of different diets and create a way of eating that works best for me without being boxed in with a rigid eating plan. That’s my take 😉
I still have that stubborn belly fat from pregnancy and I’m having the hardest time getting rid of it! What exercises should I be doing at home and in the gym?
The “stubborn belly fat” is realllllly related to hormones and diet. Of course physical activity plays a significant role, but you first need to get your hormones and diet in check and that takes time postpartum.
You also can’t spot treat your body…like just doing a plank everyday isn’t going to give you washboard abs…you have to do full body workouts. Once you’ve reduced the excess body fat you can spend a little extra time targeting the ab muscles and work on strengthening them. I really like these ab exercises for PP mamas.
Also be sure you’ve healed any pregnancy-related abdominal issues before getting too aggressive with your workouts. Be patient and kind to yourself…it will take time for your body to adjust.
I need a new gym bag and a carrier for my yoga mat. Can you link your favorites?
Yes! We love a backpack for our gym goods. Love this backpack from Lululemon, this State backpack and this budget friendly camo version from Athleta. As for your yoga mat, can’t go wrong with Lululemon or this version that has compartments for your clothes/phone. Multi-purpose!
What oils should I be using for stretch mark prevention and cellulite?
Heather here.. I’ve been alternating the following oils for stretch mark treatment (unfortunately, stretch marks are hereditary so no amount of oil will prevent them if you’re susceptible). I got stretch marks after my second and third pregnancies and with diet, exercise and consistent oil usage, my stretch marks are slowly fading. Again, stretch marks will never go away completely but these oils should help:
I need a new pinky/nude lipgloss.. can you link your best splurge and save?
I carry an array of lipgloss in my purse at all times and these are the ones in heavy rotation right now:
NYX is my favorite ever for your drugstore brand. But make sure to get the BUTTER FLOSS and not the MATTE unless that’s your thing. I like a WET LIP personally!
NYX Apple Strudel, NYX Fortune Cookie, NYX Vanilla Cream Pie, NYX Angel Food Cake (they all look very similar so you can rotate them really easily).
My splurge would be between NARS Turkish Delight and Marc Jacobs.
I am also training for a half marathon and I’m curious what your training program looks like. How far in advance should someone train? And can you link your favorite running accessories (headphones, water bottle, fanny pack situation?)
Congratulations! As of right now neither one of us has started actually “training” but running 1-2 x week to maintain endurance. Typically you should start training about 10-14 weeks before your race. We plan to follow a similar plan to this for our training and we wrote a post here with all our fave running gear. We will keep you guys updated on the training! Good luck!
How do you clean your jade/quartz facial rollers?
After every use, wipe it down with a clean microfiber towel. If that doesn’t remove all of the product, soak it in warm water and soap and pat dry with a clean towel. Do this after every use to avoid irritating the skin or clogging pores.
Thanks for sending us your questions! Send us more at champagnetheory@gmail.com or DM us on Insta.
xx, A&H
