FEBRUARY: ALL THE THINGS
Tidbits from the month.
I’m wrapping up the month with a range of things…conversations with friends on health and wellness, what I’ve purchased, what’s lingering in my cart, and a reading and watching list.
Between friends:
We’ve been on the subject of adding muscle mass, how to get enough protein and fiber, workouts, etc. I am far from being in a position to push any products or wellness routines, but I am more than happy to share what works for me. The following is a compilation from recent conversations from friends and the products and practices I personally adhere to.
But first, on any wellness, health, and dietary subjects I post about…the information and opinions expressed are my own. I am not a healthcare professional and you should always consult your physician, doctor, or healthcare provider before beginning any nutrition or exercise program.
~Strength training: I train three times a week for one hour. No cardio mixed in with the training, just weights. I lift as heavy as I can. I’m not afraid of muscles getting too big. At my age, it’s hard enough to even gain muscle mass. My focus is on strength. I want to comfortably put my carry-on in the overhead on flights, lift grandchildren when they come along in the future, be at ease with physical activity and not depend on others to help me with tasks. I loosely refer to Peter Attia’s Centenarian Decathalon as some of my goals.
~Other exercise: For years, I went to a small group Pilates class. When the instructor left, the group dissolved. Since then, I’ll jump in a class here and there on my own, but far from the consistent schedule I maintained in the past. Pilates is a great complement to strength training and I’m trying to fit it in every week at least once. I also try to get 10,000 daily steps in. I use an Oura ring for an accurate count. The Oura ring also provides other metrics I like to dive into, mostly on sleep.
~Protein: My personal goal is to have 20-30g of protein with every meal. It takes planning but is achievable most days. The obvious sources are fish, chicken and grass fed beef which quickly meet the numbers. If I can do one of those at lunch and dinner, I’m good. For breakfast, Siggi’s Skyr Icelandic Plain Yogurt is my go-to. I prefer the non-fat version. A serving size (3/4 cup) is 100 calories, 5g sugar and 19g protein. I’ll have 1.5 of that size getting me to 28g of protein. I’ll add berries, diced apple, a few walnuts, whatever I feel like that day to keep it varied. Another option is Good Culture Cottage Cheese (lactose free version available too) served for breakfast the same way as above, or with tomatoes and cucumbers for lunch, or on toasted bread with sprouts*. If I’m having trouble meeting my protein goals for the day, I’ll make a protein shake with TruNutrition Beef Isolate Protein Powder. It’s animal based but without whey, which is hard for some people to digest. One scoop has 32g of protein.
~Fiber: My preference is from whole food vegetables and fruit but I can get a whopping 12g from one slice of *Hero Seeded Bread. Toasted with cottage cheese and broccoli sprouts is one of my lunch or afternoon snack options. I can’t blanket recommend all Hero products. Some have additives I’d prefer to avoid. I use the Yuka app for a quick analysis of most packaged foods.
~Additional useful products: I have a Withings Body Smart Scale to measure muscle and fat gain or loss. I weigh myself every morning and the scale sends the information to my phone. I only read the results once a week to see how my numbers are trending. I’m not too interested in my actual weight and prefer to focus on the percentage of muscle and fat mass change. It’s incremental on a weekly basis but I can refer to the numbers over a semester or year to see significant change. I have the baseline model which provides as much info as I want. When starting out on reaching personal protein goals, I used a simple digital kitchen scale to measure portions. Now I have a good eye for what 6oz of fish, chicken, etc. looks like so don’t refer to it as often. But it’s nice to have around. A small digital scale like the one I have is under $10 and fits in a drawer.
~More stuff: I have the following products bookmarked for further research. These have been referred to me by friends. Moonbrew Night Time Superfoods (ordered and received today!), AlgaeCal Collagen Complete, and Ritual Protein Powder. I’ve cut way back on supplements and take vitamin D, a fish oil, and Timeline Mitopure Urolithin A. I add a scoop of Vital Proteins Daily Foundational Support to my morning coffee. I’d like to be consistent with creatine but I’m always forgetting about it. I have Thorne Creatine. It dissolves in water and is tasteless. I’m interested in creatine for slowing cognitive decline and helping with muscle mass. I might swap it with MindBodyGreen Creatine with Taurine as another option when I’m out of the Thorne. And, if you’ve ever been curious about 8 Sleep, its been a game changer for me. Function wise, it’s amazing. Aesthetically, there’s room for improvement. Price - too expensive. But, I still love it.
WHAT I BOUGHT:
…not much. Refer to the below post to read more about the three items I purchased from COS. That number may increase when I receive the jacket and shirt I refer to in navy. I’m being mindful of purchasing doubles (my More of This / Less of That post), but when something is really good at a great price, all bets are off. I’m also working on building more casual outfits around pieces I already own. Both the jacket and shirt meet that need.
THREE BUYS FROM COS
COS continues to be the brand I turn to for updated staples and unique pieces with personality, all at a fair price. My latest picks from the early spring collection include both. Read below for what I bought and am likely purchasing in doubles (different colors though).
I talked about beige suede in Five Ways to Add Daily Flair and decided on this classic Gucci loafer for myself. I am a horsebit fan, so this was not a tough decision. Plus, Gucci shoes fit me well.
Seasonally I need to adjust my shade of concealer. My skin tone changes and depending on products I’m using, the texture varies too. The Cle de Peau I’ve been using started looking chalky and the color seemed off. I wanted a product that covered my circles but disappeared on my skin and Chanel’s Long Lasting Concealer met those needs. It blends beautifully.
I also wanted a new nude lipstick which is always challenging for me. The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in #60 Intemporelle is a fantastic matte formulation that stays on and isn’t drying. I love the consistency and am going back for another, this time in a deeper rose color. Essentielle #63 looks good to try. Did you know all of my favorite beauty products are viewable in one spot to shop? Go to my SHOP MY page to see everything.
IN MY CARTS & ON MY WISHLIST:
I’m considering the BV Gemelli as my workhorse bag for upcoming travel. I need to try it on to confirm actual space and comfort level worn crossbody. Also would like to consider color options other than black.
Lots of chatter about Jamie Haller jeans and shoes lately. I’m giving The Crease jean a try and will report back. Not convinced they fill a void in my closet though. The Jamie Haller loafers and boat shoes have a small cult following and are reviewed as incredibly soft and comfortable if you’re in the market for either. I haven’t tried (nor do I need) either.
I took a trip down memory lane when I saw this Prada loafer. A reinterpretation of an archive style from the Spring/Summer 1999 collection I loved and remember so well. It was a splurge for me then and I wore them all the time. They seemed to go with everything, or so I thought. Then under $500, now $1,250 to $1370 depending on store. I put the Fendi x Red Wing boots on my wishlist when I first spotted them on the runway. So far, the release has only issued them in leather which does not have the same appeal. TBC.
I’ll never tire of layering a sweater over a white tee. That little slice of white brightens everything. Both of these images are on my spring moodboard as a reminder to not overthink styling. I love the toss on and go vibe made chic with interesting colors. The navy and olive combo looks fresh and one I’ll incorporate into my casual outfits. Not particularly new, but the soft khaki and grey is another combination that has a nice ring to it right now.
There are many ways to introduce the blouson bomber jacket into a wardrobe. If the COS style is not quite right, look at both the Moncler option in black (I love this for travel and would wear it day or night - great detailing) and the Dries Van Noten piece. They both have personality with interest at the neckline - a feature that adds a feminine element. On a simpler note, Uniqlo:C (collection from Clare Waight Keller) just dropped a chic, no-fuss style. Zipped sides and ruched sleeves give it a stylish edge above an everyday bomber. The aqua blue with olive green is a striking color pairing. The relaxed silhouette from Reformation gets high marks and is a fresh take on the familiar denim jacket.
BOOKCLUB NOTES:
My bookclub meets monthly and (aside from me) is very well read. They always have a great list of options to consider for our next book. We also briefly talk about shows or movies worth watching. Notes from our February meeting are below. If you have recommendations in either category, please add them in the comments.
We just finished The Heart of Winter: A Novel by Jonathan Evison. It opened a great discussion on relationships and aging. Our next read is Isola by Allegra Goodman.
Others up for consideration:
The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier, Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier, Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman’s Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell, The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin Dunne, There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak, Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, and Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty are a few. I’ll add more if there’s interest in seeing the full list.
On the Watch List:
MOVIES:
Lee
Goodrich
The Substance
Anora
A Rainy Day in New York City
I’m Still Here
Perfect Days
A Complete Unknown
September 5th
Juror #2
SERIES:
Landman
Apple Cider Vinegar
Goliath (older but great for Billy Bob Thornton fans)
Pachinko
Stephen Curry: Underrated
Somebody Somewhere
I hope you all had a great February. Thanks for reading and please comment with any of your recommendations or thoughts.
Love this refreshing and inspiring recap… they’re things completely different from other blogs and substacks I read! Thank you
Great post! Thank you!