The Wellness Edit
My current wellness routine and what's actually working for my hormones, weight, anxiety, and sleep
Over the last few years, and as recently as the last month or two, I’ve made some big changes to improve both my physical and mental health. Before I had kids, I was pretty extreme in the way that I cared for my body, going to CrossFit 4-5 days a week and following a strict paleo diet. As a mom, putting that kind of energy into my health no longer felt sustainable.
But here I was, a perimenopausal mom of three, exhausted, anxious, burned out, and carrying 25 pounds I couldn't shake no matter what I tried. I finally decided to get some answers and paying attention to my labs, my habits, and what my body actually needed. These are the products that have genuinely moved the needle for me. Not a perfect routine, but a real one that works.
Protein Powder: One of the most important things we can do as women in our late 30s-40s and beyond is increase our protein intake. This cinnamon vanilla clean, plant-based protein is delicious and has zero added sugar. I blend it with ice, almond milk, and a banana almost every day.
Infrared Sauna Blanket: This at=home sauna blanket promotes a full-body detox and burn calories, increase blood flor, reduce stress, and elevate mood. It’s great for your skin, too.
Green Juice: This one is new to me, but I am hooked. Raw Generation sent some of their juices to try, and I loved them so much that I ordered a box. Use code DANIELLE15 for 15% off.
Probiotic: This is good for your gut health, immunity, mood, skin, weight, metabolism, and even vaginal health. Ritual is third party tested, you know exactly what's in it and why, and the delayed release capsule means it survives long enough to actually do something.
Multivitamin: A multivitamin fills the nutritional gaps in your diet that you're almost certainly missing even if you eat well. Most people are deficient in several key nutrients and don't know it because the symptoms are subtle and easy to chalk up to just being tired or busy.
Iron: I was extremely iron deficient when I started this wellness journey, so taking a daily iron supplement is a must for me. Iron is one of the must underdiagnosed deficiencies in women. If you still have a period, you’re losing iron every month, andas estrogen starts shifting in perimenopause, your body's ability to absorb iron changes, too.
Colostrum: This is great for your immune system, hair, skin, metabolism, and more. I just add it to my green juice (although you can add it to any cold beverage), and you’d never know it’s in there.
Weighted Vest: This was designed by a former CIA officer and fits so well. I got it for long walks with Dottie, so now I just need to leash train her. 🙃
Brick: If you’ve ever set screen time limits and just go past them without thinking twice, you need the Brick. I thought it might be gimmicky, but there’s a reason you keep seeing it! The Brick reduced my screen time by 60% week one. I Brick Instagram, and Gmail (because I don’t have to answer email on my phone), and it’s really helped me avoid scrolling, especially at night. Use my link to save.
Leggings: Whether you’re walking, spinning, or doing yoga, these are the softest and most comfortable workout leggings you’ll ever wear. I replaced all of my Lululemon Align leggings with these.
Tumbler: Not exactly an original pick, but I have such a hard time committing to staying hydrated, and my Stanley makes it so much easier.
Electrolytes: If you struggle to drink plain water and like a little flavor without the sugar or other artificial sweeteners, this electrolyte powder is so good, and the flavors are all delicious. The piña colada is my favorite.
Theragun: I’ve been working out more, and as a result, have been a lot more sore. I started seeing a chiropractor which has helped a lot, and I’ve been using my Theragun regularly to break through any tight muscles.
Red Light Panel: Everyone’s talking about these red light masks but they can only be used on your face. I prefer a panel since I can use it on my neck, arms, and even scalp. It’s great for hair growth, muscle recovery, energy, inflammation, and more. I would love to get this one at some point.
Sleep Support: I alternate between Lemme sleep gummies and these sleep gummies, and sometimes take both. As someone who has issues shutting their very overactive brain off at night, this magnesium is great, too. But the biggest change has been using my Brick at night since it keeps me from getting trapped scrolling my phone.
Midi Health: I started seeing a Midi clinician last summer and wish I had known about this practice when I started working with my concierge doctor, because I have gotten the same (if not better) care covered by insurance. This mention is not in partnership with Midi, but I did partner with them earlier this year because I’ve had the best experience. If you are a woman who is 35+ and struggling, I cannot recommend Midi enough.
Now let’s dive into where I’m at on the medical side. I’m going to share numbers in case that’s helpful, so if that’s not something you want to read about, just skip this part.