Hi friends! Happy Friday! How was your week? Ours was a good one. Lots of fun events with the kids and we’re headed off on a holly jolly adventure this weekend.

I can’t even believe Christmas is a few days away. How are we feeling, friends?? Are you ready? I totally feel like it snuck up on us this year, and while I think I’ve done a lot, I still feel like there’s so much to do. I’m trying to just take a step back, breathe, and rememebr the true reason for the season and not get too wrapped into the stress behind it all (even though it can be a lot). We’ve got this, friends!

Friendly reminder: it’s not too late to join in this year’s Favorite Things giveway! There are SO MANY amazing prizes up for grabs – the winner will get over $1800 worth of goodies.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

12.20 Friday Faves

Fashion + beauty + random:

(Holiday nails with Liv! While this won’t be a regular thing – dance competitions start in January and she can’t have anything on her nails – it was a fun little Christmas activity)

If you’re shopping for last-minute gifts, here are some ideas from this year’s gift guides:

– For Her

– For Him

– For Teens

– For the Kids

–

Sharing a roundup of some of my favorite post workout snacks and ideas for fueling around your workouts. 

Hi friends! How’s the morning going? I hope you’re having a great one so far! I’m over here editing podcast content and have client calls the rest of the day.

For today, I wanted to chat a bit about workout fueling and some pot workout snacks. While I am a certified nutrition coach, personal trainer, and Integrative Health Practitioner, these are just friendly general suggestions. As always, reach out to your personal RD or health team for personalized advice.

As we all know, I looove working out. Some days are easier than others, but I experience so many amazing benefits from taking the time to move my body each day; I’m sure many of you can relate. It gives me mental clarity, energy, strength, confidence, and I love checking the box towards long-term health. After I work out, I usually have a meal or a healthy snack. Fueling yourself post exercise can maximize performance, speed up muscle recovery, and restore energy levels.

Just a heads up that not all snacks are created equal—some can derail progress.

Today I wanted to share a roundup of healthy post workout snacks that will help refuel, rebuild muscle tissue, and help you feel satisfied after sweaty workouts.

10 Healthy Post Workout Snacks

There’s a lot of nuance to workout fueling: how hungry are you? What time of day is it? What type of workout are you doing? What did you already eat today?

My very general rule of thumb is nothing or a little carbs before a workout, protein + carbs afterwards. When you include carbohydrates and protein, this can help restore glucose levels, support muscle repair and post workout recovery.

Here are some ideas for store-bought snacks and homemade recipes that include both plant-based and traditional meat protein sources.

Is It Healthy To Eat After A Workout?

Eating after a workout is one of the keys to recovery, whether it’s a snack or a meal. It depends on the timing of your workout.

Intense workouts break down muscle tissue and deplete glycogen stores.

Some of the benefits of eating after a workout:

Muscle recovery and repair – Provides essential amino acids for protein synthesis.

Restores energy – Replenishes glycogen through carbohydrates. When you combine protein and carbs, this can potentially enhance this.

Reduces muscle soreness – Supports faster healing and reduces inflammation.

Optimizes performance – Fuels the body for future workouts. You can crush your workouts if you’re depleted!

Sharing a roundup of my favorite wellness products from 2024! If you’re looking to use FSA/HSA credits before they expire, I’ve included these little asterisks *** for companies that will accept FSA/HSA or can be potentially reiumbursed with a medical letter of necessity. Of course, check with your doctor and insurance provider!

Hi friends! How are you? How was the weekend? I hope you had a great one. Ours was low-key and lovely. We went out to dinner with friends, I taught two barre classes and we did some holiday baking.

For today’s post, I wanted to share a roundup of my favorite wellness products from 2024! These are perfect as we finish out December, start to make health and new year’s goals, and also use up any FSA or HSA credits before they expire. I’d love to hear about your favorite health/wellness products that you’re loving, too!

Just a heads up that I don’t use an FSA or HSA, but I know so many of you do, so if you have any helpful tips, please share them in the comments.

(Note: I’ve also tried to include newer products for this year, but am also featuring some tried and true faves that I still use all the time. Because I love all of these products so much, I’m an affiliate for many of them. These links enable me to earn a small kickback and they support our family and this little blog. Thank you so much to those of you who shop through my links!)

My favorite wellness products from 2024

***Nutrisense CGM

This is a fairly newer find – I’ve been using them on and off for about two years – and I think it’s one of the most valuable things you can do for your metabolic health. SO many of us are insulin resistant, and by wearing a CGM, you can get instant data on how your workouts, sleep, nutrition (especially sugar and alcohol), exercise, stress, and habits affect your blood glucose levels. I like to wear one every couple of months just to check in, and my blood sugar is something I’ve been trying to monitor since my numbers are often a little higher than I’d like them to be.

They also offer nutriitonist calls that are often covered by insurance! I have one booked and can’t wait to try it. Check out the CGM plans here and use the code GINA50. It’s perfect timing to order now and then you’re ready to go after the holidays.

Clearly Filtered pitcher

This pitcher filters out 360+ contaminants and is super easy to use. I just fill it with water from the fridge and structure it next to my Somavedic. I like these filters because they’re inexpensive (about $1

Sharing a new podcast episode with Dr. Peter Martone about sleep, how sleep posture affects your health, and tips you can implement right now.

We talk about:

– How sleep posture impacts your health

– The ideal sleep posture

– Keys to getting a great night’s sleep

and so.much.more.

176: How to fix your sleep and transform your health with Dr. Peter Martone

Here’s more about Dr. Martone and his background:

Dr. Peter Martone is an educator and patient care practitioner who has been focused on improving patient’s biomechanics for over 23 years during his private practice as a chiropractor. Dr. Martone always believed that the structure of your spine effects the function of the central nervous system, and this principle is the cornerstone of his practice.

Dr. Martone’s core belief is that the central nervous system controls every function in the human body and in order to be able to express true health you have to keep your nervous system healthy. When your spine falls out of alignment due to poor spinal mechanics, it interferes with the proper function of the nervous system thus throwing the body out of balance.

Peter’s mission is to help as many people as possible achieve optimal health function and performance so they can reach their full potential in life. During his 23 years of practice, Dr. Martone found it harder and harder to keep his patients aligned due to the stress of the modern-day lifestyle on their posture. His patients were coming in with the same problems which inspired him to come up with an innovative solution to help correct patients spines while they sleep. He worked with designers and engineers to create the Neck Nest, his newest product that helps correct patients spines while they sleep.

Dr. Martone’s revolutionary concepts are designed to help restore proper biomechanics of the spine by adopting a neutral sleeping position, helping you sleep better, live longer and be healthier. His techniques have been featured on CBS, NBC, Fox News, Dave Asprey’s Upgraded Conference, and over 50 podcasts as he travels the world teaching people how to regain their health by mastering the art of sleeping.

Check out Neck Nest here (I can’t wait to try this) and connect with Read more

’Tis the season for fun family gatherings, lots of holiday events, and wondering how the heck you’re going to fit in a workout. I’m always a fan of quick dumbbell circuits, but even more during such a busy season. I’ll always appreciate the amazing feeling I get when I can grab a pair of dumbbells, put in my headphones, and 20-30 minutes later, I’m sweaty and energized to tackle the rest of the day.

For today’s post, I wanted to share a quick workout you can do anywhere this holiday season. All you need is a medium pair of dumbbells and a mat. Please let me know if you give it a try! (As always, talk with a doctor before making any fitness changes and honor your body.)

Holiday Strength Circuit Workout

Form cues and tips:

Squat to Upright Row

Holding a pair of dumbbells, keep your chest lifted and your weight in your heels as you squat down and back. Exhale and squeeze your booty to rise, and perform an upright row at the top.

Jump Squats

Make sure to land softly with bent knees. As you spring up, reach your arms overhead, and try to create some lightness within the movement. Squat as low as you can and reach up as high as you can.

Curtsy Lunges

Cross one leg back and behind the other, and come down into a curtsy lunge. The front foot stays flat on the ground and the back foot has the heel raised off the floor.

Froggers

Start in plié squat position. Bring your hands down to touch the floor (keep your chest up). Jump up and land, touching the floor.

Biceps Curl to Overhead Press

Holding a dumbbell, squeeze your biceps and exhale as you curl, inhale to bring the weights up to 90 degrees and exhale to press up overhead.

Push-up to Renegade Row

Start in a plank position, on your knees or toes, holding dumbbells in both hands. Keep your hips down in line with your spine, and exhale, squeezing your chest, to rise.Lift one dumbbell up and squeeze your back to bend the elbow in towards