changing things up

This post is sponsored by LOLA through my partnership with Mediakix. As always, all opinions are my own. Be sure to use the code FITNESSISTA at checkout. The first 100 readers to order will get 50% off! 

Things are about to get a little girly over here. (Warning to my 4 male readers: may want to skip this one.)

Whenever we start a New Year, I try to think of ways I can change up our current routine to support our health or be more green for the environment. I try to avoid harmful toxins when it makes sense, and read the ingredients and labels of the products we purchase. It hasn’t been an “all or nothing” kinda thing, and I’ve been making slow changes ever since I became pregnant with Liv.

Shortly after we found out we were expecting, I became acutely aware of the ingredients in our cleaning products, and began using more natural lines in addition to making my own. (My fave is a mix of Meyer’s soap, water, vinegar and lavender oil.) I started researching the ingredients in beauty products, and was pretty horrified with my findings. As I began to learn more about the carcinogens and endocrine disruptors companies are able to use (and not disclose!), I revamped my routine and started using more natural options.

Here are some of the main changes we’ve made over time:

Switched over to mostly using cloth towels instead of paper towels, and glass containers instead of plastic.

We started stashing our reusable bags in the car so we’d actually remember to bring them! We also ditched the plastic produce bags. (I wash the produce anyway, so I figured why waste a bag?)

I started seeking out BPA-free brands at the grocery store. 

Using more natural beauty and skincare lines. I’ve posted quite a bit of this, and am always excited to learn about new brands that are working to provide safe and effective products.

I’ve spent many years caring about the types of foods we purchase, and the cleaning and skincare products we use at home, but feminine products were the last on my list to change. This is interesting to me because it’s literally something that goes INSIDE YOUR BODY and I was completely unaware of the ingredients that are commonly used.

When I did more digging into my once-favorite tampon brand, I learned that the ingredients were a little on the sketchy side, and started to explore alternate options. 

Some of the things I’ve learned:

The FDA doesn’t require brands to disclose a comprehensive list of ingredients in their feminine care, so most of them don’t. We wouldn’t buy a box of food without an ingredient label, so it’s interesting to me that this is totally normal in the feminine product aisle. 

Major brands use a mix of synthetic ingredients in their tampons including rayon and polyester. These can be abrasive fabrics in a delicate area. Their tampons may also be treated with harsh chemical cleansing agents, fragrance, and dyes. “Fragrance” is an umbrella term that companies are able to use for over 1,000 chemicals. (Here is the full list of all of the things that can be simply labeled “fragrance.” It’s crazy.) 

After Liv was born and my cycle returned, I ventured down to the health food store to find some more natural options for my monthly visitor. I’ve tried quite a few over the years, but have had a hard time discovering my very favorite. They either had uncomfortable cardboard applicators, no applicators, or were prone to leakage. I’ve eventually tried a menstrual cup, and used it for a couple of years, but after having P and the medical issues/surgery, the thought of using one again makes my toes curl. Back to tampons it was. 

Finally, I found something that adheres to my beliefs and is super convenient: LOLA.

Here’s why I love it:

-LOLA uses 100% organic cotton – cotton is a heavily-sprayed crop so this is important – and that’s it! The applicator tampons either contain a simple cardboard or plastic applicator. You can also order applicator-free, pads, and liners. 

-They’re extremely convenient. Finding organic food in South Georgia is an expensive treasure hunt, and you can forget about natural beauty products and feminine products. Before I started using LOLA, I had to order tampons online and would often forget in time for the next month. 

-With LOLA, you can customize your monthly subscription and change or cancel it at any time. In full transparency, I received my first boxes for free, but am now a paying customer. 

-Pricing is inexpensive for the awesome quality: $10 for a box of applicator tampons and $18 for two boxes. You can mix and match the amount of each type of tampons in each box. My cycle changes by the day, so the fact that I can mix-and-match different absorbencies is pretty clutch. 

If you want to give it a try, they’re offering an amazing deal for Fitnessista readers: use the code FITNESSISTA to get 50% off your order. 

And since we’re talking about girly stuff, I’ll tell ya a random tip that has really helped with cramps: hip stretches. The months that I am stretching my hips, glutes and hip flexors (usually taking 2-3 yoga classes in the week or two before my cycle starts), I notice that my cramps virtually disappear. Give it a whirl. 🙂

xo

Gina