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Suit of the Week: Favorite Daughter

young professional woman wears stylish navy pant suit

For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional. Also: we just updated our big roundup for the best women's suits of 2024!

I'm still poking around the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale that just started, but so far I'm pleased with what I'm seeing — big brands like Favorite Daughter are marked down.

This navy suit looks great — Favorite Daughter blazers always seem so modern and sleek.

The blazer was $368 but is now $258, and the matching pants (were $248) are now marked to $173.

Sales of note for 12.5

188 Comments

  1. A lot of posters on the morning thread said they drink protein shakes or drinks. Any good recipes or brand name recommendations for protein powder? I’d love to add some healthy calories and get in an extra serving of fruit or veggies. I have a vitamix but don’t know where to begin.

    1. I drink a smoothie every morning and it’s the best! I like the chocolate Orgain protein powder. Here’s my general recipe:

      – 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
      – protein powder
      – big handful of spinach
      – banana
      – frozen berries

      This makes a lot so adjust as needed. You can also add a nut butter.

      1. This is mine too, except I can’t handle any of the flavorings/sweeteners in flavored protein powder so use exclusively unflavored Ascent.

    2. I like the Ascent protein powder. Tastes fine. I particularly like that it comes in a bag instead of a giant canister.

    3. I either do chocolate whey isolate protein mixed with water only or I mix the following in my Vitamix:
      -water
      -scoop of chocolate protein powder
      -half or full frozen banana
      -optional handful of mixed greens
      -Ice if I add the greens; no ice if I don’t

      DH doesn’t like the mixed greens, but I don’t really taste them and it seems like an easy way to add greens.

      We buy the natural chocolate whey protein isolate made by Body Strong. We tried the vanilla (which didn’t come in natural) and it was so overly sweet and gross.

    4. My basic smoothie formula is 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen fruit, 1 container Chobani Less Sugar yogurt, 1 cup fruit juice or milk. I don’t use protein powder so I don’t know exactly how much you would add.

      Some of my favorite combos are:
      Banana, strawberries, strawberry yogurt, orange juice
      Banana, cherries, peach yogurt, peach nectar
      Banana, blueberries, blueberry yogurt, milk, 1-2 tablespoons almond butter, pinch of salt if almond butter is unsalted
      1 1/2 cups Trader Joe’s frozen tropical fruit mix in place of banana and fruit, strawberry or mango yogurt, orange juice
      1 frozen banana and 3 ice cubes in place of banana and frozen fruit, vanilla yogurt, milk, 2 tablespoons regular or chocolate PB2 powder

      Walmart also has some single-serve packets of smoothie fruits and veggies in the freezer section that are pretty good. Just add a carton of yogurt and a cup of milk or juice.

    5. I use Optimum Nutrition – I usually get the Delicious Strawberry from their website, but I’ve seen a couple flavors in Target (the pharmacy aisles, not the food aisles).

      My protein shake is a scoop of ON, 40-ish grams of frozen strawberries, some OJ, and 170 grams of Greek yogurt (I do the 2% to balance the fat and protien – keeps me fuller longer than the higher protien/lower fat version). It’s my midmorning snack.

      I’ve got a magic bullet, so it’s just mix it and go (don’t need to clean the blender pitcher each time. I find it’s best if consume the day it’s mixed, vs doing a batch and eating it all week.

    6. I add protein lots of different ways:
      – stir in Whole Foods’ plain unflavored whey powder into Fairlife chocolate milk
      – mix in WF protein powder into a smoothie with frozen fruit, Greek yogurt, and chia seeds
      – mix in collagen powder into my morning coffee

      When I’m on the go I drink the bottled Fairlife protein shakes.

      1. I dislike nanners, too, and find a kale & mango smoothie with Naked Nutrition pea protein to be perfect. I use two large kale leaves, 1/2 cup frozen mango, a scoop of protein powder, and eyeball the water to the right consistency. Sometimes I add spoonful of chia seeds, flax meal, or raw pepitas.

      3. I never eat bananas. My smoothie is a whole tray of ice, a scoop of thick yogurt, frozen raspberries or strawberries, sweetener, optional dark cocoa powder, and just enough water to make it blend.

      4. Try mango or peach, which are mild but will give the same sweetness and body to the smoothie.

      5. Fistful of spinach, fistful of kale, one cup orange juice, one cup coconut water or plain water, small handful frozen mango, small handful frozen pineapple, one teaspoon honey, some bee pollen. A few ice cubes. More water if needed to blend.

        This is my approximation of the “Bee Green” at Urban Juicer in Nashville which is my favorite smoothie. Really needs a Vitamix or Blendtec, but it’s fine if you add a little more ice and process it for a while in a reasonably decent regular blender.

      6. Mango and plain yogurt. Thin it out with milk if it’s too thick to drink. (I think if you add some cardamom it’s a lassi.)

    8. Optimum Nutrition if you have Costco. Otherwise Buff Chick, Transparent Labs, and Legion are all good sources of protein powder. Buff Chick also sells a coffee protein powder that is a good morning substitute for a cold latte.

      Coffee smoothie:
      – 1 cup of milk, nondairy milk, or water
      – 1/4 cup cold coffee concentrate (Trader Joe’s is what I use)
      – 1 scoop of chocolate or mocha protein powder
      – A few slices of frozen banana

      Fruit smoothie:
      – 1 cup of milk, nondairy milk, or water
      – 1 scoop of vanilla or fruit flavor protein powder
      – A handful of frozen fruit of your choice, like strawberries and bananas

    9. I do: 1 scoop of Jarrow unflavored whey protein
      5 oz Fage 2% plain greek yogurt
      4 oz berries and/or pineapple (blueberries, strawberries, etc)
      crushed ice

      This isn’t very sweet but my goal is protein and lower sugar

    10. I also like adding egg whites to smoothies to add protein. (I also add egg whites to oatmeal toward the end of cooking). My go to smoothie that is super high protein is frozen banana, milk/unsweetened almond milk, vanilla or plain protein powder, some greek yogurt, egg whites, several handfuls of spinach, pb2 and crushed ice. Super filling (easily split up) and you mostly taste the peanut butter and banana. The spinach makes it look gross but is essentially flavorless.

    11. My post- workout smoothie is:
      Raw Grass-Fed Whey (one ingredient – whey protein concentrate)
      Coconut milk and coconut water in roughly 1:1 ratio
      Frozen fruit (two of strawberry, peach, mango, blueberry usually)
      slice of ginger
      slice of turmeric
      Occasionally I will add greens if there are some I know I won’t use up
      Sometimes I add collagen powder

  2. I may need to ask this again in the morning to catch our resident Scottish posters, but I need suggestions for a fancy restaurant in Edinburgh I could get a gift certificate to (preferably one that could be delivered virtually as I’m in the US) for a friend who is having a milestone birthday. Her spouse is vegetarian, so preferably something with a good vegetarian option. Thanks!

    2. I had a really lovely afternoon tea at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. Maybe that would be something they would enjoy? It’s prix-fixe which makes a gift easier, and they offer vegetarian options. Not sure if they do a gift certificate, but you could call or email to ask.

    3. Not the Kitchin. My vegetarian husband had to stop for fries in Leith en route home. David Bann is the mainstay but I never think it has a ton of ambiance. Dishoom is a chain but a nice one.

      I like The Apartment, gorgeous views but not sure about gift cards.

    5. The Witchery and Kitchin would be my go to recs for “fancy” in Edinburgh. Given veggie focus though, I’d also look into Timberyard, The Gardener’s Cottage and Heron which are a bit more modern.

  3. Is anyone following the Karen Reed trial out of Canton, MA? I’m a local and followed high notes, knew of some of the conspiracies before the trial but didn’t pay a lot of attention to the details. Now that I’m following it …. oh my word. How can the jury find this woman guilty?? I have friends in other parts of the country who have been following so wondering if any of you may be even if you’re not in MA.

    The one thing I can’t quite wrap my head around is if the story is true that there’s a big coverup happening, how is it possible logistically? It seems like it would have to be a decent web of people (6? 10?) that are all steadfast in the story that she did this and that things went down the way the did. It feels unlikely that would hold after 2+ years and no one would flinch/give up the truth.

    But I also don’t see her as guilty? Idk. So many questions.

    1. I’m not familiar with this trial but it does remind me of my English teacher my freshman year of high school who spent one class period teaching us the lesson that “It’s not a conspiracy. Nobody is smart enough to pull of a conspiracy.” Honestly, one of the more important things I learned in high school.

      1. Try to execute one project from within government from beginning to end and you will, most definitely not think most government conspiracy theories are remotely possible.

        1. How many movies have plots with a criminal mastermind? Spend a day or week or year working in criminal court and I bet even a marginally competent criminal would do well with crime as a career.

        2. Precisely! I hate government conspiracies because they are so improbable, I’ve managed so many projects that I know an actual conspiracy simply could not happen.

          1. Corruption happens and often involves a coverup. I guess I don’t know the difference.

          2. I’ve only seen one brilliant crime and the person got tripped up because they were greedy and underestimated how nosey people can be.

        3. I have an otherwise smart friend who believes a lot of conspiracies. My number one reason I never believe them is because no one can keep their mouth shut. In the age of social media, you can keep things secret for about a day, max.

      2. Okay, but what did your history teacher say? There have been so many real conspiracies historically.

        1. Like which ones? And isn’t the fact that you know of them evidence that people can’t keep it quite?

        2. To be fair, this one is also not THAT deep (just a lot of ppl). There’s the homeowner of the crime scene. Her sister is married to a cop in town. They’re all “townies” and have many pictures, social media posts, connections (kids are flower children in weddings etc) with one another. The first-on-scene firefighter is a woman who goes way back with homeowner’s family. Someone in the homeowner’s immediately family is buds with someone quite senior at the police department, the officer was actually conflicted off the case (or something like that) but still met with witnesses and took statements. It’s basically contained to the Canton PD and one potentially problematic DA. But still a lot of bodies and stories to keep aligned.

          Don’t get me going on the deleted texts and phone records, which forensic work revealed anyway.

          I think. I legit need a web of names at this point, or just a really well done movie starring Emily Blunt.

          Back to my day job.

          1. Any chance you can point me to a good primer on this? I just did some googling but am interested in a more comprehensive overview (lots of what’s turning up for me is either very high level, or “here’s what happened at trial today”). I will say that based on that quick look, it seems like an actual conspiracy could be limited to whoever was in the actual house/saw it happen; otherwise, it’s not shocking to me that first responders on the scene could have become convinced of one scenario (hit him with her car) for whatever reason and now are just…entrenched in that idea, rather than being part of some big coverup.

      3. I guess I’m the only one who reads Turtle Boy around here… I’ve been following for a while.

        It’s not unlike the Murdaugh case, in some ways: so many tangled webs of people covering for each other. They all know each other, and you just need someone to kick it off and say “huh, looks like Karen Read is guilty and here is why,” and everyone just goes with the story. No one gets interviewed too closely, forensics on the scene sucks, and you railroad her before she has had a chance to fight back.

    2. I feel like it’s hard to really know anything without the results of the autopsy, which aren’t public yet, but I assume the prosecutors feel confident in their case and the autopsy report is a big part of that. I can believe some cop buddies agreed to cover something up, but highly doubt the medical examiner is in on it too.

    3. Just read the Boston Magazine on it so not fully up on things, but it seems kind of straightforward to me that she was drunk and hit him when she dropped him off. What’s more likely, that scores of people are lying about a fight that resulted in someone getting thrown out of the house in a blizzard or that this woman and potentially one other man are clutching at straws to justify why she isn’t guilty and using the court of public opinion to muddy the waters?

  4. Anyone have a hotel recommendation for Barcelona? I need to stay 1 night on either side of a cruise that my husband and I are taking in July.

    1. Catalonia Hotels, clean & comfortable room (a bit small by US standards but that’s common there I think/still had all the basics with a desk and the like), nice lounge/public areas/staff

    3. I stayed at the Renaissance Barcelona (a Marriott property) a number of years ago. It was well-located for sight-seeing. If you just need a place to stay between the airport and the pier, you might look at a hotel near the ship before you board and an airport hotel before your flight home. Enjoy!

  5. I know that there are a lot of lawyers in here. How lucid does a person have to be for a POA to kick in? My mom has a durable POA and is slipping mentally. To a stranger, she may seem competent. But she is also talking in the present tense about people who have died before COVID, etc. is there a gray area where we have to go to court to have the POA kick in before she becomes obviously-to-a-stranger incompetent? She is declining after chemo for many months and I need to be able to handle things with the hospital she is in after becoming non-responsive. Like getting notices, who the providers call, etc and to mark that in her charts. She can look lucid for a moment to a stranger so they are letting her do things that are not advised and against her cancer care plan.

    1. We got a POA that did NOT specify any level of impairment that triggered it – it became effective immediately and boy, we needed it immediately. I recommend this for everyone who is facing a dementia situation with a loved one. It’s not you taking away their independence – it’s the dementia.

      1. Yeah, this is what we did when my grandmother had dementia. It wasn’t contingent on any future threshold of impairment. We (well not me, my mom and her siblings) had POA effective immediately.

    2. Not an attorney but have had a POA for my spouse for many years (he is frequently overseas/deployed/not able to handle his own business affairs). If you have the existing POA, you are able to at least get full information and carry out all business transactions on their account regardless of proving competency/availability. So you should be able to be looped in with no issue.

      Being able to override her decisions is something that is out of my depth…

    3. Idk about your specific question but I’d get a provider to give her a quick mini mental status exam. If she bombs it, which it sounds like she might, you can have some backup with the care providers (“she is lucid but not always, and also, she thinks it’s 1988 right now.”)

      I did stroke patient follow up for years and it was always so crazy to me how fine people seemed until you actually test these memory and…nope. Gone.

    4. If you tell her care team that she slides in and out of being lucid, that’s a good start. They’ve seen it before.

    5. First of all, I’m sorry you are dealing with this. It sucks. Hard to comment without knowing the particular triggers of the POA, how it is set up, and what you need it to do. You probably need to talk to an elder care lawyer in your area. Typically, only financial transactions will require proof of the POA (e.g., bank accounts, if you sell her house, etc.), and most things can be managed by talking nicely to account reps without them demanding a POA. For the hospital, reach out to patient services, your mom probably just needs to sign a document to designate you as a healthcare proxy – or, there is a specific form that says to call you.

      1. If a person isn’t competent, then they can’t sign anything. That becomes part of the problem.

    6. Is it a springing POA? Read the exact language. Also, if it is not up to date (executed within the last few years), consider having a new one executed. Many financial initiations do not accept old POAs.

    7. In my state, the POA has default provisions about when it becomes activated but this can be modified by the person signing it. Check the document itself and maybe ask a local attorney.

    8. Often times POAs are effective immediately. You will need to read your mom’s document to see if it is “springing” (in which case you would likely need two licensed physicians to attest that she is incapacitated) or effective immediately.

  6. We recently relocated near family, and some very dear friends of theirs who have been above and beyond kind to us are celebrating both of their birthdays this weekend. I would like to get them something, but I’m just not sure what! They are mid-40s, with two kids in high school, a small house (so not much room for extra ‘stuff’) who love to entertain inside and out.
    For example – they, and my family, built a pizza oven in their backyard, they built their own indoor bartop table out of a huge piece of raw edge wood, and they always have a keg to share in their beer fridge.
    Of course I think about consumables (local craft beer and flowers come to mind) but I’m not sure if there’s anything else that I could get them. They already have a pizza peel for the oven or I’d get them that! Ideas welcome, up to $150.

    2. Wow, they sound like fun people! You said their house is small but it sounds like they have a decent-sized yard – what about some outdoor games? Spikeball, cornhole, badminton, etc.

    3. Consumables are the way to go. I think a bottle of fancy spirits, if that’s their thing, will be a longer reminder of you than craft beer. But, if they like craft beer best, go with that. Perhaps a gift certificate to go on a brewery tour together?

    4. If the yard/home could take it, what about a nice planter pot for the patio? Or a GC to the garden center?

    5. If they entertain a lot outside, how about a rolling outdoor patio cooler or a propane heater for cool nights (although the propane heaters might be a little over your budget)?

    6. Darn I was gonna suggest a nice pizza peel. Do they have a really good pizza cutter? Or some scamorza or fresh mozzarella and good pepperoni from the Italian grocery store?

  7. Pretty specific question but does anyone know if it’s possible to visit a lounge in Terminal 1 in ORD if you’re flying out of Terminal 5 (international)? I would have thought anyone with a valid plane ticket for a same day departure can access any terminal, but I’m seeing some stuff online about how access to Terminal 5 is restricted to those with international tickets, and not sure if it goes both ways.

    1. You would need a really long layover to make it worthwhile. I recently flew out of Terminal 5 and couldn’t use my American Lounge access there. In order to get from 1 to 5 and back, you would need to go out of the secure area, take a train between terminals, get back through security, and walk through the terminal to the lounge. Honestly, that round trip, including time in security lines, could take close to an hour.

      1. It’s not a layover. We’re originating in ORD and have to be at the airport 6 hours early for unrelated reasons, so we have *lots* of time.

    2. There are domestic lines that land in terminal 5–I recently flew Delta ORD-LGA out of Terminal 5. But as LawDawg said, going between 1 and 5 would be a massive PITA.

    3. If it is an airline lounge you need to be ticketed on that airline (or alliance partner) to use the lounge.

      2. Yes, I’m flying business class on a Star Alliance airline (Turkish Airlines) and have access to United lounges including the Polaris lounge in Terminal 1.

        1. Only ticketed Polaris passengers may use Polaris lounges. Also, check to see if there are time limits to using Star Alliance lounges — sometimes you are restricted to three or four hours before your flight departs.

          1. That’s not true. You have access if you’re in international business class on a Star Alliance flight, but only at your departure airport (you only get arrival if you’re in Polaris). I’ve done this before.

            https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/lounge-access.htm
            If you scroll down to “Polaris Lounge” it says “Business class on a Star Alliance member airline” with an asterisk for departure airport only.

            And there’s no time restriction except a same day boarding pass.

    4. We had this happen in Newark (were flying Virgin but at that time could access the Admirals Club via credit card even if not flying American) – the solution was going to the American counter and getting some sort of special “terminal pass” that let us into the different terminal to get to the lounge. Not sure if that’s still a thing…

  8. Hope no one minds me following up on the mammogram question from this morning – this hive is great with things like this.

    I’m in the northern Va area, go to Virginia Hospital Center primary care. Looks like VHC has a mammogram center which they tout as being fancy – not that fancy matters to me, just suggests that this place does a lot of them. Any recommendations from anywhere you’ve gone in the area that you like – would go anywhere in N. Va, DC, even Md.? Good techs etc.? I’m not required to go to VHC so figured I’d ask.

    Also does anyone know if you can mask while getting a mammogram? Almost all masks whether the blue ones or N95 have that metal piece on top and I’m not sure if that’s allowed in mammogram machines, as I know some types of imaging require no metal in the room. Figured I’d ask since one of reluctances regarding care in recent years has been covid but I legitimately don’t know if I’d be allowed to mask say if cases went up around when I had an appointment.

    1. I haven’t been “in” any of the mammogram machines for any of the ones I’ve had. Boob is in and you are awkwardly arranged to give it the needed angle and squash. It’s not an MRI or whatever one it is where you go into the tube.

    2. I’m not in your area, but I just got my first mammogram and wore a KN94 with a metal nose piece with no issues.

    4. I’ve worn a mask to every medical appointment since Covid started, including four mammograms, two CT scans, an ultrasound, and a colonoscopy. The only one that would be a problem would be an MRI or I guess something where you have to have your mouth open, though even then you can mask the rest of the time.

      1. I should add, if you were getting a CT scan of your head, you probably couldn’t wear a mask, as it might interfere with the imaging (they told me a wireless bra was fine but a wired bra was not). But CT scans are fast, so you’d only have to have it off briefly.

      2. If you are wearing a mask during an MRI, they may make you trade it for one which doesn’t have a metal nose piece.

    5. Right, only the breast (one at a time) goes into the mammogram machine, between two plates. I just had one last month and there was no issue with metal; they gave the patients a locker to store their clothes and we all wore the metal keys on wrist bands. I think I took off my necklace because I thought it might get in the way but the tech said that she could push it aside if needed. I think it uses x-rays, not MRI technology.

      And I had at least one mammogram during the height of COVID and definitely wore a mask, with no problems; as I recall, it was the standard hospital type that they gave out at the reception desk but I don’t remember if it had a metal piece. I am sure even an N95 with a metal piece will be fine.

    6. I have had two mammograms at the Inova Franconia/Springfield Healthplex on Walker Lane. They do nice work. Pleasant techs, comfortable testing, easy to get an appointment.

    7. I’m in NoVA and have had my last two mammograms at Washington Radiology’s North Arlington office. It’s very quiet – I’ve been the only one in the dressing room both times. In and out – very good experience. Not sure about the mast question.

    9. I can speak to the experience at VHC. I’ve gone there for my mammograms for 20-ish years. There’s a separate check-in / preliminary waiting area for Women’s Imaging. The check in process is always very smooth.
      After checking in you go to a changing area where they have curtained cubicles and lockers. You then go to an inner waiting room, for the womens’ imaging patients only. There may be a couple of other women there, depending on the time of day, but it’s quiet and calm.
      All the techs I’ve seen there have been top-notch. They are very pleasant and kind, and many have made me laugh. They’ve done the procedure quickly and efficiently.
      Honestly the most stressful thing is the parking. If you happen to have an Arlington Zone 8 parking pass, you can park on the residential streets near VHS and walk there.

      1. Sometimes VHC will validate for mammograms, but that might have just been a Breast Cancer Month thing.

    11. Had “great” experiences at Fairfax Radiology. The Fairfax one is larger and has more techs but I waited longer. Vienna is tiny but I didn’t wait at all. Techs were kind and efficient. They have many locations in VA. Appointments online are easy.

    12. I get mine at VHC and I think the techs are great (at least, mine have been) and they are pretty fast. VHC has (or had) masks that they can provide if you need one or if yours aren’t allowed.

  9. Has anyone tried Ministry of Supply? I am interested buying this instead of MM LaFleur.

  10. It wasn’t my thread but I was intrigued to see that a huge percent of suburban white collar women appear to consume protein, protein shakes regularly. Can I ask how much protein you aim to get and why? Meaning to you aim for a certain number of grams per day or do you aim for a certain percent of your calories to come from protein? And are you doing this because you are actively trying to gain muscle or train for an event or is this just for muscle maintenance? I thought I was getting enough per the calculators from WHO but now I’m not so sure. I do eat meat but not daily, more like once a week or so, so on those days the protein intake is quite a bit higher than what I’d typically get from dairy or nut butters.

    Just curious how people think about this esp in middle age. I feel like the elders in my community never focused on protein or muscle development when younger and it’s something I think is important for decades down the road.

    1. Mid-life crisis marathoner here, and recovering for spending my 20s with very unhealthy eating habits. I’ve hit the point where I need to be conscious with eating enough carbs and protein for fuel, and rely on dairy rather than protein power for extra protein. Not everyone can do that.

    2. Not what you asked but I do not use protein powders solely for the reason that its industry is not very regulated and I just don’t trust what they mill into it.

      1. Same. Found it kind of surprising that almost every responder on that thread acted like the mom was crazy for not wanting her son to do this. Sorry but this protein fad has led to a whole industry of powders and no one really knows what’s in them, as many of these companies haven’t even been around for long. Would much rather rely on milk, meat, cheese, nuts.

        1. Yeah, this is not always a great place to ask for nutrition advice. I see a place for protein powders and shakes, especially if someone has a hard time getting enough through real food sources, but I share your skepticism about the quick rise of many of these products.

        2. The mom this morning was worried about “chemicals” but also arguing that her son should eat Snickers bars and drink diet meal replacement beverages.

          1. Say what you will but Snickers have been around forever, as has Ensure and Ensure is given to feeble old people often by cardiologists and other MDs. If it was super harmful, we’d know. That to me is way different than the latest protein fad on TikTok or some random protein powder appearing on the shelves of Costco so it must be all good. But then I know the allegiance that the upper classes have to anything that appears at Costco.

          2. Whey protein has been around forever, too. If your investment in disordered eating is such that you’re defending Snickers bars and arguing that Costco is a place the “upper classes” shop, I don’t think there’s any hope.

      2. +1
        The push for extra protein seems like a fad for people with ordinary nutrition needs. I’m not convinced there’s any reason I should be trying for more protein than what I get from a balanced, mostly vegetarian diet. My PCP is thorough and has never indicated that I may have a nutrient deficiency.

        1. Agreed. Not to say there isn’t a place for extra protein but let’s be real most people aren’t training for marathons or long distance bike races. Most people are office workers who work out a half hour a day. It’s the same way that everyone jumped on the – eat three eggs at a time, every day of the week – bandwagon some years ago. Noticeably, multiple doctors have recently mentioned that eggs should be eaten in moderation. These fads always reverse themselves as science catches up.

          And while everyone is touting Fairlife – it may be great milk but it has the highest amount of microplastics of any food out there because of how it’s packaged so just an FYI.

      3. +1. It’s really sketchy and I wouldn’t allow kids to take just any supplement. The only comment that thread was missing was the classic “I just can’t care that my protein powder could kill me.”

        1. Protein powder has been around since the 1950s. Nobody’s saying to buy it from some influencer online, but I think people are falling for some marketing that’s trying to spin it as new or innovative or something more special than just a high protein shake mix. I know what the essential amino acids are so I guess I’m not scared they’re “chemicals” when I see them on a label!

          1. And the main ingredient in Ensure is…. protein powder from milk. It’s bizarre how many people here are so dedicated to the iconoclast bit that they will argue Ensure and Snickers are a better choice than “supplements”.

    3. I find that when I have a protein shake in the morning, I am less likely to grab a donut or danish later. Shakes stave off the carb desire more than two eggs.

    4. I focus on dairy, salmon, chicken, and eggs for protein. If I eat one serving of chicken or salmon in a day I get a ton of protein.

      You’re not going to build muscle just by eating protein. You have to lift.

      1. I actually have built muscle by increasing protein but without not consciously exercising before. I guess I must have engaged muscles more without realizing it?

        I should definitely lift though (and I know I’m not going to grow bones without lifting!).

    5. I’m older than many here, and use a protein supplement daily. I aim for about 100 grams per day. This is based on consulting with my doctor, and a RD. I’m fairly active, I walk, do resistence training and weighted exercises. I have osteopenia and there is some evidence that protein can help delay full osteoporosis. I’m trying to maintain muscle and not develop age related sarcopenia.

    6. From what I have read, getting enough protein becomes important in midlife for maintaining muscle tone. I’m 43 and have definitely started paying more attention to that and trying to include at least some protein with every meal. That said, I don’t think everyone needs to be chugging protein shakes! Obviously, you will need more if you’re active (and we probably all could stand to be more active in midlife).

    7. I quit using protein powder because it’s not necessarily a good source of choline, whereas food sources of protein often are, and many women don’t get enough dietary choline.

      I used it because my calorie needs are very low given my size, lifestyle, and metabolism, but my nutrient needs are normal. Also it’s fast, easy, and filling! Fortunately a lot of high choline, high protein foods are also low calorie, I just needed to shift my diet around and make time to eat.

    8. in my little silo of perimenopausal ladies tryign to lose weight but maintain muscle it’s all protein protein protein – holderness family even made a funny video about how she can’t choke it down fast enough.

      i try to count macros so i’m trying for around 130g a day but consider it a win if i get to 100. i’m around 35 if left to my own devices…

    9. I do the Orgain protein shakes (I just buy them at Whole Foods) because they are a quick way for me to get sustenance and feel normal when I don’t have the time or energy for a complete meal (or time for the associated drowsiness that comes with too much food.) That said, I prefer protein and fats over carbohydrates or vegetables, so it fits my eating style.

    10. I cannot speak for anyone else, but as a woman in my 50s I find getting enough protein to be really important for weight and muscle maintenance. It is certainly possible to get the amount my doctor recommends with food but requires careful meal planning – which can be challenging at the best of times and really hard when work cranks up or I need to travel. Whereas adding protein shakes or powder to my diet is easy.

      My doctor said I should aim for 1.5 grams per kilogram of weight.

    11. I aim for 100 grams a day. I’ve gone from slightly overweight to a normal bmi in the last few months. I need to manage calories to do this and a protein shake is super helpful in meeting my goals. I eat a ton of canned salmon and lean meat and veggies too. Maybe everyone is different but managing weight loss without lots of protein is just too hard for me.

      People here seem crazy judgey about protein goals that are well accepted in science backed fitness spaces. You do you. If powdered whey is steroids to you and nut butter makes you feel awesome then enjoy.

      1. I think one point that gets overlooked is that super high protein diets may be a problem for some folks depending upon what other medical problems they have. And its certainly easy to bulk up calories as you bulk up protein using shakes, unless you are careful about it. And it is also easy to fill your stomach/appetite with protein supplements at the expense of other nutrients from fruits and veg.

        1. Is that based on personal experience? I’m not aware of any research showing that’s a problem but it seems possible. It’s definitely not been my experience. I was raised by a mom who refused meat and lived for the low fat version of everything. That style of eating leaves me ravenous and makes weight loss really difficult but again…you do you.

          1. I have a friend with severe kidney disease, and she had to be on a low protein diet. BUT that’s not common for otherwise healthy women in this age range.

            If people are nervous about protein, then they should talk to their doctors. I’ve been told universally by doctors and RDs (in addition to my trainer!) that 100g is a good amount to shoot for to maintain muscle as one ages. That’s really not hard to get, and not one medical professional has seemed to think it’s anything other than helpful.

        1. Tjs pink wild salmon with celery, tablespoon of mayo and salt and pepper. 38 grams of protein. It stinks up my kitchen but it’s quick and easy to keep everything on hand.

      3. Agree! I used Mounjaro to drop 40 pounds last year and I eat a lot of protein to maintain the weight loss and to feed my muscles. There are a lot of foods people on this board eat that I won’t touch—soy, low fat dairy—we just have to assume we all know our bodies best. A few protein shakes a week suits my needs.

    12. I’m 30 and almost all of my hobbies involve fitness for fun. I aim for ~130g of protein a day but am happy if I get between 100-150g. I also aim for at least 80 oz of water and 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. I don’t really focus on macros, but protein is usually 30% or more. I drink a protein shake, put collagen in my coffee, and eat meat / fish twice a day most days.

      Lest I sound like a crazy fitness person, I am not. I don’t do anything crazy and while I do look toned but I’m definitely not jacked, and my non fitness hobbies are mostly going out to eat or to bars with friends – most of my friends workout mildly.

      My family is full of athletes (my mom and her sisters were all multisport college athletes) who stayed active as adults but didn’t workout. They’re now in their 60s and 70s and are wishing they did more strength training when they were younger. So, I’m trying to be more proactive.

      I spend some of my year training for specific races and some of my year just working out for general health and better enjoyment of my hobbies. I’m also vain and like how I look when I’m working out. When not training, I usually lift 20-30 mins 3-4x a week and do 1-2 days a week of steady state cardio (train run, hike, row, bike) and 1-2 days a week of sports (club soccer (full field – eek), tennis, pickleball). I up my cardio if I’m training for a race (I casually do triathlons, half marathons, and trail races of varying distances). I also do one off fun but active activities regularly (skiing, surfing, kayaking, SUP) – things I consider pure hobbies but are more fun if I’m fit.

      I’m a former college rower so working out intensely is definitely in my blood. I received a lot of sports nutrition guidance in college which I incorporate, at a much scaled back level, currently. I truly love the activities I do – these hobbies (and being outside while doing them!) bring me so, so much joy. I would do more activities / pursue my current ones more intensely if I had more time. Today is my rest day and I have to actively work to actually rest on rest days. There are days that I skip my workouts to hangout with friends (or I rearrange my whole schedule so I can do both). I am not that intense: I don’t always sleep enough, I definitely drink too often, and my diet always has room for ice cream.

      I feel like I need to emphasize that I am not fast, my endurance isn’t crazy, I’m not as strong as I’d like to be, and despite what I’d love, I don’t have a great body.

      All this being said, I know I need a lot to fuel my activity level so I focus on proteins, whole grain carbs, and lots of produce.

    13. I’ve worked with a sports dietician in the past; she’s the one who recommended I get into protein powder. I aim for 130g a day. I don’t watch what I eat religiously but I find if I eat my goal of protein + the recommended 5 servings of fruits and veggies that I don’t have room for junk, which I like.

      I am into diet and exercise for several reasons: a desire to age well, current running goals, and vanity. I do 1-2 half marathons a year and i pretty consistently lift 3x a week and run 3x a week.

    14. 38yo focused on building/maintaining muscle as I age. I lift heavy 3-4x/week and shoot for 150g of protein per day but rarely hit it – without the 25g from a scoop of protein powder in a kale and blueberry smoothie, I would never hit it. I shoot for that number to support my fitness goals. Fitness goals are targeted to being strong and energetic for a long time, but not to longevity per se.

    15. Read “Roar” by Dr. Stacy Sims. She discusses the need for nutrition, protein, and lifting as we age.

    16. I try to get 100-135 grams per day because my aim is to change my body composition through diet and strength training. I have been pretty successful at doing that but it requires that I pay a lot more attention to my diet than I am used to. Not that I specifically follow any diet or ban any foods, more that I am very careful not to overeat (which I gauge solely by feel not calorie counting/macro counting, weighing food) and to get sufficient protein.

    17. Post divorce I’m back to my premarital exercise habits. I’m running 30-40 miles a week and doing strength training daily, yoga 2x per week and if I don’t eat 130g of protein I start to lose muscle. I don’t have strong muscles to start with and I don’t want to lose muscle at this stage of my life because at 50, which is rapidly approaching, it’s going to get harder, not easier.

  11. UK elections on the 4th of July! Which I normally mark by tipping my English husband’s tea down the sink and chanting “no taxation without representation!” Alas, I’ll be postal voting as kiddo and I fly to my parents that morning.

      1. It’s such bad timing. No awareness that Scotland decamps before the English schools get out… or maybe on purpose?

        1. Hmm they are aware. Scotland has a lot of MPs for their population. Vast majority of them are Labour.

      1. Postal voting is common in the UK and you just drop your ballot in the mail before you go out of town.

  12. Graduation gifts — We are entering that season in life where we’re getting invited to high school graduation parties. I feel like cash or gift cards is the way to go; I don’t want to try guessing what people need and want. How much would you give to a family friend? I’m particularly interested in responses from people in LCOL and MCOL areas, as I have a feeling the standards are much higher elsewhere, lol.

        1. OK, good. This is along the lines of what I was thinking, but I didn’t want to be a cheapskate.

    2. LCOL with a LOT of graduations in the past year. Close friends of our own graduating senior got $50 in a card at their open house. More arms-length acquaintances of our student or kids where my spouse and I are friends with the parents got $20 each (in a card mailed to them; we didn’t attend their open houses).

      1. I got $20 and the cents that made up the final two digits of my graduation year from a few people, which I thought was a cute idea for those in the $20 bracket.

    3. MCOL here. I am planning on giving $25 gift cards to kids of family friends, for Insomnia Cookies when there is a location near their college and to Target otherwise. We just gave our nephew $100 for his college graduation. $50 seems awkwardly high for kids to whom you are not related.

      We are teaming up with the family of our daughter’s close friend to throw the two girls a giant graduation party because the girls have the same friends and we are part of the same social circle as the parents. I’m feeling a little uncomfortable about the fact that people seem to think an invitation to the party obligates them to give a gift. We just want to celebrate with all the people who have loved and supported our girls over the years and I fear we’ve come across as gift-grabby. I am actually hoping that most of the gifts are on the smaller side for this reason. Ick.

      1. Are graduation open houses not a thing in your area? In both the city where I grew up and the city where I live now (both Midwest), pretty much all seniors have them and you don’t need to bring a gift. I had a joint one with my BFF exactly like you describe and I don’t think anyone except family gave us gifts. Seniors normally have dozens of these to attend so it would get expensive really fast if you gave gifts.

        1. The party is an open house, which is why I have been surprised that people are asking about gifts.

    5. I’d give $25 to a kid from a family we didn’t know super well like neighbors; $50 to my kids’ close friends and kids I have an independent relationship with (e.g., kids I coached in sports) and $100 to the children of my BFFs, who I consider my nieces and nephews.

  13. I am coming to grips with the reality that all my relationships with other women in my life are repeats of my relationship with my mom. Fiery,fun, immature, emotional, no boundaries, over sharing, talking more than once a day, and lots of heated arguments. Had an ugly blowout with my latest bestie and am realizing how unhealthy we have been. Vacsillating between wanting to be really hateful and missing her. She is also a colleague so we have to come to some terms with each other. Probably need therapy deal with my codependence that shows up over an over again. I am way to grown to be acting like I am in middle school.

    1. If every woman you encounter is like this, it may be a you problem. Therapy for sure.

      1. +1 I actually think a lot of people here have super dramatic female friendships. I’ve had a dramatic falling out with a friend maybe…once? Kudos to the op for recognizing a pattern.

      2. Yes, thanks for piling on! I appreciate it. Of course, it is impossible to be codependant without a willing partner. I also become friends with the loudest, most eccentric, and wildly dressed woman in the room.

        1. Intentionally or not, that was a rude comment. It was pretty clear that you see this pattern and want to break it.

          A lot of people from dysfunctional homes struggle well into adulthood; lack of good guidance and their familiar patterns are dysfunctional.

          Aside from therapy and journaling, try to slowly ease outside of your comfort zone. Join a book club, run club, or painting class, and say hi to the stable, quiet women. Be aware of your actions and feelings: when you are drawn to someone, why you are, how you feel when you meet new people.

          Consider as well if your mother had stable female friendships, and how she spoke about women (not necessarily you).

          At least for me personally, both my mother and father have issues with women, and it really made it hard on me. My father likes women that he doesn’t really respect (if that makes any sense); my mother sees women as competition and men as prizes. Neither attitude is very normal nor healthy and I acknowledge that; it takes a lot of effort to undo the programming.

          1. Thank you for that. My mom was very similar in that she had a series of best friends who either eventually fell of the pedestal or she wore them out.

    2. I relate to this. My relationship with my two best friends definitely feels a little codependent at times. One of them seems to reallyyyyy feel all the feelings if one of us is going through something – it’s like she takes on our emotions. For my own part, I’m so dependent on all our chatter because I get bored.

    3. I honestly really admire women with this personality, maybe because it helps me balance my boring, mature, logical, distant, reserved tendencies? I hope you can find a good therapist, some balance and boundaries in your relationships, and a happier path forward while keeping your spark.

    4. It’s genuinely excellent that you can recognize this as a pattern that comes from a long and deep history. For me, therapy is the only way to get a handle on those patterns and re-learn them; I’ve had a lot of success I’m really proud of for re-routing my relationship patterns rooted in my relationship with my mom.

      Best of luck to you, and will you update? I’m offering you all the support in the world: this is hard but really, really freeing.

  14. ‘Rettes 40ish and older: I seem to have gotten extremely sensitive to direct sunlight and even moderately hot temps. I live in Colorado, where the atmosphere is literally thinner so that’s part of it, for sure (as is changing climate too likely). But it feels so extreme lately! I went for a walk running errands with sunglasses on, for about 45 minutes in breezy 70 degree weather in and out of shade and had a pounding headache for almost an hour afterward and felt drained and out of it, like I’d been roasting on the beach all day or something. Specifically my head/forehead/scalp and face seems to get the worst of it.

    Hats are for sure an option and I have a couple (although even straw hats can feel miserable when it’s really hot out, as it’s just another layer and doesn’t allow for any breeze to cool one off) but what I’m really asking is: is it just me? Is it age related?

    I’m kind of hoping I’m not alone here because it’s making it hard for me to do stuff like take walks for exercise or commute to and from my office on the bus, walk around doing errands, and so on and I feel like I’m doing something wrong or missing something here!

    1. What you describe sounds like how I feel when I am not properly hydrated. Could that be contributing to it?

      1. ooo maybe?!? Easily accessible public restrooms are disappearing (either marked “out of service” and locked or require a code, which I could write another rant about) so I try not to drink too much water while walking around on foot so that could be part of it for sure.

    2. You are not alone! As I get older (I’m 41), I’m becoming FAR less heat tolerant. And I live in Arkansas, so it gets hot and humid all summer. It’s already gotten into the upper 80s where I am.

      I actually carry around an umbrella on sunny days and I carry a collapsible fan with me (the kind you wave, not an electric one). Having the moving air helps me, as does the shade. Visors also help, but I don’t like other hats trapping the heat next to my head. If I didn’t absolutely love my job, I would be splitting for the North before it gets hotter.

    3. Have you had a medication change recently? How is your hydration? Have you had a few weeks to acclimate to warmer temperatures?

      1. been here 10 years heh. I started HRT last year but I would think if anything that would help! Hydration may be an issue but it literally feels like I’m getting burned physically within minutes and I’ve never been that type of skin type/constitution.

    4. I’m definitely less heat tolerant than I used to be. I find that lightweight sun shirts are a total game changer. If I can keep the sun off my chest and neck, I seem to do much better. I always wear a cap as well.

      1. I’m not trying to be glib but what would you say to your doctor about this? I’m the anon above who lives in Arkansas.

        I feel like if I tell my doctor (who’s generally amazing) that I get hot when the sun shines on me, she will say, “Yes of course” and tell me to stay in the shade. Is decreasing heat tolerance a symptom?

        1. This actually is a side effect of many medications. But I agree, most doctors will just tell you to wear sunscreen and a hat or stay out of the sun, or just laugh at you. Almost none of them will do anything to help.

        2. Breezy and 70 isn’t hot, and walking for errands isn’t usually hard exercise, so for most otherwise healthy people, this would be cause for concern and you should mention to your doctor that you’ve become suddenly and very intolerant of even mild exertion. Don’t minimize it.

          1. Well…it’s not sudden. Over the last 5+ years it’s been getting worse. My body wasn’t tired, but I had what felt like sun sickness–dizzy, worn out, pounding headache. I don’t drive (by choice) so I walked about a mile to the shopping center and then let’s say another .5 miles around the spread-out shopping center, then another home. So this isn’t “drive to Old Navy and walk from the parking lot to the store door and around the store”. It’s not a work out per se, but it’s exercise, if that makes sense.

    6. I don’t think I tolerate heat as well as I used to. A few things: hydrate, lots. Drink water while you’re doing errands. Breezy tops help some, as does keeping the sun off my skin. Maybe this is why parasols exist! :)

    7. I might be wrong about this, but I think you’ve mentioned that you’re autistic? Is this a form of sensory sensitivity? I mention it because I have chronic m*graine, which is its own version of neurodiversity that comes with a lot of sensory sensitivity, and sun and heat are big ones for me. Staying hydrated, wearing sunglasses, hats, and staying covered up help (I also have pale skin that burns easily, occasionally gets a sun allergy, AND gets weird rashes from most sunscreens), but I still have a fairly limited tolerance for spending time in the sun without feeling terrible for the rest of the day. I mostly try to do my outside stuff early in the morning or in the evening. Like you, this only seems to be getting worse for me over time (I’m in my mid 40s).

      1. It could very well be! I’ve wondered about that. As I get older, I seem to have lower and lower threshold for sensory “overload” and it’s just difficult to deal with and accept. It’s just one more thing that means I’m not normal and can’t live a normal life, bleh. In my late 20s before diagnosis I was baffled at how things seemed so difficult for me, the simplest things that other people didn’t care about, but the slightest bit of physical discomfort was a deal breaker and situation-ruin-er for me. I was Princess and the Pea over everything! And I thought it was just me being fussy, it’s all in my head, it’s emotional/physiological etc.

    8. So for me sun, heat, and humidity can trigger hot flashes. I only came to realize that was what was happening to me a few years ago when I was 49, but it had been happening occasionally for at least 5 years before I connected the dots. Lighter weight clothing, shade, and hydration help, but also I carry a folding fan in my bag and now use an Embr Wave to cool off. I’m looking into hormone therapy, but haven’t started yet. Oh, and I still have periods, although they are super irregular. The hot flashes started when my periods were completely normal.

    9. Approaching 40 and I’m also less heat tolerant and more sensitive to the sun. Though, on the sun sensitivity, I wonder if I’m just more aware that tan = sun damage. For me, a hat with a giant brim, sunscreen, hydrating, walking in shady areas (under trees, not shade structures), and trying to get out earlier in the day all help.

    11. Are you getting enough electrolytes? Is it possible it’s a perimenopause thing for you?

    12. When is the last time you had a blood test? I feel like that after activity when my iron gets really low.

      Also think about what you’re eating and when. If I eat right after I come in from activity on a hot day, I always feel like garbage and need a nap. I think it might be a blood sugar thing. If I don’t eat, I usually feel OK.

    1. If the lack of support ends up bothering you (on pavement, longer walks), I learned I can just slip my superfeet insoles into the barefoot style and get the best of both worlds in a lot of contexts.

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