Category Archives: Favorite Products

The Case for Yoga Pants (+ prAna Discount Code!)

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Throughout my high school and college running days, “workout gear” meant — quite literally — anything hanging on by its last thread: extra-large cotton t-shirts, stretched-out tube socks and over-sized shorts with elastic waists, for example. You get picture.

But my attitude changed in 2002 when I bought my first “splurge” item — a Brooks long-sleeved tech shirt — at the Chicago Marathon expo. In a classic rookie move, I wore it for the first time to run 26.2 the next day…but miraculously it performed beautifully in all of its sweat-wicking, non-chafing glory.

That experience forever changed my view of workout gear: No longer were my tops and bottoms merely “something to sweat in;” they became part of my training arsenal — not only to keep me comfortable and to help me perform, but also (occasionally) to be a major motivating factor in getting my butt up and out the door for workouts.

Because, let’s face it, when we look good, we feel good. And when we feel good, we can take on the world. Or at least a 6 a.m. spin class.

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Case in point: When prAna and Fit Approach partnered up last month for the #TakeTheLeap challenge in which we were encouraged to #BringYogaBack for 30 days.

I knew it was going to take a lot more than old fashioned willpower to get myself on the mat throughout the month. Don’t get me wrong — I love yoga — it’s just a challenge being present and working quietly when your default is hard-charging, goal-oriented workouts.

But when prAna sweetened the deal by throwing in an outfit from their new Early Spring collection, I knew we were speaking the same language. If you build it, they will come; it you make it cute (and comfy), they will om.  

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First on my wish list was the Florence Capri in Neon Orange ($79). Because neon orange.

If the color’s not enough to get your heart pitter-pattering, the design will have you swooning. From the flattering wide waistband to the compression Chakara performance fabric to the smooth seams, these pants fit like a second skin — without being overly constrictive.

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And then there’s the Piper Top in Cool Green ($69). I stepped slightly out of my wheelhouse with this one; I’m not usually partial to blousy tops, but sometimes you just need a nice, relaxed drape to skim, rather than squeeze, your stomach.

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Another lovely detail is the drawcord hem; loosen it up for longer coverage, or cinch it up to shorten the length and for added security — aka if you’re not into baring that belly during inversions.

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But my favorite feature that made this pick a no-brainer? The straps!

They’re adjustable, and I’m not just talking about the bra-type sliders. Nope, these babies can be converted from traditional shoulder straps to an X-back for both support and style purposes.

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Mindfully designed. Built to last. And best of all? Available at a discount, just in time to brighten up your wardrobe for spring! Use KineticFix’s special code (psps15KF) at checkout for 15% off your entire order.

Happy shopping — and sweating, friends!

Fave Fix: BioSkin Calf Skin Sleeves (+ giveaway!)

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During a particularly mucky morning workout recently (#BecausePortland), I bit it while running up some slick stone stairs and slammed my right shin directly into the corner of a step. It was one of those moments where your heart stops, your stomach drops, and a split second before the pain hits you try to do a full-body scan to assess the situation.

Fortunately, it was nothing too serious (aside from ego damage). It’s taken a few weeks, but the nasty bruise has finally subsided.

Unfortunately, though, this incident coincided with me needing wanting to ramp up my mileage base to get ready for the upcoming race season. And although a goose-egg lump and lingering tenderness certainly didn’t pose a huge threat, I figured it’d be the perfect opportunity to test a new pair of Calf Skin Sleeves that BioSkin sent me to check out.

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BioSkin designs and manufactures compression supports, orthopedic braces, and human performance gear for the orthopedic, sports medicine, and recreational sports markets worldwide. They’re an Oregon-based (Ashland) company, and I love their mentality — i.e. they chose the location not because it’s the easiest place to run a manufacturing business, but because it’s such a great place to live.

It’s this kind of attitude — quality over quantity — that usually carries over into great products. Especially because they also believe in focusing on the little details, which can make a big difference when you’re talking about products that people wear on a daily basis.

So, why compression? Well, it not only cuts down on muscle vibration, but also helps ensure that your muscles are in the proper position to maximize force production without wasted energy. Decreased muscle fatigue and improved proprioception also protect you from injury by giving you more precise control of your body.

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My first thought, out of the box, was that these aren’t your average compression sleeves. I wear a good amount of compression gear, but I’ve never run across anything quite like this; BioSkin uses a special material (non-neoprene and non-latex) that not only allows your legs to breathe, but also keeps it from sliding down your leg during vigorous activity.

They feel less like a sock and more like a super-thin wet suit. Getting them on can be a workout in and of itself — these suckers are tight! — but throwing on a thin sock makes it easier to shimmy them on over your heel and onto your leg.

The feel does take some getting used to at first; like I said, they’re designed to fit snugly. But I’ve been actively seeking a higher level of compression for my legs since my tibia injury last fall, especially because I envision it being a free mini-massage with every step.

And as much as I like them for workouts, I l-o-v-e them for recovery days. Whether it’s an easy session of running or biking, or just an off day, I’ll throw them on and feel noticeably less discomfort and soreness. BioSkin for the win!

Speaking of winning (I know; horrible segue) BioSkin’s been kind enough to provide me with a $20 gift card for one lucky reader. Enter here via a Rafflecopter giveaway!

Are you a fan of compression wear? When do you wear compression sleeves/socks? 

The Whole30 Truth, and Nothing But the Truth (+ giveaway!)

Credit: Chef Pete Evans

Credit: Chef Pete Evans

In mid-January, Ben and I started Whole30, which we viewed as a 30-day “experiment,” a fresh start for the new year. If you’re not familiar with the program, it’s a “short-term nutritional reset,” designed to help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract and balance your immune system.

Sounds awesome, right? Well, where the rubber hits the road is in the rules: Eat real food. Avoid added sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, dairy, carrageenan, MSG, sulfites…or any food product with a hint of anything like that in it.

Easy, in theory. We eat fairly healthy. We exercise. We expected it to be difficult at times (him: peanut butter and flavored coffee creamer; me: cereal and dessert after dinner). But what we didn’t expect was an experience that will forever change the way in which we view our food.

So, what’s it’s like to eat “clean” for 30 days? Truthfully, it’s hard. Not only are we used to grabbing whatever we want off the grocery store shelves, but our bodies are, sadly, so accustomed to being jacked up on sugar and artificial stuff that there’s even a timeline of what you can expect — both mentally and physically — as the month unfolds.

Full disclosure: Neither of us experienced anything as drastic as the “carb flu,” although we did blow through five jars of almond butter in the process. And there may have been a few nights at the beginning when I put myself to bed early in order to escape from the after-dinner dessert cravings… 

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But, reflecting back on the experience, we learned some valuable lessons:

1. I’m not in the habit of reading food labels. I learned this the hard way after using what I thought were W30-approved almond milk and hot sauce on day one, only to realize later that both products had a bunch of additives in ’em. #Whole30Fail

2. There’s a lot in our food that isn’t “food.” As we perused the grocery aisles, Ben and I had bust out our phones and Google ingredients in things, most of which we couldn’t pronounce.

3. It’s tough to find whole-food products. They’re out there and are becoming more popular, as you’ll see below, but they’re not the default; you’ve got to make an effort to seek them out.

4. It’s not a diet. Don’t necessarily expect to lose weight. My number on the scale stayed the same, although my jeans do feel a little looser, so that’s a bonus!

5. There is sugar and soy in every.thing. If it’s not listed in the ingredients outright, it’s hiding behind a pseudonym. Do your research, and read those labels!

6. Food is very social. We didn’t realize this until we made a double-date for dinner the first Friday night. Two glasses of water and bun-less burgers, please. Wah-wah.

7. There’s a difference between stuffed and satiated. Well, duh. But no, really — bread baskets, apps and desserts used to be a free-for-all. Making better decisions about food has means no more nights riddled with regret — and heartburn.

8. Cooking is key. A month straight of hard-boiled eggs, broiled chicken and steamed veggies would get old fast. There are so many easy W30-approved recipes out there, and they’re delicious! Here’s one of our favorites, in fact.

But… I do have one confession to make: Snacks, which I credit for helping me get through the past 30 days. Although they’re technically discouraged — you’re supposed to aim for three large meals instead — I took a hall pass because I’ve got a pretty active workout schedule.

Here are a few of my favorite W30-approved game-changers: So good, you’d never guess they’re actually good for you!

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Meat snacks: Both Chomps Snack Sticks and Nick’s Sticks deliver all the goodness and none of the garbage. Made from grass-fed beef (Nick’s also has free-range turkey), which is higher in omega-3’s, all the sticks are gluten-, soy-, hormone- and antibiotic-free, but the best part is that they’re shelf-stable (great for on-the-go!) without any synthetic preservatives. I love stashing them in my purse for emergency mini-meals.

Nuts, seeds & bars: Aside from an admirable brand mantra, Living Intentions makes some downright addictive sprouted nut, seed and trail mix flavor combinations; I’m partial to the Rosemary Garlic Gone Nuts, in particular. Chapul Bars also made me a cricket convert; their chocolate-coffee-cayenne Aztec Bar (packed with protein, iron and vitamin B12) hits the spot — seriously, almost better than a brownie.

For workouts, my new pre-sweat-session obsession pick-me-up are Yawp! Bars, which are a delicious grain-free alternative to granola bars because they’re dehydrated ’til crispy (another confession: I already ordered a second box because I can’t gt enough of ’em).  And, finally, Barnana — literally, just dehydrated bananas — is an unbelievably good mid-workout fuel with its mild flavor and candy-like chewiness.

Sauces & flavorings: My biggest tip for tackling Whole30? Flavor up that food! Paleo Powder takes seasoning back to basics with an all-purpose rub that’s free of MSG, gluten and sugar; it gives a great kick to meat, veggies and eggs. Our go-to weeknight dinner was chicken breasts, baked with this and a smidge of white wine.

And then there’s Tessemae’s, my absolute favorite find (thanks to Erica for the heads up!) — not just for the spunky nature of the company, but also because they keep it real (real yummy) when it comes to all-natural condiments and dressings. The Lemon Garlic dressing was a life-saver for salads. Another tip? Try their Lemon Chesapeake dressing over salmon and braised greens!

Hydration: I read that drinking rooibos tea could help combat sweet cravings due to its deep, earthy vanilla taste, so I stocked up on Numi’s version. It’s caffeine-free and full of antioxidants, so it’s also become my afternoon drink of choice with a splash of home-made almond milk.

And as important as it is to replenish fluid and electrolytes when you’re working out, you’d be hard-pressed to find many without added sugar, carbs or artificial flavors and colors. That’s why I’ve also been using elete’s Electrolyte Add-in, a pure, flavorless liquid electrolyte concentrate that contains magnesium, potassium, sodium and chloride in order to help facilitate proper muscle and mental function. It’s gotten me through countless long runs and rides these past few weeks!

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As for my final take on the program, it’s something I’d highly recommend. Think of it this way — it’s a month with some occasional discomfort (mostly mental) in exchange for something that has the potential to impact you for the rest of your life in a positive way: A new relationship with food.

Removing the junk out of your diet helps chip away at some of the emotional baggage regarding what we eat and why, as well. Your taste buds will reset, you’ll regain control over cravings, you’ll feel healthier overall…but most of all, you’ll learn to approach life after Whole30 with a whole new outlook.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Ben and I had a running list of post-Whole30 restaurants to visit and items to eat! We fully intend to indulge in them, too — although this time it’ll not only be deliberate, but also in moderation so we can truly enjoy it.

Have you tried Whole30? What’s your take?

Also – it’s your lucky day! Yawp was kind enough to offer a mixed case (12 bars, four of each flavor: Naked, Cafe Mocha and Coconut Chai) up for grabs. Enter here via a Rafflecopter giveaway!

10-Minute Bar-Based Core Blaster Workout

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I’ll let you in on a little secret: Ab exercises are my fitness kryptonite. As much as I love working out, I go deer-in-headlights at mere mention of the word “sit-up.”

But skipping out on my midsection isn’t an option; core strength is critical — not just for support and stability but, let’s face it, also fitting into this season’s skinny jeans.

My solution? Sneak in core strength training through a series of compound exercises (working several muscles groups at a time), rather than isolation exercises (working one muscle group), thus avoiding a mid-gym meltdown.

Enlisting the help of some innovative new equipment helps, too: Enter the ActivMotion Bar, which I’ve been experimenting with recently thanks to the folks at Fit Approach. It’s a weighted bar filled with rolling steel weights, which creates instability through a fluid-like motion to better challenge your body during some of your typical workout moves.

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Got 10 minutes? Try this bar-based core series — perform each of the five exercises below for one minute each, and then repeat the entire circuit.

Use a broomstick in a pinch, a weighted bar at the gym, or invest in an ActivMotion Bar if you want to kick things up a notch for at-home workouts.

1. Walking Lunges

Stand tall with head and feet facing forward and core engaged. Raise bar straight above head, straightening arms but keeping shoulders down. Keeping abs and butt tight to stabilize yourself, slowly step out with right foot into a lunge.

Make sure your knee doesn’t go beyond your toes, and try to keep both legs at 90-degree angles. Pressing into your front heel, lift up to a standing position; alternate sides across the room for 60 seconds.

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2. Bar Windmills

Again, start by standing tall with head and feet facing forward and core engaged. Press bar up with right hand, taking care to keep shoulder down and core engaged. Slowly bend to the left side, reaching for your left foot while keeping right arm directly above your right shoulder.

Pause for a beat before rising carefully back to a standing position. Repeat pattern for 30 seconds before switching sides and raising your left arm while bending to the right.

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3. Ab Roll-Ups

Lie on the floor with our feet shoulder-width apart, soles of your feet touching the ground, knees bent and core engaged (think about pulling your belly button through your spine and down to the floor). Using both hands, raise the bar above your shoulders — try to keep some softness in your elbow so you don’t lock out the joint.

Slowly roll up, one vertebrae at a time, keeping bar lifted toward the ceiling and core engaged. Once you’re sitting up, slowly lower back down through each vertebrae, keeping bar raised. Repeat for 60 seconds.

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4. Kayaker Twist

Sitting on the floor with your feet out in front of you and your knees bent, lift feet a few inches off of the floor (option to modify: keep feet on floor). Lean back slightly, but be sure to use core to keep spine straight — no hunching forward or arching your back.

Hold bar in both hands, and with a steady rowing motion, slowly turn to left side and dip the bar toward the ground. Lift back up and through center before twisting to the right and letting bar dip down on that side. Alternating sides, repeat for 60 seconds.

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5. Sumo Side Lean

Take a wide stance with feet slightly turned out. Raise bar straight above head with both hands, taking care to keep shoulders down and back straight. Lower into a sumo squat, checking to make sure that knees are in line with ankles and don’t extend beyond toes.

Slowly lean to left side without twisting; your body should remain in one plane when viewed from the side. Return to starting position and, keeping bar above head, lower to the right side. Repeat, alternating sides, for 60 seconds.

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For more information on this product, check out ActivMotion Bar’s website here.

Disclaimer: You’re doing these exercises at your own risk, so please be careful. If you’ve got an injury or concern, it’s best to consult with your health care provider and/or trainer to make sure you’re cleared to work out and are using proper form.

Fave Fix: GoodBelly 12-Day Belly Reboot

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The holidays tend out to bring out the crazy in all of us, right?

Case in point: After months of excess, we toss kale in our grocery carts and halfheartedly call it “eating healthy” (even though we’re buying roughly twice as many calories per serving in food now, as compared to the holidays, says this study) or commit to a crazy cleanse or restrictive diet that’s destined to leave us yoyo-ing throughout 2015.

Why abuse your gut in an effort to lose it?

My suggestion instead: Be nicer to your belly with a 12-Day Belly Reboot.

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The kind folks over at GoodBelly contacted me to check out their new program, which launched just in time for the New Year. During the Reboot, you drink one 8 oz. glass or one shot of GoodBelly a day for 12 days. Along the way, you’ll be able to track exactly what’s happening in your body and get extra motivation in the form of tips and coupons.

“Since probiotics do their work in the belly and beyond, there hasn’t necessarily been a way to see tangible results of their impact on overall health, ” said Alan Murray, CEO of GoodBelly. “Our new Belly Reboot was created to offer consumers a way to really track and understand how probiotics can impact the way they feel in just 12 days.”

Made with the well-researched probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V®), GoodBelly supports digestive health. Unlike many other live and active cultures, though, LP299V survives passage beyond the stomach’s acidic environment in order to support the rest of the digestive system, and ultimately overall health.*

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GoodBelly offers multi-serving quarts and single serving shots, available in flavors like Blueberry Acai, Mango, Pomegranate Blackberry and Strawberry. Each serving packs 20-50 billion live and active probiotic cultures to promote healthy digestive and immune systems, as 70 percent of the body’s immune system resides in the digestive tract.*

I kicked off my  12-day test just as things got hectic around the holidays. The juice was delicious, and the shots were convenient (some sweet, some tart, depending on the flavor), but best of all? Between last-minute shopping stress, unusually decadent meals, lots of travel and — to top it off — an especially active cold and flu season, I was not only able to stave off sickness, but also keep my energy up and banish bloat.

If you’re on the supplement bandwagon, like me, you may already take probiotic pills. In that case, GoodBelly’s a great way to add some variety (not to mention extra vitamins and calcium) to your diet. And if you’re new to the idea, it’s an easy — and delicious — way to augment your healthy eating habits for 2015.

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“We believe that what you eat and drink has a direct impact on your overall health,” said Murray. “Which is why we’re committed to creating functional beverages in exciting flavors that are easy to drink and absolutely delicious.”

Now, that’s really going with your gut.

For more information on the GoodBelly 12-Day Belly Reboot, click here.

*Some studies suggest GoodBelly’s probiotic may help balance the bacteria in your gut when consumed daily as part of a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle. GoodBelly is a food product and not a treatment or cure for any medical disorder or disease. If you have any concerns about your digestive system, please consult a health care professional.

5 Reasons to Factor Some ‘Heart’ Into Your Workouts

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In light of this week’s announcement from Coeur Sports — I’m thrilled to be a part of the team again in 2015! — and in honor of our “heart & courage” rallying cry, I figured it’d be an opportune time to talk about something I’ve shied away from until only very recently: heart rate training.

Why? As much as I love to quantify my fitness, somewhere between doing the heart rate zone math, finding the correct workouts to hit my zones and then licking attaching the device and syncing up to whatever software is needed, I inevitably drop the ball. Let’s face it, adding another element of discipline can be tough when the alternative is to just lace up and head out the door.

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But the wiser older I get, the more I’ve realized that there are some terrific benefits to taking heart rate into account when training. Here are a few of the reasons why I’m starting to incorporate it into more of my workouts:

1. Train smarter. There’s a good chance that, like me, you tend to overdo your easy days and don’t push quite hard enough when it is needed.

2. Change focus. If you’re in an exercise rut, it’s fun to add a gaming element with heart rate workouts by setting some specific, measurable goals.

3. Recover effectively. Are you sure you’re not undercutting recovery days? Heart rate monitors can be incredibly helpful in helping you rein things in.

4. Stay healthy. Over-training and improper pacing can knock you off your A game, leaving you susceptible to both overuse and acute injuries.

5. Get better. Whether you’re looking to raise your level of fitness, stick to a program or race faster, fine tuning your workouts by heart rate can help.

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Ok, you’re probably thinking, that’s great, but how do I get started? Well, here’s a four-step cheat-sheet that simplifies the process:

First, determine your maximum heart rate, which can be done with a reasonable amount of accuracy by subtracting your age from the number 220 (for men) or from 226 (for women). There are a number of other equations that can be used, but that one’s a good rule of thumb.

Second, establish your resting heart rate, which should be done first thing in the morning with your feet still between the sheets. Find your pulse, count the number of beats that occur in 10 seconds, and multiply that number by six to find your rough count for beats-per-minute.

Third, calculate your training zones, which will allow you to customize your workouts to your heart rate and current fitness level. You can do the math according to the chart below, or use this handy calculator to do it for you.

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Now that you have your heart rates and zones, the fourth and final step is to create a training program and track results. This, of course, will vary according to your ultimate goal(s), but here’s a great article that outlines the different types of workouts you’ll want to consider when creating your program.

The best part is that you don’t need any fancy equipment, aside from two fingers and a jugular, to get started. If you decided to stick with it, though, I’d strongly advise purchasing a heart rate monitor, which will deliver consistent readings and track your workouts for you.

My favorite right now is the Wahoo Fitness TICKR ($100). Not only does the built-in memory mean you have the freedom to train without a phone, but I also find the motion analytics (measures running form across three dimensions; click here for details) fascinating because I’m looking to improve my form and become a stronger runner.

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As for my verdict on this type of training, the jury’s still out. I’m by no means an expert, meaning I’m still playing around with it and trying to learn as much as I can, but from what I’ve been reading I do think it could help give me an extra edge to stay healthy in 2015.

The only downside so far is that — for someone who has always set goals based on pace — I’ve had to check my ego at the door for pretty much every workout thus far. Effort-wise I feel great, but the monitor says I’m training at levels where I’m exerting myself too much, which (contrary to what you’d think) doesn’t actually serve me well in the long run.

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So what can you expect if you try this at home? Well, surprisingly, the biggest shift may be more of a mental one that physical. Gone are the subjective “run by feel” workouts; using a heart rate monitor gives you a very concrete, objective way to gauge exertion and progress.

Other than that, get ready to slooow down. Almost painfully so, as you’ll likely add a few minutes to your per-mile pace initially. But by taking back control of your workouts, you should start to see progress fairly quickly — in the form of being able to do more while maintaining a lower heart rate, which means you’re becoming an aerobic machine!

After struggling with injuries last season and feeling like I’ve hit a plateau with my speed, I’ve got nothing to lose: It could work like a charm or (what I’m really afraid of) end up slowing me down, but either way, I figure I’ll learn a lot in the process!

Do you train with a heart rate monitor? Any feedback and/or tips to share?

Booty-Blaster: 5 Band-Based Exercises to Activate Glutes

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Ever since my most recent marathon-training injury, I’ve been on a mission to get my sleepy glutes firing again on all cylinders. Studies link glute weakness to Achilles tendinitis, shinsplints, runner’s knee and iliotibial-band syndrome, along with a host of other overuse injuries (i.e. my medial tibial stress response), so a strong booty is key to not only keeping a steady core, but also the body’s entire kinetic chain from getting out of whack.

My PT prescribed a series of exercises using a Thera-Band, which got me race-ready. But during my post-marathon running hiatus I’ve been kicking it up a notch with the ReXist360 resistance training system, which is designed to intensify band-based workouts without any unwanted pressure added to the back, knees or ankle joints.

Read on for my five favorite butt-busting resistance exercises!

1. Clamshells

Place band above your knees. Lie on one side, prop your upper body up on one arm and stack your legs on top of one another with knees bent. Slowly lift top knee toward the ceiling, keeping feet together and body in alignment. Hold for a second at the top, squeezing glutes, before lowering in a controlled manner. Repeat 20 times before switching to other side.

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2. Glute Bridges

Place band above your knees. Lie with back on the floor, and bring heels close enough to be able to touch them with your fingertips when arms are extended down by your sides. Place hands on hips, and open knees slightly so they press out against band to activate glutes. Driving your heels into the ground, lift hips toward the ceiling, and squeeze glutes before lowering. Repeat 20 times.

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3. Monster Walks

Place band above your knees (or around ankles to make it tougher!). Step legs out until they’re hip- to shoulder-width apart. Sink butt into squat position, making sure that knees don’t extend beyond your toes — think about sitting further back and lowering your behind into the position to protect knees. Maintaining that wide-legged stance, slowly squat-walk across the room. After about 30 steps, turn around and repeat.

As you can see, I’ve still got some work to do on my ankle mobility to get down into the correct position!

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4. Side Lifts

Place band around knees (or, again, ankles to make it more difficult). Use bottom arm to support head and top arm to steady yourself. Straighten and stack legs, lining up hips, knees and ankles. Keeping core engaged and top foot parallel to foot on floor, slowly lift top leg toward ceiling. Pause at the top of the movement, squeezing glutes before lowering. Repeat 20 times before switching to other side.

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5. Squats

Place band above knees. Stand with feet parallel and hip-width apart. Slowly sink your butt back until legs are at a 90-degree angle (thighs are parallel to the ground). Again, take care to keep knees from caving in toward one another or extending beyond toes, and keep chest up as much as possible (I’m still working on my form, hence the mat under my heels). Hold for a second before driving back up through heels to come back to standing. Repeat 25 times.

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Disclaimer: I’m not a PT or a doctor; these are simply some exercises I’ve found helpful for getting those glutes firing again! If you’ve got an injury or concern, though, be sure to check with your own health care provider first so you can make a plan of action together.

Dressing Up in the Hottest Activewear From Down Under

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As you can imagine, working for a fitness start-up certainly has its perks. Sure, taking meetings over yoga mats and counting spandex as “business” attire is great, but what really gets our blood pumping is partnering with some pretty spectacular brands — and getting to give people a heads up about stuff we absolutely love.

Case in point: Lorna Jane, which I was introduced to while living in San Francisco. At first, I questioned whether Australia’s leading women’s sports label could compete with the likes of Lululemon and Athleta, even in a city that’s synonymous with yoga pants.

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But we really identified with the brand’s positive message and Move Nourish Believe philosophy — not to mention their clothing is the kind that’ll get you stopped in the street by people who want to know where they can get it. Needless to say, it wasn’t much of a shocker that that brand took SF by storm; if it was cute, colorful and functional, you could bet it came from Lorna Jane.

So when I heard they were bringing a store to the Portland area and that they were giving our team at Fit Approach (SweatGuru’s sister company) an opportunity to go in for a personal styling session to try on the new fall line, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to contain myself. But the grand opening day finally came, and at last week’s party I met with a stylist who asked me about my typical activities and clothing preferences before pulling several looks to try.

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First up was this green tank with a black sports brand and leggings. Normally I don’t like workout wear that’s super fussy or has a lot of details, but the strappy back totally converted me (see bottom left in the first picture above); it was as interesting to look at as it was comfortable. Sold!

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Next up was a robin-egg blue sports bra with animal print capris and a bright pink hoodie. I had seen these pants online and was dying to try ’em on in person to see if they lived up to the hype. From the funky snakeskin-type print to the abstract lines, yep — another winner.

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Third was a cute cut-out sports bra and track jacket with some not-so-basic black capris. And, clearly, I have no clue what to do in front of the camera.

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After that, the stylist wanted to switch things up a bit with a pair of harem pants and a hooded vest. The mix of colors and prints was really fun, and I was pleasantly surprised with the pants; I’m not typically a harem pant kinda gal, but these had built-in bike shorts for support, which was brilliant!

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Finally, though, came my favorite outfit of the evening — a neon yellow sports bra and cobalt top with abstract printed tights. As far as I’m concerned, you can never go wrong with a special sports bra, a vivid top and crazy pants.

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In the end, I went with the last outfit and ended up buying some pieces from others — the green top, black sports bra and animal print capris — which I’ll probably piece together as a separate outfit. But, as you can see, it’s easy to get carried away in there!

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Another highlight of the evening was getting to hang out with half of the Team LUNA Chix PDX Run Team (from left: Carolyn, Megan, Tiffany, Kristin, me), who came out to support our teammate Tiffany, who works at Lorna Jane. We may run together, but from the looks of this picture we consider shopping a sport, as well 🙂

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A big thank you to the team at Lorna Jane for setting this up. While I did receive some clothes, all opinions are my own.  I would never promote a brand that I didn’t love. 

Fave Fix: PrAna Early Winter Collection (& discount code!)

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Whether it’s comfort, performance or style, workout clothing should have a clear purpose.  In my case, obnoxiously-bright gear just so happens to get me motivated to work out, even when it’s cold, wet and otherwise crappy outside (and, as I found out last week, it also gets me called out at the gym as a “Californian,” but I digress…).

You know what’s odd, though? Despite all the tanks, tops, sports bras and capris I’ve amassed over the years, I had yet to try anything from prAna. I’ve got a few friends who swear by the brand, and I know they sponsor the lovely LUNA Chix Pro Team, the most successful, longest-running team in the history of professional MTB and XTERRA racing, but that was the extent of my knowledge of them.

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So I considered it kismet when prAna partnered up with Fit Approach to help get the word out about the new Early Winter Collection. Getting to check out an organization with a mission of being socially mindful, environmentally sustainable and that offers gear that not only withstands the rigors of the outdoors but also the demands of world-class athletes? Well, that’s a no brainer.

As it turns out, the 22-year-old company was started by Beaver Theodosakis and his wife Pam in their garage in Carlsbad, Calif. and continues their commitment to sustainability, community and right action to this day. Their purposeful garments are designed for freedom of movement with hidden technical features — and what started as a cult favorite within the yoga and climbing communities has extended to people who share a love of the outdoors and related lifestyles.

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Knowing that I’d soon be facing a dreary Portland winter, I decided to test out the Drea Jacket ($99) and Prism Capri Legging ($70) for keeping my core warm and spirits high, respectively. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll continue the SF trend of wearing workout gear around town and sport these puppies both in the gym and out and about for errands.

Yes, the Drea is another fleece hoodie; we’ve all got a few rotating in and out of our wardrobe. But what makes this one so special is that its made from a moisture-wicking stretch performance fleece, so you can throw it on after spin class or an hour of yoga without worrying about getting overheated or pitting it out at brunch. Ribbing at the side body and hood give it a more fitted shape, and built-in cuff hand warmers help keep fingers toasty.

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And the capris, well, they’re quickly becoming my go-to when I’m looking to spice up my outfit with bottoms that are durable, flattering and (most importantly) fun. The “stylized stitching” is supposed to add sporty flair, but I found it quite functional — strategic placement under the knee on both front and back conveniently help keep the pants from riding up.

Mindfully designed. Built to last. And best of all? Available at a discount, just in time for holiday shopping! Use KineticFix’s special code (pspf14kf) at checkout for 15% off your entire order.

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Happy shopping…and sweating, friends 🙂

Sweat like a pig, look like a fox…and smell like neither (+ giveaway!)

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Ever play that game where you see if you can squeeze in just one more workout out of an outfit? Well, trust me, it’s a scenario in which no one wins.

And now that we’re headed into winter (i.e. indoor workout season), I’d like to make a public service announcement: Please do yourself, your nose and the noses of those around you a favor and regularly de-funk that fitness gear.

Here are a few tricks I’ve picked up from trial and error over the years, along with some new tips for feeling so fresh and so clean next time you hit the gym.

But first — why so smelly?

Blame those moisture-wicking technical fabrics. Sure, they keep you from getting soaked during sweatfests, but their water-repellent technology also means it takes more than a simple wash cycle to penetrate those fibers. Plus, we’re used to our street clothes getting slightly soiled; workout gear gets downright dirty with trapped oils and residue, so it takes some special TLC to get things totally clean.

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Ok, so what should I do?

Short of burning it or buying a whole new wardrobe, there are a few things I like to do to keep my gear from getting too gnarly:

1. Strip Down: Lounging around in sopping-wet clothing is a no-no for several reasons (ladies, you know what I mean); get it off ASAP.

2. Hang Dry: If you can’t wash clothes immediately, at least drape them over a shower rod or door handle to air out and dry.

3. Soak Up: I let super stinky stuff set for 15-30 minutes in the bathroom sink with water and one cup of vinegar before washing.

4. Wash Well: I used to think my usual detergent was sufficient, but I’ve recently been converted to WIN (details below), a detergent designed specifically to treat fitness and sport clothing.

5. Dry Thoroughly: Dry clothing on the hottest dryer setting that’s appropriate for the materials. Or hang air-dry items outside in direct sunlight to kill any remaining bacteria.

If all else fails, know when it’s time to throw in the towel (or sports bra or bike shorts) — if it’s still full of stink after several washes, wave the white flag and throw down a few bucks for a new pair!

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As I mentioned above, I’ve always relied on traditional detergent for washing my workout gear. Even if something seemed fresh when I pulled it out of the drawer, though, I’d occasionally notice that yucky mildew smell on some pieces as soon as they got wet (like my sports bra during last weekend’s trail race, for example).

But all clothing detergents are pretty much the same, I thought. Right?

Nope.

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Enter WIN, which I heard of previously while at a race expo but only recently got a chance to test. It’s specifically formulated to remove oils and residue that cause odor from synthetic fabrics — it literally breaks up all that gunk that’s accumulated on the fibers, removing the source of the smell and truly cleaning the garment.

My verdict: This stuff really works. Clothing smells good coming out of the wash, even better out of the dryer…and stays that way. So much so that I (who at one time may or may not have stocked up on so much underwear I’d only have to do laundry once a month) have done a load each day this week. Yep, it’s WIN for the win.

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But you don’t have to take my word for it — you can try WIN yourself! Enter via Rafflecopter below, and you’ll have the chance to win two bottles of WIN detergent (one regular and one green) to try at home on your stinkiest of workout wear.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Got any best practices for keeping the stench out of your gym clothes? I’d love to hear!

A big thank you to Fit Approach for the opportunity to check out WIN. While I did receive samples of the product, all opinions are my own. I would never promote something I didn’t believe in.