Earlier this week, Lululemon announced it's "Function, Meet Fashion" line which offers fashion solutions for our busy lives. It recognizes that we "don't have time for a wardrobe that keeps forcing you to change". While I couldn't wear some of these clothes to work, they are perfect for running errands, lunch after a workout and cocktails.
The Here to There Tank top($58.00) is particularly chic. It's great for yoga, barre class or pilates and beyond.
Here To There Tank, front view/image via Lululemon.com
Here To There Tank/image via Lululemon
The tank top is paired with the Here To There Short in blue($54.00). It also comes in black. Adorable. Interestingly, the size 4's in both the tank and shorts are already sold out on Lululemon.com. Those Lulu lovers are tiny!
Here are a few more looks that offer style and function both in and out of the gym.
Athleta
Athleta is a fashion forward fitnesswear line with a tad higher price point but worth it. Their clothes are definitely dual-purpose. They offer free shipping over $50.
This Athleta skirt is a wonderful versatile option in a breathable "Teelicious" fabric. It comes in a variety of colors ranging from basic black to an on-trend radiant orchid. You can wear this on a powerwalk or over yoga shorts after a workout.
If you're looking for something more revealing, how about Athleta's Second Chance Cami Support top in fuschia. I love so much of what they do. They design clothes with the modern, fit and busy woman in mind.
Target
Target is bringing it for Spring, too. They also offer free shipping with a $50 minimum purchase.
Like any rookies, Gavin Escobar and Jeff Heath had quite the learning curve their first season in the NFL with the Cowboys last year. Find out what that was AND why Heath could have a future as a TV producer in our Dallas Cowboys TwitterView.
Have a question for a player you would like to see featured in an upcoming Cowboys TwitterView? Leave a note in the comments section.
The Mavericks are fresh off a big win over Oklahoma City Sunday night. YES, the Thunder was without three starters, including Russell Westbrook. I don't care. Dallas ended an 11-game losing streak to Kevin Durant and company but there's no time to revel in that victory. The Mavs are back at the AAC Monday to host the Celtics which presents.....a fashion conundrum.
Think about it: It's St. Patricks Day. The day we are supposed to wear green. The Celtics are THE team that was founded on the luck of the Irish! When you think of them, you envision their green uniforms, the clover and leprechaun.
So what should the St. Patrick's Day-loving Mavs fan wear to a game like this one? My daughter and I are actually going to the game. I think this is a great night to break out a Mavericks t-shirt. The good thing is that there are cute options for even the most sartorial Mavs fan.
If all else fails and you can't find any colors that work, you can always wear Mavs jewelry. Sure, some of it is cheesy but I found a cute pendant from Kohl's.
It's on sale for $140, still pricey for sterling silver but it's the most stylish one I have seen. Here's a more affordable version for $24.
What You Need to Know About the Mavs/Celtics Game
The Mavericks have won six of their last seven games against the Celtics, as well as the last three at the American Airlines Center.
Dirk Nowitzki plays really well against Boston, averaging 26.5 points per game in 28 starts against the Celtics. That is his highest scoring average against any opponent.
Boston is terrible with a 22-45 record this season, 8-24 on the road. The Celtics have lost four in a row, including an overtime loss to New Orleans on Sunday.
Dallas is 40-27, 21-10 at home. The Mavericks are currently 7th in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of Memphis and just a game and a half ahead of 9th place Phoenix. Meaning with 15 games left in the season, every game counts.
Have you had the urge to skydive but are too scared to jump out of a perfectly good airplane? Then iFly Indoor Skydiving might just be your speed.
I had the chance to experience indoor skydiving with Cowboys players Jeff Heath and Gavin Escobar for a story. Shooting the story at iFly in Frisco was actually Jeff's idea and it was a brilliant one.
Candidly, I had no clue what to expect and I thought I might lose my lunch. Turns out the experience was the most fun four minutes I have had in a long time.
What Exactly is iFly?
The iFly concept delivers true free fall conditions in a huge wind tunnel which is similar to the ones members of military and professional skydivers use for training.
You fly in an enclosed flight chamber which has fans that generate wind speeds in excess of 175 miles per hour and let you experience true weightlessness.
The iFly Dallas Experience
Before you can fly, you have to go through a thorough, yet simple training session. None of it is too complicated. Our instructor was engaging and made sure everyone in our training session, which included a child under 10, understood the hand signals and correct body positioning required for our flights.
It shocked me to learn that people as young as three years old can participate.
Jeff Heath, me and Gavin Escobar in "uniform"
Once we gear up in what I must admit are uniforms that do a body no favors, our "class" entered the wind tunnel seating area. The wind tunnel is quite loud. You really can't hear anyone if you try to talk.
Jeff Heath flying
Each of us received a flying session with our instructor that lasted about 90 seconds to two minutes. During the first session, our instructor guided us the entire time.
After everyone flies once, we go again. Each of us paid for the "high-fly" package which allowed us to fly high up into the tunnel. In the second go-round we were able to fly unassisted, lying horizontal similar to Superman.
Our photographer, Daniel Royas, flying
We weren't able to do any crazy, acrobatic maneuvers that the flight instructors are capable of performing. We were just lucky to remain horizontal and not run into the wall.
What It's Like
In short: it's amazing. I could not stop smiling the entire time while in flight. Both Gavin and Jeff thought it was awesome, too. I never once felt queasy. It's truly that free feeling of flying with a cool wind blowing in your face. Just spectacular.
The instructor indicated we might be sore the next day because we were using back and abdominal muscles we typically don't engage. While the flight is a workout, there was no soreness at all. I felt fine.
The only downside is that the actually flying time is pretty short, roughly less than five minutes. Everyone in my group was a first-timer, so we participated in the First Time Flyer packagewhichincluded the training session and gear rental. There are also Return Flyer and Experienced Flyer packages. You can purchase up to one continuous hour of flying time.
The Cost
Because we were shooting a story, the team at iFly was nice enough to give us a complimentary session. A First Time Flyer family package for five people (the one we had) is $269.95. The same package for a single person is $59.95.
I would do this on my own in a heartbeat. It was the experience of a lifetime that I can't wait to try again.
The Details iFly Indoor Skyding is located at 8380 SH 121 in Frisco. It's right off 121. You can't miss it.
There seems to be a new machine at the gym almost daily. The thing is, we tend to get in an exercise rut and stick with the machines that we know and love. Over time, doing the same thing repeatedly doesn't challenge us that much.
Time magazine lists three pieces of gym equipment we aren't using but should be. Two of these are some of my favorites.
You can torch serious calories on this AND tone your back muscles AKA "fight bra fat". Check out the rowing machine workout guide to get an idea of ways to create and effective program.
The Stair Climber or StairMaster - It's one of my gym go-to's. You can always ramp up the intensity to get a good interval workout.
It's a booty kick AND, according to Kansas City exercise physiologist Greg Justice, you can burn more calories on this machine than walking on a treadmill at the same pace because you're using more muscles.
Suspension Trainers - these were just installed in my gym. Candidly, I haven't even tried to use them because I don't know how.
According to the article, you can get a nice total body strengthening workout in a relatively short period of time.
The Takeaway
Don't be afraid to try new equipment or a new workout. It gets you out of your comfort zone, challenges your body and might just reinvigorate you.
Time to follow my own advice and get a TRX Trainer lesson!
The weather is offering up all sorts of funkiness right now. It's that transitional time in which winter is still holding strong but spring is fighting to take over.
When it comes to gym fashion, it can be easy to get sucked into the same, boring jacket that I have been wearing for, literally, five years.
I found some adorable layering tops, called the Epic Long Crew from Nike, that can add warmth with style. These come in a variety of colors and can be paired over a pair of leggings if you're hitting the gym and running errands.
I think these would even work with a cute pair of jeans and heels for a fun weekend lunch.
We're stuck at our desks for eight hours a day, we're not moving our bodies and our diets are made of mainly processed crap.
Well, that sucks.
This is all according to a recent study. Even more depressing: obese women average about 11 seconds of exercise a day, resulting in about one hour per year while obese men get about 3.6 hours of exercise per year.
In the era of constant streams of information (including blogs like these) telling us that exercise will change our lives and help us live longer, where is the disconnect? Why are people not getting the message and taking control of their health?
The study's lead author, Edward Archer a nutrition and obesity researcher at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, intimates we're that kind of lazy.
"We've engineered physical activity out of our daily lives and that's causing the health disparities that we have in this country," Archer tells HealthDay.
Think about it, so much of our every day life is automated and engineered to make us lazier: the remote control, being able to control our lives with our laptops and iPads, drive through everything. You get the idea.
What does the multitude of wonderful technological innovations encourage us to do? Spend more time at our desks, getting sicker, fatter and closer to death. It's a slippery slope.
True words
The thing is, exercise is freaking awesome. No other way to put it. It's freakingawesome. Nothing eliminates stress, makes you feel better about yourself and makes you look better than exercise.
Don't have enough time to workout? Bullsh&%. You do. You just don't make it a priority. It doesn't have to be 90 minutes every day. You can get in great shape exercising 30 minutes most days of the week while mixing in a longer pilates class, a game of tennis, a round of golf or whatever floats your fitness boat once or twice.
Exercise is truly nature's antidepressant. Make the commitment to do it five days a week and notice how much better you feel about yourself. The improved physical appearance is simply a nice bonus.
Be honest: why do you struggle with making a commitment to exercise?
I have since ramped up my workout wardrobe and found that you don't have to spend a fortuneto look decent at the gym and running the subsequent errands that always seem to follow a workout.
Look #1
This ensemble was my weekend yoga attire. It features the C9 by Champion Skinny Pantpants from Target I love. They're $29.99 right now. I had scored a $5 coupon at checkout and bought them in-store for $24.99. I swear these make your butt look smaller.
I paired these pants with the Inner Light Top from LucyI bought years ago. It's fine for yoga. If you're going to run in this top, you need a bra.
The bright blue top I wore is no longer available online but you can find adorable options from Zappos. They're $47.99 but they last a while. My top is four years old.
Look #2
I wore this Lululemon outfit to work out with my therapist trainer, Steve Burgess, followed by numerous errands on Tuesday. One of those errands included a stop at the Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch. I hate visiting there in workout clothes but it was just one of those things I couldn't avoid.
Despite the tight fit of the pant and the top, I never felt inappropriate. They both delivered great coverage. The top was a Christmas gift two years ago from Lululemon's Run Swiftly line.
I scored the pants at the Lululemon outlet in San Marcos. This place is the bomb! They stock last season's merchandise at a lower price point. I paid $49 for these running pants and I love them. They have two pockets, one zipper and one inside the waist band, as well as reflective panels down the leg. They don't seem to be available online anymore.
You can email them and get photos of items in stock.
The Takeaway
You can spend a small fortune on gym clothes. There is no need to do that. Whether you're headed to the gym or brunch afterwards, work the sales and shop the discount stores. You'll be looking like a fitness fashionista for less in no time.
I asked that question this Saturday when I was able to find a parking spot for my 10:30am yoga class at 10:22 at Equinox. Stick with me. This was the first Saturday of 2014 that the parking lot wasn't completely full and I didn't have to arrive at the gym at 10:15 to get a spot for the 10:30 class. In fact, the class wasn't even nearly full. I wasn't stuck in the corner near the dirty yoga mats. I was able to secure a spot smack dab in the middle of the room. This got me wondering: Have we already given up on our 2014 resolutions to get in better shape?
Experts say most people give up just after a month. I know that sticking to a diet and staying committed to an exercise program isn't easy. It's much easier to cancel a 6am workout in favor of an extra half hour of sleep in or go to happy hour after work versus a hitting the gym on a Monday.
I am not a doctor, scientist or medical professional but I do have years of "exercise experience" and acquired knowledge. When you exercise your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body. You know that "runner's high"? Thank those endorphins. Exercise truly is nature's antidepressant and the fountain of youth.
Fighting through a barre class!
You do not have to kill yourself exercising, either. I've said this a million timeson this blog but there are a number of ways you can get your heart pumping, burn some calories and do your body some good:
Work out with a trainer - I started working out once a week with trainer, Steve Burgess, and it has truly changed my exercise game. I've learned so much.
Another trick? Try logging your workouts. It's a great way to set goals for yourself and monitor your progress. I have logged my workouts since college. There's nothing better than looking back over the past few years, seeing what you did on a particular day and how you felt about it.
The Takeaway
Don't give up on those resolutions to get in better shape. It's one of the best things you can do for yourself to make you feel better in an instant. The weight you lose or extra muscle you gain are simply a nice bonus.
The thing is, I don't want to spent a fortune on gym clothes! I'd rather invest in classic, timeless clothes for work or the weekend. But after having a come to Jesus with myself after being fashion-shamed in yoga last month, I have resolved to look like a gym slob no more.
The cold weather, and my newfound affinity for yoga, has me searching for affordable pants and tops to wear to the gym AND running errands.
I picked up this exact pair of C9 by Champion Premium Skinny Pant this weekend. They are gathered at the ankle and fit pretty tight. The thing is, they're so slimming. I felt like my booty had shrunk wearing these!
Put Those Fashions in Action Interested in hitting the gym? Exhale Spa has a Love Your Body Workshop Series (who doesn't need to love ourselves a bit more?).
Love Your Butt: This 30 minute butt-burning workshop will help lift and sculpt your backside with a variety of glute-focused exercises.
Love Your Arms: In 30 minutes the focus will be defining and strengthening your arms.
When: Love Your Butt- Saturday, February 8 at 1:15pm | Love Your Arms- Saturday, February 8 at 1:45pm
Pricing: $15 members and $17 non members each session.
The New York Times briefly mentioned this app produced by Le Pavillon des Lettres in Sunday's Travel section. I was immediately interested. I know the hotel well and thought it would do a good job with a digital offering.
I had no idea how thorough it would be. I have paid for Parisian guide apps that aren't nearly as extensive.
The app has the obligatory hotel information and the weather. Let's be honest, at the end of the day, it's a marketing tool.
It also had timely suggestions for events going on in the city. This past Sunday it featured Chinese New Year's celebrations.
It offers fun itineraries for Paris with children featuring various shows and parks like Le Jardin d'Acclimation. Here are my two cents on what to do in Paris with children.
It also suggested a Golden Age itinerary that can have you experiencing Parisian life like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald did in the 1920's.
This isn't necessarily groundbreaking stuff but it's packaged well, offers a quality offline map and features stunning photography.
If anything, it's a great diversion for times when you're craving a trip across the pond. Which for me right now, is about once a day.
If eating less helps you lose weight, then eating a LOT less will help you lose weight faster, right?
Don't starve in anticipation of a big meal
Not so fast.
When your body doesn't get enough quality nutrition, it switches into starvation and conservation mode. Meaning, it slows down your metabolism so that when you do eat, your body will burn the calories at a slower pace. This helps you conserve what energy your body does have.
Additionally, if you are eating next to nothing the likelihood of you bingeing and blowing it all is high.
We've been there haven't we? We're going out to a big dinner and we decide to eat next to nothing during the day. Yet when we get to dinner, we devour the bread basket or chips and salsa and make bad food choices. We end up eating way too much and feeling guilty about it afterwards. This, in turn, makes the experience unpleasant.
Now, we've all seen the skinny folks who starve themselves. That's borderline eating disorder and a completely different issue.
I'm focusing on consuming adequate amounts of quality foods, to help you be as healthy as you can be and maintain a good weight that's right for your body.
Sugar can be the devil. It's a devil I love and battle every day. Excessive sugar can damage your heart, cause diabetes and much more. It's not like one cookie killed anyone. Moderate indulgences are fine but it's hard to be moderate when it comes to the white stuff.
That legal crack is everywhere.
If you start checking nutrition labels you will be shocked when you learn about the amount of sugar in some of your favorite foods that you thought were naturally sugar free.
In fact, among the changes the FDA recently suggested the White House make regarding food labels was to address added sugar. Most food labels only list "Sugar" which is a combination of added and natural sugars. One proposed change is that the amount of added sugar be clearly labelled. This will help you determine how much sugar comes from a natural source and how much is added.
Still, it's good to check for what I like to call "sneaky sugars".
Any time you see a word ending in -"ose" that's added sugar. Dextrose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, glucose? All forms of sugar. Beware of other forms such as cane syrup, cane juice, corn syrup, malt syrup, honey, molasses, fruit juice concentrate or brown sugar.
Then there are foods you wouldn't think have much sugar but do:
On the left is a box of All Bran cereal while on the right is a box of Back to Nature Crispy Wheat crackers, two things you generally wouldn't consider "sweet" food items. The cereal has six grams of sugar per serving while the crackers have four.
This barbecue sauce has nine grams of sugar per serving.
How much should sugar you consume?
The American Heart Association recommends nine teaspoons for men and six for women per day. You can blow your wad in a regular 12-ounce soda when you realize it has 10 teaspoons of sugar.
The thing is, sugar is listed in grams on most nutrition labels. A gram and teaspoon are two different units of measurement. A gram measures mass (aka weight) while a teaspoon measures volume.
How do you know how much you're consuming? In general, there are about four grams of sugar per teaspoon.
4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon
The Takeaway
Again, moderate consumption of any of these items won't hurt you. It's the cumulative effect and overindulgence that does damage. Just be mindful of your overall sugar consumption each day.
I'll be fighting that battle against the White Devil right along with you.
If you're fighting a craving, brush your teeth. Doing this signals your brain that you won't be eating for a while. Brushing your teeth also gives you that minty fresh breath, something that doesn't mix with chips, candy or whatever it is you might be craving.
This falls under the category of things you don't want to know but should. Be proactive about learning more about the calorie counts of food items at your favorite dining establishments. It might make you rethink your food choices.
When I found out my favorite Starbucks cranberry-orange scone had 490 empty calories and 34 grams of sugar I almost choked on my latte.
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