My go to fitness look is a tank top and leggings. My personal preference is to not wear the matching bra and leggings sets, and thankfully that saves me on a lot of  overspending on gym clothes. Since I just joined a new gym I've been on a mission lately to find some new workout clothes that are both cute and sweat proof. I've done a lot of online ordering and returning! I've tried out some new to me brands and but still like my tried and true brands. I have a mid-size figure and wanted to find that perfect workout outfit that keeps me comfy during those sweaty sessions at the gym. If your activewear is the same style as mine, I got you covered as I'm going to share my favorite tanks, leggings, socks, bras and water bottle.

I updated the look of my blog, let me know what you think!

Camo print is always on trend and I'm sharing clothes from four stores that have it. Seeing this darker color in stores also means that the fall line is out, so summer will be over soon. I think these olive green pants pair great with a pink tank!  I had my eye on the zumba leggings which are from their new collection but sold out so quick, so I linked to a similar pair. Thus, I ended up getting the Athleta leggings which I love! They're mid-rise and suck everything in for you! They're perfect for running.

I've been obsessed with finding light pink workout clothes for years and only now are stores really starting to carry it so I couldn't be more excited! It's been especially it's been hard to find sneakers in light pink. Here's some pieces to deck you out from head to toe in pink.

Here's my pick of the most stylish shoes for your commute. If you either walk to work or take a walk during your lunch break, I think you'll like my sneaker style crush list. My absolute favorite on the list, is the Michael Kors Allie sneaker (left). It was love at first site when I saw it! The shoe is made of different fabric textures, charcoal flannel, shiny and metallic. I've never had a black sneaker before, but these would go great with my black slacks. The shoe also comes in a navy velvet (pictured above). Millennial pink workout clothes were a big trend this summer, now rose gold is on the scene for winter. Muted purples are popular as well as dark burgundy.

Have you heard of Millennial Pink? It's not just one shade of pink, it a range of light pinks from rose quartz, to blush, to rose gold. It's a muted barbie pink so it could be a pink between beige and peach. My favorite summer pink nail polish colors cover this spectrum. It may be the new trending color, but I've been a fan of this shade for years. However it's so hard to find serious running shoes in this color and tank tops. Why is that?

Happy New Year!  I enjoyed having Monday off and went to Flywheel in the rain to kick off my resolution of no missed workouts. When I got home I made myself a delicious low carb lunch.
I bet your fitness resolutions are in the works! Do you need some inspiration to hit the gym more often? These clothes will help you keep your new years resolutions. Consider it an investment in kicking off your fitness goals.

I stopped by the Nike store in Georgetown and picked up some new things. I absolutely love the purple shade color, it's a muted plum. I bought the Nike Zoned Sculpt pants with a high waistband as I feel they will be perfect for yoga. I company offers lunchtime yoga in the building and I like to dress as conservative as possible for that. If you look closely these pants have a unique contoured, engineered knit fabric and come in a few colors. Just don't look at the $150 price tag! I really like my Nike Pro Rival sports bra and got it in another shade if of purple. If you order online shipping is free!

Had another great weekend, Friday I went out to dinner with my father. Saturday I did a day trip to Baltimore to walk around the harbor and see the aquarium. I haven't done that in years and really enjoyed it and got to touch a jelly fish. In the evening I hit up some rooftop bars with a friend. Sunday I spent the afternoon with my mother.

As I talked about in my New Years Resolutions post, I've joined Orangetheory Fitness which is a class that consists of running, rowing and TRX. I stopped by Athleta to pick up some new workout clothes and was impressed by all the bright and colorful tanks they had, lots of pretty cobalt and orange. Below is what I tried on in the dressing room, and I ended up getting the blue strip shirt. I'm thinking of going back and getting these pants.

The experts say that sports bras have a limited run and that you need to replace them after extended wear because they stretch out. I've switched out my old sports bras  for these two. On the left is the Nike Pro Rival that I use for running. As I was making my Vision Board and flipping through all my old issues of Women's Running Magazine, I saw this bra in two issues. What's so unique about it is unlike the typical sports bra that gives you a flat uni-boob, this one keeps you perky and separated. I almost feel like Laverne and Shirley in their sweater sets. lol  It's made of dry fit fabric so it stays dry after a tough workout. For my yoga class, I bought the Lululemon Energy Bra because the design looks so pretty with my backless shirts. If you're well endowed and looking for a high and medium support sports bra, check these out.

I had to stop by the Lululemon store while I was in Santa Monica. I picked up some more colors of my favorite running tank - Cool Racerback. It's simple, streamlined, a long length and great for working on your tan line while running. It's light cool fabric that resists sweat and super soft to the touch. I'm loving their new camo pattern!

When I was training for my last run I talked about how I needed a handheld water bottle. Well I found the perfect one!  Unlike a regular cylinder water bottle, the Amphipod is shaped to fit the natural shape of your hand. So it's very comfortable to run with because I hardly noticed I was holding it for the most part. And the zippered neoprene sleeve is perfect to carry my keys in.

When I run my hand isn't holding on to the bottle tightly at all, it's in a relaxed position. I only felt the 20 oz bottle when it's full because they it feels like a heavy weight in my hand, but once I started drinking the water it lightens up and I really do finish a bottle on an hours run. My hand does sweat a little so I switch the bottle between hands during my run so I would imagine the sleeve will have to be washed eventually. The bottom rubber band slipped out a couple times, not sure what I'm doing to make it do that?  My other complaint is the color, I wish it came in other colors or at least the neoprene sleeve did, a girl likes options!

I buy new shoes every January and it's always a hard process because I like them to be stylish and
sometimes there's not shoes out in colors I like. Since half my workout wardrobe is purple I naturally like to buy purple shoes. I've been a loyal Nike wearer since college but I also need shoes that give my feet stability so I bought Nike Lunareclipse+ 3 which has the following features:

I talked about plum a month ago, and it seems it's the color of the season for lululemon right now. In fact it's so hot the crops sold out online and in stores in less than a week! Luckily I was able to snag a pair! Here's a close up detail of in the flow crop ii in the heathered plum color as it's hard to see the design in the dark colors online. The color is amazing as I was looking for colored pants (that wasn't too bright) to wear with the black backless top I got recently. There's not a string waist band and I wore these to the Electric Run and I have to say they did sag a bit when running. It's made of cotton, not that usual luon the rest of lululemon clothing is made out of, yet still moisture wicking fabric and around the knees it's more sheer. The waist is a bit higher than my other workout crops. It look funny on the hanger because of the pattern, but very flattering to wear.

If you're spending good money on your workout clothes by shopping at lululemon, I'm sure you want your clothes to last! With seeing so many women at the gym with sheer pant backs when they bend over, I make a point to never put my workout pants in the dryer. I hang them up to dry in my shower and they dry pretty fast within a day. I wash all my laundry in cold water to save energy and research has shown it still gets perfectly clean. I use Tide Cold Water detergent which is specially formulated to be used with cold water. I've been loyal to Tide my whole life, even my mother used it because it's always been supreme at the top of Consumer Reports list for best detergent, that's the only reason I haven't switched to "green" detergents when the rest of my cleaning supplies are. I also only use half the detergent recommended to save money because I've read that you only need half a cap to get your clothes clean. Washing machines are more efficient these days, detergents are more concentrated, the company just wanted you to have to buy a new bottle faster. I don't use fabric softeners and dry sheets because the chemicals aren't good for you. I use dryer balls instead to reduce the static electricity and decrease my drying time.  I did find a product I liked that makes your sheets and towels smell so good!

While we're talking about workout clothes,  I've been waiting to find red workout clothes for awhile and lululemon just came out with the color "Love Red". In person it's very vibrant, almost neon with an orange hint to it. I got the backless one.

 

I'm a recreational hiker (carrying my purse at times lol), I do hikes on fairly even surfaces, not more than 5 miles at a slow to moderate pace. On my last hike I was pushed to go faster than I normally do and it had lots of downhill hiking which is hardest on knees. Well for the next 3 days the back of my knees were so sore! I've had this happen before but it never lasted so many days! So I finally broke down and bought some hiking shoes, my first pair!

I wanted something that was light and didn't look like hiking shoes but still in the hiking shoe category so I got the Teva Sky Lake. The description says it has a "waterproof seal, the heel has serious shock absorption, nylon shank to keep the foot stable and in control, and the rubber sole designed for grip in multiple environments". I'm pretty excited about my new shoe as for the longest time I would do my easy to moderate short hikes in whatever sneaker I had at the time. I couldn't wear something ugly and I liked the design of these dark grey shoes with purple accents.

For the future to prevent injury I was reading up on this and I learned I need to:

• Vary your steps and avoid moving in a straight line for the entire hike. Walk in a zigzag pattern up and down hills, walk sideways, or walk backwards since repetitive motions can lead to pain.
• When going downhill, step slowly, and don't be afraid to crouch down and use your hands. The more slowly you move, the less jarring motions you'll feel in your knees. 
• Add dried pineapple to your trail mix. Bromelain, an ingredient found in pineapple, is a natural anti-inflammatory that will help speed up recovery of knee and joint pain.

View from the bottom and top

I took another hike this weekend in my new shoes and my special hiking socks from Thorlo. The walking terrain was jagged, rocky, steep descents and slippery but the shoes supported my feet no matter the trail surface and best of all didn't need any breaking in period. I was happy to have a light weight hiking shoe that fitted the bill for both style and performance.

Socks make a difference and I love these cushioned socks from thorlo, they're simply the best!  It's the padding in the right places that make these socks so special. I thought the price was crazy so I only bought one pair initially, but eventually I broke down and bought a weeks worth. Right now they are having their semi-annual sale where if you buy 3 you get 1 free. I also use their everyday socks for hiking. You can try their socks for free + the cost of shipping with this offer.

We created Thorlos clinically-tested padded running socks (CTPS) over 30 years ago—in fact, they were our very first activity-specific padded socks, designed specifically for runners, based on their feedback about what sock characteristics could help them most. 

The AMX Fitness sock is for those who who enjoy getting in shape and staying fit. In a Zumba or other conditioning class, at home, or in the gym. Cushioned instep and arch plus spandex for a better fit, more support and less pressure on the feet for more comfort while exercising. Constructed with THOR•LON® fibers for superior softness, resilience, durability, and moisture-wicking for drier, better feeling feet. Unique padding specifically engineered for fitness activities, clinically shown to reduce blisters, pain, pressures, and moisture.