All Entries in the "Gym Etiq-kit" Category
What to pack in your gymbag…
Are you a routine gal? When I open your cupboards am I gonna see relative tidyness or ultimate chaos! If it’s the latter, that bad-itude is not welcome when it comes to packing your gym bag! We consider it treason to all that we stand for not to show some love to thine gym bag!! Here are the essentials!! You can add the kitchen sink later!
1. SPORTS BRA!!!! – Was that bold enough? Did you hear us? I mean, cos if you didn’t we can say it again! Hell we can even sing it…”You need your sports bra girl, mmm hmmm!!!”. This my darlings, is more important than the sports shoe, than the ipod, than the recovery drink!!! Workouts are vigorous, (if you’re doing them FG style) and you girls need to tame yours if they be a little over-active. And don’t be all like, “ooh, I’m a AA cup, I don’t need one!!”. Yes you do sista, I’m not gonna be there consoling you when they take a swift turn down south!! Wear one, no arguments, just do it!
2. Kit – Generally in the form of a top and bottoms. The main thing is that you feel comfy, you need to be able to move and your clothes need to allow you to do so. A t-shirt/vest/crop top and tracksuit bottoms/leggings/shorts will generally do the trick!! Don’t forget to pack a small bag to put your used kit in. We have a good gym work ethic round here, so you’d better have a good sweat on by the time you’re done! That means your kit needs a little home to go to before it goes back in your bag!
3. Fresh undies! – We’ve all been there! Don’t forget thine undies! Going commando is just not comfortable. Nothing like a nice fresh pair of undies to step into after your troubles!
4. Recovery snack – If you’re smart, you’ll have already had a lil somethin’ somethin’ pre-training to boost your workout! Don’t forget it’s essential to have something immediately post-training to replenish low blood sugar and start yourself on the way to fabulous recovery! You don’t eat within your 1-2 hour window post-training and you don’t get the benefits of your training. Simple as! It’s like using up all the petrol in your car, not filling it back up, and expecting it to take you to body fabulous-ville!
5. Training shoes – Most commercial gyms require you to wear training shoes when you’re working out. It’s worth making a small investment here to make sure that you’re getting the right support! Those trainers that have been sitting in your cupboard gathering dust ain’t gonna cut it! Trainer life lasts 3 months to a year depending on how often you use them.
6. Music – I can take or leave so this is entirely up to you! Sometimes when I’m training I need to be inspired by music and other times I need to just go with the flow of whatever is going on around me.
7. Beauty products – Now I’m not talking your whole make-up bag here, just the essentials. Me without moisturiser isn’t pretty with dry skin n’all. So you know, a little deo, some moisturiser, a little foot cream and so on! Just to keep you going!!
These Pants Be Hot!!
FGsssssss!!!! Look at these power pants, and their purdy Fit Girl colours!!! They were made for us no?
Check out the Zephyr Merino Vest – £30
And the Zephyr Shorts Hot Pants – £25
Ok, so maybe we’re not gonna rock them in the street, toned ass or no, (I don’t care if you’re Elle, that shizz be too tight to be walking down the high street thinking you fly!), this is underwear at its best. Now, we extra specially like this because it is made by a super duper eco brand Finisterre, who frankly give a damn, and I like to wear a little earth love on my sleeve, you dig!!
The surf chicas from Cornwall have been rockin’ this fab brand, workin’ the cool look on the beach post a little surfy surfy! And you know how those beach lovvas do, the fine beach hair and sunkissed skin…they know how to work it. Made from the comfiest merino wool, these are a must!! Why don’t you wrap yourself around my skin!! Yum!!!!
Pink to Make the Boys Wink!!
Ola, we thought we’d let you know about this cute lil pink-trimmed weight-lifting gloves £15 from Sweaty Betty. See whilst we covet the toning benefits of lunging, squatting and all things lift, all of that weight-grippage can leave a girls palms, well, firmer than one might hope! Or indeed if there’s more flow to your glow, then these pretty things will stop sweaty hands from slipping! We feel they’re just the thing to turn strong lean moves into pretty! Adorable!!
Ooh honey, your gym kit smells kinda funky!!
What’s your gym wardrobe like? Do you like to completely cover yourself up in the hope that nobody will see that extra ripple! Or are you like “heeeyyyyy!!! Look at my bangin’ gym outfit!! I got me some short shorts and some fly hot-pink-push-up crop top!!” Whatever your choice of kit, if you train Fit Girl style, you’re gonna be sweatin’. That means that your kit needs a little extra love when you wash it! Big and baggy, or short and skimpy, it needs love!! So we like Halo Antibacterial Sportswash which works at just 30 Degrees, killing the bacteria that causes sweat odours along with a further 99.99% of other Bacteria.
Noses, you have been freed from the chains of gym odour-toilette!! It also kills viruses and fungicides such as athletes foot. Love. Eugh especially that material that seems to make love to your sweat each time you train, you know that smell, it just doesn’t go with regular washing powder!!
Yes Cinderella, you shall go to the ball!!
OK, so you’ve decided, you are going to take your lil tushy outside and run your lil pins off!!! Except, where does one start on the trainer front, do you have to go through the pain in the butt process of hauling ass into a sports shop only to have some runner dweeb get you running on the treadmill (sweating in your work clothes no less) to find out what glass slipper is gonna work for you. Well sweat in thine work clothes no more FGs, thank God for Mizuno’s Precision Fit which is a series of self-tests that can be performed at home in front of a computer screen. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ bout!! Put simply, MIZUNO PRECISION FIT is a unique, unrivalled online tool to assess a runner’s biomechanics and technique. It is the ultimate online start to any runner’s journey (in the comfort of your own home honies) incorporating unprecedented levels of research, insight and expertise. It identifies the best possible Mizuno shoe for every runner’s needs, whether you be an over-pronatoe, need a little extra stability or a little support-love for your arches.
The tests look at everything from a runner’s basic height and weight, the size of their arch, the shape of their legs, and the pressure points in their running stride. Thank God!!! No more sweaty running nerd making suggestions as to what shoe is right as you try not to sweat in your work shirt!!!
Cute Green Stuff that you can wear on St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those of you from the fair isle. We thought we would mark the day by showing you loads of cute green stuff that you could sport!!
First of all we’re loving the cool vests and T’s from Russell Athletic, sporty and cutesy all at the same time!! The t-shirts and vests range from £12.99-£24.99 available at Sports Direct Nationwide 01923 475 663
Next up, we’re rockin’ the Roxy look with this fab Kumbha crop top £25 and this Kashan zip top £55, both from Roxy.com, could you be more beach babe??
We’re loving the retro look of this Nike Stardust N98 Women’s Track Jacket for a little sporty style with a sparkly feel! £44 from www.nikesportswear.com
Finally if you don’t want to go all out green cos it’s not your colour or something like that, how about a little accessory love? We’re feeling Green Tea from the Pastel Fever collection, £8 from beautyshed.co.uk Paint those nails girl!!
Fit Girl Gadgets: iexerci.se
Ladies, if you need a little help shifting the delf from your shelf then we have the perfect little cyber support for you. Welcome iexerci.se!!!! This fab little site, counts everything you need to get that ounce off your bounce!!
We’re talking food analysis broken down into protein, carb, and fat content…now you know we gotta luuurrve that. These guys have thousands of foods in their data base which they are continually adding to, allowing people to track most diets on the market! You just input your food intake into the food diary and iexerci.se immediately calculates your calorie intake and displays the ratio of carbohydrates, protein, fat and alcohol in a pie chart. You can also input your own recipes too, y’know, like all the yummy stuff we suggest you eat from time to time!! Not to mention your own little personal workout section, where you can enter your workouts, and keep track of your training. Let’s also take a moment for the measurement section where you get to see how your shape changes…forget those scales, I’m all about my jeans fitting cuter around my bootious maximus (new word made up of silly Fit Girl speak and latin). The training programme function lets users follow programmes uploaded by others or follow their own with a function to increase training by a set amount which is perfect for something like training for a marathon whereby the training distance needs to be increased slowly over the training period.
Fit Girls, it’s totally like your personal health and fitness organiser. So here’s the deal, the website is free to join with an option of a paid premium membership – £29.99 per year. Now cos we are cool and lovely and altogether fabulous, you girls get a third off the premium membership price with this special super fly code that we are about to give you. Are you ready? Can you handle it? OK… here it is!! FGAT2010 It’s valid until 30th April, so hurry along now! Use it wisely. You will only be able to use this code if you are super cool, and an avid reader of Fit Girl, and occasionally talk to your friends about how fabulous we are, telling them that we give good advice in an altogether non-finger-waggy way. Can you do that? Then ding ding! Your fabulous!
What? My trainers are in sync with my time of the month?
OK, you may think this sounds a little craaaaaazy!! But researchers at Asics clearly understand a woman’s needs and have gone and designed us trainers that change according to our menstrual cycle!!! High-to-the-five!!! This adapting to my needs thing must catch on!! I have a list of needs that need to be fulfilled each month and would rather like it if designers and product manufacturers the world over could satisfy them with such genius!! Is that too much to ask? Anyway, ASICS is the only footwear brand to research and address the hormonal differences of women (e.g. “excuse me please” versus “get out of my way asshole!!”) and the injuries they might suffer as a result – the latest research being featured within the ASICS GEL-KAyAno 16.
The shoe is based on research showing that changing levels of oestrogen during a woman’s cycle affect the height of the foot’s arch. At the beginning of the cycle, when oestrogen is high, the arch drops. When she is menstruating later on, levels of oestrogen are low and the arch is raised. Do you think Lanvin and Choo take this into consideration? I’m thinking it’s not going to transfer into high fashion any time soon…oh well!
The shoe has been designed to adjust to these changes with its three layers of cushioning below the arch: a foam layer, an air filled gap and a plastic block. When the arch is low, the foam is compressed into the gap and when the arch is high, the foam fills out. Thus, she is supported accordingly at any time of the month
Now that’s what I call a woman’s trainer! Now where can I get me a man with the same understanding….
Maria Sharapova has gone all designer on us!
Hey FGs, what’s up!! You know the way actors kind of want to be singers and singers want to be actors, and sometimes it works out really well like Jamie Foxx, and other times…not so much…Paris Hilton. Painful. If she could speak more words than just “that’s hot” it might have worked for her. Anyways, speaking of the multi-talented higher forces, Maria Sharapova has gone and doubled her hand to a needle and thread it would appear! Not literally, obviously! But ol’ girl has been busy designing some sassy new kit, and it’s cuuuuuuuuuttee!!!!
Have you ever heard of a vision board? If not, it’s like your own personal little wishlist for your life. You could have images of your ideal home, your ideal wardrobe, your ideal man, and your ideal anything. The idea is that much like putting pen to paper, actually committing to something helps you realise your dreams. Well our Maria had a few little visions of her own and sketched them out thinking nothing of them. A year later she thought she might as well show them to the Nike design team, and hey presto, we (yes, you and me) get to look mighty fine in her gear!! Unlike Paris’ attempt at singing…or indeed acting, Sharapova knows what she’s doing both on the court and off the court in the design room. According to Nike designers, Sharapova is an athlete who’s intimately involved with the design and development of her performance apparel and accessories. She brings a passion for detail and design to each of her collaborations with the Nike design team. Their goal is to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic appeal and flawless performance. You don’t need to give us any more reason to shop people, we’re sold!!
And if a full on dress ain’t your thing then don’t worry, the initial offerings from the Maria Sharapova Collection will include two skirts and two performance tank tops, all built to keep athletes cool while performing at the top of their game. Both skirts have a double layer with built-in shorts and feature moisture-wicking Nike Dri-FIT performance fabric. One skirt has a Turbo Green top layer with a contrasting Vibrant Yellow base layer while the other skirt features a Cool Mint top layer and a contrasting White base layer. The performance tops aesthetically complement the skirts, as one design features a dominant color of Vibrant Yellow with a hint of Turbo Green around the straps, while the other piece is predominantly white with Cool Mint accents. Could they sound any more delicious?
Get your glow on when training in the dark…
Hhmmm, we like all lovely ladies to stay safe when working out outdoors as the nights continue to get dark, which is why we love this cute Karrimor Refuel 1+2 rucsac – SRP: £30. It has a little front pocket for your keys and phone so you can keep your hands free as well as a built in water bag so you can hydrate on the go, no faffing around with water bottles and eco-friendly too! To ensure you stay visible this cute sac has reflective piping as well as a little LED light holder, great for cyclists.
Warm my pin-ses please!
Remember when we got very excited about the fact that we may be having an 80s exercise revival with the return of aerobics? Well Fit Girls, you don’t even have to attend a gym to don these bad boys!! Sweaty Betty have produced some darling leg warmers to radiate thine pins!!! Not in shocking pink or anything that would still have an 80s twang, but a beautiful marl-grey instead, perfect for the onslaught of winter!!! I will really have to stop myself from singing “my pins are warmer than yours…” as I sail down the street!! Nip onto the Sweaty Betty site and nab yourself a pair for £15, they really are darling!
Eeek! I look pretty, but the Doc says “no!”
Ladies it would appear the the price we may be paying for fashion is a little bigger than one might would like! Dr. Shazia Khan of the Loyola University Health System says that “certain beauty and fashion trends can take their toll if we do not take steps to correct them.” Among the culprits, according to Khan, are large bags or purses, and high heels (didn’t she see our article the other week on heels?…doesn’t she know that the court shoe is the root of all evil?)
Large bags or purses (think Birkin hanging off Posh’s arm) are to blame for neck and back pain. When we carry bags laden with “essentials” weighing more than 10lbs we adapt our posture to compensate for the extra weight. Over time this tightens and or weakens our muscles resulting in neck and back pain and discomfort. Not to mention the bacteria that bags can attract when we put them down on the ground or counter surfaces that may carry bacteria.
So what to do? Toss your bag collection into the bin? Of course not! Take out the non-essentials, c’mon y’know they’re in there, whip ‘em out and lighten the load. Then of course, add a little upper-back strength to your regime so your muscles stay strong. And just be mindful of where you place your bag or purse. You’ll look like a bit of a nut job if you wipe down your bag handle with anti-bacterial wipes every 5 seconds, but a rub down once or twice a day will do you no harm!
Let’s take a dive down to the lower body to discover that high-heels may cause foot, ankle, knee and back pain, “High-heel put unnecessary pressure on the balls of the feet,” says Khan (cue Scholl gel cushions) leading to bunions (ouch) and plantar-fascitis. How do we prevent this? try the following:
-choose a wider, more stable heel
-choose a shoe that allows room for your toes
-only wear pointed toes that narrow well past the ball of the foot
-shop for shoes at the end of the day to allow for normal day swelling
The price of beauty ladies!!
And just what do you think Blahnik and Choo are gonna say about this?
A new shoe poll has outed the no-pain-no-gain high-heel-wearing movement. Nearly one in ten of us lasses wear ill-fitting shoes. You know like the time they just didn’t have the size 5 in the sale and you thought a size 6 and some insoles would do the job…
The survey by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists found 37% wear uncomfortable shoes as long as they are fashionable. One of my best friends has a 3 month breaking-in policy, ouch, ouch, ouch! I’d say she is the high end of that percentile.
Lorraine Jones, from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said: “Many of us find it hard to resist a bargain… buying ill-fitting shoes…you are also putting your health at risk.” Really? Even if those killer heels popped my outfit? Flats wouldn’t have elicited the same pop-age lady!
Anyway, it ain’t just the heels that get the tootsies hurting, slip-on shoes are one of the worst culprits, as they allow the foot to slide forward, cramping the toes. Not to mention the devil-spawn of all shoes, the dreaded court shoe, with their low-fronted, narrow-toed, lack of ankle supporting-ness.
They suggest that we often wear shoes that are not right for our feet or are inappropriate for the activity that we are going to do in them e.g. going on a hot date in flats (just kidding). It is suggested that for frequent, everyday wear, women should choose a low-heeled shoe – no higher than 4cm – with a rounded toe. Oh dear, I think the baby-doll shoe went out last year…drat!
Enough of my being a smart arse. Like a pair of jeans, your shoes should fit well, or you’re gonna be in a lot of pain. You can even deform your feet doing so and that ain’t pretty. So, be kind to your feet, have your shoes fitted properly so your tootsies look pretty and feel good with your shoes on or off.
Dare I say that, the end of summer, might be a good thing?
Now I know that many have complained about yet another pathetic attempt at summer here in Blighty (slang for ‘Britain’ to our international readers), but I have to say it hasn’t been too bad. Last summer and the summer before really were unsatisfactory, and 2009 brought us more sun than showers, for which I am grateful.
Anyway, if you are a flip-flop wearer (‘thongs’ to our Aussie readers – gosh I’m all about International relations today…) the end of summer may mark some relief for your feet. Last year, researchers at Auburn University found that wearing flip-flops for long periods of time can alter your gait (the way you walk) and lead to serious heel and ankle problems. When walking in flip-flops, wearers tend to grip with their toes to prevent the flip-flops from sliding off. Are you a gripper? I’m definitely a gripper. This gripping can stretch the plantar-fascia (the connective tissue at the bottom of your foot) causing it to become inflamed, which means ouch for you as you flip and you flop.
Hmm quite annoying really, don’t they know just how cute the pearlised straps on havaianas are. They dress up any outfit no? Researchers suggested that sandals, with straps at the ankles were a better choice. Thank God for gladiator sandals. Might buy a few more pairs. All in aid of better foot care of course!
So I guess whilst the days are still long, it’s best to mix up your foot fashion. Flippies are fine but don’t live in them. Just an excuse to buy more shoes I feel! Oops!
Cute Kit Carriers!
If you don’t want your sweaty or should we say ‘glowy’ kit to go straight back into your bag, we suggest you use convenient these fabulously convenient envirosax! Handy foldaway, nylon, re-usable bags in tres funky designs that you can refresh when you’re washing your kit! Your gym bag need smell no more!
I love their Flora Series, animal lovers will love their Animal Planet Series, and eco-warriors will love their Planet Green Series. Available at Oliver Bonas stores in the UK and Ireland and www.envirosax.com for the rest of the world.
Beach Bag Essentials
Sorry to brag, but if you’re off on holiday like we are next week, then here’s what you should be packing:
Sunscreen: We love Nivea Moisturising Sun Spray available from factor 6-50+, so handy to spritz and go
Hair Protector: What good is sun-kissed skin with wiry hair. With all of the sun, sea and sand, a girl needs a good hair protector – we love Kerastase Soleil Micro-Voile Protecteur. Either that or a chic head scarf, so Jackie O!
Sunglasses: Forget the cheap sunglasses ladies, your peepers need investing in. Good quality glasses should give your eyes 100% protection, unlike shoes you only have one pair, so look after them!
Water: It’s so easy to forget the basics when having fun in the sun. Keep yourself hydrated.
After-sun lotion: To keep the skin kissed even after the sun goes down, try one with a little aloe vera to really sooth the skin.
A cocktail: Oops that slipped out…
Sprinting in High Heels
That was not a misprint, you read right. Mad women. Sprinting for money. In high heels. I heard about this a couple of years ago and thought what utter madness, even then. But these high-heeled-runners keep coming back to haunt me. One can barely walk in high heels let alone sprint. In fact I don’t even think I could squeeze out a mild jog without a severe ankle sprain have just fallen arse over elbow!!!
The most recent race (yes there are several) was in Tel Aviv this month where 50 women raced 50 metres to win a $1,000 shopping spree and a trip to Paris. How does one shop in Paris with a broken ankle? I wonder would you be able to wear a helmet with some knee and elbow pads? Rubbish. Why am I even having those impure thoughts, there is no way that I would be sprinting anywhere in heels, not even a kitten pair with straps – just walking in those is a challenge.
Ditch the scales and let your wardrobe decide
A common complaint amongst ladies who lunge is that, despite looser fitting clothes, the scales don’t seem to budge.
The weight thing has always been a funny one for us ladies. Our mothers and grandmothers obsessed over it, and having learnt from Mum and Gran, we now find ourselves with a case of chronic scales-mount syndrome.
Let’s look a little closer at exactly what happens to your body when you exercise…
When you exercise regularly, you build muscle tissue. The more exercise you do, the more muscle tissue you build, which in turn boosts your metabolism. An increased metabolism increases your body’s fat-burning ability. Now don’t worry about becoming too muscular, we don’t have enough testosterone for that, so just think long and lean! So, whilst your body is busy creating metabolism boosting muscle, you will also have been burning fat at the same time. BUT muscle weighs more than fat (think muscle = dense and firm, and fat = squidgy and soft). So the scales show you very little about what’s really going on.
Take a good friend of mine who was injured last year and couldn’t train for a couple of months. She lost 5kgs (of muscle) on the scales, but could no longer fit into her jeans. So a few things happened. She was unable to train and so lost some muscle mass, which reduced her metabolism and also replaced her dense, firm waist, with a squidgy soft one. Naturally when she recovered and was able to train again, she rebuilt her muscle and was back in the jeans.
Your whole shape can change with not a peep out of the scales, which is why they tell us so little about what’s really going on. And despite getting into a pair of jeans that have been collecting dust for 3 years, we still crave to see the numbers change on the scales.
So ladies, let’s release ourselves from the chains of our mothers and their mothers, let’s lift up our scales and cast them out of the bathroom. Run to your wardrobes, throw open the doors, and say hello to your new body beautiful measuring system.
Sexy feet…
We love sexy feet this summer, and what better way to show them off than in a cutesy lil’ pair of havaianas!! These little babies, are slim-line (just like us ladies, just like us!!) and have a fab shimmer which will dress up the most casual of outfits.
A staple part of your summer wardobe we feel, so go out and grab yourself a pair!!! You can buy these at Sweaty Betty for £19. I’m sporting mine today, I feel like a Brazilian Goddess!!
Note to reader: toenails must be pruned and polished, no pair of fab shimmery flip flops can cover up un-manicured feet!
Visible Panty Lines and other unsightly viewings
Here at Fit Girl we’re always looking out for new undies that make us feel special, and they’ve got to match, matching undies are a must!
Now whether you have a butt worthy of cracking a heap of nuts, or there’s just a little too much jiggle in your wiggle, a visible panty line never looks good (and don’t get us started on g-strings festering up above jeans, it cheapens the most glamorous look).
So we were very happy to discover Intimissimi Seamless Brazillian knickers that lay flat to your butt so that there is a smooth blend of fabric into skin. Hell you wouldn’t even be able to tell you had knickers on (much like the discrepancy of g-string, but without the discomfort, and the unsightly creeping above pant line – euww!!)
The colours are bright and funky, which is always nice for undies, and because they show no VPL, without being a g-string, there is never any danger of you looking like Li-Lo when you’re on the cross trainer! Go buy some!
