Evolve Yoga Clothing: Pretend Shopping Spree!

June 1, 2014June 1, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

Well. I hate Facebook ads as much as the rest of you, but since I started blogging about fitness wear, they’ve actually started to be pretty useful! Thanks, internet, for delivering brands I never heard of, directly to my eyeballs.

Today I clicked on Kira Grace. Why? Because as I’ve said, I have over 20 pairs of black workout capris. So I’m kind of looking for a little variety. Probably not in color or pattern, because while I love that shit, it probably won’t get worn as much as something black just with a little extra somethin’ somethin’.

Like panels and cut-outs and ruching oh my!

Kira Grace Romance Mesh Ballet Legging

The Kira Grace leggings had a sheer panel that I liked, and that led me to Evolve Yoga Clothing, which is AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME SAUCE. They’re an Oregon-based yoga apparel site and they stock fun fun things. Love love. Here are some things that I would buy right now if I hadn’t just ordered a stay-in-place sporty pretty swimsuit from Title 9 called the Rizzo.

Rizzo Bottoms Rizzo Tankini

So, here you go.

STUFF FROM EVOLVE FITWEAR I WANT TO BUY RIGHT NOW BUT SHOULDN’T BUT MIGHT:

Onzie X-Back Fitness Bra

Is that Minnie Driver? No. But I like the moxie.

Tonic Peak Cutout Legging

These, I kind of need. They’re cutout without being trashy, you know?

Welcome to fun town!!

Jala Clothing Jessie Legging

Black. Pattern. Cellulite camoflage potential. Yup.

Liquido Cobra Leggings

COBRA! WHAT??? HOTTTTTT! LOVE IT!

Teeki Balanced Traveler Hot pant

Wowie zowie. Too bold for my big ol’ butt probably, but somebody please buy these happy pants.

Omgirl Nomad Legging

Aww. That’s nice…

LVR Ombre Terry Leggings

These are terry cloth: sweatshirt material. Cozy for colder times.

Spiritual Gangster Sacred Yoga Tank

Sure. Why not.

Jala Clothing Sari Terry Top

I am actually trying to learn this technique right now. I’m applying it to my not-flattering generic basic workout shirts so I can try to give them a chance before I just donate them for being ugly.

So there you go. Some super fun stuff I want from Evolve Fitwear. Can we all agree that we can do better than this now? K. Thanks.

Screen Shot 2014-06-01 at 12.17.02 PM champion-workout-pants_300

I HATE TECH TEEEEEEEEES. Boooo. Sad pants. 😦

Roxy Sunset Leggings

May 28, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

CUTE OVERLOAD!

I mean. How cute are these? So ridiculous. So obnoxious. I love them. Roxy Sunset Pant Leggings. Somebody with a tiny booty please buy these because my ass probably shouldn’t… Look at how they’re a little bit loose on her. Ha! Bless her skinny-assed young-assed little heart.

Wining About Off Weeks.

May 23, 2014May 23, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

Hello, lover.

I love wine. It tastes good. It’s relaxing. It’s pretty. It’s like consuming sunshine. I lived in San Francisco for almost ten years and I am all about California old style zinfandels. I love the whole “having a glass of wine” thing. And my favorite smell on earth is the barrel cellar in a vineyard. Liquor hits too hard and isn’t as delicious. Beer is totally fun but is pretty much like drinking bread so it’s kind of out. Wine is king.

So I’ve been doing my own quazi version of The Whole 30 for the last 80ish days. I called it the 100 Days of Healthy. No sweeteners, grains, soda, sugar, packaged food, beans, alcohol. It morphed to include soda, sweeteners and “cleaner” alcohols: tequila and vodka occasionally. Basically because if I didn’t give myself those, I was going to go off the rails and it was worth the compromise to keep moving forward. But I’ve stayed off of grains, sugar and beans completely for over 80 days. I literally do not want to eat grains or sugar at all. No need. So that’s really a great GREAT turn. Because grains and sugar cause inflammation in me and my whole body aches after I eat them. Like the flu. It’s super fun. So not wanting to eat them is a really good thing!

I’m starting a P90X3 Challenge next week, so I figured, close enough. I’ll take this week off before I buckle back down for another 90 days. Long story short: I’m eating whatever I want this week. (I still do not want grains or sugar.) Long story shorter: WINE!

I’ve missed it a ton. It’s 90% a habit thing. Having a treat at night. And I do really enjoy the taste. My first glass was like “oh sweet nectar of life I have missed you!!!” And it was really nice to REALLY taste it and APPRECIATE it because it was special. But I’ve been having wine all week, and I’ve learned some really good lessons.

TRUE FACTS ABOUT AN OFF WEEK

1. I feel like absolute shit. My stomach is burning. I’m extremely uncomfortable. My SWEATPANTS are tight in the waist. Bloated. Bags under the eyes. Puffy face. Total package!

2. Wine tastes good, but feels terrible pretty quickly. Namely, as soon as I finish my first glass. Headache. Uncomfortable. I feel poisoned. Wine is basically an instant hangover. Plus you get the tomorrow hangover too!

3. I’ve always known that wine is the worst as far as affecting your workout the next day. But now that I’m old old old, Wine = not sleeping. Not sleeping = not being able to do things, like function, work out, or walk around the block without shuffling like the walking dead.

4. One protein bar/ Atkins bar is not satisfying. A box of Atkins bars HURTS LIKE HELL. I knew that already, but apparently I have to keep on testing that one. Over and over and over.

5. I am not a person who can have nuts in the house because I am not a person who can not shove infinite amounts of crunchy, ready-to-eat things in my face. Ideal serving size = hand full. Actual Aimee serving size = all of them. It’s not even that I like nuts that much. It’s just the nom nom mindless shove it in my face hole enabling nature of them. Nuts = chips.

6. It’s going to take who knows how many days to get this out of my system and start feeling good again. And I can’t wait to start feeling good again.

7. Off weeks are no bueno. Off days, probably better. Off-something: you gotta do what you gotta do to stay sane and keep moving in general in the right direction. Off-anything will definitely teach you something useful and reinforce why you actually truly like eating right and working out.

Conclusion?

Off weeks are a terrible idea. You’re welcome.

And one good thing about getting older is: it’s easier to feel like crap, so it’s easier to actually really authentically want to eat well. So you don’t feel like crap.

Prana Summer 2014

May 20, 2014 / Aimee / 1 Comment

So, Prana is a yoga/hiking type brand that’s been around for a while. I forgot about them. I had a pair of wicking hiking/adventure/travel whatever you call ’em pants by them a while back, and they were fantastic. And orange.

I just got their 2014 summer catalog in the mail, and besides having a model with a really good hair color that I’m going to bring to my stylist, they’ve got a few thing that made me say “hmm.” So why not share?

From Prana Summer 2014

What is a WorkOutFit?

May 19, 2014June 10, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

A WorkOutFit is a LOOK you put together, thoughtfully, to make you feel powerful and confident and energetic as you head into your workout. And every time you check your form in the mirror. It’s The Men’s Warehouse up in there: You’re gonna like the way you look.

A WorkOutFit is NOT something you just throw on that doesn’t smell too bad.

A WorkOutFit is not a baggy old t-shirt that you should have thrown away years ago, with some soccer shorts or yoga pants. However, it can include a baggy old t-shirt if you give it some diy deconstruction love…

A WorkOutFit fits well, flatters your figure, supports your body, minimizes jiggle, and covers your bits and blobs. It is not a tech t-shirt and mesh shorts for fuck’s sake. Tech t-shirts somehow look absolutely terrible on everybody.

A WorkOutFit is not a slutty, low-cut, low-rise, jog-bra and boy shorts situation. That is distracting to women (who will glare) and men (who will stare). If you’re serious about working out, dress accordingly.

A WorkOutFit usually works with layers, for warmth, options, and or to cover/camoflage your/ my wide ass/poofy middle.

A WorkOutFit isn’t just a top and some bottoms. It works with balance (a tight and a loose, a dark and a bright) and maybe even accessories (sweatbands, watches, activity trackers, hats, headbands) to pull it all together.

You’ll know you’re wearing a WorkOutFit when you start flexing in the mirror. And posing. And making faces. You’ll know it because you’ll feel it. You’ll feel the absence of “ugh, i’m a big fat floppy blob of gross.” And instead, you’ll feel strong and confident and capable and energized. It’s not about fashion, it’s about changing your mindset. Clothes matter.

Have a great workout! (and WorkOutFit.)

Kale Chips!

May 18, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

As a person interested in eating well, I’m supposed to eat somewhere near 90 pounds of kale a day. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t. I feel like it needs something sweet with it to balance out the bitterness, so…that doesn’t work with my paleo plans.

Enter KALE CHIPS! Yay! nom nom paleo has a great recipe that I use, and if you’re in the mood, you can totally eat a bunch or two of kale in one crispy munch fest. They’re kind of nutty, kind of roasty, and you can season them however you want. I don’t know about you, but not eating starches makes me miss crispy crunchy stuff your face with both hands-type food textures. And that’s exactly what kale chips are. IT’S A MURRRICLE! YAYYYY!

Here’s the link.

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/2648091289/baked-kale-chips

And here’s hat they look like:

How to make no progress whatsoever.

May 16, 2014May 16, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

NAILING IT!

I’ve been working really hard at making no progress whatsoever lately, and I’m really excited to share my tips! They are 100% proven to work!

Only do cardio.

Don’t track your food.

Drink when you’re bored.

Stay up late doing nothing on the internet.

Drink coffee in the afternoon and then cost yourself some sleep.

Use “no sugars no starches” as a free pass to eat at least 3x the meat and fat you need.

Don’t drink water.

Spend more time talking and shopping about working out than actually moving.

Eat lots of Atkins bars in addition to real food. Serving size = I box of bars. Enjoy those stomach rumbles!

Hope it works for you as well as it has for me!

Why fitness fashion matters.

May 11, 2014 / Aimee / Leave a comment

Hey Aimee, isn’t this super shallow? Writing about losing weight AND on top of that, looking cute while doing it? Well. If you’re a gym bunny who takes slutty butt-selfies and that’s your gig, yeah. That’s totally shallow. Also, cut it out. Go read a book.

Working out to lose weight and feel stronger, more capable and happier is not shallow. And looking good while you do it is actually a scientific tool you can use to make working out easier.

I’m serious. One of my college professors, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is an expert in social psychology and positive psychology. Look her up, she’s a badass. She did that famous study where they had men and women take math tests with a mirror in the room, with no mirror in the room, and after trying on BATHING SUITS. Guess what happened. The women did worse with the mirror and after the bathing suit. The men did better. How sad is that? Women see themselves and LOSE CONFIDENCE and literally get dumber. Their cognitive ability actually declines. Men see themselves and think “I’m hot shit” and do even better. http://www.academia.edu/2096369/That_Swimsuit_Becomes_You

Now you might think that focusing on your looks before or during a workout might bring up self-consciousness and self-criticism, and lower your confidence. So why on earth would I have you focus on your looks before working out?

Because you’re going to catch yourself in the mirror no matter what you’re wearing. Even if there is no mirror, you’re going to look down at your thighs at some point. Or feel something jiggling. Or look down your shirt while in a plank and see your stomach sagging down way farther than you thought it would. There’s no avoiding self-awareness completely when working out. SO. You need to do everything in your power to make sure you FEEL POWERFUL when that happens. You need to feel like a guy would. You need a little tip in the “I’m hot shit” direction. You need the good pants and the good bra that are supportive, so you don’t jiggle. You need to wear something wicking so you don’t feel like a sweaty water buffalo. You need to at least cut the neck or arms off of that old T-shirt so it’s apparent that you made some effort and care about what you’re doing. It’s not a message to others, it’s a message to yourself.

It does not have to be a full-on head-to-toe LuluLemon situation. That’s annoying. (And not very creative.) It just has to be something that makes you feel confident, capable, and covered. Something that shows what you like and hides what you don’t. Something that makes it look like you actually like yourself. (And if you don’t like yourself yet, try pretending. Put the outfit on, and when you see yourself in the mirror at the gym, you might start to change your mind.)

Feeling put-together when you work out (wearing WorkOutFits) is not about dressing for others. It’s about dressing to feel good about yourself. It’s pre-emptive psychological warfare against negative self-talk. It communicates respect and enthusiasm for what you’re doing. (Wearing a WorkOutFit says: “I’m into this. I’m here. Let’s do this!”) Also, cute clothes are fun.

If you can’t tell by now, I am super passionate about this. I wrote an entire Piperlime ad campaign about the power of dressing well. I’ve been a work-from-home person for three years and I KNOW how wearing sloppy clothes affects my work and my mood. I want you to see how changing your clothes can change your outlook.

Try it. Send me before and after outfits. Tell me how it felt. Maybe we’ll send some testimonials to Dr. Fredrickson for an addendum to her article. “The Effect of Fashion on Trig Functions and Tricep Dips” or something like that. 🙂

Anyway. The point is: Get those purple shoes, my friend. They WILL work better than the sad boring ugly white ones.