Why Target Takes All of My Money: Fitness Fashion

Fitness Fashion Explosion by elbonner featuring nylon stockings

I'm sure you're looking at the image above and thinking"there's no way I could afford cool workout clothes like that. Only Luluwhatever and WhoTheNikeKnows makes stuff that cute. Too bad I have to sell my organs to afford it."

WRONG
 These clothes are from Target...TARGET! I have been trying so hard not to put myself into immediate bankruptcy whenever I walk past the C9 by Champion section because they have such neat stuff for every activity you can think of. And nothing gets me into the gym quicker than when I have a cute new outfit to show off. They have everything from bras to running gloves, yoga cardigans, compression capris, lap swimsuits, and even fancy sweat-wicking underwear to combat your horrendous swamp ass. They all come in really fun colors and prints and in a bunch of mutil-figure flattering pieces; there is something for everyone! Even the shoes look pretty damn decent for home brand athletic shoes. Target's got the money and the eye for style to make great products to keep you looking hot whilst sweating all over squat rack. They also have an insane clearance section too, so go to town and get to work! NO EXCUSES.

Get Off Your Ass: Almost Everyone's New Years Resolution

The number one thing people put at the top at their New Years resolution list (at least here in the states) is to lose weight and get healthier. You can't do that without eating less and moving more. About 4 years ago I lost 40 lbs. by doing just that and my "secret" was this: workout videos. Yeah, I did some running and I ate tuna fish, salad, and smoothies for six months, but working out in the comfort of my own home helped me out a lot. If you are overweight and embarrassed of going to the gym or working out outside, this is a great alternative. The best thing is that I got most of my workout DVDs used on amazon.com for something a third of the price of new ones. It allowed me to build up a collection of videos that helped me tone up and well as slim down and feel healthier. Here are a few of my favorites and why I like them:

1. The Biggest Loser Cardio Max

 

This video worked because nothing motivates you to do better than watching morbidly obese people doing better than you at jump lunges. This video allows you to pick sections so that your workout can be between 30 and 50 minutes. Great for beginners or just a quick workout.

2. Jillian Michael 30 Day Shred

Yeah, Jillian is riding the coattails of her BL fame, but this video is great in a pinch. It's 18-20 minutes or work with little to no rest so you are moving the whole time. You start off with level one then after you are decent enough you move on to level two and so forth. This was great after a long day at work and I didn't feel like doing an hour long video.

3. Brazil Butt Lift

Ok, this system has a corny name and Leodro is so fabulous and happy that you want to slap him for having fun doing walking lunges, but damn does this work your butt. I did not use this religiously as a part of the plan, I used it as a supplement to what I was already doing and if I wanted an extra butt workout. I'm really ADD when it comes to workout videos and get bored easily so switching things up keeps me interested in working out. Minimal equipment required and pretty fun to do.

5. Get Ripped! With Jari Love

If you can get past the eighties high-cut briefs on the cover as well as some seriously over processed blonde hair, Jari Love just wants to help you discover weights. Warning: her videos are long (60+ minutes), but great for a weekend or day-off workout that will burn some serious calories. I work my hear rate monitor for a few of her workouts and once burned 793 calories. That's nothing to make fun of and resistance training is what helps lean you out. The more muscle you have the more calories you burn throughout the day. DO WEIGHTS for the love of god!

6. Tone It Up Beach Babe Workout Series

Other than the fact that I want Karena and Katrina's lives, this two-disc workout series is great for little bursts of exercise during the day if you can't commit more than 30 minutes. They're on the beach (plus), in Hawai'i (bigger plus), they have awesome hair (super plus), and they do all of the exercises with you (they're not whimps mega-plus). Their whole Tone It Up nutrition plan and workout videos are so comprehensive and wonderful, they've really done a great job.

7. Yoga Journal Yoga for Strength and Toning

Yoga may not be the best fat busting workout, but you HAVE to stretch. I hurt myself a few weeks ago because I didn't stretch afterwards and messed up my neck. This video not only stretches things out, but it's a great strengthener. Look at it as killing two birds with one stone. It's 60 minutes of strengthening yoga with a bonus 30 minute ab practice that is KILLER. Put them together and you'll be sore in the morning. I used to do this in my sun room in the summer time so it would get nice and hot like a free hot yoga class. I sweated a lot. It totally worked.

8. Exhale: Core Fusion Body Sculpt

Holy Hell, who ever thought that teeny tiny movements could hurt so good? This video was a huge surprise and wake-up call for me. I thought I was pretty strong, but the barre-like moves in this 5 10-minute workouts had be shaking like crazy. There are no crazy moves, just tiny little movements repeated a lot to really work deep within your muscles. No weights, no equipment other than a chair or rolled-up towel. Try this, it will tighten and lift everything. Hardest ab workout I have EVER done.

I hope this list helps. I have a buttload more videos that I like to use, but these really stand out to me as the best of what I have. I also use MyFitnessPal on my iPhone to keep track of my calories which makes it so easy to keep yourself in check. Good luck everyone and get to stepping!

Work It Out

Work It Out by elbonner featuring sport gloves

I have let myself go. There, I said it. I can't say I didn't warn myself, but the lure of doing what you want while you're at a reasonable size absolutely catches up with you in the end. I am not someone who can eat an entire gallon of ice cream and still fit into my size 4s; I literally have to give up anything good (as in fatty or sweet) to lose any sort of weight. Three years ago I lost 40 lbs. on a steady diet of tilapia, brown rice, salad, oatmeal, and smoothies. That's all I ate, and with the help of programs like Weight Watchers I kept my food intake under control. I was also working out every single day during this period of time. It took me about 7 months to lose the weight and I plateaued right before I graduated college. After I graduated, I went crazy and have pretty much had a much more laxidazical approach to my diet and fitness. Unsurprisingly, my weight has sloooowly crept back up and after my Nana passed away I totally let myself go. I cared about nothing I put into myself and barely worked out. Now I'm seeing all of those little warning signs I saw when I first gained my freshman-senior 40 and I'm just not having it anymore. I don't have the money to buy new clothes now, so all I can really do is fit into those clothes I have better than I do now.

Above I have compiled a collection of some of my favorite workout wear that help make my workouts as cute and comfortable as possible. ALWAYS go tagless and ALWAYS go moisture wicking. It's amazing what crazy fabrics are out there now to help you not feel like a drowned rat after a long run!

1. Nike Training tank tops: looser fit so I won't be self conscious about my bumps and bulges being visible to the masses and great for circulating air. I have these in like four colors. 

2. Weight Lifting Gloves- it really doesn't matter what kind you get, just have something to keep your hands from being torn up. Some see callouses as a medal of honor when lifting weights, but mine would just crack and rip my gloves at work. I wasn't about to get the hep just to look cool! 

3. Lululemon Tata Tamer Bra: best sports bra for larger busted girls. Nothing moves, no uniboob (which is apparently a problem) and they're comfortable. Great for jumping around and running. 

4. Lululemon Run Swiftly Tech Shirt:Magic fabric that wicks away sweat and has silver sewn into it to battle stankness from a  brutal spin class. Also comes in long sleeve for the winter!

5. Lululemon Groove Pant: I thought I had possibly lost my mind when I bought a nearly $100 pair of yoga pants, but these things are the real deal. My butt has never looked better and they just fit so darn well. Wore them for hot yoga and they soaked up every ounce of sweat which is crazy because I'm like the sweatiest person alive.

6. Lululemon Run Inspire II Crop: I'm seeing a pattern here. Yes, I really like Lululemon stuff. It just works well for me,and yes it's expensive, but I don't have the money to keep buying crappy pants and bras from Target 5 times a year. This crop is basically a spandex running capri that keeps jiggles at bay. For a while it was uncomfortable running in shorts because all that movement in my butt and thighs made me tired quicker (I don't know why) so this eliminates that problem by holding everything in. Also, no chub rub!

7. Nike Tempo Running shorts: Look great. Feel great. I have like 7 pairs of these. They're affordable and keep you cool and dry.

8. Nike  Train Fit 2 Sneakers: Great for classes like Zumba and dance, but also great for the weight room and plyometric exercises. Super light and made almost entirely of stretchy mesh that keep things cool and comfortable.

9. Smartwool Running Socks: Get good socks for the sake of your feet. They'll kept them dry and blister free!

10. Gym Boss Interval Timer: Interval workouts are great if you're short on time and this timer is great for tracking intervals that I would most assuredly mess up in my head.

As for things like running shoes, I can't really reccommend something that is different for every runner. I over-pronate (my ankles roll in when I run) so I have to wear stability/motion control shoes to keep my feet happy. I personally love the Saucony Omni Progrid series and have bought 3 pairs and probably won't buy anything else. It tends to be that way with running shoes. Go to your local running store and have a pair fitted by a pro! 

Losing weight sucks, but taking personal responsibility for your mistakes is something you have to do in that situation. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something!