Keep It Together: Workout Clothes That Keep You Solid

I don't mean solid like that one Lean Cuisine you bought, but it wasn't your favorite so you never really wanted to eat it and it's been in the back of your freezer since Saddam Hussein was still alive. I mean solid like a stack, brick-house of a lady who yearns to keep the jiggle to a minimum during her workout!

Something I have noticed from my many workout trials and tribulations is that I just can't workout in running shorts; I gots to have that spandex! One spring I decided to make the transition from compression running capris to running shorts because everyone always looks so damn cool in their little Nike or Lululemon running shorts. I slapped on a pair, started off on my run, and got tired so quickly I had to shorten my run distance. I thought long and hard about what could have slowed me down; I'd done that run a hundred times before with no problems and then it dawned on me. What was happening during all that pathetic jaunt I called a run? A whole lot of thigh jiggle. I can't help it; I've got large thighs no matter what, and after a few more experiments I concluded that I have to have some sort of compression when I'm doing high impact stuff like running or HIIT workouts.

Now, this may not be the case for everyone, but I just feel better with a little more support. Luckily, the world of workout wear is on my side and everything is coming up spandex! I have compiled a few of my favorites that are not only super functional, but are also super cute. 

1. With Love From Paradise: Can I get a pair of these in every Aloha print ever? Great for yoga, gym workouts, walking; just about anything that involves using one's legs. I'm obsessed and hoping I can convince someone to get me a pair of these for my birthday. Totally unique and great for those who are tired of black stretch pants.

Photo: With Love From Paradise

2. Roxy Outdoor Fitness Standard Running Tights: Love these things to death. I got the purple and it's such a great color. Not too attention-grabbing, but better than your old blown-out Soffe shorts. Great for running, lifting, anything you can throw at them. I didn't spend my runs constantly pulling them back up so that's always a plus. Keeps everything high and tight just how I like it!

Photo: Roxy.com

3. Lululemon Wunder Under Crop: I tell myself I'm not paying that much for a pair of workout pants, but they are sooooo damn good. I still have my first pair I bought when Lululemon first got an online store and they are still just as good and stretchy as they were on day one. I know they have had quality issues as-of late, but I haven't really come across any obvious problems. Maybe I'm just super easy to please, or these make my butt look so good that I don't even care. If you've got the money to shell out on Wunder Unders, just get some already!

Photo: Lululemon

4. Seea Pacifica Surf Leggings: I've been seeing a lot of surf leggings coming out lately and I think they're great. I really don't enjoy wearing board shorts, but I also hate destroying my inner thighs from skin,wax, board friction (cringing thinking about it). These leggings from Seea aren't strictly for surfing and can be worn for any activity where you need some protection with a little stretch (oh god sounds like a condom reference). I could see myself wearing these at them gym and absolutely anywhere else leggings are appropriate which, for me, is everywhere worth going. 

Photo: Seea

There are so many great workout pants that will keep you jiggle-free during your workouts.  When I was younger I was always under the impression that crazy spandex was only worn by male figure skaters and Ben Stiller in Heavyweights, but how wrong I was! I know I write about workout clothes on here like once a month, but it's fun for someone else to find awesome stuff and do all the hard work for you. Get yourself into some spandex and have a great workout!

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Bikini Madness!!!

Bikini Madness by elbonner featuring a strapless bikini

Oh my god I love swimwear! It's the number one indicator that summer is on the way. Neons and brights are back and making a huge impact on summer swimwear. I also LOVE the flowy tank top suits that have magically appeared. There are new swim brands popping up all over the place and I can't be happier. So much fun! If I had all the money in the world I would have a bikini closet, live by the beach, and never have to mop my kitchen floor. Since I don't live in an idyllic dreamworld, I'll have to settle with perusing the newest swimwear trends on the internet.  The above suits are some of my favorites, so get excited northern hemisphere, it's bikini season!

Seea
Tallow
Basta Surf
Tori Prayver
Mikoh
Mara Hoffman
L*Space
Beach Riot

**PS** I've created an Instagram page just for the blog, so follow @e_bythesea to get random stuff and updates from yours truly. Follow away!!

Viva La Onesie!

Viva La Onesie! by elbonner featuring a ruched one piece swimsuit

Today I did something that I've been meaning to do for a long time: swim in the pool at the gym. Now, my gym pool isn't full of old people doing water aerobics or floating around on pool-noodles; I'm a member at a university gym with collegiate-level swimmers using the pool all the time. It took a lot of self-reflection and bathroom stall pep-talks for little chubby me to get up the courage to go get in that pool and swim a lane away from someone who may go to the Olympics one day. One thing that helped me with my pool-confidence and calmed my fear of accidentally flashing my whole butt to strangers was my awesome swimsuit. Feeling comfortable in something in front of strangers always helps you get over all of your other nervous jitters before doing something new. I recently bought the Body Glove Smoothies Zippered One-Piece you see in the upper right-hand corner in the brightest coral orange you can imagine. I was nervous about being seen in it in front of a bunch of career athletes, but low-and-behold I had the most bitchin' swimsuit there. The simple onesie swimsuit can create a lot of confidence by soothing your fears of having imperfect abs by giving you a little more coverage. Luckily, the swim industry has recently embraced the onesie and created so many cute suits that stay on no matter what activity you're doing. Above, I have accrued some really cute suits that can take you from swimming laps in the pool, to tumbling in rough surf, or to just feeling good in swimwear again. I've always gone by the idea that you should wear whatever you want because 99-100% of the time no-one will ever call you out on it or will end up being jealous of your courage, so throw on a onesie and work of your fitness!

Also, my pool workout totally kicked my butt so here's what I did:
-tread water for 30 seconds in the deep end
- 100m freestyle stroke
-tread water 30 seconds with arms and legs
-100m back stroke
-tread water for 30 seconds LEGS ONLY
-100m breaststroke 

repeat 5-10 times for a serious cardio workout!

clockwise:

Body Glove Smoothies Zippered One-Piece
J. Crew Ruched Bandeau Suit
L*Space Stardust Fringe One-Piece
Seea Riviera One-Piece
Wildfox Couture Classic One-Piece
Roxy Outdoor Fitness Lapped One-Piece
Mikoh Santorini One-Piece Suit