That's Fit

Last summer, when I decided to do a sprint triathlon, I wasn't too nervous about the race. It's not that I was cocky -- far from it -- I just knew that, regardless of how long it took, I would cross that finish line and feel fantastic. There was one aspect I was really nervous about though -- figuring out what to wear.

Whenever I looked at pictures of triathlons or saw them on TV, everyone was either wearing race suits specifically made for triathlon, which was well out of my budget, or sporty swimsuits, which is fine for swimming, but I don't have the confidence to run in front of people in a bathing suit unless I'm actually on the beach.

What I discovered is that you can wear just about anything you want. Ideally, you'll find a race day outfit that does the following:

Is there anything more frustrating than making a real effort to lose a certain amount of weight before a big event, like a wedding or class reunion, only to come up short when the big day rolls around? But you're out of time -- what can you do? Let me tell you -- the right clothes can make all the difference.

You've probably heard of Spanx and Assets, which are great. Hey, if it's good enough for celebrities on the red carpet, it's good enough for me. However, a new line of clothing has come out, and it has what you need built right in -- ShapeFX.

ShapeFX has all kinds of slimming items designed to "make the body you have look like the body you want." They offer shaper pieces to wear underneath (they even have Shaper Shorts with a Butt Lifter!), but they also have dresses, pants, tops ... pretty much anything you would ever want to wear. And every piece has uses at least one of three approaches to slimming you down and hiding flaws: control, fabrication, and design.

Thinking of ways you'll save your skin this summer when the sun's rays come beating down upon you? Don't forget the standards: Avoid the sun between 10 am and 4 pm, use sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, steer clear of artificial sources of ultraviolet light, and wear sun-protective clothing when exposed to sunlight.

Wearing clothing that offers UV protection can be more effective than using sunscreen alone, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Look for clothing that offers an ultraviolet protection factor of at least 30 -- it will offer six times more protection than a t-shirt.

Columbia Sportswear offers one option for those seeking to shield themselves from the sun: The Seaside Stretch Tunic with UPF 40. It costs $48 which may seem a bit steep. But the savings your skin will enjoy may be well worth the price.

Got any recommendations on UPF clothing? If so, leave a comment and we'll share your suggestions with our readers.

How do I know that this year's U.S. Olympic athletes will be dressing preppy? Do I hang out in the training camps? Do they come to me for fashion advice? Sadly, no (at least, not yet). But, I do know that Ralph Lauren will be outfitting Team USA during the opening ceremony.

As one of the pioneers of preppy, sporty fashion, Lauren has taken over for Roots, Ltd., a Canadian company that has held the Olympic contract for the past three Olympic games.

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

This week I went back to talk with one of my favorite past guests, Mr. Colin Egglesfield. (To view Colin's in-depth interview click here.) Spring is here, summer is coming and this All My Children star has the most perfectly fit body one could wish for. We all want to know how celebrities earn their great bodies, and Colin was sweet enough to share his tips for preparing for swimsuit season. These tips are exactly as our favorite Calvin Klein underwear model gave them to me. So play close attention, follow his advice, and prepare to strut your stuff this summer!

• Run! You can do all the weight training in the world, but nothing burns off that winter weight better than a good 30-45 run at least three times a week. I like to start out doing about 30min and then gradually work up to an hour over the course of a few weeks as I start to get my stamina back. I love to run outside by myself with my headphones and some great music on my iPod and just go! It's my time to be alone with my thoughts, and anything that might be on my mind always seems to be a lot clearer after a good run.

If you're thinking about attending your first yoga class, first of all, congratulations! All kinds of people enjoy the benefits of yoga, and you're about to join them!

You should know that, as long as you're wearing something that's comfortable, doesn't restrict movement, and won't make you too hot, any clothes you choose should be fine. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when packing your gym bag for yoga class:

Okay, so I admit that this post is purely for fun -- it's a dress that looks like a hamburger! We all love hamburgers (they're one of the most popular foods ever) but we also know how unhealthy most of them are, so why eat one when you can wear one instead?

Of course it's not really that fashionable (it is clothing that looks like food, after all) but it could make a cute Halloween costume or something. And the single best part about this particular hamburger? It comes off your hips just as fast as it goes on.

Oh, and don't forget to check out "The Sundae Dress" and "The Ice Cream Cone Dress" too. You know, in case you're in the mood for dessert.


Via Slashfood

Brrrr. Winter is in full force, at least where I live in Canada. We've been under a thick blanket of frost for the last week or so, and the cold shows no signs of letting up. Now I'm getting re-aquainted with all my old wool sweaters, heavy jackets, toques and mittens. Truth be told, I'm used to it, but I know a couple who just moved here from Louisiana and I'm a bit curious as to how they're going to adjust to our sub-zero temperatures. Staying inside is a good tip but sometimes even the indoors can be chilly.

Having grown up in Canada, I know a thing or two about staying warm. Here are some tips:

Keep your head warm. It will make a big difference. You might look silly wearing a wool hat to dinner but you'll be nice and toasty.
Your feet too! I wear wool socks to bed and sometimes I get too hot.
Wool is amazing. Seriously, I can't wear my favourite wool sweater unless the temperature is well below freezing
because it's just too warm. I have wool blankets on my bed too, and they work great. Plus wool is a wicking fiber -- it removed wetness from your skin so you don't get a chill. But wool's not waterproof or wind proof so get a good layer to go over it if you're going outside.
Don't wear wet clothes, especially scarves. So bring an extra outfit if you're bound to get into a snowball fight.
When all else fails, sip tea. You'd be surprised at how well a warm cup of herbal tea can warm your hands - and the rest of you too!

Want more tips? Click here.

For quite a while now there have been a lot of giggles and jokes happening about one of pop culture's favorite new phrases, "the muffin top". As I'm sure all of you know, but in case any of you have someone managed to not yet hear the description, a "muffin top" occurs when one wears pants with a waist-size that is too small, making their stomach spill over their belt so that their mid-section resembles the top of a muffin.

While I know a small group of people who find the muffin top attractive, as far as I know most don't and tend to snicker at the thought of it. The thing about it is, a muffin top doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how much extra weight you're carrying but it has everything to do with how your clothing fits. If you've chosen jeans or pants of an appropriate size, you shouldn't have too much trouble preventing your belly -- whether large or small -- from ballooning outward.

According to this article on Trendhunter 73% of women don't wear a sports bra when exercising -- is that right??? Ouch ladies! Maybe we'd all be a little more inclined to support ourselves adequately if we could find customized support tailored to our individual needs. Shockabsorber does just that, by having women take a quiz to narrow their activity level and cup size down to a specific recommendation of a sports bra with the right support and fit in all the right places. Sounds awesome, although I will say it looks like some of their styles are downright functional (read: ugly!) to look at.

You might think your exercise program is for you and only you. But it can be good for the environment too, according to the website Green Living Ideas. By incorporating a few simple green practices into your fitness routine, you can fine-tune your body while helping to sustain the planet at the same time. Want to see how easy it is to accomplish both tasks at the same time? Read on.

The easiest way to turn exercise into an environmental act is to move your workout outside. Besides connecting with nature and connecting with your community, you'll cut your electricity bill by turning off the treadmill and exerting yourself outside. You can also replace your conventional workout routine with conservation activities such as gardening, hiking, or trail building. Check into volunteer opportunities at public parks too.

Heard of the "green gym" experience? What started in Europe is now spreading across the globe -- some are popping up on the United States East Coast. Slightly structured and costing nothing, these programs consist of people who meet a few times per week to get active and have fun while contributing to the wellness of the planet.
Think composting, reforestation, and recycling programs, and you've got the right idea. Gyms associated with this effort might include water-conserving shower heads and low-wattage light bulbs. If you spot any TV sets, they're likely programmed to turn off when not in use. They might feature biodegradable and natural cleaning products in the locker rooms and showers, and guests may be required to wear clothing made with organic cotton and other natural fibers.

The environment, global warming, and going green are all things that are becoming more and more embedded in our every day lives, which is of course a good thing. We can all be a little more conscious in our global efforts, and even if it's just making the smallest change the great part is that it multiplies across the population and can end up really making a difference. I thought for today's Jumpstart I'd take the idea that sometimes all your stalled workout needs is something new in the way of clothes or equipment to help make it interesting again, and going eco-friendly is the perfect excuse to help soothe that pang of guilt that's been holding you back.

Of course there are countless products out there to choose from in the green fitness world, and thankfully the options are only increasing. So what is it that would make the biggest difference for you and your workout right now? Maybe it's a new top, new shoes, or something else? Here's a few things I found online to help get the wheels of inspiration turning!

Looking for the sleekest attire possible for your cycling exploits? Look no further than Peal Izumi's Microsensor mp3 bib.

Sure, like other bibs, this snazzy outfit will reduce wind resistance, protect your skin from friction against the bike, and prevent rashes by wicking away your sweat -- but, more importantly, it has a 512 megabyte mp3 player and embedded controls. That way you merely have to tap your leg to switch tracks, crank up the volume, and kick out the jams for the final sprint.

The only drawback is the price -- which, at $499, isn't exactly cheap. But if you're a serious cyclist, I can see how this could definitely improve your ride.

[via productdose]

Walking can be one of the cheapest physical activities to do (heck we all do it every day to some extent) but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of options out there for spending money and making the whole experience completely tailored to how you like it. You can get clothes specifically designed to block wind and wick away sweat, and shoes made just for the surfaces you usually walk on. Socks that add cushioning and reduce friction, gadgets to measure everything from your vital signs to how far you've gone, and germ-resistant water bottles that calculate how much water you need to drink are just a few of the ways you can make your walking experience more enjoyable.

What's one piece of fitness gear you can't walk without?

I'm not a huge fan of mint anything, really, so the fact that I'm not at all excited about a sports bra scented like peppermint is no surprise. But what do you think? FitSugar has a poll going on the topic, based on the new Reebock Pulse Scented Short Bra Top which "releases the refreshing scent of peppermint" when you workout. It seems like more people like it than don't (48% cool, 38% not cool, so far), but I'm not convinced. I keep thinking that it doesn't keep you from sweating so what does 'sweaty peppermint' smell like? That could be downright nauseating.