I live in Florida, so I can usually wear my running shorts and tanks year-round. But, last week I was in Michigan, where I took a jog on a beautiful 45-degree fall day. And I promptly froze my butt off.

Now, those of you who live in seasonal areas know that it's going to get a whole lot cooler than 45 degrees, and before long, it's going to take more than full pants and a long-sleeved shirt to keep you warm when you go running. Fortunately, there are lots of cold weather options that will keep you comfortable without making you look like the abominable snowman. Runner's World has a slew of suggestions, and I have a few additions to make.

Let's start at the top. If you don't keep your head warm, good luck keeping the rest of your body warm. One stylish option is the Sugoi Kana Tuke, a hat that has fleece on the inside and a perfect amount of stretch within (plus, flowers!). If you can't wrap your head around wearing a hat while running, keep your ears toasty with the Athleta Polartec Power Stretch Headband -- it even has a ponytail hole in the back!

I've said it before, and I'll say it over and over again -- looking good and feeling good really do go hand in hand. I don't mean that dressing in cute clothes will make you happy (although I promise it won't hurt). Rather, if you feel good -- healthy, happy, optimistic -- it'll show.

Photo: shop.fila.com

I always feel better when my purchases support my beliefs, so when I heard that Fila had teamed up with AmericanForests.org, I was intrigued. Then, I found that not only had Fila made a one-year commitment with the nation's oldest and most respected non-profit dedicated to tree planting in the U.S. and globally, but they were also using eco-conscious fabrics in their Women's Personal Performance line. Sold!

The brand has incorporated the use of sustainable and recycled fibers, like soy, bamboo and recycled Polyester into their women's line. Initially launched in 2008, the line has proven that fashion, function and eco-friendliness can go hand in hand (uh, in hand). Don't even try to tell me you're not into the Fila Twist Back Yoga Tank ($58), or the Flower Sleeveless Muscle Tank ($50).

And yes, I realize that $50 for a top is more than you'd pay at, say, Target. And I know that's hard right now. But, consider this -- would you rather have one piece that supports a company that's incorporating sustainable practices and donating money to get more trees planted, or three pieces that don't?

Source

When you're looking for comfy, casual clothes, Gap has long been a great choice. But what about if you don't just want casual clothing? What if you want activewear that will keep up with you as you go from yoga to swimming to tennis to running around after your family? Now, they have you covered in that respect, too.

Gap has acquired Athleta, a company that has been outfitting female athletes since 1998, and you can start shopping online now. The clothing is feminine but strong, and made with your entire lifestyle in mind so, ideally, you don't have to change clothes every time you change hats!

Athleta offers items for yoga, swimming, running, snow sports, golf, tennis, cycling, triathlon and outdoor adventures in addition to the cute tops and dresses that would function perfectly as a regular closet staple (no workout required!).

Source

"Dancing With the Stars" mania is in full force. Admit it -- you've found yourself dancing your way around the kitchen more than once since the season started last week. I know I have! Anyway, now, you have the opportunity to look like you belong on the dance floor, even if your two left feet say otherwise.

Cheryl Burke has come out with a line of activewear for Fit Couture. And, as you would expect from a dancer, the pieces are designed to move with you, so whether you're shaking your hips in a salsa class or sweating it up on the Stairmaster, you can expect your shirt to stay put.

Burke told "People" magazine that she'd always wanted to have a clothing line, explaining, "I'm so into being comfortable, and these pieces are just that. I like to wear layers ... when I work out. These pieces move with you. The shirts are extra long so they don't ride up and the pants have a fold-over waistband that feels snug but not restricting."

Source

I'm in love with Lucy. No, I haven't ditched my husband for a chic. Lucy is the maker of the pants I've adopted as my uniform. Do I need a uniform? No! Do I wish I had an excuse to wear Power Pants every day? Heck yeah!

If you're not familiar with Lucy, let me introduce you. Lucy is a fashionable line of women's workout wear that puts equal emphasis on performance, versatility and style. The line offers clothing and accessories designed for running, yoga, gym workouts and training in the great outdoors. I've done all of the above in my latest addiction: the Power Pant.

The Power Pant fits my smallish bum in the most amazing way. It enhances my curves, never shows a panty line and falls beautifully to the floor in the boot cut style. The moisture wick material allows me to run without discomfort, and the cute little zippered pockets hold my mp3 player firmly against my hip. One of my girlfriends has a pair, and they disguise her lumps and bumps. Most other fitness pants just accentuate them.

Organic clothing has had a bit of a bad reputation -- I know my mind used to immediately go to scratchy fabrics, dull colors, and baggy, unflattering styles. I might live the hippie lifestyle in some ways by trying to be as green as possilbe, but I don't want to look ... crunchy. You know?

Enter Danskin Prima Organics. They sent me a couple of pieces to try out, and let me just say that my mindset has definitely been adjusted. Each piece is made of earth-friendly certified organic cotton, dyed and printed using non-toxic organic dyes and finishes. And that's not all -- each garment comes with a recyclable hangtag made from 30 percent post-consumer waste, attached with an organic cotton string.

The website describes the collection as "feminine and contemporary," saying it "offers you fashionable functional looks created in the spirit of dance style and yoga chic. Sumptuous soft, lightweight quality fabrics and sensational lines wrap you in comfort ... Pose flex and move with ease in gorgeous pieces to wear alone, layer, and even add to your casual wardrobe for a cool highlight."

I'd have to agree with them.

Source

Back in the mid-90's, I was looking for a gym to join. A friend of mine got me a guest pass to her gym and I was horrified. The gym was filled with guys working out and women dressed in spandex -- most of whom were just standing around patting their perfect hair, fixing their makeup, or checking out their manicures. Needless to say, despite the stellar equipment the gym offered, I didn't sign up.

Soon, I found an all-women's gym that didn't have half the equipment, but they offered great classes and the women there actually worked out. They let themselves sweat and they didn't worry about how their hair looked. It was the perfect fit for me. (I miss that gym. I moved over an hour away from it and had to cancel my membership.)

Luckily the Jane Fonda-esque spandex era is long gone. But there are certainly still gym-goers that are more concerned with their appearance than their workout. Glamour recently ran an article wondering if their readers gussied-up for the gym or not. It made me wonder about That's Fit readers, too.

Source

If you've checked out the January issue of O Magazine, you've seen Oprah in a purple athletic outfit that flatters her shape, even though she's nowhere near the shape she desires. The clothes she's wearing are from Beyond Yoga, a line that has gained quite a few celebrity fans ... of all sizes.

Beyond Yoga is designed by Jodi Guber, who I had a chance to chat with recently -- you can read more about that at StyleList. What really struck me about Guber is her dedication to creating comfortable but stylish clothing that work on women from size XS (like Gossip Girl's Blake Lively) to XL, like Oprah.

Guber has been a devotee of yoga, as well as an instructor, for many years, and has also been in the public eye since she was a child due to well-known parents. However, she was overweight, which made her uncomfortable at the time but led to her determination to make sure even those of us who don't fit in a Small can look (and feel) great.

Source

BBC Health has a video showing a mother discussing how her children got overweight, the problems they encountered, and what they're doing to lose the extra weight. The mother mentioned that she realized her son was getting overweight when she couldn't find pants that fit him properly. She had to buy pants in America because "they cater more to the overweight child." Her choice of words really struck a chord with me.

It's definitely a chicken and egg situation. Larger clothing sizes are necessary because there are larger kids who need them. But is childhood obesity, in part, prolonged by the fact that items like husky or plus-sized clothing is readily available? The mom in the BBC Health interview stated that the lack of clothing was a main impetus for changing the family's unhealthy habits and helping the kids lose weight.

I think it would be discriminatory to not have larger clothing sizes available. But, on the other hand, childhood obesity is an ever increasing problem and we don't want to become a society that caters to the issue. What do you think?

Source

Most of us are adamant about keeping our bodies and minds healthy. But what about our surroundings? Doing your part and pitching in to help save our earth is just as important -- after all, what's the point of being fit if we don't have fresh air to breathe?

Now you can look good and save the earth at the same time. Prevention magazine recently assembled a list of their top eco-friendly fitness gear finds -- from wicking shirts made from coconut shells to shoes with recycled rubber soles, you're sure to find something that suits your workout and your budget. Check the list out over here.

Source

Any fitness buff or sports enthusiast will know what I mean when I say moisture-wicking fabrics have a stinky problem. Sure, they're wonderful when you're jogging or working out at the gym; they pull sweat away from your body instead of letting it cling to you like a cotton t-shirt does. But those moisture-wicking shirts and shorts and socks have a downfall... they are the pack rats of sweat.

The same problem holds true for many sports uniforms. I know my son's nylon soccer uniform can come out of the wash with all the grass stains removed, but sometimes there's a lingering aroma quite different than the spring-fresh aroma my laundry detergent touts.

There are plenty of options for getting your workout clothes or sports uniforms looking and smelling perfectly clean. Specialty sports detergents are designed for performance fabrics. And other laundry additives can boost the cleaning ability of your normal detergents. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

I have a closet full of fitness gear, but I don't waver much from my favrouite core pieces: A pair of lululemon capris or full-length pants (depending on the weather), a form-fitting sports bra, a comfy-but-not-baggy tank and some cushioning sports socks. What I wear to the gym certainly isn't cutting-edge fashion, but it's always comfortable and practical.

So it always kind of surprises me when I see fitness outfits with skirts. A few people at my gym wear them, and I see them all the time in fitness magazines. Personally, I would never wear a skirt to work out, unless I was playing tennis (and even then, I would be afraid of giving the whole world a show when I bent over to pick up my ball ... ) Don't get me wrong -- I think running skirts are cute, but I feel more comfortable in pants. Especially running -- I'd be worried about chafed thighs in a skirt.

What do you think?

Source

One writer over at College Candy says the season is ripe for muffin tops -- not the actual tops of actual muffins, but the excess skin that hangs over the tops of shorts, pants, and skirts when these items of clothing are just a tad too small. This problem, coined the One-Size-Too-Small Syndrome by said writer, affects lots of college-aged girls (one might argue it affects more than just college girls) and should not be mistaken for an overeating problem at all. It's clearly a size issue. You can be a size four and still have a muffin top. All it takes is a size two piece of clothing to cause this all-too-annoying problem.

This female writer from NYU knows what's it like: "I'm definitely not a tiny girl by any means, and I completely understand the battle with body image," she says. "I get a little unhappy anytime I have to purchase something in a large instead of a medium, but if the medium makes me look like a sausage trying to escape its skin, is it really worth wearing? Is it really going to look like you're a size medium to anyone but yourself? Of course not! I may groan when I have to reach for a size larger in that cute little dress or jeans but if it lays just right and fits as intended, so be it."

NYU girl draws from comments made by Stacy London of What Not to Wear when she makes these points: (1) The only person who sees the size of your clothing is you. (2) What matters is the look and if you can pull it off. (3) If you must go up a size to look like you can breathe (or to actually be able to breathe), then bite the bullet and do it.

I get it -- I'm all about feeling good in my clothes. And as for breathing: It's a must have for me. How about you?

Source

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:

Source

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.

Source