FitSugar

5 Must Haves For a Run in the Summer Rain

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:31:04 PDT

We've all had plenty of experience running on dry days, but what about cloudy, rainy ones? I actually love running in the Summer rain because the light raindrops keep me cool. And if you're training for a race, running in all types of weather is a must since you never know what nature will serve up on race day.

When exercising in the wet weather, you definitely don't want to get soaked though since running in wet gear can cause chafing and blisters. Prevent the pain with these must haves to help you stay dry and enjoy your rainy-day run. And if running in the rain seems crazy to you, these pieces of gear just might inspire you to change your tune.

Gear Review: Nike+ SportWatch GPS

Susi May — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:05:35 PDT

It was only a matter of time before Nike created a GPS sports watch. The company introduced the Nike+ system five years ago, so adding a new component to the system seemed the right way to celebrate the half decade mark. And following its tradition of innovative design, this watch is good looking. Much more stylin' than other GPS watches out there with a relatively slim profile and easy-to-read face.

The company sent me a Nike+ SportWatch GPS ($200), and I've been testing it out. New gear always helps me step up my workouts. Yep, I've been running a bit more these days. The watch comes with a Nike+ foot pod and charging cable, which you will likely never use since the watch has a USB plug integrated into the band. Meaning you can plug the watch directly into your laptop to upload your workout data to the Nike web page while charging the battery of the watch, too. This is super convenient and the coolest feature of the watch, in my opinion.

The Nike+ SportWatch has the most simple user interface of any GPS watch or heart-rate monitor I have ever used. It only has three buttons. One to scroll up. One to scroll down. And one to press enter. You use the Nike website, which opens up automatically after you plug in the watch to your computer, to program your personal data: age, weight, etc., as well as preferences (sound off/on, splits, create interval workouts).

Keep on reading for more details about this watch.

Are Toning Shoes For You?

Heather Dale — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:48:35 PDT

It all started with MBT, then Sketchers introduced the Shape-ups, and after that, I feel like I lost count of all the toning shoes being introduced to the fitness world. When the American Council on Exercise (ACE) investigated the fitness claims associated with these types of shoes, they found that "none of the toning shoes showed statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation." While some people love them; others feel they are just another pair of sneaks. Have you tried out a pair of these toning shoes pictured below? What was your experience?

Clockwise from top left: MBT Fora ($170), Aetrex Bodyworks Toning Lace-up ($139), Avia IBurn ($40), New Balance WW1442 Rock & Tone ($68), Sketchers Shape Ups SRR ($70), Reebok EasyTone Flash ($100)

End-of-Season Snow Gear Deals For Your Snowbunny Wardrobe

Leta Shy — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:00:13 PDT

Did you make it up the mountain this year? If you have a newfound love of all things Winter sports, the winding down of snow season is a great time to stock up on essentials. Everything from jackets to boots go on sale, and previous years' models can be a deep discount (which is great news since gear can get expensive). Check out a few options below to get you started!

Clockwise from left: Adidas by Stella McCartney Winter Sport Ski Coat ($176; originally $220); Madewell Ski Lodge Beanie ($10; originally $30); Giro Ember Ski Helmet ($70; originally $100); Athleta Schuss Ski Pant ($100; originally $188); Athleta Stretch Panel Sweater ($70; originally $90); Spyder Opal Bamboo Ski Gloves ($61; originally $160); Ride Sage Boa Snowboard Boots ($100; originally $170).

Dancers Unite! Leotards Are Back With a Vengeance

Heather Dale — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:38:44 PDT

Movies like Dirty Dancing, Fame, and Footloose paved the way for dance-obsessed youth in the '80s. And now with Black Swan, ballet-based Bar Method classes, and butt-busting dance routines with celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, we're all falling prey to the dance craze.

Celebrities like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Rihanna have been rocking the leotards for quite some time now - yes, on the stage and off (although I think it's safe to say Lady Gaga is always sporting some sort of leotard-ware). And actresses Ellen Pompeo and Emmy Rossum both sport them to the gym. But I'm curious to see if you've embraced the leotard trend as much as these celebs have? I'm still trying to branch away from my traditional black workout wear, so I can't say I've built up enough courage to wear leotards. And what do you wear with leotards - Lycra shorts like Emmy has on here? Or maybe one of those swimsuit-style onesies?

Make a Bold Statement in Colorful Workout Pants

Heather Dale — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:45:21 PDT

I caused a ruckus the other day when I asked what color workout pants you wear. Almost all of you said you stick to dark colors like black, mainly because you don't like to draw attention to your sweat zones - understandably so! And with further research, I realized that major retailers are catching on to your preferred hue as well: lululemon has an entire section of its online store devoted to black workout gear. Where has all the color gone? Let's get shopping!

Clockwise from top left: Seamless Capri Legging by Athleta ($44), Gathered Legging by i am BEYOND ($69), Amber Knicker by Prana ($60), Gym Performance Tights by Stella McCartney ($70), Core Seamless Tights by Stella McCartney ($46)

Do You Ever Lighten Up Your Workout Wear?

Heather Dale — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:19:52 PDT

Today I woke up, went online, and suddenly became fixated on a photo of Ellen Pompeo. She was sporting a pair of bright fluorescent red workout pants - talk about not needing my morning tea! I couldn't help but think about all of the pairs of black workout pants I have and how I've never had the courage to try a different color.

Flashy footwear for Spring? I've got it covered. Colorful sports bras, shorts, and gym bag? They are all bright tropical hues as well. But what is it with my workout pants? Why can't I just step away from black for a moment and explore other color families - like blues, or perhaps the wonderful world of greens? I'm not the only one who sticks to black - all of team Fit prefers darker workout pants, as does most of the people I see when I work out. Is it because we think the bright hues will draw attention to our butt, hips, and thighs? But nowadays workout gear fits so perfectly, I'm at a loss for excuses? What are your thoughts?

Workout Style: Colorblocking

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:10:42 PDT

Spring is here, which means it's time to liven up those dark and drab workout wardrobes even if it's still rainy. Two of the biggest trends this year are nude hues and colorblocking. From fashion to home decor, bright color combinations are everywhere you look. Whether you are working up a major sweat sesh or running errands, you will certainly stand out in an illuminating ensemble like this one. We combined neons - fabulous fuchsia, vivid yellow, and electric blue - to get this fab look, but there are many ways to work the trend. Show us your favorite way to colorblock your fitness gear.

Clockwise from top left: Nike Airborne Tank ($45), Nike Dri Fit Sports Bra ($36), American Apparel Denim Fluorescent Gym Bag ($18), Puma Loop Watch ($50), Nike Pegasus Running Shoes ($100), Nike Hero Shorts ($25)

Run Lightly: Minimalist Shoes For Spring

Susi May — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:00:52 PDT

Barefoot running seems to be more than a passing trend; it seems everywhere I look, runners are wearing the Vibram 5 Finger ~~gloves for your feet~~ shoes. Many popular fitness shoe brands, following Nike's lead with it's line of Free running shoes, are responding to this craze by creating lightweight minimalist sneakers. These running shoes protect your feet without over cushioning them. Here are five sneakers that bridge the gap between heavily fortified running shoes and no shoes at all.

Run Into Spring With These Colorful Performance Tanks

Michele Foley — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:37 PDT

It's Spring! Time to rip off that Patagonia down jacket and throw on a lightweight hoodie and a tank instead. Check out what we'll be sporting on our Spring hikes, runs, and bike rides (clockwise starting from the top left): Athleta PR tank ($59), Y-3 Cut-Out tank ($47), Lululemon scoop neck tank ($52), Zobha Amelia tank ($62), Lucy Propel tank ($35), Lucy Karma racerback tank ($30), Athleta Nadi tank ($59)