FitSugar

Gear Review: Zoom Sister One+ by Nike

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Earlier this Fall, I was invited to attend a Women's Media Summit at Nike HQ to learn about their new training shoe for women, the Zoom Sister One+ ($110). After treating all the attendees to a killer workout designed to show off the flexible features of the Sister One (I was sore for days), they sent me home with a pair of shoes to experiment with on my own. I've been wearing them for a few months now for my strength training sessions and when I use the elliptical. I feel I have thoroughly tested this shoe, and I can tell you it is pretty great.

Not only is the Zoom Sister One+ cute, but it so lightweight and flexible that I feel like dancing around after lacing them up. I am no longer plodding through my lunges, but dancing a duet with my dumbbells. The shoes make me feel nimble and ready for action. These shoes are a hybrid of the Nike Free barefoot running technology and the ultra lightweight Nike Flywire that debuted at the Olympics this Summer. The end result is your feet can truly sense the ground. And like we teach in Pilates and yoga, your feet making contact with the floor starts the muscular chain of command, so the chances of the correct muscle pattern happening are considerably higher. This means more effective and efficient training. When you do squats in the Sister One+ you don't have to think about pressing through your heels because in these shoes your weight is already there. The shoe moves in all three planes of motion, so if you are twisting and lunging the shoe moves with you instead of breaking the motion. They feel great for kickboxing when you pivot while throwing a punch with your entire body.

To see what activity the Zoom Sister One+ is not designed for, read more.

The Sister One+ is not meant for running, and running shoes aren't really meant for training either. I do like to wear my Sister Ones on the elliptical so I can feel my feet working. I also like wearing them for plyometric jumping exercises since I can feel my muscles working to keep the impact of landing out of my feet and joints. To see how truly flexible this shoe is check out this video:

Be sure to wear these shoes with a sock that is cut high over your Achilles tendon. I wore mine with basic anklets and ended up with a nasty blister. I think it is super cool that these shoes are Nike+iPod compatible too. The shoes come in a variety of colors. Although, my combo reminds me of my first pair of Nikes way back when. Check out this clip to see all the colors.

This shoe will be available the day after Christmas. You can use any leftover Christmas money to get yourself a pair to start the New Year off on the right foot.

Get Fit For 2009 Giveaway Ends Sunday

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:30:00 -0800

Here at FitSugar we take New Year's resolutions seriously. Whether you call them goals or resolutions, we want you to succeed. We created a super-duper giveaway to help one lucky winner get fit and healthy in 2009. The prizes include all the tools you need to take care of yourself.

Here's the lowdown on the prizes:

A personalized nutrition plan by nutritionist Alexa Fishback: Alexa wrote the helpful book The Daily Fix, which is full of great tips for busy ladies. This month she shared her 12 healthy habits with us - just another way to help us all get on and stay on the healthy side of the street.
A $1,000 Nike gift card: Think of all the cool gear you could get on that shopping spree. If I won $1,000 from Nike I would pick up their new gym bag and some Zoom Sister One+ training shoes. One Sugar user said she would stock up on some Tempo track shorts, and that sounds like a good idea.
Two annual memberships to Bally Total Fitness: Working out is half the equation in living a healthy lifestyle. Bally understands that, and they also understand that you are more likely to work out if you don't have to sweat it out alone. That is why we are giving away two memberships. If you are ready to start that healthy living right now, here are 10 tips from a Bally Fitness Director to help you get fit for 2009.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 8. That is this Sunday. To enter just take this fun quiz once you are logged in. Just do it! And good luck.

If I Won a $1,000 Nike Gift Card . . .

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:30:00 -0800

Nike may have started out as a sneaker company, but they also make gear that is flattering and fun to wear. This is why we are excited to be offering a $1000 gift card from Nike along with other great prizes in our Get Fit for 2009 giveaway. If I had $1000 to spend on Nike gear, I would definitely invest in a pair of Zoom Sister One+ training shoes. These shoes are so light on your feet, they make strength training feel like a dance.

My other major splurge would be the Monika Club Bag ($160); full of pockets for organizing all your gym gear, the bag even comes with a "dirty clothes" bag to help keep your sweaty duds separate.

My shopping spree wouldn't end there. To see what else I would choose read more.

The Nike Spring collection is full of color, hot pink and cobalt blue, and long shirts. Yay! No more worrying about showing off more of your backside than you intended. Nike uses their special blend of Dri-Fit fabric, which wicks away sweat without feeling synthetic, in some colorful striped long tanks ($30) - perfect for any workout out. Sticking with the "long" theme, Nike has created a fitted zip hoodie that will cover your bum too.

I would round out my $1000 with some hot pink training shorts for the girlish tomboy look as well as a hot pink Dri-Fit top to keep me cool when I am running hot.

If you won a $1000 Nike gift card, what would you get?

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