FitSugar

Fit High Heels: Cole Haan Nike Air

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

At first glance you may think that I have lost my mind writing about heels but bear with me here.

My sister and my mom have been raving about these new heels that Oprah apparently loves. I'll admit I was skeptical, as they would love anything Miss Oprah endorses, even if it were the ugliest shoes ever. I was thinking Nike sneaker meets heel, which didn't sound so attractive to me but I did the research and can now say that these Cole Haan Nike Air shoes ($275 and up) are fabulous.

Each high heel shoe of the Cole Haan Nike Air collection utilizes Nike Zoom air bag technology to cushion the ball and heel of the foot. By lining the interior of the heels with strategically placed Nike Zoom air bags, the stress and pain caused by the weight transfer from the raised heel to the toe is counterbalanced. What does it all mean? Basically these shoes could be the most comfortable and sexy heels you ever wore, even despite the fact that the heel sizes average 3-4 inches.

The Cole Haan Nike Air collection of high heels comes in a wide variety of styles including boots, wedges, platforms, pumps, Mary Janes and sling backs. Now, I'm not saying you should run in them as you would your Nike sneaks, but it's nice to know you could if you wanted. To get a pair visit the Cole Haan site.

To see more of the cute and comfy shoes, read more

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All Kinds of Gifts For Bikers

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Nothing beats heading out for a ride on Christmas day decked out in new gear with all sorts of new biking accessories. From full fingered, padded cycling gloves - a wintertime must have - to entry level biking computers, this list has something every cyclist wants. If your biking friend has everything, splurge and give them a biking computer with a built in heart rate monitor for the full fitness riding experience. Fancy cycling knickers are a perfect gift too. Even if there is snow on the ground, these padded knickers will be great for early Spring rides after the thaw. Don't forget the urban cyclist either. I have found a great set of panniers and a super cute bike basket as well. Take a gander at the gifts and tell me what cycling gear you covet for Christmas.

Gear Review: Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor With Foot Pod

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:29 -0700

I love training with a heart rate monitor, and Polar is my favorite brand. These days I have been working out with the RS300X ($170). Designed with running in mind, this HRM is great for other sports as well.

For me, the feature that distinguishes this heart rate monitor from others I have used in the past is the big red lap button at the bottom of the watch face. Press it, and the watch saves your stats for that lap, but keeps on recording the rest of your workout. When you're done with your workout, the RS300X breaks down your workout data by lap as well as giving your info on your overall workout. It is great for working out at the track when running repeat distances or when training with negative splits. When combined with the S1 Foot Pod ($130), the heart rate monitor tracks your speed and distance as well - perfect for all the type A runners out there.

For more of my opinion, keep reading.

Shoe Review: Nike Lunar Glide

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:47:42 -0700

After wearing my new Nike Lunar Glides ($100) around the house to break them in, I took them on all sorts of runs while visiting the East Coast.

These shoes are light - one sneaker is just barely over half a pound (8.75 ounces according to my kitchen scale) - so they are great for traveling as well as running. Nike considers them stability shoes, meaning they help prevent overpronation, rolling too far to the inside of the foot. As one prone to overpronate, I was curious to try these sneakers out, since they rely on "dynamic support" technology rather than a lot of extra bulk to buttress the arch. Learn what I thought of these shoes when you read more.

Not only do I think these running shoes are cute - a hard thing to accomplish in white sneakers - I think they are super comfy to boot. They provide a lot of cushion in the forefoot, so the ball of my foot felt quite cushioned when running. I paid a lot of attention to my stride in these shoes, so much so it's lucky I didn't run into a stop sign. I couldn't feel myself overpronating and I couldn't feel the shoes really correcting my gait. But my knees, feet, and ankles felt great post-run, so I think the Lunar Glide's dynamic support kept my alignment spot on. The toe box is a bit roomier than other Nikes I have worn.

The extra arch support, which you can adjust by tying your shoes tighter, is helpful as is the "bunion" cutout. I ran with these shoes in the rain, on flats, and on a couple of hill workouts, and I loved them. I do think the insole should be a bit beefier, though. If you need motion-control shoes, the Lunar Glide will probably not provide enough support, but for neutral runners whose form wanes as the miles add up, this shoe will work for you. They are also Nike+ compatible and run a bit small, so if you're in between sizes, I would go up a half size.

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Have any of you tried the Nike Lunar Glide? If so, tell me what you think.

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 the Look: Lauren Conrad's Dog Walking Layering Look

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Lauren Conrad is not one to leave her dog, or her style, at home when she's working out. I love her dog walking gear and I'm always on the market for a good long tank to layer while working out so FabSugar did a little investigating for me to find LC's Daftbird Daft-Jersey Body tank. The top is super cute, but at $51 it's also a real splurge for most of us. So to get the look for less, just read more.

If you're on more of a budget than this healthy reality star then you can check out a tank I found that will give you the same look for a lot less cash.

Old Navy, my go-to for affordable layering pieces, has similar long layering tanks for $8.50 (the Duck Egg Blue is on sale for $5)! - for that price you even can get a few. Throw on some black leggings, a pair of sneaks, and grab Fido and you'll be looking just as cool and fit as Lauren on your next walk.

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Source

Get Your Butt in Gear: Ailin

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:30:00 -0700

Looking for some cute new gear for yoga or any of your fitness endeavors? Check out my new favorite line of gear: Ailin (pronounced "eye-lean").

I am especially in love with this Waitomo Caves Mock Tee ($95). It's knit from a soft polyester fiber whose smooth face makes layering easy. The brushed interior eco-friendly polyester combo fabric at the chest adds a technical, water resistant dimension. All this, along with the fact that it is super cute, makes this top perfect for fall. I wore it to the gym, took it off before working out (it was super hot in there today), and then put it back on to go run a few errands before heading home. The best part? I still felt cute, which is more than I have to say for myself when I am in my baggy hooded college sweatshirts-plus, you know I love a multipurpose item!

The Hauraki Gulf Yoga Pants ($80) provide excellent stretch and warmth. The two straps that tie into bows just above the ankles add a little flare to your average spandex pant. The pants are made from moisture wicking Supplex and Lycra, so they can be worn as a performance driven exercise pant-though my girl FabSugar may wear them as a fashion statement with booties. What's more? They did wonders for my legs. My husband couldn't stop telling me how great they looked in these pants! (Um, I'll take one in every color.)

Pair the top and pants with a cute tank, like the super soft, moisture wicking Tongariro Tank ($42), and you've got yourself one knockout workout outfit.

Pricey? Indeed. Worth every penny? Absolutely.

Gear Review: Sports Bra for Less-Endowed Women

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I've reviewed sports bras for the well-endowed ladies, but what about for those of us with a bit less va-va-voom?

I recently purchased the Lululemon Flow Y Bra II and I am in love with this top. This great little bra is the whole package. It provides good support, the mesh back insert provides maximum ventilation, and the racer back shape allows for full range of motion without irritation (i.e. no chafing). Not only did the bra pass the yoga test, it also passed the ultimate bounce test: running. The colors are super cute (mine is yellow with white polka dots) and it even comes with light removable padding, which keeps things discrete even when it's a tad "nippy" in the gym.

I've been wearing mine so much that I've gone back and bought a few more. At $42 it's a little steep, but a good sports bra can be hard to come by and this one is worth every single penny. Go try one on at a Lululemon store near you.

Get the Look: Minka Kelly's Lululemon Pants

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:30:00 -0700

John Mayer and his new super cute girlfriend, Minka Kelly, have been spotted getting into all sorts of things lately. However, none makes my heart go pitter-patter as much as seeing the two of them working out together. How cute are they?!

More than that, I am loving Minka's fun, but laid back style. I've always been a Lululemon fan, so I am totally loving (and wanting) these adorable workout pants.

The Reverse Groove Pant ($86, no side seam) have a snug fit while wicking away moisture from your skin - all while making your booty look stellar. The 4-way stretch makes them super comfortable and super movable for all your poses, moves and lifts. The flattened seams means no chafing, and anyone who's ever had chafing while working out can attest to the many levels of joy this brings.

Visit lululemon.com to find a store near you.

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Flynet

Get in Gear: New Balance Waterproof Sneakers

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Now that the weather is warming up, I bet a lot of you are getting psyched to walk and run outside. The problem is most of the country is dealing with melting snow, so it's still pretty wet outside. It's no fun to run outside and get soggy feet, so if you're looking for a pair of waterproof sneaks, check out these from New Balance ($120).

To hear more about them

I think these are super cute, but what tops their good looks is they are made from Gore-Tex so they're completely waterproof. Your feet will stay dry and if you happen to get them covered in mud, they'll clean up easily. Plus, Gore-Tex breathes. And check out the soles. They're perfect for running around on uneven terrain. Plus the midsole is made out of shock absorbing material, so if you're into trail running, these will protect your feet from sharp rocks and sticks. In case you were wondering, the New Balance 1110 only come in the blue and gray color that's shown.