MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style ArticleVolume 11 Week 52 December 29, 2016

Remember: only the last 4 weeks remain posted!

Motivated to Move

As this year comes to a close, it’s time to re-boot your exercise resolution. It’s one of the most common resolutions made each year...and to help you make your exercise habit “stick”... I’ve got just the thing you need...motivating exercise clothes!

Dressing the part is a big deal when it comes to making your exercise habit stick!

Instead of sweating in any ‘ol thing...how about motivating yourself with more stylish workout clothes? It doesn’t matter your age, shape or size, wearing stylish and flattering exercise clothes will definitely encourage you to stay with your new exercise routine. Looking good can have a very powerful affect.

When choosing exercise clothes, I personally follow the 3 C’s:__Cute__Comfortable __Confident (it boosts my confidence...and gets me to the gym)

I teach spin and group exercise classes weekly...but I use to have a hard time going to the gym regularly. (Read my personal story in this week’s

email, about how I was a former fitness flunky)

What’s changed? Wearing stylish workout clothes motivated me-BIG TIME. Now I enjoy my workouts (I actually look forward to them) and now they

part of a healthy lifestyle I enjoy...

Prior to teaching today’s cycle class, I took a selfie and “shoe-ie”...

Post cycle workout, me, a sweaty mess-but happy lol!

At the beginning of the week, I challenged myself to take a photo of what I was wearing to the gym that day.

One thing I noticed by taking daily workout photos, I LOVE my high-waisted tights and capris! I choose them often because they smooth over my tummy and the higher waist eliminates a “muffin top” and midriff skin exposure (can you say...more confidence?). High-waist workout pants work for every body type. However, if your waist is on the shorter side, just wear a longer shirt (instead of tying your shirt up in a knot, as shown in my photos).

Here’s what I wore to the gym each day this week...

What I wore to body-pump class...

Under Armour tank, Champion high-waist capris (Target)

What I wore to yoga class...

Notice the tummy coverage when I do three-legged dog?

Target Freedom Stirrup Leggings (now on sale!)

What I wore to cycle class (my go-to cardio fav)...

(Above) UnderArmour fitted tank & stripped leggings, cycle shoes

What I wore weightlifting (I will also wear this to cycle, and yoga as well)...

(Above: Zumba tank-tied at the waist, Athleta~high-waist capri with black mesh)

Hey y’all... I live in the south. Guess what? It was 70 degrees here!So, this is what I wore to cycle class...

What to look for in exercise clothes...

Look for fabrics that “wick”. Wicking fabric means the fibers draw the moisture (sweat) away from your skin so you don’t feel as damp, or get cold after you cool down. Wicking fabrics are synthetic blends and go by names like: Dry FIT and Cool Max (look for names like these on all of your athletic apparel). Not feeling cold and sweaty is a BIG deal when you are

exercising! You can stay on task longer when you are not damp, cold and wet from sweat.

Steer towards darker solid colors. Stay with darker colors for your bottoms if you wish to minimize. Dark colors have a more slimming effect (why not get all the help you can, right?). Look for matte fabrics (not shiny) for most minimizing outcome. Besides black, look for colors like: dark gray, deep purple, dark brown, etc.). Dark bottoms also make dressing easy because they match up with just about any exercise top you put them with!

Grab attention with bright colors. Wherever bright colors are located, that is where everyone will look--so place them strategically at your good bits.

Dressing well is all about FIT—and exercise clothes are no exception. Beware of ultra-baggy exercise clothes, no matter your body’s shape or size. Instead, opt for “body skimming” (semi-fitted) exercise wear that you can move around in easily. Baggy exercise clothes can block free movement and get in your way when working out.

Start with the basics. You will need bottoms, tops, socks, shoes, a couple sport bras and possibly a warm-up suit. You only need a couple of outfits to get started.

__Choose pieces that match with each other so that you can wear them in different combinations for a new look each time. Dark gray & black bottoms go with ANY color of top.

__All of your exercise clothes should be made out of fabrics that have wicking properties to them. This allows you to stay drier while you sweat the pounds away and tone up.

On top of your list...should be a supportive sports bra! You don’t want to have your bust hindering your workout because your bra does not offer enough coverage or proper support. You can NOT wear a regular bra!

Your sports bra should fit snuggly and not allow bouncing. Look for wide straps and wicking fabric. Most women select the wrong size. Usually in a sports bra, you need to go down on your band size and up on your cup size.

Nordstrom Nike "Pro Rival" Dri-FIT Sports Bra

Exercise tops, tees, tanks. Look for styles that work with your body type and dressing needs:

__Top heavy: look for v-neck tops in darker colors and simple designs. __Small bust: try bright colors, detailing, ruffled necklines, or busy prints and higher-up necklines.

Don’t let your top length cut your body in half. Longer shirts can make you appear heavier because they come down too low and shorten your leg length. Your top should stop around your mid-hipbone area--not the low hip area (where your leg bends when you sit). Experiment in front of a mirror and find your most pleasing top length.

BELOW: Notice my top length is around the mid-hip area..Mid-hip cuts down the size of your bottom (visually).

This length also helps if you have a tummy too!

Sleeveless tanks and tees are often the better choices. It looks better and sleeveless is just easier for exercising. But if you really aren’t comfortable exposing your upper arms, try adding a ¾ sleeved (or 1/2 sleeved) zip-up hoodie over a colorful tank. (It also makes a stylish layered look on a casual weekend!) Make sure ALL tops are body-skimming (as shown below) so you can move around in them easily.

City Chic Zip Front Raceback Tank (Plus Size)

IVY PARK Fishnet Print Performance Tank (Misses)

Add a stylish jacket over these tanks above for a layered look!

Nordstrom North Face Jacket

Zella Melange Knit Cardigan (Plus Size)

Exercise pants, shorts, and bottoms. This is a personal preference. If you like your legs, by all means show them off. Just don’t wear too short of

shorts to the gym. You may wish to wear a Lycra-stretch bike short underneath shorts to be sure you have enough coverage during stretches and other awkward positions.

Full booty or torso? Look for a boot-cut or flare at the hemline to balance your shape. Flare and boot-cut styles work well for most body shapes and makes you feel that you don’t have that much further to go to be the next Cindy Crawford! LOL!

Zella "Soul 3" Pants (Plus Size)

Zella Barely Flare Booty Pants (Misses, right side)

Various length of capris/cropped exercise pants. Beware: this proportion can be tricky to wear. Often if you are petite and/or heavier, the cropped length works against you and makes your legs appear shorter or cut-off. Avoid any exercise capris, crops that stop at the MIDDLE of your calf. Instead go with a length that is above or below the calf muscle. BEST length for capris is at or just below the knee as well.

Zella Slim Fit CaprisNIke Essential Dri-FIT Capris (4 colors-Plus Sizes)

Skirt it!

A exercise skirt is a stylish way to get a bit more coverage over your capris...

Wear them together!

Nike "Flip" Dri-FIT SkortZella Crop Leggings

Go “Matchy-Matchy”... I usually say don’t dress “matchy-matchy”...but in this case, have to admit, when I dress for the gym I DO go matchy, LOL! I like to match my black sports bra w/ my black pants, my pink top w/ my pink bootie socks and Asics Gel shoes! I often wear my hair back with a headband of some sort...and yes that matches my gym outfit too!

Sweat suits and warm-up suits. It doesn’t matter what you call them, warm-up suits look great when you walk in and out of the gym. If you need to run an errand or two before, or after the gym, you can do it covered-up in style.

Shoes and socks. Invest the best quality exercise shoes you can afford. You may be able to find a quality brand that is at a deep discount—I know I have! Wear your gym sneakers ONLY to exercise in--not for mowing the grass, etc. This keeps your shoes nice and clean and they will stay that way a lot longer.

There are lots of choices when it comes to exercise footwear. There are cross-trainers, running shoes, trail-running shoes and low-profile footwear.

“I like Brooks Pure Line: Specifically, Pure Connect (4mm drop)/ Pure Flow (0-2mm drop) For reference: Traditional shoe~ 16mm drop (I like these running shoes because they teach your body to cushion itself- versus relying upon a large heel to cushion you in a traditional shoe. They help develop a mid-foot strike.)”

Brooks 'Ghost 6' Running Shoe

Brooks 'Pure Connect 3' Running Shoe (built for the minimalist runner)

Exercise regularly? If you are a regular exerciser and run (tread mill or outside) you will need to replace your shoes more frequently (perhaps every 6 months). If the inside cushioning in your athletic shoes get stiff, it’s time to replace your shoes. There are all sorts of styles of athletic shoes. The most important part is good cushioning and support.

For socks, the best look is bootie style. These socks come up to your lower ankles and can hardly been seen. Taller socks create a horizontal line and that make your legs look thicker and they just look funny.

Short bootie socks are best and a fun way to add a little color to your basic black gym bottoms:

Zella Fitness 3-Pack Liner Socks

My gym bag has enough room to carry everything I need + it zips closed and keeps everything from spilling out...

Gaiam Metro Gym Bag

I like this cool gizmo for doing intervals at the gym...

GymBoss Mini Max Timer

Need More Motivation To Get Moving? Try these tips below...

It takes 21 days. It takes 21 days for a task to become a habit. It may take longer if you don’t go to the gym or do your exercises daily. Give yourself time to allow regular exercise a become a habit....6 to 8 weeks. Keep at it.-you’ve got this...one baby step at a time.

Get involved. Try group fitness classes or get an exercise buddy to keep you motivated. When someone else is relying on you to be there--you’ll be more accountable! Start to invest in yourself and soon you’ll find you have a new exercise habit!

Put it on your calendar. Want to make regular exercise part of your weekly lifestyle? Schedule it! Schedule your exercise time on your calendar like you would any appointment. Don’t make exceptions (excuses) for not being there. The best part...this time is for you and your health!

Create a supportive environment. Don’t make temptation a game you play to see how much unhealthy stuff you can resist (or “deprive” yourself from). Instead, create an environment that supports regular exercise. Do you hang around others who want to get fit? Do you have friends and family supporting you and your goals? Do you buy foods that support your goals? Do you have an accountability partner or a group fitness class you love? Have you found an exercise you love and can’t live without? It’s up to you to create an environment that has your back!

Regardless of your exercise ability—whether you are ready to teach a spin class, or only want to start walking around the block regularly; dressing the part will make your new exercise routine a more positive experience. Now lace-up those sassy exercise shoes and get moving!

Love, Leslie MSP (Your exercise-minded fashion stylist)

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