As I often like to establish, I’m a spandex fanatic – leggings, short shorts, running capris…you name.  If it stretches and involves a gratuitous amount of sheen, count. me. in.  That’s why, you can imagine how excited I am about my new sample pair of Heidi Hat hot shorts and bandeau top made of luxurious swimsuit fabric.

Let’s talk about the shorts first…think: low, short, light, fitted – smooth waistband to squash out any ‘muffin top’ and a diamond shape gusset to prevent ‘camel toe’ (yes, men…these are the things we women must consider).  The cut of the shorts make my butt look insanely toned with a subtle plump curve – niiiiice!

Next: the bandeau top. INCREDIBLE. By far one of the best technical pieces of clothing I have ever tried.  A simple strapless top with a subtle twist makes this bandeau supportive without being restrictive.  The swimsuit fabric keeps everything in place, letting the top stick perfectly to my skin the more I sweat…and as we all know, that’s quite a lot.

During Bikram Yoga classes, which are practiced in a room that is 105 degrees with 40% humidity, I remain nimble and free of the pulls and weight of regular athletic wear.  I even wear the bandeau top for my outdoor runs to keep everything in place without earning a victory sports bra tan.

Aside from looking like runway workout gear – all of Heidi Hat’s products, which range from hot shorts and skirts to ski hats, are made in the good ‘ol USA – fabric is sourced from NYC and LA and hand-sewn by seamstresses in Colorado – how very quaint.  Check out the online selection of bold prints – my fav, are the paisleys and the faux pucci.

Bottom’s up!

Ok – we are all well aware of my obsession with spandex…in all varieties: long, short, capri, cropped, bootleg, wide-leg, low-rise, high-rise, shiny, matte, even a little of the good stuff in my jeans (not to be confused with Jeggings of course).  For me, spandex is not just for the gym or a run in the park – my workout clothes frequently turn into my brunch outfit, part of my Fall 2010 ‘Around Town’ collection or sometimes even a late night movie on the couch ensemble.

One of my fav go-to pieces, other than my FILA pants of course… is lululemon athletica’s Wunder Under Crop ($78).  I promise, you won’t even hesitate to drop this amount once you get into that dressing room, plus think about the fact that you’re practically buying 5 pants in one…or at least that’s how I rationalize it.  The Wunder Under pants/shorts/capris all feel tailor-made and fit like a GLOVE.  Made with 4-way stretch (think: perky perky butt) the pants have smooth flat seams for chafe resistance & comfort – plus make for a more flattering and thinning fit.  Best of all, I love the hidden waistband pocket to stash my credit card and apartment key in (what more does a city girl need?!)  Remember, lululemon runs small so go up a size but don’t worry, you’ll look and feel about 3x tinier in these beauties.

I wunder if I’ll ever wear jeans again…doubtful.

annnnnd….it’s BACK!

After several months of soul searching and a few too many binges at Blue Nine Burger (trust me, my thighs are repenting)… I am finally resurrecting The Fit Post back to life.  Call it a hiatus, hell…maybe even chalk it up to a quarter life crisis (?) but the important thing is that I missed YOU! (…and we all know how rarely I say those words).

So, you’re probably curious to know WHAT it was that I was doing to warrant such neglect… well, I can’t give up all of my dirty secrets but amidst the shakeups and changes of the past summer, I did take some time to be a part of something extraordinary: FILA’s Body Toning System ad campaign.

I’m not quite the Asian Giselle (I still don’t believe that’s her natural post baby body by the way…) but I think we can all agree that I don’t have confidence “issues.” With that being said, I non-narcissistically felt compelled to enter myself in FILA’s open casting call.  FILA focused on finding real women to model their innovative Body Toning System pants (available in boot cut, capri and biker short length) for their national campaign – the diversity of applicants were pretty amazing/motivating/refreshing to see.  After rounds of interviews, twirls, requests to shake my rump before the judges, including celeb guest, Jill Zarin (oh my god – I know!!!) I was selected as one of six winners.  One week later, we were dancing, posing and flexing in the phenomenal BTS pants for their NY shoot.

I’m sure I could get really scientific discussing the patented technology behind what makes these pants look and feel great – but BOTTOM line: think tightened rear, vacuum lifted inner thighs (good bye chub rub) and compressed lower abdomen.  Some girls pray to be buried in Chanel or Gucci, but give me a great pair of spandex leggings any day and I will die a happy person.  The sleek look of the capri length especially, makes the FILA BTS my new go-to for a warmer Fall/Winter pant.

…see, and you thought I was slacking all summer – consider my time off as fit post research.

(check out yours truly in October SHAPE magazine – pg. 51, online at Dick’s Sporting Goods Store, Facebook FILA Toning page…or simply admire the pic above)

This Saturday I ran a 5 mile race in Central Park in sub 20 degree weather (at the time it sounded like a good idea).  I couldn’t add enough layers of spandex to stop the wind from cutting through to my skin.   Even more ground breaking than the freezing cold was watching New Yorkers pack together (picture March of The Penguins style) before the start of the race to share warmth…wait, let me clarify – New Yorkers VOLUNTARILY exposed their VULNERABILITY and huddled up against complete STRANGERS – we were about ten seconds away from holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

Aside from the shared heat of my neighbors, I was grateful to have my neck gaiter to pull up over my face for extra warmth.  SUGOI’s MidZero Thermal Tube ($18) worked perfectly to wick the sweat away from my skin while I ran plus was light and stretchy enough to stay in place.   Considering that running brings its fair share of chafing problems (and all in the wrong places I might add), it was nice to have a soft fleece lining in the tube for extra comfort.  Some people were wearing more aggressive face masks (Ninja-esque) but I thought that having a neck gaiter was perfect for keeping warm but also not feeling too restricted or claustrophobic (there was one person wearing a SARS mask but that’s a whole other story…)

I’m at the 57th Street Nike Town more often than I am at the grocery store…what can I say – clothes (athletic clothes especially) feed me more than any Aisle Six.  Embracing a more hip downtown vibe, Nike also occupies a store at 21 Mercer Street called… 21 Mercer (don’t over exert yourself Nike Creative Team).

21 Mercer is a stand-alone Nike Sportswear store that sporadically features local artists and athletic groups on their products as part of their in store one on one design/screen printing service.  Currently, NYC Bridge Runners are spinning tunes and helping to customize t-shirts/hoodies/sweats…you name it…with whatever you want screen printed on the product.  Not to be a narcissist (and I know this month it’s all about giving to OTHERS), but I’m eyeing a dark blue hoodie to print my best half marathon times on.

New York City Bridge Runners: Bio

“We are New York City Bridge Runners. We come from various walks of life, unified by our passion for the city and pushing our athletic, social, and creative boundaries. Since a handful of runners first organized under the Bridge Runners moniker in 2004, our collective has grown incrementally. From neighborhood entrepreneurs and 9-to-5ers to creative tastemakers and internationally recognized athletes, we are connected by the bridges like the Five Boroughs themselves. The key to our movement is awareness. Awareness of the moment in which we run. Awareness of one another as we challenge ourselves physically. And awareness of that which transpired before us in the places we explore. We are New York City Bridge Runners. Come Run With Us.”

Despite Monday’s random hit of 70 degree weather (Al Gore, you may be on to something)…temperatures are starting to drop which ultimately saps motivation to run outside.  Like most things in life, my interest of course peaks when there are new clothes or gear to focus on!

Think convertible top minus the red mustang – the Saucony Ulti-Mitt ($38) uses super light material to provide extra protection over the hand from wind, rain and cold while still allowing for you to detatch part of the “mitt” and fold up under a hidden pocket by the wrist…leaving your hands free in the DryLete glove beneath.  I like this feature because it’s impossible to fumble for anything with a hand in a mitten plus the thumb and forefinger have a separate slit that folds over to expose the pad of the finger for more dexterity.  The glove…errr..mitt…also has a LED light attached for when you’re running in the dark (these days, i.e. 4pm)

I’m an avid fan of attractive athletic apparel.  Mostly, I can’t seem to get myself out of my favorite capri length running tights (I admit, I have a ridiculous stock in black and grey) and take every opportunity to wear them…whether it is on my way to go running, after running or during the weekends when I’m doing things that have nothing to do with running.  In college, it was virtually what my friends and I lived in.  For whatever reason, guys seem more inclined to change immediately following the gym, while girls like to advertise their 30 minutes on the elliptical with a little stretch fabric.  To me, my running tights make me look fit and healthy plus suck everything in like a vacuum.  It’s so much easier to throw them on and head out the door than meticulously plan out an outfit.  Don’t mistake this bond with spandex for a lack of interest in my appearance – I love getting dressed to the nines at night, but during the day, even my favorite party dress can’t compete with a pair of running tights.

lululemon, Vancouver based athletic apparel company, recognizes this niche market and combines high performance material with attractive product design to create a commited brand following.  Originally targeting yogis, the company has expanded to consider cyclists, dancers runners and other athletes.  Their stores offer various free yoga/pilates/spin/running classes (check their websites) including summer yoga in Bryant Park (see picture).  The incredibly perky sales staff (sometimes a little too hyper) are always helpful in finding sizes or explaining the various styles. Men rave about their WDW Boxer Briefs ($24) while I’m in love with their Wunder Under Reversible Pants ($88).  The free alterations (semi) help take the sting out of their steep prices.

Whether you’re a spandex groupie, or just someone who likes to look pulled together post gym, after you wear your first piece from lululemon you’re likely to be joining the cult…I mean culture.

Paragon Sports is a great place to find anything and everything…as long as you know exactly what you want and have the luxury of time.  The lines and crowds (especially from September – January) are absurd coupled with the fact that trying to find a staff member to help is worse than a blindfolded Where’s Waldo search.   The frustration of clawing through a mini Times Square just to pick up a new pair of yoga pants or couple pairs of running socks is not worth it.  This is why, my favorite one stop shop for athletic gear is JackRabbit in Union Square (they have two other locations, one on the UES and the other in Brooklyn).

Founded in 2003, the small boutique style store focuses on providing superior performance wear and products with outstanding customer service.  Their staff is knowledgeable and committed to educating customers.  JackRabbit concentrates on supplying running and triathlon gear but they also have things for yoga and general fitness use.   Don’t let its small storefront trick you, the Union Square location is packed with everything including gels, electrolyte powder, fuel belts, glide sticks, watches and athletic apparel.  Not sure which sneakers to get? JackRabbit’s high-speed video camera will record your gait while you run on one of their treadmills.  After a thorough analysis of your stride, a staff member will help find the perfect shoe to meet your athletic needs – in this case, one size does not fit all.