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We know that fitness apparel and athleisure are “the thing” right now right? Our FB and IG feeds are filled with fitness and health and frankly, yoga pants are a lot more comfy than jeans! Yes, our society has absolutely gotten more casual, and I’m hopeful that fitness WEAR being trendy and more acceptable translates into real-life FITNESS for most of us. Since I LIVE in activewear - taking classes, teaching classes, working out at home - I’ve tried a ton of different brands and definitely have my favorites! It may or may not be true that the “fitness” section of my closet is significantly bigger than the “normal clothes” section of my closet. I’ll never tell 😏 Here are some leggings that I’m loving right now after putting them all to the {sweaty} test… 1. LululemonYep, it’s a cult favorite for a reason. Yep, they’re expensive for a reason. The leggings hold up over the test of time. Lululemon High Rise leggings are the bomb.com -- tight with the perfect amount of stretch. Frankly, I wore lulu FORever...until everybody else did too. As much as I LOVE their leggings, I dislike wearing the same stuff everyone else is wearing. So I stayed away for awhile and have recently found myself loving their new stuff. So I’m back...until everyone else is too 😂 It’s GOOD to branch out and explore new brands...but Lululemon will always be one of my faves for their durability, their flattering cut, and their high rise options. Also, as a fitness instructor, one of my non-negotiables is leggings that STAY THE HECK UP while I’m teaching. Lululemon leggings stay UP - if you get the high rise. And remember, if you don’t love high rise like I do, the wider waistband allows the option to roll them down!  2. Lorna JaneI stumbled on this Australian brand a couple of years ago and fell in love with their leggings. High waistband, a little thicker than other leggings, fun mesh inserts...this brand rocks my world!! I have a gazillion pairs of LJ leggings and they too wash and wear beautifully. While the leggings are amazing, the company will tell you they are known for their bras. So, if you’re looking for new sports bras, this could be a new source for you. What makes me love this company even more? Check out the company mission statement from founder, Lorna Jane Clarkson: “At Lorna Jane, we design High-Performance Women’s Fashion designed for an Active life. Fusing together Fashion and Functionality, our Activewear Collection is designed to move with you, no matter what you are doing. Lorna Jane Sports Bras provide Maximum Support with Comfort and Breathability. Lorna Jane Tights are designed in different Styles and Fabric, which is why a pair of Tights is Sold every 60 seconds. Our LJ ExcelTM Fabric has been developed for Twenty-Eight years, it has more Active Properties than any other Fabric and is our Exclusive High Performance Fabric. "We don’t just sell Activewear, we sell an Active way of Life."- LORNA JANE CLARKSON - FOUNDER OF ACTIVEWEAR & CREATOR OF ACTIVE LIVING  3. Alo This is a more recent discovery for me. Although I have owned their ridiculously amazing Moto leggings FORever, I just started digging into the rest of their brand in 2017. So many fabulous options!! These leggings are a little softer than other brands. The waistband is high but they are meant for more yoga and pilates-type classes and as a lifestyle brand, so be prepared for less of a “hold you in” feel with this brand. I love Alo leggings for taking Pure Barre, SolidCore and SLT classes, doing yoga and Pilates at home, and wearing in everyday life. I would not wear most of their leggings to teach in or do HIIT workouts in because I like a tighter hold / feel and I do NOT want to pull up my leggings during an intense workout. As you can see from part of their mission statement, they are meant to go from studio to street, which is super cool and functional. WE ARE ALO “We make the most technologically advanced yoga clothing in the world. Because clothing is the fuel for our movement to inspire more people to do more yoga. Inspiring mindful movement is at the core of why we do what we do at Alo—it’s our calling. This is the real meaning of studio-to-street: Taking the consciousness from practice on the mat, and putting it into the practice of life.”  So bottom line 😏😏😏...there are as many leggings options out there as there re workouts and personal preferences. Be willing to invest in leggings that will hold up and make you FEEL like a million bucks. Guaranteed when you FEEL good in your fitness wear, your workout will be even better!!
FYI:: I have never received any products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own from personal use. I receive NO compensation for my thoughts.
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January is a month of new goals and getting back on schedule and just like anyone else, I love the extra motivation of a brand new year stretching out in front of me. Most of us have some kind of health and fitness goal on our resolution list. Whether you are completing your first week of the AMAZING new abs & booty program, 80 Day Obsession, or rocking some serious 2018 resolutions, at this point in January, if you are leveling up your fitness and health, you’re probably feeling it. Sore muscles can make their presence known straightaway after a workout. They can also appear a few days later (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). Either way, sore muscles ARE a good thing, even if they don’t feel like it at the time. That soreness means we are challenging ourselves in new ways. Challenge = change. There are some ways we can ease the soreness to stay on track with our goals. Let’s dig in!! 1. Tart Cherry JuiceNow don’t let all the scientific jargon throw you. This blurb from the Beachbody Blog by Dr. Nima Alamdari, is fantastic and nails the connection between tart cherry juice and decreased muscle soreness. “Certain phytonutrients like curcumin, quercetin, EGCG, ellagitannins, and anthocyanins have well-documented anti-inflammatory activities, and their role is now being investigated in humans in the recovery of exercise-induced inflammation and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Of these promising ingredients, studies have reported that spice-derived curcumin (found in turmeric) may reduce the extent of muscle damage and DOMS following intense exercise. Quercetin (found in foods such as apples, onions, and blueberries), much like curcumin, has relatively powerful anti-inflammatory activity given its ability to inhibit the activation of the proinflammatory “master controller” NF-kB. Ellagitannins and anthocyanins (similar large phytochemicals found in pomegranates and tart cherries) have also shown great promise. For example, an ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract was shown to improve markers of muscle damage and strength recovery after intense eccentric exercise. Similar results of improvement has been reported by multiple researchers with the use of anthocyanin-rich tart cherry juice.”  2. Yoga and Foam RollingA couple of my favorite ways to decrease muscle soreness also happen to be two of the easiest. Grab a foam roller and get to work. Yep, you want to roll to that point of UNCOMFORTABLE (not pain!) and just dig in to those pain points. Loosen up the joints, get the synovial fluid going, and hydrate during / after like a boss. Yoga is also a beautiful way to stretch everything out and add flexibility into your life. My favorite yoga lives on Beachbody on Demand. I love the varied time lengths, varied instructors, varied levels of difficulty and most of all, I love that it can happen in the privacy of my basement!! That means I can hold a stretch longer if I need to just by pressing pause. Bottom line is :: MOVE your body when you’re sore. Sitting around and thinking about sore muscles is a guarantee for more soreness and NO results. So just move. Yoga, foam rolling, even walking...anything to move the body will help relieve soreness.  3. Epsom Salt BathNow what about a way to reduce muscle soreness AND relax at the same time? The Epsom Salt Bath is a long time tried and true method for decreasing muscle soreness. Soaking in warm water can help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints. Choose some lavender scented salts and soak right before bed. You’ll relieve sore muscles and get a better night’s sleep. That’s a winning combination yes?  Want more info on decreasing muscle soreness?
Check out this great article from the Beachbody Blog: https://www.beachbodyondemand.com/blog/recovery-done-right-8-ways-prevent-muscle-soreness  1. We CAN stay on track with a nutrition plan while traveling.
2. We do NOT have to eat #allthefood even when it’s served to us. 3. Yes we have to do some research to find healthy options. 4. YES YES YES it’s worth it. 👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻Having ALL the guesswork taken out of my nutrition is one of the reasons why I love the 80 Day Obsession program. 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻 I know WHAT to eat. I know WHEN to eat it. Guesswork gone. Results in progress. . . Who is ready to get obsessed {{and GET RESULTS}} ?? Give me a 🙋♀️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Looking for a quick sweet treat to keep on hand and have for busy days and travel?? This. Is. It. One of my personal favs, something I have in my fridge 100% of the time. Satisfies my sweet tooth, keeps me on track, easy to make, healthy and delicious. Shakeology Cups for the win! Almond Butter Shakeology CupsAlmond butter and chocolate combine in these delicious Shakeology Cups for a new take on this classic candy. Prep Time 35 minutes Cook Time 1 minute Total Time 36 minutes Ingredients
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Julie VorisMarried to a college football coach, 3 daughters, Beachbody Master Trainer and Coach, Disney fanatic, aspire to inspire, serve others, and be a force of passion. Meet Julie! Categories
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