marathon chronicles 04. fabletics.

with my increasing mileage, i have to take into consideration what i'm wearing. i used to be able to get away with a bathing suit top, any tank top/athletic short, and whatever socks i could find for short walks or jogs. now that i'm actually running, i need supportive sports bras, moisture-wicking clothing, and thicker socks for my current shoes.

i am usually dripping with sweat after my 5-mile night runs...i can't imagine what i'll look like after 10+ miles in the sun. one of my fears is having unsightly sweat stains, because after 26 marathon miles, you can bet i will be sweating evvvrywhere!

i was excited to try a few items from Fabletics. in general, their items run big, so check the size charts and read the reviews for recommendations to size down. i wasn't able to wear the Ayni Sports Bra because it was way too big, but i initially chose it for it's cute racerback style and bright yellow color.

the Oula Tank in XS fit perfectly. i prefer my tops to be loose-fitting, and this one had a nice stretch that was fitted but not tight. the material isn't what i'd normally expect for an exercise top. this one was similar to that of a seamless camisole - very static-y, clingy, and just felt "warm". while i prefer more of a silky material, i wore this for a 3-mile walk on a hot day and it was definitely comfortable. i will see how it handles sweat on my next run. the Oula Tank is on the longer side.

the Suva Run Short is my absolute favorite so far. it's comfortable, extremely lightweight, and handles sweat well. i could have sized down for a better fit, but by folding the waist over once, it is wearable...and i wear them as often as they are clean! one issue i had with them is that the inseam was a little long, and it would sometimes irritate my legs when i ran. Fabletics recently introduced their Suva Run Short II which has a shorter inseam and spandex added to the material blend for a little stretch. i look forward to trying them.

quinoa salad + strawberry shake. 

almond milk soy latte + curry wrap. 

mini-she and i ended up having some time to kill, so we walked to get a bite to eat and then kept on walking for three miles! it was the first time my new balance 890v4s got off the treadmill and hit the pavement.

interested in trying Fabletics? join here.

do you have a go-to brand for your workout clothes?

have you tried Fabletics? if so, what's your favorite item?

marathon chronicles 03. juicing update.

it's been almost two months since i started juicing, so i thought this would be a good time to check in and see if the benefits outweigh the cost and time spent.

my main intent was to supplement mini-she's teen diet. although she has a well balanced dinner, she rarely eats (a good) breakfast, and who knows what she has for lunch at school. for myself, i wanted an overall healthy diet to go along with my training and increased physical activity.

i, personally, have no problem eating my fruits and veggies. in fact, i prefer to eat them. a huge bowl of salad is always on the dinner table, and fruits are always on hand at home. but truth is, with my typical weekday, generally eating only three meals a day, it can be difficult to get those 3-5 servings of veggies and 2-4 servings of fruit in. maybe not the veggies, but definitely the fruits.

that's where juicing works for me.

what i bought in february:

2x carrots 10lb, $7.49

3x gala apples, $8.79/$8.49/$9.99

3x organic power greens (baby kale, chard, spinach), $4.99

cucumbers, $4.49

strawberries $7.79

3x oranges, $9.79

lemons, $5.99

celery, $3.79

pears, $6.29

ginger $2.00

cost:

month total: $124.45

daily: $4.44

per person: $2.22

time:

juicing (prepping/juicing/cleaning) in the mornings added 20-30 minutes to my daily routine, depending on whether i prepped the night before. 

tip: juice more veggies than fruits. juicing can be high in sugar, so use veggies as your base, then add a little fruit to sweeten. as a beginner, we added lots of fruits to mask the taste of the veggies. i slowly decreased the amount of fruit and actually began to appreciate the "taste" of the veggies.

tip: buy organic whenever possible, otherwise scrub/wash well.

tip: regular kale can taste bitter and smells horrible in my opinion. this green mix is a lot easier to drink...

great for beginners!

tip: drink your juice with a straw.

goes down easier without the smell.

tip: continue to eat your fruits and veggies for fiber.

in fact, have a piece of fruit with your morning juice!

favorite 'green' juice:

4-5 handfuls green mix

2 celery stalks

2-inch cucumber

1 apple (or pear or orange)

1/2 lemon

favorite 'orange' juice:

4-5 carrots

1 apple

1/2 orange (or 3-4 strawberries)

1/4 lemon

small piece ginger

*makes about 15 oz

i use the breville juice fountain plus.

below are some of the popular juicers:

top centrifugal juicers:

top masticating juicers:

(better if you juice more leafy greens)

my thoughts?

although i don't see any physical differences after a month of juicing, i feel better knowing that i'm getting my daily servings of fruits and vegetables. i have my juice in the morning on an empty stomach and do feel "clean" and energized...it certainly makes me think twice about what i put in my body the rest of the day. i believe the cost per drink is reasonable considering you'd pay $5-$7 at a juice bar. eventually, i'd like to incorporate other veggies, but i stuck to what was conveniently available (in bulk) at my local costco. 

overall, i would not survive on a liquid diet. i love food too much. however, daily juicing as a complement to my meals (as opposed to a replacement) works for me. i can't afford the extra 30 minutes in the morning, so i'll have to make an effort to do more prep work the night before. i will continue to juice at this point and will make another assessment in a few more months.

if you juice, what's your favorite recipe?

if you don't juice, would you consider it?