Products
I never put much thought into wearing a fitness tracker. I had a basic FitBit briefly but it didn’t engage me enough to keep wearing it and I hated the color so I rarely actually put it on. I figured I was active enough and counting steps wasn’t really on priority list. Then I got the Garmin Vivofit {which I received through my partnership with Verizon Wireless & FitFluential – I don’t have to blog about it but I want to because it’s cool}.
I strapped it on and prepared to watch the steps start counting up, up, and up…
Only they didn’t. I’d have mornings and moments filled with lots of fun, activity, and steps, then I would barely cross over to my goal by the end of the day. Other days the number of steps I ended with was just abyssmal. It was a bit of a wakeup call – I know how bad sitting and not being active is, yet here I was pretty much being a lazy bum in denial. While I’m not perfect about it, sitting the actual number of steps I’ve taken at any given moment is definite motivation to get up and moving.
So about the Garmin Vivofit specifcally: here’s my basic list of Pros & Cons to make it easy for you to skim through. {Here’s the vivofit I have.}
Pros
No need to charge battery – it’s a watch battery that’s predicted to last about a year. This means you never have to take the tracker off, stop tracking activity to charge it, or remember to put it back on, and no charger to keep track of. This is a huge plus in my book.
Shows when you’ve been sitting too long – A red bar bar appears above your step count if you’ve been still for too long. For each 15 minutes you remain still, a shorter bar is added. Walking around for a minute doesn’t make it automatically disappear either – it takes a bit of movement. {I desperately want to make this a con because it drives me crazy, but it’s the entire point of wearing one – to move more.} I believe the Vivofit 2 beeps to alert you when the red bar appears.
Multiple displays – with the push of a button you can choose to show # of steps taken, # of steps left to reach your goal, miles traveled, calories burned, time, or date.
Color selection – I have basic black but I love the bright blue and purple. {There’s also others.}
Easy set up – you literally put it on and it works.{It comes with two sizes of wrist straps that you can interchange.} Besides that you can just download the Garmin Connect app and sync it wirelessly through Bluetooth, or it comes with a piece to plug into your computer to do the same.
Can automatically set & adjust your goal based on behavior. – I might not have known where to start otherwise.
Can get wet – can leave it on in the shower and swimming.
Can’t “force” it to take steps – I can’t shake my arm off like T swizzle and make it think I took a bunch of steps.
Cons
A little bulky – It’s a little bit on the big side for my preference, but I’m not sure there’s a smaller one out there that also has a display. {?} I find wearing it with the display side on my inner wrist {technically upside down} is more comfortable, especially when sleeping. This means I have to choose to look at it, meaning I might not notice that evil red bar telling me I’m being lazy.
Poor sleep tracking – the sleep tracker only records how much you move while sleeping, and if you set your normal wake/sleep times it defaults to them no matter when you push the sleep button. While the amount of movement tends to correlate with my quality of sleep {i.e. lots of movement when the toddler takes over my bed}, it’s not always a perfect indicator and it doesn’t give me any information on how to improve this.
App leaves much to be desired – after the first few days of looking at things, I pretty much ignore the app. It’s nice to go back and look at the bigger picture, but besides that it doesn’t do much for me personally.
No backlight – not really a big deal but it’d be nice to be able to see the numbers when I’m going to bed or setting it to the sleep option {when I’m in bed and it’s dark} instead of just guessing.
Doesn’t always seem to predict movement/non-movement right – maybe it’s just smarter than me, but sometimes when I’ve been crazy active it still gets a red bar and when I’ve been lying around it doesn’t. Hmm.
So that’s it all broken down, but I haven’t taken it off since the minute I put it on, if that tells you anything. 
Get it here –>> Garmin Vivofit Fitness Band, $89 **Currently 10% off at Verizon!**
Do you wear a fitness tracker? What kind and do you like it?
Workout Gear
Well guys, my time with adidas is coming to end this month. Sad for me because I’ve loved working with this brand and team. Good for you if you’re tired of hearing about it {but I hope you’re not}.
With the holidays around the corner I figured there was no better way to wrap this series up with a holiday gift guide of my absolute favorite pieces of fitness gear that I’ve come to love from adidas.
So without further adieu, here’s a sneak peak. You can read all about the pieces on adidas women’s training site.
1. Climawarm+ tights. 2. TechFit Climawarm Funnel Pullover. 3 .Springblades. 4. Shimmy Headbands. 5. Supernova Racer Bra.
Thank you adidas women’s training for the opportunity to work with you and learn all about this amazing brand!
adidas Women designs innovative performance products to help women commit to their best self and conquer their fitness goals. We inspire women to look and feel their best – be pretty, be tough & be confident.
Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas.
Review
**UPDATE: The winner is Kortney, comment #15. Send me an email!**
If you haven’t caught on by now, I pretty much live in workout clothes. I shouldn’t admit this, but it’s not only when I don’t have time to change after the gym. Sometimes I put them on first thing in the morning {or half way through the day} with no intention of any kind of workout. I’m at the point, and have been for an embarrassingly long time, that putting on jeans is officially “dressing up”.
This tells you two things. Ok more than two, but two that matter in this post:
a) I love getting new workout clothes
b) I’m a pretty experienced critic
Factor number one was taken care of when Albion Fit sent me some new workout clothing to try out. Point number two was up to me, and judge them I did, both from a workout standpoint and a just-wearing-around-today view.
Here’s what I tried out and what I thought:
1. Go Long Crew with Thumbholes.
Don’t tell me you don’t love thumbholes. You know you do. As do I. This shirt is super soft and light. It’s the perfect wear-to-the-gym-but-take-off-before-you-start-to-sweat-shirt. It’s also “normal” enough looking that it’s not a dead giveaway that I’m wearing workout clothes. Much like the racks at Target, my closet is currently full of bright, obnoxious colors, so I’m really loving this more subdued, subtle tone.
2. Optimum Capris
I’m addicted to workout leggings, especially capri form. They’re good whether it’s warm or cold, and they don’t make your ankles look weird with big sneakers the way long leggings do. My drawers are stuffed with dark bottoms, so this light gray shade is a nice change. I love the white waistband and the little hidden feminine pattern at the bottom. My biggest pet peeve with form-fitting pants is seams digging into all the wrong places, which these pants don’t do.
{Excuse my I-haven’t-showered-brushed-my-hair-or-glanced-in-a-mirror bedraggled look- it’s kind of my go-to look these days.}
3. Gown Suit
Surprise! Albion Fit makes women’s fitness AND swimwear. I love that it’s not skimpy and revealing. Kind of a throw back to the 40s. Pools don’t open here for another 2 weeks, so I’ve yet to give this the tried-and-true test run, but it’s nice to have an option besides a string bikini in my arsenal. {Although this momma is not ‘fraid of the 2 piece.}
I’m actually really loving this new arrival, perhaps because I’m a sucker for black & white stripes.
And does this hoodie not look insanely cozy?
Now that I’ve yammered on about clothing I have and you don’t, don’t you want to know what’s in it for you? Of course you do… it’s your very own go long crew shirt with thumbholes, any color.
Here’s the dealio:
1. “Like” AlbionFit on Facebook.
2. Pin something you like from their collection on Pinterest.
3. Leave a comment letting me know you did, included the link to your pin.
4. Have a party.
Open to US/CA residents only. Giveaway ends 10/13 at midnight-ish.
Not one to chance your luck with a giveaway? Use coupon code sideofsneakers15 to get $15 of a $50 purchase.
Happy virtual shopping. 
Review
Last week I posted this picture on Instagram, with the following caption:
“Guys, I tried to hate it, I really did. But I don’t. Actually, I love it. Like lots.”
So what is it? And why did I want to hate it?
And mostly…why do I love it?
***Edit: This company is no longer in business. wahhhh.***
What It Is
It’s Ellie, the new fashion-focused, super comfortable line of workout gear for women.
Why I Wanted to Hate It
Ellie is the reincarnation of pv.body, the company that hand-picked luxury workout gear and made it magically appear on your doorstep every month. {Read why I wasn’t a fan of pv.body.} To say the company had some hiccups is an understatement. There were issues with returns, customer service, and the biggest of all: the mysterious switch from popular brands of workout gear to their own brand new clothing line. I felt it was sketchy, to say the least.
Why I Tried It
After having some issues with promotion codes not working and receiving the same outfit twice, I’d almost given up on customer service helping me out. Then I found Hope, who was more than helpful and extremely apologetic. She sent a replacement outfit, and without me asking, also sent me a sample from Ellie’s first collection of fitness clothing.
Why I Love It
So here’s the deal. I wanted to hate it. I wanted to hate the company. But when I tore open that signature shiny pink package, the clothes looked cute; they looked comfy; they felt divine. I had to put them on. They were calling to me: weaaaarrrrr meeeeeeeee!
Guys. SO comfortable. Like more comfortable than the Lulu that everyone obsesses over. And cute. AND fit. Perfectly.
I wore my outfit 3 days in a row. {Seriously, ask anyone that saw me at the gym or picking the little man up from school. Not ashamed.} It was in the name of testing it out, I promise. 
What I Got
The Bottoms
I got the New Obsession Leggings. They’re dark grey, full-length leggings. Seamless. Waistband-less. Yeah, that’s a thing and I love it- no, they don’t fall down and they don’t pinch either. These leggings are skin-hugging without being too tight, especially behind the knees {a weird pet peeve of mine}. The subtle two-tone pattern makes your legs look badass too- like you have awesome calves & quads.
The Top
Catch Me If You Can Longsleeve top. Charcoal gray with black accents. Luxuriously soft. Lose, but form-fitting. Water & wind resistant. Thumb holes. Roll over hand covers. Enough said. Did I mention soft? I wish they made baby clothes this soft.
Meet Ellie
So what’s the deal?
There are 2 ways to get Ellie.
1. Buy it. See a piece you like? Purchase it or anything else. No other details or requirements. Just normal shopping.
2. Be a Fit Fashionista. Join the Ellie club and go the subscription-based route. You pay $49.95 for any 2 Ellie pieces- 2 tops, 2 bottoms, or 1 of each. It’s a subscription, but you can pause or skip any month, any time. Plus you get free shipping, free exchanges, and first-serve access {pieces are limited time only}.
That’s about $25 per piece. Considering the prices of the items, I’d say that’s a good deal. {Feb: $34.95-$69.95; March: $34.95-$64.95}. Plus, right now you can get 20% off, which makes it less than $20 per item.
Each month, a new collection of 24 pieces debut. Right now you can shop from the February collection {the one my pieces were from} or from the just-released March lineup, the “Little Black Collection”.
So while the company got off to a rocky start and I’m still a little unsure about the whole “let’s switch to our own brand thing”, so far I think it’s a good thing. I MUCH prefer the Ellie clothes to the other items I got. We’ll see, right?!
Have you tried Ellie yet? I’ve seen some awesome pictures on Instagram- I love the electric blue capris and the loose white tank. Would you try Ellie after the whole pv.body debacle?
Psst… I’m revealing my secret life as a human tissue on tiny sneakers today. Head over and tell me your best natural cold remedy secret!
Review
What if we lived in a world where goodies could magically appear on your doorstep every month?
Oh wait.
We do.
I’m pretty sure the trend started with beauty products {something I know nothing about} and the concept has since exploded into everything imaginable. It’s like a hip version of the fruit of the month club {although I certainly wouldn’t turn down fruit on my doorstep every month either.}
Of course I’m a fan of the food and health product based boxes, but this one might be my favorite so far. Workout clothes. In a box. On my doorstep.
No shopping around, no going to the store, no cheap-o gear. I’m a Target girl through and through. My workout drawer{s} consist of almost entirely Champion C9 gear. I have 2 Lulu pieces I adore, a pile of race shirts, and that’s about it.
Plus it came in a pretty package.
PV.Body sends you a workout outfit every month: one top, one bottom. Brands they work with include Lululemon, American Apparel, Lux, and more. The outfits retail for up to $150, yet the monthly subscription cost is only $49.95. Ok, “only” is a stretch- that’s still a chunk of change when you can get a couple pieces for that amount at your local super store, but it’s not apples to apples.
I was a little disappointed when I first opened my shiny pink package. The pieces I received were from Electric Yoga, a company I’d never heard of, and I’m not a yoga fan. I’d seen Instagram pics of people receiving Lulu and American Apparel, so that’s kind of what I was expecting. But then I tried them on and was admittedly swayed by the quality and fit of both pieces. I received the Compression Capris in black and the Seamless Racer Back Tank in a bright turquoise blue. {The tank is $68; not sure about the pants since they’re out of stock online.} Plus, the tank has it’s own QR code, which is pretty cool.
I LOVE the tank- it’s stretchy and soft and supportive all at the same time. It fits tightly, yet still breathes. The pants are pretty cool, but I probably wouldn’t have pined over them in the store. They’re really thick and suck you in all the right places- exactly like compression gear is supposed to do- and have a cute fold-over waist. I love that they’re black since I tend to wear workout pants over and over again. 
I would probably be more inclined to love these if it were warmer out- right now I’m just itching for a pair of long pants and long sleeves to bundle up in. {Can’t you see me shivering in the awkward self portrait below? And you’d think I’d be used to those after 36 weeks worth of doing them…}
Speaking of that… you’re not just sent a random box of clothes. You take a style quiz online before placing your order. You can change it any time you want {you can also pause or cancel your subscription any time} and returns & exchanges are free and easy. For whatever reason, the quiz I took asked many of my preferences, but didn’t ask what style pants/tops I like. I looked at the quiz online and I could easily select long pants in the winter and shorts in the summer. Good to know!
I think it’s a pretty cool concept, especially for someone who is usually hesitant to fork over a lot of money for one piece of gym wear. But considering I wear workout gear 93.7% of the time, you’d think I could stand to wear something a little nicer once in awhile.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy: pvBody is easy. Take the quiz, sign up and boom, an awesome package arrives at your door each month with a hand picked outfit for you!
Every outfit is styled just for you by a pvBody expert. Each month you receive an outfit worth $150, but you pay just $49.95. You’re getting great, quality pieces for a fraction of the retail cost thanks to the relationships pvBody has built.
pvBody is not just another clothing company, but a lifestyle brand. Their blog is a great place to check out tips and tricks for healthy, delicious meals and at home workouts.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of pv.body. The opinions and text are all mine. <—except for the gibberishy paragraphs above
The good news for you? –> Signing up for pvBody with this link gets you a $15 Lululemon gift card, plus 25% off your first month subscription.
What type of “box” would you go for? Food? Fitness gear? Beauty products? Books? Video games? Baby stuff?
