A chick’s best workout partner: the sports bra

Patterned, plain, strappy, basic, padded, seamless or not, sports bras are a girl’s best friend when it comes to working out! Either you’re proudly rocking an A cup or struggling to keep your double D’s in place while pumping that iron, your most loyal support(er) will be right there, working hard with you. This is a pretty important job so a lot of thought usually goes into picking the best one!

The hunt for the perfect bra
There are many things to consider when you go on a hunt for the sports bra that perfectly matches your needs. It has to be comfortable and well fitted, fashionable, good quality material, pretty and durable and within your budget range. All in all it has to fulfill lots of criteria to end up being the ‘lucky one’ you pick. And I know I’m picky – but hey, you don’t have to limit your options to just one!

After some girl talk with the Fitgirlcode chicks, I ended up with some very useful feedback on their fave sports bra that will knock out some of the myths, but also help you chose which type is the perfect one for you!

1.  A couple of the fit girls have bought and tested HEMA sports bras and they have news for you. They are great! If you’re not planning on splurging this month’s budget on a bra, this is a great choice for you. They fit perfectly and last well over time! And I really like this pastel turquoise one:

hema top

 

2. Speaking of affordable and fashionable, we’ve also tried out some really cute looking ones from H&M, and let me tell you something, they don’t just look nice and are wallet friendly! These babies will support you when you need it most & you’ll look fabulous while you’re at it. Check out some of my faves!

 

HM bh

 

 

 

A chick’s best workout partner: the sports bra

 

3. A personal favourite that provides me with good support but also a good ‘push’ is the next one from Hunkemöller. It’s within a medium price range and it’s so PINK! When mother nature hasn’t endowed you with big boobs you have to work with what you’ve got as well as focus on other hum…assets.

Hunkermoller-HKMX-sportcollectie-2014-sport-bh

 

4.  Let’s talk hot shots! We all know a good sports brand when we see one & these are some of my fave pieces from Adidas! I’ve discovered them while online shopping for shoes and they are in the top 10 of my wish list!

 

adidas tops

5. Last but not least, the unanimous favourite and ‘must have’ of sports bras, the ultimate work out partner to keep everything in place, the one, the only – Nike ♥ We love them because of quality, comfort and sharp looks. Here are some of my picks for the summer:

 

nike tops

 

What qualities are you looking for in a sports bra? Let us know your favourite picks and why you love them! 

Cellulite and how to deal with it

It’s almost sunny bikini season and I’m far from ready for it! My legs haven’t seen the sun in what feels like ages and in my head I somehow think I can just jump in a bikini and hit the beach! I mean, it’s not like I indulged in cheat meals over Easter or anything… 

So a couple of days ago I tried on one of those white bikinis from the new Giselle Bündchen H&M collection and, at a closer look in the mirror, there it was, my worst enemy, my greatest fear, the destroyer of confidence – Cellulite – *GASP*!!! 

Immediate action must be taken, so I went home and did my research, which turned out to be very fruitful and useful in dealing with that pesky thing that’s just so hard to get rid off! Needless to say there were dozens of myths and misconceptions to weed out but also a ton of information that turned out to be quite useful! I’m going to share all my newly acquired knowledge and experience with you!

What I really want to make clear: NO SHAME – all women can get it. No matter if you’re skinny or struttin’ some curves, this evil enemy can still get under your skin (pun intended). There are several reasons why this can happen, among which poor nutrition, fad dieting, slow metabolism, hormone changes, lack of physical activity and even dehydration (note to self: drink more water).

First things first: What is cellulite?

Cellulite is a persistent type of fat, that gathers under your skin, especially in the areas of the hips and thighs, and causes a dimpled, lumpy appearance. This can vary from an ‘orange peel’ look all the way to ‘cottage cheese’. Most of us have it and we all hate it, which is why you’re not going to like the next bit.

It’s hereditary! Why thank you, dear genes! This means that certain genes like gender, race, slow metabolism or circulatory insufficiency can predispose you to developing unwanted adipose tissue. Moreover, hormones apparently have a say in this too, especially insulin, noradrenaline (enables the body to perform well in stressful situations), and thyroid hormones. You can prevent it though – Just stay away from refined and processed foods, SUGAR, dairy and all kinds of fatty products.

Cellulite and how to deal with it

 Good news is you CAN get rid of it, BUT it takes time and perseverance…

 

  • Most importantly – EXERCISE – Make sure you get a lot of blood flow into those areas! It will make you feel good and look good. Cellulite can also be caused by muscular atrophy, a condition that occurs when a layer of muscle becomes weak, undefined and separates from the skin, which is why exercise is so important! Oh! Spice up your life (and food), that helps burn calories & increase blood flow!
  • Scrub Up – massaging your thighs using scrub can stimulate micro circulation, will make your skin look smoother and you’ll benefit from a bonus arm workout in the shower. Make sure you use circular movements, from bottom to top, guiding the blood flow towards your heart. One of my favorites is the Blueberry Body Scrub Jelly from Bodyshop. You can even make your own by mixing 1tbsp of used ground coffee, 1tbsp of coconut oil, 1tbsp of brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon.
  • You can also use one of these handy massagers to do the job ( you don’t wanna scrub off all your skin layers ). Use this baby to massage your target areas every time you hit the shower – yeah it won’t work overnight!
  • Creams DO help! They rehydrate your skin and help it gain more elasticity after working out. Look for one that also contains caffeine or Gingko Biloba – a substance that oxidises fat cells and strengthens your veins to improve blood circulation! It also increases your ability to remember things! Not bad, huh?!

Well, now you know what to do, go on, get one step closer to your perfect thighs! What are your super secret tips on dealing with this confidence crusher ?

Win a Fitgirlcode bag!

WE’RE GIVING AWAY MORE FREE FITGIRL GOODIES! You can win this awesome bag and be an even bigger bad ass at the gym. What do you have to do to enter the contest? It’s real easy!  

Win a Fitgirlcode bag!

We’ve been planning it for a while and we are super psyched that we can finally give away some awesome goodies! We ♥ these bags and you were all super psyched about them too! So we want you to have them…but not just like that. What do you have to do?

WIN ON FACEBOOK

Go to our Facebook page (be sure to like our page) and tell us why you are a fit girl, or better yet: SHOW US! We’d love to hear all your awesome stories. We’re giving away 6 bags on Facebook and will be selecting the winners next weekend so be sure to stay tuned! And the great news is…You can also enter the contest on Instagram, so keep on reading! Be sure to use #Fitgirlgoodies.

WIN ON INSTAGRAM

So if you want to double your chances, go to our Instagram account and be sure to also follow us there. We are going to give 6 Fitgirlcode bags on Instagram too! What do you have to do?

1. Follow Fitgirlcode on Instagram
2. Repost this picture
3. Mention @fitgirlcode
4. Tag #Fitgirlgoodies

What are you waiting for!!! Go and enter our contest…NOW!

RULES & REGULATIONS CAN BE READ HERE.

Turn in your old clothes for discount

“Don’t let fashion become garbage”. That’s the slogan of H&M Conscious. Every year, thousands of kilos of textile end up in the garbage, while at least 95% can be re-used. H&M wants to decrease the impact the fashion industry has on the environment and therefore launched an initiative to collect old clothes with the goal of using them for a new purpose.

Turn in your old clothes for discount

You can hand in any of your old clothing and give them a second life – even if it’s ripped, torn, or just extremely 2006 ;). It does not have to be H&M clothing, but it can be of any brand. Everything will be sorted and used for either of these four purposes:

  • Second-hand sales. Those lovely jeans that you don’t fit in anymore (either because you’ve gained muscle or you’ve shrunken a size) can be worn and loved by someone else!
  • Recycling. Your favorite but worn-out top will live a second life as textile fiber or could be used to produce other products like isolating material for the car industry.
  • Re-using. Sometimes your not-so-fashionable-anymore babies can be processed into other products, like cleaning cloths.
  • Producing energy. If all of the above are not an option for the batch you’ve turned in, it will be used to produce energy with.

Discount

So what’s in this for you except for the karma points? You get a discount of 15% on your next purchase for every full bag of clothes you turn in. At the moment, every H&M store in the Netherlands is participating, and more and more stores abroad are joining since the fall of 2013.

Personally, I love this initiative and I’m going there today to turn in a big full bag of old clothes. More space in my closet, giving them a new life ánd getting a discount on that sport top I’ve been wanting for a while! 

For more information, check out:
hm.com/longlivefashion
hm.charitystar.com
ico-spirit.com

Roos’ Fit Journey

Hi girls! Today I give you an update on my fit journey. Because I have made quite a turnaround! The most important change? I am 100% done with doing exercises to achieve a certain look. You know, like doing this exercise for your bottom and that for your shoulders. Now, I only do functional training in the form of CrossFit. It’s been such a refreshing change! Today, I share (on your request via my Instagram) my experience. How did I do  this and why?

SIX PACK MISSION

In April I wrote an article about my mission to get a six pack. Getting a six pack is not so complicated: you just need to grow muscle mass in your abdomen, while not overeating. For a long time. A very long time, haha! It was not possible to me to grow a ‘real six pack’, for two reasons. First, I am not vain enough, I think. And secondly, I like really like good food and drinks. In short, I didn’t feel like it was a priority to give any of this up.

After this six-pack mission, I felt I was in limbo. I didn’t feel like working up a sweat four times a week just for looks. In short, the motivation to really bust a move at the gym was hard to find.

SOMETHING NEW: CROSSFIT

Luckily there was my dear friend, Fit Girl Anna, who dragged me to Sixforty Crossfit Wildhearts. A gym where there are no mirrors and everyone goes hard: running, rowing, and carrying heavy weights. I had finished my membership with my ‘standard’ gym, and decided to enrol. Why not!

In this movie, it explains what the “idea” of CrossFit is!

FIT JOURNEY

Honestly, it took getting used to. I tried every workout and completely analysed them, keepig track of which muscles I had trained. With CrossFit, that’s not necessary! Because every workout is a full body workout! Also, my condition wasn’t as good as I thought and I frequently stood puffing after training. Crikey hey, this was really different. What a challenge! I was hooked immediately.

CHANGE IN THINKING

And then came the revelation. I realized that the people here were not at all concerned with developing more definition in their triceps. Also, no one did hip thrusts for a rounder butt. Those kind of “trivialities” were not important. Therefore, there was no need for a single mirror on the walls. The ultimate goal of CrossFit is to get fit all round. So: better, faster, stronger. The best version of yourself. The point is that you train your body optimally for ALL functions. Jumping, lifting, pulling, running, pushing. Functions that you use outside of the gym.

RESPITE

Well you may think, “Roos, I believe nothing of it. You still want to still have a lean body don’t you?” Yes this is true! But the difference is, I’m not thinking about that while I’m training. I am totally focussed on the workout. I do not think, “hmm, would my delts grow with this exercise?” And that, precisely that, is a relief.

I can enjoy the training itself so much more. The loud music. The sweat. The struggle to finish the kettlebell swings as quickly as possible. Breaking your own time records. Or competing in a game against someone. There is so much laughter and chatting. People talk more with each other. To me, all of those things are much more valuable!

At the moment I really enjoy my sporting progress! Each workout is a feast! Better than that, I can’t even explain it!

Do you do functional training yourself? Why or why not? Let me know! X @fitgirlroos