Fabletics Review!

Hi, there!  I have decided to share with you my thoughts about Fabletics, an online (and limited store) sports wear shop.  The last thing I need is more sport wear, but, I recently became a VIP member to check it out.  If you have any questions, let me know!  And, if you're ready to become a VIP member yourself, you can use my referral link here!

The Company:  Fabletics has a few brick-and-mortar stores, but they mostly sell their workout clothes online.  It was co-founded by Kate Hudson and features items from Demi Lovato's line that she created exclusively for them.  They offer styles for both men and women, although their women's selection is much more extensive.  Available are individual items, such as pants, sport bras, jackets, and shirts, or outfits, which are pre-selected items that come at a discounted price.  There are a few ways to shop:  without joining as a VIP member or by enrolling in a VIP membership. 

My first outfit

Membership:  Okay, as I said above, you don't have to be a member to shop at Fabletics.  You can peruse their website and, when you're ready to order, just order what you want!  There is no obligation to join.  However, the prices of the items on their website are much higher than if you are a VIP member.  I believe there are sales that are offered to non-members at times, but I still think it is more beneficial to become a member if you are planning on making more than one purchase.

If you choose to sign up as a VIP member, you will be offered an incentive as our "introductory offer."  I have seen two of these:  2 for $24 leggings and a $19 outfit.  There may be more, but these are the ones I have come across (I joined using the 2/$24 deal).  Either one of these are great bargains, as outfits start at $49.95 for VIP members (remember, prices are much higher for non-members) and leggings are about $50 or more a piece!  Once you choose your introductory purchase, you may have the chance to buy items at a discounted price.  If it's something you're interested in buying, I would grab it now because you will be saving a lot of money.  You have to go through the steps to register and sign up.  Once you are a member, you have the option to look at their styles in outfits or as separate items.  You are definitely better off getting an outfit if you like both pieces.  Outfits are typically around $60, whereas you could be spending that much on just one piece!

Now, here is how the membership works:  you sign up as a VIP and get your initial order.  After that, each month you need to log in between the 1st and 5th of each month.  You will have new outfits waiting for you that come out on the 1st.  You can either buy an outfit or skip your month.  If you do either of these, you have no further obligation for that month, but you will need to keep signing in every month thereafter that you keep your membership active  If you do not log in between the 1st and 5th and either make a purchase or skip the month, you will be automatically charged $49.95 on the card that is on file.  This will remain as a credit on your account that you can use towards a purchase in the future.  These credits never expire.  Since it is a membership account, you will continue being charged $49.95 (if you don't skip your credits or buy an outfit) until you cancel your account.  It is not difficult to go in and skip a month, but just be aware that if you don't do it, you have authorized them to take money from your account by signing up to be a VIP member.

I received a 10% coupon code for my birthday (not much, but if you're planning on buying anyway, every little bit helps!) and you can get a free gift by showing an email in the store.  There are not many stores and the closest one to me is in Charlotte.  I plan to go there in November, so when I do, I will bring the email and see if they will honor it!

If you wish to cancel your membership, there is an 800 number listed on their website under "My Account" and there is also an option to speak to someone online.  I have not tried to cancel my account, so I don't know how simple (or difficult) this is, but if and when I do, I'll be sure to update here.

The Products:  As I said, there is a variety of products available for purchase, both individually or as an outfit.  So far I have purchased several outfits and I love them all.  If you are unsure of the sizing, I would recommending ordering an outfit to start and then trying it out before ordering anything else.  You can exchange items if they do not work for you or you can make a return, but I do believe you will have to pay for the return shipping yourself.  Their clothes are great for a variety of activities, such as yoga, strength training, cardio, and lounging or running errands.  I have found that their leggings and shirts are true to size, but I would recommend sizing down on their sport bras.  I think there is something for everyone and some of the styles are super cute.  They have unique features and designs that I haven't seen anywhere else.  You can look at the outfits before you become a member to see if there is something there for you!

One feature on their website that I love is the description of each item.  You can see what it is good for, the materials, and key features.  You can also see customer reviews (more on that in a second) so you can see what other people think.  On each item page, you can see other items that go with the outfit, what other members have purchased, and, if it's available, the outfit that the item is a part of.  Then you can decide if you want to get just one item or the full outfit.

The Value:  Do I think that joining Fabletics is a good deal?  If you buy a lot of workout gear like I do, I would definitely say yes.  Since you have the option to skip your month and not pay anything, you're really not out any money.  You can cancel after your first purchase, so the obligation is minimal.  As long as you remember to skip your month, you don't have to spend anything unless you want to buy something.  For the quality of the items, I think the price is fair.  Of course you can get leggings cheaper at other places, like Wal-Mart or Old Navy, but you can also find leggings for much more at places like Athleta, lululemon, and even Victoria's Secret Sport.  If you are willing to pay a little bit more for your workout clothes, I think that Fabletics is a great deal.  With that being said, I do think that it is wise to buy an outfit.  They start at $49.95 (which is a month's credit, so if you forget to skip, you can use it towards an outfit the next month) and they offer free shipping for a purchase that amount or greater. 

One thing that I really love about Fabletics is the opportunity to earn points.  You earn these by every purchase you make (2 points per dollar as a VIP) and you can earn 20 points for each review that you write.  It doesn't take more than 1 minute per item.  You can then choose from a group of pre-selected items that you can get for free in different categories, starting at 700 points.  You also get some points for joining initially, and you can get extra points during special offer periods or promotions (currently there is one for 100 points if you use a MasterCard).  Also, each member has a link (I posted mine above) and if you have someone sign up under you, you get $20 to use towards a future purchase!  Neat!

Final Thoughts:  Overall, I think that Fabletics is a good deal, especially if you like to buy new workout wear frequently.  If you are just looking to join for the initial deal, you can definitely do that and then cancel your membership.  You don't have to spend money each month, as long as you make sure to either buy or skip.  The outfits are cute and are reasonably priced, considering how much you would spend for quality workout gear elsewhere.  I haven't had any personal experience with customer service where I contacted them, but there was an item in one of my orders that was damaged (I hadn't even received the items in the mail before they emailed me).  They sent me an email saying that I could use an offer code to receive a free pair of leggings and keep the damaged pair.  The "damaged" leggings had one tiny spot of color in the black part of the pants.  That's it!  I got a free pair of leggings (an $85 value) for something that I probably wouldn't have even noticed if they hadn't pointed it out for me.  That, to me, is excellent customer service and shows that they take care of their customers. 

The "damaged" pair of leggings

I have gone online to see what other people said about the company.  A lot of the negative reviews are from people who say that they had no idea that they were signing up for a membership account and that money was taken out of their account without notice.  I believe I saw no fewer than 5 disclaimers on how the membership works and that I would be charged if I didn't skip my outfits before the 6th of each month.  Also, keep an eye on your account that is linked to the membership and if you get charged once, cancel the membership and request your money back!

I definitely plan to keep ordering from Fabletics and continue my membership.  I think they have a great value, excellent customer service (thus far), and cute, quality clothes for a variety of workouts.  I think their VIP membership is a great choice!

Tasty Tuesday: Panko Chicken Fingers and Roasted Panko Broccoli

This is one of my favorite recipes when I am wanting a quick dinner that doesn't take a lot of time and is a great substitute when you're wanting some fast food chicken nuggets.  Plus, they're super tasty!

I have decided to pair the chicken fingers with panko roasted broccoli for an all-panko menu.  You could also substitute cauliflower (which is what I'm going to do tomorrow).  The chicken also has a dipping sauce that goes with it.  Yum!

Panko Crusted Chicken Fingers

4 servings

1 lb chicken breast, cut into "fingers"

1/4 c plus 2 T panko breadcrumbs (whole wheat if you can find them)

2 T Dijon mustard

1/4 c plain non-fat yogurt

1 T sesame oil (this is my favorite stuff EVER)

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 1/2 t dried parsley

Heat oven to 475 degrees.  Pat chicken dry with a paper towel (they will crisp up better in the oven).  In a bowl, whisk together mustard, garlic, yogurt, and sesame oil.  In a separate bowl, mix panko bread crumbs with parsley.  Dip each piece of chicken into the yogurt mixture and then into the panko mixture.  Place on a baking sheet (lined with aluminum foil) sprayed with cooking spray and bake for about 20 minutes.  Serve with Dijon mustard dipping sauce:

Dipping Sauce

4 servings

2 T Dijon mustard

2 T non-fat plain yogurt

1/2 t sesame oil

1/2 t low-sodium soy sauce

Mix ingredients together in a bowl.  You should get about 2 T per serving of sauce.

Roasting vegetables in the oven makes them have a totally different flavor than if they are steamed or sauteed.  I love roasted broccoli and this recipe goes so well with the panko chicken fingers!

Roasted Panko Broccoli with Parmesan Cheese

4 servings

1 large bunch of broccoli, cut off the stem

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 T olive oil

2 T panko breadcrumbs

2 T Parmesan cheese 

1/4-1/2 t garlic powder, to taste

salt and pepper

1/4 t red pepper flakes

Pre-heat oven to 475 degrees.  Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well, coating the broccoli evenly with olive oil, cheese, and seasonings.  Put broccoli on a baking sheet (lined with aluminum foil) coasted with non-stick cooking spray.  Let bake for 15 minutes.  ***If you are cooking this separately from the chicken, set oven to 425 and bake for about 20 minutes.***

I hope you enjoy these recipes!  Picture to come as soon as I make it for dinner tomorrow night!

Sneak Peek: Shift Shop Speed 25

Good afternoon, all!  Thank you for stopping by and checking out my Speed 25 preview!  After I complete the workout, I will come back and add my thoughts about the intensity of the workout and how effective I felt it was.  Without further ado...

Today's Workout:  Speed 25 (You will do this every other day for the first week of the three-week program, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.)

Rule of the Day:  Try before you modify.  (Make sure that you attempt to do the move full-out before you use the modifications.  You may be surprised at what you can do.)

Equipment:  2 agility markers, one in the front of your workout space and one about 2-3 paces behind it (You can purchase these from Beachbody, you can use something similar or really anything to mark your place, or you can use nothing and just visualize that they are there.)

Total Workout Time: 25 minutes, plus the 3 minute (or so) cooldown

Set up:  Each move is 60 seconds.  You will be shown the move, complete the move, and then have a brief rest time while the next move is explained and shown.  There are 15 moves total.

Exercises:
There is no specific warm-up in the workout, but the moves start out with less intensity and then grow through the workout. 

Jump Rope:  a basic jump rope move.  You are moving forward and back from one marker to the other.  Your knees are high and you are turning your wrists like you are turning a jump rope. 

Skip Combo:  Imagine skipping forward and back.  You will start in a down position, touching the floor like you are getting ready to go into a sprint.  You will propel yourself forward with your arms and a skip to the front marker.  Then you will tap the marker and go back into your "get set" position and skip backward.

Ali Shuffle:  For this move, you will turn to the side.  Starting at the back marker, you will shuffle your feet forward and back quickly while moving yourself up to the front marker.  Tap the marker with your foot and shuffle back.

Quick Jack Taps:  This is like a regular jumping jack except your knees stay bent in a low almost squat position.  Stay low throughout the entire move.  When Chris says "shift," you will reach down and tap the marker, then back up into the jack position, never straightening your legs.  I would imagine this will be a quad burner!

High-Knee Run:  Similar to Jump Rope, except your will pump your arms like you are running.  Knees are high and you move up from one marker and then back.

Bear Crawl:  You will start in a low position on the floor on your hands and knees and stay in that low position the entire move.  Crawl up to the front marker, tap it, and then crawl back.  Make sure to keep your knees as close to the ground as you can and keep your back flat.

Lateral Slide:  Just as the move implies, you will be sliding from side to side.  Turn to the side, start at the back marker, stay low and slide up to the front marker.  Return to start and repeat for the remainder of the move.

Mountain Climbers:  You are down on the floor in a typical mountain climber stance, back flat, wrists/elbows/shoulders in line and you are going to drive your knees in towards the marker as fast as you can with correct form.

***You are halfway done!***

Butt Kicks:  You will start with your hands on your glutes and try to kick your foot up to touch your hand with every movement.  You will alternate literally kicking yourself in the butt while you move forward and back between the markers.

Shop Hops:  In a squat position (which you will stay in for the whole move) you will stay on the balls of your feet and bounce quickly up and down.  When Chris says "shift," you will reach down and tap the marker, then immediately come back up and continue to bounce.

Fence Jumps:  Think of this move as watching someone get over a hurdle, but instead of moving forward, you will be moving side to side.  Turn to the side and hop up, swinging your arms as you do to help propel you up.  Go to one marker and come back to the other.

Burpees:  This is a typical burpee:  you will go down to the ground, shoot your legs out (make sure to keep your back in line and flat), jump your feet back in, and then stand up.  Chris shows you a way to ramp up the move by adding a push-up when you are down on the ground and then a jump at the top.

Swing Jumps:  Start with your feet together and keep them together throughout the movement.  You will jump diagonally up to the front marker and then back to the rear marker.

Catcher's Crawl:  You will get into a low squat, keeping your chest up and staying low the entire move.  You will put your hands down to the ground and jump your feet up to meet them.  Do that twice to get you to the first marker, then two times back to get you to the back marker.

Crab Creeper:  Turn to the side and sit down on the ground.  You will go up into a bridge position, with your heels on the ground and hands on the ground.  Step your foot out and hand out at the same time to move your forward, then move up the other hand and foot to meet it and move you along.  Tap the front marker and move back to the back.

***You are done!  You made it!!!***

Cool down:  The cool down is not a part of the workout, so it is not included in the 25 minutes.  This does not mean that you don't have to do the cool down.  You do!  It is so important to stretch and feel like you're heartrate is coming back to the normal before you do anything else.  The cool down consists of breathing and stretching, as most cool downs do.

I am not going to review this workout yet, as I have not done it.  However, from the looks of it, it seems as if all muscles (especially the legs!) will be worked and I will be feeling it after and the following day.  Once I complete the workout, I will come back and give you my thoughts and add some pictures.

Thank you for checking out the sneak peek of Shift Shop Speed 25.  If you are interested in trying Shift Shop or any of Beachbody's amazing at-home programs, contact me!

Fit Friday: Shift Shop!

I love when new workout programs come out!  It gives me a chance to change up my routine, meet a new trainer, and have a new challenge.  Today I am going to talk to you about Beachbody's newest program, Shift Shop.

This program came out about a month ago.  I have yet to do it, but I am going to start next Monday!  I have previewed the first two workouts, plus the stretch and abs workouts, and I can already tell I am going to love it.  I have seen some amazing results from this program so I am very excited!  I am going to tell you all about the program below; plus, I will be doing a sneak peek on Saturday in my reviews for the first week of workouts!

Check out the details of Shift Shop below!

About the Program:
Shift Shop is designed with the idea that there will be a "shift" each week.  That means the workouts will increase in intensity as the weeks go on.  The program is 3 weeks long and you build up the duration of the workouts each week as well.  Each week you will do a Speed workout and a Strength workout alternately Monday-Saturday and then Sunday you can do Mobility (stretch) or have a rest day.  The times of the workouts are the duration; however, the cool down is not included in the time of the workout.  The first week, the workouts are 25 minutes, the second week they are 35 minutes, and in the last week, they are 45 minutes long.  Two days a week you can also add in the ab workout, which is 15 minutes long, but that is optional.

The Speed workouts utilize agility markers that, if you purchase the DVDs, will come with the program.  If you have Beachbody on Demand and will be streaming the workouts, you can print your own agility markers, or just use something else that you already have to mark your focus spots.  Depending on the workout, they will be placed front to back, side to side, or you will use all four. The Strength workouts require dumbbells.

This may change in the future workouts, but in the ones that I previewed (Speed and Strength 25), each move was 1 minute with a break in between moves while Chris explains what is coming next.

There are also two deluxe workouts, Speed and Strength 50.  These can be added into the calendar in the second round of the program.

There is a modifier in every workout.  The trainer teaches the move and then walks the room, encouraging and correcting people's form.  

About the Meal Plan:
There is a meal plan included with the program, as well as a recipe book which has 81 recipes that you can use during the 3 week period (and beyond, of course).  The meal plan is very specific and gives you guidelines to follow depending on your starting weight, your goals, and which week you're on.  The idea is to use the container system that was first introduced with 21 Day Fix; however, it is not necessary to have the containers in order to follow the meal plan.  There are recipes that have measurements for you to follow.

About the Trainer:
Chris Downing is Beachbody's newest trainer.  He is a certified personal trainer and has been working in the fitness industry for years.  I don't know much about him, but from what I have seen in his interviews, he seems very down-to-earth and to really care about people and their goals to get and stay healthy.

From the workouts I have previewed, Chris is very personable and seems to have a good rapport with those in the cast.  He makes jokes, but is not overly goofy (like Tony, in my opinion) and he is highly motivating and encouraging.  As I said above, he goes around the cast to point out corrections of form.  He also pushes them to go lower, faster, and harder.  He is motivating when people in the cast are visibly struggling.  He explains the moves very well before starting and demonstrates them for you while you take a break, giving you enough time to take a break, catch your breath, and get ready for the next move.

First Thoughts:
Since I haven't tried this program yet, I am not going to give a full review.  I will, however, tell you my first thoughts.  The program seems great.  As I said before, I have seen amazing results and, considering it is only 3 weeks long, they are impressive.  I think this workout is going to push and challenge me, which is what I'm looking for.  I like the idea of ramping up, but I am not sure how I am going to like a 50 minute workout.  I have gotten very used to my 30 minutes every morning, but since it's only a week, I am going to do it!  I am not a fan of the agility markers, because it makes it seem like another gimmick that is being used to sell workout programs.  I do like the fact that you don't need them to complete the workouts and that you can print out a free version from Beachbody on Demand.  I am also not used to breaks, so think I am going to like having a little respite in between moves if I need to wipe the sweat or get a swig of water.  I don't like the effects that they added into the videos where Chris "pauses" mid-move and they freeze the action.  I think it's hokey and unnecessary, but that's minor.  I also am not a fan of workouts that say they're 25 minutes, but really end up being 30 minutes with the cool down.  I like the cool down to be a part of the workout because if not, it makes it seem like it's optional.  It's not.  You need to cool down just as you need to warm up.

The meal plan doesn't seem so great.  I have nothing wrong with the recipes, except for the fact that if you ate what's in the meal plan you would get really sick of eggs really fast.  I like the amount of recipes that you are given and the fact that the meal plan is really laid out for you, week by week, day by day.  The meal plan is extremely restrictive.  You will be eating no carbs (yellow containers) in the final week.  I believe that any time you remove something from your diet, your body is missing something and if and when you start to eat that food group again, you will not be able to maintain your body weight.  If you want great results in a super short amount of time or you are training for something specific, I would say to follow the meal plan.  If not, I would stick to a clean eating meal plan.  I will not be following the Shift Shop meal plan, but I will be following a clean diet meal plan by using the same recipes I always make, with some new ones from the recipe book added in.

The trainer seems just my style.  I like his attitude, I like how positive he is, and he is obviously fit and knows what he is doing.  Chris is personable and motivating.  He will push you but he is proud of you when you're done.  You can feel that he wants you to succeed.  He's no Shaun T. (who is?!), but he does a great job and comes pretty close.  I am excited to try out this workout and do a full review when I'm done!

If you're interested in trying Shift Shop or any of Beachbody's programs, you can start a free trial of Beachbody on Demand for 14 days.  You can also purchase the DVDs.  Let me know how I can help!

Thing Thursday: Workout Mat Review

Hello, my fit friends!  I hope you're having a fantastic day!  Today I am going to tell you all about the mats that I have down in my workout room. 

The mats are Gold's Gym High Impact Flooring Puzzle Mat and they can be found here.  They are about $15 for a pack of 6.  Now, on to the review!

Quality:  ****1/2
I have two sets of these mats, one of which I have had for about 5 years.  They have held up very well.  Some of the rubber pieces have peeled up from wear over the years, but it is minor.  Sometimes the "puzzle" pieces are cut slightly off, so they don't line up exactly.  With some adjusting, you can get them to line up, it just may take a little time and effort.  Overall, I would say these are high-quality mats and would stand up to just about any activity.

Effectiveness:  (Are these good as mats?) ****
These mats are decent thickness, but I wouldn't recommend using just one layer on a concrete floor, such as ours.  We have two layers and that is the right amount of thickness, but if it were any thinner, I would imagine you would feel the floor every time you land from a jump or had to go down to the floor for an exercise.  The pieces may separate where they join together when you are jumping around, especially if you are doing a sliding or dragging motion.  We have solved this problem by putting duct tape on the underside of the seams, as you can see in the picture.  This has stopped the movement of the pieces and keeps them together.  Yes, these are effective mats, because they provide protection from the hard floor.  I took off a star for the fact that they may move around and may not be thick enough if you are on a very hard surface.

Look:  ***
I have given "Look" three stars, because they're nothing special to look at.  You can see that some of the pieces don't fit evenly and this can give them a "cheap" look.  Also, you would have to have these in a place that you could keep them out all the time, because it would be a pain to put them down and then take them apart and put them away whenever you wanted them out of the room.  They cannot be easily stored once they are taken apart.

Overall: ****
I would recommend these mats if you are looking for an inexpensive way to cover your workout room floor.  They offer additional protection when you are doing movements on the floor or high-intensity movements, such as jumps.  They are not too expensive and they do last.  With a little preparation (taping the seams) they will last even longer and save you some trouble later when they come apart.  I have used these mats both on a carpeted surface and on a concrete floor.  They do protect the carpeting from pulling and getting matted.  They don't offer a lot of protection from a very hard surface because they are not that thick.  You can definitely double them and that works.  I have used other mats, such as yoga style mats, and they do not work for the types of exercises I do.  They are not thick enough and they damage very easily.  If you are looking for mats that will last and you have the space to leave them out all the time, I would recommend these for sure.

Let me know if you check out these mats!  They are on sale at Wal-Mart right now.  If you have any questions, let me know!

Tasty Tuesday Recipe: California Benedict

Good morning!  I decided since I have been doing lunch and dinner recipes lately, it was time for breakfast!  I had this meal out at a delicious little local restaurant that has amazing food, and I was thinking of how simple it would be to make it at home.  I haven't made it yet, but I will definitely be trying it out! 

California Benedict

1 serving

Picture credit:  www.cakenknife.com  When I make it myself, I'll add my own picture.  :)

2 eggs

1 whole wheat English muffin

2 slices of tomato

spinach leaves

1/4 avocado

2 T Hollandaise sauce (see below)

Toast your English muffin.  While it is toasting, poach (or fry) the eggs.  Top each English muffin half with 1 slice of tomato.  Slice the avocado and divide evenly among the muffin halves.  Top each half with a poached egg, a few spinach leaves, and 1 T of Hollandaise sauce.  Top with a dash of pepper.  Serve with fruit and enjoy!

• You can find the link for Healthy Hollandaise Sauce here.  There is also a different recipe in the Fixate cookbook, if you have that.
• You can also put a slice of turkey bacon on each or split one piece between the two halves, if desired.

Tasty Tuesday Recipe: Asian Chicken Salad

Hi, there!  Welcome to today's recipe.  I decided to try this for the first time because I bought some edamame and wanted a simple and quick way to use it in a salad.  So, without further ado, you get the recipe for my Asian chicken salad!

Asian Chicken Salad

1 serving

2 cups Romaine lettuce

1/2 carrot, shredded

1/4 c edamame, cooked and shelled

1/2 Mandarin oranges

1-2 t slivered (or sliced) almonds

3-4 oz. chicken tenders, cooked and chopped

Chinese five spice (optional)

Dressing

3 servings, 2 T each

2 T orange juice (about half an orange)

2 T rice wine vinegar

1 T tamari or low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 T sesame oil

1/2 T honey

1/2 ginger

Tear lettuce and add to salad bowl.  Add remaining ingredients (if using Chinese five spice, add to chicken while cooking).  Whisk together ingredients for dressing in a bowl.  Top salad with 2 T of dressing.  Enjoy!

**Chinese five spice is in interesting flavor--it can be very potent, so don't add too much.  It's a mix of ground black pepper, cloves, fennel, star anise, and cinnamon.**

**If you don't have a 1/2 T measuring spoon, use 1 1/2 t (1 T=3 t).**