The spring C9 by Champion for Target collection is cute, yo.

Please give a big warm welcome to Margo Donohue, fitness professional and blogger at Brooklyn Fit Chick. Since Margo lives in the Big Apple, she’ll be helping us cover events every now and again—just like this recent Target event!

Hello everyone! Recently Fit Bottomed Girls recently asked me to attend a Target event that featured not only their best health and wellness-centered products but also a visit with yoga expert Kristin McGee. Of course, I immediately hopped on the subway from Brooklyn to check things out!

The folks at Target set up a loft space in midtown to show off their health and wellness options that are either currently in-store or will be arriving very soon. We are talking everything from newly designed bottles from their pharmacy that will help prevent family members from mixing up their medication (created by an intern at Target!) to a whole slew of healthy foods (including fresh, packed and frozen) that really knocked me for a loop.

Did you know that Target is selling fresh groceries at their store? Well, they do now, including frozen fish cutlets that are ecologically safe for our waters and food supply and a variety of pastas that are gluten-free. (I am a city-girl so forgive me for being excited about bigger chain stores, but we just don’t get that many here!)

Unfortunately, I was not able to take advantage of the free hand massages offered at the event’s “Natural Health Spa,” but I noticed they carry some terrific all-organic brands including Burt’s Bees, willa and Yes to Tomatoes—all of which I use on my own.

Later, I met the team from Champion (absolutely LOVE their gear) and got a peek at the C9 by Champion for Target. I have to say, I was quite impressed with the variety of colors and styles offered at such affordable prices. (Really, why aren’t more companies selling tanks for $12.99 and running tights for $24.99?) The spring collection offers a variety of jackets, tanks and shorts in yummy colors like watermelon and lemon yellow that will lift your spirits and keep you motivated to work out.

The best part of the Target event for me though was getting to meet one of my yoga heroes—Kristin McGee. Kristin is one of the best yoginis in the business with a line of critically acclaimed workout DVDs plus she is a certified personal trainer and a contributing editor at Health magazine. This dynamo really knows her stuff when it comes to fitness!

Kristin was surrounded by fans most of the time, but when I did get her attention and told her whom I was writing for, she immediately struck the pose below and said “I love Fit Bottomed Girls!”

Kristin McGee, the love is mutual!

We were able to chat for a few minutes about her C9 by Champion for Target outfit (she is a big fan), and I promised to check out one of her classes here in New York soon. The event capped off with a cute black and white hat box that was used as a goodie bag containing Market Pantry Fiber Bars, Archer Farms Quinoa and a coupon for a free outfit—score!

Are you a Target fan? A Kristin McGee Fan? Tell us! —Margo

Ever since I went backpacking last summer, I have come to appreciate the beauty of a coat that is lightweight, warm and is—I’ll admit, even in the woods—cute. And the new Craghoppers ClimaPlus Reversible Jacket that the company recently sent me to test? Well, it fits all of those requirements.

Not a backpacking coat by design (it’s not bulky by any means, but it’s not super minimalistic like this REI jacket was), it is perfect for most outdoor activities be it hiking, walking or camping. Seeing that I haven’t been on a camping trip since my backpacking extravaganza, I tested this Craghoppers jacket the best way I knew how: walking my dog in cold, windy weather day after day. Yes, the Midwest has had a mild winter, but we’ve still had enough windy 20-degree days for me to call it legit testing weather. But it certainly stood up.

First off, the jacket is light and a little poofy, without making you look like a marshmallow in the least. While it doesn’t look like it would be that warm—and even when you put it on at first it doesn’t feel really heavy or really toasty or anything—it certainly keeps a gal cozy. It’s insulated, water repellent and—this is my favorite part—windproof. One day I got smacked with 20-mph cold winds, and it seriously didn’t get through the coat (my yoga pants were a different story). Awesome.

Oh, and if that wasn’t cool enough, it’s reversible. And not in one of those lame ways that you never use because the zippers are wonky on one of the sides and there’s a tag sticking out—you really can wear both sides, and I did! I preferred the purple, but the blue was a nice change of pace now and again. It also has zipped pockets on each side, which were helpful for storing keys without the fear of them falling out. (In my book, every pocket on activewear should be zippable.)

At about $100, the jacket isn’t cheap, but it’s also classic enough that it’ll never go out of style. Not to mention that it’s high quality. While I usually wear it only when I’m doing active things, I do love it in the mornings when I’m headed to the gym and have to scrape ice off my car. I also have worn it a couple of times out—you can totally wear it with jeans for a—if we’re doing the Spice Girls thing, which we always are—Sporty Spice look. The coat does have a small print of the Craghoppers name on the chest of the jacket, but it’s totally minor and not overly noticeable. Overall, it’s a staple in my winter closet!

Do you have a particular winter jacket or coat that you wear for outdoor workouts? What factor—water repellent, windproof, look or otherwise—is most important to you? —Jenn

Confession: I purposely don’t buy a lot of white shirts or tanks to work out in because, well, they just get gross in the armpit region. And yellow. And did I mention gross? I’ve heard my girlfriends complain of this, too, but it’s a huge bummer to have to ditch some of your favorite white workout apparel just because of some yellow armpit stains. Well, turns out, a company has a solution to this unsightly little problem, and we got to try it!

I was seriously skeptical of Deo-Go at first. No way something that doesn’t have bleach in it can get the yellow out—even on color garments. But apparently I was wrong because Deo-Go stood up to my gnarliest of tests. I busted out my favorite white workout T (from The Fit Pit!), which sadly was covered with a good six months of old, yellowed deodorant in the armpit zone. And after spraying the Deo-Go until the yellowed area was really wet, scrubbing it like crazy, letting it sit for 20 minutes and then washing it by itself on a normal setting, my shirt came back de-yellowed.

Seriously. Proof is below:

Now, I will say that Deo-Go smells a bit like paint, and it says to wash your hands right after use, so gosh knows there are some strong chemicals in there to de-yellow the yellowist of armpits. And having to do each shirt one by one in the wash is some work, but for those favorite white shirts that have been ruined, this is certainly a way to revive them. I still don’t see myself going to an all-white workout wardrobe (for reasons other than yellow armpits), but for the ones I really, really love? Well, this is a shirt-saver indeed. And at about $10 for a bottle of Deo-Go (much cheaper than a new white shirt!), the company says you can expect to save about 15 shirts from Yellow Armpit Syndrome per bottle.

Do you get really bad yellow armpit stains, too? Would you try Deo-Go to get them out? Share your armpitty truth! Ew… —Jenn

Whenever you see something—like the iRenew Wellness bracelet—on TV, you have to wonder: Does it really work? I mean, it seems silly that wearing a bracelet could actually make you stronger, faster, more balanced and energetic. But that’s what all the infomercials say it does. Oh, and then there’s the fact that Maria Menounos, Gabrielle Union and Nick Lachey all wear one. (They’re sexy people, so they have to know what’s up…)

Well, when iRenew contacted us to see if we wanted to review one of the bracelets, our curiosity got the best of us. So, they sent us one of their pink breast cancer awareness bracelets (15 percent of the proceeds benefit the 26.2 Marathon with Donna to Finish Breast Cancer—which is cool) and their more svelte-looking black iRenew Wellness bracelet. Because I figured two opinions were better than one, I wore the pink one most hours of the day for about a week, and my husband wore the black one. Over that time, we did what we normally do—ate healthy foods, worked out and had a couple of extra glasses of wine on a leisurely Friday night.

So what did we think of these “power bracelets” that are said to use “Selective Frequency Technology” (yeah, I don’t really know what that means either, but it sounds fancy)? Well, not much. People asked about them (like the commercial says they will), and they were comfortable to wear, but neither one of us felt any different. Workouts felt the same; energy was good but nothing out of the ordinary; and I couldn’t hold crow pose any longer than I could pre-iRenew bracelet.

Now, I know the power of placebo is great, so if these make you feel like the lyrics of a Kanye song (harder, better, faster, stronger), then have at it. But in my experience they were just, well, a fun bracelet. With a price tag of about $15 with “processing and handling” (or way cheaper on Amazon), they’re not expensive though if you want to test it out yourself.

Have you ever bought anything that was “as seen on TV”? Did you like the product? Wish you’d saved your money? Tell us! —Jenn

Downy fabric softeners have been a staple in my laundry for quite a while. It’s like make-up for me. When I find something I like, I stick with it—and get really mad when it’s discontinued. So when I got the opportunity to try Downy Unstopables, a “wash scent booster” said to last up to 12 weeks on towels, activewear and other fabrics needing freshening, I was curious to see how it would work, especially on the stinkiest of stinky clothes.

I tried the Fresh scent, as I’m not so much into the flowery scents and usually like more clean-smelling laundry. To be honest, I was a little leery of how my clothes were going to come out and how the product was going to work. Downy Unstopables are these little pebbles that almost resemble Dippin’ Dots but are hard, and you put them directly in with your clothes just before you wash them. I immediately wondered if the pebbles were going to still be there when the load was done washing, but I put my fears aside and did some laundry for the team.

And dirty laundry I did. The first batch of clothes I watched with the Unstopables were worn at a turkey fry—if you’ve been to one you know what I mean. My hubs and I both came back smelling like fried food and smoke from the fire. Thankfully, our clothes came out smelling fresh after the wash. Not overly strong smelling, yet definitely not smelling like a turkey fry, I was actually pretty shocked.

Not to mention that my pebble-fears went unfounded and everything came out just fine. Using Unstopables is almost easier than adding liquid softener because it’s less of a mess. The little pebbles are easy to measure, too—you just use as much or as little as you want in the cap and pour it in the wash.

Jenn tried tried the Lush scent and reported that it even worked on the rankest-smelling workout gear she could find: Her husband’s long-sleeved T-shirt that went backpacking for a week and never came back smelling the same. While the Lush does have a strong lavender scent, she says it’s far more pleasant than gorilla-man stench. (Gotta love those boys!) Not to mention that Downy Unstopables are totally safe to use on activewear (unlike traditional liquid fabric softener, which isn’t recommended).

Overall, I would recommend these if you are looking for an easy way to freshen clothes without the liquid. It definitely kept my laundry smelling fresh. And since the freshness can last up to 12 weeks, the $9-ish price tag doesn’t smell too bad!

Have you tried Downy Unstopables? How do you keep your activewear smelling fresh? —Kelsey

Well, here’s a fun fact: Did you know that the first sports bra ever created was made from two jockstraps sewn together? (How we hope they were clean…) True story, and Champion was the company to do it. Since then, Champion has obviously perfected the art of the sports bra. In fact, even with all of the sports bra reviews we do, most of the ones in my drawer are from Champion. There are so many different types of sports bras these days, so we thought we’d review four new Champion ones. That way there’s pretty much an option for everyone, no matter what workout you like. And we promise, none of them resemble a jockstrap!

Champion Sports Bras Review

The Champion Cotton-Rich Fitness Racerback Sports Bra (shown top) has a soft, cottony fabric yet still wicks moisture to keep you and your boobies dry. With a little extra stretch in it (good for broad-shouldered yet medium-breasted gals like me), no tag and a rib-knit band, it doesn’t chafe either. We’re particularly smitten with the front and back mesh inserts that help to keep you cool. Oh, and the cute designs. At $22, it’s a solid choice for any medium-impact activity.

The second one we tested was the Champion SHAPE T-Back Sports Bra (second down on the sports bra totem pole), and the most girlie of the group. With a slight v-cut in the front and thinner straps, this one is good for girls with less up top who want to enhance their curves. It’s made of a soft fabric with a lining that wicks moisture away. If you’re more petite, this is a super-cute and functional sports bra perfect for walking, doing yoga/Pilates, lifting weights or any medium-impact cardio. At $38 it is a bit more than the others, but it’s got a little more sleekness to it, too.

Up next was my favorite: the Champion Double Dry Absolute Workout Sports Bra (second from the bottom). This silky sports bra held my girls up when jogging (it has medium motion control, which was apparently good enough for my B-cup stature), yet had enough extra stretch to comfortably fit my wider upper-body. (All of those pull-ups? I like to think so.) With a double-layer design that helps block any embarrassing “show-through” (at ease, ladies!), it also has a back mesh panel that helps cool you down. With no tag, tons of fun patterns and a price tag of $22, you really can’t beat it for an all-around sports bra.

Last but not least, there’s the Champion Double Dry Seamless Reversible Sports Bra. This is a sports bra that is all about performance. Its soft two-ply fabric stretch compresses and wicks moisture. It also has some kind of fun textural accents that Champion says are designed to flatter your figure, but I think they just look cool. The reversible part is fun, and you can never go wrong with a racer-back for support. And, again, fun colors for $26!

Sizes on all of these go from a small to an extra large. If you’re smaller than that, check out this post, and if your girls are larger, be sure to read this sports-bra guide. And if you have a broad chest like me, I suggest sizing up on all of these bras—you’ll appreciate the extra room.

Are you a Champion sports bra girl? Tell us what you look for in a sports bra! —Jenn

You can customize this fitness T-shirt with your own fitness truth!

This post is a part of our second-annual New Year, New Rear Week to help you to be fitter, healthier and a touch (okay, a lot!) more awesome in 2012. Read all New Year, New Rear posts here!

Since this past fall, we’ve been sharing our fitness truths. You know, the honest-to-goodness, no-BS statements that we hold true when it comes to our workouts, our bodies and our healthy lifestyles. From Erin’s fitness truth: “I’m not doing this so I can fit into skinny jeans. I’m doing it to battle a family history of heart disease,” to Kristen’s: “You think a girl with thick, muscular thighs like mine shouldn’t wear short skirts? Too bad. I work hard for these legs and if I want to show them, I’m gonna show them,” fitness truths are empowering, motivational and pretty bad-ass. And now you can wear them proudly.

The FBG store is now offering customizable fitness truths performance T-shirts, so that you can sport your own fitness truth when you work out! Choose your phrase, the text color and your shirt color for a totally unique performance T-shirt that’s just for you! The one shown left is an example of one of Tish’s fitness truths, but the text can be whatever you like as long as it fits (you can get about 10 to 15 words on a shirt).

So what are you waiting for? Get to creating your own fitness truth T-shirt here! —Jenn

Soffe Athletic Wear is probably best known for its short little cheerleading shorts. In fact, I don’t think I’ve worn anything by Soffe since high school. But the company recently revamped its junior’s collection to be more of an all-around active sportswear and casualwear line—with all pieces under $30. With prices that low, you know we had to revisit the brand.

Soffe Junior’s V Neck Tissue Tee

Moisture-wicking Ts are always great for workouts, but sometimes—when you’re doing something that’s a little more low-key like walking or lifting weights—you don’t exactly need a technical T. Which is why I like this shirt. Simple and fitted yet not too tight with a flattering v-neck (that’s not too low), it’s a basic cotton shirt worth adding to your workout-wear collection. I’ve worn it to Pilates, yoga and even while out running errands. And at just $9.99, you can afford to buy them in multiple colors. Whee!

Printed Authentic Soffe Shorts

Yeah, so I’m not 16 anymore. That was painfully apparent when I tried a pair of these delightfully fun zebra shorts on. Made with 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester (no zebras were harmed in the making of these shorts), I wish these were a little softer and a little more breathable. I also wish they were longer, but hey, they are the shorts Soffe is known for. Coming in at just $13.99 though, they can help you to relive your high-school glory days on the cheap (and without attending your high school reunion).

One word of caution on these Soffe shorts: They’re definitely from the junior’s line. Meaning that they’re probably a little shorter/tighter/smaller than what you’re used to (unless you are, in fact, under the age of 18). So you might want to order a size—or three—up. Oh, to be a teenager again!

Soffe Print Shorty Shorts

If the cheerleading short-shorts aren’t your thing, these might be. More of a true running short, these wick sweat away in a style that’s popular and similar to Nike’s and Adidas’ running shorts. A little more forgiving in the room-department, these have sizing that is more in line with your usual workout apparel. We love how these Soffe shorts come in a variety of colors and patterns, ranging from solids to animal prints. (I went to Mizzou, so the tiger-print shorts at left are particularly appealing to me!) At $20 or less, they’re a steal!

Do you own any Soffe apparel? Did you in the past? Still rocking the short-shorts? Tell us! —Jenn

Two things you should know. First, I have a small head. Like a head so small that most hats don’t fit. Second, I, like FBG Tish, am intimidated by sunglasses that “mean business.” And by “mean business,” I mean “look like you’re a bad-ass fast runner or triathlete superstar” because I, my friends, am not known for my running speed. Despite—and partially because of these two things—I told the new company BTB Sunglasses that I’d try a pair of its 900 series.

So they sent me the pair you see at left. To test them, I put on my fastest-looking running outfit and went out for a short, quick run. Let me say that I really, really like the neutral brown color. No neon or crazy 80s-esque reflection going on in the lens. And light! They are so dang light that you barely feel like you’re wearing any sunglasses at all. The view? Well, just splendid. Unlike some sunglasses that protect your eyeballs (these have complete UVA and UVB protection) while almost distorting reality with the color change of the lenses, these just seemed to brighten the world up and make everything really easy to focus on. Loved that. And not once during my three-mile run did they slide, fall off, fog up or do anything remotely annoying. They stayed up, and, to tell you the truth, I forgot I had them on. This is perhaps the first time something of this nature has happened with me, Ms. Small Head.

Now, did they make me run faster? Well, no. I ran my three miles in the same time I normally do (about a 10:30-minute per mile pace), but I felt faster. And although I was afraid that I would feel like a fast-running poser with them on, I didn’t. So, I guess it’s time I get over my own running misconceptions, huh? And at $34.95 for a pair, these are way, way cheaper than most fitness sunglasses on the market. I don’t think I’ll be running on a sunny day without them!

The moral of the story? Slow runners need good eye protection, too! Do you have special sunglasses for your fitness endeavors? Share away! —Jenn

Not a day goes by that I don’t hear the following spill out of my boyfriend’s mouth: “Put your shoulder blades back, Tish!” I’m the queen of bad posture. I can’t help myself. For years I was the awkward, tall, brown girl. I stuck out like a sore thumb, so I’d hunch over to blend in with the little ones standing beside me. Years later, I’m paying the boyfriend-nagging penalty price of that lame assimilation attempt.

Because of my fears that one day I’ll be rockin’ a hunchback and have to move to Notre Dame, I was eager and desperate to try the IntelliSkin Empower Posturecue Sports Bra. The bra boasts that it can improve your posture and help you stand taller the minute you put it on. So I decided to pack it for my afternoon run and see how it could hold up…or rather hold me up.

I put the bra on and immediately felt like boo-boo. I don’t know what it is about me and bras, but lots of them are cruel to me. I have a crazy-long upper body with no curves. I’m flat as board but long, so I have to be careful with sizing. Unfortunately, the  medium I tried was too tight. I felt tricked since the bra also boasts that its made with the highest-quality, double-lined, four-way stretch fabric (minimizes the need to over-compress), but I was compressed and then some. My armpit chub (we all have it!) started coming out of the sides screaming for mercy (or space)—and that, my friends, does not make a confident Tishy who wants to stand tall at all. 

I came out of the bedroom feeling sad and body conscious. Then the fella saw me and told me to put my shoulders back. Eureka! When I did that, the bra let up on me, and I actually felt like I could breathe a little. That’s how the bra kept my posture nice and straight through my entire run. If you don’t straighten up, you just begin to feel like a sausage. So basically, I was bullied into pulling my shoulders back.

If you don’t mind a little wardrobe tough-love, then this bra may just be the answer to all of your slouching prayers. (If you’re a runner who complains of shoulder aches after a long run, then this is definitely the bra for you!) Having $95 to purchase the bra is another important factor. My advice before purchasing something like this is to make sure you try the darn thing on—especially if you suffer from Gumby-like longness like me. And an FBG tip to think about: Products with corrective intentions can impede your natural movement, so listen to your body about what feels best.

Are you a fellow slumper? What do you do in order to stand taller? Would you consider a bra that perks up your posture? —Tish