Fitness - Pocketful of Joules

Fitness Update & Designer Protein Shakes

The beginning of the month feels like a pretty good time to do a fitness update – you know, the whole holding myself accountable thing. I last updated you all at the beginning of July when I confessed that I had kind of fallen off the wagon.

Well, I’m still running next to that speeding wagon and trying to pull myself back on top.

I’ve been doing well with my runs and have been able to get my mileage up to 5 miles. It’s not a pretty 5 miles… but I’m able to complete it without walking or passing out. My part of the Relay Marathon is 6 miles, so I feel confident that I can get there within the next 6 weeks.

What a beautiful morning for a run! My second time accomplishing 5 miles feels just as good as when I did it a couple weeks ago. Honestly, I feel guilty as hell leaving my family to drive to the lake path and get my run in all by myself. But, I keep telling myself that it makes me a better wife and mother to take time for myself and my health. I have to say though… 5 miles is still pretty freaking hard! #joulesruns #fitmom

A photo posted by pocketfulofjoules (@pocketfulofjoules) on Aug 2, 2015 at 8:10am PDT

The part where I’ve been failing, failing and then failing again is my diet. I’ve been eating like crap. I mean, it’s mostly been delicious, but not the best choices to fuel my body. It all really starts with breakfast. If I eat an unhealthy breakfast, I throw any healthy diet plans out the window and continue eating whatever I want for the rest of the day. And whatever I want usually consists of pizza, birthday cake Oreo cookies, and cheese sticks.

I have a plan though. A friend of mine works with Designer Protein and sent me a TON of their shakes to try out. Really, a ton:

Aria Women Wellness Protein in chocolate and vanilla. Key benefits: 90 calories, 15G protein, no added sugar, contains Biotin and Vitamin C, Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D.
Designer Whey in strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and unflavored. Key benefits: 100 calories, 18G protein, no added sugar, no soy, no SMSG, and it won the Chef’s Best Taste Award.
Essential 10 Protein in vanilla. Key benefits: 100% plant-based protein, 100 calories, 18G protein, and the equivalent antioxidant value of 10 servings of fruits and veggies.
Sunshine Protein in chocolate. Key benefits: 100% plant-based protein, 100 calories, 16G protein, and the equivalent antioxidant value of 10 servings of fruits and veggies.

Each serving has only about 100 calories, but once I add in some milk, frozen fruit and a little peanut butter it will make a yummy shake that is high in protein to start my day off on the right foot. I’m one of those people that can be totally fine with having the same breakfast every single day, so hopefully I can get in the groove of making a morning shake and stick with it.

So far my favorite is the chocolate flavored shakes with ice, water, frozen strawberries and a spoonful of peanut butter, but I’d love to know if you have any good shake recipes I should try!

How do you keep yourself motivated to eat a healthy diet? Are you a believer in the ‘cheat day’ or ‘cheat meal’ or can you just power through?

Disclosure: The Designer Protein power was given to me for review purposes.

My August Wantable Fitness Edit

Last month I tried the Wantable Fitness Edit for the first time (you can check it out here) and liked it so much I decided to do it again for August.

How does a Fitness Edit work?
Here’s the quickie version – you set up your account by filling out a bunch of survey questions with your sizes and preferences for fitness clothing. Wantable charges a $20 styling fee and sends you 5 handpicked items to try on in the comfort of your own home. You have 5 days to decide what you want and clothing prices range based on your preferences between $30 – 70 per item. The best part is that your styling fee is applied towards your final purchase and you get 20% off when you keep 3-4 items, OR $30 percent off when you keep all 5 items!

Last month I received these Allegro Capri pants from Soybu and they have quickly become my favorite running capris!

A photo posted by pocketfulofjoules (@pocketfulofjoules) on Jul 31, 2015 at 4:11am PDT

Want to see what I got this month?

Item #1: Climawear T-Back Space Dye Tank in Rising Tide
When I ordered my first Fitness Edit in July, I put a note on my account that I don’t like tops that cling to my tummy. It makes me super self-conscious and I prefer tops that flow away a bit, even when running. So, I was pretty annoyed when I opened my August box and found this skin-tight tank top. I hadn’t repeated the note on my August order, but you would think they would look at my entire profile before styling me a box!

With that being said, I don’t hate this top as much as I thought I would. The material is nice and stretchy and I like the look of the t-back. I think the color and pattern also help to hide my tummy (in addition to my high-rise leggings). I just don’t know if I’d feel comfortable enough reach for it when getting dressed.

Item #2: Climawear Showstopper T-Back in Black
Hey look, it’s another skin tight tank top. Great. This one is so much worse with the super high neck that looks like one of my old swim team suits. Also, there are removable boob pads that are totally misplaced. Instead of being over my nips… they are up in my chest area, like some sort of warrior chest plate. I like the t-back, but that’s about it.

Item #3: Pink Lotus Performance Capris in Purple Green
My first thought when I pulled these out of the box were that they were super wild. I mean, I’ve been working my way up to patterned leggings but wowzers. Then, I tried them on a couple times and they are kind of growing on me. I like the solid pink on the sides of the legs and it helps to break up all that crazy pattern. I threw it on with one of my typical running tops and I can totally see me wearing this on my run.

Items #4 & #5: Rebecca Michaels Ankle Leggings in Mateo and Mono B Pink Space Dye Leggings
According to my pricing breakdown, the green and blue tie-die pair of leggings are usually $70 but are on sale for $35 this month. So, obviously I was hoping they would fit well and look great. Nope. They must be junior-sized because once I finally pulled them there was muffin top all over place. Because, when you’re putting on workout clothing you want to feel really bad about yourself. Obviously.

The second pair of leggings were cut full-length down to my ankles. I tried them on when I first opened the box and OHMYGOSH they were so itchy I had to immediately pull them back off. I refuse to put them back on again and it’s not even worth it because they looked terrible on me anyways.

Was Wantable’s Fitness Edit Worth It?
After loving last month’s Fitness Edit, I was so disappointed in this one. The stylist totally disregarded my preferences and sent me two skin-tight tank tops. I have $39 credit left on my account, which can cover the $20 styling fee and $19 towards an item. Or, if I decide not to purchase anything I will lose the $20 styling fee and will have $19 towards next month’s Fitness Edit.

So, help me decide which to do:
Option 1: Send it all back and lose my $20 styling fee. I’ll have $19 left over for the September box.

Option 2: Buy the blue space dye tank top for $16 ($20 from styling fee). It seems pretty flattering and maybe I can get over my tummy issues and wear it on my runs. I’ll have $3 left over towards the September box.

Option 3: Buy the Pink Lotus capris for $35. They fit well and I can see myself wearing them, they are just awfully expensive. Of course, with the credit I have they are ‘regular’ priced… so there’s that to keep in mind. Have $0 left over and cancel my Fitness Edit subscription.

Option 4: Buy the Pink Lotus capris for $35 and give the Fitness Edit one more try in September.

I have to return what I don’t want tomorrow, so leave me a comment below with what you think I should do!

Disclaimer: If you choose to purchase a box using my special referral link, I will receive a small referral bonus toward future Wantable purchases. Thank you to anyone who uses my special ink and supports my shopping addiction.

My July Wantable Fitness Edit

Now that I’m running more to prepare for my Team Relay Marathon, I’m realizing that I don’t like a lot of my running clothes. There is nothing more annoying than starting a run and realizing that the pants you threw on actually fall down every third step, so you have to keep yanking them back up over your butt.

Believe me, I have PLENTY of excuses not to run… I don’t need running clothes helping me with any!

My workout clothes typically have either lived in my drawer for 10+ years or they’ve been an impulse purchase from Marshall’s. There is really no rhyme or reason to what I have… it’s mostly black leggings and shirts that I get for free for running a 5k. I have bought a couple running skirts, because they are freaking adorable. And if I’m going to be a sweaty, stinky mess at the end of a 5k, a skirt helps remind me that I’m a sassy chick.

So when I saw that Wantable now offers a Fitness Edit, I was super excited to try them out!

{I previously tried the Wantable Accessories Box and Wantable Intimates Box}

To set up your account, you fill out a bunch of survey questions with your sizes and preferences. Then, they charge you a $20 styling fee and send you 5 handpicked items to try in the comfort of your own home. You have 5 days to decide what you want and clothing prices range based on your preferences between $30 – 70 per item. The best part is that your styling fee is applied towards your final purchase and you get 20% off when you keep 3-4 items, OR $30 percent off when you keep all 5 items!

Want to see what I got?

Outfit #1: Colosseum Floret Burnout Cool Racerback Tank in Sunshine and Primsport Leggings in Black
First off, I love the pretty yellow color and burnout details on this tank top. However, as much as I love a flowy top that doesn’t highlight my tummy, this is just WAY too flowy with its huge neck and armholes. It looks cute in the picture, but the moment I start running it slides all over the place. After just a little bouncing around, the neckline got hooked under my boobs in a weird ‘am I a flasher, or is this an outfit Madonna might wear’ kind of way. Not. Cute.

As for the leggings, they are pretty great with super breathable fabric, a high waist and a hidden pocket in the waistband. However, black leggings are pretty much the only thing that I already own… so I really don’t need another pair for $86.

Verdict: I think my stylist is going in the right direction, but no winners yet.

Outfit #2: Glyder Lundar Tank in Pink Stripe and Primsport Leggings in Black
This tank top is super soft and I really like the back detailing of the strappy top and mesh panel. For some reason I’m not really loving the stripes though. I guess it just looks too much like a normal shirt in the front and then a workout shirt in the back… kind of like a fitness mullet?

Verdict: The top is okay, but I feel like we can do better.

Outfit #3: Soybu Angie Tank in Pink Halftone and Soybu Allegro Capri in Pink Halftone
This top is really cool the way it incorporates an exercise bra and a baggier top all in one piece. They are connected, so once you figure out how to get it on, it’s on to stay and doesn’t budge. It’s kind of adorable and there is even a little sassy flash of skin on the sides. The problem is that the exercise bra is just not supportive enough for me to actually run in it. So, if I had a gym membership where I just walked from machine to machine looking cute as heck, it would work. As it is, I’m either on my (super bouncy) elliptical or running outside… so I really do need my tata’s to be as confined as possible.

The matching capri pants have a high waist, flat seams (to keep from any chaffing) and a cute little hidden waistband pocket. I’ve never really been a patterned leggings kinda girl, but I like these a lot. I also think that the price is super reasonable. After my $20 stylist fee comes out of it, they only cost me an extra $16! (PS, if you like them, here they are on the Soybu website.)

Verdict: The top is going back, but the leggings are MINE ALL MINE!

Was Wantable’s Fitness Edit Worth It?
Okay, to be honest… I freaking LOVED my Fitness Edit! It’s really hard for me to get motivated to run, so having some cute workout clothes really helps. I really liked the style of everything that my stylist sent me, which is incredible for my very first box. I love the capris that I decided to buy and I think I can get a lot of wear out of them – both alone and under some of my favorite running skirts. I even wore them over the weekend to do a run (a new longest mileage of 5 miles!) and they worked great, with no slipping around at all. I can’t wait to see what I get next month!

Have you tried the Wantable Fitness Edit? Do you think I choose wisely in deciding to keep the capris?