You like my pull-up tree? This is the spastic pull-up, you might not have seen it done before. There is frog kicking involved.
Fashion mags will tell you that every woman needs a “little black dress” or LBD, a blank canvas if you will for all your sartorial choices both present and future. If you get the right dress – one that fits like it was made for you – then you can dress it up with jewelry and heels for a black-tie affair or you can throw on a jean jacket (why yes they are back!) and sandals and head out to the farmer’s market. My family once had a foreign exchange student from Russia come stay with us and I kid you not, this was the entire contents of her luggage: a hot pink string bikini that doubled as a bra and panties (she rinsed it out in the sink every night and slept commando while it dried), a little black dress, a patterned scarf, her passport and a gigantic bottle of perfume. Talk about travelling light! But I got to see first hand how many outfits she could make out of that dress, scarf and bikini and let me tell you it was impressive. Not so functional when we took her camping in the back country but impressive nevertheless.
Love this pink top? Win it for yourself by leaving a comment below!
My problem is that I haven’t been to a black-tie event since I crashed a State dinner wearing a red sari for a reality TV show. Oh wait, that wasn’t me. I can’t remember the last time I had to dress up. So these days I’m all about the LBP(ants). With all the time I spend at the gym I live in my LBPs. They’re flattering, hide crotch sweat, hide my crotch in general, are super comfy and functional. I love them – as you may have guessed since they show up in every single picture I take for this site. I own 4 pairs. So when Mizuno asked if I wanted to try out their new spring line I said yes, please!! I’ve long been a fan of their shoes (Have you seen the new Wave Prophecy? I’m dying to try them out and not only because they look so space-age adorable!!) And so I wasn’t surprised to find I loved their capri pants as well. The swoopy pink leg stripe is really flattering. They are “running capris” which means that they are light and well-ventilated. (This also means they are rather transparent so be careful when touching your toes in public or, you know, just wear undies.)
Had to make sure the Mizuno capris were stretchy enough! (Also had to show off my pink Hello Kitty bow!)
You know what else every gym goer needs besides a great pair of pants? My book! (Yeah that was the smoothest transition ever!) And the sequel to my book – coming in January 2012!! I have to tell you guys I am so so excited about this new book. Have you ever read something you wrote in high school – like that really deep poem you got printed in the school Lit Magazine and loved so much you made every boyfriend since listen to it (No? Just me then??) – and cringed re-reading it? I am really proud of my first book, don’t get me wrong, but I made a lot of mistakes with it (wandering tenses, anyone?) and so I’m excited to make this one better. Also, with this book, much more of it is new material just for the book and never seen on the blog! There’s just so much I want to tell you guys and my posts already get crazy long sometimes. (Like this one? Ahem.) Writing this book has felt like one big happy sleepover with you guys where I tell you my deepest secrets until 2 a.m. when I get punchy then make a lot of weird jokes and we laugh and decide to go TP someone’s house. Fun!!
It was Animal Print day at TurboKick on Saturday and Gym Buddy Allison and I got a leeeetle camera happy!
ANYHOW.
Gym Hubby (who is my Home Hubby too – he just wanted a Gym Buddy title too but I told him he had to do an Experiment with us to earn that one) and I went through all the creative, hilarious, witty, informational and all-around awesome titles you guys submitted for my name-my-book contest. Just to review: the 5 winners picked below each get a free signed copy of my first book and if any of your suggestions are chosen by my publisher to be the final title you get a $25 gift card to Amazon! It was really hard to narrow it down as you guys really outdid yourselves!!
But what’s the fun of getting all glammed up if you can’t have a good photo sesh after all the sweating is done? (And you can’t tell in these pics but we are SCHWEATY! Turbo Jennie made us do TEN TURBOS.)
By far everyone’s favorite title was Gym Hubby’s suggestion of “The Great Fitness Experiment II: The Exercise Strikes Back” but since he already has more copies of my book than we know what to do with, he gets honorary first place. (Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets a prize!)
Good thing the Mizunos matched my tutu!!
So here are our favorite top 5 from your suggestions (in no particular order):
1. GFE 2 – Back and Sweatier than Ever! from Nikki (That’s the honest truth!)
2. Fitter by the Dozen from Becca (bellebottoms) (I loved Cheaper By the Dozen!!)
3. The Great Fitness Experiment 2: Toilet Sore and Back For More! from Claire (I. Laughed. So. Hard.)
4. 12 Excuses to wear a Tutu to the Gym from Another Suburban Mom (What better reason is there to workout?)
5. Charlotte’s W.E.B. (Ways to Exercise your Body) from The Original Drama Mama (It’s punny AND a literature allusion AND a play on my name!!)
Allison is too young to remember the 80′s which is a shame since she works it so well!
And because we couldn’t stop giggling, here are three that earned an honorable mention. While they wouldn’t work for the title I’m definitely going to try to work them into the book somehow!
GFE: A Scramble of a Dozen Egg-cellent Workouts! (I know I’m a dork) from Julie (And you are not a dork! I love a good pun! Hilarious!)
What do you get when a Mormon, Muslim, Catholic & Lutheran walk into a gym? from Gym Buddy Allison (Oh how I love this one!)
The Great Fitness Experiment – Conquering the world, one workout at a time from I’m Not Superhuman (I’m all about the world domination!)
Zebra was definitely the animal print of the day! I swear we didn’t plan this. The lovely Sara joined us for our photo op!
Girls in the top 5 – e-mail me your info (you can use the contact me tab at the top of the page) and I’ll get you your books! Thank you to everyone who entered! PLUS – a new giveaway! Leave a comment below to enter to win the pink Mizuno top pictured above for your very own! Do you have a LBD? Or tell me about your favorite gym bottoms!
You so want to workout with us now don’t you?? Also, I love how Melissa right behind me looks like she’s getting beamed up to the mothership!
P.S. In a stroke of pink-giveaway-kismet, MizFit is ALSO giving away a pink tank top on her site from Zensah so go get yourself entered there too!
“So, um, what do you want to do?” “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” “I asked you first!” “I got it – let’s dress up in bizarrely coordinated outfits and take pictures of ourselves!” “Wait, are we grown women or 13 year olds?” “Yes.”
Wait, I have to show you how even the soles of my shoes match my outfit! It’s a sickness, people…
for more of my crazy antics and uncomfortable over-shares!
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Love the shirt
Rose recently posted..Options
I’m addicted to workout clothes, it’s truly a problem. Just in the past few weeks I’ve purchased 2 new running shorts, a running top, fancy socks, new running shoes, and new running visor. I’m training for a half, it’s totally justified, right? Obviously, I need the pink top, too.
I wear really baggy shorts. I wrote about this one time in the gym that an old man (like really old…like 90 or something) told me that he couldn’t in good conscience not tell me that I need new shorts because I was showing off my girls parts to the whole gym every time I did leg raises on the bench.
I still wear those shorts on occasion. Just not on occasions where I will be doing leg raises. What?! They are comfy!
Clearly I need new workout clothing.
Katie recently posted..The excitement chaos continues
I have about 5 pairs of LBP!! After finding workout pants that fit me perfectly, I became obsessed and abandoned my soffe shorts…and now those are old news!
Tulika recently posted..PESTO! Part II
Awesome pants! My workout LBD are really LBG – gray with a blue stripe. But they come on every run. But its my convertible khaki hiking pants that are in EVERY.SINGLE. WEEKEND.PHOTO of me.
Would love to win the top! My running shoes are Mizuno too.
I love my LBC (little black crop) gym pants. I was just wearing them today, during spin. I like them because they’re ventilated on the side, but not anywhere else, so there’s no ‘peek-a-boo’ situations. I wear undies regardless, but…the pants are great. And, they dry really quickly, so there’s no awkward sweat pooling, and I can wash them in the morning and they’ll be dry by the time I want to go to the gym in the evening. Yay, for highly-functional, yet adorable items!
I’m assuming non-Americans, such as myself, are not eligible to win this lovely little pink top?
I have a question. Does your little (well, perhaps not so little anymore…) Jelly Bean have an adorable tutu like her mom? I really hope the answer is yes!
And, I sort of envy your freedom from dress-up events. I had to wear a formal dress approximately 4 times since January. One of the events was the Carbolic Smoke Ball (you said you like puns! I hope that extends to totally dorky law puns!). I wish formal wear had more uses, I wear the dresses once every couple of years (max!), yet they cost so much. On a usage-rated basis, my lululemon stuff is practically free as compared to formal wear.
First – yes, Canadians are eligible to enter! Sorry I forgot to put that in there!
Second – Jelly Bean has, um, at least 5 tutus that I can think of off the top of my head! So far she loves them!!
Third – your pun is awesome!! And I bet you rock formal wear!
charlotte recently posted..Gym Staple- LBP little black pants Plus winners of the GFE Book 2 title contest! And a GIVEAWAY!
My bottoms aren’t very fashionable– it’s usually an old boyfriend’s soccer shorts.
My favorite pair of crops are FILAs from Kohls and they are so worn on the thighs, they are pilled and super light colored. Whoops. I have a few other pairs, but they all have issues.
I am like, the epitome of gym wardrobe malfunctions. Seriously. Almost lost my shorts on the treadmill once – they were simultaneously creeping up in the crotch and falling down at the waist – yeah, not a good combo!! LOL!!! And, once tried to pull off pants to reveal shorts and pulled down the shorts half-way, too – in front of a male trainer – yeah, not my finest moment.
Oh and I do not own a LBD – though I do have lots of fun dressy dresses in my closet right now! We have had a year of weddings.
No need to enter me in the contest, I just won your yoga one a while back, so want to be fair! Great post!
Sweet! Can’t wait to read your book
My LBP’s are black capris that have a cute multi-color accent just below the waist, almost like a belt effect. I wear them to Zumba, cycling, playing sand v-ball…they don’t ride up or roll down and have lasted many many washings.
The Original Drama Mama recently posted..Summer Reading Plants Seeds- Reaps Benefits
I have a victoria’s secrete LBD that I love but is far too fancy to ever wear. Almost a waste of money in my opinion but it was just so darn pretty…
And I have a pair of LBPs from Nike that I would wear every day if it wasn’t totally disgusting.
Joob recently posted..Reassurances that I’m not a total idiot
Omg I am loving these pictures. ALL OF THEM!
Thank you for making me smile
And not trying to pawn a dessert recipe off on you, but I do have a nobake peanut butter and nutella graham bars recipe that seriously has your kids’ name all over it. 5-10 mins of active prep work, and dessert is ready. I thought of you when I was making it. Thinking Charlotte’s kids would love this!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga recently posted..Farmers Market
I don’t think I’ve ever made anything of yours that my kids haven’t loved! Will go check it out now!!
charlotte recently posted..Gym Staple- LBP little black pants Plus winners of the GFE Book 2 title contest! And a GIVEAWAY!
Mizuno has the best tights, I won’t run in anything else. They have that nice seam down the back of each glute/leg that breaks up what might otherwise be a wide, uninterrupted expanse of blackness. Very flattering!!!
Cort_the_sport recently posted..Christening the Q Roo- tendonitis update
oooh we DO need to have a great tutu giveaway.
on the same day….
Miz recently posted..Zensah racerback tank review-giveaway
I know! Between the pink tops and the tutus – all I need is a beautiful tattoo and we’ll be sartorial twins!
charlotte recently posted..Gym Staple- LBP little black pants Plus winners of the GFE Book 2 title contest! And a GIVEAWAY!
I so desperately want cute workout clothes. Unfortunately, the downside of a home gym is I don’t really have an excuse to spend the money. I have a couple cute pairs of capri’s from Costco, but my favorite gym shorts I bought back in 2000! I think it’s time for some new workout gear!
I totally agree with little black pants for exercising. They make everyone look slimmer, match everything without a thought, and effectively deal with the sweat issue.
I tried gray on recently, but they somehow showed lines of my seamless no-line exercise underwear! And they seemed to make me look 10 pounds heavier, so no, that isn’t happening anytime soon.
I often use black shirts with fun designs on the front for the same reason. The sweat spots on the back or the pits don’t show, and again, black is always slimming and dramatic.
Well, I work out at home thesedays, so my gear tends towards whatever half-clean boxer shorts I can find in the laundry, plus a 20 year old T-shirt from my backpacking days in Europe. Oh dear. I keep telling myself I should buy some cute workout clothes, but it just doesn’t seem worth it if there’s no-one to see it. Plus I’d probably worry too much about getting my pretty tops or tutus all stretched out or sweaty.
Hey, I can’t wait for the next book, Charlotte – loved the first!
I love my LBP! I have hind running capris that are just perfect. I also have a pair of longer and heavier black nike tights, I wear them more for skiing though. I definitely need some new workout shirts though, I have an overflowing drawer full of free cotton tees from every high school or university event/races/benefits etc. that serve as gym gear!
Emily recently posted..Boxing Hall of Fame 2011 Induction Weekend
I sadly do not have a LBD, but I do have lots of gym clothes – running shorts are my fave for everyday (they run! they cardio! they do weights! love a multi-tasker), but I also love my lululemon running capris. unfortunately florida is just too hot for them most of the year ;/
Kat recently posted..Vegan Bucket List
1. I really loved the “Toilet Sore and Back for More” title! SO glad it’s in the top 5!
2. Bummed I missed animal print day. You guys are HAWT!
3. Love, love, LOVE Meg’s SHOES!!!
4. I currently have 5 pairs of LBP. 2 of them are too big for me and I am no longer allowed to wear them in public. 1 is actually a pair of leggings that I used to wear to PiYo, but don’t like to wear to Turbo because they slip down with so much movement. This leaves me with 2 pairs I can actually wear, but only one pair that I really like. I definitely need new pants!
5. I miss you!
Regular Cinderella recently posted..A Year Ago
Aw, I miss you too honey!!
I love my black and pink running skirt, though I use it for everything BUT running. Turns out that unless you have skinny thighs (mine are the size of tree trunks, thank you very much), your thights will chafe and that is UBER painful. But I use it for Yoga, P90X, Turbo Fire and beach volleyball.
I am also a fan of the LBP. I only own three pairs, but I am sorely tempted to buy a gajillion more every time at Walmart (I’m addicted to Danskin).
No one and I mean no one can come close to the way you and your gym buddies dress!!!
If I win, I’ll wear it to my gym, honest and send you a photo too
Okay this makes me want to send you a top just for kicks and giggles! Want a sparkly leotard? I can totally hook you up:)
I don’t have a LBD, but I don’t get dressed up often so I don’t have much need for one!
I typically wear running shorts when I workout, which are great for running (duh) and most other forms of exercise, but I find when doing deadlifts they tend to ride up on me. :-/ I think I need to find some tighter LBP (or shorts) to avoid this.
I LOVE all those titles!
(And the pix, too. Yes, I TOTALLY want to work out with you guys!)
Love the pants and the top; tres cute!
I found an online store the other day called Discount Dance Supply. I haven’t received my stuff yet, but it’s gotten lots of good reviews. And goodness knows I LOVE my (not so) LBP! Cannot live without them.
You know I just looked up that site. My new mantra: I don’t need more workout clothes. (Now if only I believed it!)
Love the pink tutu and pink top. I have to say my favorite workout bottoms are my lululemon black speed shorts. They are the best ever.
Charlotte, I so wished I lived closer to you guys, you have way to much fun! It makes me kind of sad I work out all alone. Well other than my two dogs who have to tag along and get in Mommies way!!!! Wouldn’t have it any other way, my dogs.
I can not believe how flexible you still are. Flexibility was always my struggle as a gymnast, my coaches loved sitting me so did my mom. So, today, I kinda skip it!
Love the pink top and the pants to match! I did not used to be a pink fan, but my hubby likes me in pink so know I like it, funny little world. I think I will have to do a little shopping, what woman does not like that?!
I never really liked pink either until I had 3 sons & a husband, lol!
I just had to say i’m so glad i’m not the only one obsessed w/ cute workout clothes! Love the pics!
I always wear LBDs to the gym. I have a lot of them, both capri length and shorts, and I couldn’t imagine wearing anything else!
Love the photos! I definitely want to work out with you guys now. LBP’s are on the top of my shopping list for when I’m not broke. I’m tired of working out in shorts I’ve owned since high school.
I have LBP that I wear a lot. Or running skirts. Anything to hide the crotch sweat!! I did feel a little weird at football camp this weekend in my LBP though….I thought they might look a little too much like football pants. I wanted a good workout, but didn’t want the coaches to think that I was trying THAT hard
I like the Little black leggings…have a few pair. I am convinced I’ll flash the world in shorts (plus I mostly have to ride the bike for cardio now) so leggings are it. I am looking forward to the point wehre I have enough stuff to actually mix and match. Right now – I just go for coverage
Gesosomin recently posted..Once more into the throng
I need that tank top, purty please!
Ruth recently posted..Preface of The Way of Selflessness
I have two LBDes, both of which can be srunched up in my luggage. But, I never have any excuse to wear them.
Rose recently posted..Introducing- Team MAndrew!
I need a new workout top. Mine are getting to be on their last thread
I love my LBP! My faves are mizuno cropped running pants. They happen to have pink them so the workout top would match perfectly!
Would love to win – thanks!
First off….YEAAAAAAA for being chosen!!! that totally made my day turn right back around! it was headed to sucksville on a high speed train…with no windows…haha dramatic much? ummm…anyways, i heart mizuno pants as well…i’ve worn mine so much yet they look EXACTLY like they did when i bought them a while back….soooo worth the extra moola they cost!
sometimes I ponder seeing how much flights would cost to just jet up there and hang out with the gym buddies…I’d probably lose 5 lbs just from laughing all day…wait, THAT should be the next experiment! The bodily function workout! laughing, farting, and belching your way through the day…hmmm… haha
The bodily function workout! Am adding it to my list!! I love you:)
My favorites are black capris by Champion, because they fit, they wick and they’re not see-through! It’s not like there are a lot of choices in 2XL and I’m pretty happy to have found some that have worked great for me.
Cheree recently posted..Yay for Saturday!
As a former half-marathon runner (using the term “runner” VERY lightly, haha) and current derby-girl-in-training, I could not LIVE without my LBPs! In derby, because of the pads, you learn to appreciate swees (sweaty knees) the same way I’m sure you appreciate swack, and LBPs can help with that by absorbing some of the funk and letting you wash your pads less frequently without killing your teammates with your stench.
YOU CAN DO THE PIGEON??!!! OHMIGOSH!!! Charlotte, I have been working on the pigeon for years, my friend. YEARS! And it looks stunning in a pink tutu. I am in awe.
Aw thanks:) You should remember tho – flexibility is my only god-given athletic ability. Everything else I kinda suck at.
I haven’t had internet for weeks….how I have missed your blog!!
I do have a LBD, it cost me $20 from H&M and I will cry when it bites the dust!
Carly recently posted..I know…
And how I have missed you! So glad you’re back!! I heart the H&M!
I definitely have an LBD and I have my fave pair of little black pants for working out!
Those are just about the best pics ever on your blog & that is hard to say since so many many entertaining ones!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! You guys are too funny & show what it takes to work out AND have fun!
Of course I want that top so bad!!!! I need workout clothes big time. I wear UH stretchy shorts for my workout bottoms but only have 3 pair so they got worn out fast! I still wear them though – OH OH!
Those titles are fantastic & I love the hubby one… I got to say that I love #4 BUT #5 might hit home with more people – about exercising the body vs. just saying the gym which not all people want to do…..
You are soooooooooooooooooo cute!
Jody – Fit at 53 recently posted..GIVEAWAY- Golfing Caddy or Go CaddyHappy Bday!
Thank you Jody! You are so sweet! You’re already an honorary gym buddy – we need to get you a tutu;) (You AND Dr. J!)
I do have LBP and I sometimes i resort to washing them in the shower to wear them again….
Oh Charlotte, how I look forward to your posts – no one appreciates good workout costuming like you
I recently ran a 5 K in strped tights and a feather skirt. Although, I could ROCK.THE.HOUSE. in that pink tutu…….where oh where did THAT come from?
I am determined to one day make a trip south to meet the gym buddies in real life – until then, please know you have a Great Canadian Appreciator
THis: ” no one appreciates good workout costuming like you” may be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me! And I need to see pics of your feather skirt!! Sounds fab! Would love to have you be a Gym Buddy for a day – you are welcome any time!
P.S. The tutu I got for $5 on clearance from Hot Topic. Go check ‘em out online they have a TON of tutus. Wait long enough and they go on sale!
I am excited about your next book! I have the first one and share it with everyone (oops maybe I should make them buy their own copy??)
Hahah – no worries! I just appreciate that you like it so much!!
Wahoo! I need to get you my email!
It was such a blast reading all the entries too.
In regards to this post, um, I’m slacking on the LBD front. In fact a lot of my nice dresses are too big.
I need to go shopping. I do, however, have a fav pair of LBP that I wear all.the.time while running. They are the Nike Tech capris and they have the zip up butt pocket on the back, which my key and phone fit in perfectly and stay put in the entire run so I am hands free.
Who’d have thunk I’d ever been in spandex!?
Seriously, you need to go around to different cities so all us wonderful followers can do some fun work outs with you . Just a suggestion.
Have a great day!
Nikki recently posted..Day 45- Found Magazine- Baby
“What do you get when a Mormon, Muslim, Catholic and Lutheran walk into a gym…” ROFLOL! That’s fantastic.
I want a pink tanktop! My “Little Black Dress” is really a black dress with white polka dots and an A-line skirt from ModCloth.
I usually work out in Lulu crops, sometimes with a running skirt on top.
elaine! recently posted..What has 24 legs and runs all night long
Ohmygoodness – Modcloth is my second favorite clothing site!!! (My first is Tulle – mostly because they have such kick butt sales!)
Oh man, I know! I can look at their dresses section all day long
It is all about the LBP at the gym! Except I wore a hole in the butt of my LBP so now it’s all about LBlueP for me. (Yep, I had the same ones in black and navy.) But these are also wearing thin. I think it’s time for new pants.
Abby recently posted..Perfectionism
Yes yes I have a LBP and I love them. I wash it twice a week so that I can wear it to th gym twice a week. That tank top is pretty. Would love to win them
I love my LBP, except I have them in the long pant, capri and shorts versions. I’m probably around 8 pair right now, because I can’t bring myself to wear anything else. I have one pair of gray, but they leave funny sweat marks that shouldn’t be seen in public!
As far as the need to match? I have that sickness, too!
Heather recently posted..I Can’t Remember the Last Time…
Gosh darn you guys are cute!
I have an old pair of black shorts from Lululemon that I love. I have tried to get more but they quit making that style. Thankfully they have lasted for 8 years so far and are still in style!
I’m actually having a hard time finding the perfect pair of LBP that I love. I bought some from Athleta that worked great for me, but then that style was discontinued.
As a rower, I’m all about the little black shorts (LBS) – especially the ones from Walmart. I must have 4-5 pair (plus 2 pair of capris for those days when i forget to shave). I wear them to the gym, to row, to run, to do housework, to sleep…if I could wear them to work, I would. In a heartbeat. (Business casual environment though; that much leg would be a bit shocking to the muckety-mucks).
And I would love to get my hands on that tank top after reading MizFit’s review and seeing it demo’d here!
Also – I lurrrrrve “What do you get when a Mormon, Muslim, Catholic & Lutheran walk into a gym?”
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