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Spinning my way to curvy fitness gear with Krista Henderson

Aero Tech Designs plus bike shortBack in the spring, Krista Henderson of Plus Performance Fitness threw a little challenge my way – join her in her fave spin class at the Toronto Athletic Club. Although I was quite sure I would die, I agreed. Game on.

Now Krista as you may have read in my previous blog, is in really great shape. I have been a Booty Camp Fitness devotee for several months so thought I wasn’t doing too badly either. Just one problem..my instructor had us do about 5000 lunges the night before my first spin class…therefore my legs & butt were in agony getting on that bike. Not good. Not good at all.

15 minutes in, I realized the need for proper equipment and in an effort to save my assets from misery, wedged my towel between my behind and the seat. Relief. Glancing over at Krista’s gear, I knew I needed to know where it was all from!

Having raced in many endurance events, Krista has searched high and low for gear for the curvy athlete. Her fave bike shorts are from Aero Tech Designs, also offering triathalon outfits with sizing up to a 28. For sports bras she recommends Enell and her fave triathlon gear is from De Soto Sport with the XXL being her perfect fit.

I survived the class and I’m in for more spinning – just have to buy some of those shorts first…

Yours on the curve,

Liis

Photo: Aero Tech Designs


POSTED IN    Fashion, Fitness, Inspiring Curvy Women, Shopping, plus-size fashion

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Krista Henderson: Inspiring others through fitness

Expert fitness trainer Krista Henderson is bubbly and positive so it’s no wonder she inspires her clients with her enthusiastic outlook. The creator of Plus Performance Fitness, she’s raced in over 20 endurance events. Ten minutes into our chat she’s sweetly persuading me to participate in a spin class with her and I find myself saying yes.

Plus Performance Creator Krista Henderson

She infuses her health and fitness wisdom in her personalized programs stressing the importance of loving ourselves and celebrating our bodies while recognizing and acknowledging our accomplishments instead of focusing on the negative. Specializing in plus-size fitness, Krista adds,”Women go too hard, too fast, get discouraged, then stop. Or sometimes women fear people are looking and judging them as they work out when in reality, they are admiring them.”

Krista offers a unique online/telephone training program allowing her to coach and inspire worldwide. She encourages people to be accountable for their health – first to her and then most importantly, to themselves. As clients’ needs are unique, Krista personalizes each training regiment stressing the need to not discourage ourselves before starting, commencing a cardio routine with walking if needed.

Most importantly, Krista states,”Healthy and fit comes in different sizes and shapes.”  I hear you! Stay tuned to see if I survive the spinning class…

Yours on the curve,

Liis

Photo: Plus Performance Fitness


POSTED IN    Fitness, Inspiring Curvy Women

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More curvy activewear (finally!) hitting the market

Addition Elle's ae sport Collection

Thank you gods of fitness for binging more plus-size workout clothing to the market! I have been  active my entire life and don’t have enough sporty clothes to keep up with me. Seems I am always doing laundry because I have so few outfits that fit properly. Another problem being an amazon, is that pants and tops are often too short – not fun or attractive when tops ride up while working out. I want to concentrate on those push-ups not what wardrobe malfunction may be unfolding!

Several great lines have recently hit the market. Reitmans just launched Yoga Life, available in plus sizes 1-3X and plus petites 1XP-3XP – a variety of lengths for all in the yoga pant (tall available too – yay!!), slim leg capri and the wide leg capri. I really love that all pants have an inner media pocket to hold a key, ipod, cellphone etc. – small but important feature and now I don’t have to try to tie my key to my shoe before power walking!

Addition Elle has substantially expanded its workout line with ae sport and until May 18th there are great deals to be had. Loving the yoga tanks – long enough – bless you! And there is lots of selection in workout pants for all heights.

More working out with less time in the laundry room!

Yours on the curve,

Liis

Photo: Addition Elle


POSTED IN    Fab Finds!, Fashion, Fitness, Sales, Shopping, plus-size fashion

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Where are the Olympic fashions for curvy women?

Authentic Vancouver 2010 Olympic Team Canada Jersey - Red

I was a huge jock growing up and came from a very athletic family.  I joke that I came out of my mother’s womb with a softball in one hand and a basketball in the other. So, I get really into the Olympics – especially when Canada hosts. Bring on the hockey!

I am adamant about wearing red and white when Olympic festing – I want to look Canadian, shop Canadian and support Canadian athletes. But I have to get this off my chest, why do I generally have to wear men’s clothing to do so? My 2000 and 2002 Olympic shirts are men’s sizing. This year, I am lucky to have found 1 XXL women’s jersey after much searching but if I am a size 14, what are curvier women going to wear? Answer: Men’s clothing.

I love all the styles available, love that in true Canadian fashion many will opt to wear the Hockey Canada jerseys but I just wish my choices weren’t taken away from me due to sizing. The cut on a woman’s shirt is different than a man’s.  I may be an athletic person but I still like to look like a woman in the way that I dress.  So, for the next Olympics, could we please make sizes all Canadian women can wear?

Yours on the curve,

Liis

Photo: Hockey Canada


POSTED IN    Fashion, Fitness, Shopping, plus-size fashion

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Activewear never looked so good

Walk Fit Yoga PantsIt’s that time of year again when we all vow to make exercise a part of our regular routines. Whether our New Year’s resolutions stick or not, there’s always room for comfy activewear in our wardrobes, isn’t there? Whether you’re planning on jogging to work or just in need of some comfy threads to slip into when you get back from the office, activewear is the way to go.

When comfy meets stylish, well, we just can’t resist! These Walk Fit Yoga Pants from Addition Elle are the prfect addition to any woman’s wardrobe. Why? Because we deserve to feel comfortable without sacrificing our flair for fashion.

When it comes to activewear, what are you looking for most?


POSTED IN    Fab Finds!, Fashion, Fitness, Shopping

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Ottawa is where it’s at

BellesPlus.com PortalCatherine  Leteinturier Guissé, I think you are one smart cookie. This Ottawa native has just launched The BellesPlus.com Portal, an online resource for all things plus. Her frustration trying to find plus-size stores has turned into our gift. Travelling to another city and wanting to part with your cash on some new clothes?  She has you covered. Need to find an exercise program in your area that caters to a curvy clientele?  She’s on it. Interested in plus-size consignment stores in your city?  She has the info. Yoga? Dance? DVD’s? Cruises? On it.

There are many American online resources  but very few informative sites catering to the Canadian plus-size consumer.  This site is a work in progress with new links being added constantly – so if you know of a store that isn’t listed, you may register it so more curvy fashionistas can be in the know. She is even tracking down resources worldwide – I now know where to shop in Denmark!

Even more fashion fun going down in Ottawa right now… You can still catch the Lola & Gigi Capital Shopping Event at the Hotel Indigo Ottawa this Friday and Saturday.  This store carries really unique pieces and the events are always so much fun so make a day or evening out of it with your girlfriends!

Image:  BellesPlus.com Portal


POSTED IN    Amazing Events, Fab Finds!, Fashion, Fitness, Shopping

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Throwing yoga a curve

Mega Yoga

I recently took up yoga and have to admit, am now slightly addicted.   I was pretty proud of myself twisting my body into all kinds of interesting poses –  holding them for several minutes with sweat trickling between my eyeballs and my legs and arms crying out for me to stop.  After hitting up Zellers for some great workout clothing – love the pants! – I explored several classes with various instructors.  They were all very helpful explaining the poses but something struck me immediately – my curvy body just doesn’t bend the same way a size 4 woman’s body might… I found myself adjusting some of the poses for my body shape. I even had to tell one instructor,”Umm…my torso just doesn’t move that way.” With this in mind, I was browsing through sale books at Indigo today and came across Mega Yoga, a great book (and currently only $4.99!) created by Megan Garcia, a beautiful size 18 model and yoga instructor. Flipping through the photos in the book, I started to smile as she demonstrated many poses and ways to modify them for a curvier body type – some of them ones I had felt the need to alter. It’s like having my own private yoga instructor!

Photo: Mega Yoga


POSTED IN    Fashion, Fitness, Sales, Shopping

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