Athleisure 101: 5 Fitness Model Tips to Find Your Workout Style

Athleisure is all about wearing clothing designed for workouts and other athletic activities in less traditional settings—such as at work, school, or at other casual and social occasions. And like any other form of fashion, you can express yourself in a multitude of ways and still be comfortable, stylish, and true to the healthy living goddess you are. I live my life in spandex because my job requires me to sweat, but my athleisure style has also translated into business casual, travel, and upscale chic. The next time you go to a group fitness class, take a look around for inspiration. There are usually various categories of fit-fashion style. From the Lululemon loyalists to the femme fatales rocking cut-outs and sheer paneling, to the graphic-tee inspiration junkies. Gone are the days of the oversized T-shirt; every room is filled with colors, patterns, and textures. Start with these simple tips to find your personal athleisure style, and then with a few accessories and a layer or two, you’ll be off and running. 5 Tips to Find Your Athleisure Style 1. Find the perfect sports bra. Your breast size should determine the type of bra you wear on the regular. There is nothing worse than constantly adjusting yourself during the only hour you have to sweat in your day. If you have a larger chest or need lift, I suggest the Enlite bra. If you are part of the itty-bitty committee like me, then I suggest this seamless bra from Alala or the Reebok Cage Bra that is also great for layering and makes a bold statement. 2. Find the perfect pair of tights. These days, tights come in so many colors, fabrics, and cuts, it can make your head spin. I own travel tights, workout tights, and trendy tights (I wish I was kidding). Each work for different occasions, but you cannot go wrong with a solid black pair in a cut and fabric that works for you. This is one of my favorite options. You can wear it almost anywhere. 3. Pair sneakers with everything. If Kendall and Gigi can do it, so can you. Pairing fashion-forward sneakers with skirts or dresses gives you a cool girl vibe that says you go with the flow, but you’re still a #bossbabe. 4. Pay attention to cut. Mainstream fashion rules do apply. Make sure you try on all items. These days, fitness clothes are not cheap. They are investment pieces that can stand up to your sweat. Black is slimming, halters show off upper body muscle tone, and a high waist keeps lower bellies in check. Have fun with color and prints and find ways to style from the studio to the street. 5. Layer up. Find a chic vest or jacket and bag to help you transition to brunch or the boardroom. In the end, your style can range from preppy to edgy. The most important rule is to simply have F-U-N and stay true to who you are. About Taylor: Taylor is Nutritious Life Certified and is a certified personal trainer, fitness model, and content curator of health, fitness, and lifestyle blog TaylorWalkerFit.com. Taylor tries her best to “walk the walk and talk the talk” as an ambassador for healthy living. She blogs about fitness trends, healthy cooking, and athleisure style to inspire her readers to live the healthiest, balanced, and most fashion-forward lifestyles possible. Her goal is to empower women to be their best selves in the most real way possible. Drink the wine, eat the burger, do the sit-ups, celebrate you, and live the happy-healthy life you love and deserve. That is Taylor Walker Fit. Follow her on Instagram at @taylorwalkerfit!

3 Life-Changing Reasons to Start Biking that Have Nothing to Do with Exercise

Twenty years ago, Andy Levine biked from Switzerland to the South of France. In Burgundy, he discovered one of his favorite benefits of biking. “Because you’re working it off on the bike, you get to enjoy more food and wine,” he says. That trip inspired him to create DuVine, a cycling and adventure company that today hosts bike tours in Europe, Latin America, the U.S. and Africa. Think pedaling and tasting and sipping your way through Tuscany accompanied by a master chef, or exploring volcanoes and vineyards in Chile on two wheels. While Levine is a definite fan of performance cycling and can wax poetic on the cardio and weight-management benefits of being on a bike, he’s even more passionate about the deeper ways in which cycling can enrich your life. Not sure if biking is right for you? Consider these benefits before you make up your mind. 3 Benefits of Biking 1. It’s age-defying. “Biking makes me feel much younger than I am,” Levine says. “It makes you feel like a kid. How can you not feel 12 years old doing something so fun and carefree?” 2. It’s great for stress relief and mental health. “When I’m on my bike, I’m just happy. Long rides where the wind is on my face, my blood is pumping, and the smells of the world waft by me make it so easy to be grateful and joyful,” he explains. The activity does combine two research-backed mood boosters: endorphin-stimulating exercise and being out in nature. RELATED: 4 Fun, Easy Ways to Take Your Workout Outside “I’m also pretty high-energy, and a good ride acts like a yoga class or massage. It winds me down and makes me feel calm and balanced,” he says. “It gives me perspective, too, since no ride is ever the same, and I’m able to see how the landscape around me is constantly changing and evolving—just like everything in life. I do my best thinking on the bike.” 3. It will expand your social life and community. “Cycling is a lifestyle, and the sense of community among cyclists is incredibly strong. Personally, my social life revolves around cycling,” Levine says. “I met all of my friends this way, and it’s easy to bond quickly since there’s so much talking and chatter that happens on a long ride.” RELATED: What’s The Difference Between Exercise and Movement? “It’s also a great common ground for networking. At DuVine, our employees regularly step out of the office for an afternoon ride together. It makes me so happy to see the camaraderie evolving through cycling. On our trips, many guests form lifelong friendships, often meeting fellow travelers that they will continue to vacation with year after year. The simplest way to explain it is that biking brings people together.” (Images: DuVine)

Chocolate Chip Protein Cake Fuels Holly Perkins’ Fit Lifestyle

Wellness star Holly Perkins is a highly credentialed fitness expert, but she also just really, really loves to exercise. “If it were up to me, I’d work out twice every day, because I love it and it makes me me,” she says. “But because I focus on strength training, I have to allow for a bit more recovery some days.” Instead, the author of Lift to Get Lean and leader of Women’s Strength Nation sticks to six to eight sweat sessions per week (!), with at least one full rest day. How does she fuel that active of a lifestyle? Find out about her signature chocolate chip protein cakes, plus her many other healthy habits, below. How Holly Perkins Lives a Nutritious Life If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? I’ve been following my own eating methodology based on genetic testing that respects a macronutrient approach with some blood-typing elements. Sounds really sexy, huh? What’s your go-to breakfast? I created a chocolate chip protein cake that I’m obsessed with! I feel so stable all day when I start my day with it. Its base is egg whites, rolled oats, and banana. Most importantly, it includes chocolate chips. Your go-to workday lunch? Grilled turkey breast or Vital Choice wild salmon, sweet potato, and a green blended drink with kale, spinach, grapefruit, and fresh turmeric root. Your go-to workday dinner? I eat so well all day long that often I’m not hungry at dinner. Sometimes I just do a protein shake, and sometimes it’s another piece of my breakfast cake, lol. A snack you always have with you when traveling? Protein in any form—often organic turkey jerky. What do you eat before and after a workout? Oh gosh, now I’m really going to sound boring; I eat my protein breakfast cake before every workout! It’s just amazing because it fuels me perfectly, tastes amazing, and is so easy to digest. I don’t ever have to worry about an upset stomach or bloating during my workout. I also feel so fueled and strong. Your favorite food indulgence? Donuts!!!!!! Other than water, what do you sip regularly? Super strong Japanese sencha. Which workout would you NEVER do? I don’t think one exists! I love every single form of workout and activity. How do you stay active outside the gym? I LOVE to hike the mountains in the Los Angeles area and go for walks almost every day. I have to spend time outside every day for mental health and general well being. What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Yoga and sleep! Do you have a favorite health gadget? I have so many! I’m almost permanently attached to my heart rate monitor for workouts. Once you get your intensity levels right, you can change your body is so many ways. I also really love My Fitness Pal for diet tracking. I strategize my macronutrients based on my day, goals, and workouts. Things really changed for me once I understood how much protein and carbohydrates to eat each day. I also really love any device that accurately tracks sleep. I loved my Jawbone Up for sleep tracking so much that I wore it out! Now I need to get a new one. How do you express and spread love? I’m an “acts of kindness” kind of person. I love to show my love by giving, showing up, and supporting people. I am very conscious about sending the energy of love, acceptance, and community at every moment possible. I always tip well and demonstrate my appreciation during all little interactions throughout the day, like a visit to Starbucks or the grocery store. Lightning Round Meditation or massage? Foot massage please! A hot shower or a soothing bath? Bath with good sniffy oils! Almond butter or peanut butter? In dreams I choose peanut butter with sugar, but in reality I choose natural almond butter. Sigh. Coffee or tea? Both please, super hot. A long run outside or a dark spin class? Long run outside on the beach. “How Do You Live a Nutritious Life?” is a recurring column. Featured guests complete a questionnaire and select answers are then chosen and edited to share, here. Are you a wellness pro interested in sharing how you live a Nutritious Life? Email lisa@nutritiouslife.com to be considered.