Two years ago, I had a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods and I used that opportunity to buy myself a Garmin 405.

It is a running joke in my family that everything I buy is a lemon. That is because everything I buy is a lemon. And this Garmin was no exception. I can’t even begin to describe all the trouble I had with this thing. I am grateful I had it and was able to use it some of the time (including during my marathon), but overall it caused me way too much unnecessary stress.

I reached my last straw when I took it off the charger to go for a run a couple weeks ago. It was at 100%, and when I got outside and turned it on I got a “low battery” warning. Fifteen minutes later, it was dead. And I was done.

I researched some other options and decided to buy the Nike+ SportWatch GPS. I was aware of its strengths as well as its one main drawback — its inability to record any data for incomplete miles — and decided this was not enough of a deterrent to prevent me from buying the most affordable GPS watch I found at $169.

I loved the watch as soon as I opened the box. The design is sleek and looked much less bulky on my wrist than my Garmin. And when I plugged it into my computer (the USB is IN the watch, which I found convenient and cool) a screen popped up where I could set all my watch preferences. The entire process was extremely simple and user friendly.

In addition to GPS, this watch comes with a Nike+ Sensor foot pod. This is important because it means you can use the watch on the treadmill, and even better, you can start your run while the watch finds its satellites. I spent so many cold mornings hopping around waiting up to 30 minutes for my Garmin to find satellites. With this, you can start running right away and as soon as the watch finds satellites, the GPS will take over.

The next morning, I went out for my run. I didn’t set up my foot pod yet because I had a little foot pod holder (the Sensor itself fits inside Nike shoes, but if you don’t wear Nikes you can buy a little shoelace attachment case for it) but hadn’t unpacked it yet from my move.

I get asked a lot if the Nike finds GPS signal faster than the Garmin. The answer is no. It was exactly the same, but again, once you have the foot pod it doesn’t really matter. I got a signal and started my run.

The greatest thing about using the Nike+ watch after the Garmin is how easy it is to view your various stats during the run. With one simple button, I can easily switch from pace, to total time running, to speed, to the current time (this is HUGE, I never knew what time it was with my Garmin) – and easily get back to wherever I started. Speaking of that, using the Nike+ software on your computer, you can set your preferences for the two stats that default on the home screen. I keep the large stat my mileage and the smaller one on top (this is the one that changes as you press the button) my pace.

I never did any type of tempo or speed work with my Garmin because I found using it extremely complicated. My screen would always switch around to different views and I wasn’t always able to get it back where I wanted it. The touch bezel was temperamental and didn’t always respond, and the controls were not at all intuitive. But with this Nike+, if and when I decide to do some tempo runs or laps, I already know how easy it is. And I’m really excited about that!

But, me being me, of course I got a lemon. During my very first run, my mileage froze at 1.71 and the watch would not update after that. It was immensely frustrating, especially since I was so excited about this watch after my terrible Garmin experience. I got in touch with Nike+ over Twitter and they recommended a factory reset.

Considering I JUST GOT IT from the factory, I was annoyed, but I did what they said and I didn’t have that problem anymore.

The other lemon issue came when I tried using the foot pod sensor. My watch would not recognize that there was a foot pod. I tried everything I could in terms of syncing, and it just didn’t work. I found an old Nike+ sensor from a few years ago, though, and the watch recognized it right away. It turns out I received a dead sensor. A lemon. If you were taking bets (I’m looking at you Matt and Mal) you are probably a very rich person right now. And unfortunately, unless I return the entire watch (which I am not willing to do because I don’t want to be without it), Nike won’t send me a new one. Luckily I have that old one and hopefully it keeps working.

The sensor is really what catapults the Nike+ far ahead of the Garmin for me. I know some Garmins have a sensor, but it costs extra and doesn’t include all models. I know I mentioned this before, but being able to start my run out the door saves me so much time and being cold, and I feel so much happier to be running.

As far as accuracy goes, I know the sensor is generally not as accurate as a GPS, but my GPS kicks in so quickly that I don’t care. I can start my run and that’s all that matters.

After my run, I plug my watch right into the computer. I actually JUST bought another Garmin ANT stick because I couldn’t find mine, and then I found it so now I have two that I don’t need. I like that this watch itself plugs right in so I don’t have to worry about small pieces. After it syncs, I can view my route, splits, elevation, pace – everything I looked at with my Garmin software. I especially love how when I look at my route, I watch my run as it happens. A thick orange line traces my exact route as a counter on the side updates the elevation and pace at every single point of my run. It’s very cool!

[That orange line will move along the length of the gray line that shows my route, and on the right as the orange line moves along the route, that stat counter will update to show my run in real time]

As for battery life, WOW. With my Garmin, I had to keep it plugged in at all times or the battery would die within the day. If I forgot to plug it in, I couldn’t use it for my next run. And it went from 100% to dead while running a few times. The Nike+ battery is amazing. I keep my watch in my drawer and even after days, it doesn’t die. I can take it out of my drawer and run with it at any time. It also charges very quickly after a run.

The only true drawback of this watch that I’ve found is the one everyone complains about – it only records data for full miles. That means that if you run 3.5 miles, you only get data for 3. If you run 5.99 miles, you only get data for 5. I don’t understand how they could release a watch like this and I’m not sure of the reasoning, but I hope that in a future software update Nike decides to fix this. But like I said, that issue wasn’t enough to stop me from buying the watch and I generally don’t mind since I tend to run full miles anyway.

Of course, when I run a 10K on Saturday, I’ll probably be annoyed by this. But in general, it’s not that big a deal.

If you’re in the market for a new GPS watch, I highly recommend the Nike+ SportWatch GPS – even with the issues I had. No one else seems to get lemons the way I do, and the benefits of this watch — the ease of use, the battery, the look, the website data — are such a delight after my Garmin, and I am extremely happy with my purchase.

It is no secret that I like my workout clothes. But what you might not realize is that I am neurotically particular about material and cut, and I go crazy if I feel like anything is touching my skin too much. It is for this reason I can’t wear running tights (and most running crops) or higher-wasted bottoms, and it is the reason I will never, even wear a short sleeve top for exercise. It has to be a tank and it has to give me room to breathe. If I am wearing yoga pants to a class, I will roll up the bottoms so they aren’t touching my legs. Another quirk is that I absolutely have to wear a headband when I work out. If too much sweat touches my face I get nuts. And you better be sure all the clothes are very moisture-wicking or I will claw at myself.

I also don’t sleep in underwear, I take off my pants and jewelry the second I get home from anywhere, I never wear tights or stockings, I never wear socks at home and I always wear a big sweatshirt to travel so I don’t have to wear a bra. But those are stories for another time.

My point is, I am very particular about what I wear to exercise. So when ellasport reached out to me to review some clothes, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Excitement because someone wants to send me free things! Free things for exercise! My dream in life! Apprehension because I knew there was a chance the clothes would cause one or more of the problems outlined above.

But when I read through their website I was impressed. Especially when I saw the company’s mission:

ellasport’s mission is to provide women with technical athletic apparel that is designed for a woman’s body and makes her feel good about herself.

ellasport’s goal is to give you the confidence and motivation to push yourself further than you thought possible, to help you release your motivated inner self and unstoppable confidence that knows no limits.

I love what ellasport is aiming for with their brand. This is exactly the type of product I’d like to promote. I browsed through the website and there are really great elements included with the products, such as that awesome, useful and cute back zipper in the New Power Capris.

I received two products to try — the Gramercy Racerbank Tank and the Workout Skirt.

The Review

Gramercy Racerback Tank in blue.

The Gramercy Racerback tans provides ample support with an attached bra that gives full coverage across the chest. The bra is made of the same fabric as the tank. The hip is wider than the waist and top so it stays in place and does not ride up. The Gramercy Racerback tank has a feminine, sexy look with its square neckline.

   
[Photos from ellasport.com]

When I first tried this top on I wasn’t sure if I liked it. It fit very well across the top, but the bottom was a bit baggier than I usually wear. But it was comfortable and the built-in bra felt relatively supportive.

I wore this tank top twice to spinning and once to do the 30 Day Shred DVD. When I did the DVD — which includes lots of jumping jacks — the shirt was comfortable and surprisingly supportive during the jumps. I wouldn’t run without another bra underneath, but it was more than sufficient for this particular workout. I tweeted:  “Just wore my new @ellasport tank for my workout. Comfy and surprisingly more supportive than it looks.” The top was extremely lightweight and almost felt like I wasn’t wearing anything at all — exactly my type of clothing!

The first time I went to spin with this on, I couldn’t stop looking at myself in the class mirrors. This shirt is even more flattering that I originally thought, and it has a really great fit. I actually liked the slight bagginess that I was unsure about at first because it hid some areas I’ve been self conscious about since Cookie-Overload Oh-Eleven, and it didn’t feel uncomfortable in any way.

After class, I tweeted again:  “Another note of praise for my @ellasport top – it is so moisture wicking, I thought I just didn’t sweat much in spin. Until I took it off.”

True story — the inside was soaked! The sweat-wicking abilities in the Gramercy Racerback Tank far surpassed what I expected based on other workout clothing I’ve worn.

Workout Skirt

The Workout Skirt™ falls just below the waist and has compression shorts attached – made of the same fabric as the skirt – that provide light compression to your leg muscles to help fight fatigue. The compression shorts hit at the mid- to high-thigh and have a mid-rise. The skirt portion is an inch longer than the shorts for just the right coverage.

I also tried the Workout Skirt for running. The skirt was long on me, longer than it looks in this photo. I have to admit that I like really short shorts and skirts when I run. A big part of exercising for me is feeling comfortable and sexy. So while this skirt certainly felt comfortable and looked flattering, I knew it wasn’t something I would choose for myself as I would the top.

While the material is not particularly lightweight, the built-in compression shorts under the skirt really make this a standout item. They are long enough that you’d wear them as shorts on their own (if they came that way), eliminating any fears of flashing strangers as you speed by. They’re comfortable and do not ride up at all. And like the top, the Workout Skirt is incredibly moisture-wicking.

I went for a quick treadmill run with this skirt. As I suspected, the longer material made me a little crazy as it touched my legs during the run. But that is my own quirk and I think for women who prefer longer shorts and skirts, this would be a great piece to try.

The Giveaway

To enter to win the Gramercy Racerback Tank worth $68, leave me a comment in the comments section below telling me which color Gramercy Racerback Tank you’d most like to own. Visit ellasport.com to see the colors available.

Get up to three additional entries by doing each of the following:

• Follow ellasport on Twitter (let me know you did so in your comment)
• Like ellasport on Facebook (let me know you did so in your comment)
• Tweet the following: I want to win @ellasport workout gear #giveaway from @dysterious: http://dorishinyblog.com/?p=7752

I must receive all entries by 11:59 pm on Monday, January 23 and the odds of winning are determined by the number of entries received. No purchase necessary to enter. Open to US residents only.

I received these products from ellasport at no charge. I was not paid to write this review, nor was I obligated to write one. All opinions are entirely my own.

While it is no secret that Core Fusion is my preferred bar class of choice, I am always open to trying other studios out. In fact, Core Fusion was not the first class I tried. Prior to really getting involved in Core Fusion, I took two Physique 57 classes, one The Body class, two Nalini Method classes (not counting the third I recently tried). I reviewed those initial classes without having Core Fusion to even compare them to!

And while I enjoyed each of those experiences, I didn’t feel compelled to get memberships at the time. It wasn’t until I fell in love with the strength-in-stillness style and motivation teachers at Core Fusion that I knew this style of exercise was for me.

But just because I now know what I love doesn’t mean I’m not open to finding something else I love too. That is how I ended up at Refine after all, and I go there all the time now.

So when I met Physique 57′s social media manager at a Travelzoo blog event and she invited me in to try two more classes, of course I said yes!

With my hip injury, I can’t take a regular Physique 57 class right now, for the same reasons I can’t take Core Fusion. So I looked into my other options and found two classes that sounded like they could work for me: Mat 57 and Abs & Arms Booster. Mat 57 was offered at a time I could make it last week, and so I went.

From their website:

Mat 57® offers a:

Comprehensive workout. Mat 57® improves balance, posture, and alignment through targeted exercises that strengthen and lengthen every major muscle group. Mat 57® incorporates cardio, toning and stretching to intensify the workout and challenge each student.

Quick tempo. Mat 57® offers all of the proven benefits of Pilates while increasing stamina through a more athletic and high-energy routine.

Class was at the Spring Street location in SoHo. I had been to this location once before, and to the 57th street location once as well.

The Space

The good:

• The retail shop had a gorgeous selection of workout and relaxation clothing from brands like Splits 59, Lululemon and more.
• Locker room offers hair spray, hair dryers, deodorant, mouth wash, showers and hair brushes.
• Everything was clean.

Could use improvement:

• Locks are not built in to the lockers. For the price of these classes and a membership, I do think there should be locks. I was forced to leave my items in an unlocked locker. I had this same gripe about Pure Yoga.  I feel there are certain amenities that should come with the high cost of classes.
• There is no sanitizer to hold the hair brushes. Use the brushes at your own risk.

The Class

The good:

• Abs, abs, abs. This is a class for anyone who wants to get an intense abdominal workout. I wasn’t paying attention to the time, but we must have done about 15 minutes of devoted ab work in the beginning of class.
• Use of light hand weights to do familiar arm exercises like bicep curls and lat pull-downs during the abdominal work.
• Light weights are so difficult! When Natasha advised me to take 2s and 3s, I seriously doubted this and considered getting 4s. She told me not to. She was right. I was humbled. No more than 3 pounds are needed because it is hard work using the weights during abs.
• A couple of nice plank sequences.
• A long glutes section including foreram tabletop  and pretzel positions.
• The hour literally flew by. When class was over, I couldn’t believe it.
• The instructor was upbeat.
• Easy to modify for injuries.

Could use improvement:

• Instructor adjustments. Some of the positions we did on the floor for abs were unfamiliar to me, and the instructor did not correct or adjust me to ensure I was safely and effectively positioned. I had a feeling the entire time that I was not doing the exercise correctly, but I didn’t know how to fix myself.
• We did about 15 pushups total: 10 regular and 5 yoga-style (elbows squeezed close to sides). I incorrectly assumed this was the first set of pushups that would appear multiple times throughout class. More pushups — an excellent full-body exercise –  would provide more intensity and opportunity for a higher heart-rate.
• The squats and lunges sections seemed very short. I thought this class could have used a bit more thigh work.
• The abdominal section to start the class dragged on a little too long.

Overall thoughts:

Throw everything you think you know out the window. In spite of the name, no mats actually make an appearance in Mat 57!

While Mat 57 was definitely a challenging workout that will tone your body, I didn’t feel the cardio intensity or increased heart rate that was advertised. It is a good change of pace and nice alternative to a regular bar-style class, and I would definitely do it again.

Keep in mind I only tried this class one time with one instructor, and every instructor has her own teaching style.

As for the space, it also comes down to personal preference. Physique 57′s environment is very much about the workout. Get in, work hard, get on with your day.  While I prefer a warmer environment, I know that this style would appeal to many people.

I am excited to go back for my second Physique 57 class in this two-class pack.