Being Fit and Fashionable

Fashion is about looking good. And that also means looking good in the clothes you wear.

We triathletes have this misconception that because we exercise a ton, we can eat whatever we want.

Not true.

I went on a rigorous diet and lost about 30 lbs and I can honestly say now that whenever I think about eating something "non-Kosher", as it were, I think about Mad Eye Moody from the Harry Potter series and his famous catchline, "Constant vigilance!"

Constant vigilance for the rest of my life. And I really don't mind.

So here's a couple of tips, words from the wise, as it were, so that you don't fall into the same traps as I did:

1. High fructose corn syrup = BAD!

Studies (in particular, one done at Princeton University) have shown that lab rats showed considerably more signs of obesity when fed high fructose corn syrup as opposed to table sugar.

Do this test: go to your local supermarket and pick up anything off the shelf. You would be surprised by how many items have HFCS. I can only find one type of bread out of the 25 I regularly see on the shelves that DOES NOT have HFCS.

2. No-Carb Diets

It may have worked for Jennifer Aniston but I'm pretty sure she wasn't running or doing triathlons. Carbs are a necessity. Think of it as having gas in your car. You have no gas, you don't move.

Same principle with the human body.

Your body needs carbs (in limited amounts, mind you) in order to function. A friend of mine was eating proteins before working out and carbs afterwards and was always tired.

What he should have done was switch those two around.

Proteins help your muscles knit and repair themselves and sit a little heavy in the stomach if you eat them before working out. Carbs are fuel and you would definitely need those before the work out!

3. Fried Food

This one's a big no-no. I had a daily allowance of 1 portion of oil per day for my diet, usually used for cooking purposes.

That's one tablespoon! Deep fry anything and you're way over your limit.

4. Starchy Foods

Did you know that corn and bananas are starchy? They may be low in fat but they are high in calories. Potatoes, yams, peas and taro are among the several foods that are as well.

Like everything, eat limited amounts and don't go overboard.

5. Beauty Rest

It sounds like a cliche but it really is true. Sleeping helps you repair your body and is also a part of weight loss. If you don't sleep enough, your body will never have the time to recover from the beating you give it.

Feet That Fly

Running was the first of the three disciplines I started training when I decided to do a triathlon.

It is also the one that weighed most upon me. Literally. Getting off the bike and running was like asking me go and happily peel off every finger and toe nail with a pair of pliers.

Not going to happen.

But shoes are an amazing thing. And here are a selection of the more specialized running shoes, with a particular emphasis on triathlons:

Zoot Women's Ultra Tempo 4.0

I've been a Zoot wearer for a long time and these are the choice for the stability runner (like me):

Love the pop of color against the silver and black. This also comes in pink.

Ecco has been known for making a very comfortable shoe and it's one I always associate with my dad, who is crazy about this brand. It has never struck me as a contemporary look but their Biom line is something I rather liked. The color is definitely sporty and it's a very attractive shoe.

Ecco Biom

Now, there is one shoe that I've always been curious to try but have always been a little iffy, seeing as that I have a very wide foot.

That shoe is the Vibram Five Fingers. It's truly a sock-shoe, taking the Japanese tabi socks to new heights by actually having each and every individual toe in a separate aperture. It's an odd "shoe" and I kind of feel like telling the person who's wearing them to put on some socks. Apparently, it's great for an injury-free run.

Vibram Five Fingers 2011

This shoe is not for everyone but you do have the occasional person running an Ironman in these.

You've also got your staple triathlon shoe in Newton. Lots of pros have been known to promote this brand and with due reason. Their racers are traditionally as light as socks. And there is no missing out because they are always noticeable in their red lettering against a bright yellow background.

Craig Alexander wearing
Newton's Stability Shoes
in yellow

So there it is. Shoes seem to be looking good this year.

I think I'll be asking Santa for some early Christmas presents.

Biking Sexy?

I've always been a fan of Castelli clothing.

Color pairing and the cut of the clothing always makes me very happy that someone has thought about looking good in cycling wear. Plus that scorpion logo is pretty badass.

Castelli
Velocissimo
Bib Short

What I've never understood are the bike "bib" shorts.

When a guy (and yes, this only applies to guys) wears a pair under a jersey, you never can tell that its not a regular short. The only real convenience is that it has no elastic waistband and doesn't restrict breathing. It is also an advantage to bigger athletes who have a bit of a belly and would prefer not to have an elastic waistband.

I love George Michael but these shorts remind me of the Wham! days when no one "noticed" that Michael seemed slightly gay.

Why?

They make these for women as well but with a different cut so that it doesn't look like something typical to wear at the local strip club.

Castelli Velocissimo Bib Short
on a model

Depending on how the short was built, the number of panels can free up the movement.

And then again, you might just want to see one of these guys, dressed like this at the strip club.

Sexy or no? You be the judge.

Jeremy Scott and Adidas Bullfighting Wear

Adidas by Jeremy Scott
Torero Jacket in Red

I happen to be rather knowledgeable on bullfighting so when I saw this little number, I knew I had to talk about this one.

Let's get something straight:
1. No self-respecting bullfight aficionado is EVER going to wear this, much less buy it, lest he wishes to be the laughing stock of the plaza.
2. It would have to take a very special type of person to wear this.

That said, the latter pretty much describes most of Paris couture.

Adidas by Jeremy Scott: Torero Jacket in Red
(Detail: "Alamares")

The embroidery and the hand work is amazing and does its best to resemble an actual bullfighting suit. This, technically, is not a "traje de luces" (the common name for the bullfighting suits) because the term refers to those suits adorned with either gold or silver embroidery, hence the word "luces" which means "lights" in Spanish.

Usually, black embroidery is a sign of a bullfighter who is an auxiliary to the matador.

I've never been a huge fan of this color combination in the suits because it has always seemed a little too aggressive to me. But given what is generally known about bullfighting, outside the plaza, red being the color most associated with the spectacle, I understand.

Plus that Adidas logo on the back is a very nice touch.

Fancy Feet That Run

I have wide feet.

I mention this because I've always had a problem with finding shoes that would fit me. Maybe the length would be right but I wouldn't know because I wouldn't be able to squeeze my feet into them.



Adidas by Stella McCartney
Fortanima Boots

 Thinking about going to New York one day, I started to imagine I'd like to be seen in. And I would come to the feet and think, "there is no way in HELL I am going to wear heels in New York." All the walking I'd be doing, I would be three blocks behind my friends because that's my relationship with heels.

So I started looking at shoes. Nothing looked like something that fit the idea in my head.

Then I discovered Stella McCartney's Fortanima Boots.

"Comfy," I thought, "but I don't know if they'd be comfortable for me in the calves." I have really thick calves and anything over the ankle, I think twice.

Jeremy Scott's Leopard Print Adidas JS Boots

And that's when I saw Jeremy Scott's rendition of the Adidas three-stripe logo and all hell broke loose.

Dare I try them? Apparently they are very limited edition and a tad higher in price than your regular Adidas. In boots, there was more of a selection with Scott.

So I put together an outfit.

In my mind, of course.

My grocery list would be as follows:

A pair of black Adidas JS Boots:

A pair of black dress shorts:












Gucci White Poplin Stretch Front Clasp Blouse

 With a lovely little white blouse:











Trasparenze Delhi Hold-Ups

 With some very nice stockings:

Adidas Jeremy Scott Fringe Bomber Jacket

And if it's cold out, a jacket to make the colors pop:











I get the feeling New York is going to be a lot of fun....

The Fashionable Shark: Poolwear

I am a fan of being different. I can't stand uniformity and it goes against the very core of my being as much as I hate the pathetic whining of Veruca Salt and her absolute desire for a Golden Ticket.

That being said, my eyes hone in on what is aesthetically pleasing.

And here's one that will make you the envy of all: the Speedo Next Corset Back.

How can you not like a Moulin Rouge-style swimsuit?

I'm not too crazy about the print however...

If you were to ask (and then again, you might not), I would love to see John Galliano do some of his Dior magic for this suit.

Can you imagine this suit with a print from his 10 years of Dior collection?

Being a fan of woodblock prints, I can imagine this piece on this suit, for example:

Sans the collar, this suit would look pretty damn hot.

Men's suits are incredibly boring, in comparison. Granted, I'm not sure if I like this kind of swirly print on a long legged jammer for men but there has to be something more creative than just black shorts.

I understand that perhaps the regular male breeder does not like anything remotely ostentatious. I understand that perhaps rhinestones and feathers are not their thing. I understand all that. But can someone explain to me the fashionable aspect of jammers like these? And these are from Speedo's 2010 collection!

I am quite at a loss....

And several other brands have picked up the trend. The Orca CL-R Square Leg, for example:

I really do not understand....

So I implore the Couture Fairy to grant those efficient, performance-minded designers a little insight to the beauty of a garment, even if it is to sweat and get dirty in. I am a staunch believer that if you got it, flaunt it.

And believe me, tri-fit bodies have definitely got it. Why not look good?

I'm all for a retro-Tron look. Let me just get my belly in order and we'll talk....

As Mad As A Hatter Part 3: What's On a Runner's Noodle

As far as I've seen, most triathletes are wearing pretty standard issue when it comes to the run. I always settle for a light colored cap so as not to roast in the early morning/afternoon sun, especially here in Cancun. Your run cap can come in all colors and sizes so I thought taking a look at what the pros are wearing is a better choice.

Take Craig Alexander. Here is the winner of the Kona Ironman 2009 from the land down under, modeling a very innovative MP3 version of the visor headband by Headsweat.

Before I could ever dream of becoming a triathlete, I remember perusing issues of Triathlete Magazine, back in the day, and seeing this very blonde woman gracing the front cover. Her name is Michellie Jones, Aussie Ironman competitor and champion. When I did my first 70.3 here in Cancun, it turned out that she was also competing. Imagine my shock when I saw this woman, who I had seen on so many covers and in so many ads over the years, famous in the triathlon world, suddenly show up in a competition you were doing. It's the equivalent of seeing Jason Priestly all those years on 90210 and then running into him at the supermarket.

In that particular event, she was matching very nicely in a black, green and pink ensemble that matched everything. And I mean everything. Her clothes matched her hat, matched her helmet, matched her bike, matched every accessory on her bike.

Like I said, during that one 70.3 I did, I wore a white cap and lots of water. Yep. Water. Gave myself a bath at every aid station. If a breeze wasn't going to cool me off, ice cold water drenching you and running down your head and back on a hot day is the most delicious feeling in the world.

There is really, absolutely, no comparison.

So go with what you feel most comfortable.

And a little water never hurt anybody.