Did we say skirt? Absolutely. As we approach the summer months, women everywhere are turning up the heat on their wardrobe and their workouts to include sport skirts. Ladies Only Sports outfits women of all sizes in workout wear including workout skirts and dresses by the brand Skirt Sports, the pioneer of feminine workout wear. Skirt Sports was born in 2004 when professional triathlete Nicole DeBoom won an Ironman wearing a homemade skirt. From there she set out to create a business of weaving fashion and performance into one flattering workout skirt style. DeBoom is on a mission to banish the boyish look and, "inspire the whole world to convert to the skirt."

Wicking is the buzzword in workout wear—for good reason. Fabric that wicks away sweat instead of causing the material to cling and stay damp makes your exercise routine more comfortable. And it’s better for your skin. When sweat is trapped up against the skin, blemishes are significantly more likely to break out. Wearing outfits that wick allows your skin to breath. Ladies Only Sports carries a variety of sports bras, camis, T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, capris and skirts.

The modern woman has things to do and places to be. There’s no time for a full wardrobe change between errand and elliptical{or as some of us like to say Core Power to happy hour.} Our reports indicate an increase in street wear-inspired threads in the gym. The Lole line is especially versatile.  Tuck your essential away with the Shadow Pack by Nathan, the lightweight waist pack that has just enough room for a cell phone, ID, credit card and a lip balm.

Just for fun, Ladies Only Sport added whimsical runner charms to our arsenal of accessories. Styles include plenty of sterling silver 26.2’s and 13.1’s as well as the "Run like a girl" and "Will run for cupcakes" charms. This could be exactly what your necklace has been missing: the spring bling with a sporty attitude.

Gather your girls, slip on a sporty skirt and pop into the Zumba studio, and by the time the endorphins kick in you'll forget if your out on the town or busy burning calories.

Ladies Only Sports is the source for sports bras, tops, bottoms, gear – and, of course, workout fashion for the active woman.

That much is true, as far as it goes, but yoga is vastly more complicated than that. It is a more than 2,000 year old Indian discipline that marries various levels of physical activity and breathing with meditation and spiritual awareness. Yoga is practiced in many forms, or “schools,” each with its own definition and set of goals, and just the study of its history and philosophy can consume a lifetime, much less its practice.

But a question often asked by potential practitioners is whether or not yoga, besides its other and wide-ranging benefits, is any good for weight loss. The answer is yes, and according to many experts in the field the weight loss can come from the obvious – physical activity – and the not-so-obvious – spiritual awareness. It all depends on the approach, the experts say.

As mentioned, yoga isn’t just one thing. There are at least 14 main schools of yoga – led by the most famous, at least in the west, Hatha (pronounced “Hat-ta”) – each with many subcategories. They run the gamut from pure exercise – Power Yoga – to pure spiritualism and an eternal relationship with Vishnu – bhakti. Some are ancient and some are more recent developments, and a few have a particularly western bent to meet the needs of pregnant women, Prenatal yoga, or for injury rehabilitation, Restorative yoga. Purists, it should be noted, think some of the western forms of yoga, developed with the American market in mind, lack the meditative and spiritual melding of mind, body and spirit that were at the core of yoga’s origin over two millennia ago.

On the physical side of the ledger, many forms of yoga are said to offer significant benefits, ranging from flexibility and muscle tone, to stress relief, even lowering blood pressure and heart health. Experts advise that those looking for weight loss from taking up yoga should concentrate on the forms that involve higher levels of physical activity: Power yoga, vinyasa yoga and ashtanga classes among the chief vigorous forms. There is also a school called Bikram, a style that involves practicing in a super-hot sauna room so practitioners sweat profusely, that is said to be good for weight loss as some people believe it can burn off 300 to 600 calories per one-hour class. However, others believe that a Bikram yoga workout results mostly in water-weight loss which is quickly gained back with the intake of fluids. Once again, weight loss really depends on the level of activity that can truly burn calories.

It is on the spiritual side of the yoga ledger where the idea of weight loss gets a bit trickier.

Pure yoga, according to its most vociferous adherents, isn’t really an exercise program at all, but rather a discipline of meditation where, through breathing and stretching, a practitioner gets more in touch with their inner self and with the spiritualism extant in the universe. This is a whole Eastern religion sort of thing, where the yoga is a pathway to spiritual enlightenment. Those seeking enlightenment can find many schools of yoga to begin that journey.

However, there is a spiritual aspect to almost all forms of yoga and many experts believe that yoga’s mental benefits, short of true enlightenment, help people get in better touch with themselves, feel better about themselves, and build more self-esteem and confidence in all aspects of their lives. If one subscribes to the notion that eating is a self-esteem issue – that people who lack confidence or are depressed eat more to fill in the gaps in their lives -- then building self-esteem through the practice of yoga may be beneficial in a weight-loss sense by reducing the cycle of binge eating.

It should also be noted that many forms of exercise – running, Pilates, regular workouts, etc. – provide some of the same mental benefits. Also, people who take up regular exercise, including yoga, often report that, quite unplanned, they change their diets to a more healthy, balanced regimen of eating that also boosts overall health and promotes weight loss.

However you approach it, yoga in any of its forms has many benefits, and those people who have entered a yoga class find that it is something they crave more and more all the time. And if you’ve ever looked in on a yoga class, well, those people look pretty trim and happy, so the weight loss and spiritual uplift must be working.

Free or loose fitting clothing is best for yoga, you need to be able to move freely through the poses and stretches.  At Ladies Only Sports we have a great collection of yoga bottoms and yoga tops that would suit you perfectly for your yoga workout. Give us a ring at 877-567-5239 if you have any further questions about which products would be best suited for you.

When Oprah introduced the Enell Sports Bra on her wildly popular and now widely missed television show, there were many giggles and lighthearted moments as she talked about “taming the girls” when working out.

But, of course, breast bounce, particularly for the well-endowed woman like Oprah, is no laughing matter. All female athletes, but especially those women with larger breasts, understand all too well the discomfort that can, and often does occur when breasts bounce during running, horseback riding, tennis matches and other forms of high-activity workouts or sports. Strap chafing and sore shoulders from inadequate bra support are all-too-common complaints, and many of the so-called solutions – compression and/or a too-tight fit – are simply uncomfortable or, depending on breast size, unattainable.

Sports bras are now nearly ubiquitous in female athletic circles, but they were only introduced a little more than 30 years in the several years after the passage of the historic Title IX legislation that lead to much wider participation of women and girls in school-sponsored athletics.

Those early sports bras, however, never really addressed the breast-bounce issue for well-endowed women, and that led to an innovative development by a well-endowed Montana sports enthusiast.

Renelle Braaten, then a hairdresser who struggled to comfortably play her favorite games racquetball and volleyball, saw a gap in the new sports bra offerings that she felt were inadequate for the more well-endowed women like her. She and her mother, a talented seamstress, designed the initial Enell sports bra, and the pair conducted extensive testing in a sports biomedics lab to perfect the design. The then launched the Enell company and their patented products remain the gold standard for those women, like her, who weren’t being served by the sports bras on the market.

“I was frustrated by the lack of adequate sports bras on the market,” says Braaten, Founder and President of Enell Sports. “Forced to wear two bras, I would still experience aching shoulders and uncomfortable, unhealthy breast-bounce.  In search of answers, I went to the same place all women do -- my mother – and pretty soon we were making Enell Sports Bras for friends and fellow athletes.”

Enell Sports Bras are ideal for the woman with large breasts who wants to workout without all the "bounce." They are available in two models: The classic Enell SPORTS Bra is for wear during more high-impact sporting activities, like volleyball or aerobic dance classes, while the Enell LITE Bra joined the line in response to demand for a lighter sports bra for low- to medium-impact activities. Enell bras are dedicated to well-endowed women and each is available in sizes 32C through 52DD.

The classic version is made of 90% nylon and 10% Lycra Spandex, and features a patented design and construction that is a balance of compression and encapsulation perfect for high-impact activity. The Enell LITE Bra, while targeted at active women, is also designed to be a great all-day bra for the well-endowed woman. The LITE is made of 84% nylon, and 16% Spandex, with a super soft sueded microfiber lining made of 76% nylon and 24% Spandex. The high performance fabric in both models wicks moisture away from your body and dissipates body heat while giving you outstanding strength, color, and garment life.

“With the ENELL bra your breasts are completely secured for minimal bounce,” says Braaten. “This bra fits much tighter than any other bra you have tried and retains its support even after becoming wet with perspiration. With easy front hook and eye closure, outer clothing moves freely over the smooth nylon Lycra spandex fabric with no clinging. The bra also features wide shoulder straps, a higher neck line, plenty of arm freedom and no restriction of movement.”

Enell Sports bras are marketed through sports and specialty retailers, like Ladies Only Sports. Enell Sports Bra and Enell Lite Sports Bra are in stock for immediate shipment and always qualify for FREE SHIPPING (to the lower 48). For complete information visit our website at www.ladiesonlysports.com or us at 877-567-5239.

The truth is that coronary heart disease in women is just as prevalent as with men – in fact, since 1984 more women than men have died of heart disease. And while breast cancer – a scourge, no doubt – is the biggest health fear among women, many times more women suffer from and die each year from heart disease.

The good news is that physical activity – as in exercise – has been shown to be beneficial for women in predicting or lowering the risk of obstructive coronary heart disease. A study published in 2004 in the influential medial journal JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association; 2004; 292[10], 1179-87) showed a significant association between low physical activity and the existence of of potential coronary problems.

The study examined 908 female patients who had chest pains, suggested narrowing of the arteries, or both. They were measured for weight – normal, overweight or obese – and each patient’s BMI, body mass index, was measured. While the group tended to be overweight (76%), the researchers could find no difference based on weight category in the presence or severity of heart disease. They did, however, detect a difference: women who were active, even moderately so, had a lower risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

This is not to suggest that being overweight, or indeed obese, is okay as long as a woman stays active. The same markers that lead to heart attack in men – obesity, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking the leading ones – are true for women. In fact, after years of pointing out gender differences as it relates to heart disease, more recent studies suggest more similarities between men and women.

There are some differences, of course. Heart disease is more prevalent in young men than in young women, and many in the health community believe that the presence of estrogen helps in the reduction of LDL (bad cholesterol) and an increase in HDL (good cholesterol). But by age 65 and post-menopause women catch up and the risks are essentially the same. There is even research that suggests that hormone replacement therapy, recommended by many for menopausal and post-menopause women, provides no cardiac protection for this age group. While beneficial for other reasons, many believe, studies by the National Institutes of Health suggest that post-menopausal women should not take estrogen or other hormones as a heart therapy.

Here at Ladies Only Sports we’re not doctors and we recommend that women consult with their own physicians about their heart health. On the other hand we are exercise and activity enthusiasts and take heart in studies that suggest that a regular routine of exercise, even in moderation, is good for the heart. And besides, it’s good for so many other things, like overall fitness, performance, endurance, and simply well-being, and there’s no harm in that. We do caution, however, that before engaging in strenuous physical activity that every woman should consult her doctor.

So, of course, during that activity every woman wants to dress the part in workout apparel that works hard and flatters the figure. You’ll find all of that and more at Ladies Only Sports. Call 1-877-567-5239 for complete details.

If you take a look at these core goals of a Pilates' program, it is not difficult to imagine that it is particularly well suited to the rigors and expectations of pregnancy – within reason.

Being pregnant is one of the most rewarding occurrences in a woman’s life, but it is of course not without is potential problems. During pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called relaxin which is there to increase the laxity of muscles, joints and ligaments – the idea is to boost the mobility of the tissues so an expectant mother can accommodate a growing fetus and prepare for the stress of delivery. Done properly, Pilates is an excellent enhancement of this natural process.

While pregnant, a woman’s abdominal muscles will stretch about 50% over their original length, so a strengthening of the abdominal muscles will help in supporting the growing uterus while decreasing lumbar compression and reducing pelvic pressure. Throughout the gestation period, a woman’s body posture will change, and there will be additional stress points on the lower back, pelvis, hips and feet, as well as in muscles in the cervical spine. Doctors point out that maintaining good posture during pregnancy will alleviate pain and ultimately lead to an easier delivery. All of this can and will be improved with a proper Pilates workout schedule.

There are, however, some things to consider. First, any pregnant woman should consult with her physician or midwife before exercising to make sure any program is not only right for pregnancy generally, but for the individual in question. These health professionals will be able to advise on what exercise is recommended or not recommended during pregnancy, and discuss the levels of exercise at various stages of the pregnancy. Best to consult with a medical expert on an on-going basis throughout all of the pre-natal care.

Second, and very important, is the question of what constitutes Pilates and who is a proper Pilates instructor. Several years ago there was an intellectual property lawsuit concerning Pilates, and a federal judge ruled that the term is generic and free for unrestricted use. In other words, anyone can call themselves a Pilates instructor, trained or not trained, so it’s important to know the background and some track record on an instructor.

Also, not everything Pilates is good for the pregnant woman. There are certain routines and workout times in a typical Pilates class, course or program that just won’t do for the pregnant woman. Even a trained Pilates instructor may not have taken training on Pilates and pregnancy, so the best thing to do is to consult with the instructor and discover as much as you can about the modifications they address for Pilates during pregnancy. And, of course, a discussion of the recommended Pilates regime with a health professional is always a wise step.

For most women, and in most circumstances, Pilates during pregnancy will be highly beneficial. Also, Pilates has been shown to be an excellent exercise regime following the birth of the baby to aid in returning the mother’s body back to its pre-pregnancy state of fitness, if not better. Indeed, many expectant mothers have discovered Pilates during pregnancy and begun a long-term program that benefits them for many years to come.

And, of course, Ladies Only Sports is an excellent place to find all of the workout clothes to get you through your first trimester of pregnancy and for some our clothing will even have enough stretch to get over that second trimester bump.  It is extremely important to support your breast tissue during your pregnancy as well; at Ladies Only Sports we have a wide variety of sports bras to suit your needs and expanding bust line.  And once you get that okay from your doctor at the 6-week check-up after birth to get back to normal we’ve got a the yoga pants, workout tops, sports bras you’ll need when you maintain fitness as a new mother.

For complete information call 1-877-567-5239. Discover how to Bloom!  -- as in reaching a prime condition of health, vigor and beauty -- at Ladies Only Sports.

Turns out that might not necessarily be right. According to many medical studies, stretching the major muscle groups – legs, arms, shoulders – does indeed help with range of motion and overall flexibility, but there is no evidence that stretching itself prevents injuries or prepares the body for a robust workout.  In fact, these studies indicated, that stretching alone does not curb muscle soreness that may come from a workout.

Having said that, there are many devotees to stretching, at least in part, just look at the popularity of yoga. There is also, of course, meditation involved with the practice of yoga, and those who regularly attend yoga classes often cite the improved range of motion they enjoy, and an overall sense of “well being.” That, in and of itself, may be a good argument for stretching, in the “if it feels good, do it” school of thought.

For exercise regimes, however, most experts advise that the most important pre-workout routine for injury prevention and to avoid muscle soreness is the warm-up. Also, if stretching is to be a part of your pre-exercise routine, experts advise that you do so after a good warm-up – stretching first, with muscles not quite awake, could cause tension and pain.

For a warm-up, the most common advice is to – literally -- warm up the muscle group you intend to exercise for 5 to 10 minutes before exercising. This raises the core temperature of the body and the muscles before straining. Some of the recommendations include walking, swimming, jogging in place, and other aerobic exercises: skipping rope, rowing machine, stair climbing, elliptical, Stairmaster, etc. The object here is to work slowly at first and a little harder as the minutes go on, but just to the place where you begin to sweat. At this point, the body and the muscles should be ready for the brisk workout you have planned.

And, of course, just as important is a period of cool-down after the workout. Once again, walking or some other aerobic activity, at a slower and slowing pace for 5 to 10 minutes, will allow the body time and the movement necessary to adjust to normal physical activity.

Actually, it is here, after the cool-down, when many experts recommend stretching. At this point, stretching can help relax and balance tension on the muscles that have just been through a workout.

So what is proper stretching? Typically, good stretching exercises are referred to as static stretching. The muscle are slowly elongated and put through the full range of motion, holding the position at the point of full extension, without pain, for 15 to 30 seconds. For the thighs, for example, this may involve sitting and raising one’s knee toward the chin as far as comfortable and holding it, and then standing and flexing the leg outward and inward as far as comfortable and holing it. You know how your leg moves, and each person knows how far they can go in range of motion comfortably, although over time this range of motion should increase.

There are also other forms of stretching. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a physical therapy procedure most often used by sports therapists to help athletes regain range of motion after an injury that has prevented normal workouts. PNF essentially involves both passive and isometric contractions, beginning slowly and increasing over time as range of motion is restored or is boosted. There is also ballistic stretching, which involves bouncing during a stretch, but most exercise coaches have dismissed ballistic stretching as dangerous.

As you can see, stretching is a very valuable technique for improving and maintaining range of motion, however it is the warm-up that is critical to a safe and proper fitness regime.

And because you want to look great while warming up, exercising, stretching, and cooling down, Ladies Only Sports has all of the fashionable, functional and flexible workout apparel and gear you’ll ever need.

We all get hunger pangs and crave way too much of a bad thing from time to time, so the object is to find ways to lessen the impact and stay healthy

CHOCOLATE, that word alone gets a lot of women’s attention, in fact for many women too much attention. Or maybe it’s potato chips, or a white chocolate mocha…   All of us (and least everyone I know) have cravings from time to time or sometimes all the time.  How do we curb these cravings without depriving ourselves?  For me chocolate soothes my soul.  It makes me feel happy, I know the endorphins are firing on all cylinders when I’m enjoying anything chocolate.  But here’s what I’ve found… I can make better choices and still be satisfied.

Food cravings come in all forms and fashions and – for the most part – represent something that should be curbed, if not for basic health reasons then for weight loss as a path to skinnier jeans. There are ways to beat the cravings, though, and we at Ladies Only Sports searched high and low for the Top Five Tips to Curb Food Cravings.

Before we get to the tips, however, we’ll take a closer look at cravings themselves. First, hunger pangs are not necessarily bad food cravings. Our bodies are wonderful machines that actually crave some essentials from time to time. A craving for sugar, for instance, might be sign that blood glucose levels are low and the body needs a lift. A desire for meat could be a protein deficiency, and a taste for salt may simply be a need for more calcium. Or, you could actually be hungry which is, after all, a natural process. These types of things fall under the heading of physiological cravings, the body sending out signals that it needs some nutrition. You can’t starve, for goodness sake, so we’ve got to pay attention to these cravings.

The trouble is that the body wants what the body wants. If you’re overweight, for example, the body gets used to a certain amount of fat and so craves it at a level that won’t foster weight loss or even better health. You need nutrition from food, you’ve got to fuel yourself, so the challenge is getting the right kind of fuel.

Then there’s the other kind of craving, psychological craving, that’s right girl, comfort food.  We all have them, and for me the list is long (and tasty), but I know they can be really counter-productive. I could make a really good convincing argument to eat these comfort foods on a daily basis, but I still know the outcome and that in the end they are all just excusing to continue on the path of bad habits. The triggers for psychological cravings can be emotional, habitual, hormonal and often times really strong! This is typically the type of craving that sends someone to the fridge, freezer or cookie jar in search for a little “feel good treat”, the problem with that is most of us want to feel really good, so that leads to eating in excess.  Here in lies the real problem.

There are a variety of studies that show that virtually 100% of women (shocking, I know) and as much as 70% of men have food cravings from time to time. The object is to not give in to the wrong kind of eating, and these Five Tips to Curb Food Cravings should help:

1)      Eat a healthier, balanced diet. Sounds simple, but getting all the basics in a normal healthy diet will in and of itself curb hunger. The body needs vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber – the essentials.  All of these can and should be acquired through a proper diet, so have a variety of foods each day from each of the four major food groups: 1), breads and cereals; 2) vegetables and fruits; 3), milk and dairy products or milk substitutes (as low-fat as possible); and, 4), lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts or meat substitutes.

2)      Eat more often. There is quite a bit of time between the standard meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner, and if a person gets really hungry there is a tendency to overeat at the next meal or to load up on something less healthy, like French fries with a ton of saturated fat (a major no-no). So snack a little mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and even mid-evening – try a few almonds, a granola bar, apple slices, or some vegetables. They will satisfy the hunger with far fewer calories than junk and keep your appetite in check at mealtime.

3)      Drink more water. Drink water until you feel like you will float away! Odd as it may seem, water is a great appetite suppressor almost immediately, and staying fully hydrated will actually cut cravings. Nutritionists agree that a dehydrated person often craves more sweets, or salt or even fatty foods, so simply drinking water will go a long way in curbing cravings. Drink a nice, 8-oz. glass of water every hour.  And drinking cold water burns more calories!

4)      Stay away from the object of the obsession. In other words, don’t buy junk food. If it’s not in the cupboard or the frig, it’s less likely you will make the trip to the store. When the pang hits, eat a piece of fruit or some nuts.  My personal favorite now is frozen banana slices that have been dipped in dark chocolate (yes, I said it, chocolate, but at least it’s dark chocolate), and one little dark chocolate banana bite is enough to satisfy me.

5)      There are tons of people who report they get cravings from stress and boredom, so the real issue is to deal with the stress and boredom in other ways than giving into food cravings. Phone a friend, or get out and get some exercise.  We all know that you feel better when you get moving and it’s even better if you have a girlfriend to get moving along with you.  If you follow the first four tips listed here, your body will be in better shape to handle whatever stresses life dishes out, but when stress or boredom set in talking with a trusted friend could easily alleviate the root cause and take the place of cravings.

And just so you know; since most everyone, particularly women, have food cravings it’s okay to indulge once in a while. Just make simple “do-able” changes.  Switch to dark chocolate, or to low-fat frozen yogurt, or allow yourself one day a week to indulge, find what works for you. Willpower is just that—powerful; exert some willpower and it will pay off in the end, you will look better, feel better, and that will be the reward in the end.

For all of your exercise and athletic apparel needs – sports bras, workout tops, bottoms, and related gear – look no further than Ladies Only Sports, the online specialty boutique devoted to fashionable, feminine sports clothes.

PARKER, CO – Many brand-new moms think that an exercise regime is too much to handle with a new-born, especially over the winter months when the weather plays havoc with a routine. Of course, many new moms also think that an exercise regime is absolutely essential in returning one’s body to pre-pregnancy shape, but find winter a difficult exercise season.

Winter is actually one of the best exercise seasons around since the bulk of the crowds are taking it easy indoors. And, of course, cooler weather makes it all the more easy to work up a good sweat without feeling overheated or getting too tired or spent. Winter, if nothing else, is invigorating.

So, okay, you’ve got a new baby, and it’s winter and cold and the snow is flying, but really, it’s a great time to get back on the exercise routine.

Certainly, one of the best ways to stay exercising over the winter months, even with a new baby, is to join or maintain a membership in a health or sports club. You know the routine – ellipticals, rowers, stationary bikes, treadmills, weights, Pilates and spinning classes; it’s all there, it’s all great. About the only new wrinkle in the routine is the need for childcare, and many of these clubs have childcare centers in-house for free or a nominal fee. Some new moms – particularly first-time moms – feel reticent to leave a newborn with childcare like this, but ask the older mom or the third-time mom and you’ll liable to get the “what’s the issue? Do it!” shrug.

Since it is winter and you’re a new mom, even if you’re at the gym exercising don’t forget to do proper warm-ups, cool-downs, keep hydrated (winter often requires more hydration), and make sure to use plenty of lip balm.

Now outside exercising is where it gets a little tricky. Ladies Only Sports, with our objectives written clearly in our name, is dedicated to keeping the juices flowing.

Here’s some Winter Exercising Tips for New Moms:

When dressed properly – layers, warm clothes, wicking clothes – even if outside temperatures are 20 degrees F everything should be fine. Just watch out for colder temps than that, and make sure to factor in the wind chill. If the actual temp or the wind-chill temp in down below 10, exercise indoors. If you’re taking the baby along, that’s fine, but dress the child warm and in layers too, and remember that while you are working out the baby is simply along for the stroll and might get colder.

If your outdoor exercise regime involves a tough workout – a hard run, vigorous skiing, etc., experts advise to dress for weather 20 degrees warmer than actual temperature – e.g., if its 30 degrees F, dress for 50 degrees F. Wear breathable, moisture-wicking layers to keep your body dry as possible. Also, wear materials on the outer layer resistant to wind and water, and keep you head and hands covered and warm.

Hydrate. Drink plenty of water – you’ll need even more in the winter to stay hydrated properly.

Sunscreen up. It’s always a good thing on any day to wear a face cream with 15 SPF, but if it’s snowy and sunny you might want to up that because you’ll be getting UV rays directly and reflected. Children under six month are not supposed to use sunscreen, so keep them covered if they are along; older kids can use the sunscreen and might need more SPF than mom. In addition, both mom and child should wear sunglasses to protect eyes from all that winter glare, and lip balm is recommended.

Safety. If it’s dark outside, remember to wear reflective gear, like reflective tape or a safety vest – or have a headlamp or a flashlight. Baby’s stroller should have lights and/or reflectivity too.

Safety again. Obviously, one of the great hazards of winter is snow and ice, and they can be very slippery – even in spots that don’t look slippery. You do, of course, want to avoid slipping, so avoid the icy spots, but you might also invest in ice stabilizers or treks for you running shoes for added protection. These usually strap on, so in a few days when the ice melts off the roadway, you’re good to go.

Warm up thoroughly. Cold temps can cause muscles to tighten up, so warming up properly is even more important in winter. The National Strength and Conditioning Association recommends stretching after warming up, not before.

Protect Your Skin. Skin in winter – for mom and baby – tends to be drier and more prone to cracking, and exercise can exacerbate this. So in addition to extra sunscreen, avoid overly hot showers, and use plenty of moisturizing.

LadiesOnlySports.com, in its 11th year of operation, is a family-owned business and features functional and flattering athletic apparel for women, such as sports bras, tops, bottoms, plus sizes, socks, headbands, power gloves, and dancewear. In addition the website features products like sport-themed jewelry, heart rate monitors and pedometers, packs, kangoo jumps, water bottles, ear buds, and safety gear like pepper spray anti-chafe cream. The website ships orders Monday through Friday with a variety of shipping options through the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx, including international shipping through USPS.

For complete information on LadiesOnlySports.com call toll free 877-567-523.

A lot of women go through pretty much this same type of New Year’s Resolution at this time of year, and they plan for it by putting cute workout clothes on their Christmas List or by shopping for their own exercise attire as the calendar for the old year runs out and the new possibilities of 2012 seem doable.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. In fact, here at Ladies Only Sports we’re really in to helping women become the “new me” or simply staying on track with a healthy lifestyle. We are all for fitness, and we do of course sell the sports bras, tops, bottoms, and gear that not only are meant for athletic pursuits, but fairly cry out and demand that fitness happen.

But we’re realists too: we understand how hard it is to keep a resolution and stay on track for more than a short period of time on that goal of getting more fit. We’re here to help.

We looked up some background information on New Year’s Resolutions and were very astonished at some of the numbers. Seems that only about 44% of Americans even bother anymore making a New Year’s Resolution, and only some 8% of the resolvers actually stick to the resolution throughout the year. And this doesn’t count the people who resolve each year never to make New Year’s Resolutions (then again, maybe it does).

There are the obvious things on the list of what the resolutions concern – quitting smoking, quitting drinking, spending more time with family, etc. – but study after study show that ranking very high on the list of the most resolved is a) weight loss, or b) exercise more. Indeed, 38% of resolvers address weight loss in their forward-looking plans.

Also these studies show that the younger you are, the better chance you have of achieving resolution results, and that less than 15% of people over 50 years of age meet their resolute objectives. On the plus side, depending on where you fall on being a resolver or not, all the studies show that people who make and/or achieve resolutions are absolutely no more happy than those who don’t bother or are unsuccessful.

And on the front of resolving to exercise more or to lose weight or both, you probably already know that January is the busiest month of the year for people to join gyms and health clubs. Interestingly enough, there’s about a 20% to 30% dropout rate after three months of gym membership, studies say, and that ultimately some 67% of the members don’t use the facilities – ever. And just so you know, women make up slightly more than half – 52% -- of gym/health club memberships.

Here at Ladies Only Sports we want more women to resolve to be fitter, and we want as many of them as possible to achieve their goals. So here are a few ideas to help:

Set realistic goals. Rather than say “I will lose 50 pounds” or whatever, resolve instead to shed a couple of pounds each week or each measurable period – a much more realistic target. In other words, take baby steps that are achievable rather than staring high expectations in the face.

Find an exercise routine that works. One of the biggest reasons that people start and then quickly stop exercise programs is that they set their sights too high. If you don’t think you make it to the club every morning or even every other morning for an hour, don’t resolve to do so. The object of exercise, especially if you’re a relative newbie, is not to kill yourself, but rather repetition: going for a daily 40-minute brisk walk, or doing a half-hour to a workout tape in front of the TV will bring results.

Get a friend -- or two. There is always strength in numbers. If you set your sights on walking or running at the park, or going to the club for a spinning class or elliptical workout, having a workout buddy helps. You can share the driving, talk, push each other, and subtly guilt the other one into not blowing off a day or two.

Read up. There are plenty of resources available for both weight loss and exercise regimes – which often go hand-in-hand but are not necessarily linked – that help in setting goals and measuring success. Many fitness instructors believe that those who are more informed are more apt to participate and stay involved.

Think about diet. Obviously, if weight loss is a goal you’re thinking about a diet, but thinking about diet is different. Many people who begin exercise programs report that their diets change naturally, that they crave healthier foods like vegetables, don’t crave so many sweets and snacks, and that their caloric intake at meals goes down – their appetite is suppressed – without hunger pangs. Dieting and a healthy diet are quite different animals.

The problem with most New Year’s Resolutions is that they go too far, that they drastically alter a lifestyle and are therefore unsustainable. On the other hand, many women find that once they start small – to walk every other day or to spin three times a week – that it doesn’t really disrupt their lives, and then, over time, they just naturally increase their efforts. It is difficult to incorporate a huge change in one’s life all at once, but gradually the result is the same with very little cataclysmic alterations.

So there you have it. Resolve to change. Slowly.

And have a Happy New Year!

LadiesOnlySports.com, in its 11th year of operation, is a family-owned business and features functional and flattering athletic apparel for women, such as sports bras, tops, bottoms, plus sizes, socks, headbands, power gloves, and dancewear. In addition the website features products like Kangoo Jumps rebounding boots, sport-themed jewelry, heart rate monitors and pedometers, packs, water bottles, ear buds, and safety gear like pepper spray anti-chafe cream. The website ships orders Monday through Friday with a variety of shipping options through the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx, including international shipping through USPS.

For complete information on LadiesOnlySports.com call toll-free at 877-567-5239 or local in the Denver metro area at 303-805-4448.

Throughout our site we try our best to state what type of activity each particular sports bra is good for.  Some are better for low-impact, yoga, or walking.  Others are designed for high impact, wide range of motion activities such as Kangoo Jumps, boot camp or running.

Compression is just as it sounds, keeps the girls tucked in by being tight.  This is usually a pullover the head style and is typically measured in small, medium, and large.  Works great for A & B cups.

Encapsulation separates and encapsulates each breast.  Goodbye uni-boob, a big plus in my book...  This is a great option for larger busted women, C-cup and up.  This style usually has front or back fasteners and often times a strap adjustment as well.

Once you’ve decided on the structure of support here’s a few more things to consider to make sure the bra is right for you…

Moisture wicking fabrics are always a plus; they will pull the moisture away from your body keeping you feeling a bit less soggy.  Sweating is good, in fact, it is the objective here, but it feels better when your bra is not soaking.

Generally speaking the less seams the better.  Most manufacturers have thought through this issue quite well.  To have support you have to have seams, so there will be seams.  But well thought out seams are what we are going for, ones that won’t chafe you or cause irritation.

The band and straps should be snug, but you should still be able to slide your finger in between the material and the skin.

Lastly, give the bra the jump test; make sure it really works for what activity level you need it to.

Okay, now whatcha waiting for?  Start shopping… LINK HERE TO BRA PAGE