If your New Years Resolution was to get into shape, Mary Rambin will give you some stylish pointers on how to get motivated and feel great while working out. Tell us your favorite workout clothes on TMIWeekly.com!
If you're not familiar with Athleta, you should check them out. They're definitely not on the cheap end of the spectrum price wise, but they have great quality and styles I haven't seen elsewhere. www.athleta.com
Also, have you ever tried lululemon? I hear phenomenal things about their pants and what they will do for a booty. They're a bit tough to come by in Rochester, NY, but they're on my list of things I have to own eventually.
If you're not familiar with Athleta, you should check them out. They're definitely not on the cheap end of the spectrum price wise, but they have great quality and styles I haven't seen elsewhere. www.athleta.com
Also, have you ever tried lululemon? I hear phenomenal things about their pants and what they will do for a booty. They're a bit tough to come by in Rochester, NY, but they're on my list of things I have to own eventually.
If you think Mary is anorexic, then clearly, you have never seen a person who is suffering from anorexia. And if you think Julia is "obese", you have never seen a person who is struggling with obesity. They are two women who care about their bodies and their health. Mary exercises, like we all should, and Julia embraces the small pleasures in life that many of us overlook. They have relationships to their bodies that are unique, like our relationships to our own bodies, and they share the ins and outs of those relationships with us. If you don't want to hear about it, if it angers or frustrates you (and obviously, for some of you it does), then don't read it.
We were all taught, at one point or another, that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. And while constructive criticism can be valuable, yours is far from constructive. You're right; when you have close friends who can sit down and talk to you honestly and openly, it can be extremely beneficial. But you are not Mary or Julia's friend. You are not sharing these opinions (and they are just that- opinions) out of concern or compassion. You have sought out easy targets and you are aiming at them with ferocity.
Do us all a favor. Stop watching and stop reading. Stop commenting.
Mary and Julia, I applaud you for responding exclusively to comments that address the topic of this episode. You are living your lives and pursuing your dreams, not standing on the sidelines and judging everyone who passes. These spectators do not define your life- you do.
Also kinda of on-topic, check out the Woot! for today (1/8) at www.woot.com
1 Reebok Precision Trainer XT Heart Rate Monitor (watch) with Chest Strap - .99
May be worth wearing for you aerobic types!
Julia ... thanks for sharing on your blog!
On topic, from a guys point of view, ask yourself which girl athletes are the hottest, and look at what they do. For me, the answer is triathletes!
Girl tri's are hot (ex. pro tri Katya Meyers .. she was in Bicycling mag recently). Swim/bike/run, in the gym, swim, spin, stairs, etc. plus basic strength training.
Also, with regards to workout clothes, girls look great in bike shorts and jerseys!
Oh man.....
If JULIA ALLISON is fat, then I don't even want to THINK about how anonymous internet haters would tear apart a picture of me.......
I think all three girls look beautiful, truly.
I cannot stand some of the comments in this episode. I commend Julia for being so brave about writing with her struggle and I'm sure karma will come back to the haters.
Anyway, I love J. Crews yoga pants for working out. If you can find them on sale, I've really found them to hold up great and not pill like some other combo fabric pants.
I am a longtime lurker here and on JA's blog and I just had to finally speak up after Julia's apparently very painful bulimia confession.
Julia, how brave and terrible -- if it's true. And I guess this is my problem with you and your blog. If you'd been through such a terrible ordeal, why are you constantly blogging about eating whole plates of brownies at your parents and posting video sneaking cupcakes behind Meghan's back on Vimeo? If you have no respect for yourself and what you went through, how about for Meghan? And are you really "cured" if you are still unable to control yourself around sweets? Should you not be talking to someone regularly and possibly still be medicated? You clearly still have serious issues with food.
And if you are so happy with your body now, why do you blog about not wanting to be seen in a bathing suit, post photos of yourself "when I was thin," go on about your weight at times, or post pictures of skinny models and say you want to look like them, etc etc.
It is sort of like the way you claim you have NEVER BEEN HAPPIER just a few days after going on about how badly you want a boyfriend and Twittering like a teenager about a blind date.
Reading you regularly is like reading the diary of a schizophrenic. You contradict yourself constantly and swing back and forth like a yo-yo on just about everything. As a reader, it is sort of sickly fascinating, but also really offputting. Simply put, I think you lie a lot, because you DO LIE on your blog pretty regularly, and so I am now at the point where I never entirely believe a single thing you write. I think you have ulterior motives a lot when you post, like you're trying to prove something to the guy you're still hung up on. I just find you to be a fraud, and while this bulimia story is horrible, I have to wonder how much of it isn't embellished or has some other hidden motive or PR purpose.
If you really want to actually become successful sharing your every move and "living differently," you should start being honest about yourself because otherwise, your readers will feel manipulated and lied to. Why do you think you engender such hostility? It's because people think you're a fraud. You keep presenting totally different faces to the world and contradicting yourself and putting different versions of events out there all the time.
Your two friends, on the other hand, seem genuine, real, honest and aren't constantly contradicting themselves on their blogs. Take some cues from them. You need them badly. As long as regular readers of your blog and this site find you to be erratic and dishonest, your business is doomed.
Joanie- I totally understand your point about JA. This is probably the first time anyone has really articulated the issue people take with her so I had to respond.
But here is my question: JA has made a point to "lifecast" and reveal all sides of herself which in it self, yes is narcissistic and yes, maybe schizophrenic. But what if you made the same decision: to lifecast and reveal all sides of yourself. What would that reveal?
I certainly have my moments of contradiction and insanity. Swinging from total confidence to total despair. "God I am fat" to "God I am idiot and never going to succeed in this world." And yes, sometimes I "twitter like a teenager about a blind date." I would challenge anyone watching this show to say they haven't felt or done the same things.
The only difference is that JA puts it out there for everyone to judge or applaud. Now that is a brave and yes , terrible thing. In the truest sense of the word.
What you take from that depends on your perspective. I guess I take a softer stance and don't feel the need to take her down for her imperfections personality or otherwise. I roll my eyes when she posts something I don't agree with, but I appreciate that she is out there.
And yes, it is suspect because she is a magnificent PR machine. But that opens up a whole another can of worms about her "persona" versus her as a person. Is there a difference? Are we looking for honesty or entertainment? Does it matter if she lies as long as we're intrigued by it? I kinda think it's awesome that people are so challenged by her.
I mean really how different is she from Mark Cuban- the original web PR machine? Would people be criticizing her if she was a guy going on about her conquests both financial and personal? That guy really airs his laundry and people seem to embrace it. And he is a nutcase.
posted 3 years ago by katy
Oh and before anyone attacks me for comparing Mark Cuban (a billionaire) to Julia- it's the closest analogy. Perhaps maybe Nick Denton would have been a better example?
posted 3 years ago by katy
Mark Cuban? Really? You don't see a difference? How about this. He's loaded and he's built successful businesses that generate revenue ten times over. You're comparing a glorified blogger to an actual business person.
posted 3 years ago by mariska
yeah, well, I admitted it was a bit of a weak argument.
But I am sure there is some male equivalent of JA out there somewhere. And I am pretty sure no one is attacking him for looking his PR stunts.
posted 3 years ago by katy
"You contradict yourself constantly and swing back and forth like a yo-yo on just about everything." That is to say, omg, Julia, you're such a f'ing HUMAN. How dare you?
I think Katy makes an important point when she notes that the difference between JA and the rest of us is that she puts it out there for us to obsess maniacally over. Honestly, I'm a little confused as to why a discussion about workout gear turned into a JA hate-on. At this point, the conversation has blown past "constructive" and can no longer even count as "critical". It's just plain mean.
For my part, forget Team Blair. I'm on Team Julia. For those of us not wholly ensconced in a flurry of bitterness and mean-girl cruelty, where can we pick up our tshirts?
posted 3 years ago by lindsey
No, Lindsey, I disagree that that is a normal, human thing to do. I have read her blog long enough to see her make shit up, reinvent history, misrepresent herself constantly. She's also a hypocrite, once famously railing against "Obama Girl" for being demeaning to women for prancing around in a satire video in her underwear. But she sees no problem with posing in her underwear on Gawker and posting pictures of herself in a bikini or mini-skirts with substantial cleavage almost constantly. Why is that not demeaning to women? She wants to be taken seriously, doesn't she?
Also -- I find the constant posting of photos of old boyfriends to be downright creepy. Someone said in the QOTD that if the genders were reversed, we'd think the guy was a stalker for doing it. She does it all the time. I find it to be an invasion of privacy (one guy whose photo she posted has not spoken to her in years and doesn't want to) and likely quite hurtful and offensive to the new women in her old boyfriends' lives. Again, I don't think this is "normal" behavior. It's childish at best, and evident of some kind of illness at its worst.
If you want to build a business around your personality, as she keeps publicly saying she does, you have to make sure your personality isn't a dishonest and hypocritical one. Make sure your personality is likeable. JA is failing on miserably on that front. Mary and Meghan, on the other hand, are succeeding. That is my point.
posted 3 years ago by Joanie
The posting photos of the ex is also extremely disrespectful to the current girlfriend. It's so hysterically funny how women pull out the you go-girl/women should support women hoodles in these threads when there's blatant girl on girl hating going on on Julia's blogs.
posted 3 years ago by mariska
"I forgot to tell you about my lunch at La Madeline. If I had some extra cash laying around, I would force these people to let me franchise their French bistro cafeteria. The food is fabulous, no joke. It’s rich and decadent without being heavy like most French food. They have all of the traditional dishes ready to go, an extensive pasta and sandwich menu, and the best chicken cesar salad (which can be fat free) you’ve ever put your lips on. Did I get your attention Megs :) Yet another reason to come to Houston ladies.ummm yeah mary la madeleine is a franchise, " mary-via her blog
ummm yeah mary la madeleine is a franchise....they have locations in georgetown, atlanta, new orleans and various other places.....and there food is not so great
Please note that all of those locations are in the south. I've heard through the grapevine they don't want locations on either coast. Could be a rumor, but it's what I've heard.
If you don't like the food, ok. I love it :)
posted 3 years ago by Mary Rambin
Mary,
I live in Bethesda, Maryland (5 minutes outside of DC) and there is a La Madeleine right in town -- definitely the east coast.
posted 3 years ago by maddie8188
JA, I was very moved by your account of bulimia, and I thank you for writing it in the sense that if just one young woman struggling with a similar problem reads it, it might help. A very worthwhile service/endeavor on your part.
Meanwhile, the three of you seem to be perfectly lovely women embarked on an enterprise that interests you and provides you with an outlet to express yourselves. Again, commendable and I wish you well in this project, though I don't envy you in any way and it certainly wouldn't be my choice to mix my business savvy or area of expertise quite so intimately with my personal life. If my talent was writing, for example, I'd write about being a writer or other writers, not, for example, about what vacation I was on or what my mom said at the dinner table or my late night musings about being single.
Based on a quick glance at your three blogs, it doesn't seem that you're living all that differently from other fairly priviledged young women of your generation, but I will offer that it does seem a bit confusing the way you have blurred your career aspirations/claims with minutiae of your personal life, interspersed with a lot of self-portraits! Recent and (confusingly) some very dated.
That's my two cents. (And on topic, I, like you JA, am fairly active in my day-to-day life and see no reason to subject myself to the "gym" culture ... I find it excessive, obsessive, narcissistic, and please ... it matters what you wear? How is that remotely relevant to the enterprise except for perhaps the garment's ability to wick persperation or offer flexibility/comfort?)
How come no mention of fabrics? Anyone who works out regularly/intensely knows that cotton is rotten. The Dry-Fit, Under Armour, etc. are head and shoulders above your basic cotton tee or tank. I believe some of the pieces in the Aspire and Champion line are lycra blends. Also, the Danskin line is pretty good and reasonably priced.
The part about fabrics got cut out unfortunately. But you are right. Cotton is the worst!
Nike's Dry-fit is amazing and so is Under Armour. The only problem is they are REALLY expensive for most people. That's why I reccommended Aspire and C9 by Champion for Target.
posted 3 years ago by Mary Rambin
In the interest of full disclosure, I've written about my four year battle with bulimia here:
http://julia.nonsociety.com/post/69022134
I'm emotionally drained and pretty shaky right now, so please, understand that this was hard to revisit.
I DID kick it, though.
Oh. So I guess this was posted in an attempt to get people to tell you how pretty and slender and pink and amazing you are and feel bad for daring to assert you need to lose weight? It's weird how you only manage to bring out these so called experiences when you're under fire. Like that mediabistro interview where the interviewer asked you why you had to change your last name and you said it was because you were date raped? Yet, NOBODY at Georgetown could corroborate your story and you used that story frequently with professors to get out of taking exams?
You need to lose weight. Your ass and thighs are heavy. You're not being accused of being a serial killer. Suck it up and stop being such a drama queen. It was a fitness episode, for pete's sake.
posted 3 years ago by Giselle
Giselle, why would you EVER tell someone who has had an eating disorder that she is heavy?
To all the people posting consistently negative posts, what is your motivation to watch this show? Don't say anything else. Just respond about why you're here.
posted 3 years ago by Allie1
I responded with plenty of positive feedback originally. I already said that I wanted information on work out gear. The girls also asked for workout regimes and tips, and I offered them. I suggested, in a constructive way, that Julia shouldn't wear pants like that without a loose top that came below her hips. I didn't just criticize, I offered a solution. I didn't call her fat or obese or chunky. But to not acknowledge her very obvious lower body issues would be dumb. Sorry, not going to blow kisses julia's way. It was a show about work out gear that flatter your body and encourage you to work out. her outfit did not flatter her figure. Period.
posted 3 years ago by Giselle
So you are telling her she's heavy out of compassion? You're concerned for her welfare? Because mocking her with "Oh. So I guess this was posted in an attempt to get people to tell you how pretty and slender and pink and amazing you are and feel bad for daring to assert you need to lose weight?" isn't very compassionate. It sounds like you post things about her body simply to make her feel badly.
posted 3 years ago by Allie1
Julia,... I can call you Julia, right? Because it's more than obvious that you're monitoring this site carefully and posting comments in your own defense. Nobody else cares enough about you to be glued to this site.
Let me explain how the internet works. You "put yourself out there, warts and all" and people respond. Why? Because you're fishing for a response. The topic was flattering and comfortable work out gear. My opinion was that what she wore did not flatter her figure. Despite the fact that these girls seem to think that there are only stick thin women in the world - more like their world which is devoid of any substance -there are actually other sizes of women out there. Maybe, and I realize this might be hard for you Jules because you seem incapable of wrapping your brain around the fact that the world doesn't revolve around you - maybe my feedback wasn't just for Julia, but for women with her similar body type. Want to create a substantive piece that will actually make an impact? Scratch below the surface. Talk about body image issues, talk to your audience as though you and acknowledge that there are other body types out there other than size 2. Nobody likes to hear they need to lose weight. But pretending someone doesn't isn't helping them.
posted 3 years ago by Giselle
To say that you have kicked your eating disorder is optimistic; you are in denial as many addicts to food or whatever are. What you do now is compensate (e.g, banning foods from your household, doing a cleanse to work off the garbage you inhaled).
At some point (the point at which they get tired of the mental energy devoted to them) you'll do some real work (not with your keyboard and an audience, which a therapist) to figure out what happened emotionally to make you turn to food. You sought and still seek food to thwart your loneliness or some other state of sadness that afflicts you.
I write this not to call you fat or crazy to tell you that you really do sound sick. Please take your parents advice, spend some money on some big birthday bash but on several visits to a therapist. It really works.
If this was some weird fabricated admission to as suggested by someone else--you should still go to the therapist--all of this behavior originates from the same problem.
posted 3 years ago by foodissues
Very good point. There are some obvious serious issues here, evident not just in the blatant dishonesty about herself but the outrageous narcissism ... something really ails this woman, and if she weren't so dishonest and vain, I might care. But I just find her so tiresome, fraudulent and unpleasant (see the entire "Mary's a bitch" ridiculousness). If I didn't like Mary and Meghan so much, I wouldn't be here. On her own, she's going nowhere, because she so consistently violates the trust she must have with her readers/followers.
posted 3 years ago by Joanie
I clearly have typing issues:
1) I'm not calling you fat, crazy, etc. I'm saying you sound like you need help.
2) Don't spend your money on a huge party, spend it on therapy it's a gift that keeps on giving.
3) I forgot to say that your seemingly over-attachment to men and even your "sisters" is a coping mechanism--just like the food.
posted 3 years ago by foodissues
Julia, just like the analogy with alcoholism that you made in your post, I think that you are not really "cured" or as "OK" as you might think - addictions are a lifelong struggle. I think it would be a really good idea - as others have suggested above - to use the money you spend on parties, etc. to seek therapy and help. Repressing your problems will never make them go away... you'll just crash harder down the road.
And no, I am not Kiley. Believe it or not, there is more than one person who has problems with some of the fraud and hypocrisy presented here.
posted 3 years ago by Kasey
I thought this episode was really cute! I usually avoid the ceiling-to-floor mirrors at the gym, but I liked the tip to use mirrors to see your progress.
And Mary, you inspired me to try spin class at the beginning of the school year. I'm not super-athletic, but I still LOVE spinning. I cannot WAIT to get back to the rec center at school.
There is no way that Julia is in any way shape or form chubby or fat. All three of them have different body shapes and appear to me be rather healthy, ESPECIALLY compared to most Americans. If you guys really think she is fat, you must have some MAJOR issues. I have a shape similar to Julia's and I am very fit. I have a lot of muscles and a bigger frame. I play tons of sports and pass a lot of fitness exams. All you ladies who post negative comments, must not have a very nice body, because you're not very pretty on the inside, as you have shown.
And there is a BIG difference between negative comments and constructive comments. Negative comments just make you guys look jealous and afraid of having fun and loving yourselves. I don't understand if you guys hate this show so much, why would you watch it. Don't you have better things to do? Get a hobby.
Personally, I have a lot of things going for me and when I have any free time, I like to get a few tips on how to have more fun with my life and looks. I really enjoy this show. Its fun to just watch a few minutes a week and feel cute. If you guys can't enjoy that, I feel sorry for you. Maybe you need better friends and let yourself unwind.
And of course, I love looking cute at the gym. If I don't look cute and feel good about what I'm wearing while I'm there, why would I feel motivated to do anything.
Best thing ever for your body though is rowing! It burns a crazy number of calories and is one of the hardest workouts you can get in a certain amount of time. Try to find a community organization to get started or use the machines at the gym. However, the machines don't give you as much motivation as when you are out rowing with a team. You can't stop when you're actually on the water without messing the WHOLE boat up, or possibly having your oar fly back at you.
Anybody who likes to look "cute" at the gym does not nor ever has rowed crew. Nice try, Julia.
For the record - Rowing crew bulks you up, not slims you down. For men, it's okay because broad shoulders on a man is attractive. It gives a woman "linebacker shoulders. " (Not a shot at Mary!) It also bulks up your thighs.
"If I don't look cute and feel good about what I'm wearing while I'm there, why would I feel motivated to do anything. "
That is quite possible the most shallow and "girlie" thing I've ever heard. Why be motivated? Well, there's that whole living longer thing doctors talk about. You do not work out regularly, it's clear. While I do not wear ripped t-shirts or torn sweats, I do look presentable. But I do not really care how "cute" I look. I plan on sweating, plugging in to my ipod and just getting through my workout and keeping my heart rate up. What I care mostly about is how the clothes fit. The shirts or tanks that ride up will distract me and make me pull and tug at clothing mid-workout.
Everyone knows that men go to the gym to work out, not hook up. What's next? Telling women to go to sports bars all decked out in heels or mini-skirts and then ask guys dumb questions about the game?
I don't think Julia is fat, but she's not toned. If she had a butt like J-Lo I'd say go for it. But she doesn't. She has what's called "the middle age spread." Like someone else said, it's from sitting down too much and eating too much sugar. Anybody who consumes a lot of sweets AND is sedentary for a good part of their day and does not regularly exercise will begin to see their stomach, butt and thighs grow. That's where the fat cells are being deposited because you're not moving around enough. Once she hits 30 it will be brutally hard to rectify the situation. She needs to start changing her diet and incorporating real, consistent exercise into her schedule. I disagree with someone who said she isn't naturally an ectomorph. Her body type seems to be one that very easily can plump up if not attended to properly. That butt is not from squats or lunges. Some butts and thighs do bulk up from those types of excercises. That butt and the tops of her thighs are due to poor diet and lack of exercise. Plain and simple. It's a hard thing for women to hear but if she doesn't do something about it now, it will get out of hand.
posted 3 years ago by mariska
Um. I really have rowed crew or why would I suggest it. It seems like a rather random sport to suggest if I had never done it. And yes it did bulk me up, but I had some crazy SEXY legs from it and was toned with little body fat.
Second, I am in a committed relationship and I do not look cute to get a guy at the gym. I do it because I like to look good for myself. Also, If you do have to keep pulling down your clothes, you need to go up a size. You can look cute and comfortable.
Yes, I understand it is good to work out to be healthy, but is that enough motivation. There are SO many other ways people pass. So when you are at the gym, it is much easier to think "Just 1 more hour and I can look sexy in those jeans." Or "Score! This is healthy and might add some extra years when I'm eighty." Both are good motivations, but when you are working out more than what is really needed to be healthy, then you need the extra motivation.
Before you bash my suggestion of rowing, think about what is good for your body. Little body fat and lots of muscle. If you don't think women should have a lot of muscle...then that explains why you are critical of these women's bodies. Not everyone wants to be shapeless. Horray for women not being twigs.
Oh. P.S. I'm glad you know everything about me and about the sport of rowing.
posted 3 years ago by Stephie
I know about rowing crew because my ex-boyfriend in college rowed for MIT and was actually on the US Olympic team in 96. I frequently partied with him and his team mates and the woman's team members. There wasn't a slender one in the bunch. Rowing at the gym is not the same as rowing crew.
"Also, If you do have to keep pulling down your clothes, you need to go up a size."
That was my point and something not mentioned in the clip. Depending on the fabric and brand, you may have to go up a size in a work out top. Champion tops are the WORST and do not stay down. I love Gap Body because they don't move and still provide good support for my chest.
"If you don't think women should have a lot of muscle...then that explains why you are critical of these women's bodies. "
Mary is the only one with muscle tone and definition. Meghan's body is perfect to me, but I wouldn't say she has muscle tone. Julia is without muscle tone. So your comment is pointless. That's an excuse women use when they're in denial about their weight. "Oh, I'm mostly muscle and muscle weighs more than fat!" When you have to live in sweats with elastic waistbands and poofy skirts, then that's a pretty good sign that your mid section is expanding. She wears that red and black plaid skirt every where because it hides her lower body. Look at the photos of her in thigh his that she posted while partying in Chicago. Sorry, but her thighs are spilling out over the tops because the thigh his are too tight.
posted 3 years ago by mariska
Yes, Rowing bulks you up, but burns SOOOOO much fat. So if you really are into being healthy then its great. Plus its a great place to start if you really want to work hard to get your body in amazing shape. Then you can work to tone up the muscle mass you get. You might not be skinny, but you will be fit. Fit to me isn't fitting into the smaller size. I actually got skinnier rowing in my waist, but have to wear bigger sizes to compensate my thighs, but they look amazing. So it depends what kind of girl you are. If you want to be healthy and fit and look amazing, row crew. Plus it helps with any other sport you want to do. When I switched to track, I was worlds ahead of the other girls in the weight room. If you want to be a size 0 or 2 because thats whats "In." Then find another work out. It was just a suggestion.
Plus, I do know rowing is different on the water than on the ergs. But still, the ergs do burn mega calories. Therefore if you were the girl who wanted be tiny, use that machine at a low setting. Its great cardio and only builds muscle when there is high resistance (aka. the water). I was on a rowing team for three years and am looking for another one. I'm REALLY glad that the ex-girlfriend of a rower would know SOOOO much more than someone who actually rowed and continues to use the machine
posted 3 years ago by Stephie
i come here to watch a cute, informative, quick video. it's not CNN. it's not the New York Times. it's three girlfriends, giving their opinions in broad fields where they have some experience. if there's something i can take from it (a new label i haven't heard of, angle i haven't considered, or website/ application i might like) that's great. if not, well, that's okay too. i'll just wait until the next episode.
then i scroll down and see that the majority of the comments are about 1) how annoying/ petty one of the girls is or 2) how ugly/ fat they are. no, they're not and no, they're not.
i don't understand how anyone can care as deeply as gieselle, kasey, etc., to type a flagrantly ignorant, distasteful comment, then actually REPLY (several times!!) with a comeback when someone challenges. it's sad, actually.
Well, that's what DISCOURSE is about, love. Posting your thoughts and responding to people's reaction to it. Did they not teach you that in college?
I will respond to your argument, btw. How are any of my comments ignorant? Again, as I've said ad nauseam on this site, if you are going to make your ENTIRE BLOG be about your appearance, you should expect that people are going to judge you based on it. This whole episode was about what to wear to the gym! Mary's entire persona is about fashion! Julia is obsessively focused on her appearance and posts picture after picture of herself posing. So, i'm sorry, I didn't realize then that the only comments they are allowed to receive are positive.
I posted my honest opinions in response to viewing their show. a) Mary looks too skinny and not feminine. b) Julia has packed on the pounds c) the content is ridiculous, as most people who work out are focused on just that - working out, not looking cute. Nor do most people have to spend on yoga pants.
When this site and these women start posting actual, helpful, amusing or funny content instead of "look at how cute we are!" bullshit all the time, you can expect fewer reactions like mine. Until then, blow it out your ass. I'll say what I want to say, because these women are hideous.
And trust me, if all the people who were only coming here to laugh or criticize them were to leave, the pageviews would decrease by 80% at least. So they need people like me here. Again, I'm not going anywhere until the narcissistic one who posts crotch-shots of her skinnier days and harps incessantly about her ex-boyfriends stops being so. goddamn. irritating.
posted 3 years ago by Kiley
Thanks Shanna for articulating exactly how I feel!
posted 3 years ago by kathy79
I guess it would require the same level of interest as that of someone who feels compelled to write something coming to their defense. My comment had plenty of valid and insightful suggestions and points. Sorry, this was a fitness episode. I really don't feel like taking workout wear advice from someone who clearly doesn't work out. I wanted to hear Mary. I wanted to hear her input because she obviously knows what she's talking about. Instead, I got multiple interruptions by Julia who even went so far as to obviously LIE about having a pair of workout pants just so she could have something to say.
posted 3 years ago by Giselle
Whether or not these videos are cute or informative is debatable, but I post (and reply to posts) to foster discourse, not disrespect. For Julia to chase off people who show interest with trite comments about how we all need to "chill out," "get a life" or "spend our time somewhere else" shows just how little business sense she has. This business model depends on page views. Telling people to go away is foolish. Instead of fostering discourse, Julia squashes it.
I am only pointing out that as someone who wants to garner respect as a female entrepreneur (instead of just a stale spectacle), it's incredibly foolish to post classless pictures of yourself spread eagle in a bathtub.
posted 3 years ago by Kasey
I have a sneaking suspicion that Kasey and Kiley are the same person...perhaps you're just a little too committed to encouraging obsessive hate disguised as "discourse."
posted 3 years ago by she.star
Gee She.Star, it must have taken a lot out of you to come up with that A+ comment. You are right. There is only one Julia hater out there. Even though, unlike these girls, I actually have a full-time job, I somehow manage to post 100 messages a day on here and the "Question of the Day" about how much I hate Julia. Really. It's just me. Everyone else in NYC LOVES her. You got me.
posted 3 years ago by Kiley
I am loving Mary. Esp the look at the camera after Julia pulled out Team Blair.
I got an iphone over the holidays and I downloaded the free app: imapmyrun. It uses the iphone GPS to track your route and upload it to your profile. It is so cool. You can also set goals. I decided to run 100 miles in the first month of 2009 and I am well on my way.
New workout wear is a big motivator. So are workout gadgets, like when I got the Nike+ system, I was totally motivated to workout more. Plus I linked it to my Facebook page, so then I was like, Oh I have to run or all my friends will know I'm lazy!! haha
I travel a lot for work. Running is super easy, because most hotels have treadmills. And then I invested in a a bow-tie band(http://spriproducts.com/ItemGroup.aspx?ItemGroupID=5&CategoryID=24&ItemGroupTypeID=1) and printed a workout from Self (http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2007/10/arm-sculpting-slideshow). Easy to do in a small space, really works the arms without bulking.
I'm going to look into the band.
In the past I've been a huge hater, but now I'm in love with the elliptical machine. I tailor my workouts like I would on a spin bike: climbing hills, sprints on flats, running with heavy resistance up hill, and all to the beat of the music. It really helps keep my mind occupied for 30-45 minutes.
posted 3 years ago by Mary Rambin
And why is it not at all surprising that Julia chooses to show off her tits at the gym? Honey, no one there is looking. Concentrate on other moments in life to snag a rich man/try to make other women jealous. When people are working out unfortunately they are not looking at you. I'm sure even you can deal with the lack of attention for an hour out of your day.
I completely agree that getting cool new gym clothes is a motivator to get to the gym and try them out! I got two new pairs of shorts and two new shirts for Christmas, all by Nike, and it felt great to be seen in something new and athletic looking to replace my old ratty stained t-shirts. I'm much more of a t-shirt and shorts person though, to let the air in and allow the skin to breathe- I don't know how people can wear clingy spandex pants!
One other thing:
It may not be what you want to hear sometimes, but sometimes you need to hear the brutal truth about your body. It's one thing if you're just naturally thick and that's just how your body is. It's another when you've clearly put on weight. Always ask your friends, people who care about your well being, to give you the "skinny" on what they think. Kind of like that scene in SATC: THE MOVIE when they all told Samantha she'd put on weight.
I like combining my regular cardio and weighted workouts with plymetrics. Switching things up keeps it interesting, and works the muscles differently.
In terms of gym clothing, I think all of the clothes Mary recommends are good for women. However, I cannot even begin to tell you how inappropriate some women's outfits are at the gym. I wish they would follow Mary's advice.
In my opinion, it is extremely disrespectful of the people around you when women wear only a sports bra. or anything else that is REALLY tiny and revealing (particularly in spin classes like Julia's picture). For example, in position 3 during spin class you are basically leaving it all out there for us to see and it is really hard not to look. Just like you, I am trying to get a good workout. But it is really difficult to do when the endorphines and testosterone kick in and all I see is the beautiful curves of the female body. There is a time and place for everything, and the gym is NOT the place for overly revealing clothing.
Lastly, you forgot to mention the basic and obvious fact that you should not buy cotton clothes for the gym. They are the absolute worst.
From following their blogs and show, it seems to me that all three of them (although it seems Meghan at least got help) have MAJOR body image/self esteem issues. This show would be much more interesting and relevant if they acknowledged it and talked about it honestly instead of focusing on completely trite and tired topics like what to wear to the gym.
posted 3 years ago by Kasey
Ok, seriously? This episode highlights for me everything wrong with this show. Who cares what one wears to the gym? The point is to work out. It's actually the one place in my life I could care less what I look like. Wear a damn t-shirt and yoga pants. The end.
This show is such a gigantic joke. No one cares.
I specifically choose the color pink, rose, red, etc to wear on top at the gym. I really believe that certain colors put me in a more positive mood. I usually wear yoga pants or drawstring pants for the bottoms. But I also have 2 pairs of Nike running pants that are straight leg and form fitting that I LOVE. I haven't worn them in a few years but recently lost about 25 pounds so I feel more comfortable in them.
Julia, with all due respect,if you aregoing to wear tight fitting pants, wear a t-shirt that comes below your hips for a more even looking shape. I don't get the impression from looking at past photos of you that you are naturally an ectomorph or pear shape. I can only assume that you need to sit less and move more, as your lower body - mainly your butt - looks like the butt of someone who sits a lot. Squats are not for you. Walking on an incline is perfect to combat that and will firm up your legs like you wouldn't believe. I make it a point to get up at least once an hour from my desk in my home office to do something active. I take 2-3 mini walks a day running errands.
What are you saying? Look at Julia, toned arms, flat belly, shapely lower body. Using the euphemism "looks like the butt of someone who sits a lot" is a kinder way of telling her she has a fat ass and it is obvious she does not. Hater.
posted 3 years ago by sebaceous
So we're being blunt? She has a big ass, and it's not because she's just built that way. Even she knows it, which is why she wears those same flared mini skirts. Sorry, her butt is disproportionate to the rest of her body and has grown significantly in the past few months.
Also, her arms aren't toned. She has no muscle tone to her body. Flat belly, yes.
posted 3 years ago by Giselle
Seriously, her arms are flabby. Don't know why she's doing that muscle pose in the beginning. Between her chubbiness and Mary's anorexia I'm not sure who I should be gazing upon here. What a sad display of women's figures.
posted 3 years ago by Kiley
She's doing the muscle pose to attract attention to herself because Mary has the spotlight. Way to be 14.
posted 3 years ago by Giselle
Loved this episode!
Meghan is totally sporting the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics hat!
Nice work!
Man, I totally slum it when it comes to gym clothes---I'm talking used workout gear from the nearest thrift store/Goodwill. Goodwill has some damned good stuff if you're looking for good quality gear at an amazing price---so what if it's slightly used? I've even found brand new workout gear with tags still attached at thrift stores! You're going to sweat all over it and wash it repeatedly, so I'd rather just buy it on the cheap and maybe find some of those pricey pieces for less than half the price. ;-)
Otherwise, I'm mainly a Nike/Addidas gear kinda gal. Although if I could find a "Geekette" T-shirt like Meghan's only with "Artsy Chick" on it instead, I'd totally be wearing that to the gym whenever possible!
www.sherylspencer.net
I like combining my regular cardio and weighted workouts with plymetrics. Switching things up keeps it interesting, and works the muscles differently.
In terms of gym clothing, I think all of the clothes Mary recommends are good for women. However, I cannot even begin to tell you how inappropriate some women's outfits are at the gym. I wish they would follow Mary's advice.
In my opinion, it is extremely disrespectful of the people around you when women wear only a sports bra. or anything else that is REALLY tiny and revealing (particularly in spin classes like Julia's picture). For example, in position 3 during spin class you are basically leaving it all out there for us to see and it is really hard not to look. Just like you, I am trying to get a good workout. But it is really difficult to do when the endorphines and testosterone kick in and all I see is the beautiful curves of the female body. There is a time and place for everything, and the gym is NOT the place for overly revealing clothing.
Lastly, you forgot to mention the basic and obvious fact that you should not buy cotton clothes for the gym. They are the absolute worst.
I take classes at a dance studio and I will never go to a gym again. It's more effective (works all muscle groups, incorporates cardio AND builds amazing flexibility) and much, much more fun.
If there is good stuff at Target like you suggest, why even mention workout pants?? You live in an alternate reality.
And maybe I misunderstood her, but did Mary really say at the very end of the episode, "We'll see you on the scale?" That is so wrong.
I can't get enough of spinning, and find it not only does wonders for my bum and legs but also by arms and shoulders. And I am with Mary on new gym clothes being motivating. I just bought a ton of Nike stuff on clearance and I am running to the spin studio this afternoon.
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