Sport it long active shorts review

I received a pair of Sport-It active long shorts in exchange for a review and am so happy with the product. Let me say that most active shorts are way too short for those with thick thighs like me. When I run, I want to make sure the shorts are long enough to prevent chafing and starting a fire with my thighs. Anything longer than 5" in seam is great and these shorts are a perfect length. I think they are mainly meant for biking but they work wonders with running. 

The shorts do not have a tie waist band so I was a little worried of them sliding down but they stay in place and hide the muffin top that many compression shorts cause. There are two slits in the band that hold my keys and inhaler but could also fit gels, a phone and other stuff needed during exercise. The stretchy material was great during a run and they never rode up like other shorts do. 

I run around a size 10 (I am a bigger bottomed girl) and ordered a large, which was the perfect size. I didn't struggle or do the pants dance to wiggle into these. I love these shorts and have used them for hikes, bike rides, swimming, and mostly running. I would purchase these again. I received this product at a discount for a review. My review is 100% honest. 

Check out these awesome long shirts from Sport-it. The fit is PERFECT. I usually dislike shorts that don't have a tie waistband but these do not slide down at all. There are two slits in the front to hold keys, phone, miscellaneous stuff. I tested them out for a run and it was great coverage, fit and comfort. I love these and would buy them again. I did receive this product for a discount but my opinions are 100% my own. #gosportit #longshorts #activewear #review #tomoson

A photo posted by Jennifer ❤️ (@influenster23) on Jun 21, 2016 at 1:30pm PDT

Awesome Flipbelt Holiday giveaway!

Hello everyone! If y'all remember, I reviewed the Flipbelt about a week ago and I was given the opportunity to run a giveaway thanks to them! This is just in time for the holiday season for yourself or a loved one who just loves to work out! This also comes in time for the New Year season when its time to start a healthy lifestyle for 2015. 

I loved the Flipbelt so much and have been using it religiously since I received it during my runs, yoga sessions, and even weightlifting. It is perfect for your exercise of choice without it riding up at all. I highly recommend this product to everyone, no matter your fitness level. 

If you would like to purchase this awesome belt, head over to their website here to check out their wide selection in colors and how to choose a side. Their customer service is absolutely excellent if you have any questions at all. 

If you would like to enter this giveaway, head over to my Instagram and read my directions from my photo there. IF you do not have an Instagram, comment below to enter and I will put your name in manually. The contest ends December 18 at midnight. Good luck everyone! 

Attention!! I have gotten the opportunity to work with Flip belt and do a giveaway!! I loved my Flip belt so much that I can almost guarantee you will too. This would be the perfect gift for yourself this holiday season. 🎄🎅🎁 If you would like a chance to win this give away you must follow three easy steps! ⬇⬇⬇⬇ 1) Like this photo 2) Follow me @Jenn_Ricaurte 3) Repost this photo with hash tag #JRFlipbeltGiveaway I will pick the winner on December 18th at midnight. Best of luck to everyone!! Check out my review on my blog in my bio link. 💚💙💛 #flipbelt #giveaway #instsrunner #fitfam

A photo posted by Jennifer Ricaurte (@jenn_ricaurte) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:52pm PST

Flip belt review

Hello everyone! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving and holiday with their family! For me this year, Thanksgiving meant running my very first Turkey Trot. I started running last year in October but just started running in the cold  New England weather. The temperature on Thursday was 23 degrees and the ground was covered in ice and snow. I knew that there was absolutely no choice about bringing my inhaler with me on my race. Luckily, I received this Flipbelt to try out and figured that this race would be perfect to test my belt out.

The Flipbelt is a tube shaped belt used for running, weightlifting, cycling, other exercises, or even just to carry your belongings while going shopping. The tube has multiple openings to insert anything you may need like your keys, ID, cards, money, cell phone, meds, inhalers, eli-pens, chapstick, etc. If you flip the belt inside out, the belt "locks" in all the items in the belt. The Flipbelt does not connect with velcro, a zipper, or a buckle, it comes up and over your torso or down and pulled up from your legs. Flipbelt should slide on and stay in place without riding up your waist and is bounce proof. The biggest concern with many is whether or not their phone fit into the Flipbelt. It has a 3" width and can carry most phones without their case. It does accommodate the Note 2 and otter boxes but it will be a very tight fit. There was absolutely no problem with my iPhone 4s with the battery pack case it is in. The Flipbelt is not waterproof but it is made from a quick drying, wicking  spandex-lyrics fabric to allow slight moisture from dripping off the belt. It is machine washable and dryable but I just hang dry it. The best thing about Flipbelt? They come in a ton of colors, fitting every single person's love for color. 

I am very nervous about trying running belts and having them ride up because it feels very restricting and not to mention annoying to keep pulling it down. Flipbelt has a sizing chart to follow from, I purchased a size Large because I am between a size 10 and 12. I was a size 14 so I am going to pretty upset when this size won't fit me anymore. (Just gives me an excuse to buy another one ;) ) I pulled the belt up from my legs and it stayed snug on my hips. I was able to shove my car key, inhaler, chapstick, and my cell phone in the belt without any bouncing. I usually never have a problem with bounce unless my inhaler is in my belt, then it flops up and down, making me hold it throughout my entire run. I had no problem with the bouncing with this belt, it locked it in place and it didn't even migrate from the front to the back, giving me peace of mind just in case I needed it in an emergency. Flipbelt does suggest keeping all belongings in a little pouch and then placing it into the tube just in case but none of my items fell out on their own. I was very happy about it not having a buckle because chafing is a serious problem with other belts.

Overall, I absolutely loved this Flipbelt. I had only seen it at a race expo in Virginia almost a year ago and hadn't had the opportunity to try it out. I have only heard good things about this product and am so happy to say that I am one of those runners who absolutely loves the Flipbelt too. I definitely see myself using this belt for a long time to come, with all of my races, and even just my long distance training for next year's half marathon. I highly recommend this product, just make sure to double check your waist/hip size before purchasing it on their website. Their customer service is absolutely amazing and friendly. If you are interested in purchasing a Flipbelt, go to their website and check out their FAQ page and their personal reviews page. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Calf compression sleeves by Compressions review

Hello again! So this week, I had the pleasure of testing out calf compression sleeves by Compressions. I have always wanted a very good pair of compression socks or sleeves because I love to run/cycle and I am on my feet about 95% of my shift at work as a nurse. My feet always tend to swell up after a run or after 8 hours on my feet at work. I was hopeful to try out these compression sleeves and see if they really made a difference on my legs.

Compressions claims that these sleeves assist with many different activities like running, cycling, basketball, baseball, volleyball, martial arts, tennis, and cross fit. They also improve circulation during long plane rides, provide assistance for restless leg syndrome, ease pain and strain from jobs that include a lot of standing or walking like nurses or salespersons, and help relieve discomfort form varicose veins and give shin support for post surgery. 

They work by using 20-25 mmHg of compression and they promote greater circulation and stability. They fit calf sizes with circumference from 12"-16". They fit snug without being flimsy. The material is moisture wicking and they do not slip or slide during activities.

After I ran my half marathon, I quickly put these sleeves on in hopes of not becoming sore in the next couple days. They were a little tricky to put on because my calves are closer to 16" in circumference. The relief was almost instant and I no longer hurt in my calves with every step. They fit from right above my ankle to right below my knee and did not slip or slide down at all. I kept them on for a few hours and my feet did not swell up nor did I have any pain. Ironically, the only place I did not have any pain after the race was in my shins or calves. I wish I had a compression suit ;P

 I was very grateful to be able to try out these compression sleeves, I cannot imagine the amount of pain I would have been in after the race without these. I also use them during my shifts as a nurse at my job. I am on my feet about 95% of my shift and these sleeves bring a lot of relief. My feet and legs are not as tired when I wear them. I hope they last a while because I have only had them about 3 weeks. If you are a runner, cross fit junkie, athlete, work in retail, travel a lot, or just need some good compression sleeves, definitely try and check these out. My only recommendation is to make sure you measure your calves because anything over 16" circumference will definitely not fit in these. 

If you are interested in purchasing these compression sleeves click here. 

I received this product for testing purposes but my opinion is 100% my own. 
#review

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

My Running Belt review!

Hello everyone! I had the pleasure of trying out one of the most amazing things on this entire planet and that is.... DRUMROLL PLEASE.. a runner's belt. As a runner, I constantly keep buying new ones in hope of finding the one that is just right for me. Some are too big, too bulky, too small, too slippery, too tight, too loose, zippers break easy, the buckle doesn't clasp on right.. the list is infinite. I was very excited to try out the My Running Belt and really put it to the test: a 13.1 mile race. 

 
When I run, I need my inhaler, chap stick, hair bands, a few bucks, my ID, cell phone, tons of Gu, maybe a fruit snack, and other things that tend to accumulate in these black holes. I was nervous that all of my items wouldn't fit in the belt but I was pretty happy to see that they did with room to spare! I even stuck my friend's car keys in there for safe keeping. 

Fast forward to race day and I didn't feel it move at all, no bouncing, no sliding up, no sliding down, and no twisting from side to side! The buckle in the back was just big enough to be sturdy but not get in the way and rub against your back uncomfortably. I ended up finishing the race with my top tech shirt around my waist and my runners belt a little higher than it should be (my fault, my shirts were made of dri-fit equaling a very slippery surface for the belt to ride on). Even though the belt rode up just a little during my race, that was a small price to pay for how it held up during the entire race: EXCELLENT. I am running another half in a week and a half and will definitely not leave the house without this gem.

To any runner that may read my blog, I HIGHLY recommend this runner's belt. It will hold everything you may need and then some *however* it does NOT hold a water bottle if that is what you are looking for. It does not bounce or twist around the body but may slide up on your torso depending on the material clothing you are wearing. The size is perfect with two pockets but doesn't make you look like you have large love handles like other belts. If you are in need of a new belt or looking to try out a new brand, this is the one for you.

If you are interested in purchasing My Running Belt, click here. 

Some other extra things you should know about the My Running Band:

- Reflective band

- Authentic YKK zipper

- Strong elastic waistband

- Fits waist sizes between 28 in and 52 in

- Heavy- duty buckle

- Waterproof 3- layer TPU pocket

- The material is soft to the touch and flexible
- Available colors are pink, yellow, and blue

*I received this product for testing purposes but this post is 100% my honest opinion and recommendation*

Phantom Fit Reflective Ankle Bands Review

Hello all! This weekend I got a lovely surprise in the mail with the Phantom Fit reflective ankle bands. The package consisted of a black bag with a pair of bright velcro bands. The bands are able to be used on the ankle or the upper arm, pretty much anywhere that has a circumference of bigger than 10 inches! I am really not a big fan of having things around my ankles when I run and I usually wear reflection gear on my upper arms. 

I love to run and in the summertime, sometimes the best time to run is in the late evening! Unfortunately, running in the early mornings or in the late evenings can mean dark skies and poor visibility from cars or other people on the road. I usually wear a little blinking red light on my right arm but that is not enough for any cars or trucks approaching me from the front. I was very excited to use this and actually be safe for once on my run. The band fit snug on my upper arms and loosely on my ankles. They are covered in a very bright yellow, the edges are wrapped in reflective materials, and the ends connect with a very strong velcro.

I tied up my sneakers, put on my GPS watch, and hit the streets! As the sun was setting, I was ready to see what these little bands can do. I am pretty sure that I was visible from space and felt very safe from any oncoming traffic. They did not budge at all from my upper arm nor did they feel tight or uncomfortable.

Ultimately, I am VERY happy that Phantom Fit let me review their product because it is exactly what I needed as winter is approaching and the sun sets much earlier. The reflective bands are visible from over 1000 feet, the velcro is very strong and durable, and the bands are very lightweight, comfortable, and you cannot even notice they are on you at all. I would recommend this to anyone who loves to run, bike, walk the dog, or just do any outdoor activity in the dark. If you are interested in the Phantom Fit reflective ankle band, click here.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Half marathon training.

                                   

My first half marathon is in eleven days and I am no where near ready. My longest run so far is only 8 miles and I don't think that's long enough to make me feel comfortable. Time to start increasing mileage before next weekends half! 

Bikini Ready Lifestyle Gummies Review

My secret to bikini ready lifestyle is running! My goal is definitely to not be fit for a bikini but be a healthy and mentally strong person! I love to run, no matter what distance, or what pace. It’s a very liberating experience. These are two of my medals that I have gotten from a few races I ran in. Can’t wait to try out these Bikini Ready Energy Gummies I received from influenster complimentary for testing purposes. Hopefully it will keep me energized on a nice long run. :)