Since I basically live in workout clothes, I’ve had to revamp my closet to make room for $100 couture spandex. It gets pretty ridiculous paying so much for fitness clothes, but this is how I see it: when you look good, you feel good and you perform even better! Wearing booty lifting shorts and accentuating tops motivates me to go 110% at the gym.

Jockey Person to Person® has come out with a new line of active-wear for women and to be honest, I’m pretty surprised. They sent me a shirt to review (shown below) and I took it out for a 6-mile run along Venice Beach. What did I think?

Let’s start with the cons. Jockey sizes tend to run bigger than normal and I’ve never been able to figure out why. I normally wear a size Small or 4, which usually fits quite perfectly. Mind you, I like my fitness clothes tight because I hate when there’s extra fabric flapping around as I’m doing squat jumps. I received a size XS and it was a lot looser than I’m used to. The cut of the shirt was very conservative – it covered all of my chest and extended below the hip.

Now on to the pros. Like I mentioned before, I was extremely impressed with the shirt! Although it wasn’t as snug as I wanted, it did feel comfortable. The design of the shirt is attractive, but not too loud. It has dry-wicking fabric so I was able to sweat like crazy in the SoCal weather and still feel cool. I didn’t have to tug or pull at my shirt, which is normally my biggest concern when I’m running.

If you’re interested in checking out Jockey’s new line of fitness wear for women, I encourage taking a second look at it. Just make sure you reference the sizing chart before ordering!

So tell me – what’s your normal go to outfit when working out? Are you a couture fitness chick or does the sweatpants/old tee look do it for you?

** Author’s edit: Jockey Person to Person® is a different branch than Jockey itself. They offer a line of fitness wear and fashionable clothing for the active woman. Check out some other great styles here.

Whether you want one as big as Kim Kardashian’s or something more subtle like J-Lo’s (ok, it’s not that subtle, but in comparison…) I have the perfect plan for you. While squats and lunges are my quick go-to favorite, they can get a little boring. Here are some easy ways to spice up your workout routine.

1) Fire Hydrant

Called “fire hydrant” for obvious reasons, this move really tones all of those gluteus muscles. Begin on all fours, with your hands directly under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Keeping your right knee in a bent position, bring your leg away from your body and stop when it is hip height. Make sure your back is flat, tighten your abs and squeeze your booty every time you lift. It’ll give it that extra oomph! Aim for three sets of 15-20 reps on each side.

2) Leg Lifts

Stay in the same position as you were in for the fire hydrant. This time, extend your leg behind you, keeping it in a straight line and hip height. To perform the move, raise your leg a few inches above hip height and then lower back down. Keep your back as neutral as possible and squeeze your booty every time your raise your leg. Aim for three sets of 15-20 reps on each side.

What are you trying tone up this summer? Get up and get active – tweet me @jackelynho. I’ll be your personal trainer and help whip ya into shape!

It’s strange, but for some reason spending 45 minutes on the elliptical feels unnatural when the weather starts warming up. It’s like lying in a tanning bed when it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside.

Clearly, I’ve already grown tired of my normal workout routine for the year.

The solution? Exploring outdoor activities that will provide me with a sense of adventure as I tone up. Now you may be wondering, “Hmm, is there really anything fun out there that will burn lots of calories?” I felt the same. But the reality is, YES, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! Check out these options below.

Kayaking
Benefits: Tones arms, chest, back and stomach. The paddle movement works every muscle in the upper body.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 calories per hour; this stat depends on your weight — the more you weigh the more calories you burn.

Rock Climbing
Benefits: Improves strength and endurance in calves, shoulders and core, as well as flexibility in the hips and hamstrings. Coordination, balance and mental focus will also be sharpened. Many climbers report a heightened sense of self-confidence and independence.
Calorie Burn: 600-700 calories per hour!!
** Beginners should look for an indoor climbing facility in their area. This is the best way to learn the ropes.

Surfing
Benefits: Improves endurance, balance (incredibly) and challenges all muscles groups. Surf stroke is also a great stress reducer and is an intense upper body work out.
Calorie Burn: 400 per 2 hour period. Most surfers spend half the day surfing, so that can burn up to 1200 calories!!!

Swimming
Benefits: Builds endurance, muscles strength and cardiovascular fitness. It can also be a very meditative exercise.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 per hour at a moderate pace.

Running on the Beach
Benefits: Increases endurance, stamina and builds muscle; the right way to run on the beach is to a) stay off the soft sand, run close to the tide, b) run at low tide which gives you a much firmer surface to run, and c) split the distance or time of your run in half so that both feet get equal time on a not-so-level running surface. (i.e. if you’re running for 30 minutes, turn around and go in the other direction at the 15 minute mark.)
Calorie Burn: 500-600 calories per half hour (seriously!!!). Because sand provides a greater resistance, you body has to work almost twice as hard to move against the surface.

Volleyball
Benefits: Increases agility, hand-eye coordination, strength … and social skills! There is nothing more fun/hilarious than getting a bunch of buds together for a match on the beach or sand pit.
Calorie Burn: 200-250 calories per hour (clearly not as great a workout as the others!)

So get out there and take advantage of the long, warm, sunny days coming your way. You’ll really have the chance to see what your body is capable of and, who knows, maybe you’ll find a true passion (or extremely hot guy) along the way.

One of the most common misconceptions about getting super sexy abs is the idea that you only have to do crunches or ab exercises. False! To get that sleek front side, it’s also important to take care of its opposing muscle: the back.

Your core is comprised of your back and abs, so if you want a strong core (and more body stability) you gotta work everything. In addition, if you have any back pain (from sitting over a computer all day….or doing other things that I won’t ask about), strengthening those muscles will get rid of those problems! Plus, with all these awesome backless dresses and cute bikinis coming out, we can’t neglect these lovely muscles. I mean, backs are sexy!

So here are some easy exercises to really get ready for summer, no gym required. In fact, these moves are so basic you can even do it when you’re passed out on the floor on Saturday afternoon.

Looking back, though, much has happened in the past year. It seems I’ve learned a lot while Ke$ha put a dollar sign in her name and started brushing her teeth with a “bottle of Jack,” John Mayer proclaimed that he is on the search for “the Joshua Tree of vaginas,” and the Jersey Shore became a national phenomenon.

So here (in no particular order) is what I know for certain after turning 21. Perhaps you youngsters can take a few things from this:

1. Friendships should make you happy — not pissed off : Friends should be so much more than people you dance on tables with and dish about the weekend to. They should be there for you, and you should be there for them. They also should not steal your alcohol on your 21^st birthday and make out with the fraternity guy, all while puking as your boyfriend helps take care of them.

2. Raincoats are amazing: They are often understated and overwhelmingly overlooked when it comes to fashion. But even if they aren’t fashionable, really, you can’t complain when that slicker keeps your from frizzing. Without a rain jacket I wouldn’t have made it through the summer in London. And I think it actually kept me going to class this past semester. Why didn’t I realize this sooner? It doesn’t matter if you have a basic from Lands End or a super sexy trench from Dillards, just get one!

3. Go to the gym: Surprisingly enough, it is worth your time. Who knew? I sure didn’t, until I started going religiously with my boyfriend back in September. If you actually go to the gym and do more than hang out on the treadmill and elliptical for thirty minutes, you can see results. Plus, it teaches you patience on so many different levels.

4. Do not drink MD 20/20: Even if the frat-mixed mojitos are watered down and tasting a bit like a dirty dance floor, stay away from the MD.

5. Do experience a Pimms with Lemonade: Although you probably have never heard of this drink before, Pimms with Lemonade is a London pub staple. The Pimms is to Wimbledon, as the mint julep is to the Kentucky Derby. This fresh tasting, fruity cocktail will may be enough to convince you to study abroad for a semester. It’s to die for.

6. Puppy Love = True Love: Dogs truly give the most unconditional love. Even though my boyfriend got a dog back in September and it has been a ton of work, I can’t help but keep falling in love with the little darling. You can’t have a bad day whenever a puppy is around. However, at the same time, the realization that having a puppy is a huge responsibility is constant and serves as amazing birth control for many, many years to come.

7. The VS Miraculous Push Up Bra is a miracle: The Victoria’s Secret new Miraculous Push Up bra is the greatest and latest thing to come into the world of retail. With a level 5 design to push up and lift, this push up bra is not playing around – it increases your breast size by two full cups. Unlike a lot of push up bras, this bra actually makes your boob size look believable, all while supplying comfort.

8. Hell No to the Snow: I can never live where it snows on a daily basis during the winter. After what I deemed the Great Snow of ’09 in Virginia (in which 24 inches of snow fell in two days), this has re-arranged my life geographically for good. Those applications to Illinois for graduate school?  Out the window. My dream of always visiting Maine? Only if it’s summer.  Multiple inches of snow at a time? No thanks.

9. Reading is magical: Taking the time to read for pleasure in between reading for class is one of the best ways to relax. This past year, I have rediscovered my love for reading, all while falling in love with some great stories. Need something to restart your love of reading? Read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon or Train to Trieste by Domnica Radulescu.

10. “That’s So You!” It’s important to have your signature piece, be it clothing, music or opinion. This has made my life simpler and more defined.

11.  Meeting the Parents: Meeting the parents is scary. However, whether they like you or not is out of your hands. You can be the sweetest girl they have ever met, but if they don’t like the idea of their kid being with someone without the qualifications they are looking for (i.e.: money, a professional school degree), it doesn’t matter how amazing you are or how much you have going on for yourself. Just accept it and try not to take it to heart … too much.

12.  Post-Grad is intimidating: Graduate, law, and business school applications are a lot more comprehensive than they lead you to believe on first glance. Those statements of intent and optional essays are really unlike anything you have written in the past, unless you are a professional graduate school applicant. Starting early is the only way to preserve your sanity as senior year rolls around. And taking the GRE or LSAT, well those should have occurred a year ago. Oops!

13.  “Welcome to the real world, she said to me…:” Although the quarter-life crisis often seems inevitable, I have learned that I definitely do not want to go down the John Mayer permanent-existential-life-crisis road. While his never-ending misery will supply good music for more and more years to come (without a doubt), I choose to not dwell. It’s much healthier this way, even if I do enjoy indulging in his misery sometimes.

14.  Stop reading beauty magazines: I’ve stopped buying magazines and I feel much more enlightened.  Instead, I have stopped giving my $3.99 to advice on how to make a man moan and enjoy the in-depth features in the feminist friendly Bust magazine, and the musically progressive Paste.

15.  Give a Little Bit: Helping others is amazing and it makes you feel better than anything else can.

16.  It’s Overrated: Being a senior is overrated. I have had more work and more responsibility than ever before and I feel like with every passing day, more and more obligations come my way. While it seems that a lot of seniors are spending their nights partying and hanging out, I am writing 20-page papers and doing graduate school rain dances to promote a surplus of acceptance letters.

17.  To Thine Own Self, Be True: To be a writer, you need to have extremely thick skin. Regardless of what your stance is, someone is always going to go against it and you have to be true to yourself and the piece you are writing. The same goes for all facets of life; you gotta be you and that’s that.

18.  Big birthday parties don’t prove anything: Big birthday parties aren’t all that they are cracked up to be. After years of over-the-top Disney birthday,  the whole high school teenage hang-out-birthday scene, and the exuberantly drunk and pretentiously planned college birthday, I will take the quiet and intimate birthday dinner over anything else.  It’s better to celebrate with those that actually matter.

19.  Lady Gaga is a goddess: She’s given us greatness, i.e.: “I’m bluffin’ with my muffin,” disco-bras, “Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roman-mamaa! Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!,” and perhaps the greatest line of them, “I’m a free bitch, baby!” Her stage presence is to die for, and her genuine, authentic, down-to-Earth personality (come on, didn’t you see her on Oprah?) is addictive. Plus, I’ve seen a slew of live performances and I have to say, Gaga outperforms the rest with her Monster Ball.

20.  Say No to Parent Drama: If your parents are magnificent – great. If they aren’t, it is time to accept it and move on, instead of constantly wishing for your mother to be someone she is not.

21.  The Little Things Count: It’s important to relish the little things. In college, so much happens at once, it feels like the world can pass you by – especially once you turn 21 and the end of college seems very near. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to take time doing something you enjoy. It doesn’t matter if you want to get crazy drunk on a Friday night or take an extra art class, but do what gives you the most pleasure. Make time for more sex. Make time to cook dinner with your roommates. Just make time! As each year goes by, it is also important to look back to see what you’ve learned (whether it’s good, bad, ugly, or silly).

[This post is a favorite of CollegeCandy fan, Rose...and also of The Huffington Post. So Yay Charlsie...and thanks Rose for picking out one of the best!]

Sometimes, we may be really enthusiastic when we’re working out (i.e. hot guy at 9:00 and I know he’s watching me work this treadmill). This extra push on the body may cause strain to your muscles and no one wants leg cramps or excessive soreness the following morning!

Stretching is good for us pre-work out because it warms up our otherwise stiff muscles, which get especially stiff in this cold, cold weather. Post-work out, it reinforces your flexibility and rewards those hard worked muscles. Plus, it just feels good. (Tip: Be sure not to bounce when you stretch because it can cause tears in within your muscle fibers – instead, hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds and even it out on both sides.)

Here are a few of my favorites! Cool down with these easy moves in between classes or right after some crazy leg squats.

1. Child’s Pose

Derived from yoga, this position feels great on your back. Begin in a kneeling position and then lower yourself onto your heels. Bring your arms in front of you, stretching out that tense upper back and elongating your spine. Keep your head down and take a couple of deep breaths here. Ahh, zen.

2. Modified Pigeon Pose

This pose stretches out your chest and hips. Place one bent leg under your body while straightening out the other leg. Slowly lower yourself down as far as you can go. Don’t force yourself to stretch to the point of pain – just where it feels good. For advanced and more flexible people, you can bring yourself to a forward fold, lowering your torso onto your bent leg and placing your head right onto the mat. This is my favorite move to do right after a great quad-focused workout.

3. Glute Stretch (yeah, I know it’s a creative name)

Another one of my faves after a great run. Lay down on your back, bringing both knees into your chest. Place your right ankle on your left knee. Put your hands behind your left thigh and slowly pull your legs towards your chest. This will stretch out your gluteus maximus, aka your booty. Repeat on the other side.

Happy stretching!

Got a problem area you want to tackle? Need some workout ideas? Tweet your questions to @jackelynho. I’ve got your back. And front. And sides.

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Some of you lucky ducks are already done with finals and may even be boarding the next flight back home. While you’re sitting in front of the TV (all day, every day) this winter break deciding what to do with all that extra time, why not do a little work on that hot bod of yours and strengthen those abs? You can even do this super easy move during commercial breaks!

I know when it comes to flattening that belly you’re tempted to bust out 100 crunches, but try planks instead. Fitness experts everywhere tout them as the best moves that engage the WHOLE body while centered around the core muscles. That means they work your abs and everything else that helps keep you tight and toned and strong. Just pair these strengthening and toning moves with cardio exercises (anything from running to swimming to Spinning) to burn the layer of fat that might be covering your six-pack and you’ll have your goal figure in no time.

So, you ready for some side planks??

Want even more toning exercises? Jackleyn’s got em! If you’ve got other trouble spots you need her help with, Tweet her @jackelynho.

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Let me introduce to you Pop Pilates, only the best thing to happen to your body since Lululemon hit the U.S.A. Pop Pilates is the product of Cassey, a 23 year-old Pilates instructor who knows her stuff. She makes 10-minute sweat-inducing workouts on YouTube that 1) are free, 2) are private and 3) will leave you feeling sore the next day. And yes, that’s sore in a good way!

From toning up those arms to strengthening your core muscles (hello, six pack that isn’t Miller Lite!), these videos cover it all. And the best part: you can pick and choose the ones you want to customize the best workout for you!

If you didn’t know, Pilates is good for both physical appearance and mental stability. I know we haven’t exactly hit midterm season yet, but stress can become a constant in any college woman’s life and Pilates is a great way to deal with that while also giving you an amazing workout. It’s a core strengthening, flexibility enhancing, and full body toning kind of exercise. And with Cassey, it all happens when and where and how you want.

Of course, I wouldn’t recommend anything to my lovely CC readers if I didn’t try it myself. And let me just say that those Victoria’s Secret models have nothing on me! OK, so maybe they do (namely, lots and lots of money), but seriously – I felt stronger and more toned after only one video (“Intense Ab Workout!” – below – is my fave).  And as I started to add more and more – focusing on different parts of my body – I definitely noticed a change in the way I look and feel. I love being able to do this all in the comfort of my room. Plus, Cassey’s great energy made me feel like I was in a real group fitness class. And it was all FREE.

Whether you want to try these workouts yourself or recruit your dorm friends for a Pop Pilates sesh, you should definitely give this a shot. You can wave that under arm flab goodbye and kick that Freshman (or Sophomore/Junior/Senior) Fifteen to the curb. Ooh, and you might even find yourself raising your hand in class more often, just to see those biceps flex.

And you can get started right now. Ready to make your abs burn?

Take me to Pop Pilates!