Since we are all shopping for activewear, even if we are not working out 😉 We love a good Lululemon find, but sometimes we don’t want want to spend a lot. We rounded up some of our favorite Lululemon pieces and some look for less options for you all to browse. Some of these are a 1/3 of the price, and look almost identical.
If you don’t own a pair of align leggings, this pair is almost identical. We have size 2 in the Lululemon pair, and size xs in the dupe pair. This pair is also a great save option.
This jacket is such a good staple for any time of year. We have the dupe option and it is almost identical to the Lululemon version. We are size xs in the dupe, and size 4 in the Lulu.
These are such a good legging. These are a little different than aligns, but are great for workouts or athleisure. We have size 2 in the Lululemon pair, and size xs in the dupe pair.
These shorts are the BEST running shorts. We wear these for all kinds of workouts and have size 4 in the Lululemon version. We haven’t tried the save option, but they are a great find!
The holidays are here, and pretty much everyone has gotten sick, or is getting sick. We both got sick around Thanksgiving, and are finally feeling better, so we wanted to share some things we are doing to stay healthier this holiday season. With being so busy, we all forget to take care of ourselves, which is never good! Before we get into our tips, let’s talk about this athleisure outfits from lululemon.
With winter almost here, we have been shopping for comfy leggings and pants to travel in and wear from the gym to every day things. These align joggers have been on our wish list for a while, and we finally got a pair. They feel amazingly comfy on, AND we love a good jogger, so they combine two of our favorite things in one. For reference, we are wearing size 2 in this pair.
Underneath, we are wearing one of our favorite tops, this swiftly tech short sleeve crew neck. This one is super lightweight, sweat-wicking, and comes in lots of colors. We are wearing size 4 for reference.
This hooded jacket is a great layering piece for all year, especially in the winter. It is super soft and comfortable, and has thumbholes and zippered pockets. We have size 4 on for reference in the black.
We have talked A LOT about these align crops, and full disclosure, we have them in several colors 😉 This color is such a fun pop (wearing size 2 in the “moss rose” color) and if you don’t own a pair of these leggings, treat yourself! They are extremely soft, and we love that they come in different lengths, especially for us shorties!
Also, did we mention they make your butt look great 😉 With the leggings, we are wearing the same short-sleeved top in long-sleeve in a size 4. It also has thumbholes, which is great for being outdoors or running.
And, now for the ways we are staying healthier this season:
Take a daily ginger and turmeric supplement
In case you missed our An Extra Dose Podcast episode with founder of Leefy Organics, you can check that out here. Leefy Organics is an all natural and organic turmeric supplement that we personally take daily to help with inflammation, joint health, and pain. It has ginger and other great ingredients that help keep you healthy!
Load up on zinc
We take zinc daily, and it really has so many benefits, including supporting your immune system. We take this zinc supplement and add it in our water. You can also hold it under your tongue if you feel a cold coming on.
Supplement with Elderberry daily
We also take an elderberry supplement daily, just because it has so many benefits. This one is non-GMO and is great for immune support, antioxidants, and heart health.
Eat lots of fresh fruits and greens
Y’all know we load up on fruits and veggies all day. That is one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you can’t get yourself to eat all of the fruit and veggies, we suggest doing green juices!
Stay hydrated
This is an obvious one, but something we all neglect. We try to always have a water bottle with us so we remember to drink up. We also love drinking hot teas at home because it gets us to stay hydrated!
Many of you all know we have been eating mostly plant based for over a year now. The question we get asked most often is, “Where do you get your protein from?” We thought it would be better to write it up in a blog post for you all to read and reference later. By no means are we experts in this area– we just have read a little bit about it and it has been working well for us for now.
Before we get into that, we wanted to highlight this outfit from lululemon. We had been looking for a more supportive bra for a while now, especially for r, and were so happy when we found this Run Times Bra. We are wearing size 32 D for reference, and think it runs larger.
This bra is lightweight, but also really supportive. It has padded straps that you can adjust, and you can also cross them for a racerback tank.
Another cool feature about this bra is that there is perforated paneling, so you get good airflow to keep you cool.
We have on the “dark chrome” color.
Now let’s take a second to talk about these Align pants. We have these in both the crop 21″ and the short 4″, and they are SO good. If you don’t own a pair of these yet, you MUST get just even one pair. This our favorite pair from all of lululemon.
These pants are super lightweight, and high-rise, so they are comfy. They literally feel like butter when you touch them. Even better, they are sweat-wicking!
These pants from lululemon have a “naked sensation”, meaning you forget you’re wearing leggings, almost like a second skin! We have size 4 on in these, but these seem to run larger than the crops on us.
We paired the leggings with this grey cropped tee.We love that this tee is looser, and is flattering with higher waisted leggings, like these. Also, it is great to layer with for fall. We have size 4 on in this one.
For this second, look, we are wearing the same Align pants in the camo color. We love that you can wear these to the gym or pilates, and then out and about with other pieces in your closet.
We paired it with this Sculpt Tank, which has really cute mesh detailing, so it keeps you cool, but also shows that cute, strappy sports bra underneath. We have size 2 on in this one.
Underneath, we are wearing this Free To Be Bra from lululemon in size 6 that is stretchy and comfortable, and cute layered under tanks.
And, now for our protein talk:
You don’t need as much protein as you think
Not going to lie, we used to eat a TON of protein, mostly from animals (chicken, fish, turkey, eggs). There is nothing wrong with eating those at all, but from our research, you don’t need to be eating as much protein as you think you do.
We read that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for “optimal” protein is 0.8 kg/lean body mass. You can also calculate it by your body weight x 0.36 to get your recommended protein intake in grams.
When we ate a lot of animal protein, we were eating more than 150 g of protein some days, which is crazy, since we didn’t need that much. PS- at that time, we ate a lot of protein and vegetables, so we needed the protein to keep us fuller, if that makes sense?
Plant-based protein gives you the necessary amino acids
According to what we read, all protein comes from the sun and the soil. So, whether you eat protein from plants that get it rom the sun and the soil, or animals that are eating the plants, the amino acids are the same.
How much protein can you get from plants?
So, if you’re curious, here is a graphic of how much protein you can get from different plants:
source: ohmyveggies.com
Some of our favorite foods are quinoa, chia seeds, spirulina, and lentils. You can make salads with a lot of these grains and legumes, and spirulina is great in smoothies!
PS- did you know that 1 cup of spinach has 5 grams of protein?! If you eat as many greens as we do, you can easily get 15-20 grams in with spinach alone. We love our greens!
Some other veggies that are protein-packed:
Alfalfa Sprouts
Watercress
Bok Choy
Asparagus
Broccoli
Mustard Greens
Collard Greens
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Of course, if you eat animal proteins, including these vegetables is even better!
Many of you all know that we have been working out consistently for a while now. Just like it is for many of you all, it is part of our lifestyle. We feel better being active, and getting ourselves moving every day. Similar to everything else in life, it is important to have a balance. We have definitely been through phases where we have done more intense workouts, rarely taken rest days, etc.
We have also been through phases where we were forced to take time off for a couple weeks and months because of how lethargic we felt. While working out can be so great for you and your body, it is important to recognize when it becomes obsessive, and not balanced.
Of course, working out is great for you, and it is important to stay fit for cardiac purposes, as well as mentally. For us, we have recently been doing a lot of Pilates, jumping on the rebounder, lots of walking outside, and some running mixed in.
There was a period of time where we were very into lifting weights and hitting the gym pretty much everyday, without taking many days off. It was more so that it was a stress reliever for us, rather than “burning calories”, but we know how easy it is to get caught in that cycle.
Commit to things that help you mentally
Think about doing workouts that will help you clear your mind, make you less anxious and stressed, rather than just thinking about burning calories. Of course, both are important, but you want to be doing stuff that will help you mentally!
For us, sometimes that is just going on a walk vs. doing sprints or intervals. Sometimes, doing a more intense workout will do the trick for your stress and anxiety!
Focus on workouts that make you feel your best
When we are feeling burnt out, and our body has had enough, we know it is either time to take a day off, or to just choose something less crazy intense on our body. For example, we have been doing a lot of pilates and p.volve, and while they are challenging, they are not crazy intense on your body and joints.
Running can be great, but after a while, it definitely takes a toll on your body, so it is all about finding that balance between workouts.
Take days off
This is something that we used to struggle with a lot. Since we love working out so much, and love the feeling of accomplishing a task (in this case, a great workout), it was harder for us to take the needed rest days we all should be taking. Working out is something that helps us take our minds off stress, work, etc, but it is also important to keep in mind that your body needs a break, too.
Without recovery days, your body can’t relax and catch up on rest. These are crucial in staying fit, too! For us, sometimes a day off can be doing absolutely nothing, or sometimes it is going on a short walk outside with Lucy.
Shift your mindset
If your goal in working out often is to stay fit, we have learned that so much of it is what you are eating. As long as you are being mindful of what you eat, working out is secondary to that, in our opinions. You just want to make sure it is not obsession, rather just something you are doing to stay balanced and healthy!
All of these functional and cute pieces are from lululemon. We have been major fans their workout clothes for years, and we love all of these lighter ones for summer. While we love their Align Leggings SO much, we wanted something a little less heavy for these warmer temperatures.
The Hotty Hot shorts are the best running shorts, and we wear them for things other than running, too! They come in a ton of colors, and lengths. We have on the 2.5″ shorts in a size 4 in the “breezy” color, but they also make them in a 4″ length that our mom wears! We paired the shorts with the Ignite Bra (wearing size 6), which has a really cute high neckline.
The bra has medium support, so it is great for training and also ventilation for sweaty workouts or runs!
If you all love the Align pants as much as we do, you will LOVE these Align shorts! We are wearing the 4″, but they also come in a longer length, if you want more coverage. We couldn’t help getting the camo print, but they do make a lot of other prints and colors. We have on the size 4 in these.
We paired the shorts with the Energy High Neck Bra (wearing size 6), which is also great for training and has medium support. If you are looking for a good basic tank, this Sleek Simplicity Tank is great for any workout, and also has a higher neckline for more coverage. We have on a size 4 for reference.
We have alllll heard that yoga is amazing for you, but in reality, do we all do it? We have really been trying to incorporate some into our routines, even if it is just for a really quick flow, or just a few poses!
It is not easy to do because, like many you all, we get bored, or just don’t feel like going through the motions, but even after just a few short poses, we feel a million times better!
It can be as simple as sitting down on your mat or carpet somewhere quiet, and taking in a few deep breaths while you close your eyes, or just laying on your back with your feet up on the wall (great one to do before bed!).
There are SO many benefits to doing yoga, both mentally and physically:
flexibility
muscle tone
managing stress
mental clarity and calmness
Back when we were in college, we would go to yoga at least twice a week, and it was so calming for us. If we were stressed, it would be one hour where our minds would be taken away from it and in a different place. Unlike other workouts, yoga really challenges you to focus on your breath, instead of counting reps, or being fixated on the weight amount you’re doing.
Some of our favorite poses to do when we are short on time are (ps- feel free to look these up if you aren’t familiar with them!):
Child’s Pose
Cat/Cow Pose
Upward Dog
Downward Dog
Plan Pose
Warrior 1
Warrior 2
Side Angle
Forward Bend
We tend to have really tight hips, so some of our go-to poses for that are:
Of course, when you are doing yoga, looking good and cute is part of the deal as well! These align leggings are our FAVORITE hands down. We had been hearing about these for years before we finally got a pair for ourselves, and let us tell you, they are amazing!
We have a few colors in them now, and can’t seem to stop buying them, but they are worth every penny. These leggings are lightweight, higher waisted, and come in so many colors. We are wearing the blush color here in a size 4. It is perfect for spring!
We paired it with one of our favorite bras from lululemon: the Free To Be bra. It is strappy, and we love how it does actually have pretty good support. We are usually a 6 in these because of our chests, but a 4 is pretty standard if you are petite, like us!
On top, we are wearing this camo racerback tank that is so soft and comfy! We went with a size 4 in this one, and it is perfect!
For Samantha’s look, we had to get the same Align leggings in camo. How could we not?! These are the perfect level of camo, and aren’t too flashy! You could also wear these straight from yoga or pilates to lunch or errands and pair them with some cute slip on sneakers for an athleisure look!
If we buy anything from lululemon, it is these amazing align leggings. Not only are they super comfortable, but they feel like butter, are sweat wicking, and stretchy!
One of our favorite ways to do yoga is outside! We have a little patio in our house where we do it when the weather is nice, or just grab mat and do it indoors somewhere quiet! If you live somewhere close to water or a beach, that is even better.
Not only do we love their products (who doesn’t?!), but we love what they stand for: quality. If something isn’t the quality that they stand for, they will correct it, whether it is re-stitching, or exchanging the item for a new pair. That is good customer service!
We also love that lululemon offers complimentary hemming on all of their pieces. We have personally used it on so many of the full-length leggings, since we are so petite.
We love this top! The color is super fun, and it also comes in a bunch of other great colors like grey and magenta. It is great for running because it allows you to sweat, and is really lightweight! This one would make a great holiday gift.These speed shorts are great for running and are super breathable! They are super lightweight and we love that the navy color goes with everything! These are under $60, and we have had a similar pair for several years and still love them.We are both definitely people that like to workout in shorts, no matter the weather, haha. We love pairing them with long-sleeves, so it is the perfect amount of breathability when we start sweating!For our workouts, we typically like to start off by doing some sort of cardio either running outside or doing cardio on a machine in the gym using the stair master or elliptical. Following that, we will do some sort of weight training for a specific muscle group. { Cardio Squad Tank II c/o | Run Around Tight c/o | Free To be Zen Bra c/o }
This tank is great for running and workouts because it is really light, and has deeper armholes, great for letting the air cool you down! It also has their sweat-wicking, four-way stretch Seriously Light™ Luon fabric, which makes it really breathable! These mesh crops are also really light and breathable! Usually mesh leggings can be really constricting and not ventilated, but these are great. They’re also really stretchy and fit like second-skin! We love that they come in grey, too!When the weather is this nice and cool out, we love taking our workouts outdoors! Lululemon has the best pieces for working out in cooler temps. You can layer all of the pieces we are wearing by throwing on a cute jacket like this one! We love that all of their pieces are super lightweight and breathable. This post is sponsored by Lululemon, but all opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow A Double Dose to operate full time.
We love
We are both definitely people that like to workout in shorts, no matter the weather, haha. We love pairing them with long-sleeves, so it is the perfect amount of breathability when we start sweating!
For our workouts, we typically like to start off by doing some sort of cardio either running outside or doing cardio on a machine in the gym using the stair master or elliptical. Following that, we will do some sort of weight training for a specific muscle group. 
