Earth Week: Make Your Fitness Routine Greener

With the arrival of spring, lots of people will be reviving their fitness routines and hitting the gym to work on their beach bods for summer.

The April issue of Women's Health Magazine features cool, planet friendly exercise gear, so you can help the environment while you work up a sweat. Jennifer Marquez of Women's Health will stop by to show us some eco-savers items. Remember to do your part: Earth Day is April 22!

Here are 5 items that can help you green your fitness routine.

Let’s get started with workout apparel.
• This Alternative Apparel Pullover Hoodie is so cute you won’t care if you bump into your office crush after spin class.
• It’s made with a blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and natural rayon so you’ll be doing your part for the environment when you pull this on.
• It’s short-sleeved and comes in heather grey.
• You can find it at ShopIntuition.com and it costs $45.

It’s important to stay properly hydrated while you’re working out, and plastic is so 2008.
A more mod choice is EcoUsable stainless-steel water bottles.
• EcoUsable bottles are all made from the safest type of stainless steel material for a drink bottle. They’re non-leaching, BPA free and environmentally safe.
• They’re offered in 3 different sizes, 10oz, 16oz and 33oz, and the bottles come in a wide variety of colors.
• The tops have a half turn on/off access loop top providing a super safe ultra clean bottle and each comes with its own carabineer to conveniently attach to belt buckles, backpacks or purses.
• Prices start at $12.50 and you can purchase them at EcoUsable.com.

After your workout don’t hit the showers without these Floc Designs Pocket Flops.
• Fold these shower-friendly sole savers in half and they’ll fit nicely in your gym bag or tiny gym locker.
• Plus, they’re made with 95 percent recycled tire rubber and they come with a carrying case made of eco-friendly fabric.
• They come in black with a stylish white design and are available in a range of sizes.
Y• ou can purchase them for $20. at shopintuition.com.

You need a great bag to pack all of your gym gear in.
• At Women’s Health we liked the Hidden Backpack from Timbuk2 because you can stuff it when you need it and stash it when you don’t.
• They’re super-stylish and they conveniently fold up for easy storage.
• These bags are made from 90 percent recycled fabric that will never tear, so the bag is tough enough for a full gym press of gear.
• They are also 100% machine washable-warm or cold water and they won’t shrink.
• You can purchase the bag for $28 at timbuk2.com.

We also loved these Farmhouse Laundry Sachets.
• You can throw them in the gym bag you stash at the office to cover up the smell of sweat.
• They contain no hazardous chemicals and use essential oils like lavender, lemon verbena, and white lilac.
• Plus a nice bonus is that you can toss the muslin bags in the dryer to freshen up clean clothes, too.
• You can purchase a pack of 3 for $7 at sweetgrassonline.com.

You can find all of the purchasing information for this gear and more at www.womenshealthmag.com.

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