Beast Mode Shopping Leads to JACKPOT!

O.M.G. I feel like the wellness fashionista and a super duper shopper after our jackpot find this weekend.

As I have said before, Jamie and I weight train. We work out for at least two hours 5-6 days a week and the things we need include workout wear, protein bars and protein powder. 

If it can be found at thrift stores and salvage groceries, we are thrilled, but sometimes, we simply cannot find them, particularly protein powder. However, saving big in several other areas allows us to have a little extra cash for those items we can't get at salvage grocery stores. Combine that with some serious comparison shopping and we make it work. 

In regards to workout gear, Jamie is happy in tank tops and shorts as she focuses mostly on weight lifting, saving her cardio for recumbent bike and lap swimming. My workout requires cardio acceleration which means one set of weight lifting followed by one minute of intense cardio work, then immediately back to weight lifting. I repeat this process throughout the workout. People say I'm a beast in the gym. I'm also a beast in the store.

Anyway, in addition to deodorant, being a beast in the gym requires proper support and compression which only comes in the form of compression gear.   

During our shopping day this past Friday, we happened to be in JCPenny as we were taking a short cut through to the mall. We decided to see what the compression shorts would cost there. Jamie cursed (more specifically "What kind of !@#$% dumb*** spends $40 for this @#$%%).  I nearly fainted (not from the cursing diatribe, but from the price).

So after escaping JCPennies and the mall, following our AWESOME trip to salvage groceries (which I will tell you about in a minute), we decided to try TJ Maxx and Ross, looking for compression gear.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, otherwise I'll get just too darn giddy talking about it. 

Underarmor: MSRP $57.99 only $24.99

Puma: MSRP $24.00 only $7.99

Reebok: MSRP $35.00 only $6.49

Adidas:MSRP $16.00 only $6.99

In addition to the items in the photos above, we scored a $42.00 Calvin Klein toboggan for $5.00 and  a $30 pack of puppy pads for $12.99, and good quality weight lifting gloves for $6.99. All of this at TJ Maxx and Ross.

At the risk of sounding like a weird infomercial personality, I will say it.....wait, there's more!!! I'll even post a cool picture saying the same thing just to keep your attention.

<-----------------------------------------See?

In our trip to our salvage grocery stores we found protein bars, normally $2.00 (or more) each for...wait for it...10 cents each! You read it right.

McCoy's sold us a case of 173 protein bars for $17.00. In addition we found boxes of other brands at 6 bars per box for $1.49 each, and Think Thin bars only 39 cents a bar. We couldn't make our own protein bars for that price! Keep in mind, these are good quality bars that are not outdated or stale.

In case you are wondering why protein is so important for us as we weight train and why we are so freaking excited, here is what protein does for the body:

"Protein is used for the production of muscles. Proteins are also used to manufacture hormones, enzymes, cellular messengers, nucleic acids, and immune-system components. Without adequate protein, our bodies can't put together the structures that make up every cell, tissue, and organ, nor can it generate the biochemical substances needed for cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, growth, and healing.... " Delivering protein to your muscles immediately after a workout allows it to  "begin healing the "micro tears" (very small tears in the muscle tissue, caused by intense contraction of the muscle during workout) in the muscle." (from Bodybuilding.com)

Being vegetarians, it has the added benefit of ensuring enough protein in our diet.

So while I decide if I'm hot and hyper with excitement or a middle age hot flash, please feel free to marvel at the savings.