Clothing that not only makes you feel good, but is also comfortable is vital for elevating confidence and this is never more true than when it comes to plus size active wear. Exercise of any kind requires a wide range of movement from bending, to jumping, to squatting and to many other ways apart from those required of your typical day-to-day activity. It can be difficult for anyone to find good exercise gear, but for plus sized women, it can sometimes almost seem impossible.
Clothes shopping can be frustrating enough for curvier women, but combined with the self-consciousness about exercising in public, in can be downright intimidating when shopping for exercise and workout clothing. Clothing manufacturers often seem to only know how to make either tiny clothing for anorexic super models or the shapeless tent-like designs for larger gals. The problem with many styles of plus size active wear is that they are just a larger version of smaller designs. Revealing tops and skin tight shorts may not be the look you’re after when at your local fitness club. What’s required are re imagined designs that work with a larger women’s body to hit the goals mentioned above regarding comfort and style.
Appropriately made plus size exercise tops will be cut fuller to accommodate a fuller breast size and wider back. They must have enough room across the shoulders, in the arms and in the armpits so they do not bind or feel constricting. They should also be long enough to not fly up when the arms are raised. A midriff-revealing top may not be what you bargained for. Women in general should invest in a supportive athletic bra. This is especially important for bustier gals. Keeping movement minimized will make workouts more comfortable and the “girls” a lot happier! Non-sports bras are often not supportive enough and are made from materials that are too warm to be comfortable during exercise. You are going to be working up a sweat aren’t you?
To prevent the discomfort of constant thigh chafing and to ward off “shorts creep,” exercise pants and shorts will need to be correctly sized. For plus size yoga pants it is important to find ones that are cut wide enough so they don’t pinch your hips and thighs.
Shop for plus size gym shorts that are longer than regular gym-shorts. This will avoid the discomfort of having them bunch up between your thighs. Drawstrings are also an important feature. You can cinch up the pants or shorts using the drawstring while you lose weight from all that exercise you’ll be getting.
Material is important to consider. A body that is heavier will require more energy to perform the same work as a smaller one. Burning extra energy forces the body to increase the level of cooling it provides, a process known as thermoregulation. This means bigger bodies produce more sweat than normal. You can probably relate. As a result, quality plus size active wear should be made of a wicking material. This type of fabric will remove moisture from the skin and draw it to the surface of the fabric, which in turn allows moisture to evaporate quickly so your skin and clothing remain dry.
Manufactures of athletic clothing have become much more aware of the needs of their plus size clientele and are creating a lot of wonderful workout clothes for fuller and curvier women. With all these options available today, there’s really no excuse not to find comfortable and stylish active wear in your size. And that means there’s absolutely no excuse to not get out there and get active in style and confidence!