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Plus Size Activewear & Exercise Clothes: Dress for Success |
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Only five years ago, there wasn't much in the way of activewear for plus size women. Today, companies such as Junonia and Just My Size offer attractive, stylish workout wear in sizes up to 6X.
Your exercise clothing should be something you enjoy putting on. It will cheer you up, give you positive affirmation to take better care of yourself, and put you in the right frame of mind for your workouts. Regard your workout clothing as a uniform and treat it with care and respect. If you don't feel comfortable in your workout clothes, it may be very emotionally difficult to exercise around others or even go for a walk around the block. Wearing clothing you like will make you feel better about overcoming social barriers with regards to exercise.
The importance of a plus size woman's fitness apparel should not be minimized. It is better to start off with exercise clothing you love, which maximizes your comfort, so you can get the most out of your workouts-physically and psychologically-right now. Many women of size make uninformed choices about activewear due to lack of knowledge.
You may be self-conscious at first about revealing your body and choose large T-shirts and other big cover-ups for working out. But if you're a plus size woman, it's important to have the kind of athletic clothing that protects skin from rubbing and chafing against skin. It may be better to wear exercise clothing that is somewhat form-fitting so that the body folds are covered and protected.
Another poor choice is loose, baggy sweatpants for work outs. Sweatpants can be very comfortable in the winter, but in warmer months they keep you overheated, and they do little to protect the skin from chafing when doing activities. It's better to wear leggings or shorts (or anything in between) that you feel comfortable in.
Sports bras are important for support and motion control for any size woman. Cotton sports bras may feel good and offer sufficient support for low-impact activities such as walking, or biking, but for the next level of activity, such as aerobics or running, you should choose a more structured athletic bra. The sports bra will make the breasts feel like they are pressed into your chest.
It's particularly important to wear clothing that wicks away sweat so that you can cool down as fast as your body is able during and after exercise. Fat cells have a lot of water in them, and plus size women can sweat copiously. These days there are a myriad of highly specialized sports fabrics, which can really make a difference in how you feel in your clothing. Cotton absorbs and holds sweat, but does not wick it away from your skin. Cotton may be a good fabric if you are able to change right after a workout, but it's not optimal if you plan to exercise over a longer period of time. Junonia makes clothing out of a trademarked fabric called Quikwik, a fiber that dries while you wear it. Other synthetics such as Coolmax keep you cooler by wicking your sweat away from your skin. It makes sense to give a few things a try and discover what works best for you.
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