Okay, so I’m on this fitness quest or whatever, right? Right.
And when I lose 10 total pounds, I’m going to buy myself a new bra, right? Right.
I’ve been bra shopping online for two full weeks now. I’ve measured myself and re-measured myself to make sure I’ve got the size right. I’ve researched fit and function and brands. I’ve read reviews. I’ve looked at pictures.
I want a bra that won’t break the bank and will keep my jublees from jubbling and maybe isn’t ugly.
For the love of the sweet, tiny baby Jesus and his standard size counterpart, I cannot bring myself to click “buy” on a $70 sweat catcher even if it promises my boobs won’t bounce a bit while on the elliptical.
Which brings me to an even bigger rant entirely.
Can we talk candidly about the insane price of some workout apparel and how it is ALL targeted to the already fit? All of it. Because that’s what I’ve found in my bra search. Every single piece seems marketed toward those who already look great and are in shape.
And the problem I have with that is this:
When I feel like I look good, I am more confident. I can conquer the entire Universe when I feel confident.
But I’m “fat” and the world tells me I should hide myself in a muumuu.
When I’m dressing in a sorority function t-shirt from nearly a decade ago, with paint stains on the front and holes in the armpits, and yoga pants that are 5 years old, and a bra that is too small, or two at the same time, it’s damn near impossible to feel even kind of confident.
Sure, workout apparel for plus-sized women exists. But most of it starts at double the price of its regular-sized counterparts or is so greatly over-sized we might as well just wear a tent. And they’re waterproof, so that sweat should just roll on off, right?
I can’t imagine that the cost is that much greater to produce a piece of fitness apparel for the full-figured. Which leads me to the only plausible answer as to why workout clothes in my size (which in reality isn’t even plus-sized in many places) cost so much and/or are extremely rare.
Our desire to look good and feel good is preyed upon. If we want to wear clothes that make us feel good, we better have the purses to pay up.
And in light of the discussion surrounding a certain heavily-scented store with scantily-clad models, I know this is true.
It kind of makes me rage-y.
Why is it so hard to believe that ALL people of ALL sizes deserve to look and feel their best at ALL times?
Why do companies price their products out of reach of normal people?
Big girls should get to wear cute workout apparel that doesn’t cost a fortune too, y’all.
I know there are brands out there who have plus-sized versions of their workout lines available. Online. Never in stores. Sure, they’ll sell us their products, but they don’t want us to walk into the store and try them on first. If we want their apparel, we better be prepared to hole up in the confines of our homes and wait for it to arrive on our doorstep via UPS.
Is this just a silly thing I’m thinking about? Maybe. But every time I walk past a mirror in the gym, I can’t help but think about it. I can’t help but think that I look frumpy. I can’t help but want to hide in a corner and hope no one actually sees me. I can’t help wanting to just be invisible.
Sure, I’m trying to fix it. But in the meantime, you know?
Maybe it’s completely silly to want to look good while working out when the point of working out for a lot of people is to look good. But it’s kind of a chicken-egg thing, isn’t it?
When we look good we feel good. When we feel good our workouts are more productive. When our workouts are more productive we will end up looking good. So then we’ll feel good.
What’s wrong with wanting to feel our best while we’re trying to be our best?
Amen.
::fist bumps::
My mom fights this battle. She did NOT ( I repeat, NOT) give me the boob gene. I got the anti-boob gene. But she does find affordable sports bras at Kohls sometimes. That actually fit her over DDs. You deserve cuteness!!!!
Oh, to be a DD :/
My boobs. They are out of control.
I did find a few at Kohl’s that MIGHT work though. Once I lose the other half a pound.
Are you in my house right now looking at my workout t-shirt? Because you described it perfectly. I have one pair of nice workout pants (from Old Navy) and one nice sports bra (from Old Navy) and everything else I’ve bought has fit terribly, cut into me in weird places, been so flimsy my washing machine ate it or be so SO unflattering I can’t bring myself to wear it out of the house. I think I need to go back to Old Navy, TRY STUFF ON and then throw out these horrible shirts that make me feel bad about myself.
I mean, I love those ratty old T’s, but they probably should not be seen in public. And my Old Navy has zero selection in L/XL to the point that I want to scream.
I get my workout stuff from Target. Their C9 brand goes up to XXL and *Sometimes* it will fit me. I have seen some workout stuff popping up in their Plus size section but not much yet. I feel your pain.
I have a few T’s from there and I like them. But the sizing is crap. I’m not an XXL on top in usual clothes except for in those. (my booty is a whole other story.)
YES! I completely agree with you! Though when I did go to the gym, it had one of those cardio cinemas which I loved because then no one can really see you plus why would they be watching you if a movie is on!
I plug in my headphones and turn on Netflix and watch Lost. So I eventually stop paying attention until I find myself laughing out loud at Hurley or gasping. And then I’m suddenly very, very aware of where I am.
I could write this same post about plus-size maternity clothes. Because fat girls don’t get pregnant, obvs.
Ugh. Yes. Finding cute things in larger sizes without spending a fortune was hard. I lived in maxi dresses and skirts with roll-down waists.
Amen sista! Even a large in the cute stuff fits more like a small. UGH!
Yep. I get that it needs to be a LITTLE tighter for ease of movement but if it restricts my breathing and I need to grease up to peel it off? Nope.
I feel your pain. I’m not saying that I’m a big girl, but I come from a family of big girls (true story). I’m an anomaly. I’ve stood by their side and watched as they have struggled with finding the right bra and clothes. And what I’ve learned from watching them shop has given me great confidence as well. They have absolutely embraced their “fat” and while they are working on being fit, in the meantime they shop and try on clothes and do what makes them feel good. You’re right, though, when you look good ou feel good. That’s my biggest problem period. I never think I look good, so I hardly feel good about myself.
And I hope this comment makes sense as I’m posting through the biggest headache this side of the US and A.
I think I dress well for my size when I try, and I don’t think that confidence and dressing well is due to the size in the tag. But once you get to that weird place where you’re not really a misses and you’re not really a plus, or where your bottom half or your boobs are a size or two bigger than you need for your shoulders, well, I understand why some people just look sloppy. Because it’s hard.
I won’t address the size thing but in regards to price….. you really do get what you pay for in terms of workout clothes. I always thought the expensive price tags were a racket too but then I started really running regularly and there is a difference between paying $20 for running pants and $40. In my opinion at least.
I hope you find some you like and that don’t break the bank. I really do like the Champion line they carry at Target.
I totally agree that you get what you pay for in terms of quality when it comes to good workout clothes. Or any clothes, really, for the most part. Cost was sort of my secondary point? Though maybe it didn’t come across that way.
I think my biggest issue is that items labeled “plus size” automatically cost $5+ more than their regular sized counterparts AND they’re harder to find, if they exist at all. So when you DO spend the extra money to get good workout clothes, and the sole purpose is to make it so they don’t fit anymore, it’s hard to justify spending the money. At least for me.
I have had some luck with some of the items at Target, and some of the shirts I’ve bought double as regular shirts, so that’s a plus in my book.
I feel ya. I hate shelling out lots of money on any type of clothes, but especially bras. I need a new one bad.
I’m in a strange place where I want non-nursing bras to wear when I’m out without Emma but still need good nursing bras to wear when I’m with her. So I need two bra “wardrobes.” Or at least two bras. But they’re so expensive!