Dear Glam Gals,
I recently started working out at the gym and the sweat pants and old t-shirt thing is a little dated. What do you suggest for comfortable style that still holds everything in the right place?
Thanks for the help!! Jeni
Working out can mean many things to us gals. For some, it’s an activity we look forward to, to help blow off steam from sitting all day and for others it is a sense of dread and torture.
Either way, it can be more fun if you have an outfit that you feel good in.
Here are a few tips to use if you are considering updating your workout clothes:
- Make sure you top is a pretty color. We like to say that color gives us energy! Nothing like a pop of color to make a girl feel like getting up and off the couch!
- Fitted is better. Let’s face it, no one looks good in a big, baggy t-shirt. You will want your new top to glide over your body. It’s ok to show some curves…we are all in this together!
- Coordinate your jogging bra. This monochromatic style is simple and clean looking. It’s ok for your bra to show and it can look rather pretty when a shot of color is peeking out from under your top. Also, check your drawer for dingy white bras and make sure to toss them out!
- Find a pair of long flair pants. Choosing a long pant with a flair is always going to be more flattering than a Capri or straight legged pant. The flair helps balance out hips and bootie. (Check out our favorite “support” workout pants from Hold Your Haunches, they feel and fit wonderfully!)
- Freshen up your tennis shoes. There’s nothing like a dirty pair of tennis shoes to ruin your outfit. Either pop them in the washer with some bleach or buy a new pair. We actually like black tennis shoes, too…they can lengthen the leg and don’t show the dirt as quickly!
- Get a colorful jacket. This is the best tip of all…splurge on a really pretty casual jacket. That way, you can still run into the grocery store or an errand or two and still looked pulled together. With your long flared pants, no one will even know you have been to work out!
Have you started to find that you’re feeling some aches, pains and stiffness these days that might keep you from working out? I know it’s been tough for me (JoJami) to touch my toes in Yoga recently! It could just be that the cold weather is coming your way but it could also be the beginnings of arthritis.
We were surprised to here that 1 in 5 people will get arthritis and it can happen as early as your 30′s! Even though arthritis is not curable, the good news is that you can find relief by staying active.
That’s why we wanted to share with you some information on World Arthritis Day, on Oct. 12th.
Check out this video and find out how you can learn more about how to have “pain success.” We know that staying active is good for all aspects of our lives and will keep us looking fabulous after 40 and beyond!
What is your weapon against arthritis pain? Please comment below:
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
Clothes look nice but I have to stick with the light colored oversized t-shirt and black sweat pants as I am a thin pear shaped person. Yoga and/or flared pants may look ok if I lose another 10-15 pounds. I am really lacking on top and anything fitted would emphasis this awful body type plus mini love handles.
I may try to reduce dairy at first before eliminating it as suggested by one of your posters and will do the same with sugar. I may not have arthritis yet but I do get post-exercise soreness in muscles and at times bones that can last up to a week depending on how hard was the workout.
Hey nice post, you have shared very useful tips, thanks for sharing!
Ladies,
Please don’t pass on information that is wrong and suggests that we have no choice over the pain and disfigurement of arthritis. Give up dairy – ALL dairy – and watch the hooked fingers and toes relax – feel the pain receding from your neck and spine and in 6 weeks or less of no dairy – in all likelihood – you will be completely free of arthritis too. I did this 4 years ago and I just ran 1 1/2 marathon 2 months ago, compete in hip hop dancing and swim a mile 5 times a week – pain free. Oh yes – don’t believe the myth that milk (and dairy) is necessary for healthy bones. The countries world-wide with the highest dairy consumption also enjoy the highest rates of osteoporosis. Need a reference – read about the effects of diet on health on Dr. John McDougall’s excellent website.
Hi Cathy, Wow.. we had no idea that a simple change of diet can help so much! Thanks for sharing this with us!
It would be lovely if I could find fashionable, reasonably priced workout wear in my size. Unfortunately, it seems that most manufacturers expect you to alraedy be in shape to buy their clothing. If you want workout clothing in anything over about a size 14, you’re out of luck or you can only get it in block or possibly some unflattering color and/or pattern.
Yes, I looked at the Gymwraps site but the selection is very limited and didn’t appeal to my fashion sense.
Hi Mary, Don’t fret… there are some wonderful workout clothes for those of you that are curvy. Even places like Target carry some cute workout wear in all sizes. Ladies, chime in here if you know of a good place for Mary to shop!
Have you heard of Gymwraps are line of cute women’s breathable workout clothes which addressed the physical, fashion and lifestyle needs of active women.
GYMWRAPS™ workout clothing is comfortable, figure flattering and multipurpose. The fabrics are breathable during exercise activities and do not lose their shape. Because women come in varied shapes and sizes styles were purposely designed to complement all types of figures including PLUS SIZES. This is their web site http://gymwraps.com/
Thanks Wendy, we will definitely check them out!
I go to the gym almost everyday and can tell you there are a TON of clothing options. Most of the pants are fitted now like the ones in the picture above, but you can also find workout skorts, not unlike the tennis ones of old. They’re a little shorter now but are great for those summer and spring months. TJMaxx has GREAT prices, but if you also have a Burlington Coat Factory then be sure to check them out. I’ve had the best luck with them by far. WalMart has some cute stuff too, but you might see the same outfit on some others at the gym. :) I’ve gotten the majority of my pieces at Burlington, and hit a great sale at Gap (yes, Gap). They are pricey but with a sale it can be worth it.
The important thing is that you’re working out — so find what you’re most comfortable in, get a few pieces to switch out, and get moving. :)
Hi Heather, Right on!!! And you are so right…we agree,just get up and move! Thanks!!
Great advice. I stopped thinking what people think about the way I dress a long time ago.
Hi Janie,
As we mature…hopefully we gain more confidence and stop worrying so much! But..it’s always good to see that others feel that way too! Love our community here where we can chat openly about these issues!
These are GREAT tips. I think it is good for our morale to have some good looking workout clothes when we head to the gym. The only thing I would do different is to put shorts on the list. I prefer shorts for workouts as opposed over long pants. Nothing drives me crazier than pants sliding up my legs when I am doing leg lifts and such. And pants can get pretty warm if oyu are doing a good workout. If you try to look good at whatever size you are currently at, you will feel more like working out and you won’t be so inclined toward self-loathing when you look in the mirror at the gym.
Don’t worry about what other people will think. As a general rule, people are so focused on their own workouts that they don’t notice you and don’t care what you look like. If you are heavy, they give you credit for getting your butt to the gym like they did before you. And if you are already buff, they give you credit for having the good sense to keep coming to the gym. My experience – and most of it was as a pudgy 40-to-50-something – is that the gym is actually a pretty safe environment. Once you get to know which piece of equipment to use, it is a really great place to go.
So ditch the baggy T and sweats. Swing by Target or TJ Maxx or Winners (in Canada) and get yourself some reasonably priced workout gear. As you move down in size, toss it in the Goodwill bin and go buy some more. I found that treating myself to some new workout gear every 20 lbs was a nice reward.
Hi Wanda,
Thanks for your words of wisdom…especially the part about, “don’t worry about why other people think.” You are so right that people are not there to judge others, they are there to work out! We can certainly be hard on ourselves when it comes to looking in the mirror. But bottom line, a cute outfit will make anyone look and feel better! We heard that you lost a lot of weight recently…congratulations on that!!
Hi Heather,
Thanks for chiming in. Workout shorts can be a great option as well especially if you are doing hot yoga or live in a warm climate or just like to keep cool when working out! Thanks for sharing your shopping tips…all just perfect!