I’m excited (and slightly nervous) to welcome our latest featured blogger to AMC who is touching on issues faced when trying to find practical and affordable plus size fitness fashion. After the vicious attack on my lack of a thigh gap recently, I put the brakes on the fitness style challenge but I’m hoping all of that negativity is now behind us and looking forward to kicking our latest style challenge into overdrive with a giveaway and guest blogger callouts.
It’s the start of the year and just like every other person on the planet I have made the commitment to get healthy this year. I could bore you with my reasons and how it’s different this time, but no one needs to hear that!
I am going to be completely honest with you though, I am the heaviest that I have ever been and yes that does include while I was pregnant. I am also a size 26. Now for those who are unitiated in the plus size arena that means that I am in the last size before I need to start finding special shops.
Have you looked at the price difference for speciality shops lately? There can be $100 difference between a dress in a ‘normal’ size and the exact same design in a plus size. Best and Less have changed this and offer the same designs from a size 8 – 26 for the exact same price. It makes fashion a lot more affordable. They also have a decent range of workout gear that I have been filling my wardrobe with.
‘Just lose weight you fatty’ is something that I hear and read often. It’s even something that I say to myself at times. However the reality is, that right now I am size 26, I need to buy clothes in that size. I deserve to feel good about the clothes that I am putting on my body, especially if those clothes are being worn to lose weight.
As I have been scouring the shelves looking for clothes to work out in, I have noticed one thing, the plus size aisle for workout gear is one rack, while there is 3-4 racks of clothes that are size 16 and below. I am buying clothes because that is all that is available, rather than because I like them. I’m being told I need to work out, but then struggling to find clothes to do it in.
I don’t think that I need brand name clothes in order to work out. I do however need clothes that are made well and fit well so that I can exercise comfortably. I feel comfortable in 3/4 pants and I am happy with a singlet or shirt. I see gorgeous 3/4 pants in size 16 and below, but the plus size seems to be limited to black, black with stripes, or a little panel of colour near the knee.
I’m not happy with my size and I am endeavouring to do something about it. I wish that the clothing industry would come along for the ride. I don’t expect miracles, I just want clothes that feel good and won’t cost me the earth.
Tegan
Top: $5 pants: $12 (Best & Less on sale)
Shoes:$8 Socks: $2 for a pack of 3 (Kmart)
Note from Mystery:
I’m pleased to report that Tegan did manage to find one outfit and for under $50 but after a month of casing a lot of the top and affordable brands, it really hit home just how slim the pickings are when you are plus size. It’s almost a workout in itself trying to find fitness fashion that fits the bill but we will endeavour from here on in to include our picks of the plus size fitness fashion when we find them.
I would also like to add, that this post was originally scheduled to hit the blog earlier in the month but after I was personally attacked here on the blog for being size 12 and not having a thigh gap (blogged: mind the gap), I took a little step back from our Fitness Fashion style challenge and this post, not wanting anything negative directed at anyone other than myself.
Please, if you don’t have anything helpful or nice to say just move on. All negative comments will be removed.
If you would like to ‘case’ fitness fashion on our behalf, no matter what your size or shape is, head back to the blog on Saturday for our #fitfashionfinds GIVEAWAY.
What do you struggle with when it comes to fitness fashion?
Do you think looking the part helps to motivate you?
Have you found a plus size fitness brand that ticks all the boxes for you?
Love this! It doesn’t matter what your size is. If your willing to give it a go to get healthy or fit or get that thigh gap it doesn’t matter, what matters is that your giving it a go!
I’ve just lost 17 kgs and 4 dress sizes in 9ish months all from clean eating and fitness 3 times per week.
It is possible so don’t give up!
Go Belinda, your results are amazing. What an inspiration. I’ve piled on the weight this last twelve months due to health issues and meds so just focusing on being fit and healthier myself and trying not to focus on the weight loss side of things.
I’m amazed you were able to find a whole outfit including shoes under $50! I didn’t know Best and Less did fitness clothing.
I know Ingrid, I couldn’t believe it myself. Tegan did a wonderful job casing this one.
I think a bit of fit fashion is a great motivator to get moving. K Mart also do a great range of affordable fitness gear with heaps of choice. And although Lorna Jane is pretty pricey and geared towards the smaller of the sporty sisters, they do do a swap shop where if you give them 3 items of pre loved sportswear, they give you $15 off any full priced purchase, and your old threads go to charity. Everyone’s a winner baby. Tegan’s Best and Less outfit, should be renamed Best and Best because it’s cracking!
We’ve been casing Kmart for this challenge in a big way. Results hitting the blog soon, with our next mystery blogger.
I wasn’t aware of the Lorna Jane swap shop, off to case that one now.
Personally, I find it easiest to exercise to and from work because once I get home I’m too exhausted to move and I’m not an early riser so working out before work doesn’t suit me either. So Im usually in my office clothes and put on some Airflex walking shoes and walk 30 minutes on the way to work and then coming home I stretch it to an hour if I can, as it doesnt matter how sweaty I get on the way home! I also find a good bag pack is essential, walking with my hand bag I twisted my back which wasnt fun.
I see all the sporty girls walk past me in their sport outfits leggings and tight crop tops and I just say to myself sure I dont look like a perfect fitness model but at least Im overlapping everyone on the couch!
As long as you are exercising that is the main thing. I hear you with the back pack. I popped a shoulder last year and it plays up depending on what bag I’m carrying.
As someone who was a a size 22 this time last year it frustrates me that sports labels don’t do bigger sizes…what are we meant to wear while getting healthy. I wear Female For Life and have had some pieces for a few years, great quality. Now I’m a 16/18 so it’s easier but it needs to get better.
Female For Life sounds vaguely familiar, possibly due to you. Will have to go and case them now.
Styling You’s Nikki is also a FFL ambassador.
I had no idea that fitness gear was targeted to the tiny. How ridiculous! There are enough barriers to getting fit without throwing in ‘I have nothing to wear’ as well!
I am a size 8-10 in most brands, and my biggest issue with fitness gear is specific to the fact that I have a disproportionately long torso (stumpy leg syndrome) and so tops aren’t always long enough, and those bands across the top of leggings don’t usually sit in the right place unless I feel like displaying some camel toe. Bleeurch.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the range at Harris Scarfe. I just picked up some Adidas, FILA and Sfida wear for very little. I know the FILA leggings went up to at least a 20 (having spotted a pair) although must admit I wasn’t specifically ‘casing’ it for plus sizes. And I LOVE the exercise bottoms at Coles – grabbed a pair of shorts earlier this week.
I find tops and pants are too long on me. I love your finds from Harris Scarfe. Heading online to case them now.
Oh cool! I hope they still have those zebra print leggings. LOVE them. I’ve since looked at them and they’re actually S, so it must be a different brand that was a size 20, sorry. (Can you tell I wasn’t ‘casing’ at the time?!)
I wonder what a size 12 is. Probably a medium or a large? Might need to go on measurements. Wish we had a store handy.
I’d go M – I’m usually a 10 on the bottom half and the S is perfect.
I had no idea that fitness gear was targeted to the tiny. How ridiculous! There are enough barriers to getting fit without throwing in ‘I have nothing to wear’ as well!
I am a size 8-10 in most brands, and my biggest issue with fitness gear is specific to the fact that I have a disproportionately long torso (stumpy leg syndrome) and so tops aren’t always long enough, and those bands across the top of leggings don’t usually sit in the right place unless I feel like displaying some camel toe. Bleeurch.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the range at Harris Scarfe. I just picked up some Adidas, FILA and Sfida wear for very little. I know the FILA leggings went up to at least a 20 (having spotted a pair) although must admit I wasn’t specifically ‘casing’ it for plus sizes. And I LOVE the exercise bottoms at Coles – grabbed a pair of shorts earlier this week.
Go you. Don’t let them win. Haters gonna hate…
That Taylor Swift song has been stuck in my head for a little while now.
I can’t believe you were attacked for being a size 12. Regardless of your size, encouragement is required for those wanting to get their health on. You’re doing something amazing! People can just be really shit. I’m sorry you were subjected to that. I really support what Tegan is doing right now too. Go for gold ladies! x
I don’t think I actually mentioned I was a sz 12, just that I didn’t have a thigh gap. Tegan is doing an amazing job on the fitness front and has been a great motivator for me.