Let's Talk About Clothes, Baby

One of the biggest hurdles I've faced with this whole "trying to be more active" journey is getting myself dressed. The clothes may not make the girl, but they sure can make the girl more comfortable.

As a big lady, I've had plenty of time to get used to the idea that I can't just run into any old store and pick up an outfit. Shopping for an occasion is a process. Shopping for workout clothes, though, that's an endurance test.

I'll just get this out of the way up front. I'm not looking for the latest fashions, here. I am looking for clothes that do the job I need them to do. Pants and tops that wick away the sweat, don't chafe, and don't get in my way when I'm already struggling enough as it is. I want to be able to run and not constantly worry about if my shirt is riding up, or my pants are falling down, or my boob is about to pop out of my top and smack me in the face. From what I can tell, this is what everyone is looking for in workout clothes, regardless of their size or fitness level.

One would think that the stores that cater to the plus sized crowd would be the logical place to find basic workout wear. Based on the limited floor space given to "active wear" in these stores, and the high percentage of that floor space that is taken up by matching velour hoodies and relaxed fit sweat pants, I can only come to one conclusion: Lane Bryant has a vested interest in keeping me fat. I guess I can see their point. As long as the most active thing I do in any given day is walk from my couch to the fridge to get a refill on my French Onion Dip, they've got a customer for life.

Sporting goods stores, Target, Old Navy, lululemon--I can only gather that these stores are still in denial about the fact that big girls need to get their work out on, too. Some of these stores will sell bigger sizes, but online only. Listen, I don't want to hear another salesperson try to explain this away as a business decision because they can't devote floor space to stuff they won't sell much of. Take out a wall of flip flops, add a "Fat Girl Fit Wear" section, and I promise you'll make money.

So where's a girl to go? Are we really relegated to shopping online for clothes we can't get a sense of before we buy? Playing the endless game of "not in stock" or "cut funny, gotta send it back, and in the meantime, I still don't have a good pair of pants?" Shopping the men's section?

We are not! On the advice of my stepmom, I very reluctantly hit up JC Penney. Where they have actual plus sized active wear. In their actual stores. That you can actually try on. The selection isn't huge, and there are definitely some color schemes that will make you say "Whuck?" but it's a start. As a bonus, the pricing seems about on par with Target, as opposed to Lane Bryant, so you're not going to break the bank there, either.

As for sports bras, if you're a big chested girl, you already know that there are just not that many options out there, especially if you want to be able to try it before you buy it. And if you're just getting started, I hate to say it, but you're going to need help. (Possibly a lot of help. I really should have instituted a buddy system before I tried on that sports bra at the sporting goods store. I thought I was going to have to call in the jaws of life to get me back out.) This is the one area where I would not recommend trying to bargain hunt. Luckily, the nice people at Title Nine have the most comprehensive selection I have ever seen. I happily drove 100 miles round trip to suffer the indignity of getting trussed up by the world's fittest, cutest salesperson, in a dressing room that only had a passing acquaintance with the concept of "privacy" and I'll do it again. The women there knew their stuff, and didn't make me feel like a giant, even as I browsed the racks of XS running skirts.

Where are you shopping? What works for you, and where are you finding it?