WLS- Getting Your Gear in Gear

As I have gotten back to going to the gym regularly, I am seeing the need to address my gear. My Yoga mat annoyingly curls at one end, is too short, and I don't have a bag or strap to carry it. I have a new mat and a carry bag in a shopping cart at an online shop, and now I am thinking about looking at some new gear for summer. Looking at gear has made me realize that this is one area where my style does not currently shine through, and I want to change that. The new mat is my favorite color- olive green, and the bag has a cute design in colors that I like. I always have issues with athletic tops. They are always too short, and too tight across the tummy. Last night, I wore a banded bottom t back tank to Yoga (not one specifically designed for sports), and it was a perfect solution. I felt much less self conscious with that on, and a tossed a lightweight drapey cardi over it before and after class. I am going to look for more of these types of tops in colors that I like. I need a pair of rubber flip flops with a decent footbed to wear to and from class, but I think it's really time to find a better sportsbra- not a compression one.
What sort of shape is your gear in and what works for you?

15 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I have SO many exercise clothes, it's ridiculous. A few years ago I was obsessed with buying cute workout gear. At that point in my life I was going to the gym at least 5 times per week and really wanted to look cute. Plus, I had my eye on some cute personal trainers at the gym.

My closet back home in Cali is filled to the brim with exercise gear, and I have a ton here in Chicago. I could probably stock a store with all my stuff. Too bad I don't use it much anymore...

chewyspaghetti

Maybe you can ebay some of it Marianna?

Yeah, I probably should! I actually bought a lot of it on eBay. Some of the items are still NWT.

Maya

I don't really go out of my way to do anything that requires gear these days, but when I did I did not have the greatest gear wardrobe. I wore leggings as pants (only at home, in the privacy of my own room) because I honestly found those wide yoga pants less comfortable. I hated how they would bunch up and fall around my legs when I did inversions, so the only logical solution was to go tighter. I also wanted a sleeveless tank or something along those lines, because I get very hot, but they were always very skimpy for someone of my chest size. I would end up spilling out of them. One of them had a shelf bra that I would have to wear a regular bra underneath, which was uncomfortable and probably not very healthy. Ultimately ratty tatty tshirts were my only option because they were big and shapeless enough to ventilate but still provided enough coverage. Not sure if Lucy or Athleta would have had options, but I didn't know about them at the time. Those would be my go-to stops for gear now if I used it.

Yes...please give up the compression bra! It's sooo bad for you. I'll get around to that sometime, I promise. It's just too much thinking for me during the long work week. Sigh.

yublocka

(website)

Khris, good question!!! I like the idea of your banded top for yoga, that sounds very practical!!

All my gear is in very old (> 5 year old) condition - and ratty with holes stains etc. Over the last few months I have been slowly trying to make a plan to get a better set of gear that works well for the weather here, and the different activities I do, whilst only needing a minumum number of pieces.

My main gear dilemna at the moment is that it is so cold down here in Melbourne. Anything that makes me sweat - bikram yoga, running, cycling - needs to be done wearing fabric that dries fast - regular cotton just stays damp after its been sweated in and I get very cold .

To that end, over the last few months I have bought:
- new swimsuit (practical 2 piece for lap swimming, with built in bra that works as singlet top for running/cycling)
- quick dry boardshorts (for riding/jogging to pool, and for bikram yoga)
- padded short-leg bike pants (to save my a$$ pain!)
- long leggings (to wear running, or can be layered underneath bike shorts to provide full leg coverage on bike or to non-bikram yoga)
- very lightweight long-sleeve jacket that is semi-windproof (to wear for walks, cycling, jogging, pretty much everything)

Looking at the above list, its funny to see it mirrors my wardrobe - I have no problem getting bottoms, but hate getting tops. That's my focus at the moment. I want at least one tshirt style quick dry top that is long enough to comfortably wear with tights for yoga, running and on the bike without feeling too skimpy and without being too tight fitting. It's actually quite hard to find this!!! Once I've found a t-shirt style, when it starts warming up I'd like to find one or 2 singlets that does the same.

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