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Working out can be hard for anyone, especially when just starting out or when you have been out of the game for a while, but as a plus sized person, you may notice that it presents it’s own set of challenges. Have you ever heard of the dreaded “Chub Rub”? If you haven’t heard that term, let me assure you that you most likely will or have experienced it and it is not pretty at all. It’s actually very painful. Athletes of all sizes and fitness levels can get this kind of chafing but it’s one of the biggest issues with plus sized fitness that often demotivates even the best intentioned athlete.
If you want to start working out or are finding your workouts are currently too painful or uncomfortable, here are some tips on how to work out comfortably when you are plus sized you may be able to use.
How to Work Out Comfortably When You Are Plus Sized
Stop Chub Rub before it starts. Chafing in tender areas where there is lots of motion (aka Chub Rub) can be extremely painful and even lead to nearly bleeding if you do not take the time to prevent it. Most commonly occurring in the inner thigh area, it can also happen in the underarms, in the folds of the buttocks and even under your stomach area and breasts. If you find it happening, prevention is the best option. I recommend greasing up the area with a product called Body Glide. It cuts friction that creates the chafing. You can also use my favorite anti-chafe preventive called Lady Anti-Monkey-Butt (funny name, but it is amazing!).
Stretch before working out. This is a skipped step a lot and while doctors and health experts might be back and forth on whether it is nessisary, I find that it helps with, if nothing else, making me more limber and my body ready to go right before a workout. You don’t even have to do the typical stretching either. Try doing yoga for a fun way to limber up!
Wear proper fitting clothes. Clothes that are either too loose or too tight can lead to chafing, fabric rubbing wrong, fabric cutting into your body or even cutting off circulation. Plus, I find that items that offer some compression are great for me because they help keep my already ever-present edema under control and even reduce it when I work out to make working out more comfortable. I really love the brand Rainbeau Active because it is made for plus-sized athletes and fits my curves well while leaving me feeling smokin’ hot. Check out this great design on the Jacylynn Print Legging in Blue Ombre Lace!
Wear layers. I typically wear layers during the winter,spring and fall when I work out and sometimes in the summer. This Adrianna Sweatshirt is great because it has pockets for keys or cash and is lightweight enough that it doesn’t feel like you are wearing something that will weigh you down. It is also soft like your favorite vintage Tee and offers 4 way stretch for a perfect fit.
Wear a great support for “the girls”. There are many plus sized bra brands out there, but I have found that many of them don’t offer good sports style bras or ones that don’t cut off circulation while still offering support. Rainbeau Active has solved that with their Jocelyn Tank with Bra. Typically, because I am a 42 DD, I can’t just wear a cami with a built-in bra and have it be enough, but this one is amazing at offering support all around and smoothing out my curves.
Listen to your body. Fitness won’t be easy, and it won’t always be comfortable, but it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable, either. This goes for anyone at any size, too. There is a balance between pushing yourself to meet a goal and not give up and pushing yourself into pain for no good reason to keep up with an imaginary place you are “supposed” to be. Keep in mind that every body is different and you will gain more endurance if you keep at it over time rather than try to get there all at once. I like the saying that “overall fitness is a marathon not a sprint”. You can seriously injure yourself if you push too hard as well.
I am now blogging over at Rainbeau’s blog! Make sure you check out their blog and read more from me on plus size fitness tips!