Previously, I discussed how we need to overcome the obstacle of not considering ourselves “gym people,” and particularly stop caring how we look, and how others perceive us working out. You’re not going to fail, or look stupid when you’re getting active.

This, of course, is easier said than done. You may legitimately feel uncomfortable going to a traditional gym. You may not be able to afford it. You may not know where to start. All of these are valid reasons… they just need to stop being excuses.

Here are some of my tips of things you can try. Because being active TRULY is key to a lifestyle change. (now I’m That Guy!)

1. Look for an all-female gym. Healthworks in Boston saved me — it was the ultimate safe space, especially for a woman like myself who is genuinely and massively uncomfortable feeling like a piece of meat in front of men. Gyms like this, often small ones, do exist. Curves isn’t for me, but it is for many people. And if you live in Boston, for God’s sake, it is worth the money: GO TO HEALTHWORKS.
2. Find a gym you will actually go to. Whether it’s the one that is the most expensive, or has a whirlpool, or is never crowded, or is right next to your house — find a gym that you actually like. If you don’t like your gym, you won’t go. If you don’t find a gym you will actually go to, move on down the list and find something else.
3. Find a personal trainer. I found my personal trainer at my gym, but there are tons of PTs that you can find independent of one, who will work with you at their studio, or even outside. Search until you find someone you’re comfortable with — there are PTs with all sorts of backgrounds, body types and focuses. Maybe you find someone who used to be fat. Or a woman. Or someone who will yell at you (because you need that)… or won’t (because you’ve rather have a cheerleader/coach). Working with a PT for an extended period of time will not only help you tone/work on specific areas of your body, but they will teach you how to do all sorts of exercises/weights the RIGHT way, without doing harm to yourself. Eventually, you may feel you can do those exercises by yourself (at the gym) or even at home. Or you will find your PT soulmate and stay with them for life
4. Find stand-alone cardio/dance classes. In L.A., for me, this is Slimmons. I know there are many other cities that have similar dance/aerobics studios, or even local community centers. These are generally ala carte, so cheaper than a gym (only pay when you go), and if you go to something like Zumba, you can really have fun with it – a 45 or 90 minute workout goes by in a flash! In Hollywood, you can even take Bollywood dance classes! Classes are also a gym option — you can join a gym and only go to their classes, avoiding the meat market going on at the cardio machines.
5. Forget about masochistic cardio workouts. You know the girls you see running on the treadmill/on the Stairmaster/elliptical working out at a furious pace for 45 minutes to an hour, seemingly without breaking a sweat? Feel sorry for them. If you want to burn fat — and  not go insane — monotonous cardio workouts are not the best thing for your body. If all you do is short interval bursts on a treadmill (don’t worry about all the other machines — I’ve had several PTs tell me they don’t find them useful) for a half hour, 3-4 times a week, you’re golden. Getting your heart rate into a fat burning range and then letting it spike and fall, spike and fall… does excellent things for burning fat. When I go to the gym, all I do is 30-45 minutes of cardio intervals, on a treadmill, with a good playlist. It’s actually kind of fun.
6. Workout at home. This has never worked for me, personally, but a LOT of people have had success with Wii Fit, Kinect sports, dance video games, even free workouts you can get On Demand from your TV provider (including Exercise TV). Or, go the “old fashioned” route and get a DVD workout, like Sweatin’ to the Oldies
7. Try running. I realize running sounds super daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! And the best part? You can do it outside, by yourself, for FREE. Here’s the thing about running outside: no one is watching you. Even if you’re around other runners, they aren’t analyzing you. It’s a solitary, reflective activity, where you don’t need to feel judged. You don’t have to run far or long. Try short bursts — sprint for 20 seconds, then walk for two minutes. You do this for an hour and you’ve gotten quite a burn.
8. Buy clothes (and other gear) that inspires you to work out. God help me, but there’s nothing like getting a new pair of pants/shirt/shoes/heartrate monitor and wanting to try it out. Then again, in the past I’ve bought a workout outfit to “inspire” me and it went unused for two years. But once I *started* working out (or, at least, was determined to), buying new clothing and gear has definitely been a kick-starter. Whether it’s something you feel “cute” in, or a fancy heart rate monitor with all sorts of fancy stats, find something that makes you want to move.
9. Find music you like to move to. There are just some tunes that we can’t help but move to — music that makes you want to dance. One of the reasons cardio/dance classes are so fun is the music — some sassy, Latin-pop beats in Zumba; gay club music at Slimmons (nothing like working out to Cher!). And running can be made or broken by a good playlist — if the rhythm is wrong (or just not your style), you’re not going to push through and keep running. Go through your favorite uptempo tracks. Check out some of my playlists. But some compilation CDs. Put together a workout playlist — or specific running playlists — and give them a try. I have seriously GONE to the gym, just to try out a new playlist. The power of music.
10. Find a workout buddy. Now, this can be dangerous, especially if you rely on other people too much — if your friend flakes, or you both get busy, next thing you know, you’re not working out at all. But there is something to be said for a support system, and external motivation. Personally, I like to keep appointments, so if I tell a friend I will meet them at the gym, I meet them at the gym. Lately, it’s been finding Slimmons buddies that has motivated me to go. How can you say no when all your friends go three times a week? Find a friend to try that class. Find a friend to run with once a week. Hold each other accountable!

Does anyone have any other tips? What gets you active?

Ladies! Do you want to look your best at the gym? Is it important that you have a good line, and look sexy while sweating?*

Well! Spanx has an athletic line now! Here’s the catch: you may not fit into it.

While I will contend that there is a considerable market of people who could use some serious compression wear for athletics — particularly plus-size women who are annoyed/hindered by their stomachs/thighs, etc. when it comes to working out comfortably — Spanx’s athletic line is not actually for these people. The largest size is XL, which claims to be a 14/16, but based on their measurement chart, my hips wouldn’t fit (I’m just above — though on top, it’s a fit).

So we end up with more of the same problem: bigger women who WANT to exercise and need compression wear, don’t get it. Smaller/normative women (I won’t say thin and cast aspersions) who have their pick of compression athletic wear (should they desire it) get a superfluous and expensive product line from Spanx. ($118 for a pair of pants?!?!?!) If I want expensive compression wear (which actually comes in my size, thanks), I’ll go to Athleta.

I guess it’s just slightly ridiculous because it’s coming from Spanx, which is in the business of “smoothing lines” so ladies can be sexy and confident in their power suits & dresses. Thus, the assumption is that these pieces aren’t really for working out in/sweating in, but for making you LOOK BETTER doing it. Fail.

Also, they’re called SPANX. Double fail.

(bitter tall woman disclosure: Spanx generally don’t fit me because they don’t make decent products for tall women, so they never come up high enough. Panty hose hanging two inches from your crotch = FAIL. Also, the one pair I bought once ripped the first time I wore it)

Conclusion: Spanx is a FASHION product, so that they’re branching out into “athletic wear” for a limited subset of sizes (and heights) is slightly ridiculous.

* LOL kidding — you can’t sweat in these! They’re not even moisture wicking!

Flash sale sites have been a hot trend for sometime now — Rue La La, Gilt, etc. — but I’ve never really gotten into them. Why? Because what fun is a site where all I can buy are shoes (and even then, usually not) and handbags? Most designer clothes simply don’t come in my size.

Enter Clique To Know, which launched TODAY! It’s a flash sale site that specializes in larger sizes! Their launch sale, which lasts for the next two days, features sizes ranging from 10 to 42 (with XL – 3X in between). Currently, it’s all dresses, tops and some skirts, but the site promises lingerie, accessories and beauty down the line.

First impressions:

• Great layout, with really nice photography. Easy to navigate.
• You need to KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS. Fashion sizing is weird, so even though you’re a 16 at Old Navy, you might be a 2X in a hoity-toity designer size.
• You can sort sales by size or category – nice touch
• Each item lists measurements of the specific item in that size — very helpful, since you can’t guess fit from the photos (the average model is an industry standard “plus-size” 10/12)
• It’s hit or miss on items, color and sizing — the dress you love may only come in 3X… or a 10. But that’s part of the fun, right?
• In the first sale, prices range from $76 (for a top) to $950 (for a cocktail dress). Average: $90-$120 for a dress.
• Brands include: Rachel Pally, Rani Zakhem, Kay Unger, T-Bags (for the launch sale)
• Upcoming sales will feature: Z from Zenobia & Kevan Hall and Melissa Masse

I’ll be honest — most of these names are unfamiliar to me. I’m not a fashionista, in part because I haven’t *allowed* myself to be (didn’t want to get attached to styles that I couldn’t find in my size/wear). Am hoping this will all change with Clique To Know!

Now, I DO know some fantastic fashionistas — what’s your verdict? Is the range of sizes good? Or is there still something to be desired?

As a companion to this morning’s video post, I thought I’d discuss bra shopping in greater detail, share what I’ve learned, and open things up for discussion!

Ladies of all shapes & sizes, but particularly my bigger sisters, you know how frustrating bra shopping is. Victoria’s Secret doesn’t make bras for actual people, you know. Their “36 C” — NOT A 36 C. If you have generous breasts and are bigger around than “standard size,” finding a bra that fits the bill is difficult. You need something that will support your breast weight, without creating “back fat” or “double boob,” with a strap that doesn’t dig into your shoulders and, if you can swing it, isn’t an ugly, matronly monstrosity.

I spent years wearing sub-par bras, usually the one that was on sale at TJ Maxx or Macys, in the band and cup size that my mother helped me determine I was in my teens. I consider myself a pretty savvy woman, including when it comes to what flatters my shape & size, so it’s amazing that I spent so many years wearing poorly fitting, improperly supporting bras.

This is my pretty new bra. Amazing lift/support!

Then, I went to Intimacy, a boutique bra shop with locations in most major U.S. cities (and more opening all the time). At first I was dubious, given the cost of most of their bras — upwards of $60 each (OUCH), and the “show me your boobies” holistic fitting method, but my friend Emily SWEARS by this place and their bras. I figured if my sensible, thrifty friend found these bras worth it, I would too.

Turns out, I’m a 40 DD. As vaguely terrifying as that is (after thinking of myself as a 36 for years), the bras fit nicely and that trumped my psychological attachment to a certain size. Price tag: about $300 (3 bras + special washing powder). I ALMOST DIED.

But all that matters is how my new bras make me feel. And that is AWESOME. I have support without discomfort, no more extra back fat roll or side-boob, plus with my “girls” hoisted up nicely, I look taller, stand up straighter and (at least believe) that I look thinner. WIN.

Things  I now know:

• traditional bra stores/manufacturers make only a finite combination of band/cup sizes that most women don’t neatly fit into
• boutique bra stores carry a wide variety of sizes, including bra brands from Europe, that allow for a better, custom fit
• band size is more important than cup size OR strap width. Your band should be parallel with your breasts (how many of us have had the band ride up, leading to straps digging into shoulders!)
• you should have a variety of bras and not wear the same bra every day. Bras need 1-2 days “recovery” after you wear them so the band elasticity can “bound back.” Alternating a series of good bras will make them last longer, and support you better.
• you shouldn’t washing your bras using regular detergent. It’s messes with the elasticity. Buy special washing powder and hand-wash your bras if possible.

Intimacy was the best solution for me, but there are many of options out there, especially and including retailers that specialize in plus size/big busted women. My new favorite brand: Prima Donna from Germany — pretty, attractive bras WITH the support I need. AMAZING! If you’re interested in an Intimacy bra fitting & purchase, let me know — I would be happy to send you a $20 coupon! (they have a friends & family deal — and I consider anyone who reads my blog a friend!)

Leave your bra brand/fitting store recs in the comments!

I thought it might be fun to try v-logs. I’m super awkward, sound like Mandy Moore and wave my hands about a lot, but I think it’s a good first try! First topic: bras!

Lately, I’ve been strutting around like I am Hot Stuff. No, it’s not because I’ve lost 15lbs. It’s because I have joined the Proper Fitting Bra Revolution!

I am vaguely embarrassed that I spent six minutes grabbing my boobs, but oh well! XD

Who else has joined the proper-fitting-bra revolution?!