Woah tri clothes make me look big!!

[lawyergirl]

So this weekend I went to a shop here in Atlanta to look for something to wear for my first triathlon. I'm not exactly in the shape I'd love to be in right now, and could honestly stand to lose about 15 pounds. The guy at the shop was showing me the different clothing options and told me the top should be a bit snug so it doesn't go anywhere during the event. The first thing I noticed about the clothes is that they all looked TINY!!! I usually wear a women's medium in t-shirts but I grabbed a large and xtra large to try on in tri tops. And then when I tried them on, all I can say is that I would never be caught dead in a top like that if I didn't have to. You could see every roll of pudge on my tummy Definitely not a confidence booster, but it has given me motivation this week. I wasn't going to work out yesterday because it was raining, but once the rain stopped I reminded myself that I have to be in an outfit like that in 6 short weeks, so it's time to make some progress!

[colby]

The one-piece suits at least don't have the waistline problem, which is a plus, until you have to go to the bathroom

To some degree, it's something you get over. You have to do what's best for your training and racing -- even if you're not in it to win, being comfortable with what you wear is important (buying things too big might weigh you down in the swim, for example). You can always pull a shirt on over the triathlon style tops/suits and cover up that squishy area for the bike and run.

[roshelleuop]

I don't think tri suits make anyone look good!!!! No matter what your size, that tri suit will show the tiny budge here or the big bulge there. Just remember, other people at the competition are worrying about what they are doing and how fast they are doing it, not what you are wearing. And if any spectators are judging you, tell them to get on the other side of the fence and do it instead of watching !!!!

But also remember, if you don't feel comfortable in it in the fitting room, you wont feel comfortable in it during a competition. And you DEFINITELY do not want to be coming out of the water sucking in your tummy to look good for the camera, becuase you'll need to focus on catching your breath. Also, during the run, if you are anything like me, you'd done the suck in the tummy thing while passing a gruop of people at the park, then realized you sucked in so hard you can hardly breath now !!!! yeah, you don't want to do that either !!!

So, the moral of the story is make sure you are comfortable and you are not alone with the tri suit worries!!! We all feel this way!!! Hope this helps!!!

~Roshelle from Milwaukee~
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[Nanci]

Darker colors disguise fat rolls better, I've found. And not-tucked-in waists.

I have this one cycling top I love, the Sugoi Bella Tank

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17606

which I first got in black, but then I thought I had to have the red, too. It is very tight fitting, but scrunches a little in the front. So when I finally got the red- OMG, the rolls!! But then I figured, so what, I'll just suck in when I'm around a camera, and make sure it is tastefully scrunched at other times- but only because I love the top.

Would you maybe be less self-conscious in a regular swim suit for the swim, then pull on tri or bike shorts for the bike/run? I've done that before- it's not ideal, but it works.

[Lise]

Hey, lawyergirl,

You might want to check out a "discussion" SadieKate and I had last night about my pictures from the Pleasant Prairie Tri. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=9570

She's right. The shirt's too big. It catches in the wind on the bike. BUT! It covers my tummy on the run! I've decided to bite the bullet and wear either my tri suit (Sugoi, one piece) or my wonderful compression tri shorts and an aero top. If I were 5 minutes faster, and people saw my tummy, I'd be happiest about the time!

Coming out of the water, I'm just so glad to have the swim behind me that I really don't care that much how my stomach looks. But on the run I've got lots of time to think about it. As Rochelle says, however, we're all there to race. And if spectators have a problem, I agree, c'mon, you do it! To tell the truth, it was the heavy women and old men I saw doing Accenture 5 years ago that inspired me to try a triathlon myself. So perhaps I'd be doing a public service!

[Nanci]

You know what's worse than wearing a clingy tech fabric top- wearing a sweat-soaked five pound cotton T-shirt to cover yourself up with. Or even a three pound sweat-soaked not-so-clingy sort-of-technical-looking tank...

[lawyergirl]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I just need to get over it. You all are right - no one is going to have time to check me out in my outfit. I didn't buy anything this past weekend because I didn't think that anything fit me right, but I'm going to keep looking. I guess it's just a wake up call from usually wearing workout pants or bike shorts and a t-shirt.

[Running Mommy]

Ok, I would put good money down that NO ONE has a gut like ME!!!
I've spent YEARS and many dollars trying to desguise it while still being kinda sorta aerodynamic! It was just recently that I finally decided "Ya know what?? S**** (s word for bolt) it, I'm going to wear what I need to wear for a fast transition and not care what I look like!" It's been hard, but I'm REALLY trying to get over the body image thing! I must admit tho, it's hard being a chubby girl in this sport!!! sigh... UGH!

[Nanci]

Denise, "You are an Ironman!!!!!!!!!!!!" How many of the rest of us will ever hear that. Case closed.

[KSH]

One thing I have learned... you CANNOT judge a TRIATHLETE by his/her cover.



Wear what you have to wear... and if the spectators don't like it... screw them... they just don't have to look. Or next time, they can get in spandex and do it with you.

[Lise]

Denise, "You are an Ironman!!!!!!!!!!!!" How many of the rest of us will ever hear that. Case closed.

No joke.

Denise, it took me puzzling over it and saying it out loud before I could figure out what "s word for bolt" meant!

Seeing my shirt through SK's eyes (or anyone's here), I saw all the ways the fabric would catch the wind on the ride. That shifted my perspective considerably.

[Running Mommy]

Yep. Thy must be aerodynamic!!
I have to admit when I saw the pic of you at PP the first thing that came to mind is "why is she wearing that big top? She's so thin she doesn't need to hide anything!"... So there you go!!!!
It's all about ones perspective on themselves I suppose.
You guys look at me and see an Ironman, I look at myself and see the michelin man!!!
I think it's all those years of Erica Whitty the school bully calling me the pillsbury dough boy and singing "pillsbury dough boy, whoa whoa whoa" that have scarred my brain!
But as I age I have begun to embrace my inner stumpiness. I will never be a size 2, but with some work I'll be a bad *** strong size 10!

[Lise]

Youse say da word, RM, and Erica's toast. I'm from Chi-ca-ga, an' I got a girl gang right here on TE that would travel to defend yer honor!
....................
oooh! oooh! I've got a better idea! Why not challenge Erica to join you in a friendly little competition we like to call...Ironman!

[DirtDiva]

Yep, Erica Whitty's dead meat.

[Nanci]

It's too much for my tiny brain...