How to Choose the Perfect Sports Bra for You

No matter how hardcore your fitness routine is; every woman needs a sports bra that fits correctly. Not only does exercising in the wrong bra lead to discomfort; it also can cause a number of wellness issues, including tension in your arms and shoulders and restricted breathing. So how do you choose the right bra for your wellbeing? Before we discuss varieties and features, ask yourself the following questions:

 

What Types of Activity are You Going to Wear it For?

Wellness writer Nancy Howard explains, ‘High-impact exercises, such as running, step aerobics or hiking require a different style and support construction than you’d need for low-impact workouts like cycling, yoga or Pilates.’

 

Will You Be Outdoors or Indoors?

According to Howard, ‘Some women prefer to wear a sports bra without a shirt when exercising indoors. If doing so, look for a bra made of wicking, breathable materials as well as nice detailing.’

 

Does This Sports Bra Fit Your Individual Body Structure?

‘Choose a bra that fits your body size and shape,’ Howard instructs. ‘Wearing a bra that doesn’t fit for your breast size and/or ribcage measurements may lead to discomfort and chafing.’

 

Once you’ve answered these questions, you can start thinking about the style of sports bra you’d like:

 

1. Compression Sports Bras: This is the one piece style that you pull on over your head, and are by far the most popular. Howard notes, ‘This bra compresses both breasts against your chest allowing for minimal or no-bounce movement. These bras are generally a pullover style without fasteners. This style is most suited for women with small to medium sized breasts (A-B cups). These tend to come in general sizes, such as small, medium and large vs. band/cup sizes. Most major manufacturers, including Champion, Moving Comfort, Under Armour, Reebok and Nike, carry a wide variety of compression sports bras from which to choose.’

 

2. Encapsulated or Natural-Shaping Sports Bras: Howard points out that these bras ‘are best suited for larger breasted women, usually a C-cup or larger. These bras look more like a normal bra with fasteners in the front or back, and may come with or without the underwire. This style encapsulates each breast in an individual cup instead of compressing both breasts together as in the previous example. The encapsulated sports bra is the best choice for larger-breasted women (C-cup and up) or plus sized women. One of the most popular manufacturers of this style is Enell. Their bras have received rave reviews from women who require greater support and control. But other manufacturers, including Moving Comfort and CW-X, also provide a nice selection in these sizes.’

 

3. Compression/Encapsulation Sports Bras: These bras ‘are a combination of the previous two bras,’ says Howard. ‘They encapsulate each breast and compress the breast tissue against the chest. They can be pulled over the head or closed with fasteners. This style is ideal for women with medium to large breasts, usually C through DD cups.’

 

Now we’ve got your needs and style sorted, don’t forget to think about the following features:

 

• Moisture-wicking fabrics, such as Dri-FIT and CoolMax: These ‘pull sweat away from your skin to help keep you cool and dry (and minimize chafing),’ Howard advises.


• Minimal seams or covered seams: This is ‘to prevent chafing and irritation,’ Howard clarifies. ‘Every seam on a sports bra could rub against your skin, so the fewer seams the better.’


• Wide Straps: Howard comments, ‘Many women, especially runners, prefer the popular racerback style since this design allows for greater arm movement and provides greater support. However, a traditional scoop style is a readily available alternative for women who find the razorback style uncomfortable.’

Categories: bras, breasted women, compression sports, Compression Sports Bra, Encapsulated Sports Bra, features, greater support, moving comfort, sports, sports bra, sports bras, style

No-Effort Weight Loss: Five Fuss-Free Tips and Tricks

Weight loss or maintenance always seems like such an uphill battle. Sure, you want to look good and protect your wellbeing against serious health concerns, but going to the gym? Pass. Still, you don’t have to hit the machines – or even change out of your jammies – to burn more calories. All you need to do is make a few home improvements to tip the scales in your favour.

 

1. Dim the lights: While turning down the lights and listening to Adele in the gloom may seem like the sign of a mental breakdown, it’s actually a bright idea for improving your wellness. According to a recent study from Cornell University, diners who ate a meal under soft lights with relaxing music in the background consumed 133 fewer calories compared with those who ate in bright, noisy environments. When you eat dinner in a calm atmosphere, you eat more slowly which enables your brain to better register satisfaction before you’re stuffed. Even if you’re no Handy Andy, Mike Scott, the resident lighting expert for Lowe’s, asserts that even a novice can install a dimmer switch in 15 minutes or less.

 

2. Slim Shady: There’s a reason why they call Eminem “Slim Shady” – he keeps getting told to “please stand up”.  Yes, spending an extra hour in your day simply standing up can help you to burn an additional 40 calories. Barry Braun, PhD, a kinesiology professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, points out that ‘not activating muscle fibres for a prolonged period of time causes negative changes in the pathways that regulate your metabolism.’ In English, this means that as well as using more energy, standing also keeps your metabolism humming. So, park yourself at the kitchen counter to send your emails, or Braun suggests taking a five-minute walking break every 30 minutes.

 

3. Stay cool: Even if you’re not doing anything apart from slobbing in front of the TV, just turning down the temperature in your house can help you to burn more fat. In the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a study details how exposing people to cold temperatures for three hours, helped them to burn an additional 250 calories. Scott Isaacs, MD, an endocrinologist and the author of Beat Overeating Now!, explains that being cold forces your body into overdrive to heat itself up again, and you end up zapping extra calories in the process. Isaacs notes that even lowering the thermostat by two or three degrees can help you get the benefits.

 

4. Treat yourself to a new wardrobe: On the rare occasion that you do attempt to exercise, doing it in stained, stretched-out clothes may impede your efforts. Body image expert Sarah Maria, the author of Love Your Body, Love Your Life, comments, ‘Worn-out clothes can hold you back and even keep you from going to the gym in the first place, while a flattering, comfortable outfit boosts your confidence and energy while you work out.’ Do a clean sweep of your workout wardrobe, and then fill the gaps with a few shiny new purchases. When replacing your sports bra (which is a good idea if you’ve had it for more than six months to a year), LA-based celebrity trainer Ramona Braganza recommends, ‘A neon sports bra or a moisture-wicking tank may be motivation enough to run an extra mile or bust out a few more reps.’

 

5. Make some noise: A good night’s sleep prevents you from overeating the next day, as well as making the most of your body’s peak fat-burning time. If you’re having trouble sleeping, the sound of an overhead fan may be all you need. Lisa Shives, MD, the founder of the Linden Center for Sleep and Weight Management in Evanston, Illinois, details, ‘It helps you tune out disruptions. If you’re in a too-quiet room, any little sound, whether it’s the house creaking or your neighbours coming home, will wake you up.’

Categories: body, burn, calories, Cooler Temperature, extra, nbsp, slim shady, sports bra, Weight Loss, White Noise