Do NOT wear basic workout attire. Wear fitness apparel that is functional. Running is a highly-intense exercise on the body. When you add the fact that you are running in a curvy plus-sized body, you know that you must wear attire to handle the high-impact movements. Wearing the appropriate attire gives you the confidence to perform at your best. Let’s get into it and I’ll share 3 types of fitness apparel that will elevate your run.

Leggings: This is not the time to get those cheap regular leggings from stores I won’t mention. They are not going to have the right material or capacity to hold you well. NOBODY got time to be fiddling with leggings that or too loose or too small that you gotta keep pulling them up every 5 seconds cause they’re exposing your big butt. Running takes full focus. Don’t waste time fighting with your clothes. You’ll need every ounce of energy to get you to completion. Now for the ones of you that like to tussle and will buy them anyway, just know that you will have to replace them frequently and will feel lots more jiggling. Quality certainly matters! The longer you are in this curvy fit lifestyle, the greater your understanding will be on this. I go in detail in a previous blog post linked here, but in short, workout leggings that are high waisted with light compression will help hold in all your meat. FYI: Holding in your meat doesn’t = stopping all the jiggle. It means that it may lessen it. As your muscles strengthen, the jiggle will be no more. Here are a few brands that I recommend: Avia, Baleaf, Nike, Athleisure at CATO, and DKNY.

Shoes: You gotta see it through my Curvyfitsis! The sneakers you choose are dependent upon the surface you are running on, your goals, the structure of your feet, etc. For example, I have flat feet so I pay attention to the cushion of the shoe, shape of the shoe, and support of the shoe. I run on flat grass and/or on grassy hills, beach sand, and asphalt. Trust me, the shoe you choose needs to align to the surface that you are running or you will not maximize the performance of the shoe. Be ready to drop some coins on your footwear. The brands that I have worn are Asics, Nike, Puma, and Brooks.

For grass/grassy hills-I’d recommend Asics and Puma

For asphalt- Brooks and Nike

Sand- Nike and Puma. You can run in the sand with Brooks like I do, but it’s just kinda blah.

I would recommend going to local running store to be fitted well for your sneakers.

Bras: Yes spend the money on the sports bra. If you still want to be cute and wear the matching sets, just know that most of the bra tops on them are low/medium impact which can be used for gym day but not for running. Invest in a high impact sports bra that will properly secure your breasts. You don’t want them flopping all around and slapping you. (Don’t ask how I know😉) Here are my favorite high-impact sports bras: Enell, SheFit and Livi Active Sport. These high-impact sports bras allow freedom to focus on the run. Each bra has its pros/cons. If you want more info, let me know.

This list will help you look and do your best when running as a curvy, plus-sized woman. As the Curvy Fit RN, I am here to help you be confident in your movements, consistent in your workouts and courageous in being yourself. The point of it all is to embrace your body as a plus size runner and to embody it in athletic wear that complements your curves effortlessly. Congrats on starting your running journey! If you need help staying accountable, check out Become StrongHER to have the Curvy Fit RN as your Fitness Accountability Coach.