RETAIL REALITY
I just want to go on the record here... it seems to me that most retail athletic apparel stores do not realize or do not care if larger people need to purchase items for the gym or for any type of sporting activity.
Don't want to name names here, but I went shopping yesterday at a local AUTHORITY on all things SPORTS and I was pretty frustrated. In Florida we have one weekend before most schools start that allow consumers to purchase clothing and other goods without any sales tax whatsoever, I really needed some good workout clothes and wanted to take advantage of the savings.
So I get to the women's section and started browsing around for shirts, shorts, and a exercise bra. Simple list. Yep. I had to look up and around me to make sure I was in the WOMEN'S department - surely I had mistakenly wandered into the girl's section, right? Nope.
I pulled a bra off the rack that said "XL" on the tag... YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME - even ONE of the girls wouldn't fit in that thing! XL, indeed. I didn't fare any better with the shorts or the shirts, but I did find a HAT that at least was my size. SIGH.
I ended up going to the men's section, and old practice I was very used to not so long ago. I finally found some things that didn't look like a huge bag on me and that I actually liked, the shirts were even on sale so that was good. They are all made of moisture - wicking material, a very important feature here in hot, humid Florida.
I didn't like having to go to the men's section, but I just had to suck it up and do it for now. I know that these type of garments are meant to fit snugly on your body, but on me they just reinforced the fact that I still have a long way to go. I could almost hear those little shorts in the cool colors mocking me from the female department, but I ignored them. People might have asked me to leave if I started talking to the clothing. Regardless, I was undaunted. In retaliation on my way to the checkout I purposely moved some of the EXTRA SMALL shorts to the LAST CHANCE SALE rack. That showed them by golly!
I am fully into my training program now, and I walked and jogged across a local causeway yesterday morning, a high rise bridge over the Indian River. Took me almost exactly one hour, for a distance of right around 3.8 miles. I did stop for a minute or two to watch a Manatee swim nearby, and to watch some schools of fish, but otherwise I was hoofin' it the whole time.
I think I may fire off a few letters to some sports apparel manfacturers and maybe a retail giant or two. If nothing else it will bring a little awareness that not EVERYONE is a size extra-friggin-small.
I feel better now!
Peace......