bra-related stories
Danskin's New Flex Sports Bra Gives Support AND Curves!
I'm serious about fitness, but I'm also serious about looking my best. Admittedly, I don't always look so great at the gym -- I don't wear much makeup, and my clothes don't always match. However, there are times when I wouldn't mind looking like, you know, a girl.Danskin knows that being serious about fitness and wanting to look good aren't mutually exclusive -- far from it. And they've designed a sports bra that allows you to merge the two. One of their new sports bras, the Women's X-Training New Aerosilver Flex Sports Bra, combines form, function, and comfort. I'm loving it -- I can run and jump in comfort, but still look cute in my little yoga tank top!
That's not the only sports bra Danskin is offering, either. The aforementioned Flex is great for high impact workouts, as is their Aerosilver Glide Sports Bra (which has a bit of V cut to the front, which is great if you want to show just a hint of cleavage). Additionally, they have the High Performance Curve Sports Bra, which is better for your moderate intensity workouts (and it comes in a bunch of cool colors!).
Back Fat - Is it Squishing Out From Your Bra?
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hi Fitz! I'm trim, but I think my back is flabby. I can't stand the way my back fat smooshes out over my properly fitting bras. I know they fit well, because I've been fitted! What do I do for that flab? Karolyn
A. Hi Karolyn. Men want their backs to look like a cobra, and women just want to make sure fat doesn't squoosh over their bra straps. The issue is super common and the fix is quite simple. If you were overweight, I'd tell you to lose the fat first, but you've already told me you're trim. These three exercises will help you develop the muscles casually called "lats." They're quite precise in making your back feel strong firm.
Sports Bras - Find the Right Type for Your Size
From those of us with tiny mosquito bites to those of us who are more well-endowed, we're all looking for a good sports bra. Not only does it look bad if things are rocking and rolling upstairs, it's just plain uncomfortable and really detracts from your workout. Here comes Fitness magazine to the rescue (like a knight in shining armor, but with bras instead of a sword). Check out this slideshow, featuring great sports bras picks for everyone, from the A cups all the way to the D-Plus cups.
No doubt about it: When you have the right fit, you'll be supported properly so you can focus on your workout.
What room has the best sports bra info? HerRoom!
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
Bouncing boobs, while good for Baywatch, are not good for active ladies, which is why finding a good sports bra is so important, both for really busty gals and ladies with slightly smaller bosoms. And, while I hope you aren't embarrassed to jump around in the dressing room when trying on sports bras, there's another way to see how bounce-proof a particular sports bra is -- the HerRoom Bounce Test Videos.HerRoom has exclusive videos of women jogging and jumping around in, oh, I don't know, maybe a million different sports bras. And, after viewing the bra, there's a link you can follow to buy it, right there!
The tagline of HerRoom is "Lingerie We Buy For Ourselves," and I believe it. They do a great job of providing lots of information on a variety of different high-impact sports bras in one location. And, while you're there, if you want some sexy lingerie or other undies to show off the fabulous figure you've worked so hard for, you have that option, too. Happy shopping!
The science of bouncing boobs
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Reviews & Products
Get this: The very first sports bra was two jockstraps sewn together. Thank goodness for progress, huh?Actually, there's not been so much progress over the past 31 sports-bra years because many women still complain they don't get enough support. What exactly is failing them? Science, that's what.
Until recently, no one had ever really examined how it is that boobs bounce. In a three-year study, though, British scientists discovered that breasts don't just swing up and down. They also move in and out and left to right. They form a figure-eight pattern, believe it or not, and most sports bras only stop up and down motion. Ever felt breast pain while exercising? This is probably why.
Could your sports bra power your iPod?
Fashion and Beauty, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health
Could the movement of your breasts within your sports bra create enough energy to power a small device, like an iPod? The short answer is yes, it certainly could. But there's more to it than just bouncing them around enough to create energy -- that energy then has to be harnessed.Slate recently had an article on what would need to occur in order to harness the power of our swaying breasts (I mean actual energy power -- not the power to stop men in their tracks or knock over a small child), and believe it or not, there's some serious technology already at work regarding this. However, each possibility has its problems.
For example, one researcher has fabric made of nanowires that could easily be used to create a bra. However, it couldn't be washed -- ew! And then, there's the Lightning Pack technology that's already at work in backpacks for serious hikers and the military, and while this technology could be used on the bra strap, there's a generator and a piston involved, and, long story short, it just wouldn't be too comfy.
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- When weight loss causes loss of curves & Exercise induced insanity
Healthy Habits, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Ask Fitz!, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hey Fitz. Yesterday I did two classes in a row - Cardio sculpt and Extreme training, which are both really tough. Two days before that I ran three miles to the gym, did a class and ran three miles home. For the first time in a long time I did not enjoy the exercise one bit. I have been exercising regularly for a long time now - usually I love it. I have been practicing good nutrition habits with the occasional sweet tooth fix, drinking lots of water and STILL the number on the scale is staying the same. I feel like I am on the verge of burning out. I can't seem to lose the flab around my tummy - particularly under my belly button and backs of my thighs, no matter what I do. Plus, short of starving myself and getting very cranky, I don't know how to actually lose the weight. Funny how a number on a machine, the scale, can be so vital to my state of mind. It's ridiculous, really. PLEASE - do you have any advice? Cindy
A. Whoa there Cindy! You need a break! Sounds odd for me to say this, but put your sneakers away and sit the heck down! Fitness is not supposed to make us insane, fitness is supposed to help us maintain our sanity. You are burnt out to the max, and need to just let it go for a while. I'm not suggesting forever, but take at least a week off. I know what you're going through. You already have an elite fitness level, but particular parts of your body are just not responding the way you want them to. You have incredibly high standards for your body. That often leads to frustration. Especially when you're 'starving' and running a million miles a week!
What's the right sports bra for you?
Fashion and Beauty, Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
Choosing the right sports bra requires attention to a number of factors. First and foremost is your bust size. Obviously, the big busted woman is going to require a different type of support than a woman with small-bust needs.
Second, take into account what you need it for. Playing basketball or jumping rope requires a different level of support than going for a walk, and it really is important that, if you plan to do some jumping activities, you find a bra that keeps you from bouncing.
SheFinds.com came up with a comprehensive list of the Best Sports Bras using the editors' expertise as well as input from readers. There are bras for busts large and small made for all different activities. Check them out in the gallery and be sure to leave a comment sharing your favorite sports bra!
How a bra can prevent surgery
Whoever decided that big breasts, impossibly tiny waists, and curvy hips was a good look for a woman must not have had these features themselves. Well-endowed women often deal with aching backs, shoulder pain, and other issues due to their breast size. In fact, breast reduction surgery is one of the top five cosmetic procedures. According to doctors at a London hospital, many surgeries could be avoided if women wore a properly fitted bra. The London Free Hospital started a bra fitting clinic and, so far, 100% of the women have been wearing the wrong bra size. For women with large breasts, an improper fit can lead to the shoulders bearing the brunt of the weight instead of the chest. This can create severe back, neck, and/or shoulder pain.
Fit Beauty: What to avoid when buying a bra
Do you remember back (way back for some of us) around the time we were about 11- or 12-years-old when sexual education started to be a regular unit in health class? Our fearless teachers managed to sit through all of the giggling long enough to explain the many technical details about growing up into men and women. As I've gotten older, I've learned a few things (whether through the experiences of friends or on my own) that I really wish they'd covered back then.
One of those things is the basics behind buying a bra. OK, I suppose it isn't really the education system's responsibility to make sure that you know how to get the right fit but it's still something that I think we girls need to learn as early as possible in order to save years of struggling through life in ill-fitting, uncomfortable brassieres.
Daily Fit Tip: Get a new bra, get a new lift
I not only got a new bra this weekend. I got a brand new model of bra. I traded in my minimizing bra -- the kind I've worn for years -- for a barely-there-light-push-up bra that has transformed each of my breasts from pancake to perky. It's amazing, the difference, and it makes me want to spread the word: If you're feeling down about your body and need a change, a simple little change, while you whittle away at your weight or firm up your flab, then consider a new bra.
Or forget the bra. Make it a new pair of pants that flatter your behind. Or a shirt that trims and slims. It can be anything really -- a hip new jacket, a sporty haircut, a fresh manicure, anything that puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face. Let's be real here: Big sweeping changes take time. So why not try reinventing yourself before long stretches pass you by? It's easy, I tell you. As easy as my new bra.
When your under-stuff needs rehab
Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Yes, underwear is good for the soul, ladies. Well, good underwear is. But how many of us have good foundation garments? Are your outdated and faded panties stuffed in a drawer alongside your other mismatched goods? Do your bras work for your body type and shape? How about your gym gear -- does that job bra accomplish its intended function? If you answered "yes," "no," and "no," then your undergarments may need a swift trip to rehab.
Oprah to the rescue. Check out this article from her February 2008 magazine for the lowdown on managing your intimate apparel wardrobe and updating your mental health too.
Kelly Ripa says to use tight jeans as a pushup bra for your booty
Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Men's Health
I just finished reading a feature on Kelly Ripa in Fitness magazine. The focus of the article is on Kelly's new fit body and her favorite workouts. But of course, when it comes to Ripa, we can always expect the unexpected.
Kelly says she wears jeans that are very tight in the butt, because they give her some extra lift. She wants her jeans to smoosh her cheeks together and raise em up. I've never actually thought about jeans that way, but the idea has the capacity to make sense.
Just be careful when you're trying on denim that the jeans squish you up, and don't smoosh you down. Flat fannies are not so hot!
Still shopping for Christmas? Check out our holiday gift guide for everything Fit!
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- Exercise induced nausea and bouncing boobies
Vitamins and Supplements, Ask Fitz!, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hi Fitz, Why is that we feel like puking or vomiting during intense workouts? Is it a bad indication or health threat? I saw on the Biggest Loser that there were those who puked. However, I felt it just recently on my 20 minute incline treadmill workout and it gave me the creeps. Did I do something wrong? Am I supposed to have myself checked with a doctor? Thanks, Kassy
A. Hi Kassy. Thanks for the great question. There are a bunch of possible causes for your nausea, and most are not worthy of worry. Vigorous exercise takes it's toll on all the different parts of our body; not just our legs, arms and abs. It effects our respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, and digestive systems (amongst others) as well. Most of the effects of challenging exercise are great, some of the effects though are temporarily not-so-great. I found a study by Dr. R. Rafoth, M.D., The Athlete and the G.I. Tract which describes the causes of exercise induced nausea and other G.I. symptoms which I summarize below.
Some of the factors that can lead to exercise induced nausea are:
1. Presence of symptoms in a non exercising period, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
2. Age. More symptoms occur in younger athletes.
3. Gender: Women are more likely to experience exercised induced nausea, completely unrelated to ones menstrual cycle.
4. Diet: There is an increased incidence of upper abdominal symptoms in athletes who consumed:
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too big a meal too close to exercise
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fats
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hyper-tonic drinks, glucose syrups, honey/maple syrups
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foods high in dietary fiber
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high protein diets

























