Sizing on Workout Clothes for Athenas

Alright so I'm not a girl, I get that... but I can speak from my wife's experience.  She is a little sensitive about her weight and has had some similar issues as you with the lycra style workout clothing that is sold at most of the high end workout out gear stores.  She ended up finding what she wanted with Lorna Jane, simply as it was a little more loose fitting and made her much more comfortable when she was working out, particularly at the gym.

I don't know if it would work the same way for you, however she seems to have put them through lots of up and downs in terms of weight (I don't think it's like that but she informs me I'm on drugs and am suffering from cataracts!) without missing a beat.  

Thanks guys! I knew I would get straight answers!!

1) I do wash them w/ cold water & hang to dry, but not always on the gentle cycle; that I can fix.

2) I'll check lululemon. I drove by one on Wednesday and ALMOST stopped in. But I had a 20% off City Sports from my last race and kept wandering to look for a City Sports instead. There's another one I can hit this weekend. At least to try stuff on.

3) Money is a bit of an issue. Which is why I don't buy new cothes (work out gear or otherwise) until I HAVE to. The stretchy lycra stuff meant I didn't HAVE to as I went up & back down. As I replace that stuff I can get a variety of sizes, & switch them out. Past 3 years has been a general downward trend, & I've bought clothes I never even got to wear. It makes me even MORE hesitant to spend on stuff I might never use. I asked so I could buy it right instead of getting stuff I can't use.

4) For speedos, I'm actually not uncomfortable in them. I'm totally anti wetsuit & wear a speedo to swim, even in a race. I just put bike shorts on over it & a LOOSE sleeveless tech top. I won't wear the speedo so small that my skin is all oozing out, but I do appreciate that a little bit tight ends up working like a sports bra for running/biking. My regular nonworkout clothes are generally MUCH bigger/baggier. At least according to my friends who TRY to dress me. Got a lecture this past weekend trying on a bunch of dresses for a formal, that if I can get them on w/o unzipping then they are too big regardless of what they look/feel like.

I reallly have no clue what I'm even aiming at to declare that something "fits." And my friends can't help w/ the workout gear since they don't work out. I'll start w/ something the same size, which so far has been an underarmour xl, start using the gentle cycle. Then I'll check out lululemon this weekend where I can actually try stuff on in the store and ask the people who work there.

Also, I appreciate the guy's answer. Sounds like your wife and I are similar! Tell her I sympathize! Totally & completely. Hopefully, she's found what makes training fun for her. I'm a swimmer first, and Speedos are comfortable/familar for me. In a race I just layer everything else over that. Started w/ baggy running shorts, but they kept bunching up. So I swallowed my pride and wear the stretchy kind instead so that the legs stay down in place.

For what it's worth, once I get out of the water in a tri the ONLY comment I get as people spend the rest of the race passing me is what a great swim I had. I'm usually starting in the last wave as an Athena. By definition everyone passing me had 5-10 min head start w/ their start wave & I passed them somewhere in the water. People are great! They just comment on a great swim as they whizz by at the mid point of the bike or so. No one has EVER said anything about the clothes or being slow. I know that, really, the self consciousness is in my head. It's still hard to do everday, putting on clothes I KNOW I should not be wearing to train. But it's what works, and apparently I'm the only one who worries. I hope your wife realizes the same.

If money is tight, don't waste your time going into Lululemon.   Their stuff is really nice, but WAY overpriced. 

I would recommend the big sport store (sounds like City Sports maybe?), I go to Dick's and Sport Authority.  I try things on, because each brand and style are different.  I have Reebok running tights I LOVE, but I am not beholden to any brand otherwise. 

I personally buy what fits good at the time. I don't find that the stretchy gear loses it's size and shape for me.  I wash normal cycle (cold) and dry if the tag says I can, without fabric softener sheets.  I have a lot of workout gear, like a really really lot, so I feel pretty experienced about this.

Good luck!

Sorry double post

Just to update I ran a running only race this weekend. A HUGE race in DC, so packet pick up was kind of convention/expo. I bought some new running gear and could have bought a LOT more! Oh I was thrilled to have options!! Usually I'm just stuck w/ the ONLY pair of shorts I have that currently works (whether they're clean or dirty).

Initially, to anyone w/ my small (relatively to the rest of me) waist/long torso/huge legs fit problem: DRAW STRING! Found a pair of Brooks Capri Length running bottoms that have a draw string. Found some New Balance ones too; but they looked like full length and I just won't need that again til next winter so I put off buying those, had spent a ton already! Compression v regular seems to help hold stuff in place too.

Also generally, I was sticking to like Sports Authority b/c I figured they have the broadest range and cheapest prices. I should have gone to specific running store. Even if stuff was more expensive I might have at least found what was availble out there (drawstrings, compression, etc) to then go home and do an internet search for cheaper prices on ebay or seomthing.