Time to re-think our Obsession with Tights!

Active Wear was once only worn in the gym, yoga studios and aerobics classes Jane Fonda style!

We took pride in our bright, colourful spandex outfits that squeezed in every fault, bump, and lump to have us looking lean and long, trim, and terrific. The problem started when we realised that we could look this good all the time! These tights should be worn with pride, I look fantastic, why shouldn’t the whole world see? Right?

Now we have active wear for lounging, shopping, the cinema, brunches with the girls, basically wherever we go, active wear is a choice of attire.

Sure, it’s great to have your body looking so lean in these very tight clothes, and you probably don’t even feel that now, right? You squeeze into pants that constrict your body and crop tops that squish and mould your breasts to look perky and upright, just fabulous!!

I too, in my job, was wearing active wear all day every day. Rarely without it, and my wardrobe is jam packed full of it. I seldom purchase any clothes that aren’t active wear, so what is my point?

Recently I moved to a property that required a great deal of manual work to get ready for fire season. So, there I am whipper snipper in hand for long periods of time. Firstly, I needed to wear long loose pants, so I could sweat, and protect my legs. Because of the weight of the whippersnapper and the effect on shoulders, I went braless as well. This went on for about 5 weeks, as I also prepared my studio for opening.

Now, it was time to put back on the tight activewear, the squishing of my breasts, but thankfully, no shoes. I was shocked. The constriction took my breath away. I felt like I was suffocating and couldn’t take a deep belly breath. My shoulders and thoracic spine felt crushed. My ribcage was screaming at me. How could this be? How could I feel so much pain, when this was my clothing of choice for well over 10 years?

When I gratefully took my activewear off, I noticed something that is always there, but I never give a second thought. You know, the red welts, the marks of the patterned lines on your clothes. The redness around the under bust. All clues to how our body are feeling.

At some point, my body adjusted, and this became the normal. Initially my body was screaming, and I chose to ignore it and continue to punish my body in these tight clothes, oblivious to the pain that it causes.

Now some of you maybe thinking, I love my activewear! I don’t feel any of this so-called pain. I am comfortable and wear these all day and feel nothing. Crazy talk! That’s ok, if you love wearing your active wear, then you do it! For me, it’s time to break up with lyra, break up with LJ and others.

While you may be in love with the rock star look of tight active wear, they can actually trigger a nerve condition called meralgia paresthetica Ouch!!

This condition shows when tight pants press against the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and can cause a tingling feeling in the thighs, lead to pain or numbness, and make your ankles and feet feel weak.

Tight waistbands go beyond pressure and discomfort. They can even be bad for your digestive system and can encourage stomach acid to rise. Not only will a pressure point waist squish your organs, but tight trousers can also push stomach acid up the oesophagus which can lead to acid reflux and heartburn.

Tight bras can all dig in and cut off easy free-flowing blood circulation. Having poor circulation is bad news, especially for those who are already at risk for health issues.

So, what are we to do?

I have discovered loose yoga pants and I am in love!! No constriction, no pain, and freedom of movement! These pants rock. Now it’s like wearing your PJ’s out and about. Talk about comfy and my body is singing! They are brightly coloured, funky, and good for my body.

I team that up with a soft bra that just slips on overhead. No perky looking boobs here, and I certainly wouldn’t advise running in a soft bra, but my oh my, feels comforting!

A new era of comfort for me is heralding in. It maybe my age, or it may be a new trend?

In the end, lets do what feels good for us. Listen to our bodies and take note.

Ps…Yoga pants rock!!