Tag Archives: style

Let’s Talk Ta-Tas

Posted in Fashion, Fitness by

By Lauren Duffy

This is a shout-out to all of my fellow fitness freaks with big boobs. Let me begin by saying: I feel your pain. 

Sure, with the right shirt and the perfect bra, showing off some cleavage can be kind of fun, but the moment you try to do any kind of jumpy exercise, your fun is all over. In the fitness world, big boobs are nothing but a big curse.

Too much of a ta-ta bounce can frankly be uncomfortable, unsightly, and sometimes painful. You want to be comfortable when you’re exercising; that’s why we spend so much money on Nike and lululemon gear. So sometimes you need to invest in your comfort and buy a sports bra that will successfully strap down problem A and problem B. With the wrong sports bra, your workout can be a nightmare; but with the right sports bra, you won’t have a care in the world.

So what are the best brands and best tricks to contain your cleavage?

First thing’s first.. What NOT to wear. (Where’s Stacy and Clinton when you need them?) Do NOT get a sports bra that has little to no elasticity to it. Those silly loose fabric ones that Target sells are the best example of what not to buy if you’re looking for support; they’re just not resilient. When trying on a sports bra (yes, you must try on sports bras) jump around the dressing room to test it out and make sure it doesn’t stretch out or allow too much of a bounce. If you feel like you’re wearing next to nothing, put it back.. even if it’s pretty, put it back.

Now for what you should wear: The most trustworthy trick is to wear two or maybe even three sports bras under your tank top with a build-in shelf. Yeah, it’s a bit much… but it works. One of my coworkers told me that she will even wear one bra that is one size too small to hold them down a bit more. I’ve yet to try this, but I’m definitely going to.

My personal go-to brand is the Nike Dry-Fit. The material Nike uses for these doesn’t allow the bra to ride up or bunch, instead it stays in place and keeps the boobs in place. I only have to wear one of these bras for full strap-down-support.. they’re truly miracle bras! Better yet, I’ve bought all of mind at TJMaxx for very cheap!

Champion is a brand that can go either way. Some Champion bras are wonderful; you usually have to wear one of them with a second bra for backup. (Whenever I need to wear two bras, I like to wear a tight wire-less and pad-less cup bra that can hide underneath your sports bra with a Strap Perfect.) But some Champion bras have the tightest elastic band that goes around the rib cage– it will either cut your circulation off or curl up under your boobs causing you to have to pull it down every time you jump. They’re win-or-lose bras, so they definitely require a dressing room test.

It’s official… I’m now a huge lululemon fan thanks to Emily. I am currently counting the minutes until I can get to a store to buy a lululemon bra called the Ta Ta Tamer II. (I already love the product just for its perfect name.) From what I’ve read, it seems very similar to the Nike Dry-FIT bras that I love so much, so I’m positive that I’ll love the Tamer as well. My boss who exercises all the time swears by them, and she knows the dos and don’ts of fitness clothes like no other.

What makes the Dry Fit and Ta Ta Tamer II so special? They both have hook and eye closures on the back of them so that you can adjust the size around your ribcage. If you can buy any kind of sports bra like this, I highly suggest you do so. Many bras have a stretchy upper part with a thick elastic ribcage band. These bands can often flip under the boobs and increase the boob bounce. But the hooks on some bras prevent the ribcage band from over stretching or riding up, therefore preventing any extra unwanted boob bounce. I even have a random no-name sports bra with the hooks on the back and I swear by it.

Many women have told me that they gravitate towards sports bras with built-in wires. I’ve found that these bras push ‘em up instead of suck ‘em down, and sometimes the wire will dig into me under the armpit. They also give a you a good amount of cleavage; but as an instructor, I’m not trying to flash my class. Personally I’m not a fan of these; however, if you don’t like the strapped-down feeling, wire sports bras could be the kind for you.

Finding the perfect sports bra that fits you and fits your ta-ta needs takes a lot of time and a lot of trial and error. But once you know what suits you best, you’ll find that you can focus on your workout without the two biggest distractions in the world flopping around. Good luck showing those boobs who’s boss!

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UV protection revisited

Posted in Health & Beauty by

By Emily McLaughlin

Greetings from sunny Las Vegas, Nevada!

Why am I in Vegas? Well, I don’t really know… It was a spontaneous decision. When asking for a Friday off from work to go to Maine, I asked for a few days off in July to accompany a friend to Las Vegas–not thinking that work would actually let me have those days off, with me being the newbie and all. They said yes! and I booked my trip the next day. We flew out on the 4th and the trip has been absolutely amazing thus far.

I am so grateful that I have such an amazing job that supports employees’ lives outside of the workplace. When being interviewed, that was one of the topics discussed. TechTarget supports their employees passions outside of the office and understand that sometimes… life happens. For me, this trip was much needed. Also, I am at that point in my life — young, fresh out of college — at time where I want to travel and experience all that I can before life gets too hectic.

So, yes, I somehow found my way to Vegas and, man, is it hot outside.

While I was sitting by the pool earlier, staring up at the cloudless sky, applying generous amounts of sunblock, I thought, “We haven’t really visited the topic  of UV protection yet this summer.” I realize we are well into summer now, and you have all probably experienced your first, second and maybe third sunburn by now… but it is never too late o talk about UV protection.

Before even reading what I have for you below, you should read Lauren’s article from last summer: Dear 16-year-old me.

Sunblock is not your only means of defense. In fact, there are countless ways to protect your body from the sun’s damaging rays, but here are some that you maybe didn’t think of:

Moisturizer 

Replace your normal moisturizing lotion with one that has SPF. This will be an easy switch if you moisturize every day–the only downside is that you might have to dig a litter deeper into that wallet. If you don’t want to buy an all-over lotion with SPF, at least change out your face lotion. Real Simple did that research for us: The Best Face Moisturizers.

Workout Clothing

According to REI’s expert advice section, “All fabrics disrupt UV radiation to some degree. Clothing that does the best job carries an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value. UPF ratings range from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent).” But, just because you are wearing a long sleeve at the beach, doesn’t mean that you are protected from the sun. And of course… Lululemon has a whole line of clothing with UPF–check it out for those summer runs.

Umbrella

Walking around in Vegas, I’ve noticed something a little out of the ordinary… lots of umbrellas. This is not because it was raining (I don’t think it rains too much out here), but because the sun is so strong. Using umbrellas for sun protection is just as purposeful as using them in rain storms. Invest in an umbrella for the beach, summer parades and long outdoor walks.

Stay happy, stay healthy, stay cool… lord knows I’m struggling.

Fitness Fashion: Spring Must-Haves

Posted in Fashion, Fitness by

By Emily McLaughlin

Spring is in the air which means that warm-weather workout gear has hit the shelves! With the  gorgeous weather comes some great fits, creative tanks, bold stripes and bright colors. This season’s styles are sure to turn heads as you jog through Amherst Center or hit the yoga mat at Campus Rec. Here are some of my spring picks from all of my favorite brands.

You’re running crop: Nike. Nike. Nike. I love Nike. My favorite article purchased from Nike has to be my running crops. They fit perfectly — meaning that they don’t ride up, they don’t fall down, they actually stay in place. The colors on these crop are pretty boring, but sacrificing color for fit is definitely worth here! ($48) Zumba skort — Running Skort: Yes, I said skort. Who says you can’t get all dolled-up to work out? Dressing like you are ready to hit the fitness runway will make you feel better about yourself — pushing you to work a little harder. This skort from Lululemon is fantastic. I purchased one for Zumba a few months back, and it was so cute and comfortable that I have worn it on jogs and even to yoga. The skort fits perfectly around the hips and the shorts underneath have a sticky, elastic hem to keep them in place while you’re shaking your romp. ($58) Creative Tanks: Trending in the fitness world today are creative tanks with fancy cut-outs and detailed straps. Old Navyhas a few different styles for a reasonable price. Remember that when buying shirts that are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, they are not necessarily designed to be supportive. Tops like these are better for low impact activities like yoga, walking or pilates. (on sale now, $15)

You've seen this shirt on a couple of us at Campus Rec -- the lovely Cassie Brown and myself. ;)

Bright colors: Vibrant shades and blinding neons are in! Victoria’s Secret tanks, or on the more affordable side Champion tanks from Target, are brightly colored and perfect for any type of workout. Don’t be afraid to stand out at the gym or while jogging the sidewalk — let your confidence shine as bright as your apparel.(VS = 2/$45 or Champion = 1/$16)

Victoria's Secret

Cool Spandex: Spandex shorts are perfect for lifting and other strength training workouts. They are also essential for pairing with those revealing shorts — you know, the ones that flash your undies while you’re doing crunches. Under Armour has some great picks this season. Buy them online or head down to Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Hampshire Mall to try some on for fit. ($30)

Trendy Stripes: Forever 21 has some great, inexpensive activewear, including a long-line of sports bras. Okay ladies, while some of these sports bras do not have a lot of support, they are perfect for pairing with those tanks with built-in support. Stripes are in, so stock up! ($8-$13)