This week has seen some real progress in the training. Firstly, I’m down another 1.6lbs and, even better, I’ve lost a few inches all over, including one from my neck (!).
I’ve also done my first full 10km run since my foot injury, resulting in a old back strain returning. As it happens every time I run over the 10km distance, we’re old friends and I know what to do to make it go away.
My weights progress is good too, thanks to a good PT session I can now lift a set of 10kg dumbells in a ‘push press‘, in a straight set of 15. I’ve also been working hard in the gym trying to improve my core, glutes and quads, so lots of weights squats, lunges and bodyweight core exercises.
But speaking of the gym, I have four pet hates, all of them involving other people (apologies to those who follow me on Twitter, who see these rants regularly).
1. Poor footwear. Please don’t run in pumps, or Converse. I dread to thing what it’s doing to your joints.
2. Bouncing backsides in spin class. Really, if you’re not going to do it properly, then please don’t do it at all.
3. Make up in the gym. Why? Really? The person running the class isn’t going to be impressed by your pouting red lips and, to be honest, you *should* be sweating all that make up off. If you’re not, you’re not doing it right.
4. Lack of, or poor sports bras.
And when it comes to the last one, I’m not alone. According to research by Shock Absorber 2/3 of women admit they frequently see fellow exercisers’ breasts bouncing and wish they could tell them they need a sports bra*
And yet 44%** of women who exercise regularly do not wear sports bras. And the other statistics? They’re just downright scary. Below are exercises ladies don’t think they need a bra to do:
• Yoga / Pilates (48%)
• Walking (44%)
• Golf (35%)
• Cycling (30%)
• Skiing (21%)
• Exercise class at the gym (20%)
• Horse riding (20%)
• Running (13%)
• Tennis (13%)
• Jogging (12%)
• Netball (11%)
• Hockey (10%)
Ladies, please!
Why are you doing this to your boobs? Excessive bounce causes pain, discomfort and all for the sake of spending some money on a good sports bra. If you don’t believe how much stress your breasts are under then, allow me to introduce you to the Bounce-o-Meter from Shock Absorber.
This little online tool (or their Facebook app) allows you to put in your bra size and see the difference between exercising in a normal bra and exercising in a sports bra – whether it’s yoga or, like me, running, your boobs undergo stress and strain, just like any other part of your body. The difference being that as there is no muscle tissue in your breasts, they cannot control how much they bounce, or what impact it has.
That’s why sports bras are so important.
Oh and if having comfortable boobs isn’t incentive enough you can also win the recommended bra chosen for you by the Shock Absorber app.
So please, whatever brand sports bra you buy, whatever exercise you do, stop punishing your breasts and support them properly. And yes, I know sports bras can be expensive, but your boobs deserve better.
This is not a sponsored post. I believe in sports bras and yes, my own personal sports bras are all Shock Absorber bras. I also use Nike support vests.
*Survey conducted by One Poll, September 2013 (1,000 active women respondents)
** GFK U&A 2012