Sunday, June 27, 2010

Answering Reader Emails

I love your blog! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only plus sized girl out there, you are such a comfort. I am ready to rejoin WW and you have been such an inspiration to me, and I wanted to thank you for sharing.

OK, here's the personal part... I hope I don't offend when I ask this but how do you wear skirts without chafing? I love the look of skirts, but I end up with raw skin when I try to wear them.

Thanks for any help you have,
Wendy

Hi, Wendy! Thanks for your email and the blog love. I follow blogs that provide me with inspiration so it really means a lot to me that you feel the same way about T Minus, T Plus. Weight loss and healthy living is such a personal journey, so I hope that WW helps you find your goals!

That is a personal question, but I am a very open person, so I am happy to discuss "chub rub" as my friends and I so lovingly call it. Before I get down to the details of this answer, I think it's important to point out that a lot of women have to deal with the issue of thigh rub no matter what their weight. When I weighed 120 pounds less than I do now, my thighs still touched at the top. I was a young, slim girl and was not at all over weight, but I still had to deal with it. So please excuse the "chub rub" name; it's just what we call it.

I don't usually have to take any precautions at work against chub rub since I don't really do much walking around. I go from the parking garage to my desk and that's pretty much it. However, at this point I'm going to interject a little story:
I once met a man at a wedding in Indiana. He lived in San Francisco and I lived in Austin and we started a long distance thing. Our first real date after the wedding where we met was in Las Vegas where we met up for the weekend. I wanted to look cute, so I wore skirts. We did a lot of walking up and down the strip in the summer heat. I started sweating and my thighs were rubbing so much it was killing me. I was too emabrassed to tell him that we needed to stop walking around so much. As a result, my thighs were rubbed so raw that they developed scabs.
EEEWWWW, right? Not exactly a romatic thing. This brings up my first suggestion. I think it helps to try to keep dry. So, don't run out the door in a skirt if you are still damp from the shower. And if it's hot outside and you know you are going to sweat or do lots of walking, it's probably best to take some extra precautions.

Tina's Chub Rub Buster #1:



A friend of mine taught me a trick when I came back from that trip to Vegas. She told me to use antiperspirant on my thighs where they touched. I tried my regular solid deoderant and that was a mistake. It just blobs up. Yuck! Then I discovered gel deoderants. Perfect! I use Arrid Extra Dry b/c it's always been my favorite, but I am sure other gel antiperspirants would work too. Along the same lines, there are some sports products for runners that are specifically for thigh chafing, but I'm inclined to think it's just antiperspirant with a different label.

Tina's Chub Rub Buster #2 (aka The Big Guns):

Sometimes antiperspirant isn't enough, especially if you're going to be doing a lot of walking or it's really hot outside. That's when I pull out the big guns.

2010-06-26 reader Q

I bought these spandex shorts several years ago at Target. They are not Spanx or any kind of tight, tummy-sucking thing. I hate those things and I only wear them for fancy events. I think that these were with the "ballet" stuff. They are just stretchy shorts and are super comfortable. Rand thinks that they are hideous (the grey color probably doens't help with that) but he loves that I'm not constantly asking him to slow down (I need to walk more slowly when I'm not wearing them to help prevent chafing). By simply putting a barrier between my thighs, the rubbing no longer bothers me. I wear these a lot!

I have been looking for another pair of these and haven't seen them at Target, but I bet they could be found at a store that carries a wider selection of workout clothes. Just look for something that is not cotton, since a nylon or other wicking material will be better for hot days.

I hope this helps, Wendy! Thank for the email.
_____________
Do you have a question? Drop me an email.

22 comments:

The other Tina said...

I never thought of deoderant but I have 10 pairs of those shorts! I bought them at Target years ago and they are a lifesaver! You just have to wear a slip so that your skirt does not stick to you. LB should sell those shorts!

Kathryn from Schoolmarm Style said...

Great suggestions, Tina. Thanks for the acknowledgment that smaller girls have this problem too. I've been battling it since high school! I have a couple of pairs of shorts (found at Walmart!) and I use Goldbond powder on my thighs any day that it will be above 70 and I wear a skirt (so pretty much all spring and summer).
Some people also swear by "pettipants"

Anonymous said...

Does anyone use "Body Glide" instead of antipersperant?

Sirens Sexy said...

Great suggestions! I know that if I forgot, the next day to help with the chafing, use some baby powder! Sometimes I used it before as well, and it works wonders :)

Raquelita said...

I also really recommend body glide (usually marketed to runners and athletes) for preventing chafing. I have issues with it if I wear shorts for running or skirts, and have had issues whether I'm at a size 6 or a size 14.

Shelley said...

I was disappointed to discover that I STILL had this issue after losing over 100 pounds...but around the same time, I found Body Glide and love it. Wish I would have known about it back in the day, because boy, do I know chub rub misery!

Maria Cooper said...

Works greatAnother thing that works is anti chafing gel by Monistat. Yes, the same company that makes stuff for your va-jayjay. It is a gel that turns to a powder and it comes in a small tube you can throw in your purse. It is at all the discount stores either by the sanitary pads or I have found it by the condoms. Works great!

Mimi C said...

Seconding what BeautyBuzz said. If I don't wear the shorts then I use the Monistat stuff
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=139254&catid=80609&aid=337953&aparam=monistat_soothing_care_c&CAWELAID=61229747
I like it better that body gilde and a little goes a long way

B/C Changeover said...

Man, I am so glad that you brought this out in the open - I am always struggling with the rub. Great suggestions!

Unknown said...

Great tips! I use deodorant too!

Branka said...

This is why I am your loyal follower. I love how open you are about everything, thank you for posting these very helpful suggestions!

Natalie said...

I use baby powder! Works like a charm, even in 90 degree heat!!

Natalie
http://twoprepsinapod.blogspot.com

tigerteacher said...

Pettipants are awesome - and they're even cheap! And when you're wearing a lightweight and/or light colored summer skirt or dress, they act as a slip also. It's win-win! :-)

Kimberly said...

I love my cotton pettipants (order on Amazon). They are like a slip, but shorts.

Also, I love this belt with this dress!

Garnerstyle said...

Yeah I didnt know about the Weds night meeting, but hopefully we can cross paths. Ill be checking you out --- fellow Dallas Girl.

DanaElayne said...

I got the pettipants after seeing some other bloggers discuss "chub rub". Hello! What a relief! I can wear cute dresses and skirts again!

EvaNadine said...

i wear shorts or pettipants whenever possible, but most often, i use the old deodorant trick -- i just never knew other people did it too!
i just use my trusty solid white stick (never really had a problem with the clumps) and my fiance thinks it very strange, but hey, it does the job!

sherylyn in yummyland said...

LOL I use the very same methods, for the very same situations! At my largest, I had to wear the bike shorts ALL the time (Danskin makes excellent ones that last forever, literally, I wore the same pair nearly every day for the better part of 10 years) and was completely THRILLED when I lost enough weight that I could downgrade to just wearing deoderant most of the time (except on heavy walking days). I also used to wear baby powder to prevent chaffing in other sensitive areas, and am very glad I don't have to "powder up" anymore, my bathroom always looked like a messy coke addict lived there.

Linda said...

I'm size 12-ish and have always had big squashy thighs and I walk 2 miles to work and back every day ... and I have NEVER had this problem. Am I a freak? I must walk funny or something. I do use the deodorant trick to keep shoes from rubbing blisters on my feet, though.

Anonymous said...

I also totally love the Monistat anti-chafing gel. I particularly like that it continues to work even if you do sweat, and that if it starts to wear off, applying a little more will ease the discomfort. Again, even if you're still sweaty.

And yep, I had this problem as a size 8, continue to have it as a 16.

Tina said...

Thanks for all the feedback and tips! I am intrigued by pettipants, but am concerned that they will ride up my thighs where they rub together. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Anonymous said...

I used tights that I cut off at the knee. I have lost over 70 pounds and no longer have rubbing but I still wear these cut off tights, they are like Spanx light. I wear tights all winter long when they get a run or toe hole they get cut and worn in the summer. Or if I find my favorite tights in a weird color on sale I will get them for the summer. I used to cry from the pain but there is no reason to be uncomfortable!

Carrie