Going to the gym in sweats and a big T-shirt is against my religion.

When a Plus Size Princess hits the gym we should look cute if we want to! Of course, most of the popular activewear lines don’t go into plus sizes so it takes a little work, but I’ve found some great options for workout gear that is fun, functional and affordable. So for those of you who have been asking, here are the brands that help me workout in style.

I usually go to the gym looking like this:

Shoes:

A few summers ago I made the brilliant decision to walk the entire length of central park wearing flip flops (that’s like walking 51 blocks barefoot). The next day I could barely walk! My podiatrist suggested I get a pair of New Balance sneakers to give my feet some stability after the trauma I’d put my feet through. I got my first pair and have never looked back, I wear an 11W shoe and was able to score a pair of New Balance 860′s with pink accents. I’ve worn them walking, hiking and in class at the gym and they feel great while giving me extra support in my arch and a nice bouncy feeling in the heel.

Jacket:

I also found out that New Balance has jackets up to a size 2X. This Gazelle jacket that I’m wearing here is great for when I’m working out in the park. It has a little zip up pocket for your iPhone so that you can listen to music without an armband or worrying that it will fall out of your side pocket (that’s happened to me before, augh). It also has reflectors if you happen to exercise at night, as you can see my camera flash was bouncing off of it.

Leggings:

I workout in leggings from Just My Size, you can order them online or pick them up at walmart. They fit high on my waist so I dont have to worry about them slipping down and they last long (even through the extra “chub rub” that comes from working out).

Tshirt:

I get soft Vneck shirts from Old Navy in lots of fun colors, again I buy them in a XXL and they fit me fine.

Sports Bra:

I keep it simple these days with Champion Sports Bras. I’m a DDD and I find that their 2XL sizes support me well. I picked mine up at a Mom and Pop store here in Harlem, but you can grab yours from Amazon.

I also got the BEST water bottle from amazon. Camelbak lets you sip water without tipping the bottle, you just bite on the valve and the water comes out easily, which I love when I’m on the elliptical. It helps me not have to stop in order to hydrate. Of course, I got mine in pink but there are lots of colors to choose from.

So, that’s the breakdown of what I wear to the gym. I’m comfortable in it and I feel good wearing it which makes me want to go to the gym even more… sometimes its the little things that motivate you. To be honest, finding out that I could rock New Balance gear was the most exciting thing for me… because it’s a mainstream brand, I totally assumed I wouldn’t be able to wear their workout clothes but I was wrong!

What do YOU wear to the gym?