stupid pear

I was sort of in a hurry this morning, and on the way to work I realized I forgot to pack my headphones. Further inspection of my workout bag revealed that I also forgot pants.

This was really just as well, because I've been meaning to get over to Academy for some new shorts* anyway. Last week, I discovered a hole in the seat of my current pair, and while I usually don't wear them without overshorts (probably not a word) or a long t-shirt, it still made me uncomfortable to know that my ass was playing peekaboo back there.

So anyway, I decided to pick up my lunch at the good Vietnamese place (mmm...spring rolls) so I could drop by the Academy down the street on my way back to the office. I found the liner shorts pretty quickly, but then found some other stuff to try on as I was browsing around. This is where I started to get frustrated.

See, I'm sort of a weird size right now. Actually, sizes. On top, I can usually count on a Large to fit me pretty well. If there are sleeves, sometimes I have problems with my upper arms, but generally things fit the way they're supposed to.

On the bottom, it's a whole 'nother story. I know I've mentioned this before, but I have the sort of body for which the term "thunder thighs" was coined. The VAST majority of my extra weight is below the waist. This has its advantages--my legs are strong, head and torso photos actually make me look halfway normal, etc. However, clothes shopping is frustrating, because I am consistently a 1/2 to full size bigger on the bottom than I am on the top. Even at a normal weight, I had trouble finding pants that were tight enough in the waist and roomy enough in the hips and thighs.

This was in full effect at Academy today. I tried on some shorts in an XL, and they fit fine through the hips and legs, but had a good 3-4 inch gap in the waist. I tried on the L, and while they fit over my hips, it wasn't without a fight.

Tops were no better...I've been looking for cute built-in bra light-workout tops for a while now, because it's nice to have less clothes to deal with as it gets hotter. They're not good for running unless you're very small or very perky (neither of which I am anymore, alas), but they'd be nice for lifting and cycling. Anyway, I ran into the same problem with the tops as I did with the shorts. Mediums (and Larges, in the super-spandex varieties) are too tight, the straps are too long on Ls and XLs.

I know that they can't possibly make sizes to accommodate every body type, but I wish at least one clothing manufacturer would make workout clothes for pear-shaped women. It'd be nice to find something available in sizes other than "too big" and "too small".

*These are my favorite workout shorts. They've got a 9" inseam, which is nice for those of us whose thighs rub together. They don't ride up, and they're not made of that shiny spandex that makes me feel so 1987. The waistband stays tight enough, but still comfortable. Fairly sturdy, they hold up well to frequent washings. I had my current pair about 2 years, washing once a week, before they got holey on me. They retail at most of my local stores for $20, and I highly recommend picking some up. (/plug)