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Dominoes netball club, east Manchester
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Team support
Helen Tither16/ 6/2008
DOES the mere thought of getting a gym kit on and heading out into the world with lycra clinging to your love-handles leave you in a cold sweat? You are not alone.
According to shocking new research from the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, 80 per cent of women are not physically active enough to benefit their health. With only half as many women as men in the 16 to 24 age bracket getting any exercise at all.
And one of the main reasons behind our resistance to get in shape? Body image. We simply don't want to be seen sweating it out in skin-tight sports wear.
Body image
"Part of the problem is there is still a perception that being involved in sport is unfeminine," says Sarah Pickford, regional equity officer (women and girls sport and physical activity) at Manchester-based Greater Sport. "And it does come down to body image. It's about how good or otherwise they feel about themselves."
In some ways, she explains, this lack of confidence in our kit harks back to school PE lessons with peer pressure and competitiveness sometimes creating a lack of confidence at sport in general.
Now, in a drive to get more females fit, major campaigns are underway to encourage us to ditch those doubts and get out there. After all, says Sarah, improving your health and fitness can help improve your body image too.
"One thing that came out of the report is more girls are focused on being attractive than active," she says. "We want to show that you will feel much more attractive if you are fit and healthy. It's about being comfortable in your own skin."
Another key element of the campaign is to show women and girls that getting in shape doesn't always have to mean hitting a gym. If health clubs make you nervous, there are hundreds of other ways you can get fit and have fun at the same time.
From a health point of view, we should all be aiming to do five lots of exercise per week, lasting 30 minutes each. If you are looking to inject some fun into your exercise, it could be worth taking up a team sport or activity.
Social
"There's a social side that can be fun," she says. "It's about finding an activity that suits you and your lifestyle. Something like cheerleading for example might challenge stereotypical ideas of sport but it's taking off massively. Or what about netball - that's going to be massive again this summer with loads of campaigns to get women interested in it again."
Over at Dominoes netball club in east Manchester, the girls couldn't agree more that this once school time sport is now the perfect way to get in shape whatever your age.
After winning the Manchester Evening Netball League and seeing all four of their teams promoted, they reckon the key to their success is the fact that all the players find it fun.
"We have a mix of people - some who have done it since they were at school, others who come to it later," says team member Sarah Collins, aged 36. "It's fast paced and energetic and some of us practise at least twice a week and at weekends. We're looking for even more people to get involved now with our Back to Netball schemes."
In terms of body image as a barrier to keeping fit, Sarah Collins agrees that what you wear to exercise in can have a major effect. In fact, the Dominoes players have just splashed out £100 each on a new state-of-the-art kit designed to make them look and feel more confident as they compete.
"Some people have horrible memories of those old-fashioned skirts and PE knickers," she explains. "But our new kit is from the England team sponsors and it helps us feel much more confident. Even little details make a difference like the patches down the side of the dress to wipe your hands on so your hands don't slip."
Find out more about training with the Dominoes teams at
www.dominoes-netball.co.uk.
THE TEST: SPORTS BRAS
Finding a fab new keep fit outfit could be the first step to building up your confidence and stepping outside in your trainers.
But getting the right kit can also have serious health implications too. Just as the right trainers when you are running will help properly support your legs and ankles, so for women getting the right sports bra can have health benefits too.
Recent reports show 90 per cent of us are wearing the wrong size. Not only will the right underwear give the delicate skin around your chest the support it needs - it should help you feel more confident in the process.
But what are the best bras on the market?
We enlisted the help of the Dominoes team to test out seven high street varieties...
BRA 1
M&S High Impact - £18
Designed for fast-paced exercise such as squash and running.
Non-wired with front panel designed to reduce bounce with double-layered cups for greater support.
Tester: Jennie Flowers, 26, ICT trainer
Verdict...
Fit: 2/5
Comfort: 2/5
Support: 2/5
Best feature: the material – very soft to touch on skin
Worst feature: the cups – made me feel pointy
How it responds to...
Running: No support
Jumping: No support
Stretching: OK
She says: “If the bra was a mono bra I think it would have suited a small chested girl more, I would have also like to have tried the sizes before properly testing the bra. I do think getting the right kit makes a difference, this one didn’t compare to my normal bra."
BRA 2
Nike Bra - £39.99
from JD Sport in the Trafford Centre (T: 0161 7484848)
High support bra with a new frame to offer the “highest level of impact resistance”.
Moulded cups for support, front compression strap to enhance motion control.
Tester: Karen Player, 26, PE teacher
Verdict...
Fit: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Support: 5/5
Best feature: it’s modern and fashionable
Worst feature: it’s a bit of a contraption to get on!
How it responds to...
Running: Great, even at full speed.
Jumping: Fully supportive.
Stretching: Perfectly comfortable
She says: “This bra definitely gets full marks on looks. The dri-fit fabric was also good. I was particularly impressed with the fully adjustable front and straps that allow you to customize the sports bra to fit. After playing in an all day tournament I had no qualms about how effective it was. I’ll be wearing mine again although the hefty price tag will make me think twice before buying another."
BRA 3
Triaction from Triumph - £24
at House of Fraser Manchester (T: 0161 832 3414)
For a high level of activity.
Underwired with special comfort wire and moisture wicking to reduce sweating
Tester: Sarah Collins, 36, radio producer
Verdict...
Fit: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Support: 5/5
Best feature: the comfortable straps
Worst feature: tends to ride up too easily
How it responds to...
Running: Great.
Jumping: Good.
Stretching: OK
She says: “It always pays off to look good to help you feel more confident. This bra was comfortable and I forgot about what I was wearing which was good. Overall the most off-putting thing about sports bras is the price. I usually stock up in the sales!"
BRA 4
M&S Extra High Impact - £20
Extra high impact bra for long distance running.
Non-wired full support and “total bounce control”.
Breathable and lined for comfort.
Tester: Lucy McKeown, 25, PE teacher
Verdict...
Fit: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Support: 5/5
Best feature: lack of bounce
Worst feature: shape
How it responds to...
Running: Excellent.
Jumping: A bit bouncy.
Stretching: Excellent.
She says: “I always have to wear a sports bra for exercise so fashion is not really an issue. The back of this bra fitted really well and reduced bounce. A good bra, I would consider buying another.”
BRA 5
Bravissimo Custom Fitted Bra - from £26
from Bravissimo in the Triangle (T: 0161 839 7050)
By insisting on personal fittings for all their bras, Bravissimo aim to make sure you have a sports bra that truly fits, whatever your size, to reduce bounce and increase support.
Tester: Jemma Morgan, 31, solicitor
Verdict...
Fit: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Support: 5/5
Best feature: the support and shoulder straps
Worst feature: the catch at the back
How it responds to...
Running: Excellent.
Jumping: Excellent.
Stretching: Good
She says: “This was 100 times better than my normal bra, it really helps when you get the right fitting! I wish I had had this bra when I was doing the Manchester 10K run. It was definitely worth being fitted properly.”
BRA 6
M&S High Impact - £18
Similar to the first high impact bra but with a traditional, rather than panel, front.
Padded strap and multiple strap option.
Tester: Leanne Miller, 29, trainee teacher
Verdict...
Fit: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Support: 4/5
Best feature: thicker straps for support
Worst feature: unflattering design
How it responds to...
Running: Great support.
Jumping: Great support.
Stretching: Perfectly adequate
She says: “This bra was a lot more effective than my normal one. I do think it makes a difference getting the right kit – and you can feel self-conscious wearing something you don’t like. Your confidence increases when you feel better about what you are wearing.”
BRA 7
Shock Absorber - £26
at House of Fraser Manchester (T: 0161 832 3414)
Claims to reduce 3D breast movement by up to 74 per cent.
Padded straps, mesh outer, and special fabric to draw moisture away.
High support level.
Tester: Rosie Bailey, 19, administrator
Verdict...
Fit: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Support: 3/5
Best feature: padded straps
Worst feature: unflattering shape
How it responds to...
Running: Quite well but not when sprinting.
Jumping: Not well.
Stretching: minimum movement
She says: “This was a lot more effective than my normal bra. It does make a difference what you wear when exercising, you can feel more motivated because you look better. I think having a nice kit helps because you feel more like a team and more motivated to perform well for your team-mates.”
Got an opinion you want to share?Are you having to stay at home this summer holiday?
Poll has now ended
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