The Obese Life
Dealing with Chafing
February 2, 2010 @ 01:09 pm
I'm a big guy (for now) with big thighs, a big butt, and an overhanging gut. I gots me some skin, and lots of it. And moving this 300-pound body takes no small amount of energy, and it generally results in a lot of jiggling and friction. Because I have so much fat in certain areas, I it tends to rub together. And when I'm exercising or just being active in general, I sweat. Altogether, it makes for chafing. And chafing is unpleasant and threatens to derail any weight-loss effort.For the record, chafing is the irritation of the skin - even a downright open sore - that is most often caused by constantly rubbing something against wet skin. Most often, when we sweat (and us big guys sweat) it creates the perfect environment for wrecking the skin. And anything can cause chafing - from your thunder thighs to your pants waist or belt.
I've had a long battle with chafing since the earliest days of starting to work out (what, 3+ years ago now?). Of course for me, just walking through Central Park can result in some nasty pain. It's not fun. It kills work outs. It's a big demotivator. So over the years I've learned ways to deal with it, minimize it and not let it affect my weight-loss efforts.
Wear the Right Underwear
Clothes fit everyone differently and as our bodies change shape, this
item will change for you as well. But the right underwear is crucial
for ensuring a comfortable under-shorts experience. Experiment with
different cuts to see what works and more importantly, what doesn't
just rub against your skin non-stop. For me, boxer-briefs have been a
godsend in helping to prevent the kind of thigh-rubbing that was
hurting me most. And I make sure they're snug - downright near-wedgy - to make sure I'm properly covered. But even if boxer-briefs ain't your thing, consider some spandex shorts under your normal workout clothes (please, wear something else over the spadex). The key thing here is that you don't want your skin rubbing against itself, and you don't want loose damp clothing to rub against your skin (or between your legs) either.
Try a Waxy Lubricant, and Stay Dry with Baby Powder
Occasionally if my chafing problem is particularly bad (especially in the summer
) and I'm going for a walk or out to a party or some social function, I use Body Glide. It's basically a waxy lubricant that comes in a deodorant-stick and puts a thin coating to protect the skin. It does help, just don't use too much because it can build up in a weird way. But it's gotten me through a bunch of summer functions where I would otherwise not have been able to walk well. I also use baby powder on occasion to help keep certain nether regions dryer. It's worked with limited success.