6.16.2007

#68 - The joys of summer - Chafing of my inner thighs

Summer is fast approaching. June 21st is almost here. The chill of winter is long gone and the crisp spring mornings turn to hot and sticky summer afternoons. I should be elated with the increasing temperatures, but really, I'm not. What does the fat person look forward to in the summer? Sure the extra sun is great and I love spending more time outdoors playing around and barbecuing, but really, deep down inside I dread summer. Summer means I will invariably be overheated on most days. I've already touched on this in another post about how I hate wearing skimpy clothes, so in the summer I'm usually hot, from the sweltering temps outside, from the fact that I'm overdressed trying to cover up the bulk, and the simple fact that I carry all this excess weight that one can liken to wearing a wool sweater into a sauna. Summertime definitely brings out many of the reasons I hate being fat. But one of my favorites is that in the summer I get some wicked chafing of my inner thighs. It's the perfect combination: bulky thighs that rub together, causing some nice friction, a little moisture from the sweat, and wham-o, the chafing occurs. Sometimes it feels like I'm wearing corduroy pants, making that swoosh swoosh sound. I should own stock in Johnson & Johnson for the amount of baby powder I've gone through in my lifetime attempting to lessen the burn of my chafing thighs. But really the only remedy for chafing thighs, I think, is to lose weight. So here's the amazing thing. It's been pretty hot here already, enough to feel sticky on some days, but surprisingly I haven't noticed any chafing yet. Has my weight loss so far been enough to stave off the friction? So I'm 48 pounds down now (I seem to be stuck in a nice plateau about now - grrr), and maybe now I can actually enjoy my summer without dousing myself with quarts of baby powder. I actually look forward to the 90 degree days to test the hypothesis (that's the scientist in me talking, lol). We shall see. Maybe this summer, *gasp*, I will actually break out the shorts and finally stay cool. So with this post I will leave you saying: Happy Summer! Good luck on your weight loss! And may your thighs stay free from friction and burn!!

21 comments:

Groovybabe said...

good luck to you too!

Yes, chafing is the curse of obesity! One day I *will* be able to go out in the summer in a skirt and not have to worry about Fat Peoples Problems.

FatMom said...

Oh, boy, Kitty, do I know that chafing well! Large red welt like sores that are very painful...I have to lay down with the ole legs spread apart...so not attractive! Congrats on 48 pounds! Wow, that's sooooo awesome!!!! I've lost almost 20 pounds, and I can already feel a difference in how I am "dealing" with the Central California heat!

Aubrey said...

I just started reading your blog and I really like it. I have never been obese and I don't know the problems that you must face but I hope that your weight loss will ease your chafing problem this summer. Keep up the good work and hopefully by next summer you won't have these problems anymore.

Aubrey

Jenera said...

Ah, the chafing. Though with the amount of weight you've lost I'm fairly certain you won't have to deal with that this year.

Robin Bayne said...

Congrats on your progress!

Anonymous said...

Chafing of the thighs is so painful...and embassessing when you are waddling and everyone knows the reason. Ive lost a lot of weight in the last year and just had my first chafe-free summer! It was great! And I could wear skirts and walk for longer than an hour without being in pain! Keep up the great work and keep writing! Your blog is inspiring me to keep going with my weight loss.

Sevenbeads said...

You soon won't need the Baby Powder for chafing but don't throw it out. It smells so wonderful - dust yourself anyway. Your blog inspires me.

Unknown said...

my inner thighs have ALWAYS rubbed together so i have no idea what it feels like otherwise... doesn't seem to matter how much i exercise either, i'm just a pear forever...

kathyj333 said...

Your blog is truly inspirational. It's witty and entertaining. Thanks!

Kriss said...

Am I the only one who puts deodorant on my inner thighs? I swear, it works.

Congrats on the 48 pounds!! :)

one year from now..... said...

My solution is to wear a thigh slimming girdles (go to walmart - they are not as ugly as you think!)

I usually buy a size that is considerably larger than I actually am - because I loathe the feeling of placing 10 pounds in a 5 pound bag!

no chafing - and - some structural support... what could be bad about that!

Unknown said...

Hi there! I just stumbled upon your blog and am loving it! I know exactly what you are talking about in all of these posts! Id love to trade links if you're up for it? Comment me back and let me know!

Naturally Blessed said...

LOL!!! i have hated summer for a few of the reasons you have posted here....definitely.

i believe my fat is equivalent to wearing a coat in this hot heat. no one aroung me seems as hot as i am....and being hot makes me miserable.

Salma Gundi said...

If you haven't tried Body Glide yet, you might give it a shot. I have heavy inner thighs and use it when it is hot out - especially when I go running. I used to be a deodorant/foundation garment girl in trying to ward off the chafe, but now I just use this.

It's available online and in sports/running stores. I've not seen in in places like Walgreen's ... but that doesn't mean it isn't there.

http://www.bodyglide.com/

Anonymous said...

Hello Fellow Thigh-Chafe Sufferers,
Last summer I had an epiphany. I created a garment that ACTUALLY works to protect your thighs! I call it the Boxette, the boxer short for ladies. I put in a feature that combats "riding up" as well. I wear it under skirts, and after working on it for a year I found a showroom and manufacturer to make this for everyone. It keeps me cool and comfy and my butt doesn't look as huge in a skirt as it does in shorts. I hope to introduce a flattering skirt line soon to go with the garment. If you're interested, you can see it on my website at www.BelleHartFashions.com.
Stay cool!
Elizabeth
Belle Hart Fashions

Anonymous said...

you should try bermuda shorts so its not skin on skin

Anonymous said...

Hi, Im sure this is a site aimed towards women but i have to say: I know your pain... Im not too "fat" per say, but i have a few lbs i would like to get rid of in the tummy area... Here is my problem, and im sure you will run across this as well... Im NOT skinny... and now im working out, but not to bulk up i am a very muscular guy already, i just have a decent sized gut haha, problem is the easiest way to lose weight- Cardio... yay... So i signed up for a gym membership, where i mostly run and do the elliptical walking thingies which chafes my thighs so i stop for the day when it happens... Im going to try some Lycra bike shorts under my gym shorts and hopefully it works... But im here to tell you good luck, i know how it feels and how hard it is... Be strong and dont give up, you will be rewarded... May the skinny you show herself soon! AND when she does do yourself a favor and do all the things the not so skinny you tried so hard not to do!
Luck and love!
Big

Anonymous said...

I'm big and I chafe awfully in summer. The shape of my thighs is such that they rub together even when I'm relatively thin (but, true, it takes much longer to chafe then), I have to be skinny for my thighs not to touch.
So, this summer, I just cut some pairs of thin pantyhose at the kneee and wore them under long skirts (they don't gather up if they are the right size). I see some of the posters above use similar tricks. I thought, what the hell, if I don't walk around, I'll get even fatter, I'd rather wear grandma undies and be free to move.

Montana Evans said...

A few weeks ago, my sister and I went to a friend's apartment to swim. After the fact, the five minute walk back to the apartment left me with a horrible chaffing welt on my right thigh. Its now purple and dry... but thank god i'm not waddling anymore!

Anonymous said...

I struggle with chafing too, ugh! But - I found that a spray called Trislide works better than baby powder or body glide because it's no mess, just a thin clear lubricant spray. Finally, relief! I'm working on losing weight too and hope that one day I will not need to worry about chafing anymore. In the meantime though, I found Trislide to be the best solution.

Jenna Ann said...

I can completely relate! I was a lifeguard at an amusement park a year ago (yes, a fat person as a lifeguard, GASP!) which involved lots of walking in WET so-called "fast drying" shorts that were already incredibly too tight because they didn't make 3X in them. I constantly was chafed! Best treatment I discovered: Desitin or A&D cream. The stuff you put on baby diaper rashes! It's cheap, easily available, and most importantly, not embarrassing to buy! I tried aloe, it burned so bad I cried. The Desitin is not a preventative though, just a treatment, and the nest time to use it is before bed because it's a little messy and it's white so kind of noticeable. Put it on THICK!! Congrats on your weight loss thus far. I hope you continue to share (I know you haven't in a while) but I am starting my 120 lb weight loss journey after 5 (stressful) years of college and I love reading your posts! I discovered your blog while I was at the beach (enjoying the view from my room, like you said, not going to go hangout in my one-piece (haha)) and it's really encouraging. I have been in tears laughing so hard! Your posts are EXACTLY what runs through my mind. Thank you so much! :)