Alopecia World
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exercising
Hi, I think this may be my first post. Just a quick intro. I'm 56 yrs old and I was diagnosed with AA when I was 36. I have been wearing a wig for about 10 yrs with 1year of regrowth only to lose it again about 4 yrs ago. Enough about that. I was a runner in my thirties and just started back last year. Now we all know how sweaty you get when we exercise, especially running. Last summer I ran on a trail near my home and always wore a ball cap. Of course I was self concious, especially when someone was behind me. I have been using the treadmill at the local gym this winter and I just can't bring myself to wear my ball cap in such close quarters with other people. I have been wearing my wig and needless to say, I sweat like a pig and my wig is soaked. Anyone have any suggestions on what to wear inside when exercising? Thanks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on
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Can you provide a little more info?
Is the question what to do to absorb perspiration? to make it appear there is hair? To feel like you have hair? To be as free as you like and not give a hoot what anyone else in the gym thinks?
thea
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Permalink Reply by sharon on
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no honey no ideas i work out a lot and sweat under there like any thing i jus put up wiv it same in the summer months although u could try a lighter thinner wig or one of those caps withh hair attached ? x
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Permalink Reply by Donna on
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Hi Mary Anne,
I go to the gym at least 5 times per week and I wear a bandana, sometimes I wear a baseball cap on top of it and sometimes without. Once you go for the first time without your wig you will be wondering what you were worried about. It's quite funny when I meet people outside of the gym and I have my wig on, sometimes they walk on by and don't actually recognise me at all.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Anne on
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I just feel so self concious in the close quarters of the gym. I need to get over that and not worry about other people. Catfancy, I know what you mean about work out in a wig, or don't work out. I have used that excuse too many times. I have several of these: www.buffwear.com. They have the coolmax fabric too. I still get hot, but they are a lot more comfortable. I have bought some from the Buff website and some from ebay. Check it out and see what you think.
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When everyone else sees you, if they are even thinking about anyone other than themselves, they are most likely thinking "you go girl!"
So put yourself first, crank up the ipod and don't give anyone else a second thought.
thea
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Permalink Reply by Lee on
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I go through this too....seems to be the only hurdle I cant really get over. I have a vacuum wig that I love, but it does get hot when I work out. Also, I started at my gym waaay before I started wearing a wig, so they have seen me with 3 different types of hair. Also...my gym is filled with men! So I think I am actually going to join a womens gym like Lucille Roberts and just wear a cap or whatever...its better for the wig also. I think women may be a little more sensitive to the issue...whereas at my gym...I could totally see one of those meatheads making a rude comment and making me cry. Those exersize caps lookl good though...may get one!
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Well, I have worked out twice in my Buff at the gym. It's pretty hot, but my whole head is covered unlike wearing the ball cap which shows the back of my bald head. As I was coming home today from the gym I was thinking how I wish I had the guts to go "topless" to work out. It would be so much more comfortable. I just can't do it. Yet. I was looking at all the photos of all the pretty young girls that are bald and was wishing I could be that brave. I'm an old, overweight lady who is bald and that's not a pretty sight. Enough of my pity party.
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Permalink Reply by Yuko on
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Mary Anne,
I totally understand what you mean. When I used to go to the gym, I would wear a ball cap too. I actually had one nasty ball cap I wore specifically for sweating purposes. LOL. After that fell apart, I started using bandanas and I was ok with that. At least I could wash them :) I would rather put up with wearing something uncomfortable than have people around me figure out I had AA.
This might be off topic but my eyebrow hair fell out in patches during the time I was exercising. I think I was more worried that my eyebrows were running down my face than what the hair on my head looked like. I guess it is all how you perceive yourself and how comfortable you are in your own skin.
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My biggest disappointment is Yoga. I can sweat and be uncomfortable as long as my wig does not fall off which is a real possibility doing downward facing dog. Once I get hot and sweaty my wig is slippery and I would worry so much during the Yoga class especially doing all the inverted poses so - no more except in the privacy of my home.-
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Permalink Reply by Orbit on
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I recall seeing these wig liners that are designed to absorb sweat, check them out here:
http://www.headlineitstore.com/e-store/prod_thumbs.asp?cid=51716222...
i haven't tried them myself, but perhaps someone else has? Good luck, and keep active! :-)
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The way I see this question it is not about how to be comfortable physically while exercising, it is about how to be comfortable with yourself and your own life. There are ways to transition. None of this need be a one-step evolution. and I am the first to tell you that when being a woman with AA was a new aspect to my life that I had to figure out the new me I saw in the mirror first , admire her, and get comfortable with my own changed self-image. Then the actual" what to wear" became obvious. I got in the driver's seat.
After all, what else matters? Are some here saying that they are living their lives based on their perceived expectations of strangers? and that that is more important to them than their own freedom to enjoy everything they want to do in life? There is no joyous life if you expend emotional time and energy on keeping alopecia a big dark secret. Those who have transitioned to full self-acceptance all say that what other people think of your bald head or your bald showing under a hat just ceases to matter when you put yourself first. But you have to experience that self power first-hand to internalize t. All the "bad things" you think might happen if a stranger knows you have aa really don't happen.
And if women want the strangers of the world to understand AA better, how is that going to happen if the women with aa do not talk about it? If women with aa are not willing to advocate for themselves in this way, they cannot expect that others are going to do it for them. Which is also to say that all the efforts you have heard about for 25 years to find and fund cures have obviously not helped women feel whole today. Otherwise, we would not be having this discussion in 2009.
Do you want so much to be comfortable while exercising that you will do whatever it takes to assert your own needs first? Or do you believe that we should continue to perpetuate the problems that arise because women are unwilling to be open about having alopecia?
Thea
Please join our organization and help women everywhere with AA to lead normal lives
baldgirlsdolunch.org
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Permalink Reply by Eileen Simpson on
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I am going to order one of these caps for myself from headcovers.com here is their link please let me know if you need more information. They look great to me.
http://www.headcovers.com/search.php please let me know if you can’t view the caps.
Eileen
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