Retail is good for your body!

I think it's important to go shopping every month and look at clothes - even if you don't buy because you usually get the 360 view and you can spot the areas that might become problematic - it also is great incentive to get exercising. i'm surprised i don't see more woman running out screaming from Macy's waving their arms in the air at the horror they've just witnessed in the flourescent lit dressing room.

Why torture yourself like that? Why be cruel to your own body and force yourself to view it in a warped three-way mirror under bad lighting just to "motivate" yourself to exercise? And to dishonor other women's bodies just because they aren't in shape or look like the air-brushed models on the covers of fashion magazines? Tsk tsk. We are all going to get old someday (or die young) and cellulite, wrinkles, and saggy bottoms will catch up with you eventually, exercise or no. Try to be more gentle and loving and accept your body, warts and all.

Having a retail job or going shopping IS a workout. When I go to the grocery store, I park on the far end of the lot, carry a cart and keep my arms curled up. Stephanie, in regards to Susan's comment, (correct me if I'm wrong Susan), but I think she is saying some people need a wake-up call. I have a few friends that are over weight and the only way they get motivated to go to the gym is when their cloths are starting to get tight. Yes we should love our bodies, but we also need to be realistic. Sometimes the weight creeps on and it takes looking in a mirror or at a photo to see the added weight. This happened to me when I was in college. Many late nights caused me to gain a few pounds and I didn't realize it until I walked by a mirror. That was my wake-up call to watch what I eat (because there was no time for exercise with 21 units, clubs, and work).

I was just trying on some yoga pants at the store today and those florescent lights don't make ANYTHING look good and I'm in great shape at 37. No normal ass looks good in those lights and mirrors. Heck, I remember getting a shock in a Victoria's Secret fitting room at age 27 when I was exceptionally thin, and still my ass looked funky. I don't know if they do it on purpose but I'd almost suspect that they purposefully make the light unflattering to natural skin tone so you look *that* much better once you put their clothes on. So I'm sticking with the "don't punish yourself" message when it comes to retail dressing rooms.

Okay 2 things - first of all I agree that working retail keeps you skinny. And about trying on clothes once a month? I would rather scrub my toilets. Nobody looks good anywhere near a retail setting. Their job is to sell stuff and they do that by making you feel utterly disgusting about yourself so that you keep buying and buying to fill the gaping hole! Don't do it! I don't even like to try on at the store. I take it home and if it doesn't work I return it.

I'm having a little trouble understanding...how does a store sell clothes to someone by making them feel disgusting?

I think shopping is good too - it's a bit of a reality check to see yourself in the three way mirror.

I'm surprised most women don't run out of dressing rooms waving their hands in the air screaming at what they just saw from behind. ;)

Hi Kristen,

You are so right in thinking to integrate fitness types of movements into your work. In the fitness world, these techniques are called "functional" moves/exercises. I'm sure you're finding more and more creative ways to sneak fitness into your retail work. You can even incorporate squats and lunges as you're traversing the store. Many people complain that they don't have time for exercise. Your story is the perfect example of how to efficiently 'sneak' it into your day.

Debi P

As Spring is nearing, the customers are trying on more and more of our new styles, which means more and more bunches of clothes coming out of the fitting room. When I bring them back out to the floor to be put back on the appropriate racks, I try to grab as many as possible without hurting my wrists or fingers. The result? A good stretch in the arms and chest, and my arm muscles feel great afterwards. I found that the job has helped me maintain my weight too.