The Heart Truth

Another great guest blog post from Jennifer Klein, owner, Secrets from Your Sister!

This month’s blog has been inspired by the sudden and untimely death of Madam Rochette, mother to Joannie Rochette, 2010 Olympic bronze medalist for women’s figure skating.

February is Heart and Stroke Month. Not having heart disease in my family, this foundation was never on my list to donate funds to until I fell upon The Heart Truth.

I was quickly made aware that heart disease, ‘Once considered “a man’s disease,”’ is labelled that no longer. In fact, I read that the number of deaths from heart disease and stroke are virtually the same for men and women in Canada! The website states that more women die of cardiovascular disease than any other condition.

'RUN ' from Shock Absorber offers upper bounce protection

Aptly named, The Heart Truth opened my eyes and showed me a reality I don’t think I will easily forget. Not being one to keep secrets, I decided to donate $2 from every sports bra sale at secrets from your sister for the months February and March to The Heart Truth.

This website offered a few more statistics that I felt were truly shocking, such as, ‘more than half of Canadian women aged 18 and over are overweight or obese.’ To top that off, ‘close to half of women over the age of 12 are physically inactive.’ The Heart Truth states that physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. What can we do to help women and girls become more physically active?

In the business of bra fitting the first thing that comes to mind is helping girls and women to invest in a great sports bra! I have heard time and time again how women stopped playing sports or stopped being active because it hurt their breasts, creating great embarrassment and resentment of their bosom. The support they received was not what they needed and it wasn’t possible to run around holding themselves for that extra lift. Nor was it practical to bind themselves with a tensor bandage in order to keep the ladies in place.

Times have changed. Sports bras have evolved. All sizes of breasts can be accommodated from an A cup to a J cup! The innovation and technology are so advanced, that modern sports bras can be a truly engineered project. One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a sports bra, if the bra doesn’t fit, you’re not going to get the support you need.

When shopping for a sports bra it is best to have a fitting, especially if you have a fuller bust or you have felt that you never get the support you want. A fitter will find the right sized bra to fit your exact body dimensions. She will discuss with you your level of activity and what you find comfortable and what you do not. She will ask you to jump up and down, move your arms back and forth and to take a deep breath, all to help you decide which style will best suit your needs.

'BALL' from Shock Absorber - another great supportive sports bra

In my 11 years of business I have always been very strict on the sports bras carried in the store. I prefer to have the best. There have been many sports bras that have been sold in our store but there is one feature of the design that I find essential; the band that goes across the top of the bosom to help reduce the upward bounce factor. Our top-selling bras have always had this design. It is not always just enough to flatten the bosom to the body. The fact is our breasts move in all directions when we exercise and need to be supported all around. If you want the best, look for that top band feature as a starting point.

It’s nice to be healthy and strong. It’s easy to take the stairs rather than the escalator. Short walks are fun and refreshing. Visit The Heart Truth website (www.thehearttruth.ca) to learn more about how you can take charge of your health and care for your heart!

Styles available at secrets from your sister that incorporate the upper bounce protection feature in their design:

Active • Anita Sport • Energiser • Run – NEW • Ball – NEW

Tagged as:  Bras · from your · jennifer · klein · secrets · shock absorber · sister · sports