Suck you in exercise leggings that don't cost £150??

[Birdienumnums]

I've been bitten by an exercise bug and am loving it and have finally gotten up the confidence to wear leggings instead of baggy tracksuit pants BUT everything I've tried on has either been see through in the ass (not the look I'm after!), hideously expensive or looked crap on me. I'm a size 16 and would love some leggings that hold you in, smooth out the wobbly bits and don't cut into the tummy but do they exist at a reasonable price?

My favourite ones are from h and m. I also like the "kyodan" range you can get at tk maxx.

I get practically all my fitness gear entire wardrobe at Sainsburys, v happy with it, quality and fit wise.

With regard to the sheer bum thing, you can wear little shorts of running skirts over the top - looks pretty cool and avoids the issue?

Next have some cropped ones in the petite range - really thick with a wide waistband so it doesnt cut you in half. They don't suck you in but the thickness of the material means they are better than the fine ones at holding wobbly bits.

Under Armour are good quality, not see through and a close fit

Running leggings tend to be better than cotton leggings. I like Nike ones, about £30 in sweatshop

You can't beat Nike I don't think, tho they have some new-ish ones at the moment which are real suck you in ones (can't remember the name but the name is pretty descriptive, like 'ultra super duper control' or something) which you should avoid; I got a pair in my normal size and literally could not get the waistband up past mid-thigh - they were less than half the size of my other ones when I put them up against each other. Their normal control ones are lovely though.
Otherwise gap do some nice ones, but they're not quite as controlling as Nike ones.

Another vote for Nike. I got mine from sports direct and sized down so that they suck on and stay up: hate having to hang on to my leggings to avoid flashing my tummy/butt when exercising.!

I make sure I buy the Nike with the drawstring in the waist for that exact reason!

I just got some men's decathlon leggings. I got men's because in the shop they didn't have ones with a pocket big enough for a phone in the women's section

They were £19.99 and are great. Quite high cut on the tummy so they don't roll down, I got a large and they fit my size 16 body really well. The pocket is a huge bonus as I hate the arm phone holder and the bumbag thing I have is good but annoying.

Oooh yes, pocket for phone is a must. My nikes have a lovely big one square across the bum.

I have some lovely adidas leggings but the pocket on them is on the side and a bit of a squeeze so they are less loved.

I was thinking of buying shorts this weekend. Not sure now with the weather!

Yeah mine have a pocket on the bum and a similar size one on the front which is good for keys.

My best pairs were actually from Aldi. They were a tenner, bought a few pairs. Whatever you buy, make sure they have a drawstring waist. I can't bear spending the entire class pulling up my pants!

The Marika Magic range are brilliant. I get mine from TK Maxx for about £15 - have 5 or 6 different styles, leggings and joggers, really flattering : www.marika.com/

Gap do a great range. Matte, black, non see through, with a high thick waistband that pulls you in at the tummy and lands just above your tummy button. They are always on 30% off at least as well.

I got mine for about £10 in sports direct, nice and thick and hold the jelly belly in

Lots to check out. Thank you!

Ronhill are brilliant.

Matalan do brilliant ones which when on make you look like you've been to the gym even if you haven't.

I faced the same issues and discovered Fat Face excel use leggings. They're in the John Lewis sale at the moment so I have 3 different designs

Excel use = excercise

Excel use = excercise

Hah, sitting here in leggings right now (working from home) and about to open a spreadsheet, so I am definitely getting some excel use out of mine

Ok, I run almost every day so have a huge selection!

Best cheap option for everyday are Decathlon, by a mile. Similar price to primark/supermarkets, but the quality is incomparable. There's plain colours but also some great prints in at the moment.

If you want something a bit more expensive and a bit thicker/more supportive, then go for Ronhill capris. Gore ones are even better but are more expensive.

I find Nike are a case of style over substance tbh. They're OK, but not much better than Decathlon and are 5x the price.

Also, for a real pull-you-in feeling, I have these Shock Absorber compression running leggings. I love them.
Currently on sale at Sports Direct for a bargainous £20, if you can put up with the strange reptilian appearance...

www.sportsdirect.com/shock-absorber-compression-long-running-tights-ladies-458275

So many options to try on!!

Any suggestions for good tops that are quite long and hide the jelly belly?

Birdie, longest in the body for me are adidas multilayer tops. But they're a bit hit and miss. I'm eternally yanking a top down at the moment :-(