Lycrally challenged?

It's a myth. A total myth that only skinny girls can wear lycra.
To the thousands of women out there that strive to exercise in comfort, lycra is the miracle wear we dreamt of in the unflattering 80's. I'm sure that I'm preaching to the converted as you've already found GRT, so must know your stuff.
I say all this as I strive to find my hip bones again.
Having gone from a soul-destroying category on a doctor's graph, to happily mid-rail at Next (before they extended their size range that is), and then back to 'padded of hip' once again, I advocate lycra. It's good for the ego, and it's as forgiving as a priest. A bit like the PMT trousers we all resort to when needs must, the right kit will see you through fat days and thin days alike.
Believe it or not I even found the cycle shorts equivalent of a pair of Bridget Jones' pants in a wondrous Sugoi waffle feel fabric. They happily and very flatteringly got me to the end of the London to Brighton a couple of years back with not even the slightest of pain, or blushes. The joy of a great pad to protect your perineum from the pain of a unisex saddle in the gym, and flattering fabric is never to be under-estimated, but please, just in case, don't forget the Sudocrem if you're new to this, or planning a your first long ride in a while. The propaganda may advocate it as being an antiseptic nappy cream, but it's the most fabulous chafe-easing goo you'll ever discover, and should you have suffered at the saddle, and ache somewhat, it will quite miraculously soothe things quickly. Besides all that, it's easily available at the supermarket, and cheap as chips. (Ooops, did I mention chips?, we'll be back to the need for lycra again!). One thing us girls know all too well is that we're all different - and as such the best manufacturers have factored this in to the padding in the shorts - there is one out there that is perfect for you, just persevere it is so worthwhile.
Anyway. I'll rant some more about Sugoi, as quite honestly I love their kit. A Canadian brand means that the sizing is more realistic than some cycle brands, having a more 'womanly' shape too, which of course is positive news for the ego should you worry about what the label says. My current favourites, in my present squidgy state have to be a pair of Sugoi crops. Four way stretch fabric means I can do what the hell I like in them, without hoiking them up to do some squats, or worrying that they've crept up a bit higher than any on-lookers may appreciate, they're also slightly water-repellent, so if you do get caught out in the rain playing footie with the kids, or cycling home, you're not going to suffer half as much as in some cotton-based fabric. I've worn them in a studio on a horribly hot day when the air-con had failed, and I didn't turn in to a puddle, but somehow, because of the composition of the fabric, they also seem to keep out the wind-chill as you whizz along the cycle paths of Suburbia. Just slip on a cycle liner, instead of your usual exercise undies, and you've converted your clobber in to cycle wear that you can then happily sit on a pub bench in without drawing one too many unwelcome glances.
My drawer of more fitted gear is currently attracting moths as a physio nurses the most pathetic injury on the planet. I think I'll have to find a decent shoulder brace to wax lyrical about some time very soon before I have to source Sugoi at the very back of the rail. Blast the button lift at the snow-dome!