In a space where comfort and self-expression should reign, she chooses to push past judgment, wearing nothing but a bra and shorts to conquer her chest and back workout. Despite the stares and whispers, she remains steadfast, a powerful reminder that her worth is not defined by others’ opinions but by her own courage and determination.
I (19f) have been going to the gym near consistently since February this year. I’ve lost 18 lbs so far and while I still have 93lbs before I reach my goal, I’ve already gained so much strength and confidence in my body.
I’m 5’7″ and 255lbs. I know I’m big but I don’t think it should really affect how I dress. I get sweaty at the gym and the one thing worse than a sweaty bra is a shirt that sticks to you because of sweat.
My gym also doesn’t have air conditioning on a low enough temperature for me to avoid getting like this. For reference, my gym doesn’t have a dress code.
As a result, for most of my workouts, I’ve opted to just go in my bra and leggings or shorts. Today was chest and back and I chose to wear my bra and shorts combo. No cleavage is showing, no underwear is peaking out above the shorts, it’s what a lot of the other girls I’ve seen at the gym wear.
I’m going through my workout and by the time I get to the bench press I notice some people in the corner giving me the side eye.
I try to ignore them and turn up my music, but I can still see them just staring at me unhappily. I finish a set when one of the girls in the group approach me and asks me to put on a shirt.
She states that it’s unsanitary. I say that I wipe down all the equipment before and after use. She says it doesn’t matter and that I needed to be more polite to other gym members.
At this point I already knew she was most likely talking about not wanting to see my rolls. I get it no one wants to see the fat person jiggle. I sit up and tell her that I’m wearing almost the exact same thing as her friend in the corner (her friend was also in a bra and shorts) and to tell me why she actually wanted me to put on shirt.
She got frustrated and said “forget it” before storming off.
I got back to my workout and just finished it. I’m typing this in my car as I wonder if I could’ve handled it better or just complied and put my shirt on. I’ll be honest I have scars from picking at my skin, stretch marks, and a very jiggly body.
I know my body isn’t the most flattering, but I don’t believe it gives you the right to demand a person to cover up.
Conclusion
The original poster (OP) is experiencing conflict after being confronted at the gym for wearing a sports bra and shorts due to perceived body image issues from other members, despite their practical need to dress lightly for sweat management and the gym having no dress code. The OP asserted their right to wear what they felt was appropriate functional attire, leading to a direct confrontation where they felt judged based on their body shape.
Was the OP justified in refusing to put on a shirt when the attire matched what others were wearing, or should they have complied to maintain perceived politeness and avoid confrontation in a shared space? The debate centers on personal comfort and established norms versus the right of others not to feel uncomfortable by the appearance of a body shape they deem inappropriate.
Here’s how people reacted:
> I sit up and tell her that I’m wearing almost the exact same thing as her friend in the corner (her friend was also in a bra and shorts) and to tell me why she actually wanted me to put on shirt. She got frustrated and said “forget it” before storming off.
If it wasn’t a pretty good guess to begin with, this 100% cements that the issue wasn’t what you were wearing, it was just that you were wearing it while not being skinny enough for her taste. Fuck that.
Keep going and keep telling people to pound sand when they make the mistake of assuming they are entitled to comment on your appearance in any way.
NTA even a little bit. Honestly based on your description, I was expecting something with was less coverage but this is fairly conservative in my experience. Especially if you’re wiping down equipment after use, like you said.
If there isn’t any rule against wearing a sports bra and shorts to work out, and she let her friend wear a sports bra and shorts to work out without issue, there’s no reason for her to complain that *you’re* wearing a sports bra and shorts to work out—except that she’s an asshole.
I admit that I prefer when everyone wears shirts. The gym bros *sweat* a *lot* when they use the weights after some cardio on leg day. BUT you are entitled to wear whatever you want. Sports bra and leggings is totally acceptable gym attire.
This is something that really gets me fired up. We get body shamed for having bigger bodies then, when we try to help ourselves, we get body shamed for exercising. Screw those mean girls and wear what you like!
Secondly, a sports bra and shorts are accept