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AIBU?

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Original poster

To find the gym attire of some women completely inappropriate?

445 replies

Apolo90 · 24/02/2025 19:39

I went to the gym with a work colleague after work; it’s the first time I’ve been to that particular one.

I was taken aback by the number of women wearing either the tightest leggings imaginable, barely there sports bra’s and/or shorts which wouldn’t look out of place on the beach they were that sparse.

Is this really appropriate? I’m far from a prude but I like to exercise without being forced to stare at someone’s bottom squeezed into impossibly tight clothing.

Maybe I’m just getting old.

OP posts:
MagpiePi · 26/02/2025 08:32

asrl78 · 25/02/2025 18:51

Men have their genitals on the outside which are sensitive to being squished into a tight space with a seam crushing down on them, so loose clothing around the groin is much better.

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So why don't men wear tight shirts or crop tops?

I don't know what kind of gym wear you are familiar with, but the force exerted by a pair of lycra shorts doesn't crush male genitals! Have you seen male runners, rowers, weightlifters, swimmers and cyclists?

LlynTegid · 26/02/2025 08:32

Tasteless or inappropriate clothing at a gym is well down the list of places where I think people should dress differently.

People wearing gym clothing who never exercise and are in denial about weight gain would come higher on my list, for example.

MagpiePi · 26/02/2025 08:27

CraneBeak · 25/02/2025 19:10

Right, because women must conform to whatever works best for men? Why should men set the standards?

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Eh? It's not about setting standards.

If you are lifting weights and doing exercises then the movements your body goes through are the same whether you are male or female.
So how does that mean baggy clothing works best for men, but tight clothing works best for women?

MadamDicey · 26/02/2025 08:04

CraneBeak · 25/02/2025 19:10

Right, because women must conform to whatever works best for men? Why should men set the standards?

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Truth in that response , 👏

Duechristmas · 25/02/2025 22:37

Tabitha005 · 25/02/2025 13:08

I don't think it's 'inappropriate' but there's a high proportion of women at my gym dressed as the OP describes who spend more time playing with their phones than actually working out - and commandeering pieces of equipment that others are waiting to use whilst they're doing it. They're also several of the same women who spend a lot of time taking selfies and repeatedly putting their hair up/down. They'll do one pathetic set of reps, then sit on the machine for ten minutes scrolling.

There's also a bunch of 6 or 7 young guys (18 or 19 years old) who all crowd around a specific piece of equipment and each take a turn - thus tying up that piece of equipment for half an hour at a time. They piss me off way more than the preening princesses because they also laugh like deranged hyenas - constantly - talk SO loudly and swear all the time. They're all dressed to the best effect of showing off their - clearly steroid enhanced - muscles.

However, I wear tight clothing to the gym, including the 'bum scrunch' leggings and bra tops because whenever I see my fat wobbling, it gives me the motivation to put extra work in!

THIS is what I meant by appalling gym etiquette. Setting up a tripod is not ok, taking photos with other people in shot is not ok and hogging equipment is really not ok

CunningLinguist1 · 25/02/2025 21:21

CunningLinguist1 · 25/02/2025 21:19

Can I just point out the positive body image portrayed at one of the leading gym wear brands - Gym Shark - with strong muscula, confident women, not porn star lookalikes or waify skinny little girls when you google “scrunchie Butt Leggings”. And that’s bloody marvelous to see!
uk.gymshark.com/collections/ruched-bum/womens

Same for shorts. Strong & confident w muscles!

https://uk.gymshark.com/collections/shorts/womens

CunningLinguist1 · 25/02/2025 21:19

Can I just point out the positive body image portrayed at one of the leading gym wear brands - Gym Shark - with strong muscula, confident women, not porn star lookalikes or waify skinny little girls when you google “scrunchie Butt Leggings”. And that’s bloody marvelous to see!
uk.gymshark.com/collections/ruched-bum/womens

Floogal · 25/02/2025 20:29

To quote Joey Swoll "you have to do better. Mind your own business!".

Missj25 · 25/02/2025 20:18

Fmlright 🤣🤣🤣

StarlightLady · 25/02/2025 19:40

asrl78 · 25/02/2025 18:52

True down below, not true at chest height.

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But down below was the subject of recent discusson.

Pippyls67 · 25/02/2025 19:38

Ignore the meanies saying cruel things on here. You’re just getting old. We’re sometimes more easily shockable and get far too accustomed to our own big knickers and point of least resistance clothing choices. Let the young he young though. We were as ‘bad’ on occasion back in the day. Very very odd fashions through the eons you can’t deny!!

starrynight009 · 25/02/2025 19:36

I must admit that I treat my sports bra as a bra...which is what I thought they were meant to be. So I do wear a top over them. But as a 34H lady there's a lot going on up there. I haven't really noticed what the other people wear at the gym but I go during the day when it's mostly middle-aged women and retired men.

Having been somewhat traumatised by visiting saunas in Sweden and Amsterdam, I can cope with British gym attire.

BitOutOfPractice · 25/02/2025 19:33

hoodiemassive · 24/02/2025 20:00

I work at a gym and love the way women feel comfortable enough to wear clothing that they feel confident in.

This generation is all about shape not size and they look so much better than I used to in baggy, dull work out gear.

I also love seeing lots of confident strong women of all ages in the gym too. So many more than there used to be even a few years ago.

I’ve just bumped into a colleague in the free weights part of the gym and he said “what are you doing in the men’s section” (jokingly I hasten to add) and we both laughed because I few years ago that’s exactly what it was - not any more!

I couldn’t give a stuff what anyone wears or doesn’t wear. Get on with your own workout and leave policing other women’s clothes choices out of it.

Notodrugs · 25/02/2025 19:32

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MrsR2be · 25/02/2025 19:31

BlueMum16 · 24/02/2025 19:50

Not sure what exercise you do but my thighs don't sweat.... My armpits or between my boobs maybe or even around my crotch. All covered in fabric.

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Is quite normal to sweat a lot in the gym, if you're working hard you'll sweat.

ImAChangeling · 25/02/2025 19:25

I wonder what kind of gym some of you go to. Aren’t you meant to be focused on building your fitness? Not eying up fit women.. 😂

The women in mine wear conventional workout gear, some is close fitting, some not, but nothing especially notable. I can’t say I’ve gone out of my way to witness any camel toes. There are a few men who wear tight shorts / vests / tees too.

Meadowfinch · 25/02/2025 19:25

So a pair of lycra exercise tights and a sports bra or crop top.

I'm not sure why that is an issue. I wear running tights and a top for Parkrun, for running around my village. A crop top in hot weather. No-one bats an eyelid. I'm not the only one, plenty of others out running. It's practical, cool and easy to run in.

I've never felt compelled to look at anyone else's backside though. It wouldn't even occur to me. I'm too busy focused on my exercise.

And why should I care what a group of teenage boys thinks. If they have an issue, it is their issue, not mine.

MadamDicey · 25/02/2025 19:13

Apolo90 · 24/02/2025 19:45

The group of young lads (barely out of school) seemed to be in their element at least! I’m not sure they knew where to look

Maybe the parents of these boys should teach them that girls/women can and should wear whatever they choose without boys staring and prudish women being judgemental

ArtTheClown · 25/02/2025 19:11

Wow, who needs porn when you have Mumsnet posts like this

I had to actually see it! Now you can share the trauma of the mental image.

CraneBeak · 25/02/2025 19:10

MagpiePi · 25/02/2025 18:48

If tight clothing is much more comfortable and practical, why don't men wear it?

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Right, because women must conform to whatever works best for men? Why should men set the standards?

CraneBeak · 25/02/2025 19:08

Iwishyoudstay · 24/02/2025 19:55

Well I'm heartily fed up of seeing women and teenage girls wearing clothes that are barely decent.

It's the height of hypocrisy for women to complain that they are viewed purely in a sexual way when they they wear clothes that are designed to reveal as much of their bodies as possible.

I'm amazed anyone batted an eyelid at Bianca at the Grammys because that's the next logical step when you see how much a lot of women think it's appropriate to reveal on a day to day basis in real life.

And no, I don't want to go back to Victorian times.

No, it's not the height of hypocrisy. Wearing gym appropriate clothing, even if tight fitted, doesn't automatically sap the humanity out of women. We are still real people who should not be treated as sexual objects, even when at the gym.

ShinyClouds · 25/02/2025 19:04

This all really smacks of old ladies tut tutting at the youth

asrl78 · 25/02/2025 18:54

ArtTheClown · 25/02/2025 18:16

I'm not super fussed about what people wear, tight is much more comfortable and practical than anything baggy. However tight within reason. One woman I saw had on a pair of tight shorts, clearly sans undies, that showed every nook and cranny of her generous vulva, with the middle seam making a glorious camel toe. I don't want to see clit at the gym thanks.

Wow, who needs porn when you have Mumsnet posts like this. 😮

GretchenWienersHair · 25/02/2025 18:52

YABU. Gym leggings can only be so tight. It’s either that or trackies. Some people like to work out in trackies, some in leggings. Get over yourself!

asrl78 · 25/02/2025 18:52

StarlightLady · 25/02/2025 18:48

Big difference here, you are not comparing like with like. Men’s bits stick out, women’s don't!

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True down below, not true at chest height.

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