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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder why these women wear gym clothes all the time

210 replies

Bigboombangcrash · 24/05/2017 14:43

There are quite a few mums at my dc's primary who constantly wear lycra gym clothes. They drop off in them, pick up in them and generally seem to hang out in them all the time. From what I can see they don't actually do any exercise during the day so it puzzles me. Is it a comfort thing? I know it is none of my business and I don't know why I even care but I often wonder.

OP posts:
waterlego6064 · 25/05/2017 23:25

I wear gym kit most days for drop-off. Then I go and do a few errands/ shopping before getting to the gym. Straight after the gym, I usually walk the dog so stay in gym gear for that. Chores+ gym + dog walk = almost time to go back and collect the kids, so sometimes I manage to get showered and changed before pick up, sometimes not (but then shower when we get home from pick-up.

When I do the pick-up, I generally stay in the car to wait for the kids.

I hope this lengthy explanation is enough to satisfy the quite keen interest some of you have in other people's clothes 😀

BrexitSucks · 26/05/2017 04:59

"It's like the new shell suit..."

Purplealienpuke · 26/05/2017 06:53

Who's gym? Why does he spell his name like this? Maybe he has "out there" parents? And why oh why is everyone wearing his clothes?? 😁

AKAmyself · 26/05/2017 06:54

It really grates on me, this whole activewear trend. I see it as flaunting a healthy lifestyle "look at me I'm so virtuous I go to the gym everyday" and/or a leisurely lifestyle "look at me I don't need to work".

Fully admit I'm jealous of women who have time to go to the gym/run everyday and don't need to go into an office to earn their living.

I also think Lycra looks ugly but that is just a point of view so irrelevant

hmbn · 26/05/2017 08:25

kokusai - thanks for link! Best laugh I've had for ages. Is active wear for those who don't know how to dress?[big grin]

Garnethair · 26/05/2017 09:14

I didn't know this was a thing? Had assumed that anyone wearing gym clothes had been/were going to do some kind of exercise.

Suppose it's like horse owners who wear jodhpurs on days when they aren't riding.

YoloSwaggins · 26/05/2017 09:51

Fully admit I'm jealous of women who have time to go to the gym/run everyday and don't need to go into an office to earn their living.

The thing I'm more amazed about in this thread is all the women with school-age kids who can afford to not work but instead go to gym classes all day?!

lisahpost · 26/05/2017 10:38

Two reasons

  1. comfort and I workout in the day

  2. hubby has a thing for sportswear on women and thinks it's hot so two birds one stone !

usershitloadofnumbers · 26/05/2017 10:39

there's nothing wrong with SAHM for a start, and how do you know these women don't work part-time, shifts, from home...?

I am still amazed by the amount of posters who find other people's outfit irritating. Why? How does a pair of leggings have any impact on your whatsoever? I get the hatred for people in pyjamas, but clothes?
whose who wear them must just like to give the illusion of fitness. Not really, I don't think I would like I do without exercise, so I don't need to wear sportswear to show I exercise. What exactly do you wear then that is acceptable?

stuckin90s the beauty of London is that you can wear anything you like. If there's one place in this country where you have freedom, it's there! (not the only one obviously, just saying wear what you feel comfortable). I think even Harrods have completely relaxed their dress code.

CruCru · 26/05/2017 10:39

Okay, I'm off for a run. This thread has inspired me.

Clandestino · 26/05/2017 10:43

Fully admit I'm jealous of women who have time to go to the gym/run everyday and don't need to go into an office to earn their living.

I have to go to the office to earn my living. Hence the reason why I'm out at 5.30 in the morning three times a week to go for a run.
And in the afternoons and during the weekends I'm in my gym clothes (not the ones I run in, too sweaty), enjoying my life.

BitOutOfPractice · 26/05/2017 10:49

Fully admit I'm jealous of women who have time to go to the gym/run everyday and don't need to go into an office to earn their living

I also have to work in an office to make a living. But I work flexibly and go to the gym in the day and work in the evenings.

What a lot of assumptions people make based on someone's clothes. Mostly by the people who claim not to care what others wear

bruffin · 26/05/2017 10:55

My cousin lives in stockholm and she saus everyone wears lycra at the moment.

rightsofwomen · 26/05/2017 11:06

Fully admit I'm jealous of women who have time to go to the gym/run everyday and don't need to go into an office to earn their living.

I work full time. I work from home so save 1 1/2hrs on commute time and also have a lot of flexibility.
I am a single mother and most of my sport is done at 9.30 at night. I went for a run at 9pm last night, will swim at 9.30pm today.

I get up super early at the w/e so I can run.

bruffin · 26/05/2017 12:57

I work 3 days a week 8 to 5 with an hour commute. Monday came home made dinner and went out to aqua for 7.30
Tuesday went to gym for 40 minutes after work.
Wednesday swim lesson and aqua in morning.
Thusday fitball and egym
Today at work.
Saturday and sunday usually early morning swim and gym, home by 9.30am

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 26/05/2017 13:20

Part of the reason I chose the gym I go to was because the changing rooms and showers are fab! Much nicer than my shower at home.

I can't stand the thought of wearing sweaty clothing so like to takenny kit off as soon after a class or workout as possible. I don't wear my gym kit to the gym as them I'm bound to forget clean pants or my normal bra or something and then need to put sweaty gym gear back on after a shower which is even worse.

CruCru · 26/05/2017 14:04

I've been thinking about this thread. I can see the appeal of activewear if you are in reasonably good shape (I look like a boiled egg in mine). It's youthful and not tarty. It's reasonably comfortable in hot weather or cold (as long as you have a warm hoody etc). It comes in loads of colours. There are worse trends.

Banderwassnatched · 26/05/2017 17:17

Who goes to the gym and then leaves their grungy, sweaty gym gear on? There are showers at the gym!

Funnyfarmer · 26/05/2017 18:37

Not all gyms. I have a pt that rents out an old mill. He does classes in there. His classes are brill. He pushes you to your absolute limits. Loads of one to one training and dietary advice. He let's you take your kids along to either train with you for free or play in the play area all for £2 a go.
Would never swap that for a fancy gym just because they have a shower

Funnyfarmer · 26/05/2017 18:38

He also takes all his clients out twice a year for a meal and drinks

MaisyPops · 26/05/2017 18:43

I pretty much live in mine.
It's comfy and I actually do exercise 3-4 times a week.

Rather than buy slob around clothes I just wear my gym clothes. But they're worn for:

  1. In the house
  2. For exercise
  3. Quick errands where I'm going from house to the shop/supermarket

I don't get this entire wearing them for coffee/a day out in town etc. That to me is for people who want to appear to be like the healthy instergram folk but instead of exercising and eating healthy they drink wine and eat takeaway.

GiraffesCantPlayHopScotch · 26/05/2017 18:58

Hahaha at video

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 28/05/2017 08:49

I understand wearing it if you're actually busy then off to the gym. Done it myself though felt a prat wearing it in the supermarket. To just actually wear it all day for no reason than to feel comfy normal leggings and tunic top look better imo. I genuinely had no idea it was a trend till I saw the active wear video which really made me Hmm and lol.

MaisyPops · 28/05/2017 08:56

Yoga pants are comfier than normal leggings mind.

But I'll only do small errands in sports wear when I've not been to the gym.

Otherwise I get changed.

Ktown · 28/05/2017 09:01

It does look comfortable.
I go to work extremely dressed down and I know full well it doesnt look like I am in work clothes. Each to their own.