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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to shower after exercise?

31 replies

Agasedu · 30/05/2018 07:36

Joined a gym. Money is tight, so I joined my local councils gym. Bit basic, but all the equipment is there plus a pool so alls good, I thought.

But there aren’t any proper showers. There are open plan ones but obviously it isn’t appropriate to go naked in those (I assume) and so you can’t get completely clean. Aibu to think this is a bit shit?

OP posts:
lamerde · 30/05/2018 07:37

Just come home and shower?

NamedyChangedy · 30/05/2018 07:38

Of course you can go naked in the showers!

Sirzy · 30/05/2018 07:38

Have a shower at home?

I guess this falls into the “you get what you pay for” category. You could shower but just not in a private shower (which I wouldn’t be comfy either)

Furano · 30/05/2018 07:40

Open ones in the female changing rooms? Or open ones in the general area?

You can get naked in the female changing room showers. And if they are just general poolside ones you could chuck on a bikini and shower with that on? Bit annoying but not too bad.

BrutusMcDogface · 30/05/2018 07:41

Don't understand your point? Presumably a lower membership fee means fewer facilities. They have provided showers, just not private ones. You can't have it all!

MissCharleyP · 30/05/2018 07:48

I get what people are saying about lower membership meaning fewer facilities but I used to be a member of The Gym (£20 per month) and they had individual showers. Some partitions and bolts don’t cost that much! By doing it like they have, the council have potentially wasted more money, as they have paid to install something no one will use, instead of realising most people would want a private shower. I wouldn’t use a communal shower, so no OP YANBU.

ErictheGuineaPig · 30/05/2018 07:49

That is crap for people who need to go to the gym before work. My gym is cheap as chips but still manages proper showers.

BrutusMcDogface · 30/05/2018 07:51

Have you signed a contract? If not, find a better gym?

Original poster
Agasedu · 30/05/2018 07:57

Well yeah, it’s all very well and good saying have a shower at home, but it means that I can’t exercise and then do whatever I want to do (go to work, go to meet friends and so on) - I have to build in time to go home and then shower.

I don’t think it’s the “done thing”to get naked in the communal showers Grin most people seem to use them for washing children.

There’s nowhere to dry hair either.

As for you get what you pay for it’s £20 a month but that’s for off peak ... if I was wanting any time, anywhere, it would be £35 which I really do think should be able to have a shower for!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 30/05/2018 08:00

Did you not look around before signing up?

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 30/05/2018 08:02

I don't see why you can't shower with your swimming costume on. You will still be clean.

acatcalledjohn · 30/05/2018 08:03

You might want to find a better gym. I go to a 24hr gym for £18/month, and they have shower cubicles. I don't get councils' use of peak/off-peak pricing (my local council does that too) either.

Honestly, look at any other gym chain. You might even be able to find a local one you didn't know existed. And some schools with a heavy focus on sport have a public gym.

QueenoftheNights · 30/05/2018 08:06

Communal showers- without screens- used to be common. I used to belong to squash clubs and they didn't have showers with screens.

Are you a bit shy? If you really want a shower, just get your kit off and dive in. Or find another gym. Our local gym (I've not been for years, mind you) run by the council has/had a women's changing room that was open plan so women walked around in various stages of undress and completely starkers.

Original poster
Agasedu · 30/05/2018 08:09

I suppose it’s because I can’t wash my arse or fanny particularly thoroughly.

Or dry my hair.

Sirzy - I looked around the gym. I assumed being able to clean myself after exercise and getting sweaty would be a given Hmm

OP posts:
AutoFilled · 30/05/2018 08:09

I used to belong to a council gym and it’s communal showers in the female changing room. Everyone gets naked. I do the lunch time classes so I don’t think anyone is going to go back to the office smelly. You will get used to it. Keep your eyes facing the walls and you will be fine.

wellhonestly · 30/05/2018 08:10

My local gym has these "open" showers in the ladies' changing room. Hardly anyone uses them, or indeed the changing room - they turn up in their kit and drive home in their kit. But I have overcome my dislike of getting naked in "public" and use the showers. At most there are one or two other people in the changing room, and they would have to look round the corner to see me in the shower, so there is a little bit of privacy. Showers are separate from the pool showers (pool changing is communal which seems sensible, pool showers are poolside and no-one gets their swimsuit off!)

WeirdAndPissedOff · 30/05/2018 08:11

Our local pool/gymn has open plan showers, and while it doesn't seem to be the done thing to shower nude a fair few people do and no one really takes much notice. I've used then for a "proper" wash a few times without completely stripping - take a bikini, wash everywhere but the covered bits, then face the wall and do top/bottom half with bikini off (or give your arse a quick soap & rinse with bikini bottom still on). Could you do something similar if self conscious?

Snog · 30/05/2018 08:50

Having given birth communal showers seem like a walk in park, my shame is history which is funny as obviously my body is now in far worse shape than my perfect younger pre child bod!

Midthreademergencynamechange · 30/05/2018 08:54

Showering with a swimming costume on really isn't showering properly though is it?

UnderTheDesk · 30/05/2018 08:59

I suppose it’s because I can’t wash my arse or fanny particularly thoroughly.

Shock I think you're using the gym equipment wrong.

Original poster
Agasedu · 30/05/2018 09:53

When you shower, don’t you wash those parts?

OP posts:
Furano · 30/05/2018 09:56

@UnderTheDesk I think it’s you who isn’t using the gym equipment properly. After a spin class you sure as hell need to wash your arse and fanny. Super sweaty.

Lifeaback · 30/05/2018 10:02

Do they not have a branch of ‘the gym’/‘pure gym’ near you? They are both very high standard/spec gyms and cost under £20 per month. For that you get 24 hour access and private showers.

Seems weird of the council to not install proper showers

Original poster
Agasedu · 30/05/2018 10:03

Yeah, I really should have checked it out. I’ve paid for June but I’ll look at Pure Gym for July, thanks Smile

OP posts:
Tanaqui · 30/05/2018 21:20

Our pure gym is £25 and the showers are horrid- individual, but unisex and with really slippery floors; I hate them!