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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you shower before going to the gym in the morning?

171 replies

Soontobeoutnumbered3 · 10/01/2022 20:47

For those of you who get up and go straight to the gym; do you shower at home beforehand?

I always jump in to the shower for a quick freshen up before leaving the house and heading to the gym. I then have a “proper” shower, including hair washing, after my gym session before getting in with my day.

There are some people at the gym who I actively avoid standing near as they have a “musty” smell and I don’t like to be around it.

So, AIBU to assume that it’s polite (can’t think of a better word) to shower before the gym even if it is the first thing you’re going to do that day?

OP posts:
lborgia · 10/01/2022 22:21

I shower before the gym, because I'm doing heavy weights with a PT, so he close enough that I don't want it to be an issue.

Also, I live in a country where it's humid and warm or hot 7-8 months of the year, so I often wake up with the need to shower anyway. Plus, menopause.

It does drive me crazy. During lock down I did have some days where I would just rinse with a quick shower (or swim), and then not have a proper shower again until night time or the next morning, and actually that works quite well.

Couldn't do it if I was going into the office after the gym though, so end up having two showers of a morning. My skin hates it, I hate it, but need to do exercise.

Pikaso · 10/01/2022 22:22

I get a shower before leaving the house no matter where I’m going. I can’t function without a shower, I feel too mucky.

I get a shower ever night too as I can’t sleep unless I’ve had a shower.

2 showers a day every day with no exception. 3 showers a day if it’s above 25 degrees.

lborgia · 10/01/2022 22:24

Plus, I DO have the nose of a bloodhound! So I use my own senses as my benchmark. I spend much of my life surrounded by other people's bo, not their fault, but I think it makes me less relaxed about my own!

Bitezbabe · 10/01/2022 22:25

I must be a dirty bitch. 😂😂

catfunk · 10/01/2022 22:26

God no. Coffee, clean teeth and splash face / spray deodorant and out.
Those who smell at the beginning of class may need to use antibacterial laundry powder, helps with the stale smell on dri-fit gym gear which find difficult to shift on. a normal wash.

HPLikecraft · 10/01/2022 22:26

@Pikaso

I get a shower before leaving the house no matter where I’m going. I can’t function without a shower, I feel too mucky.

I get a shower ever night too as I can’t sleep unless I’ve had a shower.

2 showers a day every day with no exception. 3 showers a day if it’s above 25 degrees.

Yeah, fuck the environment, eh?
shetlandskies · 10/01/2022 22:27

No I do not.

WonderfulYou · 10/01/2022 22:31

Sounds like they’re wearing their gym clothes from the day before.

I would never shower just because I’m going to the gym.

ffscovid · 10/01/2022 22:31

No

WonderfulYou · 10/01/2022 22:32

2 showers a day every day with no exception. 3 showers a day if it’s above 25 degrees

Do you not get really dry skin?

CowCat · 10/01/2022 22:34

I shower before the gym.

Iggly · 10/01/2022 22:36

I do not shower before exercise in the morning. I will shower if I’m exercising later in the day.

Pikaso · 10/01/2022 22:37

A 5 minute shower isn’t going to damage the environment. I’m not going to go around being mucky I don’t care what anyone says

Pikaso · 10/01/2022 22:37

@WonderfulYou

2 showers a day every day with no exception. 3 showers a day if it’s above 25 degrees

Do you not get really dry skin?

No I have good skin
Gardeniafleur · 10/01/2022 22:41

Some of this sounds a bit compulsive!

What does ‘mucky’ really mean?

Ie I know it means dirty, but if it’s only 8 or 9 hours since your last shower, do you think it’s physical dirt or psychological?

HPLikecraft · 10/01/2022 22:42

@Pikaso

A 5 minute shower isn’t going to damage the environment. I’m not going to go around being mucky I don’t care what anyone says
Two or three 5 minute showers, surely?

I don't care what anyone says clearly. Don't worry, you're not alone: there are lots of people who are happily ruining the planet.

margegunderson · 10/01/2022 22:43

Fucking hell, what is it with things being 'grim'? Means nothing except being judging and Fucking mad about hygiene to the point of nonsense.
A post gym shower is fine - nothing else needed unless you haven't see soap for a week. My running kit is clean in every time but still doesn't smell as fresh as I might like - I Gould think it's that.
But unless it's more than musty where's the problem? Better your nose wrinkles a little than the planet boil I think.
Jesus.

Iggly · 10/01/2022 22:44

@Pikaso

A 5 minute shower isn’t going to damage the environment. I’m not going to go around being mucky I don’t care what anyone says
One won’t but many will.
MadgeMak · 10/01/2022 22:45

@Pikaso

A 5 minute shower isn’t going to damage the environment. I’m not going to go around being mucky I don’t care what anyone says
Of course it is if enough people do it! It's not just you having an unnecessary shower, it's the millions of other people doing the same thing
Omicrone · 10/01/2022 22:45

@Pikaso

I get a shower before leaving the house no matter where I’m going. I can’t function without a shower, I feel too mucky.

I get a shower ever night too as I can’t sleep unless I’ve had a shower.

2 showers a day every day with no exception. 3 showers a day if it’s above 25 degrees.

Don't Look Up!!!!
Gardeniafleur · 10/01/2022 22:45

ALSO: can we cross reference this thread with the ones about towel washing, as many people on those wash their towels after every use.

Does this correlate with the three times a day showerers, as in do you find yourself washing 21 bath towels a week? Do your family do similar to you?

Plus then clean clothes each time…?

I just am such a slattern compared with these standards, and yet our washing machine is never off, we wash stuff every day and never catch up, so I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong if everyone else is successfully doing three or four times as much as me and getting through the laundering, folding and putting away too.

Pikaso · 10/01/2022 22:46

@Gardeniafleur

Some of this sounds a bit compulsive!

What does ‘mucky’ really mean?

Ie I know it means dirty, but if it’s only 8 or 9 hours since your last shower, do you think it’s physical dirt or psychological?

Sweaty and smelly.

I physically cannot go to work without a shower, I just can’t. I need it to wake up and to feel clean. As I’m a nurse and having to have close contact with people and their dead skin flying everywhere I need to have a shower when I get home. I don’t want parts of my patients in my bed with me.

And if it’s hot, I’m going to sweat so I’ll shower again after walking the dog.

How anyone can walk around mucky I’ll never know.

Getting a 5 minute shower is the same as someone running a tap for 5 minutes to wash their face, pits and arse.

Notajogger · 10/01/2022 22:47

What a waste of time, water, energy. The environment!

Omicrone · 10/01/2022 22:47

Me too. I always shower (and wash my hair) first thing every morning before going anywhere, including the gym. That means getting up at 4.45am 3 weekdays when I'm at the gym by 6am, and up 1 hour later at 5.45am on the other 2 weekdays for the gym. I shower again after the gym.

I'd rather be up earlier and clean!

Reading this post made me feel really.....sad. What a waste of life!

Also, you wash your hair both before and (presumably) after the gym? Your poor scalp!!!

Pikaso · 10/01/2022 22:49

Oh now I don’t wash my hair 3 times a day, that’s a bit much even for me