Sports wear...type things?! Gym/ swimming pool.

[Artyfarty555]

I've just started going to the gym a couple of times a week...mainly to swim and I've noticed l look a bit " rubbish" .
I'm 52 and a size 10 and would like to look more the part rather than a middle aged mum in grey fleecy joggers and a random tee shirt...
I still want to be comfy and wear things that are easy to put on but l just want to feel more like l belong in a gym, rather than a frumpy middle aged non gym goer.
Any suggestions?

I wear cropped leggings and a sports top

Yes - cropped leggings and vest style top with sports bra

I don't wear a vest style top as I don't like showing my bingo wings

I like my arms so v happy to get them out!

Just goes to show OP - go with whatever makes you feel comfortable!

I got my leggings from matalan, tops from curvissa, trainers from sports direct and sports bras from boobydoo (panache ultimate underwired)

My sports bra is M&S, sports direct has lots of kit options, mines karrimor (which I believe they bought)

Tesco has nice sports wear at the moment

My gym is freezing in winter and boiling in summer so what I wear varies. In winter it's usually yoga trousers and a tee shirt. Possibly even a fleece on really cold mornings. If it's really warm, just shorts and a sports bra (or two). Or anything in between.

Ahh, thanks for all the replies... no way could l wear a sports crop top..too much of a flabby belly. When l say size 10.. it's a flabby and un toned size 10... hence the gym. But, I've only ventured into the pool as that's where I'm most confident... but if l wore proper leggings etc then l would feel a bit of a fraud...as I'm only swimming.
Also, wouldn't tight fitting leggings be hard to put back on after a swim?
Can't afford sweaty Betty ones and don't really do any classes yet to justify those. The leggings l have are multi coloured Asda ones...not particularly great...
I was thinking of some Addidas non fitted type things and a matching top.... would l look like l was trying too hard?!!

H and M for good squat proof gym tights
Tesco’s is fine for the odd bit, sports bras are crap though
TK Maxx for some branded items, I have a great new balance bra from there that’s so so comfortable!
Gap- nice gym stuff in pretty colours

I wear-
Nike metcon trainers
H and M leggings in black with mesh cut outs
New balance bra
Grey vest top- gap
Puma black hoodie with rose gold print.

Try Decathlon - inexpensive, good range of stuff (including the big name brands). Matchy tops and bottoms always likes a bit much to me.

I'd go for the own brand (Kalenji) running tights (nice and stretchy, so easy on and off) with the Adidas tops

Ok- swimming-

Cotton slim fit joggers- primark
Fitted Zip through hoodie on top
Nice sporty vest under
You don’t need a sports bra for pre/post swimming
Flip flops

TKMaxx can be a bit hit and miss, but I've had some really good finds in their sportswear dept. definitely worth a look.

So you are asking what you should wear to go to and from your swim ?

I think you might be over thinking this. Nobody is looking at you, I promise.

Nobody mentioned a crop top! Does it matter what you wear to and from swimming? I'd probably wear jeans and a tshirt!

Haha... BAckforgood.... think you're right. I usually look a right miss matched mess... sandals, grey baggy joggers ... but I think it's a mental think...if l look the part l may keep going and start to feel that l can actually belong in the gym.
Looked at Tesco..bit bright for me...want to be under the radar, think the primark idea of cotton joggers and then a decent hoodie. But I've bought primark before and sometimes the quality is a bit miff, l thought if l bought something l really liked and was good quality it would be better....I'm a nightmare for buying lots of cheaper things l don't really " love" in a konmarie way! Blimey l sound a real menopausal mess!!! Haha x

I wear leggings and a vest or compression T-shirt, with a Shock Absorber sports bra. The fabric of my leggings and tops is really important to me. It has to wick the sweat away. I can't stand non-wicking (i.e. cotton usually) fabrics on me in the gym. My leggings are mainly Nike plus some Tikiboo camouflage ones (they usually do a discount online over bank holidays so keep an eye out). My tops are a mixture of (mainly) Nike and Sweaty Betty.

I was in TKMaxx today and they had a pretty good range of sports wear. Nike have sales items on their website pretty much all the time so worth having a look. Tikiboo will probably do a discount over the next bank holiday but they also have an Ebay shop so discounted/end of lines. I find Sweaty Betty overpriced and only buy from them when they have a sale. Amazon can be quite good for discounted Shock Absorber bras if you get lucky with your size. I've got most of my Shock Absorber bras from outlets stores (Freeport etc).

I think the trick is to find a brand where the sizing, the cut and the fabrics really work for you. For me that's Nike. I try other brands but I always end up back with Nike for almost everything apart from sports bras (and I like Karrimor for gym socks as they don't slip down and they wash really well).

Not a crop top in sight! You're right...must have just imagined that..
. I do wear jeans sometimes but find them a faff to crawl back into afterwards... I'm usually out and dressed in less than 5 mins...,so need a comfy, casual yet sporty and under the radar look.
But, enjoying looking at the suggestions...thanks everyone.

So you are asking what you should wear to go to and from your swim?

This.

So you're not doing any actual gym work, you're just going there to swim? So why does it matter? Why wouldn't you just wear your normal clothes there and change in/out of a swimsuit?

so need a comfy, casual yet sporty and under the radar look.

I don't really understand this. Why do you need to look sporty? Do you find your gym intimidating? This all sounds a little weird. As for 'under the radar', if it's anything like most gyms then no-one is looking at you. Everyone is far too worried/interested in how they look themselves to notice anyone else.

I seriously think you might be overthinking this OP.

Thanks 100miles anhour.. think I will go in to TZkMax and try some bits on and get an idea of the brands that fit. There is a Next nearby so l can try a few bits on there too, maybe combine very sporty with not so.
I've never had " proper gym clothes" but feel that if l am looking the part, l may actually join a few classes... if that makes sense.
Thanks again for all the replies.

OP I know exactly where you are coming from and have the same sort of issue ie I go to the gym to swim, but feel a right old out of place frump walking in in my old manky joggers and fleece next to the young toned gym goers in their crop tops.

PS have nothing useful to suggest as also need to find some suitable clothes to make me feel less out of place!

Are you wanting workout clothes or just things to wear to and from swimming?

I usually wear cropped leggings, sports bra and vest/T-shirt top with a hoody over the top to arrive. Leave my hoody and gym bag in the locker.
Workout, change into swim suit, swim, shower and change into clean undies, harem pants and my hoody to go home.

That sounds like a massive faff. It isn’t though.