Welcome to TFS (The Fitness & Spice) version of What Not to Wear…to the gym!
I thought we should have “the talk”… about inappropriate gym attire. I’m not the fashionista when it comes to my gym wardrobe but I don’t (always) look like I just rolled out of bed either. When you look good, you feel good, right? So the same should apply when you workout.
Here are a few things you might NOT want to wear to the gym:
- Jeans (not even those crazy Pajama Jeans you talk about all the time, Suzanne!)
- Jean shorts. Just to be clear.
- The shoes you were wearing when you just mowed the lawn or shoveled the driveway. Thankyouverymuch.
- Collared shirts are acceptable on the golf course, but should be outlawed at the gym.
- Wife beaters. Also known as undershirts. They are under shirts for a reason.
- Pajama bottoms. Seriously? You have nothing else to wear?
- Marlboro t-shirts. Enough said.
- Short-shorts. Who wears short-shorts…really!
My point is you should be both presentable and comfortable in the gym…but not too comfortable.
Now I really must go pitch this show to TLC and hand out a few tickets for wardrobe violations.
Miz says:
February 24th 2010There is a woman at my gym who always always lifts in jeans and a belt.
I can not figure it out and the first time I saw her I entirely assumed she’d forgotten her clothes.
nope…thats her workout attire.
Jessica@HowSweet says:
February 24th 2010Ohmigosh it blows my mind when people where jeans to the gym. What the heck?!? Also, some of the older ladies wear HEELS.
Sarah says:
February 24th 2010I don’t think I could have set it better myself. How about dress pants? Those should be on your list. How can you workout in those and be comfortable? Not sure but I’ve seen it. But I’m always confused when Is see people in jeans.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says:
February 24th 2010LOL– At Purdue, where I got my graduate degree, the gym had a rule about no sleeveless shirts, so all of the undergrad girls would wear the SHORTEST SHORTS they could possibly wear in order to show off as much skin as possible. You really haven’t run until you’ve run directly behind someone else’s butt cleavage. Nice.
Marisa (Loser For Life) says:
February 24th 2010Please add : women in skimpy white tank tops with boobs-a-flyin’. Really. Speaking for the women…who needs to see that?! Speaking for the men…who really want to see it…you guys are gonna injure yourselves with your necks all twisted up to follow her every move. :D
susie shina says:
February 24th 2010LOL!! Jeans & Jorts of course=) there is an older lady church-crowd at my gym – I always see them in polyester pant suits with the matching vests AND they ‘exercise’ with their pocketbooks on their shoulders! It’s very cute to me but they wrinkle their noses at all the other ‘jezebels’ – haha!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
February 24th 2010Love it and agree with every rule! Luckily at the gym I work at, the members are provided with workout clothes that look pretty nice. However, people still occasionally try to wear weird stuff i.e. ballet flats or their work suit.
Estela - Weekly Bite says:
February 24th 2010This is the best post ever! I’ve seen the guys wear jean shorts… WHY?????
Donna Bush says:
February 24th 2010Agree on all! Would like to add: And please turn off your damn phone! If you really have to take that call, you are clearly too important or too busy to be “working out” if that’s what you call sitting on the leg machine and yakking your head off while I’m trying to get into the zone. Turn it off, go outside, or shut the hell up.
living with chickens says:
February 24th 2010All very funny LOL especially the church ladies with their purses… but at least they are trying to work out, have to give them some credit for that :-)
amanda says:
February 24th 2010This is a huge pet peeve of mine. I have seen jeans, sandals, sandals w/ socks, weight lifting belts, really super super short shorts frm the 1970s on a 60+ year old man, a polo shirt with no sleeve, belted khaki shorts, a thong hanging out of too tight spandex pants………..
angela says:
February 24th 2010Cut offs? Jeans? I’m SO disappointed!
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
February 24th 2010Loved this! I am probably a “don’t”. I still wear leotards sometimes since I don’t have a lot of money for new clothes of any sort. I am still trying to get on to WNTW for every day clothes but they would bust me for my gym leos! :-) I don’t wear them all the time BUT a lot.. sorry! If you get that show on TLC, call me! :-)
I do see a lot of weird stuff in the gym though!
Heather (Wheres the Beach) says:
February 24th 2010LOVE it!!! Too funny I’m just insane enough to be all matchy matchy when I workout at home even. At the gym my headband better match and my sock color matches my shoes (which are clean thank you).
Andrea @ CanYouStayForDinner.com says:
February 24th 2010Hahaha. I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes I see people in what looks like the most inappropriate gym apparel and I wonder how they’re getting the job done. Especially if I see someone in khaki shorts running. How? I guess I should just be proud of them for coming at all.
Still, TLC could use your pitch!
sian-girlgetstrong says:
February 24th 2010I have started seeing a lot of skirts over tight leggings?? is this a new trend? Also men in those really ugly colored BIG pants…thought those were out in the 80′s??
Naomi(onefitfoodie) says:
February 24th 2010haha I love when people where jeans to the gym, I mean I dont love it but I think its hilarious!! I mean really? you must be having an aweeesome workout in those jeans!!
the best is the meatheads that wear jeans and beaters!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
February 24th 2010I love this! You’re spot-on. I’d also like to say that there should be an age limit on wearing only a sports bra. There’s an 80 year old (or older) woman at my gym who wears a sports bra and spandex shorts. Yes, more power to her for being comfortable. But, really, is that necessary?
Allie (Protein Girl) says:
February 24th 2010Okay, I must take issue as I frequently wear a “wife beater” to the gym. It’s stylin! Of course I don’t have a beer belly, hairy chest and matching carpeted arms, thank goodness.
I just read a hilarious article by Elizabteh Gilbert in Yoga Journal that she attended her first yoga class in jeans, boots and a boiled wool turtleneck. I saw an old lady in very alarming pair of workout tights the other day. See-through black patterned sausage casings. Enough said.
Jenny says:
February 24th 2010I swear that this is the truth- I once saw someone working out on an elliptical in ski pants. Yes, SKI PANTS. Now, nevermind that the incessant swishing sound they made was loud enough that not enough my iPod could drown it out, HOW can you possibly do that? Maybe they were training for a ski competition or something? I haven’t the foggiest idea. Probably one of the oddest things I have ever seen.
On a less ridiculous note, I’ve seen many women in…less than supportive bras. This is for your own good- wear supportive undergarments!
Melinda Neely says:
February 24th 2010A lot of younger kids at our gym roll their pants or shorts down pretty darn far. And though I don’t need the visual of their butts to finish my workout, I will say I wish my butt still looked as good as theirs.
Nancy says:
February 24th 2010ha ha. I love this post! My husband and I crack up A LOT at some of the things we’ve seen. One guy comes in with dockers, a long sleeved button down – complete with tie, and loafers! And there he is – on the hack squat machine! ha ha. Another woman showed up in a full blown electric blue leotard and terri cloth headband, and yes, she was in the weight room! Umm, the Jane Fonda class is down the hall! OK, so I didn’t just step off the cover of Oxygen, but cotton shorts and a plain T seem much more appropriate than some of these other getups! :-)
Heather Morgan says:
February 24th 2010Oh, I just GOTS to weigh in on this one! Two more peeves to add: 1) Wearing exercise clothes that we can all smell that you’ve worn before without washing them. A guy at my old gym would do this, and it got worse as the week went on. We called him Sir Stinksalot. Likewise, at the gym I manage, I was asked (by the men) to leave a note for a guy who’d left his VERY malodorous shorts out to dry, asking him to launder them…stat!; 2) Women in too-thin spandex (read see through) who don’t wear panties, so their…um…”gluteal cleft” is visible. And to add to the peeves you mentioned already, we had a jorts+boots+’do rag guy at our gym. Rad. We called him “Captain Bandana”. Yep. You violate, you get a nickname. ;) True confession, though: When I was close to show shape before competitions, I’d wear the least amount that was still just within tasteful. I wasn’t sure I’d ever look that way again (and I haven’t), so I took full advantage. Therefore, I have a storage bin full of smallish shorts and such that probably will never see the light of day again. :)
carrie says:
February 24th 2010i am always amazed at the interesting hairstyles. and heather, i LOVE your nicknames. i have a name for most people at my gym. there is a guy with a full on wet look on his super curly do. it’s fantastic. really. his name is slick. (creative) another older fellow who has very strange weatherman hairsprayed hair in a page boyish cut is unexpectedly fit and has wonderfully shapely calves! i need to think of a name for him….he fascinates me.
Diane Fit to the Finish says:
February 24th 2010Joanna – do people really wear jeans to the gym, or jean shorts? Even though I don’t do a gym, when I exercise at home, or walk/run outside I try and look presentable.
Jessica @ WHY DONTCHA RUN says:
February 25th 2010Hahahaha! This is too finny and oh so true. I went to a gym for the first time yesterday and was shocked at some of the things I saw. It was entertaining to say the least…. ;)
FatFighterTV says:
February 25th 2010I am totally CRACKING UP – seen it all too often, especially the wife beaters!
The Piece de Resistance « modelper4mance.com says:
March 4th 2010[...] training room today at 3pm. Make sure you are adequately dressed for the occasion. No jean shorts (that’s for Joanna), bare feet or bad attitudes. We’re lifting to effect a change in your body so it’s going down. [...]