Topless At The Gym?

Posted: April 20, 2011 at 8:25 am

I know I caught your eye with that title, huh? Just hold on to your antsy pants a little bit for me to explain at the end of this post. I have some venting to do first.

Yesterday at the gym I did something to my back. I completed my hamstrings, back, & biceps workout. During deadlifts, I felt like I may have gone too heavy on my last set. Once I finished the set, I felt fine and completed my workout. Then, a little later on it hurt pretty badly to bend down to pick up Braedon. My back continued to feel more and more messed up as the morning went on. In fact, it hurt so bad I spent almost the entire day with a heating pad laying on the couch. Well, as much as thatโ€™s possible as a mother of two little ones.

I consoled myself with one of my favorite lunches โ€“ a sandwich with egg, goat cheese, spinach, and tomato with a hefty serving of mango, grapes and cucumber slices.

lunch

I also turned to natural medicine. Chocolate, of course. For my snack, I continued my love affair with Love Grown Foods granola and poured a small bowl of their Cocoa Goodness granola with almond milk and a sliced banana.

cocoa granola bowl

If only that really helped the discouraged feeling. Back pain always makes me so nervous because you never know how long it will affect you. I hope to feel better very soon!

Now back to the title of my post. I want to end on a high note and what better way than sharing about going topless at the gym? ๐Ÿ˜‰ During spin class on Monday I ended up without a sweat towel. All of mine were in the wash and I figured I would just get one of the ones offered in the class at the gym. Well, the towels in class ran out and I was left with no towel. About two songs into the class, I was dripping sweat and constantly trying to wipe my face with my tank top. Eventually I decided to just say โ€œscrew itโ€ and took my top off to finish out the spin class in my sports bra.

Normally, I would never think to do this thanks to worrying what others thought. Of my body. Of being dressed โ€œappropriatelyโ€. And so on. It hit me though that in all honesty no one pays that much attention to others at the gym. I think weโ€™re all concerned with our own workouts and, truth be told, our own bodies. I didnโ€™t need to worry what others thought. All that mattered is I would physically feel comfortable managing to wipe away all my sweat.

Then, I got to thinking a little bit deeper. I sat in that class sweating away because I was challenging myself with a great workout. My body can DO great things. I should take pride in my body and its strength. That includes no embarrassment on working out in just my sports bra for this class. I feel good and that is all the confidence I need. That is all the confidence we should all need. Iโ€™m not saying you have to bare your belly, because I even donโ€™t plan on habitually working out sans shirt. Iโ€™m saying not to worry about how you look. Worry about how you WORK. Let that fuel your confidence because you rock!

  • Do you ever workout in just a sports bra?
  • Any back pain remedies to share?

Tags: , ,

 
88 Comments to “Topless At The Gym?”
  1. I hope your back gets better. Lots of rest and carefulness.

    I have a nagging chest pain that comes back every once in a while which always worries me.

    I have never just worn a sports bra to a gym…but I have on a run and it feels great!

  2. Jess says:

    I give you major credit – I guess I still do have some body issues to get past because I’d have a hard time taking my top off in a workout class (yet, I wear a bikini on the beach, go figure). And I really hate to admit that becuase you are SO right. I DO work hard, and I should be focused on worrying about how hard I work vs. how I look or how I perceive others will look at me. Great post. As always. And – I really hope your back is ok, back pain is the worst! ๐Ÿ™

  3. More power to you! ๐Ÿ™‚ And I hope your back feels better soon. Back pain makes me nervous too.

  4. Karen says:

    So proud of you for breaking through another barrier and realizing that you are strong and hot! And you know, you’re right. Who cares what other people think?
    I don’t see myself working out topless any time soon, but I like to think I’ll reach that point in my journey one of these days too!

  5. As a former swimmer and day care employee that wore 2-piece sports-bra-esque bathingsuits when we were at the pool, my odd answer is, no. I have never just worn a sports bra at the gym. At home to work out? Or even just lounge? All the time. Don’t really know why.

  6. Wow I am so in awe of you!! I’ve come a long way in terms of body confidence, but I still don’t think I could ever do that!! You are amazing, and I bet everyone was jealous of your beautiful body ๐Ÿ™‚

    Hope your back pain goes soon!!

  7. I love this! I have never ever worked out with my stomach showing, and as the temps get hotter and hotter out, I’m thinking that might be an inevitability. Maybe I can brave it.

  8. I’ve never worked out in a sports bra. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the attention I would get.
    Spinning class might be a different story though because, at least at my gym, the room has no lights so you can’t really see much of anybody.

    I get kinda annoyed when I see men running outside without a shirt on because they’re just doing it for attention and it comes across as pretty douche-y. ESPECIALLY if they’re not even holding a shirt in their hand (so they actually left the house topless) and it’s about 70 degrees outside. It drives me nuts!

  9. Anna says:

    I live in the south with 100 degree summers, I would never run without my shirt! until one day on a long run I was dying, the intense heat overcame my lack of self confidence. that was 3 years ago, every summer I still think about how great it would feel.
    sorry no natural back remedies I can think of other than the heating pad, my best advice would be to take ibprofen (800mg). I’m no MD, just a RN. And I loathe dead lifts! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Tina says:

      Thanks for the advice. And yes – I bet running in these summers are brutal. Need all the cooling off help we can get. Can’t let body confidence get in the way…especially when we should have that confidence anyways. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Boo, I’m sorry to hear about your back! I am certainly no expert so all I have to suggest is to continue with the heating pad and take ibuprofen to keep inflammation down
    And ahh I loved this post. This is exactly the sort of thing I am trying to get through my head right now, treasure how you WORK not look!
    I have worked out in just a sports bra before, at spinning like you. I was initially quite uncomfortable but then felt fine with it! I also run outside in just a sports bra sometimes (when it’s super hot out) and I feel motivated to go faster for some reason ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Ouch, sorry about your back. I don’t have any remedies…. Kudos to you my dear!!!! I love it. I work out in my sports bra often, especially when running. I get SO hot and tops touching me make me feel claustrophobic.

  12. I’m sorry about your back! Have you considered going to see a chiropractor? I’ve never been, but my boyfriend swears by it!

    It’s funny that you wrote about going topless in spin because just last week I was in spin, sweating my brains out, and wishing I had the nerve to just take off my t-shirt! I’m so self-conscious that I couldn’t get up the nerve to do it, but I need to stop worrying about what others thing! You are right, people are more focused on themselves and probably wouldn’t have even noticed! Plus, they turn the lights out in the studio at my gym so no one would even be able to see! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  13. Congrats on going topless! I did it for the first time during Tough Mudder… it was surprisingly empowering!

    Do you go to the chiropractor? It always helps me when I tweak things (which is more often than I’d like).

    • Tina says:

      I would love to go to a chiropractor. Our insurance doesn’t cover it though…and I always tell myself if I would spend that $ on something it would be for a massage. LOL

  14. I really hope that your back feels better soon! That’s the worst!

    I’ve never worn just a sports bra but as the weather here in the south warms up I might this summer!

  15. Brooke says:

    I hope your back gets better!!

  16. Take an Epsom salt bath. I need one myself. I am so sore! I know it’s hard to take the time when you have two kids, but you need to do something for yourself. Maybe at nap time today you can do a little soak. I swear, they always make me feel so much better. I hope it feels better soon!

  17. Lauren says:

    Hope your back feels better! I love that last sentence about body confidence & strength.

  18. runblondie26 says:

    Sorry to hear about your back Tina. It’s awful how that stuff just comes our of nowhere.

    I’ve never run in just a sports bra, mainly because I rely on my tank top to catch some of my sweat. It’s rediculous how much I sweat.

  19. oh no! i hope your back gets back to normal quickly!

    i would never workout in just a sports bra. but that’s simply because i’m not comfortable/confident with my body right now. even in the past when i know i looked better than i do now, i wouldn’t do it. i guess i just prefer to be covered up a little more!

  20. GAH. I admire you so much! I honestly just don’t think I’m ready for that (or ever will be) My stomach looks like a battlefield with all the stretchmarks, loose skin and scar. I should move beyond that but I sort of like the feeling of completely drenching a shirt.

  21. I wear only a sports bra and shorts when I work out at home, but at the gym I have always kept a shirt on.

    Good for you for doing that Tina! Your body is amazing!

  22. Angela says:

    Ouch, I’m so sorry to hear about your back! I’ve done the same thing in the past (lifted too heavy on deadlifts) and I certainly know about it the next day!! A little stretching and generally, just relaxing is what fixes it for me. I don’t normally work out in just a sports bra because I pretty much always have a towel in my bag, or they’re available at my gym. However, if I did forget it, I think I might just have to because slipping around in a spin class is not fun!

  23. Hope your back feels better soon! I used to lift weights regularly in high school and I tweeked my back a few weeks before my state track meet. I got better before the meet and did well, but I was so worried! Heal up!

    The more time I spend in a gym, the more I realize that people don’t really care what is going on around them. I know that I get into a zone and others do too. When I allow myself to not be a zone (which isnt often), I look around and people are so busy with their own workout, that they don’t care. I have almost gained up enough courage to use the free weights at the gym… almost. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  24. Lindsey says:

    Congrats on your awesome race last weekend and I hope your back feels better. I’m a huge fan of your blog and jumped when I saw the topless at the gym title.A secret fitness goal of mine is to have my abs/stomach flat enough to one day confidently run in just my sports bra. I’m not saying I ever would but I’m saying I think it would be cool if I could. ๐Ÿ™‚

    I think most gyms are strange independent social enties with a bizairro set of rules that don’t usually apply in any other situation. I see women in running events with just sports bras or out on the trails topless and think nothing of it. However, when a younger girl started coming to the gym and taking her sweatshirt off on the treadmill, I was really annoyed. Is it an inside thing? Was it a secret jealousy because she would take her shirt off and within two minutes, every machine around her was full of oogling guys? I also get annoyed at men who take their shirts off at the gym too. Like, really, dude? I guess I hadn’t thought about what was going through that younger girl’s mind before but reading your post made me think that maybe she was just sweaty and hot and wanted to cool down- not show off like I had judged.

    I’m not sure what I’m trying to get at in my above rambles. I’m proud of you for having the confidence to go shirtless and we know you’ve definitely been working hard for it. Go girl! ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. Jennifer Rahn says:

    I love your perspective on “going topless.” I did the same thing about two weeks postpartum (in spinning class). I threw caution to the wind. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    I’ve been dealing a lot with abdominal separation, very tight traps and shoulders, and came across this woman’s website: http://www.befitmom.com/physiological_adaptations.html
    I bought the book, and read it all last night. It really helped me understand what pregnancy has done to my body. It all makes SO MUCH SENSE, and explains my posture and aches and pains. Perhaps it will help shed some light on your back situation. I hope it gets better soon.

  26. I see plenty of people in their sports bras at Spin class and I don’t bat an eye.

    And when I’m in Bikram, I’m just a few small pieces of fabric away from nekkid!

  27. honestly? I really admire the fact that you can workout in a sports bra– i think it takes a lot of confidence to do so– you’re such a rock star!

    i really hope your back feels better soon

  28. Dana says:

    My hubs, who is a competitive weightlifter, says to never put heat on your back when it is hurting – ice only! Sorry, can’t give you the scientific/medical reason for that, but I’ve followed that advice with success.

    Hope you feel better soon! Love your blog – inspiring as I try to get my pre-baby bod back also!

  29. Stacy says:

    Wow, go Tina! I am so proud of you for having that confidence. I’m proud of my body but I’m not at the point of just wearing a sports bra…maybe some day. ๐Ÿ™‚
    I hope your back feels better soon! The only suggestion I would have is to try a chiropractor.

  30. Kelly says:

    Way to go!! Confidence is the one thing I admire most about you!!

  31. Good for you – and you’re so right about being focused on ourselves and why not?! I mean really?!

    I haven’t worked out in just a sports bra since college when I don’t think I knew any other way to dress but a sports bra and shorts – crazy! haha I’ll have to try it. ๐Ÿ™‚

  32. I feel weird sometimes when just in the sports bra. I do it often on the trails during the summer, but in the gym I usually keep the top on. No idea why, I guess I just feel a little too naked and out of my comfort zone?

  33. I used to in college when I didn’t care which of the 30000 students saw me. Now that I have better abs, I don’t do it because nobody else seems to…..

    And not outside… I’d sunburn (even w/sunscreen) because my unexposed skin is sensitive. ๐Ÿ™‚

  34. Make sure you REST a ton for that back girl! I have only done the sports bra thing once, and I felt so awkward that I never did it again! You’re right though, it’s about how you work and not the way you look!

  35. Hey Tina, I’ve suffered from back pain after a car wreck many many years ago. I even had to go to physical therapy during my two pregnancies b/c of the intensity. What I would recommend doing at least twice/day is heating pad for up to 10 minutes on the sore area then do some stretching like childs pose cat pose, a few different hamstring stretches etc and maybe foam roll if you have one, then when you are done stretching put ice on your back for as long as you can stand up to 10 minutes. I also recommend ibuprofen (if you can take it, can’t remember if you can while breastfeeding) for inflammation. That was my prescribed course of action.

    Way to go on the body confidence to go “topless”. I wouldn’t do it b/c I work out at a community center filled with mostly highschool boys, senior citizens and dudes (who knows what they do)

  36. You definitely caught my eye w/ that title! I’ve never worked out in just a sports bra but I’m working towards that body confidence. Way to go, girlie! You are awesome!

  37. I love how you think, Tina! You’re absolutely right that we have to let go of the thoughts that hold us back and do what we’re comfortable with. The day I can work out in just my sports bra will be a great day…I’m not there yet! I try to focus on the work part and hopefully everything else will come later! ๐Ÿ™‚ Have a good one!

  38. Yay! Love this! I did this last weekend after a long race. It was approaching 100 degrees in Phoenix and my armpit was chaffing from rubbing against my shirt. The hour drive home seemed horrific. So, I took my shirt off, drove home in my bright pink sports bra. I didn’t even care what other people thought because my body had just run 4.2 miles in 42 minutes and that was enough for me! Love the confidence that working out gives you – your body can do great things and we should be so proud of it!

  39. I think that that is awesome that you did that!

    Hope your back feels better very soon!

  40. Dorry says:

    So sorry about your back! Yoga, back bends, stretching and foam rolling might help. I only work out in just a sports bra if I’m in a really HOT hot yoga class. But typically I keep my shirt on. ๐Ÿ™‚

  41. Kristi says:

    Good for you Tina! I work out in my sports bra, but only in my house. ๐Ÿ™‚

  42. Melie says:

    I really hope your back feels better soon!

    I’ve never worked out only in my sports bra, but if I faced the same situation, I would probably pick the same route. It’s merely impossible to spin without a towel. This workout is so tough! I feel kind of self-conscious to bear my midsection, but this apprehension only works when in greater than 10 meters radius from the sea. When at the beach, all bets are off! Sports bras, regular bras, swimsuit bras, they all are valid beach attire right? ๐Ÿ˜‰

  43. I hope your back feels better!!

    My workouts are usually by myself and not in a gym so that doesn’t really count…but yes, I will definitely strip down to my sports bra. And I typically don’t dress fashionable when I workout….I prefer comfort and I make sure I am not too hot or too cold.

  44. RunEatRepeat says:

    Hope your back feels better asap ๐Ÿ™‚

  45. LauraJayne says:

    I think the one benefit to losing all of the weigh that I’ve lost (120 pounds) is that I am really not too self-conscious when it comes to working out (I still VERY self-aware however, which can be a bad thing). I assume that just like I have no idea what the runner on the treadmill next to me is wearing, they probably don’t care what I’m wearing either – unless I’m naked or totally smelly! It’s so frustrating to have too much sweat without a towel – so I say rock your sports bra – and maybe do it on purpose next time!

  46. I hope your back pain alleviates quickly!! xoxo

    • Tina says:

      It’s feeling better already!

      And is it bad that I totally want to enter your giveaway…but am stopping myself because I have received some of their granola already? LOL

  47. Barbara Strack says:

    First, I do work out in just a sports bra and have for years, because I tell myself ‘I can’ (get away with it even at 43!) I’ve never dwelled on what others might think. I just want to be me, be comfortable and have a good workout, run.
    Second, I should have commented yesterday on your back. Generally after an injury ice is most important for the first 48 – 72 hours then you can add heat. Ice for 20 minutes hourly as able but not less than 4 times daily. Once you do reintroduce heat, alternate it with ice. You can ice for 20 min followed by heat for 40 minutes. Moist heat is good – place a wet towel directly to your skin, then the heating pad. You can take Ibuprofen 600mg every 6 – 8 hours.

  48. Lisa says:

    Kudos to you for not being self-conscious! Even though I’ve lost 110 pounds and I’m in great shape–the one area of my body I am ashamed of is my stomach. I have some loose skin as a result of my weight loss and no matter how many crunches I do my stomach never tones up. I could never not wear a shirt. ๐Ÿ™

  49. Wow I’m surprised at the amount of people that don’t just wear a sport bra to the gym. I do it all the time. I’m proud of my body and I’ve worked really hard to get it to where I want it even though it still needs work. I don’t care what other ppl think of me, I do it for me. Good job on going topless!! Be a confident woman ๐Ÿ˜›

  50. I hope your back’s feeling better!

    I’ve never worked out in just a sports bra, Im still working on my confidence level there.

Leave a Reply

(required)

(required)


 

 
Catch Up With Recent Posts

Announcement Time

Posted: November 23, 2011 at 7:47 am

Well, I have had a whirlwind of a few weeks over here. I missed all of you so much! I canโ€™t express enough gratitude for your patience while I got some important things sorted out. Some scary things. Are you ready for the announcement? Here goes! I will no longer be blogging at Faith Fitness […]

88 CommentsRead more โ†’

Self-Love Reflection: The Road Not Taken

Posted: November 20, 2011 at 11:47 am

Hello FFF readers! Nice to meet ya! My name is Carissa and my husband and I blog at Fit2Flex.  Well, I blogโ€ฆhe consults! We are both certified personal trainers with a passion for healthy, active living and clean eating.  I am also studying to become a registered dietitian, a race announcer, and a runner.  Stop […]

24 CommentsRead more โ†’

Healthier Eating For Kids

Posted: November 19, 2011 at 10:56 am

Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about tips for baby feeding magic. What if you let baby choose what’s for dinner? Check out their cute "Quest for Yum!" video and see what happens! As parents, we want the best for our children. We help them to feel loved. We strive to teach them […]

14 CommentsRead more โ†’
 

Announcement

Posted: November 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Hey, everyone! I wanted to pop in and say I am working on some new and exciting changes.  As a result,I may not be posting as much during the coming week.  Please stay tuned for the big announcement! Love you all! And still feel free to find me on Twitter and Facebook for the time […]

21 CommentsRead more โ†’

Where The Change Happens

Posted: November 16, 2011 at 7:54 am

Itโ€™s kind of funny. I become a certified personal trainer and the first workouts I turn to this week come from someone else. The book came in for me at the library last week and, after flipping through it, I couldnโ€™t wait to give the circuits a go. Making The Cut includes a lot of […]

79 CommentsRead more โ†’

From Beginning To End

Posted: November 15, 2011 at 11:53 am

Good morning! First off, thanks for the many congrats yesterday. Love you all bunches for the tons of support you have given me in so many things this year. I hope I can return a little bit of that love through this here blog as well. So yesterday I had my first parent-teacher โ€œconferenceโ€ for […]

55 CommentsRead more โ†’