Confession: I Don't Change in the Locker Room
I grew up playing school sports and taking phys ed class, so I've been in my share of locker rooms. But now that I'm an adult, the only locker room I encounter is at the gym. And to be perfectly honest, I'm really—I mean REALLY—uncomfortable changing in the women's locker room. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the odd woman out or if I'm normal after all. When I was in high school, everyone would change in the locker room before gym, practices and games. But unlike my parents' generation, we weren't required to shower there afterwards, and I don't think a single girl ever used the locker room showers. Beyond that, we were mostly clothed most of the time. Although you wouldn't know it from seeing how Hollywood often depicts the "girls locker room," there were no thongs or bare chests. At my school, the girls would change as quickly as possible, usually not talking to each other much and facing away from one another. And when we'd have to put on sports bras, we were pros on being prudish: We'd put our sports bras on top of our underwire bras, and then unclasp and strategically pull the underwire bra out from underneath the sports bra—never exposing anything to anyone. I never thought any of this was weird or uncomfortable at the time. Perhaps I was more comfortable with my body then than I am today. But now that I have the choice about where to change, rare is the day that I change clothes in my gym locker room. I don't know why I feel so weird about it. Maybe it's because this environment is strikingly different than the locker rooms of my youth. Here, women actually walk around, face each other, and even talk to each other in various states of undress. And they use the showers, too! And it's not just the thin ones or older ones or the fit ones. Women of all ages, shapes and sizes seem to be really comfortable being naked or half-naked in front of other women. Not me. I pretty much avoid it if at all possible, usually changing in the restroom at work before I head to the gym, or sometimes changing in the bathroom stall inside the locker room. I don't know what I'm so afraid of—maybe silent judgment? We all know how women can be, how we size each other up and compare ourselves to others. Maybe I don't like it just because it's so different than what I grew up with. Or maybe it's a generational thing. I know that my mom and grandmother are a lot more comfortable about this stuff than my sister and I are. But in reality, I'm actually jealous. I wish I could be as free and feel as comfortable about my own body as these women seem to feel about theirs. How about you? Do you feel self-conscious in the locker room? Or do you think I'm making a big deal out of nothing?
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ARIANORCHID
7/16/2010
2:46:04 PM
NAYPOOIE
7/15/2010
6:26:42 PM
KATHY_NATURELVR
7/15/2010
5:13:27 PM
So you're not alone!!
I change in the locker room prior to working out but change in the shower after showering - but only because it's easier than toting my clothes around (I'm losing my all-time highest weight from pregnancy).
You look beautiful! I saw someone else mention that they would not have noticed your scars if you hadn't mentioned them. I thought the same thing - I had to look for them. And IMHO there is no reason to be ashamed of scars from a childhood injury...just be thankful you survived and that you have a very interesting story to tell. Because to have not survived would have been the tragedy.
HUGS
RUNNERGURL61
4/29/2010
12:09:37 PM
MAGGIE248
4/28/2010
1:53:13 PM
DREMARGRL
4/28/2010
7:35:29 AM
40PLUSANDFIT
4/27/2010
3:05:51 PM
ACLASSYONE
4/27/2010
2:17:25 PM
KLETCHER3
4/27/2010
10:34:37 AM
THINAGIN2
4/26/2010
1:23:56 PM
ZNEKITA
4/26/2010
10:41:44 AM
SAGE150
4/25/2010
10:30:22 PM
CHECHECARINA
4/25/2010
9:34:30 PM
Old ladies will walk up and point out your tattoo and inquire quite openly about any gang affiliations you might have.
On bad days, somebody's grandma (no slim jim herself) will walk up and touch you, pointing out where they think you should lose weight.
I used to get freaked out, but now I just laugh about it.
RUTGERSM0M
4/25/2010
9:05:28 PM
BEANPOD77
4/25/2010
5:12:45 PM
MARIABELLA
4/25/2010
11:18:53 AM
PRESHA911
4/25/2010
10:44:02 AM
CLG1956
4/25/2010
9:52:14 AM
IMAVISION
4/24/2010
8:18:27 PM
CMRAND54
4/24/2010
5:54:16 PM
YOADDICCTION101
4/24/2010
1:08:20 PM
For me to become more comfartbale in my skin I had to stand in front of the mirror fully naked and tell myself this is me and this is beatifull...I love my body...after doing that daily for a couple of months I noticed I was able to do it for longer and be happy about it.
RENA1965
4/24/2010
12:29:59 PM
They so totally understand I want to be away from the giggle sector.. Nothing like meeting startled body language saying with hell happened you look wrecks my day more.. Women up in age accept skin folds, scars and wrinkles.. I am also against changing infront of a childrens fitness class member every wednesday.. I feel exposed and kids giggle- they are kids..
JUSTSUZY5
4/24/2010
11:31:55 AM
ASTABETH
4/24/2010
9:52:22 AM
LONGWINDINRD
4/24/2010
2:48:31 AM
BUGGPOTT
4/23/2010
12:48:34 PM
DOCQUISTIS
4/23/2010
7:36:01 AM
CAROLCRC
4/22/2010
2:43:05 PM
It's really generational - the over 50's tend to be a lot less concerned about privacy in the locker room. I can tell I embarrass some of the younger ones when I change by the lockers and shower afterwards. But I'm not going back to work stinky! That's what the showers and lockers are there for!
But - I hate it when I have to use the toilet and all the stalls are taken by people leisurely changing clothes! That's just not right.
TERFREE
4/22/2010
11:56:27 AM
TWO_SPARROWS
4/22/2010
10:42:10 AM
I can understand your hesitancy to go near some of the change room, too, because they're NOT always the cleanest places on the planet, either.
You don't want to sit on a bench or a chair because of all the wet surfaces. Seriously...if you've just come out of the pool or the shower, wipe up the moisture you leave behind.
I've simply decided that my comfort is my issue, and if changing in private where I'm comfortable is something someone else finds odd, that's THEIR issue and can deal with it on their terms. I am not going to worry about what someone else thinks because I'm important to me.
ALYFITN
4/22/2010
9:01:44 AM
JUST_TRI_IT
4/22/2010
3:15:12 AM
CLCCOOL
4/21/2010
8:27:05 PM
VNUSFLYTRP
4/20/2010
2:21:18 PM
FERNASHES
4/20/2010
11:13:07 AM
And the post where apparently it's against the rules to be naked in the sauna? In Europe, it's against the rules to wear anything in the sauna, though of course a towel is required. Apparently it's unhygienic to have underwear on.
Different countries, different customs?
Fascinating to see how differently everybody thinks about this, though.
FERNASHES
4/20/2010
11:09:33 AM
I haven't dared the co-ed sauna yet, though...
ALIAHQUAD
4/20/2010
1:10:37 AM
-MOVED-
4/19/2010
4:22:57 PM
GENKIDESU
4/19/2010
4:34:27 AM
As an adult, I have become more involved in the Asian side of my family, particularly in visiting bathhouses / spas, where it is perfectly normal to sit in the hot pools or the sauna while naked, often chatting with one's friends. It would be terribly odd and out of place to wear a swimsuit there. Maybe because of this, I am also much more casual about locker room situations, and now try to remember to cover up a bit more quickly in gym locker rooms so as not to perhaps embarrass others around me who have "issues" with nudity even regarding people of the same sex.
In a way, it seems kind of ridiculous to me; I firmly believe in modesty around the opposite sex and in non-bathhouse or locker-room or bathhouse type situations, but women have the same "stuff" regardless of their shape or size, so embarrassment in this area seems silly and unwarranted to me now. I personally don't "compare" myself with others, and I don't actually care if they "compare" themselves with me. I don't "watch", we are all just there to get changed, or soak in hot tubs. Big deal. It actually only calls attention to oneself to be trying to hide something (one's body) that isn't shameful or offensive. Being naked for a short while during changing or hot-pool -soaking is merely doing what the circumstances require. No one I know is "showing off" or anything like that.
Bodies are bodies, we all have them, there is nothing wrong with having them, and certainly nothing shameful about them that needs covering in certain specific circumstances like a locker room or a bathhouse.
....All that being said however, everyone has to go with what is most comfortable to them, which may depend upon upbringing, personal experience and such. Respect and "live and let live" are useful guidelines for life.
SPARKLING-REET
4/18/2010
11:09:58 PM
MNDIVA
4/18/2010
6:50:53 PM
SUZYMARC
4/18/2010
6:49:24 PM
HONEYDRIPPER
4/18/2010
2:37:34 PM
APRYLSHOWERS
4/18/2010
12:42:52 PM
BIGCHUNKYMAMA
4/18/2010
11:59:07 AM
NINABEENA1
4/18/2010
10:17:22 AM
LILPAT3
4/18/2010
9:58:45 AM
OHLOOKADUCK
4/18/2010
5:09:27 AM
PLINTHESS
4/18/2010
4:19:49 AM
VRCATON
4/17/2010
11:16:34 PM
I like to shower after I work out since I sweat like a stevedore and if I don't shower I end up with a nasty rash under the boobs!
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