A woman took a side-by-side photo to prove that wearing a sports bra is 'acceptable' at the gym
Publish date: 2024-07-25
2017-08-14T15:32:39Z
PSA: You can wear whatever you want to the gym. Shutterstock
The INSIDER Summary:
In a recent Instagram post, fitness blogger Louise Aubery shared a side-by-side photo of appropriate gym wear.
In one photo, Aubery was wearing a long sleeved top and a leggings; in the other, she wore a sports bra and athletic shorts.
She did so after a female gym member explained that she didn't want to wear a sports bra to the gym after previously being shamed for doing so.
Aubery's post was inspired by the story and shows that both outfits are appropriate gym wear.
Fitness blogger Louise Aubery is very vocal about all things body positivity. She especially isn't new to the side-by-side photo game, having previously posted about understanding and accepting your flaws.
A post shared by Louise| PARIS |Thinker & Maker (@mybetter_self) on Aug 6, 2017 at 11:33am PDTAug 6, 2017 at 11:33am PDT
Aubery, who has over 60,000 followers, writes in her caption about a fellow female gym-goer who felt uncomfortable wearing a sports bra at the gym because of a previous incident. Aubery asked the woman why she didn't workout in her sports bra in the hot gym. "I do not feel comfortable anymore since a guy told me I wanted to show off my body," the woman told Aubrey.
And Aubery was not having it.
"I was so pissed off," Aubery writes. "I almost asked her which guy told her this so I could give him a little pep talk."
Instead of confronting him, she posted a side-by-side photo of two acceptable and appropriate gym wear options. One showed more skin while the other outfit was covered up.
Aubery told her followers to not let random people police how you should behave or dress. "Sports bras have been created FOR this purpose, so please, do not feel ashamed wearing it at the gym, especially when it is so warm," she writes. "For your health, for your comfort, and even more simply for yourself."
Her message resonated with followers who commented on the post.
"I'm just there to work out, not look at other people lol. Anyone who takes their workout seriously should not even be distracted by that," wrote one user. "Thanks for writing this. I am so tired of men thinking we are sluts or showing off," another person commented. "We'll wear what we damn well want. If you don't like it, don't look. And men should be able to control themselves," another said.
A post shared by Louise| PARIS |Thinker & Maker (@mybetter_self)Jul 10, 2017 at 2:02pm PDT
A few commenters, however, claimed that Aubery should not have asked the woman about what she was wearing to begin with.
"Just because you go to the same gym doesn't actually mean you know that person and it sure as hell doesn't mean that it's appropriate for you to ask her why she's wearing what she's wearing," one user wrote. "Just because you are the same biological sex you can't ask another woman whatever it is you want."
Aubery defended herself saying that she knew the woman and waited until they were in the locker room to discuss this topic so the woman would feel supported. "It has gave her enough confidence to wear what she wants," Aubery responded.
No matter your opinion on if Aubery should have approached the woman, the central message here is that you should wear what you want and feel comfortable in — inside and outside of the gym.
Here's the full caption of Aubery's Instagram photo:
LEM'ME TOUCH ON SOMETHING REAL QUICK ❗️ As I was doing my deadlifts in the crossfit room today, a girl I knew walked in. She started practicing her pull ups. Counting her, we were 2 women and 5 men in the room. I saw her getting really sweaty as time passed, but she was keeping her long sleeves top on. In the lockers, I saw she had a sport bra underneath. I kindly asked her : "Why did you keep your top on while you were training ? It was so hot in the room !" She hesitated, and answered : "I do not feel comfortable anymore since a guy told me I wanted to show off my body"😡👿😩😤 EXCUZEEEE ME. I was so pissed off. I almost asked her which guy told her this so I could give him a little pep talk. So guys can train as they want but women would not have the right to work out in a sports bra ? HELL YES YOU CAN GIRL. Do not let anyone tell you how you should behave. Sports bra have been created FOR this purpose, so please, do not feel ashamed wearing it at the gym, especially when it is so warm. For your health, for you comfort, and even more simply for yourself
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