Tattoos and Fitness... Chicken or the Egg?

LorinaLynn

I've been going to the gym a lot more since the Mother Nature turned up the thermostat, and I'm noticing all over again how many of the people there have ink.

Now, if you'd asked me a year ago or so, I'd never have guessed that tattooed folks are a really health conscious demographic. It shouldn't surprise me... I know wanting to show off my own tattoos has been part of my motivation to get fit. But say... 20 or 15 or even 10 years ago, the only place I saw tattoos were at conventions or concerts.

But it makes me wonder, for the average person, which came first? The tattoos, then wanting to have that art on a nice, tight canvas, or are the tattoos a way of showcasing the work they've already done on their bodies?

RachVR6

Tattoos came first. I wouldn't say mine are related, in the sense that I'm working my butt off so they'll be showcased better, but I definitely have some I won't get until the rolls are out of the way. Tattoos are #1. Fitness comes and goes in spurts for me sometimes. :laugh:

supertracylynn

First came some tattoos, then massive weight loss, then a few more tattoos

bry_all01

I had honestly never thought about that before... I have 2, but they are in spots not seen, ok, unless I am wearing a bikini. I would like to know what others think now, too. Good question! :bigsmile:

kerriknox

For me the tattoos came first. I've got three and even the newest one is 15 years old now. Never even really thought about it being related but now that you mention it, the one on my bum cheek does look better :-)

sweetheart03622

I picked the location of my tattoo based specifically on the fact that I don't gain weight there :-p

superhippiechik

Tattoos 1st. Love em.

Heatherbelle_87

Bump.. will have to read when I get home

JStarnes

Tattoo.
Then weight GAIN
Then Tattoo
Then weight LOSS
Then Tattoo
Then got FIT
Then Tattoo

soooo, I guess before AND after.

rodneyderrick

I got my tats at the age of 33 and 34, and I was already in pretty good shape.

WifeMomDVM

Fitness first... don't ever plan to have a tattoo.

Queen_JessieA

Tattoos here for me I have three. They aren't areas that need to be "tight" to show off, though. One on my leg, one on the back of my neck/upper back and one on my hip.

zml_mom

tattoos came first
but my next 2 tattoos are part of my reward for hitting my goal weight

sblair77

Tats came first for me but then again I got mine young and in shape....but I continued to get more even when I put on a few.

So Tats for my final answer :-)

britterbrittney

I have 6.5 tattoos (one I had a coverup done on, thats where the .5 came from). All of mine are visible during the summer (leg, ankle, foot, wrist) and only one is visible...almost never. My shoulder. It's my favorite too...so its motivation to lose weight so I can show it off more next summer! Also, one of my rewards when I get down to a goal weight is a tattoo on my side/rib cage. It is going to be something resembling my journey. I have thoughts about what it is, but nothing official

Ashley_Panda

Tattoos came first.

melizerd

I started getting tattooed at 18 so I suppose the tattoos, I was never "Into" fitness I was just naturally slender.

I have at least 3 more tattoos planned (have 3 already and one is about 1/3 of my back). I LOVE the summer months when I get to show them off more. Especially since I'm a nursing student and I know they have to be covered for school/work.

I'm just glad I don't have to take out all my piercings anymore.

E_Risk

I would have to say my tattoos were a turning point in my life that helped me become ready to be a healthier person. I have a full back piece and I get stopped everytime I am in the gym for someone to look at it or they want to talk about all of the tattoos I have. In a way tattoos are what helped me heal and turned my life around.

Jade_Butterfly

I picked the location of my tattoo based specifically on the fact that I don't gain weight there :-p

Agreed.. Mine is between my shoulder blades. . . when I lose some more weight. . then I will think about getting another one.. .

Tat2dMommy

For me, the tattoos came first. I was skinny when I got my first few tattoos (I was 18) . Then at 24, the baby came and after that came more tattoos and then I decided that my tattoos would look WAY better if I lost weight.

ak_in_ak

both for me. I have one tattoo behind my ear. I picked there becasue it doesn't get fat and I woun't have to take off clothes to get it done or show people. However, I have plans for several other tattoos for when I am smaller. My goal tattoo is a koi fish on my back. I don't wear tank tops due to streach marks on my shoulders so this will be a big step for me. There are other tattoos that i want but am afraid they would change when I lost weight

_Khaleesi_

I am waiting to get a tattoo until I am in shape... so I guess fitness

La_Amazona

tattoos were first! But for my next one (big one), fitness will come first...

JDMPWR

Mine are on the bottom of my foot and inside my lip. Never worried about weight loss or gain when I got them

arhzon

Historically, in the B.C. days (the earliest relevant time of which I'm aware), tattoos were used to mark people as a part of a group, or in some cultures, used to mark women so men could select them based on their skill. For example, a woman's wrist may be marked with a weaving symbol, or cooking, etc. I believe this came long before they were a fashion statement.

I just got my first ink two months ago, showing off not only my newly muscular chest, but also my affiliation with a super cool MMA team (okay, I'm bragging a little :-D ). I definitely waited to get mine, though, until I had the body to show it off.

Jessicapages

For me the tattoos came first.I have 3

supertracylynn

Historically, in the B.C. days (the earliest relevant time of which I'm aware), tattoos were used to mark people as a part of a group, or in some cultures, used to mark women so men could select them based on their skill. For example, a woman's wrist may be marked with a weaving symbol, or cooking, etc.

I KNEW I should have gotten a full-body tat...!!

nwohler

The tattoos came first, my weight has changed over the years but I feel like I got my tattoos in places that won't get too roll-y (my upper back and ankle). Now that I'm getting healthier I feel like I can show them off more, which I like : D Maybe as I continue to lose weight I might get a few more!

mamijujuphat

Some of my tatts came first.....I was in shape when I got my first...I had my kid & gained weight... I've gotten 2 since...But I want to get another one when I reach my goal weight...& I can showcase it better

writtenINthestars

I got my tats first as they symbolized specific moments in my life. They're in places that don't matter a whole lot (upper back and ankle) in regards to weight loss....but I really want a few more after I'm done losing weight. Those would go on my hip, shoulder blade, or side/ribcage area.

JThomas61

I got my first tattoo at 49, then came the weight loss, and now my addiction. I admit it, I am a fitness addict. I also plan on another ratio when I reach my final goal