News - woman asked to cover her toned body in the gym?

Interesting. I belong to a PF near my home. I see women in tank tops there all the time. Perhaps some franchises enforce that rule more than others. Maybe an employee got a little overzealous? Can't say. Personally, I didn't find the woman in question's clothing to be offensive, especially for a workout, but I can see where she may be asked to wear a longer top. With that said, I can't help but feel like some embellishment has been applied to the re-telling of this incident. If not, this is one of the oddest stories I've ever heard. Stranger things have happened, I guess.

Interesting. I belong to a PF near my home. I see women in tank tops there all the time. Perhaps some franchises enforce that rule more than others. Maybe an employee got a little overzealous? Can't say. Personally, I didn't find the woman in question's clothing to be offensive, especially for a workout, but I can see where she may be asked to wear a longer top. With that said, I can't help but feel like some embellishment has been applied to the re-telling of this incident. If not, this is one of the oddest stories I've ever heard. Stranger things have happened, I guess.

I agree.. could have definitely been blown up into a bigger deal than it originally was. I see people at my PF in tank tops all the time (side note: tank tops are not midriff length string tanks, like the woman wore to her PF) and no one seems to care. That particular franchise obviously just has stricter employees. I don't think her clothes were offensive, but they were against dress code and that is that.

I also agree with whoever said she should have just taken her refund and gone elsewhere instead of making such a big deal in the media.

Join a gym without a dress code if you want to show your stomach.

When I worked out at the YMCA, a woman was asked to leave because she was in a glorified pair of underwear and bra with a Nike logo on it. You can work out just as well in a tshirt and an actual pair of shorts.

They only dress like that because they want attention. If you want to walk around in a sports bra, go to Walmart. They don't seem to have a dress code.

Spoken like someone who doesn't work out hard enough.

I'm pretty sure you can work hard in a form fitting tank top that covers your entire torso. Geezus.

And yes, I stick by the belief that people who come to the gym in basically their bra and underwear are doing it for attention. She wouldn't have been asked to leave if her tank top covered her stomach. Are you saying that cutting off the tank top to reveal her stomach makes her work out harder? :huh:

No, we're saying that it's cooler and more comfortable.

Interesting. I belong to a PF near my home. I see women in tank tops there all the time. Perhaps some franchises enforce that rule more than others. Maybe an employee got a little overzealous? Can't say. Personally, I didn't find the woman in question's clothing to be offensive, especially for a workout, but I can see where she may be asked to wear a longer top. With that said, I can't help but feel like some embellishment has been applied to the re-telling of this incident. If not, this is one of the oddest stories I've ever heard. Stranger things have happened, I guess.

You remind me of the PF members who used to say, "They aren't banning deadlifts in all PFs. That's ridiculous! I still deadlift in my PF." Of course, weeks/months later, they banned deadlifts in their location.

TL;DR - PF Corporate is doing all it can to ensure compliance with all of their regulations...because it's essential to their business model.

Wow. You can't deadlift in PF? I had no idea. That's crazy.

When I first started working out, it was in a Powerhouse Gym owned by pro body builders, and I was working out with friends who were competing. No dress code. no frills. Just machines and free weights. We girls wore sports bras and spandex shorts, and guys wore tight shorts and tanks, or no shirts. That was the environment we were in.

A year later, that gym closed and the closest other place to me was a new "Q Club" that was gaining in popularity. (yeah, I'm old, I know) The Q was marketed towards a more civilized clientele than the Powerhouse was, so dress code was no tanks or tight shorts. Pits had to be covered. You had to wipe off the machines. Very small free weight section, and they frowned upon dropping weights or being too vocal in your lifts. And bandanas were not allowed. Not sure why, but whatever.
Yeah, it was an adjustment for me from what I was used to, but I knew the rules going in, before I signed up. So I just bought some tshirts and looser shorts and did my thing. It also turned out to be more of a social club environment where guys went to pick up girls, so I didn't renew my membership, and it closed down soon after then anyway.

The key point is to know what type of gym/fitness center you are getting into, and make sure you know and can abide by the rules before signing up.

If planet Fitnesses tells someone to cover up because they are too toned then something is very wrong. However, this is basically about dress code. Our gym has a dress code too but in no way that strict. We wear shorts and cropped tops. What is prohibited is wearing thong workout wear and a few other revealing clothes.

Join a gym without a dress code if you want to show your stomach.

When I worked out at the YMCA, a woman was asked to leave because she was in a glorified pair of underwear and bra with a Nike logo on it. You can work out just as well in a tshirt and an actual pair of shorts.

They only dress like that because they want attention. If you want to walk around in a sports bra, go to Walmart. They don't seem to have a dress code.

Spoken like someone who doesn't work out hard enough.

I'm pretty sure you can work hard in a form fitting tank top that covers your entire torso. Geezus.

And yes, I stick by the belief that people who come to the gym in basically their bra and underwear are doing it for attention. She wouldn't have been asked to leave if her tank top covered her stomach. Are you saying that cutting off the tank top to reveal her stomach makes her work out harder? :huh:

I work out in a tank top because sleeves are binding when I lift. I can't imagine that it would be any different for a woman. It's also hot and I often run shirtless for that reason. It's a gym, not church.

ETA: okay, PF isn't a gym. But the point is that there are reasons other than vanity that people don't like covering up. A screw hating on vanity anyway.

I go sleeveless AND a skullie..I must really be looking for attention ...

Ho Fo Show

When I was heavier, the only time I ever really paid attention to what another gym member was wearing was because I saw this woman strip down naked in the locker room (kind of hard not to notice when it's a small room) and put on loose fitting/swishy running short with no undies then go and work out on the weight machines, totally free-vaging it. Kinda weird.

Many running shorts have liners. These are the kind I wear as well when I work out.

These ones, however, did not. They were like men's basketball shorts, but shorter.

Jesus, how close were you to this person to figure this out???

Just to clarify, my shorts are also like "basketball shorts, but shorter", and they have a lining. There's no way you can see the lining unless they're inside out or your starting down the shorts as I put them on.

Like I said, small locker room. She was standing next to me to change and we both had our stuff sitting on the same bench.

Had a feeling it might be Planet Fitness.

If you feel intimidated by someone showing off a fit body, that's your problem, not theirs! It's a gym for god's sake, while I like to cover up more, I can understand other people may want to wear less when you're getting all hot and sweaty. I don't see anything inappropriate about what that woman was wearing, a woman was wearing less at my gym yesterday!

The stupid thing with PF, is that they try to be all inclusive, and non judgemental. However, in the process they're being judgemental to the very people who take their health and fitness seriously!

I wonder if most normal gyms would tolerate an obese person walking around with very little on. It'd be a fun social experiment. I bet it would attract a lot of negative looks from the super fit crowd. Probably wouldn't take long for management to tell the person to cover up their fat because it's bad for business.

Yes, they would and don't care....................I wear tank top and tight pants to work out in at Gold's gym. I want to make sure I am using proper form and take a look at how my muscles are reacting to the way I am working them out in front of the mirror.

I have never had anything said to me.

Read the last comment in the last few seconds.

Planet Fitness has a dress code.

You don't like it or don't want to abide by it?

Don't join a Planet Fitness.

While I don't agree with the dress code, its not our call to make.

THIS. AND ONLY THIS.

It doesn't really matter if it's her issue. If the rules of the gym are to not wear certain clothes, then abide by the rules or find somewhere else simple as.
And it's not just her issue, many people find it intimidating when they're just starting out to getting fit and everyone else is walking around showing everything off, it's only natural to feel that way

Ummm, NO that is NOT natural to feel that way. Insecurity is NOT natural. Who told you such a thing???

I guess this came about with No child left behind and everybody wins attitude that is ruining American society today.


This country sucks. I really wish I could leave and I am more and more ashamed to be an American.

Her midriff should be covered, in my opinion. I would say the same if it was a man with a cropped top.

That's hilarious! So is the ten minutes sweating like a pig I want to have a nice body and it's not working everyone else looks better than me throw my toys out of the pram post. What?

If my lazy gym staff moved around a bit more they'd realise that 21c is far too hot too keep a gym temp at. Luckily I know where the air conditioning control is and often whack it down to 17c. Meanwhile though I wear tiny tops and shirts because I get HOT and don't want to wear much. Plus, I run and lift next to a mirror to constantly check form as I am hyper aware of how close to injury territory I'm pushing things. It's better to wear close fitting clothes.