Are you embarrassing yourself at the gym?

Are you the unsightly gym-goer with inappropriate outfits? Is your training gear too tight, too short or too revealing?

Most gyms recommend that participants train in comfortable clothes, but some people show up in bikini shorts or clingy briefs.

Eric* an ardent gym-goer says going to the gym used to help him relieve stress, but now it is doing the opposite.

The gym, he says, enables him to network, but he is contemplating abandoning the classes owing to unfriendly grounds for training.

His concern, some gym members wear transparent leggings, or tank tops that are too tight or too loose hence distracting.

Moses Wanyoike, a personal trainer, says not putting into thought the welfare of other gym members when settling on an attire to wear is selfish.

“Even if you read books they will not tell you how revealing or tight an attire should be. It boils down to a person’s character and judgement. One should be in a position to reason and know what kind of an outfit that would make other members uncomfortable,” he says, adding that it is best to seek advice from friends beforehand.

A personal trainer for 15 years now, Moses, insists that all gym members should be in a mindset that allows them to concentrate for maximum fitness benefits.

Too Much Skin

If you are showing too much skin and leaving some body parts partially covered then you are inappropriately dressed.

‘‘Women, don’t show up to the gym in bikini shorts and men don’t come wearing clingy briefs,’’ he says.

For women, wear exercise bras that hold the chest tightly to ensure it does not jiggle during workouts. Wear trousers that are slightly above or below the knee.

Men should wear trainer pants that hold tight but they should not be uncomfortable. Go for materials that do not retain too much heat.

“Men should train in a tee shirt which can be sleeveless. The point here is to leave minimal skin exposed. Working out is not a contest, you exercise for your own good which makes keeping fit a private affair,” he says.

Small-bodied people can easily wear a polyester and spandex blend — a street-appropriate gym wear that looks decent and athletic.
But if you’re overweight or plump, settle for loose clothes or tight trousers with a slightly longer top.

If the jeggings are too transparent or too short, they are not for the gym. Shop for the ones with heavy materials that hold the body firmly.

Suleiman Hassan Jama, a trainer at Nairobi Club, says if your are serious about exercising then you would not show up in funny clothes. He advises big-bodied men and women to wear loose sweat pants and jackets to cover up the excess weight.

‘‘It is the most appropriate because it is decent and in any case covering up ensures you lose more calories as you sweat more,’’ he says.

Marion Munga, a dance fitness instructor, says that ensuring the attire absorbs sweat and keeps the body cool is of utmost importance.

If you sweat a lot, go for mildly textured clothes that mask perspiration and shower before the workout. Showering in warm water opens the pores, encouraging your body to sweat and eliminate waste.

Also, change your gym clothes and shoes after three to six months as the cotton fibre wears off making it less absorbent to sweat.

For Marion’s dance classes, she advises participants to come dressed in comfortable and decent attire.

“We say this is going to be a group class so please mind what you wear. But...sometimes you find people wearing rather distracting clothes and we do not have control over that,” she says.