The Tough Stuff: A Modest Workout

An area I’ve struggled with in modesty has been workout attire. I am a runner. I try to stay in decent ‘shape’ even amongst a hectic schedule. But as a whole I definitely enjoy the outdoors and getting a good long run in every once in awhile. It’s hard for me to get motivated though. I’ve heard a lot of people say that their outfit is one of their big motivations. I get that. When you look good, you feel good. I totally agree with this statement when it comes to everyday fashion. However, I’m not one of those girls that looks like they just styled their hair and smells like they sprayed on perfume when I get done with a run. (Do those girls even exist? I mean seriously.) I don’t particularly want anyone looking at me when I run or workout. But if you’re not at home on the treadmill, people are looking at you. It’s just a fact. So, why should our standard for modesty change when it comes to getting fit? It shouldn’t. This seems simple. And it should be. But we’re constantly bombarded with ads for ‘Fabletics’. We are shown pictures of women in tight spandex and sports bras that look tougher than most men. Just today I got an email entitled “The knockout collection=best butt ever. Your best workout starts here”. What? I didn’t even open it. (I’ve tried to opt out of these emails like 10 times.) What are these? Magic pants? My workout is not going to be better because of pants. It’s going to be better with hard work and determination. There is an idealism that looking ‘sexy’ is the ultimate goal in life and we should share our goals and accomplishments with the world. First of all. Only like 1% of the universe actually looks good in those work out clothes, which means the other 99% (myself included) that wear them would be considered unappealing. But it’s not about whether you look good in them. It’s about looking modest. And I just can’t convince myself that they are (especially after that email title; man. gross). I’ve worn them. Multiple times. Even recently. But I’ve come clean with myself. If this blog isn’t helping anyone else, at least I can say that it has helped me (even if I am talking to myself in public). I’ve avoided the topic for too long in my own life and I think it should be addressed.

Leggings are not an acceptable substitution for pants. Workout Spandex is not appropriate by itself. And I hope that the sports bra thing is a given. Shorts above your knee should be looked at the same way you view your skirts. Why would it be appropriate in one situation over the other? I’m not scolding. Just honestly, think to yourself- why is this different?

It’s easy to deceive ourselves and think “No one is looking at my behind” when we wear leggings. Until recently I was able to do so. Wearing a long shirt doesn’t cut it either. I’ve tried, and if I’m frank with myself- the purpose of working out is to move around, and you know as well as I do that your shirt is going to move with you. I have to admit there were times I passed a semi-creepy looking man on the trail and was really hoping he didn’t turn around to take a look. UM- RED FLAG. I know everyone at the gym in college could see every single line on my legs when I was running on a treadmill in the first row. Being married now, I don’t want anyone but my husband to see me in something that revealing. I would never want to cause another married man to look at me in an inappropriate way either. Wives- who are we trying to impress? For the rest of you- think about WHO you are impressing. Probably not the kind of person that is going to help you lead a modest lifestyle. Believe me, this is a hard realization I’ve come to. It’s difficult to sit here and tell people this knowing that I’m just as guilty. But at least I can relate. We don’t have to give up style completely; But our #1 concern should be modesty, and if our heart is modest, we can make the necessary changes if need be.

When I wasn’t wearing leggings on a run, I usually threw on a t-shirt and boy shorts. Not the most attractive, but modest, and who cares, I thought? As it gets more and more difficult for me to get motivated, I am starting to see the appeal for cute running clothes. I’ve provided a few examples of outfits that I think are a nice compromise for fashionable workout attire. We don’t have to look like hobos but what are we portraying to the world if we look like everyone else when we workout? What stops this mindset from creeping into other areas of our dress? It’s a dangerous tipping point and we should steer clear of it (myself included).

Ok. I was not kidding when I said I liked pink people.

I used to think running in a skirt was like the lamest thing ever. But this is actually a really clever way to still have the comfort of leggings and cover up the tightness associated with them! I found a couple of tennis skirts at the thrift store for under $5. I figured out if you buy a size up, since they are elastic waist bands, they won’t ride up! Cute. Functional. Modest!!

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I find these type of capris at the thrift store all the time. I’ve even found the pants version and cut them off right below the knee to make shorts. There really are alternatives to tight leggings and short shorts. Also, I”m very photogenic.

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Some of you are in middle school/high school and playing organized sports. This is tough. I ran Cross Country and Track for 6 years. In middle school I wore sliding shorts under my uniform. They came to my knee. When high school rolled around, my parents let me wear the capri form of the legging under my uniform. It’s hard to stand out. But people notice. And the few times I slipped up in high school… people really noticed. Keep your good example up. Even when it’s hard. I don’t believe in all the aerodynamic jargon. There were guys in high school who shaved their legs because they thought it would take off that extra second they were pushing for. Wearing an extra layer is not going to have a significant impact on your performance. You have to make a judgement call on what you believe to be modest. Maybe grab the next size up in shorts so they hang a little longer and not as much of your spandex shows. I know the uniform running shorts are realllly short. I also realize there are lots of rules in team sports when it comes to uniforms, but ask if you can wear longer shorts. You never know! They might say yes, and it never hurts to ask. Hang in there. High school is not forever. Before you know it, it’s over. Stick to your guns and make an impact.

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I’d love to hear your ideas for other modest workout clothing! How do you get motivated to get fit? Where do you find your workout clothes? (They are SO expensive!! AHHH!)

 

Keep on keeping on,

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15 Replies to “The Tough Stuff: A Modest Workout”

  1. This is great Taylor! It’s so funny that you wrote about the tight pants. I have been wearing those a lot. Mainly for comfort especially after c-sections. But recently felt they were inappropriate because I wouldn’t want my daughter to wear them! So thank you for adding that to your blog! I actually love working out in scrubs. Probably not the best thing for a marathon though.

    1. Stephanie,
      Thank you for sharing that! And scrubs are something I never thought of! For aerobics and things like that, that is not a bad idea!
      Taylor

  2. Hi Taylor, thanks for the insightful post! Sometimes it can be hard not to want to throw on a pair of short shorts and just go for a walk–I found myself tempted to do that this evening before exercising, but opted for sweatpants instead. But your post got me thinking–womens’ bodies are designed so differently from mens’, and unless you have a boyish figure–e.g. no rear or hips–pants, especially tight ones like yoga pants or leggings, just aren’t flattering and really aren’t godly in many ways. You post reminded me that we should be portraying Christ in every walk of our lives, even in our exercise outfits! 🙂 Thanks for your blog! I believe it is encouraging and helping more women than you can imagine!

    1. Tess,

      Thanks for reading my blog! I appreciate your comments and honest heart. I agree that it can be difficult not to be tempted to wear immodest clothing on a workout. Thank you for your thoughts!

      Taylor

  3. First of all, you are not talking to yourself in public. People are listening.
    Secondly, THANK YOU for addressing this topic. I recently started taking (adult) ballet classes at a Christian ballet company, and am sort of shocked at the things that some of the teens wear. I know that i wouldn’t be comfortable in just a leotard and tights! I think at that age, even if the class is only teen girls who know each other well, there are so many opportunities to be jealous of someone else’s body, etc, that it’s just best to cover up. I realize that part of the dream and appeal of dancing ballet is in the costumes and dance gear, but I pray that these girls remember they are dancing for an audience of One.

  4. Thanks for sharing this! It sounds crazy, but I hadn’t thought of a simple knit skirt over those tight pants. I do yoga as well as run (or at least I used to run and have dreams of doing it again) but have always struggled to find modest clothes that are functional. The cute and modest stuff they sell on line is SO EXPENSIVE! And even feeling comfortable working out in my own house in a tank top and yoga pants, I never feel comfortable answering the door! The little skirt is a GREAT idea! Appreciate it!

    1. Hi Jenny!
      I’m glad this helped. I hadn;t thought of a skirt over top either but now that’s my #1 solution when I wear leggings to workout in!
      Thanks so much for reading!
      -Taylor

  5. I love the line “There is an idealism that looking ‘sexy’ is the ultimate goal in life and we should share our goals and accomplishments with the world”. Thank you for writing this. I had been convicted before and just stuffed it down and ignored it. Now God is convicting me again and I’m gonna fix this. Thank you.

  6. I know this is an old post, but I just recently found your blog via IG and I also recently started running with my husband. You’ve given me some good ideas about cute, but modest running clothes. I am also a mom of 2, so I do lots of bending and lifting just getting my kiddos in our jogger. LOL! Yeah, I’m gonna go fix that running wardrobe. 😉

    1. Hey Rachel! I’m glad this was helpful for you! I just re-read this yesterday believe it or not. haha! Keep me posted on how it goes! Thanks so much for following along!

  7. Hi – I loved reading this! I have very recently taken up tennis and have struggled to find appropriate tennis gear. All the skirts / skorts are very short and am struggling to find something knee length. I did the full length lycra under a skirt thing today, which was OK but didn’t look great. What I liked about your post though is knowing that this isn’t an issue I face just as a Muslim woman!

  8. Thanks so much for sharing this. I feel like no one else wants to wear modest workout clothes!! I run too and it’s tough to picture myself running down the road in a running skirt, but this post helps me to see it wouldn’t be so bad! I haven’t bought any yet, still looking.

  9. It’s so nice to see someone modest that seems to be speaking my own thoughts. Thanks for sharing so other women don’t have to feel so alone! Seriously.

    As for my own attempts at modest workout clothes… I’ve always struggled with that. I keep going back to jeans cut off just above the knees, lol… I stand out, but at least it’s still cute, comfortable, and modest. I want to find some of those workout capris, those are super cute! I’ll be looking the next time I’m at my local thrift store. 🙂

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