Weird problem - shoulders in summer

[FitFossil]

This is weird. Now that it's getting hot, everyone is wearing sleeveless tops. You'd think I couldn't wait to wear one since I've been working out like a mofo, but now I sort of feel strange baring my shoulders in public. (I work out in a sports bra all the time and for some reason it doesn't bother me at the gym.) They aren't anything close to bodybuilder quality but more like a fitness style, and personally, I am very proud of them.

Sometimes people I don't even know compliment me. On one hand it makes me feel good, but I feel sort of embarrased and guilty too. It's gotten so bad that if I know I'll be seeing certain people who always make favorable comments, I'll purposely not wear anything sleeveless. Even though they're being nice, it makes me feel weird.

Why do I feel this way?! I worked really hard for this. Everyone else is wearing sleevelss tops (even if they never worked out!) and it's not stopping them. Why me?! Anyone else ever feel this way? How do you get over it? I want to be proud, #ammit!

 

[Sassy69]

Hold your head up high and strut your stuff Fit - you earned it! If people notice, you can just say "Yea, I work out a little bit - you know, just to keep in shape".

I personally can't stand to wear sleeves so I'm always in some sort of tank top and a long sleeve jacket or sweater. Though since I'm "HUGE" as Lobo put it, I'm a little self conscious about wearing anything less than baggy. (This will change soon tho!)

 

[strongchick]

hmm. Having a built bod is like being a celebrity, kinda. People you don't know stop to talk to you. If you are in the mood for harassment or questioning, bare it all.

I can't even wear fitting sweaters without at least one fitness conversation, so I empathize. It's a tough life, being hot

 

[strongchick]

hey fitfossil...

feeling better about wearing sleeveless tops in the heat?

 

[IwannabeLita]

Hey! You should be proud to show off all that hard work! It's not like you're putting on a thong and walking down the beach, hun! And when people compliment, often times they wish they had what you do! Be proud and gutsy and just wear that tank top! And Have a nice weekend!

 

[new@gettinbig]

Hmmm cant say i have that problem, I only cover up my arms at work.....and that is mostly because i have a tattoo on my arm. SHOW WHAT YOU WORKED FOR!!! Most people lack a good toned physique. They have saggin arms and terrible, small shoulders. You sweat for them babies so dont be ashamed or emabarrassed!!! There is no reason to be.....r u shy??? People are going to look, some will compliment you and some will stare, only because you are different and you will stand out in a crowd. Its not the norm. I get some really evil stares and i get a few compliments to. People dont know what to say or think.......its summer...soon it will be winter and you need to flaunt it while you can

 

[wilson6]

My favorite look is the one where the middle age women wear skimpy tops in the summer time and their bra straps sink so far into the fat on their shoulders, they disappear. They are the ones that should be wearing sleeves, not you FF.

W6

 

[luv2workout]

I understand how you feel about covering up when going around certain people - I have a tendency to do that around my family b/c most of them are overweight and they have NO problems making comments about me and my working out, my eating habits..that sort of thing...They act like I am strange b/c it is very important to me...

Its been HOT here and Ive been in sleeveless shirts for months...once you wear a few sl.shirts out - I think you will feel better and it wont bother you as much....

 

[jazziemel]

Girl, show your shoulders why not? I live in miami, so wearing sleeveless shirts keep me cool, but I wear them all the time, I love my shoulders and arms. The only thing I hate, is when people come up to me and say "Damn you must workout" or "How much can you lift" It can be bothersome. At least I know my hard work is paying off.

 

[keiko]

I think a lot depends on the style. It might be that a halter or bustier is actually more flattering to you than a wife-beater, even though they show more skin. Or maybe a tank top with a different neck line than a moderate scoop might be better. I know that I look better with a slightly wider strap than a bra-style strap, but with a deeper neck, and while I'm not all that massive, I'm much bigger than your average soccer mom.

 

[Superbabe]

keiko, what's a wife beater?

 

[wilson6]

L2W,

Next time family members make comments about your fitness lifestyle just tell them this. "Listen, I don't go around giving you shit about being a bunch of sedentary fat ass f**ks, so please keep the snide remarks to yourselves and have a little more courtesy." You might be more diplomatic because it's family, but I usually find it best to drop bombs first, then use diplomacy to restructure what's left. Less issues to deal with

W6

 

[new@gettinbig]

My family members and friends used to ask..why do you do that??? why do you eat so much?? why u want all that muscle....we had one conversation i told them it is what i do, i plan to get bigger, and i plan to compete for a long time sooooo...get used to it and dont ask questions. My close family is supportive and has no problems but those that did, just dont tell it to my face anymore. They dont understand so dont even try to explain or make sense of it to them! u are wasting your breath!!!!!!

Thats what i like about w6...blunt and to the point, no bull shit...thats what i like!

 

[strongchick]

YEAH! What she said!

 

[keiko]

Sbabe-a wife-beater is a guy's sleeveless undershirt, with low arm holes, mod. low neck. You know, like the goombas wear on national TV. I'm sure the monicker came from a pejorative meaning.

 

[americkan woman]

You know, I've been feeling the same way this summer. Last year I still had a good layer of blubber on my upper body so the muscularity wasn't as evident, but this year I'm really defined above and from a BB point of view, my back is my best feature. So while in general I'm pretty proud of what I've done with myself, I sometimes feel uncomfortable in the popular little camisoles and, god forbid, my bikinis because people's comments make me feel really akward/freakish I mean, on the one hand the comments can be very flattering and sensitive, on the other, there are people like the jackass in the grocery store the other day who came to a screeching halt in front of me and said loudly "Damn, how does a woman get so jacked?" Guess you had to be there, but I felt like half the store came to a halt to check me out.

But in the end, I'm doing this for me and me alone and it has been a particularly tough decision in some cases because for instance my husband really does NOT appreciate the "jacked" look on a woman and takes every opportunity to suggest a lighter training program....I guess you just gotta take your lumps for doing something that puts you in a minority and just tell everyone to

 

[luv2workout]

W6 & New

I should have read this before I went to the family camp yesterday..LOL...I brought along my lil ice chest which had 2 chicken breast, an apple, a can of tuna and a sweet potatoe....my aunt, who I havent seen in a year said "oh pleez just promise me you wont end up looking like those women on t.v - that is so GROSS!!! I coulda,shoulda, woulda said something - but I didnt....

 

[FitFossil]

Yep! I'm definitely feeling better about wearing sleeveless stuff (and short stuff too to show off those brand new righteous calves I've been building).

Thanks to everyone for the pep talks. I decided to just GET OVER myself. For 1) it's too damn hot to worry about it, 2) I'm getting used to the compliments, dirty looks, or whatever, and 3) I've worked hard and I'm going to enjoy it!

Yes, it's true I've always had a shyness problem, and one thing that goes with that was trying to disappear into the background. The bodybuilding has changed that for me. It doesn't let me blend in physically anymore, so I've had to just face up to being more outgoing. Thanks all!

 

[strongchick]

So while in general I'm pretty proud of what I've done with myself, I sometimes feel uncomfortable in the popular little camisoles and, god forbid, my bikinis because people's comments make me feel really akward/freakish I mean, on the one hand the comments can be very flattering and sensitive, on the other, there are people like the jackass in the grocery store the other day who came to a screeching halt in front of me and said loudly "Damn, how does a woman get so jacked?" Guess you had to be there, but I felt like half the store came to a halt to check me out.

But in the end, I'm doing this for me and me alone and it has been a particularly tough decision in some cases because for instance my husband really does NOT appreciate the "jacked" look on a woman and takes every opportunity to suggest a lighter training program....I guess you just gotta take your lumps for doing something that puts you in a minority and just tell everyone to

I'm WAY into bb'ing myself...no, people don't screech to a halt when they see me, but they do look at me.

I'm no where near 'jacked'. Crazy thing is, I wouldn't mind looking more 'jacked'. But I can't help but wonder what the deal is with not liking the attention, but wanting the results.

If you are not competing, why do we do this? If it is for health, then why not just do a moderate program?

Speaking for myself...I'm just plain pissed off at the world and myself for being overfat in the past...overfat because of all the myths about being female. All the 'can'ts' and 'shouldn'ts'.

I like the muscle I'm building because it makes a statement...'YOU CANNOT TELL ME HOW TO LIVE...I WILL FORCIBLY ERASE YOUR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MY SUPPOSED LIMITATIONS. WHEN YOU SEE ME YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR YOURSELF ANYMORE BECAUSE I AM AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO IGNORE MALE CONTROL OVER MY PERSON.'

aaaahhhhhh. i feel better now.