Is it possible to be too toned to work out? At a Planet Fitness location in Richmond, California, apparently the answer is yes. Earlier this week, Tiffany Austin was walking on a treadmill when a staff member approached her and instructed her to cover up her halter-top, according to the NY Daily News. Why? Austin’s fellow gym-goers were complaining that her toned body was intimidating them.
Â
Austin agreed to put a shirt over her tank, but before she could, another employee came up to her with the same request. (She then smartly took things up with the management.)
Â
Hi, um, Planet Fitness? Voice of reason here. This is called body shaming—even if it’s targeted at someone whose body happens to be in good shape. Not exactly what you would expect from a gym that bills itself as a “judgment-free zone.†Shouldn’t that philosophy apply to all customers, including ones who happen to have great physiques?Â
Â
Maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised, though. After all, this is the same gym franchise that got rid of a squat rack because it, too, was intimidating some members. (Check out Men’s Health‘s editorial on this topic.)
Of course, on the flip side, gym-related anxieties are very real for many people. But instead of removing useful equipment (which these weight-lifting tips for newbies will help anyone use) or relying on other members to change their habits, we recommend you put these ways to overcome gymtimidation into practice.
MORE: How NOT to Be the Awkward New Kid in Your Fitness Class Â