The clothes we
wear have become as streamlined as the gadgets we use, especially in
activewear, but one thing you may not have considered when getting dressed is
âdoes my bulge look big in this?â
Yes, we get
it, as if re-immersing yourself back into society wasnât hard enough, you now
have to be aware of if youâre exposing too much, too soon. Now donât get us
wrong, this has always been a concern especially if you work hard and likes to
show off your physique however now there is a new element to take into account
because youâve probably undergone a reconditioning period, where youâve become
accustomed to the freedom of dressing and acting without fear of judgment.
So if that
sounds familiar, you may need to retrain your brain and be a little more
considerate the next time you decide to work out in public (especially in the
gym) because just because you may feel comfortable, doesnât mean everyone
around you is too.
For a majority
of us, the swift swap from wearing regular clothing to slipping into soft,
cozy, and stretchy fabrics was easy, because no one had the strength to endure
yet another restriction, especially if the enforcer was our clothes. So now
that gyms
are open, switching to smooth sportswear that snugly fits like a second
layer of skin sounds supportive, right? Well, it depends.
The evolution
of gym wear has come a long way, thanks to technology and science which has
helped facilitate everyone from Olympic athletes to mere exercise enthusiasts,
to perform at their best with lightweight, breathable, and astonishingly thin
ply.
On the other
hand, less fabric can often mean less visible protection, meaning a higher
chance of noticeable erect nips, VPLs (visible penis lines and also panty
lines), and camel toe whilst you are getting in the zone. Although is this a
bad thing or part of human nature?
We took a poll
with a range of people to see whether they personally felt comfortable
revealing or concealing their body parts and even though the results leaned
more towards concealing, most added it was based on personal preference not
based on the judgment of others.
Kelly Newton,
the founder of Bp3
Underwear created her brand out of necessity because she plays
hockey, works out several times a week, and âbasically lives in tight gym
legging but hates VPL [visible panty lines]â and thatâs why it was so important
for her to offer a product that provides comfort and support whether her
customers are PMSing and just living an active lifestyle. Newton also added
that since launching, all her customers have often been pleasantly surprised
and celebrated that the fact that her underwear has no VPL and hides their
camel toes â which is great that she is plugging a gap in the market but
itâs a shame that weâve got to this stage where we find it a bonus to not look
as if weâre wearing a normal item of clothing that most of us do every day.
However, if
you think this sort of prudence is only directed at women (even though for the
most part, it often is) think again, as a quick search online using keywords
such as âmen, gym, and bulgeâ will have you inundated with threads from Reddit,
Quora, and Twitter on debates such as whether âmen should wear running leggings
without wearing shorts on topâ and âhow to hide your penis whilst wearing gym
shortsâ.
Oh, and how
could we forget the number of Buzzfeed articles dedicated to the âbest
celebrity bulgesâ and ârelatable problems for guys with big bulgesâ. For some
reason, we just seem to be obsessed with what we canât see or be offended by
what other people have to offer.
If You're in
Need of Extra Support and Coverage Below the Belt
The thickness
of sports pants is decreasing, itâs a fact; and following at its tailgate is
the amount of coverage available, as brands focus their attention on producing
durable and moisture-resist items, not sparing a second thought for the
conservatives out there.
So whether
youâre a grower or a shower, investing in items that include built-it soft cups
or jockstraps and, wearing compression
underwear can give you peace of mind because no one wants to look
like John Travolta in Perfect, no-body.
Although if
you have been gifted with a package that is reminiscent of Adam Demosâ
character in that unforgettable gym shower scene, then youâll need
reinforcements such as double
layered pants, netted
shorts, and â you guessed it â your new best-friend, compression
clothing.
See, you
should never feel discouraged from exercising for fear of feeling
exposed, no
matter what your age, and wearing compression clothing allows you to
feel protected whilst doing so. Also, studies have shown that wearing either
compartmental (made for specific body parts and sports) or graduated (used
during workouts for the core) compression helps increase blood flow
circulation, prevent swelling and inflammation, and speed up recovery after
intense workouts.
What about
days when youâve forgotten to prep or just need external reassurance when
youâre deadlifting? Why not try a dick towel, for size, favored by âThe Rockâ
for helping him wipe his sweaty hands during reps and worn âalways tucked in
the front, mid-waistband, and hanging betwixt the hip bonesâ as described in
detail by Jezebel's Tracy Clark-Floryby, itâs great for spur of the moment
sessions.
Is There a
Bulge Etiquette?
Itâs
fascinating how judgmental some of us can be when it comes to bulges and we
understand, there is a time and a place to reveal your inner exhibitionist, but
when you are going about your business and trying not to draw attention to
yourself, why should someone feel the need to call you out, on being able to
see something on your body?
On a recent
Reddit/Twitter thread, a man shared his story of how on two different
occasions, when he was wearing compression shorts in the gym, he was approached
by two women who deemed his choice of pants inappropriate but added that no one
else including the gym staff approached him, so he took to AITA to see if he
was in the wrong. Now, letâs imagine this scenario was reversed and a man
commented on a womanâs visible nips or camel toe and told her how she should
cover up, it wouldnât be okay, so why is it the case vice versa?
In situations
like this, itâs best to be considerate because for most people exercise is a
form of therapy and an outlet to help them clear their minds.
Also, exercise
and body image can be delicate and often trigger sore spots, so itâs advised to
be mindful because we arenât aware of whatâs going on in someone elseâs life, so
if someone has taken the steps to workout to potentially escape from their
current situation, the last thing they need is to feel insecure about a normal
part of the human anatomy.
We all have
sexual organs and we shouldnât be made to feel uncomfortable about the fact and
as long, as itâs not popping out unwarrantedly to say hello or touching you
unsolicitedly, we should embrace our bodies because we werenât made in a
factory and shouldnât be striving to resemble unrealistic smooth and seamless
body standards.
SOURCE: ASK MEN DOT COM
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