Okay, be honest...

[Trekhawk]

Well... my hair's short enough to get away w'o the cap. Wore the goggles, was glad I did. Everyone else there had them.

While on 'what's kosher and what isn't'...
is there any method that's generally accepted for changing in the locker room? I'm accustomed to the Sauna and hot springs/hippy way of 'changing'. Take it off and go. I just don't want to offend peoples' delicate sensibilities, or come off oddly for just whipping my clothes off. I can kind of 'get' it that one dresses/undresses as quickly as they can practically, but is there anything else to it? People either seem terrified of changing in general, or they 'look' a little more than I'm used to.

Hmmm cant help with that one. Im always in such a hurry and because I live close to the pool I just chuck on a tracksuit over the wet gear and shower when I get home.

[CyclChyk]

I think the whole changing in front of strangers is a comfort/confidence thing. Take me as an example. I can pick my bod apart from top to toe and find fault with everything. Because of that, I am embarassed to show skin in front of people. You won't see me doing it. (YET ) Now, if someone is confident enough and secure enough to strip down to their skivies (sp?) in a locker room than I say go for it. If people stare, let em! (the pervs). Its just jealousy.

And if they don't like it, to quote Knot, F*ck 'em! Besides, they'd probably be too busy looking at your goofy goggles.

[Grog]

Well... my hair's short enough to get away w'o the cap. Wore the goggles, was glad I did. Everyone else there had them.

While on 'what's kosher and what isn't'...
is there any method that's generally accepted for changing in the locker room? I'm accustomed to the Sauna and hot springs/hippy way of 'changing'. Take it off and go. I just don't want to offend peoples' delicate sensibilities, or come off oddly for just whipping my clothes off. I can kind of 'get' it that one dresses/undresses as quickly as they can practically, but is there anything else to it? People either seem terrified of changing in general, or they 'look' a little more than I'm used to.

I just change.

If they go to public locker rooms they should expect to see people changing. If they enjoy watching... euh, good for them.

[Bluetree]

Changing in locker rooms is just a matter of getting used to it. I've noticed a lot of older or heavy ladies who are very shy and change "under" their T-shirt, but most don't give a f*rt. You tend to *notice* other people, but I don't think anyone really stands there and gives others a long onceover. I don't do jumping jacks in the buff, but hey, it's the human body and all is natural and good about it.
My recommendations...
• Modesty aside, you should get out of your wet swim suit as soon as you can. Just like a skanky bike short, bacteria can breed in your goodies so its best to get that area dry and clean as soon aspossible.
• Take some mild swim cleaner with you and rinse the chlorine out of your suit in the sink - it'll last longer. I always head straight to the showers after a swim - as opposed to going home to shower - as the chlorine dries out my hair. On the good side, the chlorine does wonder in clearing up acne!
• Bring some flip-flops with you. You don't want to walk on that floor with god-knows-what on it!
• Locker room etiquette: If you're unpacking or dressing, don't spread your gear all over the place. Try to keep it confined to your small area. It's really annoying when one person's spread their stuff everywhere that I can't open my locker or find a free space to put my bag down.
• Aside from being polite to others, don't worry so much about what other people think... you're there to work out!

[chickwhorips]

i just change and don't care what anyone else thinks. i've even carried on a conversation with a complete stranger while changing.

speaking of pools and swimsuites... congrats on the weightloss.

[Bikingmomof3]

Personally I just change, shower and do not worry what anyone else thinks. I had that attitude when I was a wee thing on the swim team, as a very overweight mom of 3, and now as an in shape older mom of 3.

[DebW]

If you want to be 1/2 modest (or only 1/2 naked) you can strip from the waist down, put on the bottom of your bathing suit, then strip from the waist up and put on the rest of it. Then you can feel like you were never completely naked in front of people. If you perceive that people care about that.

[GulfCoastSwim]

Changing is what locker rooms are for! Heck, we used to do "deck changes" and just strip down under a towel on the pool deck. If anyone makes fun of you for having goggles or changing in the locker room, they have issues.

[spindizzy]

I agree, it is a total comfort thing! I have a friend who would never change in a public changeroom. Me - I drop 'em and go. I initially found it was difficult, - but hey, we all have the same parts - they just vary in shape and size. I'm past caring what other people think of me naked.

[light_sabe_r]

The thing that gets me about the whole changeroom is the spectrum of people in there!

this morning a lady ran into the toilets to change, another walked naked straight out of the shower and was carrying on a conversation as she dried off. Her friend was dressed though.

As a former girl guide (who used to get changed in the cold in a tent with 6 other girls) I'm a big fan of the 50-50 method. ^_^

PS Kit, NOONE at my pool goes without goggles, THAT includes babies for water familiarisation and learn to swim (They look so cute with their goggles on)

[bcipam]

I've always worn swim goggles while in the pool - why do you think it's dorky to wear them???? Most folks (at least at my gym) do. Now if you were talking about ski goggles... well that would be a different thing!

[eclectic]

I've been a pool rat since I was 5 and allowed to go to the pool by myself (in those days, eons ago, we could walk to the pool and hang out all afternoon)

Hey we look like cyclists when we bike so why shouldn't we look like swimmers when we swim???? If I see someone swimming laps w/o a cap or goggles I think "beginner or leisure swimmer"

My geek attire is: basic - Speedo or TYR training suit, Cap, goggles. Now that I am older and wimpier I wear earplugs (got swimmers ear once - I hate it) AND when doing certain drills I wear a noseplug and snorkel. I call it my creature from the deep outfit. I have also worn short fins. The only thing I am missing to complete the total nerd look are the waterwings

In regards to goggles buy good quality ones (the $12 ones instead of the $5) I buy women's Speedo Vanquishers. They seal really well. When tightened up for competition I can do a racing dive and they don't budge (they also pop your eyeballs out but hey the race is only 100meters ) On any other given day I loosen them. another good thing about them is they come with different nose peices so they can adjust to fit different faces.

Downside to goggles are the racoon eyes from them - they leave semi permanent indentations in my face (back in the day the skin "popped" out faster)

I also wear a swim cap whether my hair is long or short. anything to help prevent chlorine damage is a good thing.

ANOTHER thing is to buy some chlorine ridding rinse for your suit (I can't remember what it is called I will have to look at it when I go home) Chlorine will literally disintegrate the spandex in the suit. Swimming 1 hour 3 days a week - a $60 suit only lasts about 4 months

I always start my shower with my suit on (when I wash my hair out) so I can get as much of the chlorine rinsed out as possible. then I use a good moisturizing soap to get the chlorine off my skin. I never wait to get home just because I hate to have the chlorine on my skin that long

Re locker room etiquette, we have an adult women's only locker room which helps. Most everyone wears underwear, suit or towel to and from the shower but strips to the buff to change (there is even one older, very overweight lady that goes to water aerobics and she strips down in public, i just think way to go for her to be out doing it).

[Bluetree]

Downside to goggles are the racoon eyes from them - they leave semi permanent indentations in my face (back in the day the skin "popped" out faster)

I showed up for a meeting with a client with indentations around my eyes! What a way to leave an "impresssion."

Yeah, I know what you mean by Chlorine Skin. Sometimes I'd swim in the morning and go running in the evening. As soon as I start building a run-sweat, here comes that chlorine smell!

[JmcG]

As for the goggles - how else would you swim and know where you're going and make sure you're not bumping into people (unless you like having chlorine stinging your eyes by opening them under water)? I always wear goggles and a swim cap - what's dorky about that? That's what we wore when I was on the swim team - plus the swim cap makes you that much more hydrodynamic! If you ever do a triathlon, you have to wear an authorized swimcap that's usually color-coded per your age group and may or may not have your # on it.

As for changing in the locker room - the pool I swim at, people are free about their bodies! Especially the older women. I think it's great. Some people will wipe down their bodies with a towel, then put it on their head and stay in the nude while putting on lotion, their makeup, etc. Nobody stares and nobody cares. Oh, and there are no shower stalls - it's one big open area with about 10 shower heads all in a row. People talk and carry on lively conversations while showering next to each other!