Yep, you read that right. What's a sure-fire way to feel more comfortable in the locker room and then, by default, more confident in your gym setting? Well it starts by making yourself vulnerable. Don't write me off quite yet. Think of your best relationship. You started off as strangers, and letting that other person see your vulnerable side was terrifying, right? But then something happened. It started to feel wonderful. You realized that your S/O was not there to judge what you consider your flaws and once you realized that he or she accepted you in your natural state, you felt better about it as well. That's not to say that you need another person to validate your own self-love, because you don't. Just to illustrate that getting vulnerable and exposing yourself to others takes courage, and can serve to boost your confidence as well.
The Rugrats were onto something and Tommy was for sure channeling some wiser than his years mojo when he embraced being "nakey". For those of you who shower at your gyms, you know the awkward shuffle in that way-too-small-to-be-called-a-large towel that the locker room provides (unless you're at a super fancy gym with actual, quality towels in which case I'm kinda jealous of you). You waddle over to your locker, holding your clothes, toiletries, etc. and pretending half of your booty isn't hanging out. That's what I used to do. I used to rush over to my locker in my eeny-weeny towel and get dressed as quickly as possible. I was scared. I worried,
What if someone sees that redness on my skin?
What if they get grossed out by my tummy jiggling?
Is it inappropriate to be standing around in my underwear?
Well, Touchette definitely made these women seen and was shocked by how many became passionate about showcasing their beautiful bodies (Read the full story here). What I want you to take away from this is that being exposed in your locker room is not only completely normal, but empowering.
I encourage you to empower yourself by taking the bare plunge into nakey-ness.
You can start slow. I did. I began wearing my eeny-weeny towel out of the shower still, and trying to dress more slowly at my locker. Being conscious not to try and cover myself up out of embarrassment. Eventually I challenged myself to shed the towel completely, and strut myself across the room in my beautiful, naked state. Nobody stared. Nobody cared. And I felt so confident. This confidence has enabled me to go for new exercises and routines I'd been wary to try. It's helped me tremendously to stop making comparisons to other women in the gym.
It may seem silly, or scary, but strip it down. And see how your confidence soars.