Melissa Mantor, who is 18 weeks pregnant, was finally feeling good enough to go to the gym for the first time in a month on Monday night. But those good feelings didn't last long. After running on the treadmill for about 10 minutes at her local gym, Planet Fitness in West Ashley, S.C., an employee asked her change her clothes or leave the gym. Her outfit was in violation of the dress code because her top was riding up, exposing part of her stomach.





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“They advertise everywhere that it’s a ‘Judgment Free Zone,’” Mantor tells Yahoo Shine. “But I’ve never felt so judged in my life.”





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According to the 31-year-old, who has been a member at the same franchise for almost three years. the gym hasn’t had any issues with her clothing in the past. In fact, she says the tank top she was wearing the night in question was the same one (in a different color) she had on when the club took her membership photo.

“What frustrates me the very most about all of this is that it’s really hard to get the motivation, pregnant or not pregnant, just to go to the gym,” says Mantor, who is also the mother of a 3-year-old daughter. “You go to the gym to feel good about yourself and be healthy. The last thing that people want to hear is that their body that they’re trying to take care of is offensive and needs to be covered up.”

The West Ashley Planet Fitness location directed all inquiries to its corporate office, which provided a statement that company policy prohibits jeans, boots, men’s string tank tops, or revealing clothing. The local club Mantor belongs to is one that also prohibits bare midriffs.

Because of the timing — it was her first visit to the gym with a noticeable baby bump — Mantor wonders if this happened because she’s expecting a child. “I do feel like I was singled out at that moment to be approached with this matter,” she says. “Because it never happened before. Why now? Why today?”

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While the gym offered her a free T-shirt in order to continue her workout, the employee handed her a men’s large. “That was more offensive to me, personally,” she says. “It made matters worse, it didn’t make it better. I shouldn’t feel like I’m that repulsive that I need to cover my body up like that.” Mantor told the employee that she wanted to cancel her membership because of the way she was being treated, and, she says, the worker responded, "If you don’t comply we’re going to have to revoke." Feeling defeated and deflated, Mantor walked right out.

After Mantor canceled her membership a few days later and made repeated calls to attempt to speak with the club manager, she eventually received a call from the franchise owner who apologized and offered her a few free months. Planet Fitness corporate also says that they're working with the franchise owner to clarify the dress code policy moving forward. But she says she won’t be rejoining anytime soon because she doesn't feel comfortable setting foot in that particular gym.

While the Planet Fitness mission statement touts that it strives to be an environment in which anyone can be comfortable, recent incidents prove otherwise. In March, Tiffany Austin was working out at the Richmond, Calif., location when she was asked to cover up (with a free T-shirt) because she was intimidating people with her toned body. Austin, who is a law school graduate, told MSNBC's the Grio she is considering filing a lawsuit if there’s indeed a pattern recognized by others at various facilities. Another woman has already brought a suit against Planet Fitness for discrimination after a club employee allegedly told her to remove a headscarf that she wears for religious purposes.

Mantor isn't sure about a lawsuit, but does want to make sure she's heard. "I’m going to stick up for women, for pregnant people," she says. "It’s time for this gym to wake up and realize they can’t do this to people."

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