As you set out to begin your brand new workout program, one thing that you must be sure is in order before you step foot into your gym is that you have appropriate clothing and gear chosen
While many people will feel that it’s very important that they look good while in the gym and as such go after all the latest styles that come out, there is more to consider than just how good you look.
If you want to get your best workout in and make the most progress possible with your routine, then you must take into account a few other factors when choosing what to wear.
Let’s take a quick look at the main things you should know about dressing for the gym.
Wear Comfortably Fitting Clothing
The very first thing that you must be sure you’re doing is wearing comfortably fitting clothing. One of the biggest mistakes that some people make is wearing clothing that is too tight just because it’s the ‘latest fashion’ as pointed out in the introduction.
If your clothing is restricting your range of movement in any way at all, this will significantly hinder your workout performance.
Likewise though, you also want to be sure your clothing isn’t too baggy, making it difficult to move. Those who are carrying quite a bit of excess weight may try to hide it under clothing that is two sizes too large, but really this is just going to work against them.
It’s important that you do feel comfortable and confident in the clothing that you choose to wear but at the same time, you must be sure that you can easily execute all the various exercises that you plan to do.
In some cases your clothing selection will vary based around what specific form of exercise you’re doing. For instance you may not wear the same clothing to a yoga class as you would if you were going for an hour long run.
Take your activity into account and be sure to choose appropriate clothing for that specific form of exercise.
Choose Good Footwear
Moving on, the next thing that you should keep in mind when selecting what to wear to the gym is that you have proper footwear.
Footwear will make a big difference on your performance and there are certain types of footwear that cater towards different activities.
For example, if you’re doing distance running versus sprinting, you’ll want to be wearing a different type of shoe. While you may be able to interchange these two if you’re not all that intense into your training, if you want optimal performance, then using a shoe that caters to the form of running you’re doing will be essential.
Additionally, you can also purchase weight lifting shoes that have more flexibility in their sole than a typical running shoe would, so if you’re going to be strictly performing weight lifting activities, then these are the shoes you’ll want to be in.
If you plan to perform both cardio and weight lifting in the same workout, then you can get the best of both worlds by using a cross training shoe which should provide the support you need for cardio and running activities while also being comfortable enough to wear throughout your weight lifting workouts.
Be Sure You Have Good Support
For the ladies out there who are working out regularly, you’ll want to make sure that you have a very good sports bra while in the gym as well. Nothing proves to be more uncomfortable than when you’re not supported correctly, so look into a variety of different styles and options to choose a bra that fits and functions as you wish.
Men may also want to consider different forms of undergarments as well to ensure that they are comfortable throughout whatever form of exercise they plan to include.
Leave Scented Body Products At Home
Finally, the last thing to note about what to wear in the gym is that you should avoid using any strongly scented perfumes, soaps, deodorants, and so on. These can quickly irritate many of the other gym-goers and while you may enjoy the scent you’re sporting, they may not.
Show respect for the others in the gym and stick to non-scented body products as much as possible. Be sure that you are using a good antiperspirant or deodorant however, as not using one can be just as bothersome to others as using a heavily scented one is.
So there you have the main things to remember when dressing yourself for the gym. Remember that you’re not there to make a fashion statement but get in a good workout and feel comfortable. This doesn’t mean you can’t look good while you do your workout, but it does mean that fashion should not be the top priority when choosing your workout attire.
