Essential Gym Gear
Fitness has always been a crucial part of our lives, from improving mental and physical health to creating friendship groups, and generating business inquiries. The gym is a great place to start your fitness journey and improve your well-being. Before you begin, however, you need to make sure you’re prepared and ready for your workout. Ensuring you have the essential gym bag gear before your workout means that you can focus on the task ahead, without any niggling distractions. Preparing before, during, and after your gym session can provide you with peace of mind that the only stress you’re putting on yourself is by lifting those heavyweights. We’ve outlined some of the essential pieces of gym kit you might need to work up a sweat.
Before Workout
You’re raring to get up and go in the morning for your workout, but, remembering that preparation is key, you start to organize your kit and gear the night before. If a neat and tidy gym bag sitting on the side, ready and waiting for you in the morning isn’t enough motivation to get up and go, we don’t know what is. Make sure you invest in a decent gym bag, something sturdy and robust that won’t soak up the hard-earned sweat from your gym towel. If you’re walking or running to the gym, invest in a rucksack so that you don’t put any undue strain on your back. A holdall might be more beneficial if you don’t have far to go. You should also include a lock for storing your items away at the gym, as well as some spare workout clothes, to either change into after or to take advantage of a double workout. Make sure your gym trainers are also ready and waiting for you, with some durable socks to fight against foot odor and stop your toes from rubbing. Keep your gym card or fob to hand too as you don’t want to miss a workout, just because you’ve been hunting high and low for your entry point. Top up your water bottle too and keep it in the fridge, so you have ice cold water to keep you hydrated throughout.
During Workout
A cooling towel is an important piece of gym kit and one that tends to get overlooked. During your workout, you’ll exert a lot of effort, which means sweat, sweat, and more sweat. It’s common knowledge that not wiping down your gym gear after use for the next person is frowned upon – and it’s also pretty gross. Having a cooling towel not only keeps your body dry and refreshed, but also allows you to keep up with gym etiquette and wipe down any machinery you might have used. Make sure you keep your water bottle topped up throughout your workout too, to replenish any important electrolytes lost through exercise. Whilst working out, keep track of how well your gym shoes are performing for you. Are they too tight or too loose? Do the laces keep coming undone? Are they years old and therefore completely out of fashion? Whatever the reason, if you need new gym or CrossFit shoes, invest wisely and read numerous reviews before purchasing. These are probably the most essential part of your gym bag – well, as well as clothes, that is!
Technology
It’s strange to think how we actually managed our fitness routines before all this great technology came onto the market. With so many fitness trackers and exercise apps out there, it can be daunting to know which are the best to go for. However, if you are looking to track you progress and improve your techniques and fitness levels, then investing in this technology is an essential part of your gym bag. You smart phone can double up as a fitness tracker, with built-in pedometers or even workout schedules and routines. If you don’t fancy carrying your phone throughout a workout, try a smartwatch, perfect for tracking calories burnt and your heart rate. There are so many different types of fitness trackers out there, that you’ll be spoilt for choice, Whatever you fitness goals, there’s a tool for the job to measure and provide the insights that you need. If we’ve still not convinced you to take the leap into fitness technology, then why not invest in some wireless workout headphones? Wireless earphones are the perfect way to feel completely technology free, but still enjoy your music or podcasts whilst you work out. This will help you feel motivated and focus on your workout – but just make sure you charge them properly before commencing on a mammoth session.
Hygiene
Well done! You’ve smashed that workout and now it’s time to cool down and relax. Most gyms provide shower facilities, and this is great if you’re planning on going straight to work or out on the town. But before you head off, you’ll need a few essential gym bag items that will leave you feeling refreshed and clean. Make sure you pack travel size bottles of shampoo and body wash, so that spillages are lessened, but you still end up smelling great. Invest in a big enough body towel for drying yourself thoroughly so that you don’t end up feeling sweaty and damp afterwards. It’s also important to include a pair of cheap flip flops in your bag too – these don’t take up a lot of room and lessen your risk of picking up Athlete’s Foot or even a verruca. Invest in some strong deodorant or antiperspirant too. After you’ve finished working out and even after you’ve showered, you’re probably likely to continue perspiring slighting, so using a decent product is a sure-fire way to keep those smells at bay. Other items you could include, if necessary for you:
- Hairbrush
- Spare underwear
- Antifungal spray
- Contact lens products and solutions
- Glasses
- First aid kit (or at the very least, some blister plasters)
Aftercare
You’re clean, you’re groomed, and you smell great. Before you head out on your way, think about aftercare. Invest in a soothing muscle rub if you’re feeling the strain from an intense workout. There are plenty of options on the market; it’s just finding the right one for you. One of the most important parts of gym aftercare is ensuring your replenish your body in the right way. There’s no point undoing all that hard work by gorging on unhealthy food. Instead, educate yourself on the best protein powder for you. Whatever your fitness goals, there’s a fitness power and protein shake that can provide you with the right options for your needs. Even if you’re looking to slim down or bulk up, protein powder can offer a helping hand in achieving your dream body. Make sure you purchase a robust protein shaker too. Skimping on this part can mean you end up with spillages and leaks, which is not ideal. Blend your shake before you leave the house, so you simply grab your protein shaker from your gym locker or car and drink it down. High-quality shakers also ensure that your shake isn’t lumpy and full of bits. Protein powder is a great way to build muscle, repair any tissue damage, potentially lower blood pressure, and aid your body’s natural defenses.
Sources:
- An Athlete’s Gym Bag Essentials, Very Well Fit
- 12 things every guy should carry in his gym bag, Bussiness Insider
- 10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Whey Protein, Health Line
