As I write this, I’ve just realized that I left my workout
gloves at home and the worst part is that its upper body day; which means I’ll
be lifting a lot of dumbbells. It’s the most annoying thing when you forget
your gloves because I doubt anyone is keen on getting palm blisters. However,
the most irritating thing to leave at home is your earphones; I am not even
exaggerating when I say I would rather miss the gym than go without my music. Call
it being petty or skiving, all I know is that I need MY playlist and not the music
they play at the gym. (I am I alone in this struggle?)
Anyway! Let’s get into it. Leaving my gears at home inspired
me to write an article on the items that you should prioritize to buy if you
are starting out this gym thing (as most people would call it). When I started
out, nobody gave me any advice or tips for that matter. I simply threw myself
in the deep end and got blisters, knee injuries and even wasted money on the
wrong activewear. But this doesn’t have to happen to you 😊,
so here are my top 9 items that I encourage you to buy to make your workout
more enjoyable.
The 9 Gym Must-Haves for Ladies
1. Water Bottle (Water is life)
I don’t mean any random empty water bottle lying around your
kitchen counter or your bedroom desk. Get yourself a fun water bottle, and
preferably one that can fill up to 2 liters. You will be losing a lot of water
through sweat when you are working out, you will need to recover every drop of
it. Unless you want to faint from dehydration or make countless trips to the
water dispenser to keep topping up your bottle 😊.
2. The Right Shoes
You will need to buy a good pair of sneakers, but not just
any sneakers.
Before you go out and buy a new pair of shoes, it's
important to be aware of what you'll be using them for. People who do a lot of
running need to focus on a totally different set of needs than those that plan
on doing a lot of heavy lifting. I have realized its best to have two pairs of
sneakers; one for running (outdoors), and another for training at the gym.
Training shoes are for multi-directional movement, and especially side-to-side movement like the side squats, etc. The sole of a
training shoe is more flexible to allow a wide range of movement. Someone
should have warned me sigh!
Running shoes, on the other hand, are for ‘heel-to-toe’
movement (literally running). They protect your feet when pounding the ground
repeatedly as you are doing your hikes or marathons. These help with forward
movement and they cushion your heel by having a higher heel drop than training
shoes. Just remember, running shoes have a higher heel drop for added support
and cushioning.
If your wallet is not cooperating, ask for the multi-purpose
sports shoes that can be used for both running and training. :-)
3. Ankle socks
Ankle socks are best for the gym because your legs feel
lighter and freer to all kinds of movement. Ankle socks also allow your shin to
breathe. We can’t be wearing school uniform socks at the gym (you know the ones
you fold??). If you are reading this, as lawyers would say it, please cease and
desist from wearing anything that goes above your ankles in the gym. It’s not a
good look. Trust me
Choosing the wrong pair for a workout can also irritate your
skin and ultimately cause blisters while other socks will keep sliding under
your heel (how annoying). Close your eyes and just invest in some good colorful pairs.
4. Capris leggings/yoga pants
From my experience, yoga pants are the most comfortable to
wear in the gym. They are light on your body which doesn’t limit your movement
and you can comfortably do your squats without having to worry about them
getting ripped. Make sure you buy pants that have polypropylene, nylon, and
spandex. (The tag inside the pants should indicate the type of material it is)
I see many people wearing long, baggy pants which can be a
hazard. The clothes tend to catch on exercise machines like stationary bikes,
where the hem can get stuck on the pedals or the water bottle holder. You also
don’t want to be seen wearing sweat pants in the gym, especially if they are
grey in color and there is a huge sweat patch between your thighs. Sweat pants
should be worn before or after the gym.
The right leggings put a smile on your face, even Kelly
Rowland agrees! ;-)
5. Gym Vests/ Top/ Tank Vest/ Sports Bra
There are so many variations! You want to have either
sleeveless or long-sleeved vests for the gym. I find short sleeves to be the
most comfortable because your armpits have ample breathing space. Again the
material is crucial, pick any material that has polyester, nylon or tencel.
Don’t just buy a random vest from a shop and call it your work out gear. Go to
a sports shop and pick a vest that is specifically for working out 😊.
Most importantly, have fun with your picks. The more fun and colorful your
vests are, the more you'll enjoy the workout!
6. Headband
If you love your hairline, you want to get a headband! Since
you will be sweating, you want to keep your hairline dry as possible by
reducing the amount of sweat it will be exposed to. Wearing a headband also
holds the sweat and prevents it from flooding your face. I try to match my
headbands to the color of my ankle socks.
7. Hand gloves
I used to think hand blisters are a myth or an exaggeration,
but they are not. If you love your hands, you'll want to invest in two pairs
that you can interchange during the week. They also help with getting a better
grip on the weights if you have sweaty palms 😊. Make sure you get a
pair that has enough cushion to protect your hands from all the lifting.
8. Earphones
This one for me is crucial! I always have emergency earphones in case I forget my main pair at home. It doesn’t matter the brand, but
if you can afford it, get yourself a sports-friendly pair that can curve around
your ears (like the Beats by Dre sports version) or a pair that can be tucked
comfortably into your ears because of all the running. You don’t want them to
be sliding out of your ears every 3 minutes while you are working out. Soon
I’ll be posting some of my favorite playlists that take me through my routines
:)
9. Gym bag
Get yourself a funky gym bag to put all these items. Now you
are ready to hit the gym! :-)