Photo Credit: imagerymajestic
Ever see someone the gym who just looks…out of place? And I’m not talking weight-wise. No matter your size, you belong in a gym exercising and getting healthy. We are talking about those who don’t really know how to dress the part. We aren’t saying a first-time gym visitor should know the perfect look to rock at the gym. But we are here to help enlighten you all on what makes sense to wear to a workout facility, and what looks may get some unwanted stares and whispers.
NEVER WEAR
1. Silly amounts of make-up, you are here to sweat and it looks ridiculous! Imagine looking like a melted wax candle mid-workout! No one will think you look great with a full face at your boot camp class. Instead they’ll think, “hey! Why is that weirdo all done up like she’s going to prom?” Save the cake make-up for the rest of your day.
2. Too much perfume or cologne can cause you to clear out an entire section of the gym. Too much make-up only affects you. Too much cologne can make everyone around you sick to their stomach. No one wants to take a deep breath and inhale your extreme floral odor, so stick to no more than one or two squirts of a milder body spray if you must. A clean body with deodorant is ideal though.
3. Loose shorts with no underwear is a definite NO-NO. You need to either wear spandex under your shorts or wear more form-fitting shorts with built-in underwear. Showing your stuff while training your abs is nasty. Keep your private parts private!
Just say “no” to camel toe.
4. Spandex pants without underwear – just say “no” to Camel Toe. Wearing spandex pants with no underwear does prevent panty lines, but think about the front of your pants as well. If you are wearing tight spandex without underwear, you are likely to have your pants ride up, leaving all sorts of bumps and lumps which are better left to the imagination. Men and women alike need to heed this warning. To avoid giving everyone around you the Heebie-Jeebies, please put on seamless underwear or a thong when wearing spandex.
5. Business socks. It’s just weird to sport them at the gym. Find a durable yet comfortable pair of low-cut, ankle or crew cut socks (white works fine) instead. Trust us, you don’t want to stand out for this reason.
6. Denim shorts and jeans are for going to lunch or shopping at the mall. Choose athletic shorts or pants instead.
7. Loose tank tops with ginormous arm holes. No one has ever looked good in this style at any time ever. Get a real shirt, which does not flaunt your nude nipples. Thanks so much.
Photo Credit: Stockimages
MUST WEAR
1. Sports bra if you’re above an A cup. Sports bras simply provide necessary support for medium to high impact workouts. Fitz still tells stories about the well-endowed ladies in her Group Exercise classes 20 years ago who frequently showed up to class wearing a one-piece bathing suit with no support and nothing else. It was both distracting and painful looking! For everyone’s sake, just wear a bra.
2. Deodorant! We know you’re trying to get stinky and sweaty, but you can help the other members out by starting out smelling fresh! Armpit odor is uniquely foul. Keep that in mind.
3. Sneakers or other supportive closed toed shoes. Flip-flops, or other sandals simply aren’t safe. Gyms are full of weights and heavy steel equipment pieces which could fall and land on your toes. Sneakers offer protection from a variety of things.
4. Comfortable cotton or Dri-FiT T-shirts that fit well will be your best bet as you start to sweat. Some folks wear giant T-shirts in an effort to hide their perceived body flaws. Instead of looking slimmer, big dumpy T-shirts make us look big and dumpy. Sometimes they get caught on equipment too. Too-tight T-shirts, however, can result in restricted movement and looking a bit silly as well. Stick with shirts that fit, absorb your seat, and allow your arms to move while covering your body appropriately.
5. A towel! OK, you’re not really going to wear the towel, but keeping one with you is good idea if your gym doesn’t provide them already. Having something to wipe your forehead with can make your workout a little more comfortable and keep the area or machine around you more sanitary.
6. Ponytail holders are a must-have for those of you girls (or even guys) with long hair. Pull your hair off your neck and shoulders to get it up and out of the way. A sticky sweaty neck is not likely to enhance your workout. If you’re worried about your appearance, remember that ponytails provide a clean-cut and sporty look which is PERFECT for the gym.
7. Headbands are essential for pesky fly-away hairs or bangs. Guys can even wear those big “sweat bands” on their head if they have an issue too. Hair in your eyes will likely cause you to become frustrated once you start to move and sweat, and possibly leave you flat on your face. So just get it out of the way from the get-go.
What items would make your must-wear and never-wear list?
Love this!