The year 2020 is coming to an end in a couple of months-and good riddance-and with it the arrival of the new year. Everyone and their moms make that familiar New Year’s resolution: “I’m going to get in shape.” If you’re one of the people who want to finally make their fitness transformation, that’s great!
You sign up for a gym and go shopping for sportswear, and then you realize… what ARE people supposed to wear at the gym? How am I supposed to get fit? While your gym probably has some guidelines written down, there a couple of rules that may not be as obvious. Here are a couple of tips to make sure you start your fitness journey right:
Footwear Is Everything
Whenbuying footwear, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the options you find at a typical sports store. But the first and most important factor that you need to consider when buying shoes for the gym is the kind of exercise you’ll be doing. Making the correct choice when buying footwear is key to making good progress for any kind of workout regimen.
For example, if you’re going to lift weights, it’s a bad idea to wear running shoes. The reason is that running shoe soles are usually very soft and shock-absorbent to ease the impact on your joints. But if you’re going to lift heavy weights, the number one thing that you need is a solid connection between you and the ground. So if you were to wear soft-soled running shoes instead of something stiffer, the soles could collapse beneath you and sabotage your balance and stability under load, which would be dangerous.
Functional Fabrics
You may be tempted to skimp on the sportswear at first. While, yes, it is okay to wear a T-shirt and shorts to the gym, the fabric can affect your comfort. Cotton is a very comfortable and breathable material, and it’s ideal for everyday wear. But that doesn’t make it ideal for sportswear. The problem with cotton is that it’s so breathable, so it picks up moisture like a sponge. It can also make you feel uncomfortable after a couple hours of sweating, not to mention the hygiene concerns that can come with it.
Synthetic materials such aslycraand polyester that are used in sportswear wick away moisture better, helping you stay comfortable during long workouts. They’re a bit pricier than cotton clothing, but the investment will get you a lot of mileage and comfort in the long run.
Accessorize Appropriately
One of the biggest things to avoid when working out is wearing jewelry. The constant friction of your hands on weights or the moisture from sweat can damage metal jewelry. It is dangerous to wear metal rings when you’re practicing any kind of combat sport (trust me, you don’t want to see what COULD happen).
If you absolutely need to wear accessories to the gym, look for safer alternatives. Something like a silicone bracelet or ring can still help you show off your sense of individuality while remaining flexible and safe during a heavy workout. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and find safe new ways to feel confident and attractive while improving your physique.
Fit and Fitness
It’s easy to feel self-conscious about the way you look. That could even be the whole reason you’re at the gym in the first place. So it can be tempting to wear extremely loose and baggy clothing to the gym to help hide your figure. The problem with doing this is that if you or your trainer can’t see your body, it will become difficult to assess if you’re doing certain exercises correctly.
On the other side of the scale, wearing clothes that are too tight can also hinder your workouts. Not being able to achieve a full range of motion when performing compound movements such as squats can reduce their effectiveness and even cause joint pain. With that in mind, it’s vital to wear clothes that fit well and don’t encumber your movements at all so that you get the most benefit out of all your exercises.
Have Fun with Fitness
The single most important tip I can offer youisthis: pick a workout you’ll enjoy. It’s easy to get caught up in all the popular workouts you see on social media. But you aren’t those people, and you need to pick a workout that you’ll enjoy and start at an intensity that’s right for you. After all, what use is that high-intensityTabataworkout if it leaves you so sore that you need to take the rest of the week off afterward?
If you enjoy lifting weights, lift weights. If you like to run, go do cardio. Any exercise you do will burn calories, but it’s important to love what you do so that motivating yourself to keep going back to the gym isn’t a struggle. If you have fun, you’ll keep working out and eventually have the body of your dreams.