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Are you making these gym wardrobe mistakes? Below are just a few blunders to avoid when dressing for the gym.
Dressing in cotton
Cotton is not a suitable material for working out in, because it absorbs moisture.This can cause it to become wet, heavy, cold and generally very uncomfortable. The moisture could also lead to skin irritation (wearing cotton socks while working out could make you more prone to blisters).
It’s best to always dress in moisture-wicking materials – these expel moisture to the outer surface, where it can more easily evaporate. Such materials include wool, bamboo, spandex, polyester and nylon.
Opting for cheap leggings
Leggings are the most popular choice of legwear for women at the gym. While there are plenty of cheap brands out there, it can often be worth spending a little extra if you want something that’s comfortable, durable and not see-through (you don’t want people seeing your underwear).
You can shop for high quality leggings at sites like curvesncombatboots.com. Such leggings are more likely to last longer, more likely to feel comfortable and more likely to be opaque.
Choosing the wrong size sports bra
Choosing the wrong sports bra size is a common mistake. If it’s too loose or too tight, it will cause discomfort – and possibly do more harm than good.
Rather than guessing your size, it could be worth going to a store and trying on bras to find the right size. The bra needs to be big enough to fully cup your breasts without there being any movement or overflow. This site besthealthmag.ca offers a great guide to finding the right sports bra.
Wearing the wrong shoes
Wearing the wrong footwear could have a negative impact on your workout.
Which shoes you should wear depends on the activity you’re doing. If you’re doing a lot of running, trainers with grip can be a good idea for supporting your ankles. However, if you’re doing a lot of weight lifting, flat soled shoes with an elevated heel could be better.
Wearing jewellery
You should ideally avoid jewellery when exercising at the gym. Necklaces and earrings could get caught in machinery and cause injury (in fact, it’s quite common).
Rings can be fine to wear. However, if you’re swimming or boxing, you should take them off.
Overdoing compression clothing
Compression clothing can help with the recovery of injuries (and it may help to disguise all your lumps and bumps in some cases). However, you should make sure that such clothing isn’t too tight or that you’re not wearing it excessively (you don’t need to compress your entire body). Overwearing compression clothing can put you at risk of developing varicose veins, blood clots and weak core muscles – so try to be sensible.
Not washing your gym clothes
Wearing unwashed gym clothes will cause you to smell. Unwashed gym clothes may also cause skin irritation and possibly infection due to the bacteria.
Get into a habit of washing your gym clothes after every workout. If you’re going to the gym every day, this could mean buying yourself multiple clothes. Make sure that you’re also washing your gym bag regularly (there’s not point putting clean gym clothes in a dirty bag).
