If you have recently started a fitness routine or joined a gym to get healthier, chances are you carry a gym bag. Over time you may find yourself rummaging through the same bag looking for particular items. Another common instance might you discovering over time that certain essential gym items are not included in your gym bag that you find yourself in need of at times.
Only if there were a guide to give you all the basic stuff you need to carry in your gym bag. Well, your wish has come true. We at Beauty Tips By Nim bring you items that you should all keep with yourself in your gym bag at all times;
1. Water Bottle:
Chances are you will be working out a lot. Possibilities are you will get dehydrated too. It is better to keep a reusable water bottle inside your gym bag.
To cool down your temperature and give you relief faster, make sure the water inside the bottle is chilled. Do not use single-use plastic bottles. They are bad for your health and the environment too. A reusable water bottle is a smart practical choice in the short and long run.
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2. Extra Pair of Gym Clothes:
Carry a pair of gym clothes inside your bag. An extra pair of gym clothes will come in handy on various occasions. For instance, if you want to hit the gym after work, you can always change out of your work clothes and slip into your gym clothes.
Or for some reason, the gym clothes you are wearing get ruined under the weather or spills, you can change into your extra wear. Keep the essentials like a sports bra, leggings, tank tops, gym shirts, sweatshirts, and shorts.
Sneakers, socks, and Running shoes are other essentials in gym clothes. Supposing you can not work out in heels and work shoes, keep a pair of sneakers and socks always in your bag in cases of emergencies like these. Running shoes in case you want to go for cardio exercises on the way to the gym.
3. Dry Shampoo And Headband:
If your gym doesn’t have shower facilities and you don’t like to stay smelling of sweat and dirt, bring along dry shampoo. After all, it is time-consuming to run back and forth between your place and gym just to take a shower.
Dry shampoo can come in handy if you are running late one day and taking a shower will obviously take a long time. Dry shampoo will bring life back into your hair and no one will notice any change.
Short or long hair, hair strands can get in the way of everyone. Have the right accessories like hair clips and headbands always in your gym bag to save you the hassle and keep you focused on your workout.
Proper hair clips and headband use is important to prevent a sweaty neck too. Keep whatever hair accessories like a comb, hair ties, and hat you need in your gym bag in a separate compartment to avail it anytime as they are always within reach.
4. Basic Skincare Essentials:
It is important to take care of your skin before and after a workout routine in the gym. You do not want to have a flushed and dull look because of your regular work. Cleanse your skin of any makeup and dirt before hitting the gym. Use micellar water if needed, and always keep face wipes handy.
After a workout, make sure to rinse off any oil and sweat on your face and neck with a good face wash. If your gym has proper washroom facilities, take advantage of it and shower yourself to rinse off any impurities before heading out.
In the case of the absence of any running water and shower facilities, it is important to keep face and body wipes always handy. Sweat and oil if left on the face for a long time result in acne problems, blemishes, and dull-looking skin. Use precaution and always keep skincare essentials in your gym bag, with you.
5. Deodorant And Towel:
Deodrant saves you the embarrassment of smelling horrible after workouts. You don’t want to be labeled as the person who smells in your gym. Deodorant keeps you smelling fresh in the gym. It is essential to carry a mild deodorant in your gym bag.
Even if you apply deodorant in the morning following a shower, keep a pocket-sized deodorant handy in your gym as deodorant wears off during the day. Towels bring in a lot of advantages even if your gym doesn’t have the facilities of a shower.
You do not want sweat sticking your clothes to your skin all day, making sweat stains on your clothes, and dripping sweat distracting you from your workout. Carry a towel that absorbs sweat and moisture well. Then you will be able to exercise without worrying about sweat and stains.
6. Energy Snacks:
There are numerous probabilities of situations happening when your mind wants you to work out for an increased time but your body isn’t able to anymore. Chances are, you are probably just hungry.
A gym bag packed with some energy-infused snacks is one of the hacks for providing you with the needed strength to carry on with your workout for a longer time.
Suggestions on what snacks you can carry in your bag are fruits, nuts, protein powder, energy drinks, yogurt, granola bar, and more. A quick healthy snack like this will keep your body sugar in check too.
READ: Top 15 Zero Calorie Foods for Weight Loss
7. Specialized Equipment:
Suppose you prefer to do your yoga, pilates, and outdoor sports training in the gym complex itself. You should keep specialized equipment in your bag like yoga mats, rackets, grip gloves, and more.
Your gym may have these equipments but in situations like shortages, or suspicion of proper hygiene, it is better to carry along your personal equipment with you. You can avail them any time you like and no one restricts you from it.
8. Headphones:
Music keeps you motivated and energetic throughout your workout. Quality headphones make the process better for a great workout. Not just headphones, any over-ear, and the in-ear gadget will do the work, according to your preference.
Just make sure you have them in your gym bag before you are out of the door. Invest in some good headphones too, if you can. The splurge will be worth it for your fitness.
5 Tips on How to Improve Your Workout:
1. Listen to Music While Working Out:
Scientists have claimed that listening to your favorite energetic tunes and music lifts your mood, keeps you focused, and motivates you to give your best during workouts. Music increases the production of hormones like dopamine and serotonin. These hormones are credited with fostering recovery, help bring back your blood pressure and heart rate to normal, and prevent muscle cramps.
2. Drink Water Before and After a Workout:
Workout makes us lose our body’s hydration faster than normal. You end feeling tired faster, which reduces your training performance and body’s ability to recuperate. To prevent dehydration, drink water before and after a workout exercise.
There should be about a 10-15 minutes interval in between the intake of sips of water, before beginning a set of exercises and after the completion of the set. Especially before and after high-intensity exercises; increase the intake of water to prevent dehydration and other drastic negative effects. It is essential to carry a water bottle in your gym bag.
American Council on Exercise recommends gulping down 20 ounces of water at least before starting and after the end of the workout routine. Water intake in between working out should be at a minimum of 1 sip.
3. Get a Good Nights Sleep:
A night of good sleep with drapes closed and no penetration of lights beyond the closed eyelids promises better workout energy and mood for tomorrow. Vice versa is also true because a proper workout helps our body rest more effectively during sleep.
The recovery that happens when we are having a night of quality sleep is essential for our body to regenerate strength, give us more energy, and keep us active.
4. Eat Snacks After Workouts:
Your body loses its strength and endurance while working out and you end up feeling demotivated and hungry. Having energy snacks within your vicinity helps to regain your energy faster.
Energy snacks option should include nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. A few of the best examples of food items that you can have during workouts are peanut butter, protein bars, granola bars, walnuts, and more.
Make sure to have a good fulfilling breakfast to start your day. You should eat after your workout sets are over, not in-between. Suppose you complete a 30-minute high-intensity exercise regimen, have a protein bar, and rest to regain your energy.
5. Limit Your Workout Periods and Plan Ahead:
A workout involving any specific exercise or a set of exercises should go on for only about 30-40 minutes. If you want to attain a maximum amount of fitness within a specific time period, alternate between high-intensity and low-intensity exercises.
Always plan for a week what exercises you are going to do on specific days. Do not burn yourself out by doing continuous sets of high-intensity exercises as it can be drastic for your health.
Always consult a doctor before taking up a specific workout and exercise plan. Do not keep going with your workout regime if you are ill or if your body is not coping well with continuous exercises.
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FAQs on Gym Essentials:
What are the gym essentials we must have?
You should definately carry a water bottle, an extra pair of gym clothes, a deodorant and a towel in your gym bag.
What are the best energy snacks to carry in gym bag?
Suggestions on what snacks you can carry in your bag are fruits, nuts, protein powder, energy drinks, yogurt, granola bar, and more. A quick healthy snack like this will keep your body sugar in check too.
What are the benefits of listening to music while working out?
Scientists have claimed that listening to your favorite energetic tunes and music lifts your mood, keeps you focused, and motivates you to give your best during workouts. Music increases the production of hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
