If your family wasn’t the fitness type, then college may be the first time you’ve ever had the chance to frequent a real gym.
Schools often lump rec center dues in with other mandatory student activity fees, so you should definitely take advantage of your “free” gym membership to stay healthy in college.But working out with a bunch of fitness fanatics who know what they’re doing can be intimidating at first.
To take one thing off your mind, read on for a quick primer on what you should — and shouldn’t — wear while exercising in public.
1. DO buy true performance fabrics.
Fabrics that are flexible, moisture-wicking, temperature-specific or otherwise engineered will help keep you dry and comfortable as you exercise. But not all “performance” fabrics are created equal, so make sure you’re getting what you pay for — remember the Lululemon see-through yoga pants debacle?
2. DON’T pick a cotton t-shirt.
It’s tempting to grab one of the ten thousand big cotton t-shirts you got for free during orientation week, but 100% cotton clothing isn’t the best choice for a sweaty workout. Cotton absorbs moisture easily, so you’ll be stuck with a heavy, sticky shirt that can cause irritation and will get cold as soon as you’re done exercising. Plus, baggy clothing is actually a safety risk since it can get caught in a machine.
3. DO test your clothing before its public debut.
Just because a pair of shorts looks good on the rack or a top fits well in the dressing room doesn’t mean it’s cleared for deadlifts in the middle of a public gym. Before you take your new workout duds out on the town — er, mat — do some test exercises in your room to make sure they don’t ride up too high or fall down too low as soon as you bend over in downward dog.
4. DON’T leave your jewelry and/or watch on.
Many people have one accessory that they never take off — whether it’s a class ring, keepsake necklace or family watch. However, you risk damaging jewelry by banging it against a weight or snagging it on a machine, and perspiration can dirty up the metal or cause an allergic reaction, so leave it at home.
5. DO consider your workout.
Different workouts call for different clothes, so think about the kind of exercises you’ll be doing before you change. If you’re headed to a yoga class, grab some leggings or yoga pants (duh), while loose shorts with a compression lining are better for a rigorous cardio routine that involves a lot of jumping.
6. DON’T re-wear your clothes.
Let’s be honest, we’re college students — how often do we do laundry? Not very. It’s tempting to re-wear things to go even longer without washing clothes, but when it comes to workout wear, don’t do it. It probably has your B.O. and sweat thoroughly soaked into it, and nobody wants to smell that.
7. DO choose your socks and shoes wisely.
It’s critical to choose shoes that fit you properly and provide the support you need for different workouts. For example, running shoes are a bad choice for cross-training because they don’t have any lateral support. Ill-fitting socks can also compound the problem by rubbing your feet and causing blisters.
8. DON’T forget to change clothes.
Whether it’s the guy lifting in jeans and flip-flops or the girl in spin class who obviously left her sports bra at home, nothing screams “I don’t know what I’m doing” like wearing everyday clothes to the gym. Since they’re not usually stretchy, you can rip everyday outfits if you wear them while exercising, and even injure yourself if you don’t have the right footwear or supportive clothing.
9. DO keep your clothes on.
This seems obvious, but there’s usually that one guy or girl at the gym who strips down as soon as they get the slightest bit over-heated. Don’t be that person. You might or might not be in the gym to get a great body, but that does not make the gym the place to show off said body as well. Plus, taking off your shirt means you’ll get other people’s germs all over your skin instead of your clothes.
Kara Sherrer is a junior at Vanderbilt University, double majoring in English and Marketing & Communications. She is also the web editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler and a consultant at the Vanderbilt Writing Studio. She can be reached by e-mail at kara@karasherrer.com or on Twitter @KaraSherrer.
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5 Reasons To Choose The Right Athletic Clothing | How Sports Gear Influences Performance In Sport & Exercise | Does What You Wear Affect Your Fitness Goals?
You’ve heard the phrase – dress for success.
It turns out this is true even in the domain of exercise and sport.
In other words – the clothing you choose influences your performance on the sports field and in the gym.
It sounds counterintuitive, right?
You’re going to get hot and sweaty anyway. Why not just slip into a worn out cotton t-shirt and beat up shorts?
Why does it matter what you wear for a workout?
You’re about to find out how choosing the right athletic apparel improves your performance at sport and exercise.
1. The Right Athletic Clothing Boosts Confidence
The clothing you wear is going to make a difference if you believe it’s going to help you perfom better.
Studies in the field of cognition have shown the positive impact of wearing the right clothes for your workplace. Termed ‘enclothed cognition,’ this phenomenon extends to sports and fitness too.
The boost could be an increase in confidence – if you know you look great – chances are you will act it out too. If you like what you are wearing at the gym, there is a greater chance you will want to exercise.
It’s not advisable to test this theory when you’re trying to push your maximum at the bench press machine. However – there is a noticable difference in your confidence when you’re dressed in the right athletic gear than when you are not.
I bought my son a new lightweight tennis racquet for his Saturday morning practice. The day he brought the racket on to court – the coach noticed a significant improvement in his game. His ground strokes were more accurate because he was playing with a racquet that was balanced correctly.
When you have the right tools – well fitted workout clothes that offer support in the right areas – you’re going to feel more confident. The confidence translates into better performance.
2. The Correct Sports Apparel Improves Performance
