OUTFITTING YOURSELF FOR EXERCISE:
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
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Modern Workout Clothing The best workout clothes should make the wearer feel confident, dry, and comfortable. Today I’m going to deviate from my normal recommendations to go back to nature because cotton is a terrible fabric to work out in. It absorbs moisture and keeps you hot and sweaty. Many people go to the gym in dumpy, drab cotton t-shirts and baggy sweat pants. It’s difficult to feel empowered and enthusiastic in an outfit like that. I recommend investing in a few workout outfits that make you feel good about yourself when you look in the mirror and that show your arm and leg muscles so you can monitor your progress. Most importantly, these outfits should be made with the new moisture wicking fabrics that will keep you cool and dry such as CoolMax, DriFit, and Underarmour. The tags on the outside of the clothing will state if they are "moisture wicking". |
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How To Take Care Of Your Fitness Clothes
Moisture wicking fitness clothes aren’t cheap so it is important to take care of them so they will last. The safest way to clean your fitness clothes is by hand-washing them in lukewarm water with a gentle liquid cleanser. However, most people (myself included) do not have the time or patience for this. The next best method is to wash them using a mild detergent like Woolite (regular detergents are too harsh) in cold water in the gentle cycle of your washing machine, and hang to dry. Heat can destroy the elasticity from your fitness clothes so dryers and ironing should be avoided.
http://www.mamashealth.com/exercise/careclothes.asp
Weather Considerations
In cold weather, you will want to dress in layers and a hat to prevent heat from escaping from the top of your head.
In hot weather, it is best to exercise in the early morning to avoid the heat. IIf exercising outside later in the day, you may want to wear a cap to block the sun from your eyes.
To get fresh air and sunshine, the best place to exercise is out in nature,. For optimal vitamin D levels, fair skinned people should get 10-20 minutes of sun exposure a day (without sunscreen) and dark skinned people should get significantly more. If the weather does not allow you to go outdoors, you can exercise indoors by walking around a track, the mall, going to the gym or using your own indoor exercise equipment.
For Women Only
Sports bras are a must. The best thing to do is try them on and see if they are comfortable. I have had good success with Champion brand. Some of them have a zip-front to make putting them on easy and some have molded cups for a more figure flattering look.
MP3 Player
If you don’t have an MP3 player for your music library, you are missing out on one of the greatest perks of the 21st century. The purpose of an MP3 player is that you|
can put thousands of hours on your MP3 and you never have to load another CD again. I do not recommend iPod which is overrated and has limited functionality. I have an iRiver which is 20 GB. Keep in mind that the quality of the music will be largely dependant on the quality of your headphones. Cheap $3 headphones can make your music sound like its being played on a 1892 record player but a high quality pair of headphones can make your music sound LIVE. I highly recommend "Sennheiser" headphones. You may also want to get a waist pouch/fanny pack to hold your MP3 player. Heart rate monitor This is an optional device to monitor your workouts, providing information on heart rate, calorie count, plus a stop watch and countdown timer |
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