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Everybody knows that if you want to lead a healthy life you have to work out regularly. Working out regularly helps combat mental health issues, reduces your body fat, it improves your muscle health and raises your metabolism. It’s common knowledge.
It is also common knowledge that, though you could totally work out in your street clothes and using items you find around the house (or even just your own body), if you want to work out properly and really help yourself, you need to have the right equipment. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of weight benches, treadmills, etc. It simply means that you have to have the right gear to help protect and maintain your body’s integrity while you work out.
Here is the workout gear that you must have if you want to work out properly.
Good Shoes
There are some out there that are staunch advocates for running and working out barefoot. The idea is that for millions of years, early humans got around on their bare feet and they did fine. Why shouldn’t we do the same thing now? (These tend to be the same people who insist that the Paleo diet is hard science.) Here’s a question: if everything was really going all that great, why did we invent shoes? It couldn’t have been only for fashion.
Working out barefoot puts a lot of strain on the fragile muscles and bones in your feet, knees and legs. It can even hurt your back. It also increases the risk of cuts and other injuries. Make sure that you have a really good and supportive pair of shoesto wear while you are working out. These might cost some money, but it’s better to spend the money on shoes now than risk spending lots more on medical bills later.
Moisture Wicking Clothing
Sure, you could toss on that ratty old t-shirt and those cotton shorts and get down to business. The problem is that when you work out, you are going to sweat. It’s just how your body operates. And when you sweat, that moisture tends to either get absorbed by whatever you’re wearing, or run down your body and pool in...uncomfortable places. Working out in damp (even if that dampess is sweat from your own body) clothing is never a good idea. It can cause chafing and other problems.
Instead invest in a couple of high quality moisture wicking shirts, shorts and pairs of socks. These are made out of fabric that is designed to grab sweat and keep it away from your body so that you stay dry and comfortable and reduce chafing and your chances of accidentally growing bacteria in places you’d rather not have bacteria grow.
A quick word about compression gear: many athletes choose to encase themselves in compression gear before working out. Some insist that the gear improves their performance. The science is still out on whether or not, compression gear can help you be a better athlete. What we do know is that compression gear is often helpful after a workout because, according to theTherafirm website, it can help soothe the muscles and prevent swelling. Compression gear acts as a no-hands massage after a workout, which can be incredibly helpful on the “difficult” days when you really push yourself.
The Care and Keeping of Your Gear
Do not allow sweaty workout clothing to just sit in a gym locker or bag for days at a time. Sure, it will dry out. In the meantime, however, bacteria and fungus will grow like crazy. Then, when you put the clothes back on, you’ll transfer that bacteria and fungus to your body! Gross! Take care of your stuff!
If you can’t toss them immediately into a washing machine, take some time to rinse them off in the sink at the gym (do not try to skip this step by showering with your clothes on). Wring them out as best as you can before you store them away. Then, when you get home, soak the clothes in the sink with one part vinegar and four parts water for about a half an hour. This helps disinfect the clothing before you run it through the washer and dryer (on the hottest setting, with half baking soda, half detergent).
Having the right gear doesn’t just make you look good while you’re working out. It helps you feel good. And the better you feel, the more likely you will be to continue with your routine.
It is also common knowledge that, though you could totally work out in your street clothes and using items you find around the house (or even just your own body), if you want to work out properly and really help yourself, you need to have the right equipment. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of weight benches, treadmills, etc. It simply means that you have to have the right gear to help protect and maintain your body’s integrity while you work out.
Here is the workout gear that you must have if you want to work out properly.
Good Shoes
There are some out there that are staunch advocates for running and working out barefoot. The idea is that for millions of years, early humans got around on their bare feet and they did fine. Why shouldn’t we do the same thing now? (These tend to be the same people who insist that the Paleo diet is hard science.) Here’s a question: if everything was really going all that great, why did we invent shoes? It couldn’t have been only for fashion.
Working out barefoot puts a lot of strain on the fragile muscles and bones in your feet, knees and legs. It can even hurt your back. It also increases the risk of cuts and other injuries. Make sure that you have a really good and supportive pair of shoesto wear while you are working out. These might cost some money, but it’s better to spend the money on shoes now than risk spending lots more on medical bills later.
Moisture Wicking Clothing
Sure, you could toss on that ratty old t-shirt and those cotton shorts and get down to business. The problem is that when you work out, you are going to sweat. It’s just how your body operates. And when you sweat, that moisture tends to either get absorbed by whatever you’re wearing, or run down your body and pool in...uncomfortable places. Working out in damp (even if that dampess is sweat from your own body) clothing is never a good idea. It can cause chafing and other problems.
Instead invest in a couple of high quality moisture wicking shirts, shorts and pairs of socks. These are made out of fabric that is designed to grab sweat and keep it away from your body so that you stay dry and comfortable and reduce chafing and your chances of accidentally growing bacteria in places you’d rather not have bacteria grow.
A quick word about compression gear: many athletes choose to encase themselves in compression gear before working out. Some insist that the gear improves their performance. The science is still out on whether or not, compression gear can help you be a better athlete. What we do know is that compression gear is often helpful after a workout because, according to theTherafirm website, it can help soothe the muscles and prevent swelling. Compression gear acts as a no-hands massage after a workout, which can be incredibly helpful on the “difficult” days when you really push yourself.
The Care and Keeping of Your Gear
Do not allow sweaty workout clothing to just sit in a gym locker or bag for days at a time. Sure, it will dry out. In the meantime, however, bacteria and fungus will grow like crazy. Then, when you put the clothes back on, you’ll transfer that bacteria and fungus to your body! Gross! Take care of your stuff!
If you can’t toss them immediately into a washing machine, take some time to rinse them off in the sink at the gym (do not try to skip this step by showering with your clothes on). Wring them out as best as you can before you store them away. Then, when you get home, soak the clothes in the sink with one part vinegar and four parts water for about a half an hour. This helps disinfect the clothing before you run it through the washer and dryer (on the hottest setting, with half baking soda, half detergent).
Having the right gear doesn’t just make you look good while you’re working out. It helps you feel good. And the better you feel, the more likely you will be to continue with your routine.
