6 Gym Bag Must Haves!

Here are 6 gym bag must haves for working out:

1. WATER BOTTLE.  STAY HYDRATED!!!!  Did you know that proper hydration allows you to stay stronger and can work out longer and more effectively? WHY? Well, the heart (also a muscle that needs water) does not have to work as hard to pump blood throughout your body thereby increasing efficiency of transporting oxygen and nutrients to your muscles during your workout!!  That means you’re going to have more energy!  Also, the exercises you struggled with when dehydrated will now seem much easier when you are properly hydrated. Remember, hydration improves the quality of your workout, increases mental sharpness, reduces fatigue, reduces recovery time, and helps you be fit-fabulous!!! 

2. HAND SANITIZER!  Just as you are trying to protect yourself from those unwanted lb’s don’t forget to protect yourself from the other unhealthy enemy – Germs! Find a great hand sanitizer! I personally love the Bath & Body Works Pocketbac  Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel Sanitizers. They contain natural ingredients and powerful germ killers that keep hands fresh and clean on-the-go with wonderful fragrances! So when you are working out, please remember to protect yourself from germs on equipment, counter tops, and weights in the locker room!

3. TOWEL.  ALWAYS bring a gym towel with you. There is nothing worse than lying on a bench or a jumping on a piece of cardio equipment with the previous user’s sweat all over it. Your gym towel will help you keep your sweat to yourself, and help you avoid the sweat of others. 

4. HAIR TIES. Always have extra hair ties in your gym bag! Reasons vary, but here are my top 3 reasons for having hair ties in the bag:  1) you forget to grab one before you headed out to the gym 2) the one you are wearing breaks during your workout, or 3) you need to “lend one” to your best friend who forgot their hair ties! 🙂 

5. MP3/MUSIC.  We all find music incredibly motivating.  But we should customize our music according to both our style and science and not rely on the standard playlist we hear all the time at the gym.  We all have that favorite go-to song or list of songs that gets us “in the zone,” and now we have science to back us up!!!  One study showed we associate certain songs with memories and emotions!  You know THAT amped up “I can run one more mile” feeling when you hear “eye of the tiger” from Rocky.  Channeling that memory or emotion boosts the motivational power of that song or list of songs and improves physical performance!  Music also “distracts” you from your “bodily awareness” (e.g., pain) helping you stay focused and remain “in-the zone!” Listening to music also is a way to change your self-awareness and mood. Having a bad day or feeling low self-esteem? Go workout? An August 2013 study found that listening to music allowed a person to think about themselves, who they wanted to be and also give them an escape from the present. No matter what happened an hour ago, you can use your tunes to help you escape negativity and power you through your workout! So go workout and release endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that promote happiness.

6. HEAD PHONES.  The best headphones for relaxing at your home listening to music may not be the best headphones to use while you’re cranking out 5-10 miles on the treadmill.  You will want a quality pair of headphones to use at the gym that will last and provide quality sound and comfort.  One suggestion is to find a headphone designed specifically for athletes that deliver deep, rich sounds while allowing sufficient ambient noise for you to be aware of your surroundings.  I personally love the BOSE soundsport in-ear headphones or the Yurbuds-Ironman Inspire Duro in-ear headphones.  These both stay in your ears during running, cycling, and the gym workouts. They are sweat-resistant and stay comfortably—yet securely—in place during vigorous exercises.   xoxox