How To Get Your Gym On!
The Clothes
When picking out your gym clothes you should think of these 3 "C’s": comfortable, convenient and cute (or cool, whatever your style is). Of course 1st priority is that your gym clothes are comfortable; you can't make the most of your workout if you constantly feel your sports bra shaving, your shoes are giving you blisters and your shorts are riding up where the sun don't shine. So find something you feel comfortable in, both in fabric and in fit.
The gym clothes also have to be convenient, meaning that you don't have to adjust them every other second. Tights that keep sliding down, bra straps that is gliding off your shoulder and shirts that keep gliding up showing off your stomach. It is so annoying when you are running and have to adjust your clothing, it really keeps you from having a fluent workout.
And, of course, there is nothing wrong with looking cute when you get your glow (sweat) on. Just because the clothes are comfortable and convenient doesn't mean they have to look like something you pulled out of a dumpster. There are many brands that have an excellent range of cute and comfortable workout clothes. Also, do not get caught up looking at the girl in the ad, just like any other outfit you put together you should dress for the body you have right now, and not the body you will eventually get. If you have some “problem areas” on your body that you wish to get rid of eventually, try finding some workout clothes that will hide those areas and you are more likely to feel more comfortable in the gym.
For the muffin top.
When I have been away from the gym for a while and not really paid too much attention to my diet, the first place I put on weight is around my waist; the infamous muffin-top. So I love a pair of tights that have a high waist with a wide elastic band. Not only does it cover my muffin-top, it also holds everything in, making me appear slimmer than I actually am (which is always nice). And since my arms are usually never a problem area I like to wear a tank top, preferably in cotton and slightly lose fitting so it doesn't cling to my body.
If you are not super comfortable with showing off your body in tight tights or short shorts, an easy way to get around that problem is to combine a pair of long tights with a pair of shorts. Just make sure the shorts are made of a very light fabric, you want them as coverage, not to keep you warm. And then find a loose fitting t-shirt, and by loose fitting I don't mean like 4 sizes bigger than you actually would were, but a comfortable t-shirt that doesn't cling to your body.
For the comfortable runner.
If you are an avid gym goer, and also comfortable in your skin, this is a great option for a workout outfit. Some tight fitting shorts (so you don't have to worry about them moving around when you run) and a comfortable tank top, enough coverage but also complete comfort.
If you got it flaunt it, right? Honestly, I see nothing wrong with showing off ones hard work. If you are kicking your ass in the gym every single day you deserve to show off your result. But the best way to do that without feeling like you are showing it in people’s faces is to pair some loose fitting shorts with a sports top that has a little bit wider elastic band. So then the extra exposed skin is only a few centimeters between your waist and end of the top. And why not go for a cropped sweatshirt when you are going to and from the gym? Showing no arms and no cleavage, only those hard earned abs.
The Music
Working out without music is, for me, like trying to go online without Wi-Fi - pointless. Music gets me going and makes exercising more fun, and depending on what exercise I do I always have different kind of music. I know that some people can for example run and listen to classical music like Mozart. I can't do that. Not because I not that into Mozart, but because I like when my music match the intensity of my exercise. If I run I want something to make me excited and pumped to run fast and hard.
For Running
Havana Brown – Warrior
Icona Pop - Then We Kiss
For Walking
Ludacris - Rest of my Life
Steve Aoki - Delirious (Boneless)
For Strength
Wiz Khalifa ft. 2 Chainz - We Own It
Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money
For Stretch
The Weeknd - Earned It
Kanye West - Flashing Lights
Get a Routine - And Stick To It!
The best way to get your butt to the gym is to make a routine you are comfortable with - and then stick to it! If you are a morning person then maybe working out before you need to be at the office is what works for you, or, if you are like me; like to sleep in, going to the gym straight after work is a better option. When you have found what works best for you try then to stick to it. In the beginning it might be really tough and you will want to sleep that extra hour in the morning or just go straight home after work, but try to push through it. After a while you will notice that your routine will feel more and more natural, and eventually you won't even think about it as a chore and just as another part of your day.
To make it easier for you (and so you won't give yourself an excuse) is to always have your gym bag packed and ready. If you pack it in the evening so that you can just grab it and go you will skip a lot of extra fuss in the morning, like looking for your shoes or tank top. And if you are going to the gym after work, before you go, slip into the bathroom and change into your gym clothes, you are more likely to actually go to the gym if you are already wearing your gym clothes when you leave the office.
The Snack
When you are adding gym to your already packed schedule it might be hard to find time for a proper meal, so healthy snacks are more important than ever! Make sure to always keep some snack in your gym bag; fruit, sandwich, salad or smoothie. Anything that will keep your energy up and that also is fairly healthy. (Feels slightly like a waste of time to run for an hour and then eat a bag of chips, wouldn't you say..?)
The key to feeling energized all through the day and to not, in a starving frenzy, stuff yourself with whatever you can find is to keep an even level of blood sugar and to never go completely hungry. And don't forget to fill up on a lot of water! Most of us are already not drinking enough water, so if you add some serious sweating to that you will have to be careful to not get dehydrated.
The Exercises
One of the biggest reasons to why we stop doing something is because we get bored. So when it comes to your workout routine try to keep it fun and to always switch it up. If you get bored from just hanging in the gym you can try going to some classes, maybe trying a new one every other week. And if classes are not your cup of tea try to do some new type exercise in the gym, not only to keep you from getting bored, but also to work out every part of your body.
I usually workout for 1 hour, always starting my workout with running or walking really fast for about 30 minutes. So for the other 30 minutes I vary between sometimes doing free weights, squats, jump rope, leg exercises or working on my core. And of course you don't have to pick one of these things, you can combine them together to a routine; 5 minutes jump rope - 8x3 reps weights - 5 minute jump rope... and so on.
Keep it fresh, keep it fun and keep it fit!
You should never compare yourself to other people. We are all built in different ways, so even though you could get skinny, like that other girl, you might not get skinny in the same way. BUT, there is nothing wrong with being inspired and motivated by other people, there is nothing wrong with a little fitspo.
Fitspo is any kind of picture or quote that makes you feel inspired to get fit and healthy. Keep some fitspo pictures on your desk to give you that extra push to get going to the gym, or to stop you from running down to Starbucks for a chocolate chip cookie. Whatever works for you.
And if you still have some hesitations, here are some other reasons to why you should DO IT:
