What Not To Wear

I am by no means a fashionista. I am probably the most boring dresser ever. I’m much more comfortable in jeans and running shoes than anything else. I don’t have a dress code at work so I usually am wear jeans, running shoes and a nice shirt. I CAN dress up and a do like to get all girly and dressy; I like jewelry a lot so if I want to be dressier I wear necklaces and earrings. But not for the gym. The gym is very basic for me.

When I work out I sweat a lot. I only have two speeds: sleeping or moving fast. I walk fast, I workout hard, I push myself, I sweat when I work out! Figuring out what worked best for gym attire was a process. In fact, figuring out everything weight loss-related was a process!

I saw this article on how to dress appropriately for the gym and it got me thinking. I see a lot of weird stuff at the gym. Seriously. Sometimes you just wonder, is that person actually here to work out or are they just trolling for a date? There was one time where I saw a woman on the elliptical machine next to me wearing a dress and knee-high boots with stiletto heels. I kid you not. I was shocked. I was so distracted the entire time. I wanted to know WHY. Did she forget her gym bag at home? Was this her “normal”? How has she not hurt herself working out in STILETTOS?!?! EXPLAIN! It was maddening. I kick myself now for not asking her!

A long time ago I wrote a little bit about my experiences with losing weight and having to buy clothes.  I went about it all wrong. I was buying new clothes monthly as I dropped sizes and before I knew it, I was dropping sizes so quickly that I sometimes never even WORE the new clothes I bought.

I spent way too much money on new clothes as I lost weight and my recommendation to anyone losing a lot of weight: shop at second hand stores. Save money. Until you get to goal weight, or close to it, spending a ton of money on brand new clothes is just a waste. Don’t make the same mistake I made!

I bring this up again because when I was first working out, I didn’t really know what to wear. Sweat pants? Tried it. They were really hot and it’s no longer 1985. The only time I wear sweat pants now is over my swim suit as I drive to the pool. Any other instance it wouldn’t be conducive to a good workout.

Check out some of the other gym-type posts I’ve written over the years:

G is for Gym Bag Essentials

Excuse: “I Don’t Want to Look Dumb”

Don’t Break the Bank Getting in Shape

All About Gear

What NOT To Wear

Leotards aren’t really in style anymore…or are they?? And Richard Simmons….um, those shorts just aren’t cutting it anymore! But…I think you guys already know that! What are some other general no-no’s?

Jeans: Seems like a no-brainer but I’ve seen lots of people in yoga class and spin class in jeans. It seems like that would be really difficult to me, especially in yoga class. More stretchy materials are definitely preferred for that!

Cotton t-shirts: They don’t wick sweat and can turn see-through! Especially a white t-shirt! But besides that, since they don’t wick moisture, you just get drenched and the shirt gets heavy…it’s uncomfortable and unattractive.

Baggy pants/sweat pants: While I totally understand that tight-fitting pants are probably not most people’s #1 choice, the baggy pants can actually be more of a pain and a danger than anything. There have been a few times where I wanted to warm up on the spin bike before going swimming and I was wearing bagging sweatpants. The pants got caught in the bike. That was not fun.

Old shoes: This one is SO IMPORTANT!!!! If you’re a runner, please read this post I wrote: Is it Time for New Shoes? Old running shoes that are worn and losing support can cause INJURY. Replace your shoes! I buy running shoes 2x a year, sometimes 3x if I’m really running (no so much these days).

What To Wear

You should wear what you are most comfortable in. If it’s a sweat shirt and long stretchy gym pants, do it. If it’s booty shorts, do it. Whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident, wear it. For me, as I stated above, comfort and function reign over fashion.

Sweat-resistance clothes: This one is the opposite of the cotton t-shirts. Thankfully a lot of events (cycling and running) are now passing out wicking shirts at their events instead of the cotton tees. SO much better. Wearing clothes that are made of wicking fabrics make a huge difference. It can help you stay cool while working out, you won’t be dripping in sweat, it reduces chafing and I find that wicking clothing doesn’t smell after many uses. This also goes for wicking socks. I personally like the Smart Wool brand. Prevent athlete’s foot AND blisters with these type of socks.

Sweat bands: Whether it’s a hat or sweat band or bondi band (my favorites), something to keep the sweat out of your eyes is a must. Sweat doesn’t drip into my eyes, my hair doesn’t become a frizzy mess and the bands don’t slip around. Love bondi bands!

Sleeveless shirts: I know, I know, we’re all self-conscious of our arms. Me too! Even though I lift weights and have lost 110 pounds, I still have the lunch-lady arm thing going on. It’s not fun and I sometimes feel embarrassed. But sleeveless shirts are pretty much the best workout shirts I’ve used. I don’t get over-heated in sleeveless shirts.

Spandex: No one likes spandex, but sometimes it’s necessary. And one of the bonus of the spandex type/compression shorts is no chafing! I’ve never ever had an issue with chafing or “chub rub” with my thighs when I run because of those compression shorts. They are my favorite design and solely what I wear.

But this is all what *I* like to wear when I work out. It really comes down to what you can afford, what makes you FEEL GOOD about yourself, and what is FUNCTIONAL for YOUR fitness. My suggestion is to try out some different brands and different styles from a more affordable store (Ross, TjMaxx, Nordstrom’s Rack, etc) before spending the money on name-brand things. You can often find Nike and Adidas gear at Ross, you just have to look for it! Good luck!

So what do you like to wear to the gym? What’s on your no-no list?