A look inside a gym bag
Have you ever wondered what you should pack into your gym bag? I remember when I first started lifting I had no idea what I would need. I learned over time how to come to the gym prepared through trial and error, a lot of error. Bring everything you could ever need to have a successful gym day! To help anyone who reads this out I decided to not only take pictures of what's in my gym bag but link up where to buy them off of amazon! Simple as that! Here is a little look inside my bag:
Now let's take a closer look....
1. Gym bag
A great place to start! The gym bag I'm using right now is actually part of our luggage set we got for Christmas ( :) ). But there are a lot of great, cheap options! I prefer a bag with many pockets so nothing gets lost, something that won't be too heavy, and obviously a cute color.
ADIDAS: BRIGHT COLOR WITH POCKETS:
2. Sneakers
These are the lifting sneakers I use mostly. I also have a pair of converse I got for Christmas that I love. I normally look for flat shoes to lift in, even though many people like to squat in lifted heels. These types of shoes are often expensive.. So I'll stick with the cheaper shoes for now!
NIKE FLAT SHOE:
Here is a link to some Nikes that are flat and not ridiculously expensive.
CONVERSE:
If you're more interested in converse "Chucks", here's the link for you! They're even cheaper and I know many lifters who use these. (Power lifters and normal gym-goers)
3. Workout journal:
I've used a workout journal for as long as I can remember. I record all of my lifts; the weight, the reps, and how many sets I do. This is my 3rd composition notebook that I've filled and I try to find a motivation quote each time. Everyday I read this and I need it to make me keep going, even if I'm wanting to quit. You can buy these at any drug store, grocery store, or store like Staples. If you want to get fancier there are notebooks you can buy specifically as a workout log.
WORKOUT LOG:
4. Headphones (Bluetooth)
I thoroughly recommend bluetooth headphones. They make it much easier to listen to music while at the gym. You don't have to worry about where to put your phone (down your pants? In your sports bra?).
There are two main types of bluetooth headphones to me... the thicker ones, like the ones in my picture^. Or ones that only go around your ears. I like both styles for different things. I use the thicker ones most often because Im not worried about them falling out of my ears. Lately I have noticed them falling down when I put my head down though..so that's something to think about. In general I'd say...The bigger ones are good for cardio or moving quickly(HIIT, jumping, etc), while the smaller ones would be better when there's no worry about them falling out (quick motions).
HEADPHONES: SMALLER BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES:
5. Sweater
I like to make sure I keep a pullover that I can grab if I'm really cold that day in the gym. Usually after I get going I warm-up and take it off. Butttt I have had days when I'm freezing when I first get to the gym and don't have any long sleeve to use. :(. This one I have is from Old-Navy, which I really like (and have 3 different ones in black). You can buy anything that's easy to take on and off and will keep you warm in your time of need!
SWEATSHIRT:
6. Socks
I always make sure to keep some extra socks (including long deadlift socks) in my bag. Showing up at the gym at 5AM and realizing you forgot socks is pretty depressing. (I usually suck it up and just go in my sneakers barefoot-yuck). You can use any pair of regular socks..However, if you're planning on deadlifting I recommend thicker, longer socks. This is because the bar is right against your shins and may cut them up a bit.
DEADLIFT SOCKS:
7. Wrist wraps:
I have a pair of wrist wraps to help keep my wrists safe during a lot of exercises. I have a bad habit of rotating my wrists when doing a lot of exercises instead of keeping them straight. They help the most during the bench press. People also use them during squat and accessory work.
WRIST WRAPS:
8. Liquid Chalk
If you follow me on Instagram (@fitlifeofcam) you know I recently had a lot of issues with my grip. I currently go to a commercial gym that doesn't allow chalk. Chalk is really helpful when your palms are sweaty and won't let you deadlift heavy weight without the bar slipping out of your hands. Friends on Instagram told me to try out liquid chalk. It's much less messy and usually allowed in gyms for this reason.
LIQUID CHALK:
9. Supplements:
I should start by mentioning supplements are just that-SUPPLEMENTAL. You do not need to take them. They just help and supplement all the hard work you're already putting in. I won't connect an Amazon link to these because there are so many different companies that have great product. In my picture I show 3 of the different companies I use during the workout. I use pre workout "PRE" from Carbon Supps before I leave for the gym. (~30min before my workout). Once I get to the gym I take a scoop of BCAAs and sip on these throughout the workout. Immediately after the workout I take a scoop of creatine monohydrate. Once I get home I have a scoop of protein! Try out different companies to find your favorite. I would use Carbon Supps (backed by science) for everything, but some of these I received as gifts and some are just cheaper than Carbon (MyProtein).
10. Dry Shampoo
I recently tried using dry shampoo for the days when I don't want to wash my hair every single day or twice a day. With going to the gym so often, it's not good to wash your hair too much. That's where dry shampoo comes in! Also, it's much more convenient when you have plans right after going to the gym.
DRY SHAMPOO:
And it's pretty inexpensive!
11. Bottles:
SHAKER BOTTLE: WATER BOTTLE:
12. Cell-phone Charger:
Always bring a charger with you! You need your phone to jam out to your music! It will be a quiet workout if your phone dies while you're there. There are super cheap chargers off amazon that you need to have!
13. Extras:
HAIR-TIES! You will always want to pack extra hair-ties with you. This is pretty much true wherever you are. It is the worst feeling when a hair-tie breaks and you don't have a back-up. Some girls are able to workout with their hair down-but I have no idea how they do it. I need my hair out of my face.
Towels! Sometimes a towel is really needed to wipe off sweat. Most gyms offer their own towels for you to use.. but what if they were all dirty that workout you needed it the most? Always good to have an extra with you-just in case!
That is all! I also have a lifting belt (Inzer) that I bring usually when powerlifting...But that wouldn't be found in a normal gym bag-unless they're a powerlifter! It's also good to bring a snack to eat intra-workout if it's going to be a long one (Check out Lenny & Larrys--there's a link on the right bottom of my website). I hope this post was informative and helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
xo,
Cam