Essential Items You Should Carry In Your Gym Bag

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There is nothing worse than traveling to the gym only to find out you forgot a necessity, especially if you don’t live next door. You’re not going to want to go home, get what you need and head back to the fitness center, which will cause you to either go without or miss your workout altogether. To ensure you always have your essentials, keep a bag packed for the gym. Here are some items you should put in your travel pack.

Toiletries

Your post-gym plans will determine which toiletries you need to keep with you. For example, if you like to work out before going to your job, you’ll want to pack anything you need to shower, including soap, shampoo and deodorant. Additionally, if the gym doesn’t have a hairdryer, you may need one so you can style your hair.

If you suffer from muscle pain or swelling after working out and have a long day ahead, consider taking advice from D Gary Young regarding essential oils. Certain oils, such as lavender and rosemary, can help with pain and inflammation. If you have similar issues, keep essential oils in your bag to apply to your skin post-workout. To avoid skin irritation, you should weaken them with a carrier oil.

Lock

It’s never safe to put your personal items in a locker unless you put a lock on it. You’ll be too busy hopping on different weight or aerobic machines to pay attention to your things, especially if they’re in a separate room.

Also, if you don’t use a lock, you won’t get the most out of your workout because you’ll be worried about someone stealing your things. A good rule is never to remove your lock from your gym bag unless you’re using it.

Water Bottle

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Staying hydrated is important regardless of what you’re doing. However, it’s even more crucial during a workout because you lose fluid. Although it may seem like a lot, it’s recommended to ingest 7 to 10 ounces of water about every 15 minutes while you’re working out. If you take a reusable bottle, you can easily refill it as needed.

Drinking water keeps your joints lubricated, making running, walking or weight lifting easier. Staying hydrated also decreases the chance of getting muscle cramps or feeling dizzy. You should drink water before, during, and after exercising for best results.

Extra Clothes

You’ll want to have at least two sets of clothes – your training outfit and another for after you exercise. If the weather is warm, you can wear the outfit you intend to work out in to the gym. However, if it’s too cold, you may have to wear your street clothes and switch once you get to the fitness center. Also, don’t forget to take extra undergarments since they are the closest to your body and get the dampest after exercising. There is nothing more uncomfortable than wearing clothes you were just sweating in.

Headphones or Earbuds

To truly get into the zone at the gym, you probably listen to your favorite music, TV show or podcast via earbuds. Media allows you to get your mind off of working out, which is needed when you don’t feel like exercising.

If you end up forgetting your headphones, think about how different your experience will be. You’ll be stuck watching the clock tick away slowly rather than jamming out to your favorite tunes. This unpleasant experience may end up cutting your gym visit short. To ensure you never forget your earbuds, get a pair you use exclusively at the gym and keep them in a specific pouch in your bag so you know exactly where to find them. Additionally, consider investing in a wireless option so you don’t have to mess with tangled cords while you’re on your favorite workout machine.Ensuring you have the essentials in your gym bag will make the experience easy and enjoyable. While you won’t need to remove some items from the travel pack, you’ll have to switch out others, such as dirty clothes and used water bottles. To guarantee you always have what you need, check your gym bag before leaving the house.

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