It’s true, we all like to be comfy while doing our workout routines. But certain items just shouldn’t be worn during that time—you could wind up injured or your attire could make your workout less efficient. Yes, everyone does have their own style, but things like high-heeled boots and jeans just don’t have a place in the exercising world. In our last blog we discussed four of the eight fitness fashions that you shouldn’t wear while exercising. Now, before you head out the door to the gym, let’s explore the last four.
100% Cotton Garb
You should stay away from wearing anything that’s 100% cotton. While this fiber may appear to keep you dry and cool, the cotton will actually absorb your moisture and is slow-drying. You’ll be stuck in your sweat! Your cotton attire can cause body break-outs, chills, chafing and irritation on your skin; not to mention that the dampness will weigh you down.
To Fix This: Switch to fabric that is specially developed to pull your sweat from you such as light-weight, moisture-wicking material or fast-drying synthetics.
Jewelry
When you’re performing a fitness routine, never wear jewelry that will stick out, hang down or swing. Your jewelry can become a distraction and needs to be left on your dresser. Even rings—including your wedding ring—might get snagged on your Pilates or yoga mats and may be banged up during strength training.
To Fix This: If you must wear jewelry to your fitness center, remove and store it in your locker or bag prior to working out to avoid mishaps. You can put it back on after your workout.
Unsupportive Sports Bra
You can’t push yourself if you’re self-conscious or uncomfortable. The wrong sports bra—or wearing a regular bra—could cause stress on your chest tissues and ligaments or over-stretching.
To Fix This: You need to consider your body shape and workout intensity before selecting that perfect sports bra. There are sports bras created for high-intensity workouts which are great for extreme cardio classes and interval training. Likewise, sports bras are available for low-intensity workouts such as walking or yoga. If you’re a large-breasted woman, you’ll want to search for sports bras that won’t cut into your shoulders, have wider straps and a wider bottom band for better support in addition to even weight distribution; underwire sports bras will work well too. Also, think about hunting for moisture-wicking sports bras with covered or flat seams; this will avoid chafing and sweat being trapped in the seams. Buying the correct sports bra will assist in giving your chest ligaments and tissues full protection.
Ideally, your sports bra should be replaced every 6-9 months. There are things you can keep an eye on should it need to be thrown out sooner: weak elastic, doesn’t fit flat against your body, distorted cups and protruded or bent underwire.
Blaring Ear Devices
Who doesn’t like to listen to their favorite tunes while exercising? It makes the workout more enjoyable and keeps you “in the zone”. However, playing your music too loud can not only damage your hearing, but also hinder your cognizance of your environment.
To Fix This: If you’re in a gym, you’ll definitely need to know if a fire alarm sounds; likewise, if you’re outside, you must pay attention to traffic, so be sure to maintain a volume level that lets you be aware of what’s happening around you. Keeping the volume down will also allow you to listen to your stride while jogging or hear your breathing while weight lifting.
Now that you know the dos and don’ts of picking workout clothing, give your exercise outfits a makeover. It can be just as much fun buying new exercise clothes as it can be working out in them!
Teri
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