If you have never been to the gym and your first day is approaching, it’s reasonable to be nervous. You may wonder: Will I get tired quickly? What exercises will I have to do? Will I manage to keep up the routine? And most importantly, what should I bring?
When you sign up to the gym, the staff will give you some necessary information such as rules of the site, schedules and information about personal trainers. But very often they forget to let you know what sort of things you should carry, or they assume you already know.
On the other hand, if you have been going to the gym for some time, good for you. You are improving your body with exercise and your mind with discipline. But are you sure you’re taking everything you need each time you go to the gym?
No matter which of the two types of people you are, you are in the right place. Below you will find five must-haves for every gym-goer to train in the best possible way.
Table of Contents
A Towel is Essential
Whether you train alone or with other people, a sports towel is a must whenever you go to the gym. You will not only use it to wipe the sweat from your face, but also as a hygiene measure when using the material at your disposal.
Finding a sweat-stained mat or machine by the person who used it before is not pleasant, so remember to pat dry the equipment with your towel after finishing an exercise.
Don’t even think about bringing a bath or beach towel for the gym; you must have the right size so that it is easy to handle.
Monitor your heart
If you are going to perform a cardiovascular exercise, you should have a good heart rate monitor. Controlling your pulse not only helps you not to exceed the recommended intensity but also allows you to control the training zone you are in and help you achieve your goal. Besides, it’s not necessary to spend a fortune; there are currently a wide variety of heart rate monitors with advanced technologies at reasonable prices. You can do without some functions such as GPS and see that you can get much more accessible heart rate monitors.
Appropriate Clothing and Footwear
When exercising, you should choose clothes in which you feel free and light. You must wear the right shoes and select clothes that allow you a good range of movement. Gone is that 80’s fashion of wearing tight clothes to go to the gym that cut off circulation. If possible, try not to wear cotton garments because they absorb sweat and do not let it evaporate, which generates bacteria and makes your clothes much more smelly by the end of the training.
As for footwear, wear shoes of adequate size and that have excellent support to avoid injuries. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable exercising and thus focus your attention on training.
Gloves and SBD belt
If you go to the gym to lift weights, you need these two implements. If you watch any weightlifting competition, you will see that all participants wear gloves and a belt. Wearing them not only helps to improve performance by ensuring better grip and more support in the lower-middle back but also prevents injuries. So, if you plan to be in the weight room, remember to take these things with you from home.
A Water Bottle
Although it may seem obvious, many people choose to exercise without a water bottle because they think it is not necessary or they couldn’t be bothered carrying it. Not drinking water during exercise is a severe mistake. Our body needs to stay hydrated before, during, and after training to replenish the fluids we lose when we sweat. Ideally, it would be best if you bought a water bottle made of hard plastic so that it is resistant and reusable.
By following these tips, you should be more than ready to go to the gym and train without any inconvenience. However, in times when you have questions or are unsure, ask an instructor to help you out. Remember, everyone was once new at the gym! So you don’t have to be nervous. Enjoy your training.