Uncommon, But Useful Items To Pack In Your Gym Bag This Year.
It’s January and many of you out there have just joined a gym, I hope that you are enjoying it so far? If you started a new exercise routine of some kind, that's fantastic keep up the great work!!
I wanted to start off the year with something a little bit different. I’m going to share some of slightly odd items I have packed in my gym bag over the last 12 months. Some of these things might not be the first thing that comes to mind. (all links are not affiliated) …
An over the door hook
This small and inexpensive item is a perfect item to pop in with your shower kit, just in case you get to your shower cubicle and it’s missing a hook and you have to revert to putting your towel over the top of the cubicle door, leaving room for it to fall down or worse, fall down and get sopping wet. But if you have an extra hook, you will have no problem hanging up all of your gear all at once.
A body brush or loofah
This item can help you feel extra refreshed after a sweaty session, it is especially good if you are showering with limited time. Using a body brush in the shower will get rid of dirt, oil and dead skin cells which will help to protect skin from a build up that could lead to bacterial growth and acne breakouts. Not just for my women out there, I would encourage all the guys out there to adopt a good skin care regime too as this can improve the overall appearance of your skin, making you look and feel fresh and giving you glowing, younger looking skin.
Weight lifting gloves
Buying a pair of lifting gloves is a great idea, especially if you are going to train with a barbell as they can have knurls (that's the part of the bar that is textured) to help with grip, however they can be quite rough on the hands and cause discomfort to the skin. Other movements such as pull ups, chin ups and farmers carry all use a mighty amount of grip strength and put your hands to the test, so these little gloves can save your hands from calluses and other unwanted damage.
Pen and paper/ phone for notes/ journal
Having a plan for your workouts is the best way to keep you on task for your session as well as help you to track your progress. Writing down your workout for the session is like taking a shopping list with you to the store, you can easily see what movements you need to complete during your session, which overall leaves less room for distraction, feeling lost or unmotivated because you will know exactly what to do. Furthermore if you are using the resistance machines in the gym, taking note of the weight you are currently lifting for each movement, is a good idea. Say for example you are using 5 different resistance machines for your workout, each machine may require a different load. Keeping notes will let you know where to place the pin in the stack of weights for each machine, when you return for your next session. It also lets you know when you are ready to make the load heavier, and how quickly you have progressed.
A packet of plasters
Another small but extremely handy item to have in your gym bag is plasters, great for lots of small injuries caused at the gym from blistered heels or toes to small cuts or nicks. All gyms should have a good stocked first aid kit on site but it's nice to have some spare in your bag, just in case.
Healthy Snacks
Is there ever a reason not to pack a snack? Sometimes it's the best thing to find at the bottom of your bag. A snack with some protein and carbohydrates will do wonders to refuel you after your workout. Pack a ready made bar or if you are able to prepare food at home, try an apple with some peanut butter, some popcorn, some tofu or a boiled egg.
Spare Socks or Underwear
Packing your gym bag ahead of time is a good idea especially if you are working out in the early morning, I can't count the number of times I have forgotten to pack socks or underwear in my rush. I have even been known to forget my towel on occasion! not ideal. So it's a good idea to keep a spare set of underwear and socks in your bag just in case you need them.
Flip flops or Slider
Want to get beach vibes whilst working out? Packing a pair of flip flops in your bag can save you from picking up any unwanted contagious warts or verrucae that can be spread easily in communal changing areas. Pop these on when showering or using spa facilities.
Magnesium Joint Spray
This little bottle is a great addition to your gym bag, spray this on after your shower to relieve joints, aid relaxation and recovery. You will also smell great as they normally have a scent of essential oils such as eucalyptus or peppermint. That's a win-win.
Persil Wonder Wash
Okay there's no need to pack this one, but this is a good one to keep at home. Persils Wonder wash is great, it is designed to work on rapid wash cycles and it keeps your gym wear smelling fabulous and sweat free.
