There has never been a better time to hit the gym to look good in and out. Now that your private communion and efforts beneath a barbell are now paying off. You have ticked one of the items of your goal which is to be fit and have a ‘hot’ body.
Looking good while sweating it out is no small feat, but with these 5 tips, your wardrobe can at least do some of the heavy liftings for you:
1. Keep things muted
Take a lesson from your wardrobe by sticking to neutrals. If all your kit is white, black or grey, it all matches. Which is one less excuse not to lift weights. Black is your friend, the darker you should steer because it hides sweat patches and looks good on anyone.
2. Don’t look into the mirrors
Gym mirrors are counterintuitive. They are there to help you check your form and bad for your performance. Canadian research found watching yourself exercise has a negative impact on body image, even if you’re confident in how you look. In another study conducted in the US, using a mirror while squatting distorts your perception of body position, which wrecks your form. In addition, too much checking yourself out also cuts into valuable training time,
3. Get the right shoes
If your gym bans bare feet – and frankly, that’s no bad thing – you need training shoes with firm soles. Converse has long been the weightlifter’s go-to, but the rise of Crossfit has popularised a new, hybrid trainer, with a flat sole for heavy metal but which also offers support when you are running. For weightlifting and any strength work, you need a flat, stable base. Your best bet is to take them off altogether and just wear socks.
4. Go get a hoodie
When it’s cold as balls outside, having a crew neck jumper or throw-on-and-go hoodie to hand can be all that separates you, the snooze button, and, ergo, your goals. Pick a style in a neutral colour that will wash well as it does in the weights room, so you will never have to worry about being caught short after a session again.
5. Cut the cord
The body of research on workout music and the positive effect it has on gains has swelled considerably in the last decade. Cut the cord with a pair of wireless in- or over-ear headphones. Some of the best on the market even double up as fitness trackers or sync with coaching apps to give advice in real time.
Photo credit: Fashionbeans