Modern men take care of their health: they lead a healthy lifestyle without bad habits, eat organic foods, and spend their free time in fitness clubs and gyms. It is no longer fashionable to lie on the couch after work with a bottle of beer, chips or crackers. Men try to exercise more, so it is important for them to choose suitable sportswear. What kind of fitness clothing for men should be, what criteria to choose, we will look into further.
How to dress for fitness?
Fitness clothing must meet 3 requirements. Be:
- comfortable
_ Selected according to size, and not taking into account the planned weight loss by 2 sizes or, conversely, hanging as if on a hanger; - practical
. Natural fabrics are good in everyday life, but not in the gym. Cotton T-shirts and pants quickly become saturated with sweat and stick to your body. In addition, they can be easily extended on the elbows and knees. High-quality sportswear is made from mixed fabrics with the addition of elastane and polyurethane. This fabric stretches perfectly, does not restrict movement and brings sweat to the surface without absorbing it; - beautiful
. Where else, if not in the gym, can you indulge in bright colors and prints that are inappropriate in everyday life.
Minimum fitness set: 2 T-shirts or T-shirts, 1 pants, shorts or leggings, 1 pair of sneakers. Girls additionally need to purchase 2 sports tops or bras.
Upper body
A mandatory element of a sports outfit is a T-shirt or tank top. They should be selected in such a way that the clothing fits smoothly around the body, but does not hinder movement. And if men can afford to be a little careless in choosing a T-shirt, then girls should be careful with a deep neckline: it will distract both you and those around you from your activities. It’s very easy to check whether a T-shirt is suitable for exercise: bend in front of the mirror in different directions.
Many people consider a hoodie or sports jacket to be an unnecessary purchase. This is not true! Even on a summer evening, it is dangerous to immediately leave the hall to go outside - the chance of catching a cold is too great. You can’t get cold in the club either: it’s better to throw on a jacket while warming up, stretching, or while working out on a machine that is located directly under the air conditioner.
When buying T-shirts, pay attention to the seams. Ideally, they will be external. But in any case, the seams should be flat, soft, and free of unevenness. A great option is seamless T-shirts. Yes, they don’t look as stylish as we would like, but they certainly won’t cause discomfort.
Girls with small breasts additionally need to purchase a pair of sports tops so as not to injure the thin and delicate skin of the chest. Sports bras are more suitable for busty ladies. They will tighten the chest a little and provide excellent support.
You shouldn't do fitness without a bra or in your everyday underwear. Firstly, it is inconvenient, especially during active activities. Secondly, without receiving proper support, your breasts may hurt for a long time. With proper care, a quality sports bra will last about 2 years. The material of the product will signal that it’s time to change it – it will become hard and unyielding.
Lower body
The most suitable women's options for the gym are capris and leggings. It’s best if they have a high waist, so that when bending over you don’t have to think about peeking out sides and underwear. Please note: the belt of quality products never contains any elastic bands! It simply consists of several layers of elastic but tough fabric. And please: when trying it on in the store, check whether the leggings are see-through when bending over!
Men can choose long shorts or leggings. The latter are good for their elasticity: in them, even when lifting heavy weights, you don’t have to worry that the clothes will simply crack at the seams. Long, and even more so wide trousers in the gym are simply dangerous: they can get caught on protruding parts of the equipment, and either lose your balance or injure your neighbor.
An important element of equipment is socks. Sports models are never made from 100 percent cotton. Synthetic fibers are a must: thanks to them, socks do not slip and wick away moisture well. It is very important that the seam is thin and flat: this way you will definitely not rub your fingers, which is especially common among beginner runners and athletes.
Underwear
Many people think that it makes no difference what kind of underwear to use for training, because it is not visible under clothes. This is not entirely true. The wrong selection can cause inconvenience and even the most comfortable outer sportswear cannot compensate for it.
Special underwear designed for sports is made of synthetic materials that fit tightly to the body and provide comfort and good ventilation. This is especially important during intense workouts and heavy sweating.
It is recommended to select underwear for exercise in the gym from hygroscopic materials that have sufficient elasticity. The selection of sports bras for women deserves special attention. They should support the chest well so that during active movements it is fixed and the skin does not stretch. If you are a large size, you should choose a bra with wide shoulders and a belt. Since the support properties of bras weaken over time, it is recommended to replace these items of women's sportswear every 6-9 months.
Selecting shoes
The main rule: no walking pseudo-sneakers, ballet shoes or moccasins! Only sneakers for sports. Moreover, their variety should correspond to the type of training that you have chosen:
- for working with heavy weights,
the best option is weightlifting shoes: lightweight, breathable, but at the same time very durable shoes. It features a hard sole and a plastic heel up to 20 millimeters high. The weights do not slip at all and make deep squats easier; - Beginner weightlifters and powerlifters
can recommend high-top sneakers. They allow the foot to press tightly to the floor and securely fix the ankle; - CrossFit
is a training that includes elements of running, gymnastics, and weightlifting. And all these exercises should be comfortable for the athlete to perform. Therefore, you will need universal shoes: stable, breathable, with a hard sole; - for running and cardio training
. You can recognize them by the elevation in the heel area. Moreover, for running on the street you need to choose heavier models with thick soles. And in the gym it’s good to train in lightweight sneakers with mesh inserts; - Step aerobics
requires high-top sneakers. They perfectly fix the ankle and protect the ankle joint.
Every year new trends appear in the fitness industry: yesterday girls went to fitball en masse, today they are addicted to Zumba, and tomorrow they will be crazy about tai-bo. Such enthusiastic people should pay attention to sneakers, on the sole of which there is a turning point - a circle located directly under the big toe. These models make it easy to perform dance moves and turns.
Comfortable top
If you approach the choice of women's fitness equipment responsibly, you need to start with a sports bra. Regular underwear keeps the breasts in a calm state, but during exercise the motor amplitude increases, and the breast tissue needs more support. In sports bras, this effect is achieved due to a special cut, wide straps and special materials. This means that you will be able to avoid unpleasant sensations from slipping straps, misaligned cups, and rubbing the skin against the bones.
It is important to choose the right bra for fitness. If you plan to do “calm” types of training (yoga, Pilates), a bra with light support is enough; reinforced bras are recommended for lovers of aerobics, step dancing, and jogging.
The larger the breast size and the more intense the load, the more support is required.
A must-have item in your fitness wardrobe is a T-shirt or tank top made of suitable fabric. A beginner should not buy something that resembles a robe, even if there is a great desire to hide extra pounds. Such clothes can get caught on the exercise machine and ride up at the most crucial moment - making it impossible to concentrate on the workout. Then what should a girl who just has to lose weight wear to a fitness class? A T-shirt that moderately fits your figure is a winning option not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also for honing your exercise technique. This makes it easier to monitor the correct posture, position of the arms, and back.
It is worth paying attention to the depth of the cutout. Things that are too open can cause discomfort during active movements and bending (for example, when performing hyperextension).
Accessories
In addition to the right clothes, to visit the fitness club you will need:
- Sports bag
. Large and roomy so you can easily put everything you need in it: not only leggings, a T-shirt and shoes, but also a shower towel, flip-flops, maybe even a container with a healthy snack. It would be great if the bag has pockets for keys and watches, a phone and a shaker. And in general, it’s great if the model is equipped with a holder for a mat: who knows, maybe in a month strength training will seem too difficult to you, and you’ll want to diversify it with yoga or stretching. Before buying, you should definitely try on the bag to ensure that the size fits and that the strap does not cut into your shoulder. - Towel and shower accessories
. The first will be needed not only after training, but also during the process to wipe away sweat. The need for shower accessories can be debated. But if the fitness club is located on the other side of the city or a meeting is planned after the class, it is still better to take shower gel and rubber slippers with you. - Bottle for water.
It can be ordinary, or it can be special – “sports”. The main thing is that you can take a couple of sips every 15-20 minutes. A professional bottle is not just a beautiful accessory! It can be easily opened with one hand and allows the athlete not to fall out of the training process. This is especially true in group classes. The bottle has a comfortable handle and notches that allow you to control the volume of water you drink. - Gloves for the gym.
Men value them for effectively preventing slipping and increasing grip strength. Women - for the absence of calluses on their hands after training. And sports doctors insist on the use of gloves in all strength activities to reduce pressure on the fingers, maintain joint mobility and fine motor skills in everyday life. - Fitness bracelet.
His main task during training is to control his heart rate. On the very first day of visiting the gym, the trainer will definitely help the beginner determine his maximum heart rate and training zone. If you fall below the recommended threshold, the activity will not give any results. Higher levels are hazardous to health. - Athletic belt
. Not a single coach supports the craze for such an accessory. The athletic belt was created for very specific purposes:- turn off well-developed abdominal muscles when performing certain exercises, for example, dumbbell presses;
provide soft support to the lumbar spine. This is necessary, for example, for pathological lordosis, hernias and protrusions. Or when performing heavy exercises: deadlifts, lunges and squats with weights.
- Hair tie or headband
. Loose hair and long bangs are unacceptable in the gym, unless, of course, you came to work out and not post photos on Instagram. And even then, they are unlikely to turn out successful: any neat braids and tight buns look much better than wet, sweaty, disheveled curls.At least half of the visitors come to the hall with a player. Beginning athletes are better off giving up music: it will not allow you to hear the coach’s recommendations in time and will only distract. At first, it is important to concentrate on the technique of performing each exercise: correct body position and breathing.
In both cases we are talking about, if not professional, then very experienced athletes. And the appointment of rigid belts is generally the competence of the doctor. As practice shows, 90% of fitness club visitors, on the contrary, need to strengthen their abdominal muscles, and the intensity of their training is such that they simply do not need an athletic belt.
There is an opinion among girls that an athletic belt will help not lose your waist. Indeed, an incorrectly selected program increases the girth of the torso. But, if you do not pump up your oblique muscles intensely, this problem can be avoided. But turning off the abs from the training process definitely leads to the prolapse of the stomach, which is often observed even in slender, thin girls.
Fitness clothing for obese people
It is quite obvious that most people come to the gym in order to improve their figure. Many beginners are overweight, so choosing the right fitness clothing can be a daunting task. The rules and recommendations in this case will be the same, but some nuances are worth paying closer attention to.
- The choice of sportswear should start with sneakers, as shoes have a direct impact on health. It is necessary to eliminate additional stress on the joints, which can only be done with the right sneakers.
- When choosing clothes, you need to strictly avoid any options that create a sauna effect. It is a myth that they will help you lose excess weight faster (read about other myths about fitness here). But such things are quite capable of causing harm due to excessive dehydration. It is also better to give preference to dark colors. They will hide traces of sweat, making your workouts even more intense.
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How not to dress for a fitness club?
If recommendations on what to wear to training are always laconic, then the list of mistakes made by novice athletes can be continued indefinitely. Here are just a few of the blunders of fitness club visitors:
- Striptease instead of training. For the most part, this applies to beautiful girls who are not shy about showing off their breasts or the endless length of their legs for everyone to see. But every time I put it on short shorts and high cut top, remember that athletes are men too! And, staring at the neckline, they can be seriously injured.
In addition, clothing that reveals most of the body is simply unhygienic. By touching exercise equipment with your sweaty naked body, you are simply showing disrespect for others.Men can also do a striptease if they wear shorts with wide legs. A number of exercises in the gym involve lying on your back. This is where there is a high probability of demonstrating to others more than one would like.
Exercising barefoot or bare-chested in decent gyms is strictly prohibited! The foot must be securely supported to avoid injury. A T-shirt will allow you to leave the bench completely dry.
- Regular clothes instead of sportswear . Professional sportswear follows the contours of the body, wicks moisture away from it, does not restrict movement and does not ride up at the most inopportune moment. Ordinary clothes behave exactly the opposite! Cotton T-shirts become heavy with sweat. Denim shorts dig into the body at the slightest bend. And the laces and rivets on the pockets of the pants cling to the exercise equipment. Just remember: dressing in old, stretched out sweatpants and beat-up T-shirts is unacceptable!
- Wide pants . Yes, oversized is still in fashion, and wide legs perfectly disguise riding breeches and imperfect calves, which pleases overweight women so much. But such clothes will definitely cling to barbells and bars. And if you don’t get the length right, injury on an exercise bike or treadmill is guaranteed! Trousers of this style also have one more disadvantage: they make it difficult for the trainer, who must always see how this or that muscle works.
- Shales . For some reason, they are chosen by the vast majority of men starting their journey in sports. They realize their mistake quickly - at the very first time a kilogram dumbbell falls on their foot. It will be a great success if the matter is limited to a bruise and not crushed bones.
- Lace lingerie, thongs, push-up bras. Sportswear brands don't stop at creating leggings and T-shirts. Their selection always includes cotton panties and sports bras that provide excellent support. In such underwear, you will think about your workout, and not about where the strap slipped.
- Nylon tights under shorts .
In a fitness club, no one will look closely at how perfect the skin of your legs is. Therefore, there is no need to wear tights, which will only restrict movement. For girls who want to look perfect everywhere, it’s very difficult at first in the gym: makeup runs and smudges, and your favorite perfume sounds suffocating. There is only one way out: limit yourself to a minimum of cosmetics, for example, nude lip gloss and one layer of mascara. But it’s better to avoid perfume altogether; an antiperspirant with a light, pleasant smell will be quite enough.
Features of men's fitness
Unlike women, representatives of the stronger half of humanity lose weight and build muscle much faster. This is explained by the muscular structure and physiological characteristics of the male body. The fact is that female nature presupposes the presence of fat mass, which is necessary for bearing and giving birth to healthy offspring. The hormonal system also plays an important role, affecting body composition and body fat. Male hormones help build muscle mass in a shorter period of time.
Many young people are still of the opinion that fitness is an exclusively female sport. In fact, fitness is a program of exercises designed to reduce body weight and give muscle definition, regardless of gender.
Fitness classes are aimed at developing endurance, flexibility, and giving the body definition. Fitness helps improve the general condition of the body and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory, cardiovascular and other systems of the human body.
For men, the best fitness program is to alternate aerobic exercise with strength training. Martial arts classes and swimming are being added. Of course, the choice of programs primarily depends on your goals. If a young person needs to lose weight, preference is given to aerobic exercise combined with strength training. To acquire the desired body contour, you need to devote more time to strength exercises.
The fitness program, designed specifically for men, has several levels:
- The first level is an introduction to fitness. The trainer shows how to do the exercises, teaches proper breathing;
- second level. At this stage, a change in the body occurs: excess weight disappears, relief appears, muscle mass increases;
- the third level is consolidation of the results obtained. At this level, strength training combined with swimming predominates.
What a girl should wear to fitness: photo
Of course, trainers advise all girls to immediately buy high-quality leggings and a pair of T-shirts for training. But it’s better to honestly ask yourself the question: are you ready to exercise regularly. If in doubt, choose a temporary, inexpensive option. If your motivation is strong, don’t skimp! A beautiful, high-quality uniform will be another reason not to miss training.
What is the best fabric for sportswear?
Typically, sportswear uses knitwear or fabric that stretches well. Firstly, the stretchy material will not restrict movement, and secondly, it will not tear, as it has a reserve of tensile strength. Thick knitwear will tighten and hug the figure, and can also have compression properties, which is especially good during intense exercise with additional weight in the fitness room.
In many articles about material for sportswear, you can find recommendations that it is better for the fabric to be natural, preferably cotton. I don't agree with this. Technologies are moving forward, including in fabric production. Modern synthetic fabrics are superior in quality and properties to classic natural materials.
Of course, you can wear a simple cotton jersey tank top. It will breathe well and have slight antibacterial properties. But there are also disadvantages. One of the main ones is that sportswear for fitness made from natural fabrics wrinkles a lot. Even if you iron it before going to training, it will have time to wrinkle in your bag, and you will have to train in a wrinkled uniform. This will not be noticeable on tight-fitting clothes, but on loose pants or a T-shirt, wrinkled folds are clearly visible. The second disadvantage of clothes made from cotton jersey is that they shrink when washed and stretch when worn. Moreover, it happens that the difference before and after washing can reach several sizes. This is especially noticeable on plus size clothing.
Clothing made from modern and high-quality synthetic fabrics does not have these shortcomings. Good synthetic knitwear does not wrinkle, does not stretch, and breathes well. But it is important that your fitness clothing is made of high-quality material (for example, BiFlex Heavy Sport fabric). High-quality fabric for sportswear should be dense, stretch well, and have a pleasant texture to the touch.
Also an excellent option would be a fabric that includes both synthetic fibers (polyester, spandex, elastane) and natural fibers (cotton or viscose). Such fabrics also hardly wrinkle and have good performance characteristics.
What a man should wear to fitness: photo
A man in a full Nike outfit and New Balance sneakers is definitely beautiful! But if you are not yet ready to shell out half your salary on equipment, that’s okay. The main thing is the desire for self-improvement, not fashion brands.
If you do yoga
As you may know, there are quite a lot of directions in yoga. If the direction you have chosen is quite active, then you should choose natural breathable fabrics that will absorb moisture and will not interfere with your movements. When choosing clothes for the upper body, you should give preference to clothes with short sleeves, since many asanas include active movement of the arms, and therefore the sleeves should not ride up and get in the way. The neckline should be comfortable. Don't forget that there are some poses in which even sportswear can sometimes let you down.
It is not recommended to wear short shorts during yoga training, also for hygiene reasons, because most of the skin will come into contact with the surface of the mat and the floor.
There are also specialized socks and rubberized gloves for yoga. Both of these accessories will help you have good grip on the floor while performing asanas of any degree of difficulty.
Most large gyms offer their own yoga mats, but if you plan to get serious about this type of physical activity, then I recommend purchasing your own yoga mat. If you are a beginner, you can start with a thicker and softer mat, and over time, when your body gets used to such loads, switch to a thinner option.
What to wear on bottom?
How to dress for fitness simply and tastefully? There is a huge selection of clothes for girls on the sportswear market: sweatpants, breeches, tights, leggings, shorts. The rule of good manners is to choose clothes that are not see-through. Since sportswear is the basis of casual style and is chosen not only for sports, but also for everyday wear, it is quite easy to choose leggings or T-shirts according to your price category, taste, color and size. The main thing is to remember that you can look attractive in more than just your comfy mom jeans.
