It's Summer and we all know what that means -- hitting the gym to keep that bikini body! But if you're like me, you only have time to go to the gym either before or after work, which are both the most difficult times for you to keep your eyes open. Before buying a gym bag, I would leave work, go to my apartment, change, and then go to the gym...but soon I realized once I was home, my motivation to workout decreased A LOT. The only time I'm really pumped to hit the gym is right when I'm off work, so that's why I started bringing my gym bag with me everyday! That way I have no excuse but to go straight to the rec center when I'm going home...especially because I have to walk past it anyway! Since I started using one, my gym bag is my best friend. I get it ready the night before so that in the morning I can just grab it and go. I don't have to worry about time or what to wear or anything -- I just take it with me along with my purse. The only thing I really rotate out of my bag are my clothes; everything else is there when I need it! Once I show you what I keep in my gym bag, I'm sure you'll want to start carrying one, too!
Bag - The bag I use is the Vera Bradley Sport Duffel in "Canterbury Magenta." It is the perfect size to fit everything you need, and even has an outside pocket (that I keep headphones in) and net pockets inside. The color is so vibrant that I don't feel gross carrying it around -- it still has that feminine touch even with my sweaty clothes inside!
Water Bottle - How can you go to the gym without hydration? My favorite brand of water bottles are definitely Camelbak. They come in all sorts of colors, and you can even get custom made ones on their website. I love the straw at the top because it's so much easier to drink when on the treadmill. There are also labels of mL and oz on the bottle itself so you can keep track of your daily water intake! And of course, all bottle are BPA free. :)
Lotion/Perfume - Is it just me or do your hands get dry whenever you workout? Maybe it's the constant touching of weights, machines, and locker doors, or most likely it's the amount of hand-sanitizer I use! I don't smell my best after the gym, so besides hydrating my skin I also need to smell good. Bath and Bodyworks has great small hand lotions in amazing scents (would you expect any less from B&BW?) that are the perfect fit for any gym bag. Sometimes for extra smelly-goodness, I carry a sample-size of perfume in my bag, too. Currently, I have a sample of CLEAN's "Warm Cotton." It smells like fresh-out-of-the-dryer laundry and isn't overpowering at all. The perfect scent for after a workout!
Dry Shampoo - Working out means sweat, and sweat means icky hair! After a workout, I love to spritz some dry shampoo in my hair to make it look at least a little better. Rockaholic's "Dirty Little Secret" is one of my favorites, but Tresseme also has a great price-friendly alternative. Both leave my scalp feeling clean and they smell good, too!
Face Wash - There is nothing worse, in my opinion, than a greasy and oily face, especially when sweat is mixed in! Whenever my face feels this way I have to wash it right away, and the Olay Fresh Effects "Out of This Swirled" is my new favorite face wash. The face wash itself is a swirl of a regular wash and an exfoliater, so it is gentle enough on my skin but still leaves it smooth. Plus it smells like white tea and jasmine, so it's almost as if I'm at a spa.
Moisturizer - After I wash my face I always need to moisturize! I've tried many high-end brands, but I seem to always come back to the Target brand Up & Up. It's a great price and doesn't leave my skin feeling oily, and it doesn't irritate it either. There's SPF so my skin doesn't get burned, and the spout rotates so it won't spill in your bag!
Deodorant - No one likes smelly armpits! The other day at Target (can you already tell this is my favorite store?) I was in the dollar section and found the CUTEST mini Dove deodorants. Instead of spending over $7 for a brand new one, I got the perfect gym-approved mini size for a buck!
Hair Ties - Recently, I have discovered the new rubberband-less hair ties and I am in LOVE! I first picked them up at Forever 21 for under $3, and right away I knew I would never by an ugly black hair tie again! Not only do they not leave kinks in my hair, but they are cute enough to wear around your wrist. No one wants their hair in their face when they are trying to run, and because I lose these things like crazy, I always carry at least two in my bag.
Sports Bra - If you have big boobs like me, then you need a sports bra for support! I love these colorful ones from Target because they immediately brighten up my mood. And come on, who doesn't want a neon blue bra?!
Tank Top - During the Summer, I feel like the gym is 30x hotter than it usually is. I used to be fine wearing an old t-shirt to work out in, but lately I have been dying of heat stroke even in those. So, tank tops are my new best friend. You can get them anywhere, but I love Old Navy ones the best. They even have certain athletic tanks with sports bras already built in...what a steal!
Shorts - Like I said, the gym is hot, so shorts are a must with me. And again, I'm addicted to Old Navy activewear. It's a great price and a great quality. They come in all sorts of colors so you can match them with all your other workout gear. Plus they are super lightweight and won't stick to your thighs!
Socks - I feel like this is an obvious necessity. Just like with sports bras, I love bright colored ones because you can't be sad or mopey with hot pink socks on! I usually get mine at Ross or DSW because they are almost always on sale. No sense in buying over-priced socks when they are just going to get smelly!
Shoes - I admit it, I'm in love with Nike. I bought my first pair two years ago on sale at DSW and from that point on I have refused to buy any other brand. I have a pretty wide foot, but even so Nike shoes fit me perfectly. They come in so many colors and styles that it's impossible not to be satisfied. Plus, I always get mine on sale for at least 30% off at DSW...which just adds to why I love them!
Fitbit - Unless you've been living under a rock, you've had to have heard of a Fitbit. It's a small black (or colored) band that you wear around your wrist that tracks of how many steps you take, how many miles, how many active minutes you have, how many hours of sleep you get (and how often you are restless),and how many calories you have burned each day. It's honestly the greatest purchase I've ever made. My mom and I both got one on New Years, and we've been keeping up with them ever since! It's a great way to not only keep you on track, but keep you motivated, too. You can even download a free app on your phone to check on your stats for the day. And with the app you can also track your calorie intake, water intake, and your weight-loss progress! These bands are seriously a great asset to anyone trying to stay fit, and although the price is a little expensive, I promise you they are worth it!
Well, that sums up the contents of my gym bag! What do you all keep in your gym? Anything I missed out on that you find essential? Leave a comment below!
Until next time my loves .x
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