To make sure you have everything you need at hand for your workout and for cleaning up afterward, "Fitness Magazine" editor Denise Brodey recommends keeping a bag that is solely designated for gym use. You'll have everything ready to go at a moment's notice, so you'll have no excuses to skip that workout. You'll also be less likely to be caught away from home without personal care essentials.
Step 1
Keep an extra pair of sneakers in your gym bag, as well as a pair of flip-flops for yoga class or for wearing in the shower. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, locker room showers can be breeding grounds for fungal infections such as athlete's foot. Always wear flip-flops in the shower and locker room to avoid infection.
Step 2
Include essentials such as extra hair ties, deodorant, a large water bottle and a lock for your locker.
Step 3
Buy smaller versions of products such as shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, hair gel or anything else that you need to get ready after your workout. If you can't find travel-size versions of your favorite products, buy refillable product bottles. Keep your bottles in a waterproof toiletry bag, and make sure they are closed securely to avoid messy leaks.
Step 4
Pack makeup-dissolving facial cleansing wipes and remove makeup before exercising so it doesn't clog your pores. You can also use wipes to freshen up afterward if you aren't showering at the gym.
Step 5
Roll up a full-size bath towel and place it in one end of your bag. Place a hand towel on top so you will have something to use for wiping sweat off the gym equipment.
Step 6
Pack your clothing last so it won't become wrinkled, especially if you are heading to work afterward. Take your clothes out of the bag when you get to the gym and hang them up or place them on a shelf in your locker.
Tips and Warnings
- Buy a travel-size hairdryer if your gym does not make hair dryers available. Keep a smaller nylon bag inside your gym bag for sweaty clothes and wet towels, and throw the entire bag in the wash when you get home.
Things You'll Need
- Sneakers
- Flip-flops
- Water bottle
- Lock
- Hair ties (optional)
- Travel-size toiletries
- Makeup-dissolving facial cleansing wipes (optional)
- Bath towel
- Hand towel
- Water bottle
- Travel-size iron (optional)
- Smaller nylon bag (optional)
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