Category: tips and articles

Are you thinking about going back to the gym in 2020?

The fitness industry is booming, and most of the reasons revolve around health.

People are getting more conscious about their health. Some workout to improve their self-image, helping their self-esteem and mental health. Seeing their improvements often prompts them to post it on social media, getting more people into fitness.

This is when hygiene habits become even more important. New gym members don’t have a clue on what the proper habits are in keeping the equipment and environment clean. This causes ailments like Athlete’s Foot and can spread illnesses. 

To help prevent another outbreak when you go to the gym, here are a few tips to keep yourself clean.

1. Be Careful in Choosing Your Gym

Make it a habit to review any gym you’re planning to go to. People have a lot to say about different establishments today thanks to the businesses having interactive profiles on social media platforms or their websites.

You can check their reviews or their comments to know how the gym is in advance. The comments may say something about the cleanliness of their facility. Use this to know how your experience in the gym will turn out.

2. Wash Your Hands

The most basic hygiene habits are often the ones people forget about. Washing your hands before using any of the gym’s equipment makes sure you don’t infect them with germs. You could have gotten germs anywhere during your trip to the gym.

Make sure you use soap and warm water to kill off the germs you’re carrying. You must also dry off your hands before handling any equipment. Wet hands can still carry germs and may cause some equipment to corrode.

3. Wipe Down the Equipment 

Wiping down the equipment before using it is a good practice. This makes sure the equipment is clean of anything the previous user left. Fungi and other bacteria from the skin can stay on the equipment for a long time.

It’s also a good way to remove the previous user’s dried sweat. Sweat can be carriers of certain diseases like Hepatitis B and Herpes. Use a hygienic workout towel to get rid of any remnants of the previous user.

Doing this will make sure you keep yourself safe from these infections.

4. Take a Shower After Your Workout

This should be a no brainer – After your workout routine, taking a shower should be the first thing you do. Showering ensures the bacteria clinging on your body gets washed away. It also cleans your hair of any bacteria you may have picked up while working out.

Taking a hot shower is ideal as it helps you keep your blood flowing. If you’re looking to cool down, though, consider taking colder showers.

You should also clean your sweat towel and sweaty clothes as soon as you can. Put them in the washing machine and dry them to discourage any bacterial growth on your clothes.

Wearing flip-flops or anything else to keep your feet off the tiles is also a good idea. Going in the shower barefoot can have some serious health hazards. Ringworm often enter your body through the soles of your feet.

Wearing these can save you from getting parasites.

5. Bring Separate Towels for Showering and Working Out

Before you shower, make sure you have a bath towel available to use. Having a separate towel to be your workout towel ensures that the bacteria you wiped off doesn’t go back to you. This is the reason you often see people bring different towels to the gym.

6. Protect Any Damaged Areas You Have on Your Skin

Having any kind of damage on your skin makes it easier for bacteria to enter your body. If you have any cuts or skin breaks, consider covering them up. You can get bacteria from interacting with other people or the gym equipment.

Using a waterproof bandage is ideal for the situation. This is because you’ll end up sweaty after your workout routine. Using regular bandages can slide off when they’re wet, exposing the damage on your skin.

7. Don’t Share Your Hygiene Items

Your hygiene items should stay personal for a reason. You use them to clean yourself up during your workout. 

If someone else uses your gym towel for example, it means foreign bacteria can invade it. Your body won’t be able to protect you in the same way it does with your bacteria.

This means you can get sick easier upon cross-contamination. Keep your items to yourself to prevent yourself from getting sick this way.

Remember These Hygiene Habits When You GO Back To The Gym

Going to the gym is a great way to improve your overall health. Make sure you stay healthy by practicing these hygiene habits.

Looking for a hygienic gym towel to use for your workout routine? Contact us here and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as we can!

You’ve come to an epiphany and realized that you need to start working out more. So, you go out and get a membership at your local gym. A few of your friends go there and said the place was nice.

While you’re on the treadmill someone from work calls you. It can’t wait, so you take the call while you’re still on the equipment. About 10 minutes into the call, the person beside you starts giving you the stink eye.

Talking loudly is one rule of gym etiquette that you don’t want to break. You didn’t know the most common rules, and now you’ve drawn unwanted attention to yourself. Don’t let this happen to you! 

To help you stay classy while you work out we’ve created a guide to all the unspoken no-nos that you should know about before you hit the gym! 

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask 

Just as in school, there’s no such thing as a dumb question when you’re in the gym. If something confuses you or you need some assistance, don’t be afraid to ask. 

Do you see a piece of equipment you don’t know how to use? Find someone who works at the gym and ask them to help you out. 

If someone is doing squats in front of a dumbbell you need, kindly ask them if you can reach behind them for a second. Asking first is the polite thing to do and it’s also safer. 

Most gyms post a list of rules that all members should follow. If a rule is a little confusing to you, ask one of the gym staff to explain it. It’s better to ask now then run into a problem later. 

2. Clean Yourself and Your Workout Clothes

It sounds counterproductive to shower before you go get sweaty in the gym, but all the other patrons will thank you for doing it. If your smell is a distraction to you, it’s also going to be distracting to everyone else.  

Besides taking a shower, you want to always pack a fresh towel and a clean set of gym clothes with you. It’s tempting to use the same set of clothes twice, but after about two uses it’s going to make you smell like aged sweat. Nobody wants that! 

3. Put Equipment Back Where You Got it 

For the safety of everyone in the gym, make sure you put your equipment away after you’re done with it. If you leave weights in the middle of the floor, somebody may tumble over them and hurt themselves. 

Also, it’s great if you can lift 300 pounds but the next person to use the equipment may not be able to. Make sure to reset the machine or take the weights off after you’re done with it so they don’t have to do it. Not only is failing to do so inconsiderate, but it could also lead to an injury. 

4. Don’t Make Fun of Others 

Everyone in the gym is there for one reason and that is to better themselves. You should never make fun of someone for that. Don’t vocally say something negative about another patron, don’t take a snap on Snapchat, don’t post pictures of them on your Instagram, and don’t stare. 

It’s rude, it invades their privacy, and if they notice you doing it, it’s likely to discourage them from coming back to the gym. 

5. Pay Attention to What’s Going on Around You

When you’re walking through the gym, always pay attention to your surroundings. If you space out you may end up walking right into another patron or getting smacked in the face because you walked too close to someone using a machine. 

Also, if you’re paying attention to your surroundings you may end up noticing a fellow gym-goer who needs someone to spot them. Help them and make a new gym buddy or at least someone who will return the favor. 

6. Wipe Down Equipment After You Use it 

Nobody wants to use a piece of equipment that’s covered in puddles of sweat. It’s gross and makes people feel uncomfortable. That’s why you should always bring a towel with you. 

You can drape it around your neck to wipe off your face and soak up some of the sweat. Depending on how much you sweat, sometimes the towel isn’t enough, though. 

If you do end up sweating on the machines, most gyms have paper towels and disinfectant you can use to wipe down the equipment after you’re done with it. 

7. Sharing is Caring 

No matter how much you enjoy a machine, don’t hog it. It’s rude to the other people who are waiting to use the equipment you’re on. Another thing you want to avoid is hovering. 

If someone is using a machine that you want to use, move on to the next step in your workout. Go to a different one until the person is done.

If you hover it makes things awkward, It’s rude, you’re pressuring the poor person, and it’s not safe to stand close to someone using a piece of workout equipment.  

8. Avoid Talking too Much

Too much chitchat on the gym floor is distracting and quite annoying to other gym-goers. If you get a phone call and must answer it, get off the machine you’re using and step outside. 

If you go to the gym with a partner and want to communicate with them, whisper so the whole gym doesn’t hear your conversation. Lastly, if someone is wearing their earbuds, chances are they don’t want to talk. Don’t poke them to try and start up a conversation. 

Everything You Need to Know About Proper Gym Etiquette 

Are you thinking about heading to the gym? It’s a great way to keep yourself fit and healthy. Just, keep in mind that the gym is full of patrons who are trying to do the same thing. 

You’ve got to practice good gym etiquette or else you may find yourself getting kicked out. Use the advice you’ve read here today to help keep the gym a positive place for everyone. 

Finally, make sure you’re ready to mop up that sweat with the best gym towel you can find. Go here to order yours today. 

Women join gyms for many reasons such as toning up and getting fit, to lose weight, and to generally feel better all around. Your reason to go to the gym is completely your own, but you want to make sure you’re prepared when you do. It’s important that all of your gym bag essentials get into the car, so you can enjoy your workout and easily clean up before your day officially begins.  

What are the top gym essentials every woman needs in her gym bag? Let’s go over the list.

Gym Clothing Essentials

Workout Top

Pack a shirt that you can move in and preferably one that’s sweat resistant (like a dri-fit top). You want to be comfortable in the top you have on, and pick the right one for the workout you’ll be doing that day.

A t-shirt, for example, may be better suited if you plan on playing basketball at the gym. A more fitted top might be better if you’re at a spin class since loose-fitting clothing is generally discouraged when using the spin bikes.

Shorts or Sweats

When picking out your bottoms, grab ones that are suited for the weather. Just like workout tops, you’ll want to dress in what’s most comfortable for your workout.

Shorts might be a good call on leg day since you can squat and lunge easily. Pants are ideal for yoga, dancing, and doing reps on the fitness machines. However, it’s all up to you of course.

Socks

Don’t ruin your shoes by exercising without socks. Always pack a pair of clean socks in your gym bag.

Running Shoes

Running shoes and sneakers are the most recommended shoes for working out. Other types of shoes can cause injury, which is why gyms make running shoes and sneakers a requirement for all members.

A lightweight shoe can help improve your workout and agility.  

Sports Bra

A regular bra is uncomfortable to wear at the gym. Make a sports bra part of your gym bag essentials.

Baseball Cap

Some women like to wear baseball caps while working out and others don’t. Add one to your gym bag if you prefer a hat!

Change of Clothes

Do you hit the gym in the mornings? Bring a new outfit to change into after your workout. Items to remember include the following:

• Top
• Bottom
• Bra
• Belt
• Shoes
• Underwear
• Socks or tights

Gym Gear Essentials

Gym Bag

Now this one should be a no-brainer. Your gym bag will help transport all of your gym bag essentials to and from the locker room. Get one that has a lot of space and pockets for maximum storage.

Towel

A towel to wipe off the sweat from your face is a huge help at the gym. Having a premium fitness towel is essential for women to have in the cardio, strength training, classes, and free weights area of the gym.  

Yoga Mat

Whether you take yoga classes every other day or just need to do a bit of light stretching, a yoga mat can do wonders for your balance, posture, and flexibility!

Bathing Suit

Swimming tones your whole body. Pack a bathing suit if you plan to swim laps at the pool or just relax your muscles in the hot tub. If you do swim, throw swimming goggles in your bag as well.

Gym Toiletry Essentials

Shampoo and Conditioner

Bring a travel-size bottle of shampoo and conditioner with you to the gym. You sweat 27 ounces of fluid on average in an hour of working out. If you go to the gym in the morning, you’ll likely need to wash your hair.  

Body Wash

Body wash will do you some good after a hard workout. It’ll help get the grime and sweat off your body, so you can go about the rest of your day.

Razor

If you need to shave, pack a razor in your gym bag.

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

You’ll only need to bring this if you plan on going to the gym before work. If you brush your teeth at home, you can remove this from your gym bag checklist.

Deodorant

Deodorant is definitely needed when it comes to packing your gym essentials. Apply generously before and after a workout.

Brush

A brush makes the list because you’ll need to brush through the knots after you’ve showered. A small one won’t take up much space in a gym bag.

Hair Ties

Have you ever worked out without a hair tie? It’s the absolute worst. Hair bouncing all over the place can make it hard to concentrate on your activity.

Make sure that hair ties end up in your gym bag. Place a couple in the bag in case you lose your go-to hair tie.

Feminine Products

Keep feminine products in your bag at all times, just in case.

Makeup

Put your makeup kit in your gym bag, if you workout early or have plans afterward. You can also keep it in your purse if you’re limited on space.

Extra Gym Bag Essentials

Water Bottle

So you don’t become dehydrated, it’s recommended you should drink on average 2 liters of water before, during, and after a workout. Everybody is different, but it’s a good rule of thumb to follow.

Other factors that go into your water intake include age, gender, height, weight, workout intensity, and time of exercise.

Don’t forget your water bottle. You’ll be making many trips to the water fountain if you do.

Pre-Workout Supplements

If you’re into it, pre-workout can give you a boost in endurance for a better workout. Put some in your bag before going to the gym, but make sure you take it right before exercising for the best effect.

Music and Headphones

Music can push you through tough physical training. Be courteous to others and wear headphones while listening to music.

Plastic Bag for Wet Clothes

Try not to get the inside of your gym bag wet. Instead, put your wet bathing suit or sweaty gym clothes in a plastic bag to keep your regular bag from smelling.

Activity Tracking Device

Be sure to grab your activity tracking device, so you can monitor your heart rate, steps, and burned calories.

Gym Membership Card

If you forget this, you can’t work out. See if your gym or fitness center has a smaller one for your key chain or an app you can use to check in (and sign up for Zumba!).

Lock for Locker

A lock is great for securing your belongings while working out. Lock the gym lock on your bag so you never forget it. Just make sure you have the key or know the code.

Reviewing Your Gym Bag Checklist

Whatever your reason for hitting the gym, you want to make sure that all of your gym bag essentials make it to your workouts.

A water-resistant bag is good to have since you’re dealing with sweaty gym clothes. It should be big, but not too big as it needs to fit inside a gym locker.

The towel you bring is very important. Look for towels that are absorbent, odorless, resistant to bacteria, and portable. Contact us to learn more about the best towel to take to the gym.