Frequent exercise is just as important as regular sleep. The human body wasn’t meant to work all the time, but it wasn’t meant to rest all the time, either! That’s why more and more people have realized the value of regular gym attendance. Still, it is true that strenuous workouts can take a lot out of you. Also, there will always be those days in which you have a hard time finding the energy to finish your workout. To help with those kinds of issues, here are five things you can keep in your gym bag to refresh on the go.
1. A Well-Insulated Metal Water Bottle
When you are exhausted from a hard workout, nothing beats a nice drink of cool, refreshing water. Because you are probably a little overheated at that point, colder water provides even more refreshment. That’s where it becomes important to have the right kind of water bottle.
Thin plastic bottles will carry water, but their thin walls will not “hold the cold” properly. An insulated bottle will allow you to keep your water nice and cold for hours at a time. In many cases, an insulated coffee thermos will work nicely. Just as it keeps hot drinks hot, it also keeps cold drinks cold. Make sure to add a good water bottle to your gym bag for optimum training.
2. A Small Pillow
The demands of modern life will often cause us to go without sleep. More often, these demands will keep people from getting as much sleep as they need. A human being generally needs 7-8 hours per night, and anything less will result in performance issues.
And so, it can be helpful to keep a small pillow for napping on the go. Whenever you get a little bit of downtime between your obligations, a large parking lot can be a great place to catch a refreshing nap. Just make sure to park somewhere nice and visible for safety reasons. Also, make sure to lock all your doors and roll up the windows.
3. A Music Player
Music has a strange but undeniable effect on motivation. Sometimes, the right song can encourage us to near-superhuman feats, but only if it touches a deep emotional nerve. For this reason, you might consider having a small dedicated MP3 player device for gym usage. This would be preloaded with all the songs that get your blood pumping and divided into convenient playlists. You can often acquire used and “obsolete” iPods for a pretty low price, so that is one cheap and easy option.
4. Some Protein Supplements
Protein is essential for an active person, especially if they are trying to build muscle. Muscles are literally made of proteins, so you can imagine how important they can be. A lot of bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts will argue over whether it is better to take your protein before the workout or after. Some say you should take your protein beforehand, others say they get better results from a post-workout dose.
The truth is that both of these are effective, and you should also get a little bit of protein during your workout. Not only does it give you a little energy boost, but it also ensures that your body has what it needs for peak performance. Bottled protein shakes, protein bars, and capsules are all effective ways to get a mid-workout boost.
5. Deodorant
If you are rushing from the gym to work, one of the best things that you can make sure to keep in your bag is extra deodorant, some dry shampoo, and maybe some body wipes. These are great things to keep in your bag in case you don’t have time to shower before heading to work or just to refresh going from the gym to another activity. Having these hygiene essentials in your bag is a definite must.
Sometimes, there just isn’t enough time to shower before rushing to other places, like work, or to another event. If you just make sure to keep deodorant in your bag, body wipes and other essentials that will help you to refresh this can help save you time and in turn, give you more time to work out.
I would also highly recommend keeping dry shampoo in your bag so that your hair doesn’t look sweaty or greasy. This is a great way to step out of the gym smelling good and looking fresh.
Body wipes can also be incredibly helpful for wiping out your pits and other areas to help you feel fresh after working out. They help to reduce body odor and make you feel clean when there isn’t time for a full shower.
6. HeadPhones
If you want to make sure that you get the most out of your workout, then make sure you bring a good pair of headphones with you to the gym. I would even recommend keeping an extra pair in your gym back in case you forget your other ones at home or they run out of batteries. Having your favorite music to pump you up at the gym is a great way to stay motivated. It also helps block out distractions that can keep you from staying in the zone and having a productive workout. Make sure that you include these in any gym back.
7. Towel
If you are someone who tends to get extra sweaty at the gym, then having a small towel handy while you are working out and to wipe down the equipment you are using so the next person doesn’t have to sit in your sweat is a must. This not only helps to keep things more hygienic but is also a way to be courteous to other gym members.
You will also want to have a larger towel packed for taking a shower at the gym if you are going to be going straight to work after. This is a great way to stay prepared. You might also consider keeping travel-sized bottles of shampoo or body wash in your bag for shower days. While they often have soap at the gym if you want to feel your best it is better to bring the kind you like from home.
8. First Aid
Lastly, I would highly recommend keeping bandaids, Icy Hot, or ice packs in your bag in case you rip your hands or bruise your knee or any other injury that might occur at the gym. It’s also a good idea to keep something to help soothe aching muscles for before or after your workout like icy hot or tiger balm. These can help to prevent injury but can also ease muscles from previous injuries. While, you might not need these all the time it is always good to stay prepared when it comes to the gym. You never know when you might need a little extra first aid care.
Conclusion
Any of these devices can be a real blessing when things get hard. Instead of quitting and going home, you can take a short break and use any of these five methods to refresh yourself. Having done that, you should then be ready to complete your workout with zest and vigor. We hope that we have helped you to reach your fitness goals in some small way. If there are any other gym bag necessities you think you need feel free to add those as well.
