Whether you are a newbie or seasoned veteran, every gym-goer should have a bag with a few essential items! You might not have any idea what to bring if you recently just started going to a gym. Seasoned veterans, you might be missing something you never thought of stocking your gym bag with.
Here are the Top 10 Gym-Bag Essentials:
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Sizeable Gym Bag – first of all, you need a bag big enough to hold all of your training essentials. A tiny fanny pack slung over your shoulder is not large enough to hold key items. Experienced gym-goers, if your current bag is old with holes or a broken zipper it is probably time to invest in a new bag!
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Combination lock – most facilities do not provide locks on their lockers for your use; in this case, it is ideal to carry a basic combination lock in your gym bag at all times. Use a combination of numbers that are easy for you to remember, or simply write down the combination in your training log. I don’t recommend a key lock, simply because you have to carry around the key during your workout.
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Small Hand Towel – again, most facilities do not provide towels for your use (unless you belong to a fancy country club of sorts, then you might even have someone waiting to wipe the sweat off your forehead). This item speaks for itself.
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MP3 Player & Headphones – sometimes facilities do not play your choice of music, therefore having your own can be a lifesaver when training to the best hits from 1972 is not your idea of a good workout. You might even consider investing in a nice pair of wireless headphones, so you don’t have to battle the cord during a workout.
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Training Gloves – be sure to buy a pair that fit your hands snug, they will stretch with use. Training gloves are key when you want to keep your hands soft and smooth as a baby’s bottom. It’s not a bad idea to have a couple pairs of gloves so you have a backup and can easily rotate when you need to wash them.
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Lifting Straps – used specifically on any pulling movement; lifting straps will help to keep stress off of your wrist, forearms, and biceps, and will help to target the lateral muscle groups. Only for use when load may compromise form.
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Meal Replacement Bar/Healthy Snack – You never know when you may be running late and need a quick meal. VPX Zero Impact bars contain 30g of high quality proteins, essential fats, and complex carbohydrates – the perfect meal replacement bar that tastes great too! Or, if you are looking for a delicious healthy snack, stock your bag with the new Life Lift bars. They are gluten free, low calorie bars with 20 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein! Available in 7 different flavors, so you have a lot of variety depending on your mood.
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Bottle of Water – hydration is important throughout your day. Always carry a bottle of water in your gym bag so as to avoid any risk of dehydration.
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Training Log – Entering the gym with a written plan is a time-saver and physique builder. Remember: Plan to Succeed.
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Hygiene Must-Haves – Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Gel to avoid spreading bacteria and germs. A towel, travel size shampoo, conditioner, & body wash, because you never know when you might need a quick shower after you train at the gym. Lastly, a small pack of moist wipes are great for cleaning up almost anything.
A couple other great ideas would be to throw a couple of scoops of whey protein powder in a Ziploc baggie and throw it (along with a shaker cup) into your gym bag. An apple or banana are perfect portable carbohydrate sources for your post-workout meal; throw a couple of these in your bag as well. The 8-10 serving size bottles of NO Shotgun, NO Synthesize, Power Shock or Carbonx are a convenient size so you have your pre and post workout supplements with you at all times.
