What Should I Wear When Exercising?
Whether you’re shopping for maternity, plus size,
petite or normal-sized workout clothes, you should take a
couple of things into consideration. First, exercise, like
outdoor activities, can vary drastically as to
temperature.
You may start out feeling chilly in an air-conditioned
exercise room, then get hot and sweaty as you exercise, then
get chilled again when you cool down. When you leave the A/C
and walk to the car, you’ll either be freezing or too hot,
and if you just had a shower as well, your hair may be wet.
For all these reasons, layering is the answer to your
workout wardrobe needs. You can probably stay comfortable
with a pair of lightweight workout pants or shorts, a
T-shirt, thick, absorbent socks and a sweatshirt to prevent
chills.
Cotton is an excellent fabric for exercise clothes because it is absorbent, comes in a huge variety of
thicknesses and is easy to care for. Some of the new
fabrics include “wicking” action, sending
perspiration
away from the body and into the outer layer of the
clothing. Cotton has some natural wicking action, but it
doesn’t have the feel of Tencil or some of the other
synthetic blends.
The new blends are smooth, and that
can work for you or against you: some people prefer
cotton underclothes because of their breathability, but
like blends for outerwear. Cotton socks can be perfect,
but some knits tend to chafe the feet as you slide
around in your aerobics shoes. When you find a pair of
cotton socks that feel good on your feet (especially
during and after class), buy six pairs: fashions change
so fast that you may have a hard time finding them if
you wait three months.
Some people like to wear shorts when they work out:
others are uncomfortable in them either because of where
the shorts hit them on the leg, or the way they feel
they look in them. If you have sensitive skin, shorts
can be a bad choice, since they rub the insides of the
leg: Bermuda or skateboarding shorts minimize chafing.
If you’re a fashionista, or belong to a health club
where people are expected to dress like celebrities, you
may opt for cropped tops, sports bras, tight pants or
even a thong-leotard. Ideally, whatever you choose to
wear will not only make you look wonderful, but will
keep you comfortable during your workout!
Brassieres are important items in your workout wardrobe.
You want a bra that offers the correct level of support,
without tight straps to cut into your skin and make you
miserable. Lace can be itchy, satin and nylon get slick
with perspiration, and silk often bleeds color onto
other clothes when it’s damp. Breathable fabrics,
mixtures of cotton and Lycra, are ideal for bras. Bras
should be snug but not too tight: cleavage is
unnecessary at the gym unless you’re looking for love,
and it can be darned inconvenient when your snack of
trail mix slips down your front.
Shoes are especially important in aerobics, since
anything you want to accomplish relies heavily on your
feet. Choose shoes with good arch support, and if your
ankles aren’t strong as tree trunks, investigate
high-tops for ankle support too. Your socks should fit
your shoes so they are snug but not tight. All-cotton or
a cotton blend are good for socks: microfiber can be
good if it’s thick, but thin socks tend to slip around
in your shoes, or get sweaty and leave your feet sopping
wet.
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