I can never leave the house without the necessities in my purse. You know: my wallet, gum, lotion, lip gloss, mascara, cell phone. All the important stuff that you wouldn’t be able to make it through the day without. I’m never sure what the day may bring, so I always try to pack for the unforeseen. In the same way you meticulously pack your purse, you will have a more seamless fitness routine if your gym bag is filled with all of the tools needed for a great workout.

It should be noted that not every gym bag will be packed the same, because everyone has a different regimen. Whether you love cardio with the rising sun in a yoga class, or jogging in the evening on a moonlit path, you can never go wrong with these gym bag essentials.

  Many places have durable and affordable gym bags to choose from. Check out your local Target or Wal-Mart. You will also find a great selection at Modell’s Sporting Goods or Sports Authority. If you prefer online shopping try Amazon, this way you will surely find the right bag to fit your needs because you can search by color and size. Victoria’s Secret has some really cute bags as well in all kinds of designs from sequins, animal and floral prints.

 This seems obvious, but many of us don’t take the time to plan what to wear at the gym. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, if you fail to plan, plan to fail. So try this, when you are meal prepping for the week, be sure that your workout clothes are washed and ready to go too. Keep at least three outfits in your bag or car. I find that this deters me from making excuses not to hit to the gym.

…because duh. Protect your back and legs with proper footwear.

Some gyms provide you with a towel during your workout because it is included in your membership fee, but if your gym does not offer this amenity always be sure to pack a small gym towel to wipe off the sweat during a workout.

PRO TIP: get small colorful towels. Most gyms provide white face towels, and I have seen people accidentally pick up face cloths that do not belong to them. Gross! If all of your towels are bright yellow, you will never make the mistake of swapping yours with the greasy muscle guy on the treadmill next to you. You’re welcome. 💁🏽

 

 If you’re a morning person, a small bag filled with toiletries must be a necessity for you. Once you get off of the treadmill, you will then have to sprint to the locker room and clean up to get your day started. This is what you should keep in your tiny toiletries bag:

• Body wash
• Shampoo & conditioner (if you are a wash and go girl)
• Baby powder
• Toothpaste & toothbrush
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Body spray
• Feminine wash

Quick pause | You may not think feminine wash is important but it is. As a woman, the gym can do a lot to your body chemistry. It is critical to use feminine wash because let’s face it, the smell of sweat can be a lot.

“The Honey Pot” is a feminine wash created and distributed by a African American woman named Beatrice Dixon. I had the pleasure of meeting her at a beauty show some time ago, and I have been using her products for about three months now. I would recommend this wash to any woman! It is organic, and your body naturally accepts all of the ingredients in her products. For more information about The Honey Pot products please visit her website: www.thehoneypot.co.

 Not too long ago I tweeted one of my favorite Instagram fitness guru’s, Miss Brittany Renner (IG: @bundleofbrittany) and she gave me some workout hair advice!

If you are concerned about your hair in the gym be sure to have the proper hair accessories and products to keep your mane tamed. Brittany suggested that I tie a bandana around my hair line, and put the rest of my hair up into a bun. I have been doing this for about three weeks now and it works like a charm.  My holy grail for fitness hair is edge control…never go to the gym without it! After you finish your workout, take off your scarf and lay those edges down. Trust me on this one, especially if you have a sew in with uncooperative leave out. A scarf, edge control, hair ties, and a hair clamp are four things you should always keep in your bag.

 You get to the gym at the peak of rush hour and the slowest person in the world is on our favorite machine. No worries. Go get that weighted jump rope out of your bag and warm up those limbs. Jumping rope is a great way to get your body prepared for a session. Jumping rope for 10 minutes may sound easy, but you would be shocked to know that it is quite the cardio challenge. You may find yourself using a jump rope everyday if you truly like warming up with one. Pro Tip: Rumors have surfaced about Naomi Campbell and how she jumps rope to keep her face firm. It may sound strange, but my mother sure took this advice and ran with it.

 Raise your hand if you will leave the gym if you have no way of listening to your music *flails hand in the air*.

Music is so important for many of us to set the pace and rhythm for our gym routine. The key to finding the right headphones for you is to consider your regimin. There are two options to choose from: in ear or over ear headphones. I have been using the Monster Diamond Tear headphones for about three years now, and they work so well for me. They don’t fall off because of sweat, the sound quality is amazing, and they fold up to fit into my gym bag.

Staying hydrated is the greatest secret to a gym routine. Always have a water bottle stored away in your bag, and be sure to drink water before, during, and after your workout. Shaker bottles were created to mix and blend pre-workout powders and protein. I bought my small shaker bottle on amazon, it was very affordable and sturdy.

 If you typically have long work days, pre-workout powder is such a great way to give your tired soul that extra kick. My favorite pre-workout formula is by Neon Sport: “Volt” Pre-Workout. It has no sugars, 5 calories per scoop, 1 gram of carbohydrates, and 65 milligrams of calcium. Be careful because it is extremely potent, you don’t want to start bouncing off of the walls, you simply want to complete your workout with the most energy.