META: Unfortunately, people often neglect the performance clothing they wear. Consider these five reasons why having good fitting workout clothes can help you.
No matter if you’re beginning your fitness journey or are looking for a leg-up in the gym, you should take a look at the clothes you’re wearing. Unfortunately, too many people neglect the clothes they wear when they work out, failing to realize how critical is clothing is to a quality workout. Consider these five reasons why having good fitting workout clothes can help you a lot.
Improve Performance
More than anything, it’s essential that you choose workout clothes geared toward the task at hand. If your clothing does not fit properly, your performance will inevitably suffer. For example, when in the gym, you should try to wear clothes with a loose fit so that they are comfortable and that you have a complete range of motion when performing your workout.
However, when performing other activities, you may prefer to have clothing that is more form-fitting. For instance, when running or biking, you do not want to wear baggy clothing. Doing so could cause an accident, as you can trip over the excess material or it can get caught in the pedals while biking. This proves that when it comes to performance, clothing is not one-size-fits-all.
Additionally, if you find yourself performing activities such as yoga and Pilates often, you may want to again focus on form-fitting clothing. The clothing material should be stretchy so that you can complete the various movements of your workout. Choosing clothing that wicks away sweat could also be beneficial to your workout.
Prevent Injury
Another reason why the choosing workout clothing that fits correctly is because it can prevent injury. Imagine you are a runner who has just purchased a new pair of shoes. However, you accidentally ordered the wrong size without realizing it. Shortly into your first run while wearing the new shoes, blisters will begin to form on your heels.
You’ll now need to cut your workout short so that you can tend to your wounds, which may be bleeding or raw. There’s a good chance that you’ll need to cut your workout short as a result. Now, instead of spending time dedicated to your workout, you’ll remain on the “disabled list” as you wait for your injury to heal, missing out on valuable training time.
Had you chosen workout clothes that fit correctly, you could have avoided this injury. Another excellent example is a biker’s helmet. Imagine a biker selects one that does not match his or her head correctly. Instead of taking the time to try a new helmet, the biker decides to hit the road. The biker then gets into an unfortunate accident.
This could potentially result in severe injury or death. Yes, we admit that this may be an extreme example. Choosing a workout shirt that does not fit properly does not mean that you are going to pass away in the gym. But, it goes to the general point that ensuring your gear fits correctly could go a long way toward keeping you safe and thus able to continue training.
Recovery Aid
In addition to preventing injury, workout clothing that fits appropriately could serve as a recovery tool. A perfect example of this is the fact that studies have shown that compression gear can help aid in recovery after a workout. This lends credence to the belief that performance gear does help boost a workout. Compression garments can:
If you’re looking to get the most out of your workouts, you should consider doing more than merely throwing on a t-shirt and working out. Know that athletic gear has a distinct purpose and that choosing clothing that fits correctly can be extremely beneficial. Taking the time to pick gear with the right fit could help you avoid injuries, heal more quickly, and get more out of your workouts.
Comfort
When working out, there’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable. Discomfort during a workout will cause nothing but a distraction. For example, imagine purchasing a pair of shorts that are too tight. You’ll spend your entire workout trying to stretch the shorts and peel them off your skin rather than focusing on the exercise itself. Purchasing clothing that fits properly will allow you to remain focused.
Similarly, you’ll want to select clothing that is appropriate for the season. For example, in the summer months, you may want to opt for a dress with a looser fit that allows your skin to breathe, thus allowing your body to wick sweat away. These will help keep you more relaxed and prevent serious issues such as heatstroke or dehydration. Also, consider light-colored clothing if you are outdoors.
Dressing for the winter months can be a bit more challenging. Your first instinct is likely to dress for the weather, which means you’ll dress warmly. However, you’ll then need to be mindful of the fact that you are going to be elevating your heart rate, causing your body temperature to spike as you begin to sweat. Here, you’ll want to wear more form-fitting clothing that is easy to remove.
Begin by dressing warmer than what the thermometer says. You can always remove clothing as you go through your workout. Your inner-most layer should be a sweat-wicking shirt. This will likely be compression material. Then, put insulating layers on top of the sweat-wicking layer. Also remember to wear properly-sized hats, gloves, and earmuffs when working out in the cold.
Lastly, properly-sized clothing can allow you to work out in the elements as well while hopefully remaining comfortable. If it’s raining or windy, you’ll likely want to wear an outer shell that is waterproof. However, if the jacket is too big, it will only serve to weigh you down. You’ll likely find it nearly impossible to move. Choosing the right clothing can keep you comfortable in all elements.
Confidence Boost
One of the most significant reasons why people stay out of the gym is because they are intimidated by others and hate the way they look. While at the gym, no one should judge another person if they are trying to better themselves. But for those who are self-conscious about their image, having workout clothes that fit correctly could help boost their confidence.
If you consider yourself to be in this category, be sure to wear clothes that will help you feel the most comfortable. Choose clothing that will allow you to focus on your workout and not be distracted by what you deem to be your flaws. When your workout clothing fits correctly, you’ll likely be able to clear mental roadblocks, allowing you to begin on your journey to becoming the best version of yourself!
Similarly, choosing the right workout clothing could help them feel as though their workouts are going to be better. For example, many people believe that the right apparel will help boost their performance. Whether or not the clothing encourages performance may be up to debate, but the fact that you believe in yourself while wearing the shirt could go a long way toward obtaining a quality workout.
Choosing Performance Gear
When it comes time to buy clothing for your workout, remember the rule of thumb that you do not want your clothing to get in the way of your activity. For that reason, we recommend trying on your new clothing before making a purchase. To do so, you’ll likely need to have an idea of the type of workouts you’ll be putting yourself through while wearing the clothing.
When it comes time to buy clothing, we recommend that you budget accordingly. There’s something to be said for buying expensive workout clothing. If nothing else, this is because of a mental placebo effect, according to the sports psychologist for the New York Mets, Dr. Jonathan Fader. He says that putting on performance gear is like an actor putting on a costume for a show.
If you feel as though you are going to have an excellent workout in your clothing, you will be more mentally prepared to tackle the exercise, thus resulting in a better performance. By that measure, buying expensive gear and telling yourself that you’re going to have a fantastic workout should improve your results.
However, it’s also possible to clear that mental hurdle without breaking the bank. We do not recommend buying top-of-the-line clothing and equipment, especially when you are first beginning to workout. Instead, you should focus on choosing quality clothing that is durable and will last through sweaty workouts and loads in the washer. Choose clothing within your budget.
If you purchase workout clothing that exceeds your budget, that’s likely all you’ll be thinking about when in the gym. Instead of focusing on your workout, all you’ll focus on is how you spent too much on the shirt! Remember also that you can always upgrade your equipment and apparel over time. As you can continue on your fitness journey, you can replace items gradually.
