Exercise acoutrement: do clothes matter when exercising? Have you ever exercised naked? If you are wearing exercise clothes are they clean or lightly worn?
Does your exercise outfit make a difference as to how you feel and perform?
I can be motivated by a cool outfit. Despite being relatively cheap and over-wearing certain pieces, I had the pleasure of reacquainting myself with active urban fashion. My new threads were from a store that was totally my style. A mixture of sporty, fashion and quality i.e. a small investment. Not earthy but unencumbered. I ended up spending a few bucks over two visits at RYU. It did include a winter coat so it wasn’t purely sweat wear. I really enjoyed the next couple of months feeling pretty cool in my new threads that screamed exercise but urban chic.
I used to really love clothes. Little Miss Fuss Budget was an early childhood nickname. If I thought something was ugly on me then it was ugly. There was no amount of talking that could sway my mind. I am still like that now but I care a little less if the clothes do not fit perfectly or if they are maybe a little big. Too small? Never. I can’t stand wearing clothes that constantly need to adjusted or feel like they are being pulled the wrong direction. Freedom of movement is essential.
I also can thank Essentrics and getting a job at Framewrk. Because I wanted to look my best I splurged a little. I went out and bought multiple slim track pants and bike shorts, skipping the tights. Way too revealing for my body. I may as well be walking around naked because that is how I feel in tights. That is just me and my personal preferences around exercise acoutrement.
Steps to success
Its always stimulating to be wearing something that you know is flattering. But should it be an excuse not to exercise if you are lacking the current exercise acoutrement? If you are exercising solo in your home you can really get away with anything. If you are exercising elsewhere, it can be its tiresome to have to change or shower for that matter after a workout. Sometimes carrying around what you need is a pain so just plan to do less when time is limited, i.e maybe you don’t need to do a hardcore workout just before a dinner outing? Or maybe you will just do a light warm-up and some stretches to reverse the posture you have been in all day. No need to sweat it, every time.
Plan your day and your outfits to minimize the dress change. Wear your sports bra under the work clothes and change to the regular later. I have minimized my underwear needs by wearing shorts where underwear is built in or optional.
Include your change time time into your workout time
This will leave you feeling less rushed and allow you to plan your intentional activity to be successful in its completion. For example, I have 25 minutes and I need 10 to change, so that leaves me 15 minutes to focus on me. Be reasonable.
Be prepared
Maybe wear the used clothes once in awhile so you don’t have to carry clothes back and forth everyday if that’s an option. Hang them up to dry in unusual ways (my overhead desk cupboard that is not air tight). They just need ventilation. If its a morning workout get your stuff out the night before. Better yet, get it packed the night before for tomorrow’s workout. Buy a few extra outfits so you don’t need to do the laundry as often. Maybe even plan the weeks worth of clothes if you have enough and bring it with you on Monday or whatever day you start your week. If you only have one outfit you like then hand wash it nightly. Fitness gear generally dries faster than the rest.
Be open
We are often very creative when it comes to reasons not to exercise. Be more creative with reasons to exercise. Then empower yourself to do the things that you know will only benefit you. Is it a sweat day or a light day to rebalance? Colour is great at elevating your mood. Add your touches to make it individual. When I had to tape my ankle I created homemade ankle warmers made from socks with the toe and heel cut out. One of my group exercise clients actually asked me where I bought them from!
Reduce, reuse and take simple proactive steps to ensure success
Choosing to exercise is hard enough at times so reduce, reuse and take preventative actions to ensure that you don’t do the “I can’t” because you are not prepared. Make it inevitable. Get your gear on without contemplation. Once you start the process its much easier to get it done. You know you will feel better at the end. The movement is what matters. Not what you wear. If what you wear impacts your decision making, then don’t leave the options open. Exercise acoutrement: close the deal before its done. And then, get her done.