Baggy Sweat Pants and the Reeboks with the Straps: Proper Workout Wear

*Flo Rida

Ok so, there are some of you who do wear sweat pants and sneakers to workout. I did it for a while. I rarely wore shorts because I have the unfortunate but wide-spread problem of my upper thighs rubbing together when I walk and run. So, I'd put on some yoga pants I got to sport around the house, a random t-shirt, cotton sporty looking socks, and some Nikes that I bought for $4 at an outlet, even though they were a little too small. What was the big deal anyway? It's not like I was going to the gym to try and impress anybody.

Then, last fall, I started training for a half-marathon with Team in Training for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Because of time constraints, I wasn't able to participate in the race, but I did learn a thing or two during training sessions. One such training session was about gear, and today I will impart to you that knowledge, along with some I gained from the shoe store and various other sources.

Sports Bra: It is important that you first know your size. If you're part of the 70% of women who don't, there's an easy way to find out. Just get a tape measure and take the following two measurements.

The chest size will give you your number, and the difference between the chest and cup sizes will give you the letter. Less than 1" is AA, 1" is A, 2" is B, and so on. The next step is determining your level of activity: low, medium or high impact. A great resource for finding the right sports bra is on the Dick's Sporting Goods website at http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/info/index.jsp?categoryId=222940. On this page, you'll find all the information here and more--including construction, style choices, fabrics, and when to buy a new sports bra. They have step-by-step instructions and easy to follow tables and pictures, like the one you see here.

Clothes: The most important aspects of your workout clothes is that they are flexibile and moisture wicking. For flexibility, I just recommend anything in a movable fabric. If you're doing anything for speed, though, it's should be close-fitting styles. Moisture wicking simply means that the fabric pulls moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry. These fabrics also dry very quickly, so if temperature changes occur, your body temperature will be more regulated. Moisture wicking clothing comes in a variety of styles, just check the tag to make sure. I get my workout wear at Target. You can find it on their website, http://www.target.com/, in the Activewear category. It's Champion brand, so it's good quality and inexpensive.

Socks: The moisture wicking recommendation holds true for socks as well. Cotton socks, because they are so absorbant, stay moist from sweating feet. This can lead to blisters on the Achiles tendon on the back of your heal from all the rubbing. Champion makes moisture wicking socks that you can also get at Target. And there are several different choices, from arch support to extra cushion to a raised back to protect the skin on that Achiles heal.

Shoes: There are so many different kinds of shoes meant for so many different feet, I recommend going to a professional for help. If you can, try and find a shoe store that offers a shoe fitting analysis type thing. I did that when I was training for the marathon and it made all the difference. If you're in the Charleson or Charlotte areas, go to TrySports (http://www.trysports.com/). When I went, they measured my foot for size, determined the height of my arch, and recorded my feet as I walked and then ran on a treadmill for five minutes to check for pronation and supination. Each of these characteristics is an important part in picking the right shoe. The sales associate asked me what I would be using the shoes for, and made recommendations based upon all the information. He also checked for a good amount of toe room with every pair I tried. In the end, it was more than I had been used to spending on shoes, but they have protected me from injury. And they're very comfortable to boot! A good running shoe will be in the $100-150 range, but will last 400-600 miles.

Alright, so now that you know what to wear, go get it and get moving!

Note: If you're interested specifically in running, checkout http://runnersdesire.blogspot.com/.

"It is very important to find the right clothes to exercise in. If you throw on an old t-shirt or sweats, it's not inspiring for your workout." -Cheryl Tiegs