Have you stuck to your New Year's resolution of hitting the gym? If not, it's not too late to give it another go. All you need is a bit of inspiration in the form of some stylish exercise essentials. We chatted with Melissa Glazier, personal trainer and bootcamp instructor (and lover of burpees), from Mt. Uniacke, Nova Scotia, and nabbed her workout must-haves. They'll keep you motivated and inspired to hit the gym (in style)
Exercise Essentials
Music. Melissa says her iPod revolutionized her exercise regime. Tip: Create a playlist to keep you motivated and to push you harder. One for cardio, one for intervals and one for weights. (Or whatever training you enjoy.) It’s like Kanye says: “That don’t kill me, can only make me stronger.” Bonus: some of the new machines have an iPod dock so you don’t have to worry about dropping it on the treadmill, reaching for it and then falling off. Yes. It happens.
Weight Training Gloves. Oh, you don't lift weights? It’s time to start. Especially if you're a woman. Melissa says resistance training is a must to counter bone density loss in women. And if it's toning or weight loss you're after, you can be a cardio queen as much as you want, but weight-training will set your metabolism on fire and tone your muscles in a way that hours on an elliptical never will. Melissa says she never leaves home without her pink GO gloves from gofit.net. Bonus: Wearing gloves at the gym makes it look like you really know what you're doing in the weight room.
Cleansing Towelettes. Melissa doesn’t recommend these in place of a shower after a spin or hot yoga class, but after a less sweaty session they're a handy stand-in for a rinse off. Her favourite are the St Ives' Moisture Rich Cleansing Cloths. “They have a nice light scent, are inexpensive and leave your skin feeling fresh, not sticky."
An Emergency Snack. “Don't run out and start buying protein powder,” Melissa says. She recommends a quick, fuss-free snack that you can keep in your bag in case of emergency. If you like protein powder that's fine, but she says unless you're throwing 50-pound dumbbells around like a couple of soup cans (she actually did say that), you don’t need to waste money on brands that promise 40 grams of protein a scoop. You’ll just pee it out. Melissa likes Larabars as a quick go-to snack. “They're tasty with just the right amount of sweetness, have about three ingredients and aren't heavy. They’re great for before or after a workout or halfway through if you feel your blood sugar getting low." Bonus: Larabars are also gluten-free.
Back up bra, undies and socks. Melissa advises you keep a spare set of each in your bag at all times. Ever gotten out of the shower after a sweaty workout and realized you forgot these necessities? Don’t let this happen to you. It's the worst.
Body Mist. As with the cleansing cloths, a light mist of a freshly scented body spray will make you feel brand new after a workout, especially if you don't have time for a rinse off. Melissa loves Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in White Citrus. It's super fresh and has a light shimmer to it, perfect for décolletage and shoulders. But Melissa warns: “don't go overboard. Too much of the shimmer and you'll end up looking like a Cullen.”