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[swolesecrets]

What is in my gym bag?!

Welcome back to my blog! Today I will be discussing gym accessories and gym products often advertised in the media. 

As a highschool student with 2 jobs, oftentimes I have to squeeze in my workout right after school, right after work or any other time where I was “conveniently out”. My school day typically begins with me carrying out my backpack, school lunch, work lunch and clothes, and my massive gym bag to my car since I won’t get the chance to get home throughout the day. 

What could you even possibly have in your gym bag? To be fair, when I started working out, I would show up to the gym in my gym clothes from my house, with nothing but my phone, my airpods and a water bottle. As my fitness journey progressed over the years, it seems that my gym essentials had evolved too. Here are my gym essentials as a 17 year old girl with a loaded schedule:

My gym shoes! No I do not mean powerlifting shoes, I am not a powerlifter, but I mean my converse. Personally, although converse aren’t my ideal shoe outside of the gym, they are my favorite in the gym, I have white and black! Converse can be stylish, with the different styles and colors and overall very large selection, however since these have been my O.G shoes for the gym, it seems that I always associate them with the gym… Being flat and light (not the platforms), they offer incredible stability for lifting purposes. It is important to find shoes that accommodate the natural shape of the foot for optimal performance. Fun fact, some lifters even prefer to deadlift and squat barefoot, for the reason being that the natural human foot shape is ideal for balance. 

 Here are my "not-so-white" converse at the gym, since I wear them everyday.

Pre Workout or energy drinks… Sometimes my days are over 12 hours long away from home, which can be both emotionally and physically draining. For that reason, occasionally the consumption of caffeine can significantly improve both my performance, mood, motivation and my experience in the gym. I used to consume this product every day, however I soon realized that the negative side effects of daily consumption can be mentally detrimental... Especially for those who have ADHD or anxiety, the caffeine amplifies the effects of the disorders. Now that I have limited not only the frequency of consumption but also the amount of caffeine I do love these drinks. Some of my favorites are Batch 27, specifically the orange creamsicle flavor and Monster Tropical Punch… 

Lifting belt… I have the lifting belt by Upper Gear in the color lavender, which is cute and supportive. Lifting belts are used by lifters who want or require more back and core support creating a superficial brace in order to prevent injuries and improve performance. This is absolutely not required in the gym and if anything learning how to brace is very important. More experienced lifters typically use them, as they already know how to brace themselves yet add extra support.

Lifting straps, I love my lifting straps! Lifting straps are affordable, come in different styles and colors and help tremendously, whether it be to grow muscles or gain strength. Mine are camo from amazon and are for sure one of my essentials. Using lifting straps helps lifters who do not have great grip strength, or really want to isolate a muscle group while eliminating limiting factors. I have always had very frail and small wrists, ultimately limiting my grip strength. However ever since I have been using lifting straps I am able to push out for reps, and increase muscle-mind connection. 

Helimix shaker! Every lifter knows the nasty smell of protein from an unwashed shaker, or the annoying sound of the metal mixer ball inside. Ever since I discovered the helimix, cleaning it has been simplified, and no more metal ball clinking. The helimix is a shaker available on amazon, and is said to have a scientifically explained shape that naturally creates a spiral of the liquid and thus mixing the contents smoothly. Some say it is a placebo effect, however I believe that the helimix truly mixes my contents successfully. I have the pink one, as well as the teal one, and use them for both my protein shakes, pre workout, and to carry my other daily beverages. 

I also carry some “not necessarily gym-related” items, such as makeup, deodorant, a hair brush, and most importantly my beats! I mean yes, my beats are so important for my lifts and I could not do it without them, however they are also a huge part of my whole life… Any given chance I will be listening to music. Which is why I excluded it from my gym essentials list. They are an essential part of my life, period. To conclude this blog, no gym accessories are actually required to reach your goals, it is important to discover what works for you. Nothing in fitness is “one size fits all.”