What kind of clothes should you wear for fitness?

Today, fitness is, without exaggeration, one of the most popular sports. And its beauty is that it has several directions. Everyone can choose what they like, be it: strength programs or soft loads, aerobics or body ballet, workout or water sports. And each direction has its own options. Prefer strength programs - here you go: bodybuilding, powerlifting, skyling. Love aerobic - choose: classic, strength, pump, step, aqua, slide aerobics, kick aerobics, callanetics... a total of 17 options! Moreover, some of them, like "A-box" - combine, at first glance, completely unrelated areas in fitness - aerobics and martial arts.

Visiting the gym a couple of times a week will allow you to “fit in” or “be in good shape” (this is how the noun fitness is translated from the English verb to fit).

To improve the soul and body or achieve a sports record, systematic training is needed. And each should be as comfortable as possible, then the motivation to continue working will be at a high level. And only two things make training comfortable - the environment and clothing. And if you have decided on the choice of the gym, but do not fully understand what fitness clothing should be, then this article is for you. In it, we will consider the answers to the following questions:

• Fitness clothing, what is it?
• The main criteria for choosing clothing for fitness
• Materials, seams, compression
• Shape and size.
• Appearance.

Fitness clothing, what is it?

Fitness clothing should be comfortable and functional, it is necessary to take into account the place of training (gym or street) and the intensity of training. By intensity, all fitness can be divided into 3 types:

1. low intensity - yoga, pilates, stretching;
2. medium intensity - exercise machines, weights;
3. high intensity - any cardio exercises.

Yoga clothes (low intensity fitness).

Yoga is a complex of spiritual and physical practices. It is based on correct breathing and meditation. Sometimes all parts of the body are involved in the work at the same time, and sometimes energy is spent only on a certain group of muscles. In both cases, the exercises do not provoke overheating of the body. This is a feature of yoga. Therefore, clothes should be as convenient, comfortable, and practical as possible. They can be loose or semi-tight. The main thing is that they allow you to take any pose, without slipping or riding up.

Tops, vests, T-shirts, tunics without unnecessary fittings, ties and embroidery are used as the top. As the bottom - Aladdin pants or Afghani made of a pleasant soft fabric that is almost not felt on the body. If it is uncomfortable, there is a good alternative - leggings of any length. Since yoga is a low-intensity fitness, you can and should use organic cotton items. They are hypoallergenic, breathable, and absorb sweat well. Cotton clothing with a small percentage of synthetics is also acceptable.

Strength training clothing (medium intensity fitness).

Fans of working with weights on exercise machines in the gym equally use both looser and tighter equipment. The latter is almost always compression. Clothing sets can be different: tracksuits, pants + T-shirt, shorts + tank top, leggings + rashguard or their variations. But all of them, without exception, should not disrupt the body’s thermoregulation, that is, they should breathe freely and effectively remove sweat.

Cardio clothes (high-intensity fitness).

Cardio exercises are the repeated performance of dynamic exercises for a long period of time and without serious rest breaks, such as burpees, jumping jacks, treadmill, jump rope, lunges, cycling.

Cardio is accompanied by intense sweating. This is the body's natural defense against overheating. It follows that cardio clothing should effectively remove sweat. It can be: open or closed, tight or loose, with long or short sleeves. Everything depends on the type of cardio, season and training location. For example, for cross-country running in winter, insulated leggings or a loose-fitting tracksuit will be convenient, and for a treadmill in the gym - shorts and a T-shirt.

Main selection criteria.

Above, as an example, we looked at fitness clothing options, depending on energy expenditure. And here we offer general recommendations for choosing equipment.

Regardless of what kind of fitness you do, sportswear should be comfortable and should not be felt on the body. Anything that is too tight or too restrictive causes discomfort and prevents you from concentrating on your workout.

Therefore, the first point of the main selection criteria will be size.

1. The right size should not restrict your movements.
2. Choose the fabric composition depending on the intensity of your fitness (more details in the "Fabrics" section).
3. Colors and prints are at your discretion, but remember that dark ones always make you look slimmer, while light and bright ones add volume.
4. When choosing leggings or tights, give preference to models with a high or medium waist, so that bending, squatting and any amplitude movements do not create awkward situations. An elastic wide belt with a cord is an ideal option for any figure. And a solid belt, without a cord, in the form of a wide elastic band is more suitable for figures with the correct proportions.
5. A sports bra (bra or bra) is a must for high-intensity and medium-intensity fitness. Models with wide T- and V-shaped straps relieve tension from the neck and shoulders. For small breasts - classic cut models, for large ones - with cups.
6. T-shirts should have good hygroscopic properties, be pleasant to the body, not restrict movement and not impede air circulation.
7. The tracksuit should wick away heat and moisture well, without causing hypothermia or overheating of the body. The cut should provide freedom of movement, but at the same time the clothes should not hang.
8. Shorts can be either tight or loose. For running, choose the latter, preferably with slits and mesh inside. The main condition for such clothing is good air permeability and moisture removal.
9. When choosing compression clothing (rashguard, tights), remember that it can be general or zonal. The first one affects the entire surface of the body. The second one - only in certain areas: on the buttocks, front and side of the thigh.
10. The inscription on the tag or on the item itself DryFit or DryTech, or ClimaCool, or Freddy D.I.W.O. indicates that the clothing effectively removes excess moisture to the outside (where it quickly evaporates) and maintains an optimal temperature balance.

Materials, seams, compression.

Synthetic, semi-synthetic and cotton clothing is suitable for fitness. The only question is in what cases to use one or another material.

Materials.

The peculiarity of sports knitwear made of cotton (usually not in pure form, but with a small addition of synthetics) is that it is natural, durable, hypoallergenic, not elastic, freely passes air, absorbs sweat well, dries very slowly, which disrupts the body's thermoregulation. As we can see, a cotton T-shirt, shorts and pants are suitable only for low-intensity fitness - this is an ideal option for yoga.

The peculiarity of sports knitwear based on synthetics is that it is elastic, durable, wear-resistant, does not disrupt the body's thermoregulation, since it does not absorb sweat, but removes it through itself to the surface, where it quickly evaporates. Obviously, synthetics are best suited for high-intensity exercises.

The most popular are fitness items made of polyester. The material provides moisture removal and breathes well. Polyamide is even more breathable than polyester. But it has a denser structure. Viscose also deserves attention. It is considered a synthetic, but the raw materials for its production are wood, cotton, bamboo.

Viscose has good vapor permeability and is very pleasant to the touch. Viscose + cotton = very durable, breathable material that wicks away moisture well. And viscose + bamboo + elastane = elastic, lightweight, durable and breathable material that wicks away moisture.

A significant disadvantage of synthetics compared to cotton is their strong ability to accumulate odor. And if at first it can still be removed by regular washing, then over time it stops helping. The source of the smell is not the synthetic fibers themselves, but the bacteria that multiply in their humid and warm environment. Therefore, modern high-tech fabrics for sports are impregnated with antibacterial agents. They increase the service life of sportswear, but not for long.

Seams are the details that matter.

In addition to the fabric composition, pay attention to the seams. There are three types: regular, flat, and glued. Regular seams simply connect two pieces of fabric, so they can irritate the skin. Flat seams do not protrude, so the risk of chafing or irritation is much lower. And glued seams are completely flat, so they do not chafe or irritate.

Compression clothing for fitness.

I came to sports from medicine. Provides muscle support. Increases blood circulation. Reduces the risk of sprains. Reduces muscle tension. Reduces muscle pain. Improves control over exercise technique. Allows muscles to recover faster between sets. Increases endurance and speed. Examples of compression clothing are tights and rashguards.

Shape and dimensions.

Maximum comfortable fitness clothing is the key to a comfortable and safe workout. Do not buy things for growth (in case you plan to gain a little muscle mass) or a size smaller (in the hope of losing weight). Choose your M, X or L at the moment. In the right size, the thing will not create discomfort.

Loose-fitting tank tops, T-shirts, shorts and pants are appropriate for sports-style outfits. They are not comfortable in the gym: you will not be able to control the technique of performing exercises. Tight-fitting clothes will be equally uncomfortable, with the exception of a top with breast support. The choice of the latter depends on physical activity.

• For Pilates, stretching and yoga, sports bras without a compression effect are well suited (an encapsulation top with a medium level of support will be quite sufficient).
• For high-intensity workouts (running, dancing, crossfit and the like) - only compression or universal tops with medium or high chest support, always with wide straps, flat seams or no seams at all.

Appearance.

We like to feel good about ourselves. And the way we look largely influences that feeling. Therefore, no matter what anyone says, but beautiful and fashionable clothes give you confidence in yourself and your abilities. It “colors us,” even though the proverb claims otherwise. It affects our mood. It is an extension of ourselves. In addition, a beautifully dressed person invariably attracts the attention of others. And in this sense, fitness equipment is no different from sportswear.

Psychologists say that the clothes we put on in the morning set the mood for the whole day. When it comes to training - fitness clothes should be to your liking. After all, it is much more pleasant to train in the gym when you are wearing not just comfortable stretchy sweatpants and a T-shirt, but a cool pink top and leggings of your favorite emerald color. So, choose fitness items that appeal to you. It is desirable to have several sets to change. And don't spare to pamper yourself with novelties. This is a great way to keep yourself motivated to keep working out. This explains why many people purchase fitness stuff from well-known sports brands. World-renowned brands are recognizable and you are guaranteed to gain the approval of others. And with it comes increased confidence, strength and a desire to work on yourself.

Conclusion.

We are sure that after reading this article, you have no doubts that the main criteria for choosing fitness clothing are convenience, practicality and functionality.

And only then - how it will look, emphasize the advantages and hide the disadvantages. When looking for a sports kit, do not skimp on quality. The choice between a brand and a no-name is always in favor of the first. Yes, it is more expensive, but it is absolutely justified in terms of quality, functionality and service life. For a gym, this matters.

Even if the goal of fitness classes is not to achieve records, but to be in good shape, you need to train for pleasure and for the result. Without the appropriate sportswear - this will not happen. And here the ideal option for you will be the online store freever.ua , where a wide range of quality things for sports and active recreation from the popular Ukrainian brand FREEVER are presented. You will find: tracksuits, pants, T-shirts, tank tops, tops, bras, leggings, shorts, tights.

A large selection of sizes, stylish colors and styles, for any age and figure.

You are welcome!