I’ve heard so many of my friends say that they don’t like seeing people they know at the gym. Why? Because they’re worried about how they look. It’s easy to dismiss that by saying, ‘no one looks good at the gym’ or ‘you shouldn’t worry about what people think’ (believe me, I’ve heard that more times than I can count), but when we care so much about our appearances outside of the gym, it can be hard to break away from doing the same inside.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: LINGHAM SOFT SKINNY JOGGERS, £42.95 // BAKERSHILL SOFT SKINNY JOGGERS £42.95 // EGGLESTON EMBROIDERED SLIM JOGGERS, £46.95
So how can we change how we feel?
I’ve often felt
that if I like what I’m wearing, then it’ll help me feel more
confident when I’m working out. Dark, block colours help me combat
the terrible gym lighting and deceptive mirrors, whilst a looser fit
stops the fabric clinging to all the bits I’m insecure about. These
simplistic womens joggers from Jack Wills fit the bill – and they’re nice
enough to wear on a casual day out (I wear mine with a leather
jacket, t-shirt and white trainers).
In terms of outerwear, hoodies are ideal.
They’re super warm
and cosy, and a great alternative to sheeny polyester jackets as
(again) they don’t cling. I look for ones which are lightweight, so
that I don’t feel too bulky, and I try not to fill up the front
pocket with lots of stuff.
Good underwear is
underrated.
First of all, a good
quality and well-fitted sports bra is essential, as exercising
without the right support can lead to drooping and sagging (and, let’s face it, none of
us want that). I like racer-back sports bras as the straps line up
with my vests. Secondly, choose underpants that are comfortable and
breathable; although thongs may help you avoid VPL, they can lead to
chafing and even UTIs. Try wearing seamless underwear if you’re worried
about this.
Wearing makeup: good or bad?
Beauty YouTuber
Lauren Curtis made a video about wearing makeup at the gym, and got a lot of stick
for it. However, I think it’s something that should be addressed,
as there are a lot of us who just don’t feel confident leaving the
house without makeup on. If you must wear makeup at the gym, make it
breathable – as the last thing you want is the makeup clogging your
pores and making your skin worse. Opt for a good primer like this one from SportFX, stick to
a very light BB cream or tinted moisturiser, and go easy on the eye
makeup (I’ll usually just apply a waterproof mascara).
But what do I do with my hair?!
I’ve
got super long hair and I often find it really hard to know what to
do with it when I’m
exercising. Buns
tend to fall out, and tying
it up in a ponytail is not a great solution, as doing this regularly
can cause traction alopecia. Instead, I opt
for braids, which look pretty whilst at the same time keeping
my hair out of my face. A
single French braid down the back of the head looks gorgeous, but I
usually need someone else to do this for me! By myself, I’m able to
create two either side of my parting.
Bring a friend.
You
know that saying, ‘strength in numbers’? I think it works when
you’re exercising too. I always feel more self-conscious when I’m
working out by myself than I do when I’m with someone. If you can,
find a workout buddy who motivates and inspires you – and who
doesn’t care what you look like when you’re red and sweaty! Not
only will you be able to pump each other up, but you’ll also be
distracted with your epic partner workouts so that you can worry less
about what you look like.
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