What does a newbie wear to the gym...

[FabMum1]

Help! ladies
I need some new trainers and outfit to wear to classes at my gym. All the other Mums look glam and seem to wear the perfect clothing.
Was thinking of leggings, vest top, trainers and a jacket of some sort to wear....HELP!
Any suggestions of where I can get some

3/4 joggers are much cooler. I get most of my stuff from Sports Direct, who sell labels at much cheaper prices. But I defintley would invest in a decent sports bra. Watching women who do classes without a sports bra, can be distracting. Their body goes one way, and their baps the other!

Go to TK Maxx
have a look along the rails
see what you like / fits you (sizes in gym kit are ALL OVER)
once you have a brand that is cut to your shape then pay for it

shoes - I did great at a JD sports ex samples sale : cannot remember the brand but they had never gone into production, cost me £9 and fitted like a glove

now I just do yoga and balance so wear espadrilles!

Aunty : except the ones with the paid for boobs that are SO obvious when we are all lying on our backs!

but if you're fat, like really quite fat, what else can you wear but a plain baggy t-shirt? Anything tight-fitting will surely show off all the rolls and that will look even more horrible? (it's things like this that are putting me off starting, though my friend is trying to convince me to join her gym).

Runaway
Oddly, when exercising, tighter is better
in my regular class is a lovely girl who is a size 20 (and has hamstrings the skinnymalinks would pay for) - she wears leggins and a loose t shirt that always rides up.
whereas a fitted shirt will move with you.
And everything is relative
I'm stressy at the moment as I'm over 9:6 (5'5")
another friend is stressy over 8:9 (5'1")
BUT another friend looks utterly fab at 10:1 (5'4")
the main thing to realise is the muscle Mary's (male and female) are FAR too busy looking at themselves to even notice you
Go for it. Five weeks in and you'll wonder what you ever did with your time and will feel a million miles better.

RunAwayHome, if you wear big baggy cotton t-shirts you will just be too hot and uncomfortable to do as much as you otherwise could. Don't make the mistake of thinking that they make you look slimmer, either - they don't. Wear a fitted outfit and get on with enjoying your class/gym session.

I personally cannot see the point of trying to achieve anything other than practicality from gym wear - surely it is more important to do the best workout you can and be comfortable than worry if someone on the back row of the aerobics class is pointing at your fat rolls?

In any event, nobody is really looking at you in the gym. They're concentrating on not falling off the back of the treadmill, or keeping up with the steps in the routine, or thinking they are about to expire

Just go go go go - the gym is for getting sweaty and red and puffed out. That's why you're there! Don't be put off starting by things like 'I won't look nice'. You will feel fantastic.

it's not even just worrying about everyone else, it's just that I feel horrible when my fat rolls show (and I'm talking more like 13.4 stone!! Hate to admit that). I hate ordinary clothes because they cling, so I end up wearing tunic sorts of tops and t-shirts that are a bit gathered at the top, so they're looser over the fat, if you know what I mean.

Was thinking I might start with the Couch to 5K thing instead, as I could do it on my own at whatever time of day. But I still need a top and leggings of some sort (it's jogging and walking, so not sure how hot I'll be, and outdoors).

The gym would be good for the winter I guess though. Shame my friend and I work totally opposite times, so we'd not be able to go together, which would help.

teamedward
Bravissimo and shock absorber
www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Womens-Clothing-/15724/i.html?Chest%2520Size=38&_nkw=sports%20bras&_catref=1&_dcat=63853&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&Cup%2520Size=HH%7CJ

friends who have black eye boobs (I won't explain, you'll work it out)
do BodyAttack and BodyCombat wearing those

Invest in a decent sports bra (and get measured/fitted)

Get the best trainers you can and go somewhere they assess your running gait, so you have the right support.

I started in bog standard leggings/big T, now have better things, but trainers and bra are the only important bits for specifics really!

I have 30H norks and this has revolutionised exercise for me. I know a lot of people swear by shock absorber but I find it still allows too much movement.

I second the just below the knees and wicking top combo, also the going to a specialist shop for trainers.

Sports direct has an outlet store on ebay and you can pick up some bargains.

I run in new balance trainers, adidas cool something or other bottoms and an adidas t shirt which is the most lurid green but it was cheap makes me visible when road running.

I've also found the zaggora hotpants get rid of that fat rolling issue with wearing tight clothes as they come up just below the bust.

You can build up your exercise wardrobe over time but start with the basics and enjoy it!

Couch to 5K is very good.

It is completely fine to wear a baggy tee shirt -- everyone was doing it 5 years ago.

Just exercise -- it is great!

I think it's much harder to motivate myself to go running (especially in the winter) than to a class tbh. Some people love running outdoors, but I'm all for the indoor comfort and structured timetable of a class.

If you prefer, get a fitted vest and wear a t-shirt over the top. Then when you feel ready/so hot you don't care any more, you can take it off. Once you feel how much more comfortable it is to wear something fitted and wicking, you won't go back to long pants and t-shirts.

I do not run - nadgered knees from teenage
but I swim 5 miles a week and do 6 hours of yoga / balance

Ooh I need this.
First time at the gym since DC tomorrow.

Deffo try the couch to 5k. Over the years I have had gym memberships, done classes, spinning, kettlebells and running has got me the fittest I have ever been because I love it.

Try it, you might hate it, but you never know.

Once out you warm up quickly, even with a jog walk programme, you will be walking quite fast not dawdling. I suggest long sleeve running top and a hi vis gillet. When it gets really cold a base layer, hat and gloves are required.

Re trainers, if you will be doing any running I suggest a trip to a specialist running store for a gait ananysis so you get the best shoe for you. Otherwise injuries will be heading your way.

Adidas clima cool running leggings are fab- they have breathable side panels and flattering stripes.

I always wear a vest like Nike or adidas wicking material.

Buy good pair of running socks will cost a tenner but well worth it.

Also warm sweater to put on after.

When I first started at gym after dd I got clothes one size too small to encourage me to fit into them ( worked for me)

Finally I signed up for a 10k to motivate me.

It really doesn't matter - wear what makes you feel comfortable, and then pick up any new bits based on what you feel would make a difference.

I'm in intensive physio at the moment, and this physio puts me in the weights area of the gym to do supervised exercises on my 'good' arm (that arm has tennis elbow, the other is pretty non functional) so I'm with all the serious gym goers. And they are lovely to me. I note that based on my observations (I have time as I spend a lot of time stretching) that the posher the outfit, the less the person does

Maybe I will wait til January and ask for running gear for Xmas...?! Including gait analysis and suitable trainers - I can injure myself at the absolute drop of a hat, so I think those I really do need. Am embarrassed to even go into a running shop yet but I guess I will have to.

Sports bra.

Otherwise, what does it matter? You are going there to sweat and get red in the face and have your hair go frizzy from the heat rising up off your head.

FabMum1 - are you me?!
I am afraid of the 3/4 legging. My legs look like milk bottles.

RunAway, I am currently on week 8 of the couch to 5k - I am genuinely astonished at how quickly I have improved. At the beginning I was hugely self conscious, painfully slow, and quickly exhausted. Two days ago I ran 2.75 miles at 11.14 minutes/mile pace. It really does work for improving fitness. I am by no means fast by "runner" standards, but I can do it. I run in 3/4 length running lycra shorts, which are very comfortable and avoid the leg chafing issues that invariably arise with short shorts. On top I have a mens cycling jersey, which is nice and long to cover my big arse, but also fairly clingy. I've just bought a Shock Absorber bra - first go in it tonight!

Training for a triathlon is pleasingly simple - run outside, cycle outside, swim at the gym. No classes to go to, hurrah!

Oh, and I'm steadily losing all sense of shame. Running after work involves running down pitch dark paths, so now me and DH are running while wearing head torches. I feel ridiculous, but at least I can see where I'm going...

Oh, and buying running shoes was a surprisingly pleasant experience. If you live near Cambridge, I'll let you know where I went. We went in, said we needed shoes and had never run before and they just said ok and off we went. The lady did seem a bit surprised when I said I was aiming at doing a sprint triathlon, but I think that was fair enough! Honestly, even the scarily fit and sporty people are just people and will be nice to you :)

i always wore cut off shorts and baggy tees...the regulars are always very well dressed...makes no odds...youre all sweating and in need of a blow dry by the end.

I don't know how anyone can wear a tshirt with sleeves. I would get all irritated by having sweaty underarms. If you don't like bearing the tops of your arms something like this is ideal.

To begin with all you need in terms of kit is some cushioned trainers and a decent sports bra.

The climacool fabrics and so on are all great and do feel a bit more comfortable to wear but you don't need them. Leggings and a t-shirt will do the job. I've been working out for years and whilst I have some decent kit, my older stuff is just basic t-shirts, etc. Tbh unless I am out running on a sweltering hot day I don't notice the difference during the workout. Once I stop and cool down though, soggy t-shirt fabric does feel horrible but you can deal with that by whipping it off as soon as you are done.