While I was pedaling away at the gym this afternoon, I couldn’t help but think how uncomfortable I my shorts were, as they were riding up, digging into my hips, and all sweaty.  They’re great for lifting, and for just hanging out, but sitting on that bike-holy moly- they were riding up!  I kept getting up to “re-adjust” myself.

I’m not picky when it comes to workout clothes, but I do have a few qualities that my workout clothes should have.  I definitely don’t buy “designer” workout clothes, but colorful and cute is definitely a bonus!

Old Navy Workout Tank Top with Nike Dri-Fit Shorts

Shirts:

• Tank Top:  T-shirts cover too much skin and I just sweat wayyyy too much for that to be comfortable.  Sweating in a tank top isn’t bad, but in a t-shirt, it feels tight, constrictive. and HOT.
• Stretchy material:  Nothing drives me crazier than when I start moving and sweating and my shirt stretches and becomes baggy.  Then it gets in the way, or slides up when I’m jumping or doing things like mountain climbers.
• Dri-fit:  Dri-fit is a bonus, but definitely not a deal breaker.  I don’t find that Dri-Fit keeps me any cooler than cotton/ spandex.
• My go-to shirt:  Every day, without fail, I wear a workout tank top from Old Navy.  I caught them on sale for $5.00 each and bought 6 shirts in various colors.  They’re form fitting, but loose, long to cover my torso, and made of a cotton/spandex blend.  I like these shirts because they’re great for working out, but I also wear them with regular clothes.

Sports Bras

• Colorful:  I love, love, love neon-colored sports bras.  They’re fun, and add a little color to a boring outfit.
• Padded:  As a lifetime member of the IBTC, a little padding goes a looooong way.
• Inexpensive:  I use sports bras for working out, but also just hanging out so I buy new bras every few months.  I find great bras at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s.  $12.00 or less!  I have found them for $7.00
• Supportive: This is a given!
• My go-to bras:  Neon orange and neon purple from Reebok,padded bras.  I found them on sale at TJ Maxx for $7.00 and they’re my favorite!  Comfy, supportive, colorful.  My only negative thing to say is that the padding comes out in the wash and it’s a little tough to get it back in.

Shorts

• Waist-band:  Loose!  Of course, it needs to be an elastic waist band, but the looser, or softer, the better!  I can’t stand waist bands that dig into my hips or ride up.
• Shorts:  Flowy.  I like shorts that allow a lot of movement, without feeling tight around my legs.  Example: when doing squats, they shouldn’t feel tight around my thighs.
• Color: The darker, the better!  No one likes to see the pools of sweat 😉  Classy, right?
• Built-in Underwear:  Loose, again.  I hate the feeling of the underwear riding up, or cutting into my bum.  I feel like the built-in underwear are just there for no other reason than flowy shorts might show things that shouldn’t be shown, so no need for them to be tight!
• My go-to shorts:  I have two pairs of shorts that are my favorite.  I had a third, but lost them :(.  The first pair are Nike Dri-Fit shorts that have a comfortable waist band and don’t ride up, and they’re long enough.  The other pair are a pair that my brother was getting rid of from cross country.  You know XC boys and their short-shorts!  This pair of shorts comes down mid-thigh, a really great waist band and loose built-in underwear.  They’re my favorite and so comfy!I know they look baggy, but they’re great!
• My other shorts are saved for days that I’m doing an easier workout, or just lifting because they’re a little tighter and constrictive.

Shoes

• Supportive:  I do all of my workouts (lifting, spinning, BodyPUMP, and running) in my running shoes.  I like the shoe to be supportive around my entire foot.
• Light-weight:  The shoes I have now aren’t extremely light, but they are significantly lighter than my last pair.
• Pronate-friendly:  I pronate my feet when I walk and run, so a little extra cushioning on the inside of the foot helps keep my feet stable.
• Springy:  A little pep-in-my-step is always a good thing and comes from the spring at the back at the shoe.  This helps me jump and run, and land easily.
• Long shoe laces:  It’s alarming how annoyed I get when other people don’t have their shoes tied because not having my shoes tied drives me insane.  The laces better be long enough to not come undone.
• My go-to shoes:  Mizzuno brand.  I have had them for almost 2 years now, so it is definitely time to get a new pair.  I got them on sale at a race-bib pick-up, and they have taken me many, many miles.  If I had to guess, I would say I have covered well over 500 miles in them!

Socks

• Soft:  I don’t like scratchy socks because they rub against my feet.
• Cushioned and thick:  A lot of people like a thinner sock to workout, but the extra padding is a bonus in my book!
• My go-to socks: Old Navy socks.  Not the dri-fit socks, just the good ol’ ankle socks 🙂

That’s it!  I’m not into spending a lot for clothes, so buying clothes at stores like TJ Maxx and Old Navy works for me!  With that being said, clothes and shoes that are good quality and will last is definitely worth it.