What's in my gym bag?

I love watching what's in my bag videos on YouTube and I don't really know why. Chalk it up to nosiness, or just my being an information junkie- maybe someone knows something I don't? Or has a better/easier way of doing things?

I'll go through this in the sequence that I use things; in that way this post will also serve as a gym routine.  But first, I must say, my workout prep begins the night before.  Being a makeup artist and general cosmetic lover, I typically wear makeup on a daily basis. Every night I wash my face which I must do out of compulsion, but also because if there is any trace of eye makeup left, I will be hurting when I hop in that steam room.  That being said, first thing I need is an excellent makeup remover and face wash.  I prefer Neutrogena and Clinique. 

To start, it feels really good to wear appropriate clothing for the day.  I have found out that I like wearing tight-fitting capri pants.  They cover enough, there's no loose fabric, and them are slimming, so I already feel skinny when I head in the gym.  Up top, of course a sport bra, and I like tees with the sleeves cut off or wife-beaters.  Again, I just don't like having extra fabric bunching, flying, etc.  I get really sweating and so its just more fabric to get wet and then cold, and its just uncomfortable on me.  Socks and sneakers.  I don't really have a preference, my sneaks are just basic, no name cheapies I don't even know where I got them, but I liked them originally because they made my feet look slender (I don't know why I like that it just makes me happy, ok?).  I've washed them so many times though, they've puffed out.  But that's ok with me, I snazzed them up a while back with some bright blue shoe laces.  So they work. 

Next, the bag: I actually use a free [read: cheaply made] Red Cross backpack.  It has a giant hole in it, but a lot of pockets, which I love.  But the hole factor?  That's how I do.  I use what I have and if I make it a habit, I get myself a new one-- its a great non-food reward and I don't end up buying new things that I won't use, because if I've already made a habit of using the crappy one, I'll end up looking forward to using my new one.  

A few things I have to have on me before I even get to the gym:  keys (duh), my wallet--  I have to use my military ID to get into the gym and I don't like switching it out of and back and forth, I just throw the whole wallet in there, and a padlock to keep all my things safe.  Before I leave the house I fill my water bottle halfway up with ice and then water.  I also pack a smaller travel bottle with organic fruit juice and, if a have any, a single serving of fruit snacks.

When I get to the gym the first thing I do it set up my locker.  I drink some water, take off my coat/sweater and get set up for the dry sauna.  I always pack three things for this: a washcloth which I drench with cold water-- its so dry in there, you need to have some moisture over your nose and mouth so you don't dry out your respiratory system.  I also tap on some eye cream all around my occipital bone.  This skin is very delicate anyway, and being in a dry environment just makes it feel extra crispy. Right now I am using Chanel Ultra Correction Line Repair Eye Cream.  For the same reason I always put some moisture on my lips, either vaseline or a specific lip product.  Now I'm ready to lie down and warm up for 10 minutes before I hop on the elliptical.  

To the cardio room I have to bring with me a hand towel, my bottle of water, my phone or mp3 player, and earbuds.  If I chose, I could also bring a thumb drive to insert into the machine to keep track of my workouts.  I haven't gotten there yet, but it might be something I'll try in the future.  Also, If I had it my way, I'd have an arm band to hold me phone on me at all times, but that will have to be a reward some time down the line. 

When I'm done with the elliptical, I need a refill on water.  Thankfully, this gym (unlike my last one) has a bottle filler spout on the water fountain; I'm telling you its the little things that make you happy and makes working out easier.  If I didn't bring it with me to the cardio room, I'll go back to the locker to get my logbook.  I like those mini composition books Staples & Target sell. 

They're classic, customizable and they happen to fit perfectly in the niche on the weight machines, even with a pen in it.  So in the weight room I've still got my water bottle, hand towel, logbook and music player/buds.

If I'm feeling frisky, I get back on the elliptical with all those same things. 

For a happy ending, I love my steam room time.  Working out doesn't release endorphins in me like it does normal people.  It doesn't make me feel better, or happy.  In fact, sometimes it just down right pisses me the fuck off off.  That I can't do what I want, that my blood itches, that I'm sweaty and gross, that my face is tomato red, that I'm puffy.  Steam room time melts all that away.  I get to my locker and grab my shower pack.  This includes a bar of moisturizing soap, a shower cap, flip flops, and a plastic grocery bag for my dirties.  I throw in my gym hand towel before I shower.  I peel off my sweaties, wearing my flip flops, get in a lukewarm shower and wash up, keeping my hair covered under my the cap.  Throw my soap and dirty laundry bag back in the locker and I sit in the steam room for about 20 minutes.  I could better time this if I had my water resistant watch/timer interval, but I don't yet so I just guesstimate.  

I like to cycle 20 minutes steam room to 5-10 minutes cold shower, for about 3 cycles.  In between cycles I drink a lot of water, and this is also where the juice bottle and snacks come in.  During my last shower, I lather up again and I make sure I bring my big fluffy towel, some lotion and a set of really comfy, slouchy clothes.  My favs are thin loose full length yoga-type pants, a cami (hate wearing a bra after all that), a tee and a fresh pair of fluffy socks!  Throw on some hater-blockers and I'm headed home to blog :-)

Recap::

Gym bag

Water bottle, half ice

Juice bottle

Fruit snacks (optional)

Large fluffy spa towel

Hand towel

Washcloth

Flip Flops

Eye Cream

Phone/mp3 player

Ear Buds

Phone Arm band (optional)

Thumb drive (optional)

Logbook/pen

Bar soap

Shower cap

Plastic grocery bag

Deodorant

Body lotion

Set of slouchy clothes, including socks

Hater-blockers

*The phone arm band and watch are premiered on my Amazon wishlist, if you'd like to provide me a gift you can do so here. 

Tuesday: Lower Body @ Planet Fitness

So I got up bright and early this am at the butt crack of dawn (good 'ole 5:15) and took care of the pup and was on my way to my refreshing early morning workout! NOT! I just could not get into it. Music wasn't doing it. Bad tv wasn't doing it. I just seemed annoyed and bored, and tired, and over it all.

Cardio:: 40 minutes on Arc

Weights::

Hip Abduction 2 Sets of 15 @ 45 lbs
Hip Adduction 2 Sets of 15 @ 70 lbs

Seated Leg Press 2 Sets of 30 @ 150 lbs
" Calf " 2 Sets of 30 @ 150 lbs

Leg Extension 2 Sets of 30 @ 50 lbs
Seated Leg Curl 2 Sets of 30 @ 50 lbs

Next Monday's goal: Up my leg weights. Most of these are actually pretty good for me; by the 8th rep or so of each set, I'm straining. But I read an article about how most people who weight train use lighter weights than they could/should.

Monday: Upper Body + Abs @ Planet Fitness

Once again, after being away from my mistress for a few days (since last Wednesday), an hour on the arc seemed to breeze by. I did waver a bit, but I've found that getting my horrible reality tv fix in during this time makes it go by much faster. I don't plug my headphones in, I still listen to my own music so commercials aren't as dull.

So I upped my weights this week to really push myself, since I'm getting a little bored with my workout, with the exception of the arm extension and curl for the sole reason that I don't know how to set the machine at 20 lbs and I don't feel like asking anyone, so I just upped my reps on those.

Cardio:: 1 Hour on Arc

Weights::

Arm Extension 3 Sets of 15 @ 15 lbs
Curl 2 sets of 15 + 3 @ 15 lbs

Overhead Press 2 Sets of 15 @ 35 lbs
Row 2 Sets of 15 @ 50 lbs

Pulldown 2 Sets of 15 @ 50 lbs
Chest Press 2 Sets of 15 @ 50 lbs

Fly 1 Set of 15 + 5 @ 50 lbs
Rear Delt 1 Set of 15 + 4 @ 15 lbs

Torso Extension 15/each side @ 50 lbs
Abdominal 2 Sets of 15 @ 50 lbs

Captain's chair was taken

I noticed this older (kinda weird looking) guy staring at me several times throughout my workout. While I was on the arc I figured it was because I sweat like a dude and I was wearing cotton. But when I was on the Chest Press it was just getting awkward and creepy. When I left, he was by his motorcycle and commented on the fact that he saw me sweating (why?) and then he saw me max out on the bench press (...noted...). So then he started asking about my weights and reps and I indulged him; maybe my endorphins were making me a little more inclined to be nicer to my elders. So when I told him I upped my weights on most of my machines to 50, he seemed... impressed? Flabergasted? Then he said "You're a tiny little thing!" Which, of course, made up for all the weirdness prior.

So another exciting thing about this Monday-workout-after-hiatus is that I went over to the gym on post and used their sauna for the first time. It was very relaxing and nice. I didn't feel comfortable taking a shower afterwards because in the first stall I looked I swear there was a half of someone's weave in there, which made me vomit a little in my mouth. But I know I'm going to have to get over this because a cool shower right after a hot sauna is like chicken and porn, you just can't have one without the other. I think I just need a sturdy pair of shower shoes. I also realized that I am going to have to have a sauna bag separate from my workout bag because the Bath Sheet that I use takes up a lot of space and there's no room for a chill out outfit for after the sauna plus my workout sneaks, etc. Kind of a pain, but I'll do it, because I think it will be worth it. There is a couch outside of the women's locker room, but it is right in front of the large (read: loud) gymnasium. I wish there were a quiet and relaxing area to "come down" afterwards.

I've been reading up on the benefits of saunas and I think in the future I'd like to use some oils. Because it is an infrared, or "dry" sauna, you can't put water or oils on the rocks. But If I brought a small spray bottle with some water and oil in it, I could spritz a small towel and put it over my face as I lie down and I think that'd be very aroma-therapeutic :D