What's In My Gym Bag?

I made a promise to myself that when the semester ended I would get my butt back to the gym. Last year I enrolled in a kickboxing program at a local gym, and went religiously for months until one day it just became too much with my schedule... not to mention my gym is 20 minutes away. I decided that this summer I would stop making excuses and go back.

A friend recommended this gym to me after she joined and had amazing results, I'm not trying to lose much fat, but rather gain muscle and I think this program helps me do just that... as long as I put the time and effort in. (But kickboxing is a great way to lose weight for those who wish to do so.)

I went back this week and the first class was brutal, but it made me happy to get back in there. I know after a few weeks of training at least 3 times a week I'll start to feel stronger and this will come easier to me. My roundhouse kicks are still on point though.

via GIPHY

There are a few things I make sure to keep in my gym bag, some are pretty obvious but others might be different to what you keep in your gym bag.

• Probably the most important part of lugging all your stuff to the gym, is to get a good gym bag. I switch between a cinch sack from the school I studied abroad at, and a Nike one. (I throw them in the wash after a while.)
• I usually pack at least two water bottles for the gym and recently I have found a lot of great options, depending on my needs for the day. Here are a few options.
• Keeps water ice cold
• Stylish
• Filtered
• This is something I often forget to pack, usually, the gym provides them but it's good to have your own too. In the past I've kicked the bag so hard I've sliced my foot open... I'm sure it doesn't happen often, but since the bag I had that day was taped up I think I caught a corner. Kickboxing makes you glisten, and bargain bandaids are not going to cut it. It's best to pack some that you know are good quality, and potentially some medical tape if you're really having trouble making them stick. 
• If you too are a kickboxer you'll know that you need gloves. Before you throw them back in your gym bag stuff a few dryer sheets in there to absorb moisture and freshen them up a bit. 
• If you feel a lot of stress on your wrists it may be a good idea to buy wraps as well. Have a few sets on hand so you can wash them as needed. If you're unsure how to wrap your hands, check out this video. 

• The last few things I would recommend fall under the category of beauty, but I feel like they are essential after a hard workout. Especially when my drive home is 20 minutes and I don't have the opportunity to clean up right away. 
• Facial Cleansing Wipes; for obvious reasons. You're probably going to want to get all that sweat and oil off your face. 
• Evian Spray; I often follow up with this spray just to cool down. 
• Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme; Working out barefoot on the mat can really take a toll on your feet. After showering/before bed I often use this lotion and then put on some thick cotton socks. When I wake up my feet feel so much better. 
• Lastly, I usually keep a sweatshirt in my bag or in my car. If I work out in the morning and have the rest of the day off, I'll often go to lunch with my friend Sammi, who also trains with me. It's good to have a sweatshirt if we end up having lunch indoors in the air-condition. 

Let me know what your gym essentials are in the comments below!