Knowing What to Wear for Exercise
Choosing what to wear for a workout can be difficult for some individuals for a number of reasons. Sometimes one can be too lazy to change into an outfit or sometimes they just do not have the money to afford nice clothes for a workout. Or sometimes one just might not know what to wear for a workout.
Shoe Choice
The shoe that one chooses to workout/run in can have a domino effect on their body. Choosing a flat and unsupportive shoe to workout/run in can cause running-related injuries as well as other foot related injuries/problems. At times a shoe prescription will be provided for individuals who suffer from running-related injuries. But there is no conclusive evidence to support that shoe prescriptions prevent running-related injuries (Napier 2018).
Top Choice
An exercise top choice can vary from male to female. For instants males are able to be freer when choosing an exercise top. Males typically choose from either a compression long/short sleeve or a looser fitting long/short sleeve. Females on the other hand typically choose from a sports bra, and either a compression long/short sleeve or a looser fitting long/short sleeve. Making sure whatever one chooses to exercise/workout in is supportive and comfortable should be the main priority. Choosing what to wear as a top can also affect one's performance during exercise as well as their self-confidence. If he/she does not feel comfortable or look good in their mind, then they are not going to be in the right mindset during exercise. This is where the saying, "look good, feel good, play good" comes into play.
Bottom Choice
\Choosing a bottom to exercise in can go the same way as choosing a top. Males will usually choose from either shorts, joggers, and even sometimes sweats. Females will usually choose from loose shorts, compression shorts (biker shorts), leggings, and even sometimes sweats as well. Just like when choosing a top, choosing a bottom that bottom needs to make sure that it is supportive and comfortable but also that it makes them look good in their head. This next point can be made for both tops and bottoms in females in that they can get judged depending on what they. In a study that was done with women with a high self-objectification, 19.6% of them had said that they were more likely to wear "very concealing" clothes to workout in (Hauff 2016)
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing what to wear for an exercise make sure that you are comfortable with what you are wearing but also make sure that it is going to give you the best opportunity to give your all during that workout and not pull up until it is done.
Links to Help with Exercise Apparel Choosing
References
Hauff, C. R. (2016). Dress to Impress or Dress to Sweat? Examining the Perceptions of Exercise Apparel Through the Eyes of Active Women. 24(2), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2015-0015
Napier, C., & Willy, R. W. (2018). Logical fallacies in the running shoe debate: let the evidence guide prescription. 52(24), 1552–1553. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100117