From Work to Workout: How To Pack The Perfect Gym Bag

Hey there!

If you’re anything like me, the idea of waking up in the wee hours of the morning to fit in your sweat session before work will just never become a reality. I wait until the absolute last possible minute to roll out of bed before I have to start getting ready for work. That’s the way it always has been and that’s the way it probably always will be. Even though I don’t get up before the sun comes up to get my sweat on, I still like to fit in time for my workouts a few days during the work week, which usually means I have to hit up the gym after work. 

Over the years I’ve managed to come up with EVERY. SINGLE. EXCUSE. under the sun to talk myself out of going to the gym after work. Most of the time my excuses sound something like: “I don’t have a water bottle with me so I can’t go to spin class.” or “I forgot my ear buds so I couldn’t possibly manage to go for a run without them.” Pathetic right? I know. I’m not proud of it.

The one thing all of this excuse making has taught me is how to pack the perfect gym bag to take you from work to workout! Now obviously, you’ll need to pack your clothes and shoes, which I didn’t include on the list, because we all know we need to bring those things. Instead, I chose to focus on the stupid little things that I find myself forgetting that (in my head) give me the excuse to head home after work, instead of going to the gym. So, I’ve compiled a list of a few things that I always like to keep on hand in my gym bag so I don’t have an excuse to skip my sweat session after a long hard day! Let’s get into it!

1. Chic gym bag

I know this seems kind of silly, but I like to stash supplies for my sweat sessions in a cute gym bag that doesn’t actually scream “I’M A GYM BAG!” when it’s something I’m carrying into the office. I always felt a little weird carrying my baby pink colored duffle bag into the office, so decided to make a change to something a little more professional looking. I got a brand spanking new gym bag for Christmas last year and have been loving carrying it to and from the office!

2. Slide Proof Hair Ties

I have a lot of hair and I absolutely cannot stand having it down during a workout. I have forgotten my hair tie a few times and have resorted to borrowing a rubber band from the front desk and let me tell you… it wasn’t pretty. I always end up having to cut those pesky little things out of my hair, so now I always keep these extra thick slide proof hair ties with me. Since they are extra thick and have rubber woven into the band, they grip without pulling, and stay in place!

3. Non-Slip Headband

This one goes hand in hand with number 2. I hate to have my hair in my face and I hate having to mess around with headbands or hair ties that don’t stay in place. That’s why I love non-slip versions of these products because I can put them in my hair, forget about them and focus on what I’m at the gym to do!

4. Towel

If you’re not lucky enough to go to a gym that has towel service (which I am not), then you’ll probably want to remember to pack a hand towel to keep with you so you don’t have to resort to wiping your face off with paper towels. Those always dry out my skin so I try to keep them away from my face at all costs!

5. Hairbrush

This is nice to have but not an absolute deal breaker. I have been known to use the finger comb from time to time to put my hair in a pony tail, but you can never go wrong by packing a brush!

6. Protein Bar

One of my all time favorite excuses to give myself a pass from going to the gym is that I’m too hungry. If I make sure to have a protein bar handy, I’ve immediately eliminated that from my list of excuses!

7. Water Bottle

I know… I know… water bottles are available literally everywhere so how can I possibly use this one as an excuse? Well… sometimes it’s because I’m being too cheap to buy a $1 water bottle from the vending machine, while other times it’s because I don’t want to have to screw the cap back on between drinks. Pathetic right?!?! Now I always try to keep one in my gym bag so I don’t have to try to hunt down a throw away bottle with a squirt top. Please tell me I’m not the alone on this one!!!

8. Deodorant 

I think this one goes without explanation. Sometimes you just need a little touch up after a long and stressful day at the office!

9. Cell Phone Arm Band

There is nothing more annoying to me than having to find a place to set down my phone if I’m trying to weight lift on a day when I forgot my arm band. My phone never manages to stay put in those little pockets hidden in my yoga pants and it gets sweaty if I try to tuck it under my bra strap, so I’m not able to focus on the task at hand because I’m always worried about dropping my phone and breaking it. Making sure I have my arm band with me immediately takes care of this because all you have to do is put it on your arm and you’re ready to go!

10. Ear Buds

I’ve literally went into the locker room, changed into my gym clothes and walked out and went home when I realized I forgot my ear buds that day. Because of this, I’ve started keeping an extra pair in my gym bag, just in case I forgot to put my favorite pair back after the last time I used them.

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And the winner from my signed Skinny Confidential book giveaway is:

Congrats to Farrah for winning and thank you everyone for entering!

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Questions of the Day:

What are some of the excuses you make to get out of going to the gym?

What is one thing you always have in your gym bag?

Linking up to The Fit Switch, Jill Conyers, A Savory Feast, Angelena Marie,  Our Three Peas, Eat Pray Run DC, Mar On The Run, You Signed Up For What?, Fitful Focus, Fitting It All In, Housewife Glamour, Pretty Little Grub, Running 4 Cupcakes, September Farm, The Diary of a Real Housewife, The Good Life, The New Mrs Adventures & XOXO Rebecca.