What to Wear While You Work Out

So we get this question every once in a while. It needs to be stated that workout clothes are pretty individualized. We love a goofy workout design as much as the next person, but the fit and function is most important to us

TLDR; Shoes with cushion and a small to no heel, clothes that are light and fitted that let your joints move freely, and remove anything that can get caught between you and equipment.

Tops
At Pittsburgh FIT, we make sure everyone's shirt stays on. It's a big deal for us and our gym's culture to help everyone feel comfortable. It really means a lot to us.

Obviously the best workout shirts are the ones that say Pittsburgh FIT on them :) Any coach can help hook you up. Okay shameless plug complete :)

You have 2 choices for tops - Tight vs Loose. Both are great choices and this depends on what your comfort is, however you want the shirt to end around your hips so it doesn't get in the way. Cotton or tri-blends (like the shirts we sell...okay seriously I'm done for real now) are great for getting a workout in. Many of our coaches wear tshirts and cut the sleeves off to improve ventilation and reduce motion restrictions

Think all of the free or old shirts you got from work or volunteering or college. Cut the sleeves off and trim it to your hips and you're good to go!

If it's hot or cold outside, you'll still feel super hot in the workout, so layering that can be removed easily is great, but you'll probably want a short sleeve top.

Bottoms
Shorts like THESE or THESE are a great option. A little baggy/flowy is okay, but you don't want them to go past your knees because it would get in the way of movements we do.

If you're going pants, something on the tighter side that clings to you is preferable over baggy sweatpants. Joggers or tights are a great choice.

Sneakers
There are 2 things we want here. A little bit of cushion and a small heel.

Zero drop shoes (Amazon) are great because your body starts to utilize it's fullest range of motion to improve your function. There are more than a few coaches who ride the VivoBarefood (Mens / Womens) bandwagon, and while they are amazing for foot and ankle health, they can take a bit to get used to.Cross-Trainers like Inov-8, Nike Metcons, or Reebok Nano's are our go-to shoe, but really any Cross-Trainer from amazon is a good start.

*If you have flat feet let's connect and chat about this. Insole supports can be helpful or they can make things worse. Email us or grab a coach to chit-chat about this.

Unders
If you're a bra-wearer, it's critical that it fits well. THIS BLOG can help you figure that out.

Compression or bike shorts are great options to keep everything tight and tidy and out of the way below the belly button.

Looser and worn unders, especially of the cotton variety, that have worn-down the elastic are SUPER comfy for relaxing and recovering. However these can very easily give you rashes and brush burns while you're exercising.

If you happen to be particularly sweaty or are dealing with friction pain, a pre-workout dusting of baby powder is a game changer in both winter and summer.

Socks
Any comfy athletic sock will do, but definitely wear them. You don't need tall socks or anything above the ankle really!

On the off occasion that we have lots of rope climbing, and your technique isn't quite dialed in yet, long thick socks can help prevent rope-rub and keep your shins photo-shoot ready.

Accessories
Gloves: not super necessary, and can actually create more discomfort, but if your hands hurt, grab a coach and ask!

Headband: Great for keeping sweat and hair out of your eyes

Towel: Heavy sweater? This will help A LOT! BYO and keep it fresh and washed frequently

Hats: if you're moving fast or a lot, these can get in the way. Beanies are better if your head is cold

Water bottle: glass or stainless steel is best. Try to avoid plastic and the the metal ones that leak lead!

Lifting Belt: if you're new, whether you have back-pain or are worried about it, hold off on making this purchase. We want your body to start slow and teach you how to use your muscles to brace yourself. If you're lifting so heavy that you need a belt, you probably shouldn't be lifting that much weight. Probably.

Wrist wraps: the only accessory I recommend. Get the non-elastic ones. They last literally forever. And you can wash them.

Knee Sleeves: if you have a history of knee pain, you can try them. They should be tight, a bit on the thicker side (6-7mm), and not cut off circulation. Do they help? There's no real conclusive evidence, and they cost around $50

Jewelry
This is best to limit/remove before starting. Dangly things that can get caught should definitely be removed. Things like rings can get in the way and hurt your hands when we use equipment. And our equipment can break them. Necklaces definitely should be removed and with piercings, try a few reps of whatever we're doing to make sure they won't get irritated by the movement or equipment.

This also goes for anything with zippers. While they're not an immediate no-no, movement and equipment can get caught on them and when the moves are fast or the equipment is heavy, you can get some serious scrapes from zippers.

Okay...I think that's it. So this super-long, quasi-rambling blog post should answer your questions. At least most of them.

If you need help or have other questions, shoot us a message at info@pittsburghfit.com

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