That’s not to say you need to spend big money on workout clothes. The days of carefully co-ordinated gym wear like the G-string leotards of the early ’90s are over. Workout clothes are far less self-conscious than they used to be – and a good thing, too.  Don’t take refuge in a big T-shirt because it’s proven that a black singlet and pants that skim, but don’t hug your contours too tightly are more flattering than baggy tops.

Although going to the gym shouldn’t be a fashion show, it’s still important to look good. Besides, when you look good, you feel good. Wearing comfortable clothing that you feel confident in and that allows for ease of movement will help you feel better about your workouts and maybe even keep you a bit more motivated. If you have just embarked on a new exercise program, this feature will clear up any questions about what you need to bring to the gym or what to wear as you exercise. If you’re currently exercising, this will serve as a refresher and give you some tips to increase your comfort level while being active.

Workout clothes – The type of material that you choose to wear to the gym should allow you to feel dry, comfortable, and confident. Your main focus while exercising should be giving it your all, and you shouldn’t be self-conscious or uncomfortable in the clothing you are wearing. Depending on the type of workout you are performing, different clothing may be required. The cut of the clothes you wear to the gym should allow you to move freely without constricting your movements. You will be moving around and bending often while exercising, so the clothes you wear should allow for flexibility. Look for clothing made of synthetic material such as nylon, acrylic, or polypropylene for a good balance of functionality and comfort. Cotton is probably the most common workout fabric, as it is reasonably priced, breathable, and comfortable. However, it tends to hold moisture and become quite heavy if you sweat. Depending on the climate and your comfort level, a fitted T-shirt or tank top (made of the materials noted above) with comfortable pants or gym shorts are ideal exercise clothing options.

Training Shoes – Before deciding on a shoe, it’s important to try on a few until you find the one that feels just right. While at the store, test the potential shoe out by walking around the store and jumping up and down. To find the ideal fit, it is also important to wear socks that you would be wearing while you exercise. In addition, make sure you choose the shoe that is right for the activity it will be used for.

Runners: The right running shoe should provide stability, motion control, and cushioning for your runs. Depending on the shape of your foot you may need a different sized arch. Talk to a salesperson that specializes in running shoes to find your best fit.

Walking shoes: An ideal walking shoe should allow for a range of motion and cushioning.

Cross-trainers: These are most commonly worn in the gym. These shoes are ideal for someone who occasionally runs, walks, and/or takes fitness classes. They should offer flexibility, cushioning, and lateral support.

Socks – When choosing socks to wear to the gym, don’t make the dreaded mistake of sporting dress socks with running shoes. Choose white or grey socks that allow your feet to breathe and are comfortable to train in. Wear socks made from acrylic or an acrylic blend. This material doesn’t retain moisture as cotton and wool often do, which can lead to blisters and other foot problems.

Sports bras – A good sports bra is essential to provide support and minimize excessive movement. The bra should be a blend of cotton and a “breathable” material such as Lycra® mesh to help sweat evaporate and keep odor in check. Try on different bras until you find the one that provides the most support and comfort. Try jumping up and down or running on the spot as you try different bras on to measure their support. The bra you choose should fit snugly, offering support but not constricting your range of motion. Make sure the straps don’t dig into your shoulders or the band into your rib cage. It should fit snugly, but you should be able to breathe comfortably.

Hair ties or clips – If you have long hair or bangs that fall into your face, don’t forget to bring hair elastics or clips to pin your hair back. Nothing is more annoying than trying to exercise when your hair keeps falling in your face.

Towel – Towels are both a comfort measure and a necessity. You’ll be glad to have one with you after you’ve worked up a sweat

Water bottle – It’s important to keep hydrated throughout the day, and it’s essential during and after your workouts.

Weight-training gloves – Keep your hands soft and callus-free by wearing gloves when you’re lifting weights.

Heart-rate monitor – You can make sure you’re in your fat-burning zone by wearing a heart-rate monitor during your cardio sessions. Use the following formula to calculate 50 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate: Subtract your age from 220. Multiply the remainder by 0.50 for the lower end of your target zone, and multiply it by 0.70 for the high end of your target zone.

Watch – As you become more advanced, you may want to start timing your rest periods in between each set. Depending on your goals this will ensure you are not resting too long or taking breaks that are too short.

Exercise Fashions Dos and Don’ts

DO: Wear clothes that complement your figure.
DO: Wear cotton gym socks.
DO: Wear comfortable clothing such as yoga pants and fitted tanks or T-shirts.

If you’re big all over, black makes you look skinnier. If you’re bottom-heavy, wear darker pants and a lighter top – or vice versa, if your bottom half is too skinny. If your legs are on the short side, aim for pants that aren’t too wide (they’ll emphasise the shortness of your legs) and that finish at the knee or just below the knee.

Already slim? A tank top with an action back (scooped at the back to expose your shoulder blades) can make you look fitter than you are. The same goes for singlets that are cut to show your shoulders at the front; they also make narrow shoulders look broader. But if you’re bigger, opt for a top with a rounded back that provides more coverage.

There are many theories on why women love to wear lingerie. For women it isn’t about whether or not anyone else will see it, it is for themselves. How women perceive themselves helps their over all self esteem. If you think you look sexy in that camisole then you are sexy. Looking and feeling good is a big part our society today. Many people assume when a woman wears lingerie that is solely for a man’s pleasure. Even though lingerie has been worn for centuries for the pleasure of the opposite sex, it is not the main focus for women these days or in the past. Now it is more of a notion of self-image and feeling attractive for ones self rather than for anybody else. It is about feeling good about the whole you and knowing you are sexy even when you don’t readily show everyone else.

Interestingly enough, marketing approaches have also changed as well these last few years. Their message today not only promotes looking sexy for your partner, they also tell you to feel sexy for you as well and more importantly. Lingerie has always made to be exotic and teasing. Today, women can get just as much pleasure just from wearing it as they can by being viewed in it. In some cases they can get more out of just wearing it for them and not other. Some women are very shy and are not willing to immediately slip into something sexy for some one else’s viewing pleasure. This type of display can make them feel awkward or anxious. Just wearing the sexy lingerie when no one else knows can help spark self-esteem and desire in her self. Now designers are gearing this sexy wear for comfort, movement, and everyday practicality as well as sleek and sexy. Not only does this trend in design say a lot about marketing it says a lot about women in society today.

Back in the day of boned corsets that left women barely able to breathe or move, comfort was not the option. It was implied that proper women did not move all around and had no need to. It was also under the premise that women had no need to be out in the world. Their job was to cater to their husbands, home and families. Comfort was not in the equation. Not to mention that lingerie was not for the common women so it carried prestige and merit. But as the time changed and women became more active in political, economical, and the social realms of the world lingerie has taken a huge change. It is not geared towards the woman her self and the comfort and sexiness she needs. There for lingerie had to become modernized by being less restrictive. There is lingerie and intimate apparel for all occasions that are of great comfort and flexibility for every taste and body type today.

Lingerie designers are finally recognizing that beauty is not some standardized thing. Women are now demanding that designers make sexy and practical lingerie that is realistic and designed for all women, not just the standard. Women want to feel and look beautiful to them. That beauty and appreciation for their own body will permeate their personality and trickle into all areas of their lives. Women are tired and have no use to constantly try to fit into some impossible idealistic box anymore. It is now about being appreciated for the individual you. This has been proven with the burst of lingerie for fuller sized women today. The designs of today are now finally geared to the real size women and she can feel sexy too. So now fuller figured women can also feel and look as sexy too, no matter what their size is.

The wearing of lingerie for a woman can be as much sensual as it sexual. It has to do with self-image. The women today are strong, independent, and vibrant and should be free to explore their own personal sexuality. The shopping for and wearing of lingerie today is such a sensual pleasure for women today. It is not the lingerie that gives a women confidence it is the woman’s self-esteem created by feeling good about her self that gives her an air of confidence, beauty, and sensitivity.

As many of you may or may not know, I have been designing and constructing garments for about six years now. It’s definitely one of my passions. And I hope to get into the lingerie industry at least for a selection of garments because I think it would be extremely fun! Lingerie should reflect your inner-self. I encourage all of you girls (and boyfriends, husbands, best friends) to buy lingerie this season. I swear to you, it will make you feel like a million dollars underneath your clothes!

“I love to wear lingerie. The problem is that men always rip it off too quickly. When women are dolled up in lingerie they feel sexy. So let us wear it for five minutes.” >Karen McDougal

So you started a new workout regimen where you’re getting in cardio 5 to 6 days per week and strength training too. You’re feeling great about your results, the pounds are starting to drop but there’s an abnormal ‘funk’ coming from your gym bag, from your laundry room, and from all of your clothes in general. What is going on?? Working out definitely has a lot more pro’s than con’s – however, one of the biggest con’s that I can think of is the fact that a good session leaves your clothes smelly, even after you’ve washed them a couple of times. So I did some research and was able to come up with some remedies to get rid of the funky smell and get you back into the gym or outside to complete your workouts without having to pinch your nose shut. Hopefully these will work to your advantage!

Option 1: Get new detergent

There has been many improvements made in laundry detergents that specialize in not only cotton clothing but for the moisture-wicking tees/dry fit clothing that people usually wear while working out. These detergents are soft enough for lingerie even. However, the best part about it is that they are specifically designed to pull the stench out of the clothing and they leave your garments nice and fresh. Some well-known detergents are:

Atsko Sports Wash : $

• I have seen many great reviews on this product. Try finding where you buy this product in your area as opposed to ordering directly from the site.

No Sweat Laundry : $$$

• I only found one review, but it was 100% positive. The site is chic and girly – very neat concept but was kind of amazed at the higher prices.

Febreze Sport : $

• Febreze works wonders – we all know that.. and their sport collection is no different. They even offer the sport collection detergent.

Option 2: Creat new habits after working out

Many have recommended that you must simply hang your clothes to dry completely after a sweat-filled workout. Dampness brings upon the stench and mold, so when you throw your clothes into a gym bag and allow them to stay damp, the smell gets stronger. So throw your clothes over a chair on your patio or a place where it will get air to fully dry – then you can wash it from there.

Option 3: Add in items to your everyday detergent

Some folks don’t really want to try new detergent because they are satisfied with their own so there are two ways to get rid of that stink.

• Vinegar
• Baking soda

So there you have it – some ways to get rid of the funk. Hopefully these will work to your benefit. If you try it out, let me know how it goes by leaving a comment.

We all have guilty pleasures…here are some of my own:

01. Purchasing magazines at the store instead of saving $ by subscribing

02. Dancing everywhere – to the bathroom, on the patio, in the car

03. Doodling my name (practicing my autograph)

04. Twitter

05. Buying an item just because it’s on the sell or clearance rack

06. Cookies made by my little sister, Lu

07. Not checking my voicemail for days

08. Sending random picture text messages

09. Writing out to-do lists, then re-writing because it was messy

10. Listening to a song, and picturing myself being in the music video for it

11. Cool whip

12. Wanting to work out after a drink or two

13. Daydreaming about raising a family and living down the street from my two best friends – Andrea and Monica

14. Living by and through quotes & pictures

15. Paying more attention to song lyric than the actual beat of the song

16. Taking hot baths, with bubbles

17. Tanning beds

18. Adoring anything vintage

19. Taking the term “retail therapy” to heart on a bad day

20. Caring more about my clients then myself, at times

21. Chatting with my dad for hours

22. Gossiping with my gramma

23. The “nook” (resting your head right on the inside shoulder of your significant other, it’s like the perfect spot while laying down)

24. Arcade games

25. S’mores when it’s chilly outside

26. 600 thread count sheets, at least.

27. Going to movies and being more excited about the previews

28. Designing clothes at 3am – I always gets the most creative thoughts then

29. Going out with guy friends, and dancing (yes… guy friends)

30. Enjoying staying in my house on a Friday or Saturday night

What are some of yours? (Comment below)