My Top 5 Gym Bag Essentials

Not that you really need anything, apart from yourself and the correct gym attire, but here are a few things in my gym bag I really wouldn’t be able to lift without. Here’s my top 5:

1. Water An obvious one (like, you literally will die without it) but there have been times where I’ve forgotten my own water bottle and drinking from the water tap is not the one. Either keep a separate one in your gym bag so you don’t forget or- like me- just keep it attached to you all day, so you’re always hydrated!
   

2. Headphones Again, obvious right? Well, it’s not a fun experience when you’ve already got to the gym and realised you’ve forgotten your headphones, let me tell you. Even worse when your gym- for some reason- has the same 5 songs replaying on loop… Just a heads up.
   

3. Deodorant or spray Okay, so hopefully you already use deodorant before the gym anyway but I always have some kind of smelly stuff for after my session. If it’s been a particularly sweaty one and you’re not showering straight away then you’ll thank me later.
   

4. Snacks Don’t judge me- I like food. I usually bring a snack, like fruit or a protein bar for right after I workout, as usually I am starving (not to exaggerate). Sometimes, if I know it’s gonna be a particularly long and brutal session- such as going for a new PB- I bring sugary snacks like sweets (yeah I know, pretty fitness of me) to make sure I am fully energised for a big lift and to keep me going. I mean, unless you’re dieting, maybe hold off on the sweets...
   

5. Lifting accessories My lifting belt, wrist wraps and straps pretty much live in my gym bag, as I use at least one of these every session, without a doubt. Again, not that you need these but they certainly help when going heavier (mainly for safety reasons too) as they massively take the pressure off your back, joints and grip.