Congrats! You’ve made the decision to start transforming your life for the better. Getting in shape is more popular than ever and for good reason. It’s no longer about getting hugely muscular and ripped but about creating a lifestyle for yourself that’s able to be sustained and keep you at your healthiest and happiest. I’ve had an on-again-off-again relationship with fitness for almost 15 years and I can absolutely say that when I’m good about it for extended periods of time, my entire life is better. I have more energy, I’m more efficient in my work, and my confidence is higher because I look better.

Also, it’s not about sacrificing a bunch of other things in your life in order to become a fitness person. It’s about recognizing that working out only takes about 90 minutes out of your day, which is easily how much time we spend on Facebook, Instagram, or Netflix. If you’re ready to make a change for the better, here’s what you’ll need:

The Right Clothes

As with anything, if you dress the part, you’ll feel like you fit in. Even if you’re a first timer at the gym, go treat yourself to a couple of really great workout outfits. I’m wearing Strongbody Apparel today. They’re a Canadian athleisure clothing brand who specialize in high quality materials that are going to maximize comfort. Everything they make is soft, stretchy, and lightweight, meaning that you’re going to feel sleek and fashionable while breaking a sweat. Also, with stuff like this, you can easily wear it with jeans or fitted sweats on chill days where you’re running errands. It’s not only super comfortable but it’s going to make you look great too. Also, if you’re not comfortable with stuff being extremely tight to your body just yet, get a looser fitting t-shirt that’s made out of a material that will wick moisture and keep you feeling your best.

If you feel good in your workout clothes, you’ll work out harder. It’s a fact. If you show up in sloppy sweatpants and an old bleach stained tee, especially as a novice, you’ll get intimidated by the other patrons and probably stop going. Embrace the culture just enough to where you get excited about putting on your fancy workout clothes and hitting the gym. It’s no different than getting excited to wear a certain suit or pair of shoes on the weekend.

Footwear is Key

If you’ve been to my pages before, you know that I’m footwear obsessed. The right shoes at the gym is extremely important in order to maximize your efforts. Depending on the type of training you plan on partaking in, you’ll want to get specific shoes. Personally, I wear these Brooks Adrenaline Running Shoes when I go running, and that’s it. I don’t wear them for any other type of workouts. Running shoes are often designed to be a bit wider so they don’t work as well for cross training or weight lifting workouts.

When I’m doing any sort of crossfit or bodyweight exercises, I wear these Nike Lunarcharge because they have a flat sole without much added grip, which is better for quicker movements and jumping exercises, which I do a lot of both. Some people prefer a shoe with even less of a sole cushion for power lifting exercises like squats and deadlifts. You’ll have to get more involved with fitness to figure out which works best for you.

The shoes are in a similar boat with the rest of your gear. If you wear your beat up Chuck Taylors to the gym, you’re not going to be as comfortable and it’s going to translate into you not getting the most out of your experience. The goal is to create a long-lasting lifestyle shift, so be sure you’re stacking the deck in your favor where ever possible.

Entertainment

Even the most serious of athletes get bored during workouts. It’s monotonous doing the same movements over and over again. There will be days that feel like you’re superhuman and you can do anything but there will also be days when it feels like you’ve got a ball and chain around both ankles. I use these Jaybird Wireless Headphones. They’re lightweight and sound great in your ears. For years I was a music person during workouts but lately I’ve realized that by listening to podcasts or books on tape, I’m able to escape a bit more and forget about how tired I might be. It’s all about finding what works best for you.

Be Patient

Last but certainly not least, you’ll need the right mindset to ensure your success in fitness. If you’re someone who’s just starting out, it’s not going to be easy. If it is, you’re not working hard enough. There will be days when you absolutely don’t want to even think about going to the gym, but if you can push yourself to at least just get there and start moving, you’ll be glad you did. Establishing a habit takes around 21 days for most people. You shouldn’t work out for 21 days straight, so it’ll take you a couple of months to establish that habit.

Start by trying to go three days per week. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Once you get in that habit, you might even start getting excited about the potential of joining a weekend running group or yoga class. Understand that it’s going to take time to see and feel results. Be smart about how hard you push yourself, and sooner than later you’ll be reminiscing on the days when you used to think the gym was a waste of money. You’ll be a better, fitter, you!

Be sure to check out Strongbody Apparel if you’re in the market for some awesome new workout clothes. They’ve sponsored this post, but as always, I wouldn’t be sharing it if I weren’t personally a fan!

I do a lot of workout routines on my IG stories, so check those out @parkeryorksmith. Otherwise email me with any questions or comments at parker@thelooksmith.com!

About the author

I'm Parker York Smith, a curious dude still very much figuring everything out. I hail from the Midwest but have been dwelling in Los Angeles for the last few years being a pretty stereotypical west coast transplant. I'm a fashion geek, I love to walk (a LOT) and I do my best to find the bright side. I'm extremely excited about this blog and hope that (with some hard work and luck) it turns into what I believe it can. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please get in touch with me via my social networks (which can be found in the sidebar) or email me at parker@thelooksmith.com.

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