Many people fret over what to wear when exercising. All things being equal, this is perhaps the easiest part of putting your exercise program together. It's true that different athletic activities have their own dress and gear requirements. Football and baseball each have their own types of uniforms and equipment. So do you need to have different workout clothing and footwear when exercising on an elliptical trainer than when running on a treadmill?
There are two components to workout attire - clothing and footwear. Since you will typically be using your elliptical trainer indoors, a hat is purely optional. If you've decided to setup your elliptical trainer in the great outdoors, then please take the proper precautions to protect yourself against the sun's harmful rays. This means head covering, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Clothing should be comfortable. It should not be tight or restrictive in any way and should absorb sweat from your body. This will keep you cool and also prevent bacteria buildup on your skin, which can cause acne.
Forget about special "sweat" suits that claim to make you sweat away pounds while you exercise. They'll just make you uncomfortable and distract from your workout. A cotton tee shirt and loose fitting gym shorts will do just fine in most cases. During the colder months a pair of fleece sweat pants and a sweatshirt will keep your joints and muscles warm while you exercise. Even during the summer months you should avoid drafts and strive to keep your muscles and joints warm. Avoid using a fan to keep yourself cool. It's better to dress in lighter clothes if it's hot.
You don't have to spend a small fortune on the latest high-tech or celebrity-endorsed athletic shoes. But it is important to purchase a quality pair of shoes that will provide adequate cushioning to your feet and not fall apart in a few weeks. Since your feet don't leave the foot pedals of an elliptical trainer there's little friction generated to wear the soles and heels down. A mid-range pair of running shoes or cross trainers will get the job done. This is where things are a little bit different between a treadmill and an elliptical trainer. And please, don't ever use an elliptical trainer while wearing street shoes or even worse, going bare foot!
If you'll be exercising on your home elliptical trainer, then fashion isn't a high priority unless it's important to you. However, if you want to dress to impress at the health club, then the sky's the limit when it comes to choosing fashionable workout gear. The important thing is that you stay motivated to keep going with your exercise program.
