We all know being in college can be a hassle especially when you are trying to find a balance between academics, social life, and your overall health. Since I have first hand experience of how difficult this can be, I have decided to create a list of the top five things you should have in your gym to help save yourself cut down some time at the gym and make the whole experience more enjoyable.
At Vanderbilt there are two locations for students to workout. The first one is located on the upper floor of the commons dining hall. The second one is located about a 20 minutes walk away from the main campus and about a 5-10 minute ride on the Vandy Van.
- Pre-Workout:
The first one is pre- workout. You see when it comes to working out, energy levels can make or break your workout. On average if you get adequate sleep and eat a balanced breakfast everyday energy levels wouldn’t be a topic of discussion. But since we are college students this is extremely uncommon. My favorite pre-workouts to take are Lit or WOKE AF. Not only does pre- workout do the obvious, give you energy, but it also provides me with a lot of mental focus and allows me to push myself on my last couple reps. Your energy levels also remain high for the rest of the day which is perfect if you have a lot going on.
2. Belt:
Next up is a belt, and no I’m not talking about the ones you wear to keep your pants from falling, I’m talking about a lifting belt. Belts can be beneficial for many reasons. They can help protect your back and give you overall support when lifting your heavier sets. Although at the very beginning you probably won’t use a belt it is important to have one with you for when the newbie gains come in and you can lift a crazy amount of weight. These belts can range from about 30- 130 dollars and come in a variety of styles and materials.
3. Headphones:
I know I can’t be the only one that will refuse to workout without music, or that will drive back home if they don’t have their headphones. Music not only makes you focus but it also calms you down and makes you feel like you are in your own world when working out. This is extremely helpful if you experience a lot of gym anxiety. My favorite pair to use are the air pod pros because they have noise cancellation. Generally I would recommend any brand as long as they have a good bass and have noise cancelation. These can be a little expensive but will definitely be worth it in the end.
- Liquid Chalk:
Now I will not lie, I recently learned about this one but it’s probably one of my favorite ones. Liquid chalk is exactly what it sounds like, chalk in a liquid version. To use you simply squeeze a small amount into your palms, rub it around and blow on your hands. Almost instantly, your hands gain a thick powdery layer that protects your skin. Chalk generally allows you to lift heavier, get a titter grip, and helps with the pain of calluses. These can be found probably anywhere online/ store but as always you can never go wrong with amazon.
- Creatine Monohydrate:
If you are new to the gym you are probably wondering, what is creatine monohydrate? Well creatine is a naturally occurring substance that exists in our muscle cells and brain. When taking about 5 grams of this day with at least a gallon of water, proper training, and sleep your body will be transformed. Creatine helps decrease recovery time, increase water content in cells, improves performance, helps with brain development, and the one that is most important for us increases muscle mass.
Well that’s all, my top five to have in my gym bag to make your time at the gym and workouts effective/comfortable.