What’s In My Gym Bag: Yahoo Health Fitness Editor Amy Rushlow
We’re taking a peek inside our favorite health and fitness experts’ gym bags to uncover their must-have gear and favorite products.
Name: Amy Rushlow, Senior Editor, Yahoo Health
My workout: I do and try everything, although running and biking are my favorite activities. I lift weights at least twice a week. Whenever I can, I also love to hike, play Ultimate Frisbee, and splash around in the ocean. Every week, I make an effort to do a type of workout that I’ve never tried before. So, my fitness gear needs to consist of multifunctional things that I can use at yoga, CrossFit, or wherever my job covering the fitness beat for Yahoo Health takes me. I also bike to work every day.
What’s in my gym bag:
1. I always listen to music when I work out (exception: biking on the street), and YurBuds Inspire ear buds are the best sport headphones I’ve found. They’re specially shaped to lock into your ears when you twist them, and the rubber is just tacky enough to help them really stick — even during sweaty workouts.
2. The TP Massage Ball by Trigger Point is a great way to relieve tension and massage sore spots before or after a workout. I’ve used lacrosse and tennis balls for self-massage, too, but a therapy ball made for myofascial release makes a huge difference. It has just the right consistency and grip to feel ah-mazing.
3. When I’m doing cardio, I wear a Timex Ironman Road Trainer heart rate monitor to make sure I’m in the right heart rate zone. It’s easy to work out too hard, and a heart rate monitor helps make sure I’m not overdoing it.
4. A bright purple MasterLock combination lock makes it easy to find my locker when my brain is fried post-workout. Plus, it’s purple!
5. The Mizuno Wave Rider 17 running shoes are a super-comfortable, lightweight stability shoe. I’ve worn the same model for about 10 years now. Even though I get to test the latest and greatest running shoe technology for work, I haven’t found a shoe I like more than the Wave Rider. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
6. These Merrell barefoot shoes have the same minimalist sole as Vibram FiveFingers, minus the dorky look (sorry…) of toe shoes. I wear them for weightlifting, especially during squats and lunges, to give myself a more stable base.
7. I discovered The Stick during the Chicago Marathon Expo. It consists of a flexible stick covered in rollers, and gives you a great self-massage for the calves, hamstrings, and upper back.
8. My Lululemon duffle bag has cute finishing touches, like a special pocket for wet and sweaty underthings, and a compartment labeled “Sunday Funday.” I love the water bottle pockets on either side, which give easy access to hydration. Fun fact: My empty workout bag is also my cat’s favorite place to lounge.
No, kitty, you can’t come to the gym. (Photo: Amy Rushlow/Yahoo Health)
9. Wearing a helmet has saved my dome soooo many times. Even on my 2.5-mile bike rides to work, it’s an essential.
10. I keep spares of all of the items I tend to forget — socks, hair ties, sports bra, watch — in an inner zip pocket of my duffle bag. It helps excuse-proof my workouts.
11. Special workout underwear will change your life. Workouts are just so much better when your rear feels happy! I swear by the Patagonia Women’s Active Hipster. They have a soft, sweat-wicking material (read: no crotch-sweat stains in colored leggings). The low-rise hipster cut stays put, but doesn’t show — even when you’re doing squats in low-rise crops. Yes, it’s a $22 pair of panties, but worth every penny.
12. I live in LA, where it’s all about color. I especially love bright leggings, like these from Lorna Jane Activewear. They flatter my athletic legs, and make me feel like a bad-a** when I look down during workouts or catch myself in the mirror. (My husband loves to make the joke, “What? I can’t hear you over your pants!”)
13. I have the Victoria’s Secret Incredible sports bra in three different colors. It’s supportive enough for running, but is comfortable and non-restrictive enough to wear for weightlifting, fitness classes, and bike rides.
14. Lorna Jane has a whole line of inspirational tops and tanks with motivational sayings. When I’m not feeling like working out, I just put on this Lorna Jane tank, which says “Do What You Love (And Do It Often).” I also have tanks from LJ that say “Rest Later” and “Never Give Up.”
This story is part of What’s In My Gym Bag, a Yahoo Health series taking a look at the cool gear and products in our favorite health and fitness experts’ workout bags. Show us what’s in YOUR gym bag by snapping a photo, posting it on Instagram, and tagging #YHGymBag.
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