Curious about home workout clothes

M

Maximus

Cathlete
I notice many of you are purchasing the KOS USA clothes to work out at home. I find this interesting b/c when I work out at home I wear my old raggedy stuff & save my good stuff for when I work out in public (at my gym).

So, I'm a single woman struggling to survive in the NYC metro area & I would never buy new workout clothes if I didn't go to a gym. Just curious--what's your motivation to spend money on w/o clothes that are fairly expensive just to use them at home? Does it make you feel more motivated? Does it make you feel more attractive, or better about yourself? Do you do it for your significant others? Do you feel it improves your workouts in any way?

I'm not criticizing, just curious b/c I live on a really tight budget & couldn't justify it.
 
Hi Maximus,

I wear my oldest raggediest things when I work out at home, also. Stuff I've painted in, cut up,whatever lol. As long as I can move in it, it's fine with me! I suppose I would wear better workout clothes if I had the money. I might look even more forward to working out if I could put on a fun outfit.
 
I was wondering the same thing actually. My favorite thing to wear are a champion sports bra (I've had the same 3 for at least 10 years) and an old pair of sweatpants that have been cut into shorts (I've had these since high school, 12 yrs) - among other clearance rack shorts, etc. Not attractive but what do I care? I like to spend money on clothes that people see, so I guess if I went to a gym I'd invest in some nice w/o clothes.
 
I'm with you - most of the workout clothes I wear are really old. I only buy new stuff when the dog finds the shorts in the laudry and chews them up (don't ask - he's nuts) and when the workout bras aren't holding up anymore (pardon the pun).

The same thought has crossed my mind. It seems that there are a lot of shopaholics on this board. But hey...if you've got the budget, why not? That's what keeps the economy working, eh?
 
I don't buy the clothes that Cathe has in her workouts, but I do like to wear pretty workout clothes, and matching outfits! I've gotten exercise wear from Carushka (great sales before they went out of business), Hotskins (also on sale), Walmart, K-mart, Target, the local Reebok factory outlet (where I get a 20% discount for being a member of AAA). I just like feeling and looking good when I workout. I have a mirror in my workout area to check form when weight training, and to help me keep "on the box" when doing mini step cardio, and it's nice to look up and see something attractive, rather than someone in ratty old clothes.
 
Well, I have never worked out at a gym and I have always been a home exerciser (22 +/- years now). I have always worked out in nice exercise gear. Twenty some years ago it was the leotard and tights, etc, etc, etc (think powermax) and now-a-days it is shorts or yoga pants (vitorias secret ($15.) and a sport bra top, or a tankini.

I have spent a fortune on Cathe DVDs and tapes, and a club step, and barbells and dumb bells. I invest in good quality workout shoes. So, why do I have to feel bad about purchasing nice workout clothes. The money some people spend on a gym membership I spend on workout clothes.

Tammy
 
I usually wear long pants and either a sports bra or tankini at home. If I am doing weights only sometimes I will wear a tank and shorts. For walking/running outside or gym days (rare lately!), I have nice outfits. I was considering getting an outift or two from Active You ubt I wouldn't use them for home workouts. Just outside or at the gym. At home, who cares what I look like during my torture sessions!?
 
Tammy - did you wear the butt-floss leotards like in Power Max? I used to and now I just laugh at how silly they were. I actually ended up using my red one for my Wonder Woman Halloween costume a few years back.
 
I used to work at gym (personal training & leading aerobics classes occasionally) 5 - 6 days/week so I accumulated a an extensive exercise wardrobe ~ it was my "uniform". I have been a "home exerciser" almost exclusively for the past 15 years and I still "dress" for my workouts. I prefer capri or bootleg pants (I like to have some "wicking" behind my knees!)and good jog bras or tankinis. I tie my sneakers in an almost "ritualist" way, they've got to feel "just right". I have to have my hair up with my long bangs caught up in a sweatband. I wear workout gloves when I'm lifting weights. It's all just habit for me...like putting on my pajamies or a suit & heels for work! The bottom line, of course, is that it doesn't matter what you wear, when you do it or where you do it so long as you DO IT.
~Kim
 
Hey Maximus --

I think this is a really good question.

I workout at home and at a gym. At home I normally wear the cute workout clothes (bras, pants), but at the gym I feel more comfortable in more conservative attire (form-fitting t-shirt so no abs are showing and baggier pants). At home, I can see my form a lot better when wearing the bra/pant combo. A new outfit *does* make me more motivated. It also makes me feel better about myself. I just feel kind-of sloppy in big, old t-shirts and old shorts. There's a theory that you shouldn't sit at home in your PJs all day because it may make you feel a little lazy. You should get dressed "to the shoes" (www.flylady.com) regardless of whether you are going out or not. It just seems to affect your mental state. I guess that is my approach to workout wear too.

I also recently saw an episode of Oprah (about cleaning out your closets of all things) where she was talking about clothing. A designer that she met told her -- "you should only wear clothes that make you feel alive". My old t-shirts and baggy shorts don't make me feel alive. It doesn't matter if anyone sees me or not. It just affects my mental state. So, I try to wear things that make me feel good.

Shonie
 
Hi Donna ~
I can't answer for Tammy but I'll admit to wearing butt floss leotards late 80's & 90's! If you had the figure for it, you were a hottie! I had a male trainig partner quit on me because he couldn't focus on "training" (particularly when I was bench pressing and exhaling on the exertions!)
~Kim
 
I also don't wear anything all that nice when I work out, only with me, that's the case whether at home or at the gym. The only concession I make for the gym is that I always where something clean (I can't guarantee that happens at home, gross though it may be) and I wear long pants. (I don't feel comfortable at the gym lying on a bench with my shorts. Too much butt exposure for me). Plus over time, all my tee shirts have developed lots of little holes in the front lower section (from lifting weights, although I'm not sure how it happens) and I'd hate to ruin anything nice. I do have to admit however, that the one time I took a live Cathe class, I did use my nicer stuff. Oh, and this past September, when I was in Italy, I did bring my nicest workout stuff for all the various gyms we went to. However, perhaps I'll try using my nicer stuff at home and see if it makes me feel more motiviated. You never know.

Shelbygirl
 
I am one of those who wears ratty stuff at home. It's not the clothes that make me feel good, it's my body.

But if I go to a gym, my clothes are newer and I try to look like the other gym-goers (is that a word?).

Part of what I like about home exercising as that I can wear out my clothes, use them up, and don't have to be ashamed to wear them. They are still functional, just yucky in some way.
 
I think what you wear is a huge part of how you work out. I am a cheap person and buy my stuff at Target, but it matches and I definitely feel stronger, look better, and I know I have a more effective workout "dressing for the occasion." I think it just makes you put forth more effort.
 
I must say I am in your corner! I have never spent I think more than $15 on any of my workout wear. I think if I was going to a gym it would be different. I can see where when you look good you feel good etc.. If I won the lottery I'd probably be singing a different tune!
Susan
 
Generally, I wear whatever at home-usually an old sports bra and shorts. However, on days where I'm lacking motivation I like to wear my bikini top and boy short bottoms or a cute sports bra and bootleg pants. It really helps get me motivated.

But, I sure would like to get maybe one top from Cathe's workouts so I can feel like one of the crew once in a while;)What more motivation does a girl need?:)

Great question

Have a great weekend, Wendy
 
Actually I am not prone to wearing anything raggedy because I don't feel good in it. I also do not pay large prices for my workout wear. I buy clearance sales and anything I find that I think is cute but not overpriced. Also I often stop during my workout because I run and pick up grandchildren from school and sometimes take them. Also their parents are in and out.
Diane Sue
 
>Tammy - did you wear the butt-floss leotards like in Power
>Max? I used to and now I just laugh at how silly they were.
>I actually ended up using my red one for my Wonder Woman
>Halloween costume a few years back.

I hate to admit it, but yes, I did own one or two butt-floss leotards way back then.

*Tammy, slowly backing out of room now!*
 
I am guilty of wearing ratty stuff sometimes. Sometimes I do my weights in the pajamas I wore the night before. Isn't that pitiful?

If I had the cash I would buy all of those cute outfits in a heartbeat. I agree with earlier posters that you should dress to feel good about yourself when you look in the mirror.

That is motivating me to go out to Target and get a couple cute outfits.

Lori
 
I have an extensive wardrobe of running clothes, that do double duty as workout wear. For me, having nice workout clothes makes me feel better. That doesn't mean they are expensive. I personally don't have the desire to buy the clothes that Cathe and her crew are wearing in the latest workout vids, but hey, if it makes you feel good and motivates you to do your workout, Go For It:)
 
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