How to Fake a Perfect Body at the Gym
Choosing the right gym clothes can help you look fit even if your body's still a work in progress
(Nutricise) — Unless you're a perfect physical specimen (and who is?), you've probably been faced with a common catch-22: How can you work out to better your body when you don't want anyone to see your body in its current state? The solution: Flaunt your assets, hide your flaws and improve your attitude, say experts.
'People should feel comfortable working out-that's the most important thing,' says veteran instructor Malin Zaki, group fitness director for Crunch gyms in New York City. Zaki says she sees a lot of exercisers trying to address their body issues by covering up with baggy clothing, which generally is neither flattering nor appropriate attire.
Zaki's approach for the gym: Wear slightly looser-fitting garments on your problem parts and more shape-revealing items where you'd like to get attention, always keeping the nature of your class or activity in mind. 'In body sculpting, Pilates and stretching classes, instructors need to watch your form, so don't wear an oversized T-shirt and wide-leg pants,' she cautions. Loose shorts may be fine for upper-body weight training, but a little awkward for rapid pedaling in Spinning. Pants with flared ankles may be fine for dance aerobics divas but are accidents waiting to happen on certain cardio machines and in jump rope classes.
If your workout takes you outdoors, the classic baggy cotton T-shirt and roomy sweatpants are surprisingly poor choices, because once they get sweaty, not only will they cling to your body but they'll also feel heavy and cumbersome, explains Christy Hutchins, design consultant to Moving Comfort, a women's activewear company based in Chantilly, Virginia. The smart alternative? Lighter garments made from performance fabrics. These treated polyesters and polyester blends draw moisture away from the skin through the outer layers of the fabric, helping sweat evaporate faster. (The closer these garments are to your skin, the better they work, says Nike apparel spokesperson Bob Mitchell.) When you're shopping for gym clothes, check tags for buzzwords such as wicking and moisture-control.
More look-your-best tips from the pros:
If your waist, chest or bust is heavy but your legs and arms are trim, wear a vest over your top or T-shirt, says Hutchins. Many varieties are in stores now, and the fleece and nylon varieties provide an extra layer of warmth for outdoor workouts.
A highly effective tummy-hider is a long, loose tank top, says Jess Kleiderman, a personal trainer, Spinning instructor and designer of Jess Active, her own line of fitness apparel. Hairy guys who find tank tops too revealing can neatly cut the sleeves off crew-neck T-shirts.
If your weight tends to be in your lower half, tie a sweatshirt or T-shirt around your hips for extra coverage where it counts. Even fitness instructors like Kleiderman and Zaki do it.
Minimize legs and thighs with dark-colored wide-leg pants. Men should look for track pant styles, suggests Kleiderman, while women have a number of options including slimming, loose-fitting stretch pants
