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Pro Prep Diaries: What’s in My Gym Bag?

By 62 Comments


Since I seem to be in the practice of revealing all my fitness secrets 😉 I thought I’d share what exactly I bring with me to the gym every day! It’s not all that much, but each item serves a specific purpose.

Pro Prep Diaries Gym Bag

Ole’ Faithful backpack from college

Eddie Bauer backpack

I’ve literally had this since my freshman year of college, so it’s been with me for a loooong time. I think it even came to Japan with me a couple of years ago. It is extremely sturdy and easily washed in the washing machine and hung to dry. If this quality is representative of all Eddie Bauer backpacks, I highly recommend the brand!

Combination lock

Brinks lock

I like to keep my stuff in a locker while I work out and I’m too cheap to rent one from the gym. Plus, it’s convenient to have my own lock for when I’m traveling and visiting a new gym.

Funny story: I’ve had this particular lock since college. One time it got stuck on a locker at the campus recreation center and I had to get a rec staffer to try to take it off with bolt cutters. Said staffer was TOTALLY AND OBVIOUSLY hung over from the night before and reeked of booze. Needless to say, he was unable to remove it. (Luckily, I tried again to take it off the normal way after my workout and was successful.) Soooooo that’s why my lock is all jacked up. I will say that makes it easy to pick my locker out? Soooo.

Body lotion

Twilight Woods Body Cream

‘Cuz no one likes to lift with ashy knees and elbows. (Looks like it’s about time to replace mine.)

Weightlifting gloves

Glove Girl G-loves

I use these for two reasons: to give me a little extra grip and to prevent callouses. I wear them on back day only because that’s when I do pulling movements.

Wrist wraps & weightlifting straps

Pro Fitness straps wrist wraps

Wrist wraps (left) and straps (right). I have this set from Amazon.

Wrist wraps: I don’t use wraps very often, but they are useful for supporting wrists during heavy pressing movements like overhead pressing or benching.

Weightlifting straps: These I only use when I’m going to be doing a very heavy pulling movement, like heavy deadlifts, rack pulls, or T-bar rows. They offload much of the pressure from my wrists so that my grip strength doesn’t limit how much I can lift.

Beats headphones

Pink Dr. Dre Beats

THESE ARE EVERYTHING TO ME. My mom got them for me as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and they’ve been my staple gym accessory ever since. Not only are they cute and pink, but they sound great and block out background noise (like dudes grunting unnecessarily).

Critical Aminos XT and BCAA Capsules

Bodytech aminos BCAA

You might remember that I wrote about these guys in this Pro Prep Diaries post about my supplement sidekicks, so I won’t go on again about how much I love BCAAs.

Competition posing heels

Clear competition heels

I keep these “sexy” stripper heels in my gym bag so if I spy an empty mirrored classroom after my workout I can strap them on and get some posing practice in. I practice posing 3-4 times a week; more if I’m getting close to a competition.

Presentation means everything in bodybuilding. You could have the best physique on stage, but if your posing is bad, you will not do well. We (figure competitors and bikini competitors) wear clear heels because they lengthen your legs without any visual distractions.

Speaking of physiques, here’s my latest week to week comparison. I think I’m looking about the same, but my weight is 0.8 lbs lower.

Pro Prep Diaries 14-13 weeks

So tell me, what’s in YOUR gym bag? 

Psst: You can check out other favorites (that I can’t fit into my gym bag) on my faves page!

Read the rest of the posts in my figure competition prep series here, and follow along with my pro figure competition journey with Instagram hashtag: #proprepdiaries!

Hey fit fam! Want a weekly email update on only my new fitness posts? Click here.

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Comments

  1. About the Sports Drink powder- a Urologist told me once that artificial dyes (especially the Blue and Green) are very hard on the kidneys. You should look into finding a Sports drink colored by beet, carrot, or other natural food powders.

    Reply

  2. You are looking great! and those sexy stripper heels tickled me 😀 :D. My gym bag would normally have my weightlifting gloves, extra clothes, towel, and my basic makeup kit.

    Reply

  4. I love Twilight Woods. yummy. Prolly a weird question but do you have trouble finding clothes to fit or have to get them custom made? I swear if you’re over 5’4″ and a certain build, clothes just aren’t available. I’m tall so it’s always challenging.

    Reply

    • I do have trouble with clothes. I have large legs and butt, but a small waist, so I’ve had a hard time finding jeans. I have good luck at the Limited with the 917s and I also have a pair of Levi’s 535 leggings.

      As for shirts, I can’t really wear anything structured because if I buy something that fits the width of my shoulders and back it will be way too loose on the waist. I stick to loose and flowy silhouettes for the most part. When I had an office job I bought a few of the Ashton dress shirts from the Limited and I do like those.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

  5. Hahaha love the heels!!!! I have friends that do bikini competitions and we always giggle about the stripper shoes lol….

    Reply

  14. Thanks for the sneak peek. Your gym bag seems like it’s got all the essentials, plus some fun extras. I was worried you were going to say you do your workouts in heels. I can barely walk in them.

    Reply

  17. I guess I don’t go to the gym as prepared as you! Most the time I just have my phone and water but I think it is a good idea to start carrying a towel and a few other items.

    Reply

  18. I can’t believe your bag has been with you since college, it looks brand new! When I go to the gym, I’ve got a lock, head phones, water bottle and towel.

    Reply

  20. I’m awful. I don’t have a gym bag at the moment. But I’d like to think I’d have water, a change of clothes and probably my phone and some sort of music contraption in there!

    Reply

  21. I don’t need a gym bag because my gym is at home IF I worked out, which this winter I have not. My rowing machine sits in my family room, though, just in case. Being old, I really need not to take time off from exercising since nothing ever springs back in place like it used to.

    You look great and I imagine feel even better. Healthy. We’re not meant to be overweight or non-exercisers.

    Thanks for the inspire.

    Teresa

    Reply

  27. You are so sweet Chanelle to imagine I HAVE a gym bag to wonder what’s in it LOL! Can we talk about what’s in my purse instead?! Love that you are taking us on this fascinated journey preparing for your competition! It’s so exciting.

    Reply

  28. These are great essentials for your gym bag. I have not went to a gym in over 20 years. When I was younger I loved lifting weights but I was told I couldn’t anymore because of the surgeries I have had on my arms. Now I just love doing Pilates which I do at home.

    Reply

  31. Oh my goodness, you look amazing! I saw the clear heels and it took me a minute to figure out you must be a body builder–or in an exercise pole dancing class! Both are fun, I imagine.

    Reply

  37. Who would have thought they’d see heels in a gym bag, right? Mine would include extra clothes, a towel, and a water bottle.

    Reply

  42. Your gym bag pretty much looks like mine!! I love to see what other people have in theirs. Mine also has my polar, headphones, and protein drinks.

    Reply

  46. I love being nosy and seeing what people have in their bags. I love your backpack. I have a backpack I have had for years which I love. I am dreading the day it finally goves up the ghost.

    Reply

  47. That backpack sounds great. I could use a new one, I will check this brand out. I usually have ear buds and water in my gym bag.

    Reply

  48. You can’t get a proper workout without some great tunes, and Beats are the way to go. It looks like you put a lot of thought into your gear – good luck with the upcoming comp!

    Reply

  54. I’ve taken a peek inside a few blogger’s purses, but this is the first time I’ve seen what’s in a gym bag. And I love it! And I can tell a difference in your pics. You look much leaner in that second photo. You amaze me!

    Reply

  55. I live about two minutes from the gym, so I don’t even bring a bag with me when I go. I just grab my iPod and a bottle of water and that’s all I need.

    Reply

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