Staying Informed

Whenever a new client starts working with me, I always send him/her an email about what to bring to each session and what will be provided.  That way, everyone is informed, and no one shows up with inappropriate clothing or footwear that could hinder her or his ability to get started.

I want to share some of my suggestions with you so that you can make sure that you are maximizing your ability to move around safely and comfortably.

What Shoes Should I Wear?

I always suggest wearing close-toed shoes, most preferably a walking or running shoe that has some foot support. This allows for optimal shock absorption during movements like jumping, walking, and jogging. Even if you opt for low-impact aerobics or activities, you’ll want to wear shoes with good support.

Believe it or not, there are even different ways of lacing your shoes up that will provide the best support for your feet and ankles.  You should always speak to your local foot specialist or a trainer about the best way to lace up your shoes.

How do I Know if My Clothes are Breathable?

If you’re usually concerned with fashion, exercise clothing is not an area that you should be particularly worried about how you look (though there are some real funky fitness clothes you can get).

When choosing your fitness clothing, you want to make sure that the clothing is breathable. That’s why so many people where mesh clothes when exercising. 

To check if your clothing is breathable, hold a piece of the material in the flat of your palm and blow on the material close to your palm. If you can feel the air from your breathe on your palm on the other side of the material, this means the garment is breathable.

Not only will breathable clothes tend to be looser and therefore less restrictive of your movement, but you will stay cooler if you are wearing appropriate attire.

What’s the Best Way to Protect My Skin

It’s very important to take good care of your skin at all times. Though our skin cells are constantly replenishing themselves, if we neglect to care for our skin we can do permanent long-term damage, resulting in physical deformity and even cancer.

Make sure to wear a daily moisturizer (preferably with an SPF factor if you plan to be out in the sun).  Alternatively, consider just wearing sunscreen, many of which come with moisturizers already in them. Though it is important to protect your skin from too many harmful UV rays, remember that we need a little bit of sun for the purposes of Vitamin D. 

Remember that even if the sun is hidden behind clouds it can still cause damage to your skin.  So, don’t think that if it is a cloudy day it’s ok to go outside unprotected from UV rays.

As I explained in this week’s tip, don’t use products that could clog up your pores, which makes it hard for your skin to breathe and to sweat effectively.

For added protection, wear a brimmed hat and UV-protected sunglasses.

What kinds of things do you do to protect yourself and stay comfortable while moving your body outdoors or exercising? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) what you think our largest organ is for your chance to win a fabulous body-care product worth $60!

As a personal trainer who's always loved her body, Sue Bary was tired of being classified as 'mildly obese' and wanted to help others experience Enjoyable Body Movement without being subject to the usual verbiage of weight loss and dieting. Thus, she created enarji, a personal training practice steeped in the Health at Every Size approach and attitude. To learn more about Sue, click here. Because you are a special More of Me to Love member, Sue wants you to enjoy a FREE consultation through enarji's Virtual Health Coach services. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to schedule your free consultation today!