Clothes and Gear

Stuff You Don’t Need
You don’t need any of this “lifting” gear:

Weightlifting gloves: They aren’t cheap, they wear out, they stink, and you don’t need them. There are these things called calluses that you will build up and all it will cost you is effort.
Lifting straps: these go around the wrist and are wrapped around a bar to allow you to lift more than what your hands can maintain a grip on. I think this is one of the stupider ideas in the field of weightlifting. If you can’t grip it in your hands, then you shouldn’t be lifting it. Build up your grip strength over time instead. An exception can be made for people with a degenerative nerve or muscle disease. I’ve done volunteer work assisting people with such diseases in exercise programs, and there were some guys with MS who couldn’t grip a bar at all and using these straps allowed them to work their major muscle groups to help combat the progression of their disease.
Squat belt: If you can’t handle it without the squat belt then you shouldn’t be doing that much weight. I bought one about a dozen years ago and never use it at the gym. I only put it on if I need to do some other heavy lifting like helping a friend move, and that’s only because of my back issues. In a gym I can control my technique so I don’t need the belt, but you never know when some jackoff is going to drop the other end of the couch.

Something you may need is other supporting straps like for wrists, knees or elbows. If you have some form of medical condition in a specific joint area then I could see how these could help. Conversely, I am concerned that if your joint can’t handle the work without the strap then perhaps you should ease off and work on strengthening the ability of said joint over time. This is a conversation to have with your doctor.

When following the instructions below, don’t forget to add “yoga mat” to your shopping list.

Weightlifting Clothes

One thing I don’t want you to do is dig out your old high school gym clothes and wear those, and no circa 1984 Magnum P.I. shorts either.

Here is the thing: most regular exercisers have nice workout clothes and you’ll stand out as a total newbie if you wear ratty old crap clothing. What’s more, having a nice exercise wardrobe will just add to the experience and make it more enjoyable. It’s also a self-efficacy thing.

Finally, there are some workout clothes you can get now that do a great job of concealing a guy’s gut. Imagine that: you can go to the gym and not look that fat while trying to get less fat. Awesome.

I don’t want to go into too much detail about how to shop for clothes, because that isn’t something that a guy should do, so here are just some basic tips:

Sporting goods stores are a good place to get everything you need
A basic pair of cross-trainer type runners are fine – if you have a not too beat up pair now they will do for weightlifting
Buy good quality – you won’t regret it. More expensive name brand stuff lasts longer, holds up well to repeated washing, is often more comfortable, looks better, and is even less likely to get “fragrant.”
Don’t get the old school grey cotton sweat pants with the elastic ankles – those just look dumb.
If you live in a place that experiences winter and can get changed at work then you will want some track pants for the cold walk over. I like Reebok. Nike makes some good ones too. I don’t wear shorts underneath and take the pants off at the gym – I just wear the pants for the workout.
Loose fitting is good.
Unless you are prone to lots of stinky sweating, then a shirt can last for two weight workouts – no more! I see guys who wear the same shirt four or five days in a row. They smell. I hate them. Don’t be that guy.
Once you get in good shape you can consider wearing something a little snugger fitting that shows off your physique, but not before.
Don’t wear a wife beater (If you don’t understand the vernacular, this refers to a “more-than-sleeveless” muscle shirt, also known as a singlet or a tank top.
Simple sleeveless (only the sleeves are missing) is okay once you’ve got arms to show off.

Okay, that was too much detail. Sorry.

Water Bottle

You need one; I advise getting a good one. First off, buying bottled water is stupid unless you live close to a nuclear reactor that hasn’t passed inspection. It’s expensive and bad for the environment. Also, you can’t just reuse one of those old plastic water bottles because the plastic degrades over time and chemicals leech into the water.

I’m not sure how big of a deal the hard plastic BPA 7 stuff is, but my wife threw all of ours out. She bought some stainless steel ones for her and the kids, but I think they have a metallic aftertaste so I got an aluminum one with a ceramic interior made by SIGG. It was expensive and totally worth it. Higher end running and outdoor stores should have them.

Also, I know it’s your spit, but you still have to wash it. Bacteria breeds.

If I drive to a location to go for a run in hot weather then I often semi-freeze the water in advance and keep it in the trunk so it is still cold when I’m finished.

Running Gear

If you have decided to take up running, I have one thing to say: “Good for you!” My influence worked.

Here is my advice:

Go to a store that specializes in running
You must buy shoes that are tailored for you and your running objectives. Don’t be in a rush the day you buy them. Understand that it may take a while to find the right pair. The staff should be knowledgeable and ask you to walk around the store in them while they check out your gait, giving input as to whether or not they are a good choice. Do NOT use your running shoes for anything other than running (you can use them for walking while you acclimatize yourself to running).
Running shoes wear out and need to be replaced after about 500 miles. For me this is about every five or six months. Once you are a regular runner and find a model and brand you like you may wish to buy more than one pair at a time. I am on my eighth or ninth pair of Pearl Izumi Synchro Guide II, and I have a new pair waiting for me in my basement as soon as I wear the current ones out.
You need socks that are designed for running. Get a few pair.
Get a running shell (jacket). This should have vents that can be unzipped under the arms if you start overheating. It should also have reflective material for running in the dark.
If you plan on running in cold weather you will want to buy some full-length running tights. Yes, I know they are tight, but they are more comfortable and better suited than running in track pants. You will also need a warm hat that covers your ears (in Canada we call them touques) and some suitable running gloves. If you live in a city that gets plenty of winter then your running store should have all this gear and more.
A lot of people are into adding high tech gadgets that measure pace, distance, heart rate etc. I don’t go for any of that stuff, but some find it a good motivational tool. One bit of advice is that if you plan on running in an area with many tall buildings this can interfere with GPS devices. If this is the case consider buying one that uses accelerometer technology.

The start up costs for serious all weather running can be sizeable, but the good news is that most of it will last you a long time (except the shoes, of course). Don’t put your running jacket in the dryer.

If you’re serious about getting outfitted for running, again I encourage you to give yourself ample time and go to a store than specializes in it and make some salesperson’s day.

Other Gear

Some of the same advice for running and weightlifting gear applies here:

Consider going to a store that specializes in your selected sport
Buy good quality – consider it an investment
Find a knowledgeable salesperson and tell them what your objectives are and they can help you get outfitted

Conclusion
Go buy your stuff. You’re getting close.