weight lifting apparel
weight lifting clothing
needed to build muscle

In order to build muscle, you need the right weight lifting apparel and tools.

Building muscle is like building a house. You need the right tools in order to get the job done. I suggest you find the right weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing that allows you to move freely without constriction.

Working out in tight, uncomfortable weight lifting clothing and footwear can hinder your training progress and that is something you definitely don’t want to do.

Personally, I like working out in loose fitting weight lifting clothing that allows your body to stretch in order to get the maximum range of motion. Loose fitting training pants, sweat shirts, t-shirts and shorts are the preferred muscle building clothing.

You will also want to get a pair of comfortable shoes. I remember when I first started weight lifting, I trained in a pair of sneakers with no ankle support or cushion. These were the kind of sneakers you picked up at the dollar store.

That was about the time I first started out squatting and for some reason, I absolutely hated squatting because they made my shins and knees hurt. What I didn’t know at the time was that the actual exercise wasn’t the problem. The problem rested with my footwear.

I eventually stopped squatting. Only after I picked up a pair of quality cross trainers did I realize that I actually enjoyed squatting. My knees and shins didn’t hurt anymore and the exercise proved to be my number one muscle building exercise.

A hard lesson to learn, but you must workout in comfortable weight lifting apparel and clothing.

Finding quality weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing can be quite confusing. For example, what’s the best sort of outfit for heavy weight lifting? What kind of shoes are best for squatting? Should I wear wrist straps? How about knee wraps or wrist wraps? These are all valid questions and need to be answered.

Building muscle requires the use of quality weight lifting apparel, weight lifting clothing and the right tools to get the job done. Here is a list of suggested items you will need in order start Building muscle:

Weight lifting apparel- Quality footwear

You need quality footwear in order to meet the demands of heavy weight lifting. Weight lifting can place a lot stress on your feet, so you need to be comfortable. You will also need a comfortable pair of shoes for your cardio workouts. I suggest you get a good pair of cross trainers.

Cross-trainers will allow you to do a variety of activities while keeping your feet comfortable and well supported. Cross trainers are functional and quite versatile allowing you to jump from the gym to the tennis court to the street. Here are the benefits of having a quality pair of cross trainers:

1. They are the most versatile athletic shoe available

2. Provide the necessary comfort, cushioning, stability, and durability. Made for heavy weight lifting, especially on those heavy leg days!

3. Very economical. You can use the same shoe for a variety of sports

4. Cool looking!

Personally, I prefer the New Balance 1005 Cross Trainer because of the light weight and quality support it gives me. I can use this cross trainer for just about anything.

I like this cross trainer for 4 reasons. First, it's super light and comfortable. Secondly, it has excellent shock absorbers in the heel and forefoot for those heavy leg days. Thirdly, it's a durable shoe. One pair can easily last a couple of years. Fourthly, they look super cool!!

I'd recommend this shoe to anyone who is into any type of fitness activity.

As well as feeling good and providing outstanding support, these shoes look great.

Weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing

Quality weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing is a must if you want to maximize your range of motion. I’m amazed at how many people in the gym make the mistake of training in the worst workout clothing possible. I see it everyday in the gym.

I see people trying to workout out in the tightest fitting workout clothing possible, making fashion a priority as opposed to quality workouts. One time, I saw a guy wearing tight t-shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots trying to do a set of leg presses!

You want to workout in weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing that allows your body the freedom to move and execute the exercises properly without constricting your body.

As soon as you feel uncomfortable doing an exercise with your weight lifting apparel on, you need to find a size larger or alternative clothing.

Your goal is to build muscle and in order to do this, you’re going to need the following weight lifting apparel:

1. Quality t-shirt or sweat shirt. Make sure that you can move around comfortably. Try and extend your arms upwards with the shirt on. If you can barely extend your arms upwards because of the tightness than your shirt is too tight.

If you have trouble moving around freely, try one size larger or a different style.

2. Quality training shorts or sweat pants. Make sure that you can squat down comfortably in training shorts or sweat pants without having to force yourself down. The shorts/sweat pants should fit loosely and comfortably.

If your going to be training in sweat pants,make sure there not too long.

Remember to dress for the weather. If it’s cold, make sure to add a few extra layers of clothing until after you’ve warmed up, this way you can tear off extra clothing as you progress in your weight lifting routine.

If it’s hot, dress down so that you don’t pass out from the heat. Dress in light weight lifting apparel if the weather is hot or humid.

I don’t recommend that you wear plastic or rubberized suits. These suits interfere with the evaporation of sweat and can dangerously alter the bodies temperature.

As well as finding the right weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing, you also don’t want to look like your training in a potato sack. You want to find weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing that looks cool as well as fitting comfortably.

Find the right weight lifting apparel that appropriately fits you and looks good, something that you’ll feel good in. Personally, I like to train in comfortable yet cool looking weight lifting apparel.

Weight lifting belt

As you progress in your muscle building program, you are going to be increasing your weight lifting workloads. This means added stress to different parts of your body. I recommend that you wear a quality weight lifting belt that supports your lower back during certain compound movements such as squats and dead lifts. You might want to check out the Harbinger Leather 6" Belt. Personally, I prefer leather belts to nylon and velcro. The reason, I find it feels better and contours to my body quite easily.

Gloves

Personally, I love to train without gloves. I love the feel of the bar on my hands and I find I get a better grip without gloves. Of course, your hands will get a little rough when you are hoisting hundreds of pounds with your bare hands. If you want to avoid calloused hands, I recommend you get a quality pair of weight lifting gloves to include in your weight lifting apparel. If I had to pick a pair of gloves that provided maximum comfort, I'd pick the Harbinger Ultimate Flexback W/D (S & XL). Why? The gloves are comfortable and they use something called TechGel comfort grip that basically molds and contours to the palm and fingers for optimum grip.

Tools

I suggest you obtain the following tools to monitor your progress. These tools are very important in order to figure out your starting base point. As you progress in your muscle building program, these tools will be invaluable when you are monitoring and evaluating your success. I suggest you inlcude these tools in your weight lifting apparel.

Weight scale

The weight scale is part of your arsenal of tools you will be using to achieve your goals. The scale does not tell the whole story, but it does serve a purpose. The purpose of the weight scale is to act as an indicator. That’s it.

The scale tells you how much your whole body weighs, including bone, muscle, and fat at a certain point in time. The weight scale works in a synergistic manner with your body fat and body mass indicators which determines whether or not you are on track with your goals.

In order to find out your weight, you can use a bathroom scale. Take the measurement in the morning without any clothes on. Record that number. You will need to record your body weight every week and determine if you are on track with your goals.

I suggest you add a simple yet quality bathroom scale to your arsenal of weight lifting apparel and tools. Remember that you don't necessarily have to get a professional grade body weight scale (only if you want to) but you want something that's accurate, sturdy and reliable. You might want to try the Tanita 1623 Bathroom Scale. For $39.95, you get a scale that's tough, reliable and cheap.

Body fat calipers

Body fat calipers are an excellent addition to your weight lifting apparel and tools.

This will be an important indicator as to how well you progress in your muscle building program. Understanding your body fat percentage is a very important factor.

Your body fat percentage is simply the amount of fat your body contains at a certain point in time.

Understanding and tracking your body fat percentage will work in turn with your body weight and lean body mass indicators.

Finding out your body fat percentage will prove to be an invaluable tool when trying to gain lean body mass and keeping body fat levels to a minimum. It lets you know whether or not you are gaining lean body mass or body fat.

By charting your body composition at least once a week, you’ll know when it’s time to adjust your nutrition and training.

Relying on the weight scale to determine your success is a thing of the past. Although the scale does have it’s place, it is not the sole determining factor of your success or failure. Weighting yourself is a start but it doesn’t provide enough information.

Let’s say for example, you gain 12 pounds in 5 weeks. How much is muscle and how much is fat? Let’s say you lose 8 pounds. How much of it is fat and how much is lean mass? The scale can’t give you that information. The scale is very limited in it’s ability to give you accurate information about your body.

Using both, the scale and body fat testing is the only way to find out whether or not you are gaining lean body mass and reducing body fat. By charting your progress and making the necessary adjustments, you are ensuring that you are not just given a number.

The information your are given tells you whether or not your diet and training are having the desired effect.

I’m convinced that the Accu-Measure Body Fat Caliper is the most accurate and least expensive way to measure your body fat percentage today. As with most body fat calipers, you need to assistance of other people to help you take an accurate measurement.

This means taking measurements on different parts of the body including the upper thigh and chest. I don’t know about you, but I would rather do this myself. The great news about using the Accu-Measure body fat calipers is that you can do the testing yourself in the privacy of your own room.

Another great thing about the Accu-Measure body fat calipers is the fact that you don’t have to take 10 different measurements on 10 different parts of your body. You simply take three measurements on your abdomen and presto, you got your fat percentage. Simple yet very accurate.

The instructions on how to use the Accu-Measure body fat skin fold calipers are very simple to follow. Record this number every week to determine if you are on target with your goals.

The Accu-measure body fat caliper is a great body indicator to include in your weight lifting apparel and tools.

Measuring tape

A measuring tape can help you determine if your are growing or losing in all the right places. Simply take your body measurements and record those numbers. I suggest taking the measurements of your neck, upper arms, forearms, upper thighs, chest, waist, and calves.

Once you record those numbers, repeat the process every week and determine whether or not you are gaining at your desired pace. Include a measuring tape in your weight lifting apparel and tools.

Weight lifting logs and diet logs

Whatever your goals are, a diet log and weight training log can help you get better results. I still have training logs from high school!!

Keeping a diet log and weight lifting log shows you whether or not your goals are realistic and gives you insight into your weight lifting patterns.

If you're building muscle, strength and size, you won't have to wonder what works because you will have a complete description of everything you've done to reach you're goals.

Keeping track of your meals and weight lifting exercises will give you clues as to how to improve your current methods and achieve your goals more efficiently. For example, I know 2 hours before every workout that I need to eat one banana, with some light granola and yogurt.

I look back into my diet log and weight lifting log and presto, my best workouts were after I ate a banana, granola and yogurt. If you find something that works, stick to it and a meal log and training log will help you.

A diet log and weight training log will keep you honest. You may think your eating 3,000 calories per day but your meal log says your eating 2,500. You may also think your working out four times per week but your weight lifting log says you've been training three times.

Keeping logs will keep you honest and believe me, once you start lying to yourself, your efforts are not as effective.

I strongly suggest you inlcude a weight lifting log and diet log into your weight lifting apparel and tools.

Food Scale

A food scale will be very important because once you figure out your muscle building nutritional plan, you will need to know exactly what you’re putting into your mouth. By measuring the amount of food you ingest, you can cut out the guessing game.

I suggest you find a cheap yet reliabel food scale such as the Portion Power Food Scale. Cheap, yet accurate and reliable.

Accessories

You might want to include these accessories with your weight lifting apparel and tools;

Wrist straps

Use wrist straps when your grip fails. I use wrist straps on heavy shrugs and rowing because it’s usually my grip that gives out first. Quite useful when you need to handle heavy, gripping weight. A very useful tool with your weight lifting apparel.

If you are going to get a pair of weight lifting straps, make sure that they are comfortable and don't cut into your skin, otherwise you end up with unnecessary cuts. Try the Schiek Lifting Straps - 1000 PLS for comfort and strength.

Knee wraps

I don’t recommend you wear knee wraps. I’ll tell you why. Knee wraps hinder the actual mechanics of your knee, thereby restricting you knees natural movement. By using your natural strength, you will develop your muscle and strength more so than with knee wraps. If you absolutely must include knee wraps in your weight lifting apparel, try and lightly wrap your knees as opposed to wrapping them tightly.

If you want to build muscle, your going to need the right weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing. Using the right weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing can make all the difference in the world in your muscle building program. If you feel comfortable and confident in certain weight lifting apparel and clothing, I suggest you stick to them.

If you need to find new weight lifting apparel and weight lifting clothing, try going to your nearest fitness outlet store.

I suggest you shop around compare the quality of weight lifting apparel. If you don’t have access to a quality fitness store, try using the net for shopping.