Working out at lunchtime is a great way to sneak in your daily workout. However, showering after your workout isn’t always possible since most companies don’t have showers in the employee bathrooms. Heading back to work out without showering is guaranteed to offend your co-workers or customers. They don’t want to smell you or your post-workout stench. But don’t worry, we have come up with an extensive list to help you freshen up without a shower. Use our handy guide to stock up on items to keep in your gym bag so that you can effectively freshen up after your lunchtime workout.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on the links doesn’t cost you anything; however, it helps keeps the content free.
Invest in Workout Clothes
While it may seem convenient to work out in the clothes that you wore to work, we highly suggest that bring a set of workout clothes to change into. Regular clothes aren’t designed to be used as workout clothing even if you are lucky enough to be able to wear jeans to work. But heading back to work in your work clothes is guaranteed to leave you smelling unpleasant the remainder of the day.
Workout clothing is breathable and it is designed to wick away moisture. Plus, choosing the right workout gear can make a huge difference in the way that you feel after your workout. Even though changing clothes may seem like a hassle, your co-workers or customers will thank you.
Always Change Your Undergarments
Have you ever noticed that your undergarments are usually soaked after working out? It’s true that your undergarments will absorb a bulk of the sweat. To leave you feeling refreshed after your lunchtime workout, we recommend changing your undergarments before heading back to work.
Staying in moist undergarments can increase your risk of getting a yeast infection. Yeast thrives on warm, moist environments. So don’t forget to throw in a clean pair of undergarments in your gym bag.
Pro tip: Don’t sweat if you forget to pack your undergarments in your gym bag. You can always go commando if need be.
Keep a Water Bottle on Your Desk
It is important that you start rehydrating immediately after your lunchtime workout in order to prevent muscle cramps. Always fill up your water bottle before heading back to your desk and sip on it the rest of the afternoon.
Use a Washcloth
Always pack several washcloths and several ziplock bags and keep them in your gym bag. A wet washcloth can come in handy after a lunchtime workout. Wet the washcloth and wipe down your body in the restroom. Then place the wet washcloth in a ziplock bag. Don’t forget to remove it when you get home so it doesn’t mildew in your gym bag.
A wet washcloth can also be used to help cool yourself off. Get it wet with cold water and put it on your face. Putting a cold, wet washcloth on your face after working out can help reduce the redness.
Washcloths can also be used on the back of your neck to help cool off your body after a lunchtime workout.
Hand Towel
Keep an old hand towel in your gym bag. It is the perfect-sized towel to place on the bathroom floor before slipping out of your sweaty workout clothes. Roll the used hand towel up with your sweaty workout clothes so that you can toss it in the washing machine when you get home from work. Never reuse it the next day since you don’t know what germs were lurking around on the bathroom floor, even if you know that the bathroom was recently cleaned.
Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo comes in handy whenever you are unable to wash your hair, even post-workout. It absorbs oil and leaves your hair smelling fresh.
Pro tip: If you are using powdered dry shampoo after a workout, you want to make sure that your hair is dry before using it or else you will have clumped dry shampoo in your hair.
Deodorant
We can’t express the importance of packing deodorant in your gym bag. But you don’t want to walk into your afternoon meeting, smelling like an old dirty sock. Opt for either a dry spray or cream-based deodorant, especially during the summertime. Deodorant is a must when it comes to freshen up after your lunchtime workout
Protip: In the summertime, stick deodorant will melt if you leave your gym bag in your car. It is best to take your inside and store it under your desk at work.
Athletic Body Wipes
Athletic body wipes are a necessity to keep in your gym bag. They are great for freshening up when you can’t shower after your lunchtime workout. We recommend ShowerPill Athletic Body Wipes. They work similarly to a washcloth to clean your body with 1 wipe. Unlike baby wipes, the athletic body wipes are FDA-approved scientific formula that is proven to kill 99.99% of germs including staph and ringworm. This is an easy freshen up after your lunchtime workout.
In a pinch, baby wipes will suffice.
Gold Bond Powder
It isn’t a secret that both men’s and women’s nether regions tend to sweat during and after working out. A quick wipe-down there might help clean you up temporarily but it is almost guaranteed to start sweating again before your body fully cools off. Changing your undergarments will be pointless unless you sprinkle a small amount of Gold Bond Powder. Sprinkle a little bit of powder into your hand, use it anywhere that you sweat, and finish getting dressed.
Mouthwash
Keep a travel-sized bottle of your favorite mouthwash in your gym bag. It is a quick way to freshen your breath and kill the bacteria that are responsible for bad breath. Plus, it is a great way to remove food debris from lunch too.
Most corporate employees are forced to spend their time at their desks during lunch because their workload demands extra time at the office. Or others tend to go to lunch with co-workers on a regular basis at restaurants or fast food joints. Both of these unhealthy actions are causing more individuals to live a sedentary lifestyle, suffer from a bulging waistline, or both.
Working out during your lunch hour is a great way to knock out your daily workout, especially if you are strapped for time. If you decided to work out during your lunch hour, you need to fill your gym bag with these necessary items so that your co-workers aren’t offended by your post-workout stench.