The Clothes I Wear Whether I'm Training Or Not

For many, many years, the clothes I would wear always had a similar pattern: T-Shirt, Shorts and Athletic Shoes. It never really changes unless it's some kind of occasion. I don't even really wear Jeans anymore because it was always frustrating to find ones that fit. My waist was ok and I could fit into them but when it came to my thighs, they always seemed like they were going to rip the fabric. 

Sure I wear sweats from time to time like anybody else and I have the two pair of pants that I wore for my wedding being Han Solo & Indiana Jones. They weren't very comfortable but I did what I could do and I can still fit into them even after losing more than 30 lbs since then. 

Basketball and regular type shorts were my thing ever since I was a kid, they made me move around better and I felt comfortable. Dressing like a Californian or someone who looks like he's dressed for summer almost all year round can give you some looks here and there especially if you live in places like Idaho where it's not always ideal to wear shorts in the winter time but with me it happened often.

The sizes of my clothes have varied over the years but these days, I usually wear XL T-Shirts (2XL depending on the elasticity of the fabric) XL shorts where ones don't compress my legs and 2XL Boxers. The boxers were always weird with me for as long as I can remember. I have to wear elastic or stretchy type Boxer Shorts because like with the Jeans, my waist would fit synergistically but not my thighs and hamstrings. Some Boxers I had to get rid of because my legs would be compressed and they feel as if they're being choked or squeezed. When I was 275, I could wear 2XL and be fine. Now, at around 230 (last I checked was just below 229) I still have to wear 2XL Boxers because of those damn Tree Trunk California Redwood Thighs I have. I went to the store recently and bought some XL with the fabric I like and tried them on. They're great in the waist and fit perfectly but my legs still feel some compression, not as bad as they would've been but Fucking A man LOL.

I did used to wear 3XL shirts at one point in my life and I hated having that big of a shirt. When the weight came down and dropping a size or two, I was happy with it. The last time I wore 3XL was maybe 7-8 years ago when I was at my heaviest but I also wore them in my late teens and around 20 cause I got up to 255-260 when I was weight training more frequent and had an idea of going into Drug Free Powerlifting. The smallest size I ever wore comfortably in the last 22-23 years has been a Large at best. At almost 42, being in the best condition and having a better physique since I turned 40, wearing a XL the majority of the time is good for me. Depending on the fabric and elasticity sometimes wearing a 2XL helps and it just makes me look like a linebacker.

When it comes to my workouts, I just wear my street clothes. I never really got into the Gym Clothes thing, I let the Guys who're gym rats have that. Most of the T-Shirts I wear (if you haven't seen my videos) are usually ones with Superheroes, Viking, Metal/Rock, Wrestling or at times just plain White or a long sleeve with a 2XL shirt over it. If I were to wear a Large shirt, those are usually the "Muscle Shirts" where some show more of my physique which my wife likes and people tell me I look like a Bouncer in them. I don't do it all the time but its fun when it's called upon. 

In the last 3 years or so I started wearing Do Rags instead of usual beanies or baseball hats. I still wear them sometimes but Do Rags I enjoy wearing. My late Step-Dad In law wore them and I got along with him good since we were both into comics and Superheroes so I wear them in his memory. Designs of Fire, Skull & Bones, Raiders, Plain Blue or Orange and others. I probably have about 20 or more of these things. They're light, comfortable and I get a kick out of many of the Designs. Wish they had one of the San Francisco Giants. That would be awesome. 

With the way fitness goes sometimes, it's not always easy to find clothes that fit but, you do what you can and find things that suit who you are. Be amazingly awesome. Shoot me a comment or use the contact form. Be respectful and looking forward to hearing from you.  

On Clothing During Workouts

What do you like to wear when you train? Do you have a specific shirt or pair of shorts/pants? Do you wear specific shoes or do you go barefoot? How about Spandex and headbands like in an 80's aerobics class? Some of the clothes I've seen may not always be appropriate to my taste but that's just me. Some people wear tight clothes that show off various muscles they want to display, others (especially women) wear crazy short shorts to show off their ass, again it's a preference and if it works for them and they want to flaunt it it's their choice. 

Some people are not only turned off by certain aspects of clothing, but find it "distracting" or they'll say something just to cause a scene. If you're distracted by what someone wears, in most cases that's on you man. In the gym, I've seen both men and women wear ridiculous outfits which some look so damn tight on them, I'm shocked they haven't developed a yeast infection but to me it's just clothes and I go about what I'm doing. Quite frankly, if you wear something that you feel that makes you stand out or just wear a t-shirt that says "fuck Satan" and acid jeans, that's your business and you do you.

A good 99% of the time, you'll see me in a t-shirt and basketball shorts with either shoes, flip flops or completely barefoot. That's just the way I' am. Being born and bred in California, it's quite common to wear beach clothes just about anywhere you go. Up here in Idaho, I do the same exact thing and no one seems to give a shit which is nice. The mere fact people bitch about certain types of clothing really just makes me laugh more than anything. 

Did you know there are people out there that hate men that wear flip flops? People have their quirks but seriously, how shallow and dumb do you have to be to hate on someone because of a damn beach shoe? I just don't get it. Saying it makes men look feminine and weak; do they not realize the flip flop/sandal has been around since ancient Egypt and have been worn by Royalty, Slaves, Soldiers, Hunters/Gatherers and Tribal Leaders. I would pay big money to see some douchecanoe tell a Roman-Greek Soldier or a Tribal Hunter how weak he is for wearing that kind of footwear; he probably wouldn't last 5 minutes before being stabbed to death or taken down and smashed by a rock or log. If you have the strength to handle heavy armor or carry a good amount of weight and be able to fight when you need to while wearing that, who the hell really cares?

In ancient times (and in some aspects today), men and women trained completely in their birthday suit and had great success. Some of the greatest athletes trained with very little to no clothing so if it works for them, that's awesome. Clothing is a construct and is an option more than anything else. Now many would frown upon going commando in a public area which is understandable because there are children present at times and there are things they don't need to see and get scarred for life or need some serious therapy. At times during my workouts, I trained in a garage or the living room just in my boxers (in the summer, it's almost vital) and blasted through sessions like the old timers. 

When clothing is required (public setting here), wear whatever makes you happy, hell I've seen people with pierced noses, nipple rings in a see-through shirt, cut off jeans, shit even a guy wearing a full on Spider-Man Outfit doing gymnastics and Barstarzz Calisthenic type training in the middle of a gym. When you're completely alone in your home or live in an area where no one within a mile can see you, go out in the nude or train with people who like to be naked. Training should be challenging, fun and exciting to do. Sometimes we have to push ourselves because we don't always have the motivation but what you wear in most cases is completely irrelevant. If you want to be stared at, that's your choice and better be prepared for any consequences that may or may not occur. If you wan to be colorful, go for it, you might encourage someone to do the same. If you want to just look plain (wife beater shirt, khakis, no color) that's great too. Clothing is just part of the process but it doesn't have to be a 100% priority (depending on where you are).

Last thing, I just want to point out that if you plan on using very little clothing out in the snow, you might want to learn a thing or two from Wim Hoff before you start going crazy and I highly recommend you DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES where 10 layers of clothing from head to toe while trying to run an ultra-marathon in 100 degree weather (dry heat or humid), chances are you will die and you're literally giving vultures a chance to snack on your corpse. Be strong, wear whatever works for you and be amazingly awesome.