Gym Bag

Pack your gym bag in a way that will keep you warm, healthy, and glowing all Winter long. Since your gym bag is almost of equal importance as your workout and goes everywhere with you, make the most of it this holiday season. Simple swaps like an extra pair of running tights and a Winter-worthy snack will keep you out of a cold-weather rut and going strong no matter what temperatures the weatherman predicts. Here are seven essentials we can't live without!

1. Running Tights: Running tights are a Winter must because they are perfect for layering. Not only are they a substitute to leggings — just throw on a pair of boots and you're ready for work — but the comfortable fit also makes them perfect for any girl and any workout. Running tights can also be paired under shorts for added warmth or packed in your gym bag for an extra layer under sweatpants before you head outside.
2. Sanitizer: Let's face it, the gym is a likely place to catch a cold or the flu this Winter. Take extra precaution by keeping yourself and your equipment clean. Let your inner germaphobe shine by packing cleansers in your gym bag. Mix up one of these DIY cleaners or carry a pack of sanitizing wipes for a strong immune system this Winter.
3. Dry Shampoo: Nothing is worse than wet hair in the Winter. If you don't have time to dry your hair after a shower, use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo will leave your hair smelling fresh while adding texture and volume. It is perfect for the days you need to run errands after the gym and will keep your hair healthy in between washes.
4. Fleece Headband: The perfect headband this Winter will do double duty: holding your hair in place while keeping your head warm. A fleece headband like this Lululemon Brisk Run Headband ($26) will keep your ears warm before, during, and after a workout. It also acts as an additional layer under a bike or ski helmet.

Keep reading for more gym bag essentials!

Let's talk about gyms bags. Yes, they are cute, versatile, and stylish. . . but they could be the reason behind that cold you're getting over. It's not only the gym equipment that is the bad guy here, chances are your gym bag is filled with tons of those little creatures called germs. From your swimsuit to your yoga mat, and even water bottle — here are six things that might be in need of a scrub or two.

1. Sweaty gym clothes and damp swimsuits: We all do it: roll up those sweaty Bikram clothes or toss that damp swimsuit in our bag and simply forget about it! Before you walk out that locker room door, toss your satisfyingly sweaty clothes in a plastic bag. Then try to get in that habit of immediately removing them from your bag when you get home; this is the best way to assure germs and mold don't multiply (washing them in hot water helps too!).
2. Your shower shoes: You probably use flip-flops to protect your feet from germs and unsightly athlete's foot. Bacteria stays off your feet, but probably not in the case of your gym bag! Designate an entirely separate compartment for your shoes and make sure you clean them often. Make it even easier on yourself and wash your plastic flip-flops in the dishwasher!
3. Your water bottle: Your water bottle is the one thing that follows you through your entire workout, resting on everything from the treadmill to the weight room floor. Yuck. It is even worse if you open the pull-up top with your hands! Solve the problem with a squirt bottle or screw top and after each use, wash your bottle in the dishwasher on high heat.

Keep reading for the other three things in your gym bag germs love!

We're loving all the fit-related photos we see on the daily via the FitSugar Instagram account; now we're challenging you to show us what's in your gym bag! Grab your iPhone or Android, snap the contents of all the cool fitness gear stashed in your bag, and upload the pic to Instagram. Make sure to caption your photo with the hashtag #FitSugar; we'll grab our favorite shots from the upcoming week and share them with you here on the site. If you can't wait to see what pics readers are submitting, just search #FitSugar via the Instagram app.

Make sure to follow FitSugar on Instagram (username: FitSugar) for daily fitness inspiration and tips and to see what our own editors are hiding in their gym bags!

FitSugar reader CUPC4KE shared the contents of her gym bag for the third challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway.

My goal is to get through this post without crying, and so far I am 15 words into it and doing good!!! My photo submission is a bittersweet one — as you can see it’s my gym bag, shoes, workout gloves, and a pair of dog tags. I'll try to keep this brief (again . . . avoiding tears!) but here’s the back story: My boyfriend and I have been great friends since we were 12 years old, lost touch after high school, and reconnected in late 2009 through the almighty power of Facebook . . . Lo and behold a few months later we were dating even though he was (and still is) fulfilling his duties as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. We saw each other as much as possible before he was deployed to Afghanistan in June and were apart for 6 months before we saw each other again. He came home for R&R at the end of December, just in time for Christmas and the New Year — and as you can imagine, things were magical!! — This brings us up-to-date; everything you see in the photo is a Christmas gift from him — he knows how hard I've been "up in the gym, just workin' on my fitness"(sing it, Fergie!). Merry Christmas to me!

Skull Gym Bag — 'Cause I like to rock-n-roll!

Shoes — He customized these on the Nike iD website for my Christmas gift! My favorite colors and even a 4-letter personalization "SPCN," an inside joke between us!

Workout Gloves — I had been complaining that my weight training was causing calluses on my hands!

Learn why CUPC4KE works out with dog tags.

After a long day of working and working out, you may want to dump your gym stuff as soon as you walk in the door. But taking time to keep your equipment organized and clean can help extend a product's life and also keep you more enthusiastic about the next day's workout. Here are some tips to storing your workout items.

• Take your gym shoes out of your bag for a bit to air them out. Loosen the tongues and the laces to help them breathe.
• If you use small hand weights at home, clean them regularly to prevent cracks and dirt buildup, and keep your weights on an uncluttered floor or in a box to prevent trips.
• Like any other bag, gym bags will keep their shape and last longer if you don't hang them. Place yours on an uncrowded and dust-free shelf.
• In addition to the wipe down, storing your yoga mat spread out instead of rolled can keep it mildew free.
• Don't forget that storing all of these items where you can see them can help motivate you to work out the next day!

With all that sweat and those germs hanging out at the gym and yoga studio, your workout gear can get dirty, moldy, and smelly. So here's a tip: keep a small spray bottle of essential-oil-infused water in your gym bag so you can spray and wipe your gym stuff immediately after use.

Using tea tree and lavender oils is a great eco-friendly way to keep your gym equipment germ-free because of antibacterial, antifungal, and tension-relieving properties; tea tree oil has been used to treat poison ivy and acne, and the scent of lavender oil can help you relax.

All you need is a small clean spray bottle that seals tightly. Fill it with distilled, spring, or tap water and add one or two drops of tea tree oil, plus another drop of lavender oil. Throw the bottle in your bag and spray down your gym bag, shoes, and yoga mat when you're done or if you're feeling like your gym stuff could use some extra attention. Just be sure to wipe everything down and spray in a well-ventilated area away from anyone in case they are sensitive to the smell.