Let me take you back to a day in the life when I was training and managing my gym back in Normal, IL. I remember I had booked my schedule chock full that day, training from 6a-10a, managing the gym until 5p, and then training again until 7p. I literally didn’t have a break, save for some desk time during my management hours.

Murphy’s Law came into play big time that day.

I rolled out of bed and came straight to the gym, bleary eyed with coffee in hand, only to look down and see that I was wearing two different shoes. Hey, I’d gotten dressed in the dark, and to my defense, they were both the same hue of color.

I didn’t eat breakfast before training my first client, because back in those days I’d wait a couple hours before eating after waking (do not recommend.) However, as I reached into my bag to grab the smoothie I’d packed, I was promptly notified by an empty space in my bag that I’d left it on the kitchen counter. Lovely.

The day unfolded in a similar fashion, topped off with not having deodorant to slap on after working out with a client. Hopefully my last client of the day didn’t mind my stank that day. I just hoped she’d thought it was her – she was working pretty hard! haha

Ever since that day, I’ve had a gym bag packed at all times, complete with everything I’d need on a daily basis for training clients and working out.

This #AwesomelyActive post was sponsored by Tampax® Pearl® Active™ through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR, all opinions are my own.

10 Gym Bag Essentials for Women to Keep Your Fitness Game On Point

1. Natural deodorant.

I make my own deodorant for everyday/at home use, but I have a to-go spray bottle of natural deodorant in my bag at. all. times.

2. Extra shoes.

One time I drove to the gym in fuzzy boots. I didn’t have any gym shoes packed with me. I’d like to say I summoned my inner badassery and worked out in boots, but in the end I drove all the way back home and didn’t work out at all that day.

3. Body wipes. Back in Illinois I was the queen of mid-day sink showers. Though I don’t have to take them much anymore, I still keep a package of body wipes in my bag at all times.

4. Dry Shampoo. I think I’ve tried 15 different dry shampoos in my life. While I tend to have brand loyalty, and have tried expensive, high end brands, they don’t hold a candle to my good ol’ $5 bottle!

5. Extra hair ties. Because doing any sort of workout with your hair down is one of life’s most annoying things.

6. Protein and nutrition bars. I tend to keep an emergency bar almost everywhere – my car, my gym bag, my purse, etc. Don’t want to get caught being HANGRY!

7. Extra undergarments. Because wearing sweaty ones after a workout is no bueno. ‘Nough said.

8. Hair combs – one wide tooth comb to get out tangles, and one fine tooth to tease in some volume at the crown of the head after its been in a ponytail.

9.  Headphones I don’t always listen to music when I lift, but if I’m ever on a cardio machine at a gym, I need some tunes to jam out to while I’m getting my cardio on!

10. Tampax® Pearl® Active™

This specific line has a slimmer applicator than most tampons out there, has a built-in Backup Braid™, an FormFit™ protection, and is comfortable, which is great for an active lifestyle. The absolute last thing I want to happen during that time of the month is to reach in my gym bag for a feminine product, and coming out empty handed. It also has a water-resistant wrapper, which makes it great to store in the gym bag.

You can find the Tampax® Pearl® Active™ at various retailers and online, or you can find them on  Facebook and Twitter.

On a given day, I’m likely to be at one of three places working – and sometimes all three: the gym I train the majority of my clients at, the studio I teach and train fewer clients at, or my home, where I train my online clients. I usually get in my own workout at one of these gyms, if not on the trails.

That means, I’m hauling not only what I need to teach and train my clients, but also what I need for my own workout from gym to gym on a daily basis. Keeping my gym bag stocked with these 10 items keeps me from ever having another Murphy’s Law day again

What are some of your gym bag essentials?

Have you ever forgotten something critical to your workout at the gym?