There was a study done that questioned 2,000 gym-goers and 88% of them stated that simply putting on their workout clothes was a key factor in their consistency.

In the same study 85% of people said having "cool-looking" clothes helped them feel more confident in the gym.

I would guess that lacking confidence and the ability to be consistent are two of the biggest factors as to why we as a society struggle with going to the gym.

Now - when you buy something, the happiness hormone, dopamine, is released and you feel great. However, that feeling starts to wear off after awhile and we need to buy something else to experience that hit of dopamine again.

But what if those purchases led you into another source of dopamine rather than feeling the urge to go back and buy more things?

This is precisely what gym clothes are able to do.

According to the American Psychological Association, many experts believe that consistent exercise is as powerful in treating anxiety and mood disorders as antidepressants and evidence shows that physical activity triggers a release of dopamine and serotonin, which can drastically improve your mood.

So rather than searching for that next hit of dopamine through spending more money, gym clothes fulfill that initial craving and the influence that gym clothes have on behavior around attending the gym pushes you into a different kind of dopamine hit through exercise.

So by spending money on gym clothes, according to these statistics, you’re more likely to become active and start living a healthy lifestyle - and psychologically, you're rewarded with confidence, dopamine, and serotonin.

Call me crazy, but I think those results are a good use of $50-100.

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Essay #55 - 5.20.21