With all the excess pounds from drinking on game days, overeating on Halloween night and now Thanksgiving and Christmas treats, soon I’ll begin realizing it’s time to get back in shape to look good for spring break. I myself usually don’t care about my outfit when I drag myself to the gym but I’m thinking it’s time to buy some new gear to motivate myself to keep up a routine this winter.

Wearing new clothing can not only be a motivation to work out (and venture to the gym in freezing temperatures) but could also help boost your confidence to make eye contact with the other hotties at the gym. In order to feel good and look great at the gym you’re going to want the right clothes, so I’ve compiled a list of things you can wear that will do all this on a budget.

Typically, most girls wear their shorts and then sweatpants to trek to a gym as the weather turns nasty. No matter if you are doing Zumba or going on the elliptical or treadmill, Nike Livestrong ($17.97) or Nike tempo track running shorts ($28) are lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear. To get the look for less, peruse Target for their C9 by Champion? Women’s Running Shorts ($12).

These shorts look great at the gym or even running late to class with their bright colors and simple white stripe down the sides. For Yoga junkies I love the fold-over crop pants found at Victoria’s Secret ($24.50) because they are comfortable and have cute patterns at your hips. The new line of Vata Brazil pants and capris at Kohl’s.com is also something to definitely check out. They run a bit more expensive ($60-80) but there is always a sale to wait for at Kohl’s where you can buy them half price.

Always look for Yoga pants in black or gray, but never white because it is a universally unflattering color in leg wear. To stay warm on the walk to the gym, most girls (and I) love Victoria’s Secret Pink sweatpants. Now with their collegiate apparel at our local bookstore you can also find Wisconsin gear that’s really cute to wear anytime ($40-60).

On top don’t forget to support your “girls.” Having the right sports bra can sometimes make or break how comfortable you feel working out. Buy one too big and you’ll be holding your boobs while you run. Look for a comfortable fit in a fun neon color. A trend I love is cutting large holes in the sides of big t-shirts (cutting off each sleeve) so that the sports bra shows on the sides. The look may have started with men doing it, but embrace the creative, androgynous trend and wear a brightly colored bra to show underneath.

This style is easy and cheap to create yourself with any of your old, oversized t-shirts. For your bra, check out an Aerie F.I.T. Medium-Impact Sports Bra ($29.50) or Nike’s Pro Sports Bra in voltage cherry ($28.00). When running outside, look to layer with the Under Armour catalyst hoodie ($45) with finger holes for your thumbs, so your hands don’t get as cold, and a pony tail hole in the hood for your hair! For those of you that aren’t long distance runners I would recommend wearing your capris with any cute ribbed tank top from Charlotte Russe or Forever 21 ($4-6).

For men at the gym, I have one tip of advice. Although Under Armour is a great brand with great fit doesn’t mean you should wear a complete spandex bodysuit of it and continually check yourself out in the mirror. Stick with compression shorts from Nike or Under Armour ($25) to layer underneath your shorts. For cheap ones look at Adidas Strike shorts in Black/White ($10.99) or Asics Core Microfiber shorts ($17.99) at discount websites or Dick’s sporting goods.

The great thing about microfiber clothes is that they are durable, dry quickly and are extremely lightweight. On top if you are a guy that works up a sweat look for a shirt made of a breathable material to help cool your body. Under Armour’s UA Tech short sleeve T ($19.99) is a great reference to start with. Other t-shirts like this can be found from all athletic clothes retailers so keep your eyes open for sales. If you aren’t constantly dripping sweat just stick with your plain, old cotton t-shirts because they durable, no fuss, and free.

Shoes I recommend for both men and women are Asics ($70-100). They are extremely durable and comfortable and have been my running shoe of choice since high school. While they are an investment, they last you quite a long time. You should only replace shoes between 350-550 miles depending on your body weight, running style and the surface on which you run.

So no matter if you are looking to get motivated like me or just want to invest in some new workout gear, these ideas will get you started on the right foot. It’s time to start feeling confident and comfortable at the gym because you never know who you might run into.

Gina Jensen is a senior majoring in retail and is a wannabe Carrie Bradshaw. Send fashion faux pas and column ideas to [email protected].