Workout Must-Haves
I've always been a fan of working out, but it wasn't until last year that I really learned what works for me and what actually made a difference. I think at this point I would call myself a workout junkie because I don't work out just to work out, but I actually like doing it and it puts me in a better mood! Here's a list of some of my workout "must-haves."
I've tried a lot of different protein powders ranging from Alani Nu, Whey, Whey Isolate, and even Vega and was not a fan. I really used to love the Whey Isolate Salted Caramel protein powder and would make smoothies, but then it started giving me a stomach ache. I'm not lactose intolerant but apparently the lactaid concentration was too high for my stomach so I had to stop taking it. Then I switched to Vega which was an all natural plant based protein powder. Now this worked well for my stomach but not so much for my taste buds. I absolutely hated the taste. Finally I switched to pre-made protein shakes- specifically Premier Protein and it was a game changer. 30 grams of protein, no added sugar, and it tastes so good!! I highly recommend this one if taste is a huge issue with you for protein.
If you're just starting to workout and don't really know where to start, then these resistance bands will be a life saver. Last year when shelter in place started, I didn't have weights at home but these resistance bands were so good for working out my legs & glutes! Each of these bands come with a different amount of resistance so you can use them accordingly. Even if you do have weights, these bands will make such a difference for your booty workouts. Activating your gluutes before a workout is so important and these do just that! If you're not sure where to start check out some of my favorites: GymRa, MadFit, and Caroline G.
I have this weird concept where if I look good while working out then I'll look overall so I've spent a lot of money buying workout clothes. In brands ranging from Lululemon, Gymshark, Astoria, Halara, Amazon, Fabletics and even Old Navy. My favorite leggings are Lululemon for sure and I know they can be pricey but they are so worth it. As for tops, I recently found this gem and it's one of my favorite workout tops. Whenever I wash my sports bras the padding always comes out in the washer and it's so frustrating to fix, but not this one! And you can literally wear it as a casual top if you wanted to as well!
Another great workout related purchase I made was this medicine ball. Weights are super expensive and hard to get during quarantine because everyone was trying to buy them. So, I invested in a 15 lb medicine ball because it's so versatile and pretty cheap in comparison to other weight lifting equipment! You can literally use it to tone your arms, legs, and abs. Sydney has some great videos on working out with medicine balls if you need somewhere to start.
One of the most important aspects to a healthier lifestyle is drinking more water. I know I don't drink enough water, so I decided to buy this gallon water bottle to help me! It looks intimidating when you first get it, but I can definitively say it's made me drink more water. Seeing how much I have left for a day and not having to refill my water bottle was a huge thing for me. If you are someone or if you know someone that doesn't drink enough water, then get this! You'll definitely have to pee more but it'll get the job done.
Every time I lift dumbbells I get huge blisters and callouses on my hands. So these workout gloves were a must for me (wearing these in the picture). These were on the expensive side but the quality is amazing and I love Lululemon's product warranty. It also makes me feel pretty badass wearing them so that's a plus! If you don't feel like spending that much but still want some gloves, these Amazon gloves are also a good option- my workout buddy uses these ones! Plus once gyms are open up again, using gloves is definitely going to be more sanitary. Say goodbye to ugly blisters and dirty hands!
This next one is super important. If you are someone who works out, go to the app store on your phone right now and download this app!! On Vizer, for every 30 minutes you work out, a meal is donated to someone in need. This app is so cool you literally have no reason not to download it!
If you're trying to make your home workouts better and start adding weights, then this barbell is for you! I bought it a few months ago and I love it because it's so versatile. It works as a barbell but also splits apart if you want to use it as dumbbells too. It's a lot cheaper than buying normal dumbbells and the weight on it gets pretty heavy too! It can go up to 110 pounds and is the best bang for your buck! We use this barbell everyday for our workouts whether we're doing push day, pull day, or leg day.
So this last one is definitely just a preference thing and a long term investment but it's my favorite "must-have" for woking out - an apple watch. If I'm not wearing my apple watch while working out, I don't really see a point in working out and I know that's dramatic but for me it's 100% true. I feel like I need to see how many calories I'm burning and how active I've been for the whole day. It makes such a difference to my mindset knowing how active I've been and if I've closed all my rings for the day. The reason I've linked the Apple Watch SE above is because I think it's the best option if you're looking to buy one. I have the Apple Watch 6 and personally, I think it's a waste of money. I've had this watch for about 5 months now and have never once used the Blood Oxygen, or ECG features. If you're thinking about buying an apple watch and have some questions, feel free to reach out, I'm a HUGE advocate for the watch!
Wearing @emilymarie_apparel leggings and sports bra! The leggings fit just like my Lululemon Wunder Under Leggings - I highly recommend!
