Staying fit is very important for many people’s health and self-esteem. We all live such busy lives, that it can be easy to make bad food and lifestyle choices which can affect our fitness in negative ways. Being fit and healthy is a journey but even the most dedicated workout fanatics need a little help along the way. Fortunately, there are some fantastic gadgets, supplements, and other gear which can really help to take your exercise routine to a whole other level.
To help everyone stay active and feel great, here are six useful things that will help make your fitness journey a success.
1. A Home Gym
The first thing you are going to need for your fitness journey is, of course, some weights and other exercise equipment. Due to Covid-19 gym closures, many people have started to build their own home gyms, and you will be amazed at the fantastic workout you can do with just a few key pieces of training equipment. Get yourself a barbell and dumbbells, various size weight plates, a bench, and some squat rack stands, and you will be able to hit every muscle group. Just make sure that you are using the correct form and that you are not overexerting yourself. Many people load the bar with weights that are too heavy for them and end up injuring themselves.
2. Fitness Apps
It is very important to track your progress and results while you are embarking on your fitness journey. There are many excellent apps available on Android and iPhones which will enable you to record your personal bests, make constant progress, and reach your fitness goals. The Spartan App is one popular choice that has various functions including exercise program design, meal planning, and calorie trackers. The kinds of devices are massive in professional sport with coaches analyzing every detail of performance, preparation, nutrition, and recovery. Sports science is big business, and with a fitness app, you can bring a little science to your own workouts.
3. A Punch Bag
Many people get bored just running every day for their cardio workout so hitting the punch bag every now and again can enable you to mix things up. Three five-minute rounds hitting the bag can burn up to three hundred calories, and will also help to strengthen your arms, shoulders, and core. You can alternate between slower, heavier punches and faster, lighter combinations. This will help to keep things interesting and will give you the perfect strength, conditioning, and cardio workout. Hitting a heavy bag can put a lot of strain and stress on your wrist and hand, so it is important that you wear the right gloves and also wrap your hands.
You can pick up some decent boxing gloves for twenty dollars, but it is always advisable to choose genuine rather than imitation leather gloves as these will last much longer. Try to hit the bag with the knuckles of your index and middle predominantly as this will generate more power and prevent injuries. If you are able to, adding kicks to your bag work can help to strengthen your legs, increase the cardiovascular benefits, and intensify the workout.
4. A Bicycle
Another fun way to get your cardio work in is to cycle. This is particularly useful if you have any problems with your knees or other joints because running is a hard-impact activity that can do a lot of harm to joints and cause old injuries to worsen. Cycling is fantastic cardiovascular activity and will also help to tone and strengthen your legs, as well as build muscle throughout your lower body. To add an extra burn to your session, try cycling up and down hills and mountain trails near your home. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a bike, just choose one which feels comfortable.
Most bikes are very well made these days so it should last you a long time if you look after them properly. If there are few cycling opportunities near you, then an exercise bike can be a very convenient alternative. Modern exercise bikes have interactive screens, calorie and distance tracking, and even video trails with adjustable difficulty settings so it can be like you are really outside cycling.
5. Whey Protein
The right diet is crucial for staying fit and healthy and the most important thing for building muscle is protein. It can be difficult and expensive to get enough protein from food alone and so whey protein powders can be very useful. You can drink a protein shake any time throughout the day but many fitness enthusiasts drink them post-workout and through the day as an extra meal.
Whey protein can be mixed with water alone or you can blend up milk, nuts, fruits, peanut butter, dark chocolate, and even ice cream to give yourself a big boost of both protein and calories. These days, there are even plant-based protein powders so that vegans, vegetarians, and other people who don’t eat meat or animal products can reap the benefits.
6. Fitness Supplements
As well as whey protein there are other supplements that you may want to consider to reach your fitness goals. These may include creatine monohydrate, BCAAs, CLA, and pre-workout drinks. It is very important that you only take supplements that have been tried and tested by the FDA and other appropriate assessment bodies. If you have any reservations, speak to your medical provider about what is and isn’t safe, and to your personal trainer or fitness coach about products they recommend. The jury is still out on certain supplements but there are many people who find them to be beneficial.
Health and fitness are so important but it can often seem like a daily struggle just to stay active. The best way to get motivated and make the most out of your free time is to utilize all the fantastic fitness equipment and other gear that is available to you. Try out some of the useful things in this guide and you will soon be looking and feeling great.
