Workout Essentials

I have been consistently working out now for about five years, and although the type of training I do has varied, my workout essentials haven’t. Below is a list of items I truly cannot live without when it comes to working out in the gym or at home.

LULULEMON ALIGN PANT | RESISTANCE BAND | YOGA MAT
MINI RESISTANCE BANDS | HYDRO FLASK | SPORTS BRA | JUMP ROPE | AIR PODS AEROBIC STEP

1. Lululemon. I know the brand is expensive, but Lululemon pants are seriously the best of the best when it comes to workout wear. My favorite style is the Align High Rise Pant in 28″! The high rise hits just below my rib cage, so not only do I not have to worry about them falling down but they have great compression in the tummy area. On top of that, they are made out of the best material making them both comfortable and squat proof. I seriously don’t even bother with other brands at this point when it comes to workout pants.
2. I use this long resistance band in multiple ways both at the gym and at home. In my experience it is great for warning up isolated muscle groups such as biceps or hamstrings for example. I do a series of exercises, with this band including squats, bicep curls, shoulder press, dead lift, etc. depending on what muscle group I am focusing on that day. I also use it to create my own at-home cable machine for glute kickbacks, rows, and lat pulldowns. It is so versatile and comes in five different resistance levels.
3. I purchased my marble yoga mat at TjMax, so I obviously could not link the exact one, but mine has multiple uses within my workout routines. A yoga mat does not just have to be used for yoga. I use it to cushion my aerobic step when I am doing push-ups because it hurts my hands otherwise, I use it to cushion my back while doing floor exercises, and finally for grip under my feet when I am doing strength training exercises such as burpees or jump squats.
4. I have had these resistance bands for three years now. They don’t ride or curl up near as much as others I have had in the past and obviously none of them have snapped! They are so great for not only warming up but burning out the glutes, and can even be used to intensify a squat or a deadlift without adding extra weight. Just slip these into your gym bag and your good to go!
5. Let’s get real, my Hydro Flask is a LIFE essential. I use this thing ALL day everyday, but it is really nice to have 32 ounces of COLD water for my workouts. It is so convenient to never have to worry about interrupting a workout to refill my water. (I currently have a purple one, but would love to have the white one at some point.)
6. They no longer have the exact print I own in this sports bra so I linked one of their new patterns I am eyeing. The Brooks Rebound Racer is a supportive sports bra made for high impact exercise that has custom sizes. I own several sports bras, but not one of them give me the support this one does, and let me tell you, this momma needs support. There is nothing more uncomfortable than doing burpees 8 weeks postpartum in a “low to medium” support sports bra. Even better this sports bra has adjustable straps that make it nursing friendly or just simply allows you to customize it for a better fit.
7. It may seem weird to hear, but this is such a nice jump rope. I didn’t know you could have a “crappy” jump rope until I bought one from TjMax a couple of years ago and it would continuously twist, making it very difficult to jump for long periods at a time. This jump rope doesn’t twist or kink, is adjustable and affordable. It can be used for a warm-up, a HITT interval, or general cardio! And in case you’re wondering, yes,I did bring my own jump rope to the gym!
8. My husband bought me these Apple AirPods on a whim when he was in Verizon- I love when he surprising me with random gifts! They are seriously so nice! They stay in my ears even when doing high impact exercises like jump squats and lunges and have only fallen out after being hit by my hair or a hood on a sweatshirt. The Airpods are super loud which is a must for me personally- I honestly cannot stand hearing myself breathe when I workout. Finally, the best part about these AirPods is that they charge in their case, which allows them to hold charge for almost 10 days of 45 minute workouts.
9. This Aerobic Step is definitely a workout essential. Obviously when I worked out at a gym I used one they provided, but now that I workout from home I cannot go without this thing. Not only can it be used for strength training (split squats, box jumps, etc.), but it can double as a bench, and can be used to modify workouts such as mountain climbers, burpees, and push-ups.

Happy Shopping!

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