10 Convenient Fitness Must-Haves
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For much of last fall, I was in a steady rhythm of waking up early to workout first thing in the morning. I loved this routine, as I knew that if I did nothing else all day, I at least got some much-needed feel-good movement in. I was on a roll, when in the middle of December I came down with Covid for the first time. Yep, I made it a few years without ever having it and let me tell you, when I got it, it knocked. me. out. For a good week I spent most of the time in bed sleeping. I barely ate, didn’t leave the house, and when I was finally feeling better I still felt so tired. Those morning workouts where I was lifting weights and doing yoga were not happening. It took a couple of weeks for me to start moving again, and all I wanted to do was walk. Thankfully, I have a space-saving walking pad that I could use and I got to thinking that it might be helpful to share what I use for others who may just be starting to exercise. I have a mix of easy to use equipment that helps keep me from making excuses- some days I want to do step aerobics (yes, you read that right), some days I want to lift weights, so over time I have collected a great stash of gear to make working out a breeze. Keep reading on for some of my favorites.
Jurits Walking Pad: This has become my most-used piece of equipment lately. One habit I have gotten into is sleeping in my workout clothes. I will wake up, brush my teeth and immediately hop onto this convenient walking pad- sometimes I even walk while I am drinking my coffee! I purchased this as a Prime Day special, and love that it doesn’t take up as much room as a traditional treadmill. It goes up to a speed of 3.8 mph and has a remote control that allows you to scroll through your stats- time, distance, calories burned, and there is a “Patrol” setting where it will scroll through these automatically. Not that there is nothing to hold onto, so for safety reasons I recommend using the walking pad near a table or chair that you can use to help balance when needed.
Yes4All Aerobic Step Platform: Ah, Step Aerobics. One of my favorites from back in the day! This is a more recent purchase, and what I love about step aerobics is that it is a great workout but does not require jumping (*although some moves can be modified to include a jump). I think it is fun, routines are pretty easy to learn- but it can take a few tries to get them nailed down- and it’s overall just a nice change of pace from a lot of workouts I usually do.
Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper: I was inspired to purchase this little gem by a woman on Instagram who posts her own stepper workouts. This stepper is so convenient, it doesn’t even need to be plugged in! It includes a display screen that shows time, steps, and calories burned. Using this stepper is harder than it looks, and I usually get on it for 15 minutes at a time (*in the instruction manual it also recommends not using it for longer than that). Believe me, even 15 minutes of stepping helps me break a sweat!
Philosophy Gym Ankle Weights: I love workout videos. I have done them since I was in high school (in the 1990s!), and several of my favorite videos use ankle weights. While I do not use them when I am just getting back into working out, when I build up to them, ankle weights are a great addition!
Peach Bands Resistance Bands Set: These bands come in a set of three with resistance of 10 lbs., 20 lbs., and 30 lbs. I love these because they are portable and easy to toss in a suitcase when traveling. They are also easy to use if I am just watching tv and want to get some movement in during commercials!
Peach Bands Hip Bands Set: These are bands that go above your knees for different moves, and wow, do they give a good burn! Similar to the Peach Bands Resistance bands, these are also compact and easy to take with when traveling.
FITTIN Racerback Sports Bras: These are the sports bras I first bought when I used to have a regular treadmill to run on. These days, I have gotten away from high impact exercise, but still love these bras because they look great, are very comfortable and they feel super supportive; I sized down with these, and felt that doing so gave great support without feeling tight or too small.
Gorilla Mat (Large): I love my Gorilla Mat! This is the mat that goes on my floor so I can keep my carpet looking nice- if I am wearing shoes or breaking a sweat, the Gorilla Mat protects my floor but also gives a thick, durable, non-slip surface for me to workout on. It was expensive but definitely worth it- I have had mine for about six years now and it has held up beautifully.
All In Motion Dumbbells (Target). I like the neoprene dumbbells because I like the grip I get with them. I have weights ranging from little 1-pounders for ballet barre moves all the way up to a pair of 15 pound weights. As I get older, staying strong and building muscle is a goal and priority for helping me age in a healthy way. Dumbbells are accessible, convenient and for the most part an affordable addition to any home set up.
Jari Love Workout Videos (Jari Love) and Kathy Smith Step Aerobic Videos (Collage Video). I mentioned this before, but I love workout videos. I am a tad old fashioned, and still use DVDs with a portable DVD player. Many videos, such as the Jari Love “Get Ripped” workouts that I lovelovelove are available either as a download or a DVD. The Kathy Smith Step Aerobic videos I have are DVDs as well. I find that I like DVDs because I don’t have to pay for a monthly subscription to a fitness program or service, but the key is to find what YOU like and are able to stick to. Remember, getting some good movement each day will help reach goals and keep you feeling great!
