Friday Favorites : Workout Edition
As a personal trainer, I frequently get asked questions such as, “What leggings do you like best to work out in?” and, “How can I keep up my water intake?” This post is designed to give you some of my personal favorite “essentials” for your workout!
Timed Water Bottle
If you’re struggling with hydration, this is the perfect bottle for you. It tells you when to drink water, and it evens it out throughout the day. Half of your bodyweight is water, so it is key that you drink at least 64oz a day, but with it being this hot in Memphis, probably even more. Drinking the bottle twice gets you to that 64oz recommended water intake, but if it is hot or you have a hard workout that day, you would of course want to drink an extra bottle or two.
Bonus add-on: Electrolyte Mix from DripDrop
I found this electrolyte drink mix at Walgreens I really like. It has limited sugar and plenty of flavors to choose from. This is a substitute for sugary drinks like Gatorades, etc. I drink it on extremely hot days or when I sweat a lot during my workout. Watermelon and lemon are my favorites so far.
TRX
This is my favorite type of workout to do at home! Just hook it onto any door, and there you go! You can do all the 5 basic movements with this, even when busy, in 15 minutes or less. Suspension training is one of my favorites, as it adds a lot of core and stability to the moves, so you can get the most out of your home workout without too much equipment.
Duluth Trading NoGA Armachillo Cooling Capris
These are my favorite leggings to workout in, especially if you don’t feel like wearing shorts or long leggings, but you need something in between. My favorite part of course: they have POCKETS! I order these online, since they do not have a local store, but trust me, they are soft and comfy. Plus, they have a great return policy in case you don’t happen to love them as much as I do.
Thick Yoga Mat – Premium Insta-Grip Yoga Mat (6mm)
If you’re anything like me and you use a yoga mat for more than just yoga, you would probably love a thicker mat that still has the feel of the actual yoga material. I own this 6mm yoga mat from Gaiam, and I absolutely love it. You can do stretching, pilates, yoga, or whatever other exercises on this mat AND still feel like you have enough cushion for your knees (my knees tend to get too sensitive on a thin mat).
Massage Gun – Sharper Image Compact Sport Power Percussion Massager
We love massage guns for our sore muscles in this house. However, I tried a few different ones from Amazon and they kept breaking. We have had this one from Sharper image ($50) for a while now, and it is a much more affordable (and durable) option that we got at Costco. They have several speed settings on them. I like doing it on myself (so I can determine my own pressure), and I like to loosen up my upper back and quads with it the most. As a trainer, this a great form of “myofascial release”.
Doterra DeepBlue Stick / Cream
I love putting some cream and/or ointments on my sore muscles, but couldn’t find anything more “natural” without too many chemicals to put on my skin (since I am very sensitive to certain ingredients). The essential oils I buy from them are great, but my top favorite for working out and being a fitness pro is the DeepBlue cream or stick (I prefer the stick for less mess). Think IcyHot, but with more natural ingredients. It gives a great cooling sensation, helps with sore or bruised muscles, and you can put it on any time you like.
