Do you feel stuck in a rut when it comes to your workout routine? Or maybe you’ve hit a plateau when it comes to accomplishing your fitness goals and feel like you need to switch things up. If either of these scenarios describes you, I understand, and you’re in the right place!
15 Essential Products to Crush Your Fitness Goals
I’ve been stuck in a rut when it comes to fitness recently and have been looking for a way to shake things up. For me, trying out new workouts (or buying cute new fitness clothes) always helps to get me motivated again.
Staying stagnant with your workout routine is an easy recipe for failure. It’s easy to get bored of a workout, if it’s the same thing you’ve been doing 4x/week for the past 3 months. We all need change in our lives to stay motivated and that’s especially apparent when it comes to fitness!
Whether it be a new type of workout routine, a different type of equipment, or a new pair of leggings… All of these help with our ability to jump back on the saddle. You’ll feel re-energized and focused to crush your fitness goals!
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1. Weighted Jump Rope
A weighted jump rope is the perfect choice if you’re looking to do more cross-training. You can easily get a strength workout & cardio at the same time with this baby!
If you think back to the grade school days of jumping rope at recess and think… “This’ll be a piece of cake!” I’m sorry to say, you’re very wrong.
This jump rope is a kick ass workout and you’ll definitely work up a sweat. Since it’s more challenging than a regular jump rope, you’ll see serious results. Try 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, for 10 minutes!
You can get the DEGOL weighted jump rope for $14 on Amazon. It’s a great option to increase your endurance, stamina, and speed.
2. High-Quality Vegan or Whey Protein
I’ll never get tired of talking about how important protein is for athletic performance. While it’s possible to get enough protein from food alone, it takes a lot of work, time, and planning. Especially if you live an active lifestyle, your protein needs are much higher than they normally would be.
This is why I can’t live without a good protein powder! I prefer vegan protein powder, because it sits better with my stomach. Honestly (TMI) whey protein makes me constipated, and ain’t nobody got time for that.
The absolute best vegan protein I’ve had is Orgain vanilla bean vegan protein powder (use code VITALITY for 30% off). It’s not only delicious but packed with 21g protein per serving. That’s 37% of the daily value (for the average adult).
Now, if you’re not a weenie like me and can handle whey protein, there are amazing options there as well! The best whey I’ve had by far is PEScience whey protein powder. It’s low carb and comes in a variety of flavors including cake pop, frosted cupcake, and peanut butter cookie.
Mary has been drinking PEScience protein for years and swears by it as well! All the flavors are so tasty and easy to mix with oatmeal, a smoothie, or a regular protein shake.
Protein powder (vegan or whey) is an excellent way to meet your daily protein needs. Getting enough protein helps you to build & maintain muscle mass. Especially if you’re consistently strength training, protein is essential to help repair sore muscles.
When you exercise, you make tiny tears in your muscles that need to be repaired with rest and adequate nutrition. If you’re not getting adequate protein consistently, it’s easier to get sick & sore and have to take time off your training regimen.
3. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are a great way to target muscles that you don’t hit in your regular lifting routine. They help you focus on your muscle control and stabilizing your muscles (1).
They’re also lightweight and easy to bring to the gym, the park, or work out from home! For some suggestions, check out my article on at-home workouts!
It’s important to have different resistance levels in your bands for different workouts. You’ll generally want a tougher resistance for lower body than upper body workouts.
That’s why I love this set of 5 resistance bands from Amazon. It comes with 5 different resistance levels. And they’re high quality for only $15!
You can use these bands for your upper or lower body strength workouts, yoga, pilates, and more. This set also comes in cute colors, which is a plus for me. 😉
4. A Set of Dumbbells
If you’ve been strength training for a while, you already know how essential dumbbells are. With gyms being closed right now, having a good set at home makes it so easy to get a full body workout in. & even once the gyms open back up, there are still times when working out from home is much more convenient.
Having your own set of dumbbells is essential for home workouts, outdoor workouts, or if you want to avoid the germ-y weights at the gym.
You can buy this set of dumbbells online if you want the convenience. But you can also find them at any Walmart, Target, or another major store if you’d rather buy them in person.
5. PEScience Pre-Workout
Guys, if you haven’t tried this pre-workout yet… You have to try it! It’s seriously the tastiest and most effective pre-workout I’ve come across on the market.
Pre-workout is so helpful to get your energy and motivation up before a workout! With a combination of caffeine, other energy optimizers, and zero sugar, you get all the energy without the crash.
PEScience pre-workout comes in delicious flavors like raspberry lemonade, sour green apple, cotton candy, and tropical twist. I’ve tried the raspberry lemonade, sour apple, and cotton candy – and loved them all!
You can get PEScience pre-workout on Amazon for $35 (40 servings). This actually ends up lasting me 80 servings because I only do a half scoop before my workout. It’s completely personal preference, but half a scoop is all I need!
If you want a pre-workout, but don’t want all the caffeine, they have an option for that as well. The PEScience Caffeine Free pre-workout is awesome and also comes in delicious flavors. It packs a surprising amount of energy for having no caffeine!
6. Hydrojug
This one’s a game changer if you struggle to get enough water in the day. One jug holds 1/2 a gallon of water! So you only have to fill it up once or twice a day (depending on your water intake needs).
Mary talks about the benefits of Hydrojug more in this post. (We also explain why staying hydrated in so essential for your health! So it’s a good read.)
If you’re interested in buying a Hydrojug, you can use code MERRILL for a 10% discount! Or go through our link and the discount will automatically apply.
7. High Quality BCAA’s
If you guys can’t already tell, we’re big fans of PEScience products! I trust them for the majority of my supplements, because they’re high quality, taste great, and actually work!
BCAA’s are incredibly important in your recovery, especially if you exercise often. Just drink a scoop either during or after your workout and you’ll have a smoother/faster recovery.
Like I was talking about earlier, you make tiny tears in your muscles when you work out. This sounds scary, but it’s actually a good thing! If you take the time to recover and give yourself proper nutrition, this allows your muscles to grow back stronger & more toned.
Taking PEScience Amino IV BCAA drink gives your body the necessary BCAA’s, electrolytes, and amino acids to optimize recovery. The electrolytes aid in proper hydration, while the BCAA’s & EAA’s (amino acids) help with recovery and protein synthesis.
This mix tastes so good and is sugar-free! It comes in flavors like mango splash, watermelon, and strawberry breeze. I would definitely recommend this product if you’ve struggled with recovery, soreness, or hydration during your workouts!
8. A Fitness/Food Tracking Journal
Mary wrote a whole post about the pros & cons of keeping a food & fitness journal. Ultimately, it helps you to hold yourself accountable to keep working towards your fitness goals. While it’s not absolutely necessary to live a healthy lifestyle, it definitely helps to keep track of things!
The journal she posted about helps you keep track of your fitness goals, water intake, food, workouts, and how you’re feeling. It’s all-inclusive to physical health and mental health, which I love!
It’s also easily customizable to what you want to keep track of. For example, I’m not a big believer in keeping track of weight/measurements, but other people love that! If you don’t want to fill out a section, you’re easily able to skip over it.
If you’re looking for an easy way to write out your fitness goals, keep track of food/workouts, and hold yourself accountable… This is the perfect journal.
The Keep F*cking Going Food & Fitness Tracking Journal is an awesome way to stay on track. Mary talks about it in more detail in her post, if you want to learn more!
9. Apple Watch/Fitbit
Unfortunately, I don’t have a watch that keeps track of my workouts *yet!*. But Mary and our friend Jen do, and they both LOVE them! I’ll have Mary step in for this lil section, because she is much more knowledgeable in the smart watch arena.
I’m an android lover, so I have the Fitbit Versa, which you can get on Amazon.
Jen has an iPhone and I believe she has the series 4 watch. (The Series 5 Apple Watch is on sale on Amazon right now for less than the series 4). Jen loves her watch too, when she remembers to wear it…..(insert eye roll).
On the Fitbit versa, you have about the same capabilities as the iPhone watch. The watch seems to go into more detail as far as the workouts go.
The watch shows you active versus resting calories burned. The Fitbit does not. The versa simply shows all calories burned based off the heart rate.
There are plenty other variabilities I could explain, but what you need to know is that they are worth the money 👏🏻.
It is nice to know how many calories you burn so you can get an idea of how much food to eat throughout the day. I like to know how many steps I take to ensure I’m getting up and being active enough. It’s the little things in life that make you the happiest.
Okay now, back to Erin!
10. Over the Ear Headphones
I just became a member of the over-the-ear headphones club a few months ago… And I’ll never go back! I never really got what all the hype was about before, but now it’s pretty obvious.
First of all, they don’t fall out of your ears like regular earphones or Airpods. Also, when you’re wearing them at the gym, people don’t really bother you. They can obviously see that you have headphones on (there’s no room for second guessing) so they’ll leave you to your workout.
This is nice for getting to the gym, crushing your workout, and going home without much interference. I’m busy so I’m all about saving time and getting done what I have planned for the day. So this is a great perk for me!
If you want a really nice pair, you should get Bose wireless noise-canceling headphones. (They come in rose gold!) Or if you want a more budget-friendly pair, these wireless Bluetooth headphones are a great option too!
11. Liquid IV Electrolyte Mix
This one’s a game-changer guys. I wrote a whole review about my experience with Liquid IV in this post. But it’s something you’ll want to try for yourself because it’s so good.
If you struggle with dehydration during/after your workouts (or in general), Liquid IV is a must-have! Since trying it, I haven’t been hungover once, have had increased energy/endurance in my workouts, and have felt overall incredible.
I didn’t realize how badly dehydration was affecting me until I started using this. I seriously felt so much better within days and that effect carried over into my workouts.
You can get Liquid IV on Amazon in 3 flavors: lemon-lime (my favorite so far), passion fruit, or acai berry. They sell 16 packs for $24.
While it’s a little more pricey than other electrolyte drinks, this is the only one I’ve found that actually works. And it tastes incredible, so you’ll actually want to drink it every day!
12. Foam Roller
This is a big one for recovery & allowing your muscles to properly repair. If you work out regularly, it’s easy for your muscles to get tight and sore. Especially if you’re not stretching and rolling out enough, this can cause a major negative impact on your athletic performance.
If you haven’t used a foam roller before, or want to get more comfortable with what to do, this is a great 10-minute full-body routine. I have a hard time motivating myself to stretch, but for some reason rolling out seems so much easier/more fun!
After my workouts, I’ll try to do 10-15 minutes of rolling out and/or stretching. This helps to relieve soreness/tightness, increase your range of motion, and improve flexibility. All these things help with your future workouts and fitness level as well!
You can get a regular 12-inch foam roller on Amazon for $10. Or if you want a deeper impact you get a grid foam roller, which helps to dig deeper into your muscles. I prefer a regular foam roller, but everyone is different!
13. Medicine Ball
A medicine is a great alternative to regular weights for your strength training workouts! It’s the perfect size for Russian twists, sumo squats, lunges, and more.
If you’re not sure what to use a medicine ball for, this video is a great option for a full-body circuit! I love to add some medicine ball workouts into my fitness regimen to keep it from getting boring.
You can get medicine balls in a variety of different weights to fit your individual needs. You can find this medicine ball on Amazon in 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, or 20 pounds. I like to use a 6-10 lb ball for ab workouts and a 15-20 lb ball for legs & upper body.
14. Kettlebells
Another great alternative to weights – kettlebells! Kettlebells are amazing to incorporate into your routine for squats, kettlebell swings, deadlifts, and more. If you’re looking for a way to switch up your routine while working towards your fitness goals, this is it!
If you’re a beginner to kettlebells and want an idea of what to start out with, this is a great starter kettlebell workout!
You can get these kettlebells on Amazon varying from 5-50 pounds. I like to use 30-40 lbs for leg workouts, 20-25 for arm/back workouts, and 5-10 for abs/core.
15. Travel Yoga Mat
We all know how great yoga is for relaxation, reducing stress, and improving your mood. It’s also incredible for improving your flexibility, muscle tone, energy, and metabolism. So basically, it’s incredible for your health!
Having a travel yoga mat is great for taking to yoga classes, going on trips and getting a workout in, or working out at home. I always like to have an option to workout when I travel, so having a lightweight yoga mat is ideal! Whether I end up using it or not when on vacation is to be determined, but it’s nice to have the option. 😉
This lightweight travel yoga mat from Amazon is the perfect option to meet all your yoga needs! It’s not only sweat/slip-resistant and very lightweight, but also comes in a bunch of cute colors & designs. And it even comes with a carrying bag, which makes it perfect to bring to yoga classes or on trips. 🙂
BONUS #1: Fabletics Fitness Leggings & Apparel (2 High-Quality Leggings for $24)
Have you guys noticed how when you get a cute, new workout outfit, you feel 10x more inspired to work out?! Me too. It’s such a good feeling to look good & feel confident in a great new outfit.
I’ve been wearing Fabletics apparel for years now and SWEAR by it! I have 3 pairs of leggings that have lasted me years. They are comfortable, squat proof, and a bunch of them even have pockets!
My absolute favorite is the Trinity high-waisted pocket leggings. They have a silky smooth, breathable fabric, a pocket in the back, and are completely squat proof.
I’ve worn these babies for gym workouts, runs, walks, HIIT workouts, and Zumba classes. And they’ve held up strong through all of that!
They have an incredible deal going right now where you can get 2 pairs of leggings for $24! Most of these leggings are worth $60-$80 apiece, so you’re saving a lot of money.
The best part is, you don’t have to continue with a membership if you don’t want to. You get the deal for signing up for a VIP membership, but you can easily cancel anytime. AKA you can get the deal, rock your new leggings, and never get another order through them.
They’re amazing quality leggings, so you will probably end up wanting to keep the membership. But I hate signing up for things when I don’t know if I’ll be able to cancel whenever I want.
I absolutely love this brand and wearing their products motivate me to work out more often and crush my fitness goals. All while feeling cute in my fitness apparel! You can also get sports bras, shorts, and more.
BONUS #2: Smart Sweets & Vegan/Whey Protein Bars (Healthy Snacks That Actually Taste Good!)
We all know how important nutrition is when it comes to crushing your fitness goals. So of course I had to include a couple yummy (& oh so healthy) snacks!
Smart Sweets
Smart Sweets are basically the healthy alternative to all your favorite childhood candies. (Sweedish fish, Sour patch kids, gummy bears, Peachie-O’s… you name it!)
These babies are not only sugar-free but also have no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. They’re sweetened with Stevia, which is a natural and healthy sugar-free sweetener. They’re also loaded with fiber, which is incredible for healthy digestion.
You can get a variety pack of Smart Sweets on Amazon if you want to try these bad boys out! Eating less sugar is an easy way to focus on nutrition and crush your fitness goals. Once you try them, you’ll never want to go back to your old sugary candy ways.
good! Snacks Bars
Another snack I love that helps me *make those gains* is protein bars! I talked about the importance of protein for fitness/health earlier in the article. But I can’t stress enough how essential it is to make sure you’re giving your muscles the proper nutrition to fully recover.
My absolute favorite vegan protein bars are good! Snacks vegan gluten-free protein bars. They’re the best tasting vegan protein bars I’ve found and trust me, I’ve tried a bunch! They come in yummy flavors like birthday cake, cookie dough, and chocolate peanut butter.
You can get a variety pack of good! Snacks bars on Amazon if you want to test out all the flavors. My favorites so far have been the birthday cake and cookie dough, but every flavor I’ve tried has honestly been so yummy.
ONE Bars
If you’d rather go the whey protein bar route, ONE bars are amazing! They’re called “ONE” because they only have one gram of sugar per bar. Which is incredibly low for how much they taste like a dessert.
ONE bars come in delicious flavors like blueberry cobbler, dark chocolate sea salt, cinnamon roll, and lemon cake. You really can’t go wrong, every flavor I’ve tried has been really tasty.
Each ONE bar has 20g of protein (which is about 40% of an average person’s daily value). You can get a 12 pack of ONE bars on Amazon for $25.
Conclusion
As far as these products go, what you need to feel motivated is completely individualized. It all depends on your goals, your current routine, and what you feel like is missing.
Any of the above products can help to accomplish your fitness goals. It just depends on what they are!
Comment below with:
1. What’s one of your biggest fitness goals right now & how are you going to accomplish it?
2. What is your favorite workout right now & why?
3. What motivates you to crush your fitness goals when you’ve been stuck in a rut?
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[…] If you’re looking for a boost in motivation in your exercise routine, check out my 30-Day Fitness Challenge. Or my article on the 15 best fitness products! […]