Curious...Best tool you've purchased?

27strange

I was thinking about this the other day for myself and am curious what my peers have to say. What is the best fitness or nutritional tool that you have purchased that has helped you the most on your journey?
What gave you the biggest return on your investment? For example, was it purchasing a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM)?, a dvd program like P90x, Insanity, or 30DS?, a specific piece of workout equipment?, a gym membership?, a new pair of workout shoes?, a food scale?

I am not looking for advice on anything particular or thinking that if I buy certain things I will see the best results. Rather, I am just curious what you all feel has been among your best assets or tools to help you on your fitness/healthy living path that you had to purchase??

For me: Naturally, MFP has been the most helpful tool, but it is free. So probably of the items that I have purchased so far that have helped me the most would be a new, good pair of running shoes and an elliptical machine.

kapeluza

Best 152 bucks I have ever spent - HRM

Qarol

The best tool I have are my ice skating boots. Not cheap but without a good, quality pair, I wouldn't be able to do what I do.

mamato4kids

Body Media arm band.

Barneystinson

RunKeeper app for iPhone. Does everything a high-end GPS does for a fraction of the price.

FirewifeCarrie

My Suunto M4 HRM! Used my winning from my school's Biggest Loser Contest and bought it and some new clothes! Best tool ever:)

Jillian1104

My food scale-- hands down.

baisleac

BodyBugg... never would have figured why I was only losing 2 out of 4 weeks without it. Now I lose every week. :bigsmile:

liftingbro

Best tools for me:

#1- $100 for a bodybugg
#2- Smartphone for tracking calories on the go, recording lifting, recording cardio including routes , times and distances. Of course I love muscic/radio while workout and it keeps me going at a good pace.
#3- Food scale.

pa_jorg

my food scale

MinnieInMaine

If I have to pick one, it's definitely my New Balance sneakers with Spenco arch supports. Without a good base, I'd be in trouble.
My 2nd and 3rd place tools are my Polar FT4 and my gym membership.

lilRicki

good runners and a gym membership

_Khaleesi_

HRM, Good Shoes and a good scale.

chocolateandvodka

my polar HRM and my resistance band. most definitely.

hemlock2010

HRM and Turbo Jam

Lleldiranne

I haven't bought a lot of stuff (no HRM or food scale or anything yet). But I think a new set of gym clothes every so often, especially after losing a size, helps. I feel cute and up-to-date (and not frumpy!)

kategottli

(REAL) running shoes, Nike+ adapter, and Nike+ GPS for my ipod touch. Cost maybe $150 total. The shoes made such a difference because now I am wearing proper shoes, and running just FEELS better. Makes me want to do it more!

Nike+ tracks my runs, pace, calories burned etc. the nike+ website keeps track of all my runs so I can watch my progress and set goals for myself (run x kilometers in x time, do x workouts a week, burn x calories by x date etc). You can even join "challengers" where a group of runners strive to hit a certain goal first.

It has made me a better runner, and more importantly, more MOTIVATED to get out there. I'm more likely to go for a run if I know I only have three days left in a challenge and finally want to beat that girl from Australia! LOL

27strange

So true about the smartphones. My phone allows me to use MFP, Runkeeper app, stopwatch and timer apps, look up nutritional info for restaurants, listen to free music while working out, etc etc. Definitely would be lost without the phone. Great Investment!

Atlantique

Food scale.

fateschild

My wii and the EA Active 2 game. Have never exercised more regularly.

marquesajen

Running shoes. I never would've started jogging if I hadn't bought them. I just feel more athletic in them, so I work out more, I push myself more.

liftingbro

So true about the smartphones. My phone allows me to use MFP, Runkeeper app, stopwatch and timer apps, look up nutritional info for restaurants, listen to free music while working out, etc etc. Definitely would be lost without the phone. Great Investment!

Yes, I cannot fathom going to the gym without my phone anymore. I would be lost without the music and tracking all of my workouts. Then again, I'm sort of a stats geek so I like to track all of my numbers for lifts, walks, and runs.

Sonchie

I would have to say my Iphone first for all the great apps(including MFP), then Id say my gym membership with all the classes. There arent many i havent tried and I usually cant wait to get to the next class!

Barneystinson

So true about the smartphones. My phone allows me to use MFP, Runkeeper app, stopwatch and timer apps, look up nutritional info for restaurants, listen to free music while working out, etc etc. Definitely would be lost without the phone. Great Investment!

Yes, I cannot fathom going to the gym without my phone anymore. I would be lost without the music and tracking all of my workouts. Then again, I'm sort of a stats geek so I like to track all of my numbers for lifts, walks, and runs.

Same here. I think my iPhone is actually a motivating factor behind my fitness. So much easier than using a notebook + iPod + separate websites.

rankailie

1. My Fitbit
2. My Vibrams (I love walking so much now)
3. Food scale

mojo75

1.MFP
2.HRM
3.Smartphone for keeping track and having music for the gym.

joejccva71

1. Bodymedia FIT
2. Food scale

taso42_DELETED

The book Body For Life. I think it was about $2.98, used.

Coming in at a close second - powerblock dumbbells. They're dumbbells that adjust from 5 lbs to 90 lbs. Perfect for the home gym.

shelleycolton

My top ones are:-

1) Smart phone, I would never have found MFP and its so handy to log all food and stuff on the go
2) Proper running shoes and socks I don't get blisters anymore
3) Gym membership, I have noticed such a difference and getting fitter has been such a confidence boost and that really priceless (maybe cliche but true!)

ktc33

my food scale because I use it all the time, but my bodymedia fit comes in a close second!

margo36

What's a BodyBugg? I'm from the UK:drinker: