Top 5 Fitness Investments?

LJSpady

Hello folks.
Like many, I'm being hit hard by the recession, and I so I want to get the most out of the investments I'm making in my fitness as far as equipment. I'm wondering what everyone thinks are their top 5 fitness investments. It can be anything, a video you think is good, food program, a class/membership to something, anything like that.
I'll let you guys know that I've already invested in a gym membership, a heart rate monitor, a camelbak, and I own a bicycle.

Here's a list of investments I've been considering investing in:
1. A trainer
2. A weighted vest
3. Kickboxing lessons
4. Dance lessons
5. Resistance bands.

AZKristi

My best investment was a gym membership. I bought mine through Costco and got a great deal!

yeabby

If your gym has classes I'd say you don't need to invest any more.

Otherwise you may invest in a few videos so that on the days you don't feel like going to the gym you still have no excuse not to workout.

Lisa__Michelle

My very best investment was a heart rate monitor.

wearystar

i'm dying for holiday sales so i can get a yoga balance ball... i love working out with them!
but i'm guessing your gym has them...

if your gym offers classes and you want to dabble in dance try a Zumba class, my university gym had them and i went to every one. i wish i could find some local ones, i would definitely sign up for that.

OneBryteSmile

My best investments (so far):

1. MFP (although it is free I still invest my time on this site everyday and it has changed my life)
2. My treadmill
3. A HRM
4. Dumbells
5. Running sneakers

Adding a 6th
6. Bootcamp classes. I started going to a workout bootcamp two months ago and it has truly helped me a lot to get back into exercising and I've had amazing results from it.

K1Teacher

Since you have a gym membership, I'd say the next best investment would be the personal trainer. That way you could get the MOST out of your membership and they really DO push you harder than you ever thought possible.

claire_xox

These are my GUESSES about what MFP's will put up!

1. HRM
2. 30DS DVD
3. ZUMBA on wii
4. resistance bands
5. ... whatever lol

my personal favs have been
1. Endomondo app on iphone
2. biggest loser game on wii
3. 2kg dumbells
4. headbands and sports bra
5. treadmill

RodrigoLoureiro

Heart rate monitor and vo2max test... helps to know which zones to train to maximize weight and fat loss

deninevi

My top 5:
1. Gym membership
2. Jillian Michaels DVDs
3. Kettlebells-20lbs and up
4. Kettlebell DVDs
5. Few fun games on Wii

audigal2008

My best investments (so far):

1. MFP (although it is free I still invest my time on this site everyday and it has changed my life)
2. My treadmill
3. A HRM
4. Dumbells
5. Running sneakers

Adding a 6th
6. Bootcamp classes. I started going to a workout bootcamp two months ago and it has truly helped me a lot to get back into exercising and I've had amazing results from it.

Me 2!! All of this!...oh and Jillian Michaels dvds, ouch mmmmm

hush7hush

I have a HRM, and a gym membership, which I think were the only necessities, really.

And when it comes down to it, you can lose weight without them, but personally, I NEED them.

I also think my cheap little hand weights were pretty smart.

melizerd

Hello folks.
Like many, I'm being hit hard by the recession, and I so I want to get the most out of the investments I'm making in my fitness as far as equipment. I'm wondering what everyone thinks are their top 5 fitness investments. It can be anything, a video you think is good, food program, a class/membership to something, anything like that.
I'll let you guys know that I've already invested in a gym membership, a heart rate monitor, a camelbak, and I own a bicycle.

Here's a list of investments I've been considering investing in:
1. A trainer
2. A weighted vest
3. Kickboxing lessons
4. Dance lessons
5. Resistance bands.

I own NONE of the things you posted that you want or have LOL and I've lost 73lbs in one year What I did invest in was good running shoes (walking shoes first but now I'm on running shoes), an elliptical machine (about $800 which is a lot but I had a free one from Craigslist before that). Otherwise I walked on the road/sidewalk for the first 50lbs lost.

Oh number one thing for me was a GOOD sports bra, I was a 40DDD when I started and even now I'm a 36DD and the Enell brand bra saves me. It's about $60 and SOOOOO worth it.

I now own weights just some free weights from 5-20lbs, a treadmill (my mom's old one that she wasn't using), the elliptical, good shoes, good running pants.

So my top 5 in order are:

1. Good sports bra
2. Good shoes for whatever your work out is
3. Elliptical or treadmill (you can find them cheap used)
4. Ipod or some music player and some tunes

LOL I guess I only have 4 that I count as super important other than MFP itself!

mrphil86

1. Water Bottle
2. Proper fitting shoes
3. Proper fitting workout attire
4. HRM
5. And most important of all, yoga pants.

atomiclauren

1.) Decent bicycle (and definitely not one of those expensive ones off the showroom floor at somewhere like Bike Barn...lol)
2.) Shoes
3.) Expanding the grocery budget
4.) I'll mix these two - a flash drive that's able to connect to the TV and seeking out torrents of workout videos to put on said flash drive (you didn't say it had to be ethical, right?!)

debbiequack

Best Investments by price.

I'm fairly cheap so here's my list-- hardly any of it is expensive. I didn't go the gym route-- too expensive. I also think trainers are over rated. They help with motivation but IMO many give bad advice and don't know a lot about behavior change (I'm in the mental health field). For example, the ones I have had push so hard that I ended up quitting. I do much better at my own pace (I have been exercising, on my own for three years now).

From most expensive to least:

1) Good running shoes (100)
2) Exercise TV (not sure how much this costs, but it's added into my cable bill)
3) a couple of good DVDs (30)
4) exercise mat (12)
5) set of dumbells





Free stuff:

1) MFP
2) cardio trainer for the android-- also syncs with polar heart rate monitor
3) bodyrock.tv has free, GREAT workouts

You don't HAVE to spend much money at all.

Best,

Debbie

ooOOooGravy

hmmm mine are:

1. MPF - by far - freeeeee!
2. Running Shoes - keep my feel in best shape - cant put a price on keeping your feet healthy whilst running
3. Exercise Bike - found on FB for £5 for winter
4. Road Bike - Summer and Dry weather bike - found at a auction for £5 (love my bargins)
5. Blackberry, apps for recording on MPF recording training sessions cals. burnt - all part of my cheap monthly contract

almonds1

Hello folks.
Like many, I'm being hit hard by the recession, and I so I want to get the most out of the investments I'm making in my fitness as far as equipment. I'm wondering what everyone thinks are their top 5 fitness investments. It can be anything, a video you think is good, food program, a class/membership to something, anything like that.
I'll let you guys know that I've already invested in a gym membership, a heart rate monitor, a camelbak, and I own a bicycle.

Here's a list of investments I've been considering investing in:
1. A trainer
2. A weighted vest
3. Kickboxing lessons
4. Dance lessons
5. Resistance bands.

your number 1 would be my number 5...... here is mine

1. food
2. water
3. exercise
4. food
5. food
6. rest (this one is free)

BlondeViki

1. Definitely, definitely, definitely a free gait-analysis at a running shop, followed by a proper fitting pair of trainers. I can't stress enough how this has helped my exercise! I ruined my feet running in cheap trainers and regret not getting better ones sooner.

2. Good sportswear - doesn't have to be expensive with all the discount places around (Sports Direct here in the UK is great). In fact, I reward myself with new sportswear more than I do with cake now!!

3. Healthy, nutritious food - no point in putting myself through all the pain if I'm going to fuel myself on rubbish (though I do like the odd piece of cake!)

4. Handweights - useful in quite a few DVD programmes, but also an easy thing to pick up and do a few reps when watching tv etc

5. DVDs - great for getting me active when it's raining or there's some other reason I don't have the time to get out of the house to exercise


4.

JohnnyStorm

Great Post!

1) TIME (to prep food, exercise and log it all)
2) Gym membership
3) Food processor
4) Equipment (good running shoes, lifting hooks)
5) Supplements (good MV, BCAA's)

CP533

1. MFP
2. Good trainers
3. ipod/other music device
4. workout DVDs for rainy days (personally like Davina's and 30 day shred)
5. HRM

bearing in mind the recession, as you said, I personally think these are cheap - much more so than personal trainer, gym membership, etc etc, yet still effective. I cancelled my gym membership when money became tight and probably wont ever renew it as I prefer getting out and running/hillwalking etc anyway

k2d4p

1. I would say a really good pair of running/workout shoes. I actually need a new pair as I have almost wore my current pair out.
2. some form of portable entertainment. I love listening to audio books on my itouch when I am working out.
3. decent workout clothes. I just upgraded to better clothes and I really wish now that I would have done it earlier.

That's all I can think of for now.

luv2runsgf

Great post - here are mine:
1. 2 pair of good quality running shoes (so I can rotate); I alternate between Mizunos and Newtons
2. iphone (and before that an iPod) for music or audiobooks during walks and runs; also have the Nike+ app and RunTracker plus MyFitnessPal apps
3. Treadmill for days when the weather is too inclement to get outside (excuse remover)
4. Exercise DVDs (~45) - The Firm and Jackie Warner
5. Hand weights - I have in 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 30 lb varieties (my husband uses the heavier ones more than me)

binkybaby1

Hello folks.
Like many, I'm being hit hard by the recession, and I so I want to get the most out of the investments I'm making in my fitness as far as equipment. I'm wondering what everyone thinks are their top 5 fitness investments. It can be anything, a video you think is good, food program, a class/membership to something, anything like that.
I'll let you guys know that I've already invested in a gym membership, a heart rate monitor, a camelbak, and I own a bicycle.

Here's a list of investments I've been considering investing in:
1. A trainer
2. A weighted vest
3. Kickboxing lessons
4. Dance lessons
5. Resistance bands.

I own NONE of the things you posted that you want or have LOL and I've lost 73lbs in one year What I did invest in was good running shoes (walking shoes first but now I'm on running shoes), an elliptical machine (about $800 which is a lot but I had a free one from Craigslist before that). Otherwise I walked on the road/sidewalk for the first 50lbs lost.

Oh number one thing for me was a GOOD sports bra, I was a 40DDD when I started and even now I'm a 36DD and the Enell brand bra saves me. It's about $60 and SOOOOO worth it.

I now own weights just some free weights from 5-20lbs, a treadmill (my mom's old one that she wasn't using), the elliptical, good shoes, good running pants.

So my top 5 in order are:

1. Good sports bra
2. Good shoes for whatever your work out is
3. Elliptical or treadmill (you can find them cheap used)
4. Ipod or some music player and some tunes

LOL I guess I only have 4 that I count as super important other than MFP itself!

Definitely a HRM BUT tied for first place..... Great shoes definitely one of my best investments!! I have problems with my feet which has stopped me from daily exercise sometimes... even just going for a walk. I bought a pair of Nike running shoes and OMG what a difference!!! I can now do more than before...I should be in a commercial for Nike I can't stop singing the praise of these shoes... but make the investment right... go to a shoe store that specializes in athletic shoes and try them on... I tried on about 12 pairs (poor sales clerk) but feel in love with these (even got them on sale) and have never looked back!!

dls06

Mine is a food scale.

B3Streeter

P90X!!!
Best thing I have ever done. On Round 2 now!

lbeasey

1.) MFP: use it to log your food and be honest, read post by others and be interactive on here
2.) A good sports bra (I have 2 Enell and they are the best investment so far $68 for 1).
3.) Good pair of shoes for exercise
4.) A few workout DVD's or exercise games for a game system ( I have JM 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30, Insanity and a few games for Wii)
5.) Time to workout...what good are the products if you don't give yourself the time to workout?

cedarhurst2006

You have all the tools already - I say motivate yourself and buy yourself some spiffy new sneakers, strap on the heart rate monitor, hop on the bike or go to the gym. We are very frugal and look in the paper at different fitness programs. We have been able to try a zumba class, a bootcamp and a spinning class all because the first one is free.

Summerleahd

1. Food scale. I didn't realize how much I was over eating till I got one.
2. HRM
3. Shoes and good socks.
4. Great sports bra
5. Workout DVDs are my guilty pleasure haha

Thats all I need, I get better results then my friend who goes to an expensive gym.

Maria_81

My best investments (so far):

1. MFP (although it is free I still invest my time on this site everyday and it has changed my life)
2. My treadmill
3. A HRM
4. Dumbells
5. Running sneakers

Adding a 6th
6. Bootcamp classes. I started going to a workout bootcamp two months ago and it has truly helped me a lot to get back into exercising and I've had amazing results from it.

I have to agree with everything you mentioned, in particular MFP. It has really made me accountable for what I eat.

KBjimAZ

1) Kettlebell Goddess workout dvd
2) The proper sized kettlebell
3) A session or two with a RKC certified kettlebell instructor

It will change your life.