Your 3 best investments for fitness?

wonderwomanwannaB
wonderwomanwannaB Posts: 111
in Fitness and Exercise
I've seen a lot of posts on workout tapes, exercise games, and technology (fit bits, heart rate monitors, etc) that people are using to help them burn calories. If someone was watching their cash but looking to get a great workout, what are the 3 things you would say are worth the investment?

Mine:
1. Subscription to SELF magazine. They share all the recipes and workouts online for free, but for me getting the magazine in the mail each month gives me a little bit of renewed motivation alongside some great ideas. I tear out the workouts and recipes and keep them in their own binder so I never get bored and can take them with me on a trip.
2. Building a "home gym" with little investments over time. I don't own any big pieces of equipment but over the past 5 years I've accumulated a couple different weights in dumbbells, a jumprope, one of those blow up balls, a resistance band, yoga mat, and (my favorite) 2 kettlebells. None were very pricey one their own and allow me to try different exercises.
3. 1 month with a professional trainer. I consider the time I spent doing Crossfit INVALUABLE. I worked with people who taught me good form and technique. I learned how to motivate myself through a workout and how to listen to my body. I couldn't afford to be a continuous member, but I know my time with them has prevented a lot of potential injuries and opened my horizons on exercise.

Things that barely missed the list: A good pair of cross training shoes (I LOVE my Vibrams even though I look like a hipster) my Gymboss interval trainer (It's not a necessary piece of equipment, but it does allow me to focus on certain workouts more intensely than if I were watching a clock)

Things that I always want and then decide it's not worth the cash: Heart rate monitor. I actually bought one once and then returned it. If you put one of these on your list I'd love to hear why you feel it helps. I just don't see the point of the investment but maybe that's because I just don't really understand how to use one to my benefit. I feel I would be too distracted by the numbers than paying attention to how my body feels.
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Replies

  • kriskaryl
    kriskaryl Posts: 120 Member
    1. A good comfortable pair of cross-trainers. If your feet and legs hurt, you aren't very likely to want to work out.

    2. An iPod shuffle or other similar product to tune out distractions.

    3. Vanilla protein powder.
  • twiggysavage
    twiggysavage Posts: 7
    1. IPhone and a variety of fitness apps. (They're what initially got me moving!)

    2. My Vibrams. :) I love them so much. They're the most comfortable shoe I've ever had.

    3. My Fitbit. It hasn't been delivered yet, but I bought it Friday. :) I can't wait.
  • Taylerr88
    Taylerr88 Posts: 320 Member
    1. MFP.. even tho i didn't really invest anything. its by far the most important.

    2. gym membership

    3. dip belt
  • LeggyKettleBabe
    LeggyKettleBabe Posts: 300 Member
    1. Joining a gym

    2. Getting a personal trainer

    3. Believing in myself
  • Kirsty_UK
    Kirsty_UK Posts: 964 Member
    1. a good sports bra

    2. properly fitted running shoes

    3. a set of accurate kitchen scales
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    gym membership

    food scale

    good shoes
  • eena56
    eena56 Posts: 1,456 Member
    1. My elliptical machine

    2. Heart rate monitor

    3. New scales
  • BlondeToast
    BlondeToast Posts: 38
    Oo it's hard to just pick 3!

    1. Decent, comfy, well-fitting trainers suited to my gait
    2. My HRM
    3. My expensive gym membership which I justify by using fully!
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    Gym

    HRM

    Food scales
  • nanieterri
    nanieterri Posts: 1
    1 Watch what you eat

    2 I joined Curves

    3 I walk at less 30 min's a day even if it is in the house going from room to room
  • ehunte
    ehunte Posts: 125 Member
    1. my PT who pushes me beyond my belief in myself
    2. my HRM - without it, I wouldn't know EXACTLY how many calories to eat back
    3. my food scale 'cause I weigh everything I'm eating
  • eena56
    eena56 Posts: 1,456 Member
    1. My elliptical machine

    2. Heart rate monitor

    3. New scales

    In reply to your question, I use the HRM every time I do cardio exercise as it allows me to train in the right zone for weight loss, and to do interval training with accuracy. I also love to see the progress I make e.g. With less effort can go further or longer.
  • Kateraptor
    Kateraptor Posts: 42
    1. My Nike+ sensor-I use it when I run or walk
    2. My new bicycle that inspired me to want to train for RAGBRAI this year
    3. X-box Kinect and dance games. This is what got me moving and I still like to use it when I'm not outside playing. :)
  • Marks281172
    Marks281172 Posts: 127 Member
    1. Xbox with Kinect and Fitness Evolved 2012

    2. Polar FT7 Heart rate Monitor

    3. £19.99 a month membership to my local YMCA gym
  • sarahc001
    sarahc001 Posts: 477 Member
    I'm with Kirsty on #1 and #2:

    1. Sports Bra (bouncing is no fun)
    2. Running Shoes (if your foot pronates or supinates, getting the right footwear is a must)
    3. My Polar FT7 HRM

    Scale, Kitchen Scale, Measuring Cups, and MFP (free- yay!) narrowly miss the top 3.
  • DOElston
    DOElston Posts: 102
    1. A gym membership
    2. A good food scale
    3. Clothes that fit me now
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    1. Time - making going to the gym of an evening my priority
    2. Gym membership
    3. PT
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    1. A good pair of running shoes.

    2. Membership in a triathlon club

    3. My home gym equipment ,we converted the garage to a home gym - it's taken a few years but we've acquired a multi-gym weight machine (if I was doing it over it would be a bench & free weights) , power tower (my dips & chin-ups still suck) , rowing machine and treadmill and an indoor trainer for my bike.
  • littlepinkhearts
    littlepinkhearts Posts: 1,055 Member
    Good running shoes

    Treadmill

    mp3 player

    just bought a small set of free weights :)
  • eena56
    eena56 Posts: 1,456 Member
    1 Watch what you eat

    2 I joined Curves

    3 I walk at less 30 min's a day even if it is in the house going from room to room

    Did you read the original post? None of these are investments :)
  • KahuNZ
    KahuNZ Posts: 401 Member
    1. MFP - first and foremost has been a great tool to see what I actually eat vs exercise (this is an investment in time!)

    2. Kitchen digital scales - to be accurate in weighing food (not so much now as have a better idea of amounts but important when I first started logging foods)

    3. My treadmill - using it!!
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member

    2. My new bicycle that inspired me to want to train for RAGBRAI this year

    I've got a couple of friends who have done this ride, it sounds like a fantastic experience!
  • BigDfromNJ
    BigDfromNJ Posts: 22 Member
    1. Good pair of shoes
    2. sports watch
    3. water bottle:happy:
  • HotBodUnderConstruction
    HotBodUnderConstruction Posts: 420
    1. Food
    2. HRM
    3. Weights
  • tgmshierry
    tgmshierry Posts: 83 Member
    1. good shoes for exercise
    2. food scale
    3. myfitnesspal (the time it is soooo worth it(
  • DataBased
    DataBased Posts: 513 Member
    1. a good sports bra

    2. properly fitted running shoes

    3. a set of accurate kitchen scales
    I'm with Kirsty_UK on the sports bra and the kitchen scales, so you can be more accurate in monitoring what you eat. Instead of the shoes, for me it's... time. The time I spend here on the site learning, reading, researching what people say, and figuring out how to apply it all to my life.

    The Wii games I'm doing are great - but I'm sure I'll outgrow them one day. For me, they're my "gym" right now. My wish list includes future Wii games that are more challenging, though that'll take some time for me to work up to. I think I'd like Zumba, but I don't know that yet. And last but not least - I'd like a real golf membership and lessons to learn how to play the game without a Wii-mote. LOL!

    1. A good sports bra.

    2. A good, accurate kitchen scale

    3. Time spent learning, researching, and learning to apply new knowledge to my new lifestyle.
  • TamaraGraceS
    TamaraGraceS Posts: 273 Member
    1) Trainer start off right
    2) IPOD
    3) Journal ( Fitness pal or in a book. Be true to yourself write your actual intake...food, water, drinks and even meds they all add up.Write what your feeling and make goals and stick to them!) :flowerforyou:
  • Grandysl
    Grandysl Posts: 189
    1. HRM
    2. Good Shoes
    3. Bowflex Treadclimber

    (I have lost enough so I no longer feel the need for a mansier or a sports bro) :laugh:
  • wonderwomanwannaB
    wonderwomanwannaB Posts: 111
    I was originally thinking just about the "workout" portion and things that you've actually found worth putting the $$ into, but a lot of interesting stuff here! I agree with so many people about the kitchen scale. 3 diet-related things I couldn't do without: food scale, multiple sets of measuring cups and spoons (That way I can just wash at the end of the day) and Pyrex containers for portioning out larger recipes for freezing and easy-pack lunches.

    Lots of people saying HRM, hmmmm... making me rethink saving for a good one.
  • Rikki007s
    Rikki007s Posts: 102 Member
    bump

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