As 2021 approaches, so does the dreaded creation of new year’s resolutions. If you have fitness goals for the upcoming year, these items could help you make and track your progress!
I had had a Fitbit for a few years now, and let me tell you, the reminders to get up and move around are so helpful in making sure I get all of my steps in. Especially if you are working from home during this time, this might be something you want to get simply for that reason. Also, the satisfaction of seeing yourself reach your daily step goal and the number of calories you burn during a workout is out of this world! Smart Watches, such as Apple Watches, can do the same thing for you and connect to your iPhone, which is so convenient if you need to answer a call during a workout or want to set a timer for your circuit workout. If you do have an iPhone and want all of the capabilities of that in your new device, I would say to go for the Apple Watch. However, if you just want to track how many calories you burn during your workout and the number of steps you are taking each day, then I would go for something like the Fitbit Inspire 2 instead of the Apple Watch. I have an older model of the Fitbit and it has helped me to keep moving throughout the day and motivated me to really push myself in my workouts because it is so satisfying to see the number of steps and calories you burn go up and up as you move your body!
This next one may seem unnecessary to you, but if you are working out at home it is so important that you have a soft surface underneath you as you work out, especially if you are doing a lot of jumping and advanced movements that can be hard on the body. You can easily wipe them clean and roll them up to store them out of the way, plus they are usually quite affordable! No matter what type of workout you are into, yoga, dance, HIIT, etc., a workout mat is great for all of them. These are especially convenient if you do a lot of bodyweight exercises because it takes some pressure off of your back while doing things like sit-ups and crunches, as well as your wrists for planks, and your knees for high intensity moves such as squat jumps. You can find workout mats at several stores, including Target and Walmart, or you can order them online from brands such as Blogilates!
This next one is definitely not necessary, but it has helped me in regards to motivation and confidence in the gym, and that is having cute athletic outfits to wear during your workouts. It does not have to be what is trendy, such as the sports bra and leggings combination, it should be something that you feel comfortable moving in. For me, that usually means that I go for snug leggings that hold everything in while still allowing me to have a full range of motion paired with a cute dri-fit T-shirt or tank top. Remember, you are not dressing for others, you are dressing for yourself, so find what makes you feel good in your own skin and own it! Now, of course, if you are working out at home due to the pandemic or simply because you do not want to pay for a gym membership, you will not see anyone, but I still like to dress in relatively cute workout clothes at home because if I look good then I feel good and am way more likely to actually get my workout in for the day.
Something that is super important, along with the workout mat, is having the proper type of shoes for the type of training you intend to do in 2021. If you are planning on mainly running then, of course, get shoes made for running, or if you are like me and enjoy mixing things up every day, I would just get shoes that are made for all-around training. Nike is usually the brand I pick for my training shoes because I have had great luck with them in the past, but Asics and Adidas also have really good quality shoes and a variety to choose from. If it were me, I would get something like the Nike Joyride Run Flyknit. This shoe is designed with small beads in the heel of the shoe to help cushion your feet during long runs and take the pressure off of your legs. Plus, they come in nine different colors! If you are looking for a good training shoe, I would go for the Nike In-Season TR 9 AMP, which is designed to be ultra-light and provide a comfortable cushion for your feet while doing circuit training and cardio workouts.
Lastly, is a more personal choice, which is your plan of action for achieving your fitness goals for the new year. If you are completely new to working out and can afford it, I would recommend getting a personal trainer as they have so much knowledge on technique and safety that will save you from getting injured and they can give you specific workout to achieve the goals you have for your health. If that is not quite what you are looking for, there are so many other avenues you can take. For instance, you could get a workout plan book such as The Body Boss program, which outlines an entire workout plan complete with warm-up and cool down. This is great if you are looking to workout at home by mostly doing circuit training and cardio-heavy workouts. Youtube is also a great tool to use because it is free and there are thousands of workout videos on there from yoga to dance cardio to pilates, there is definitely something that will work for your schedule and what you are looking to do. This is the method I choose to do because it does not cost me anything and I can switch up what kind of workout I do every single day. Some days I do a yoga flow or a dance workout, or sometimes I do some lightweight training. I love the flexibility it gives me and I have complete control over what I choose to work and for how long.
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