Workout Essentials For Beginners And Bodybuilders

There is more to actual results in your health and fitness than just showing up at the gym four or five days every week. When it comes down to it, a lot of fitness addicts are consistent in their routine, but they neglect some of the essentials that increase comfort and speed up results. Even more, disregarding the right tools can actually put more strain on the body and increase the risk of injury.

Rather than limiting your results and putting yourself at risk, invest in the right tools instead. Check out these workout essentials and add them to your gym bag before your next workout.

Training Shoes

It doesn’t really matter what type of workout you are doing, the appropriate foot support is still necessary. An ill-fitting or inappropriate shoe can cause intense discomfort and even injury while the right shoe reduces the impact on your feet and joints and increases longevity in any fitness program. It’s not just about having new shoes, though. Picking the right type of training shoes is important. You’ll want to select your primary trainer based on what type of activity you do most often. For example, individuals training for a marathon will need running shoes, but those more active in CrossFit will want more of a cross trainer.

Getting the right fit for your training shoes is also important. Try your shoes on in the late afternoon or evening or following your workout, as this is when feet tend to be the largest. Also wear sports socks when trying on your shoes. Allow yourself plenty of 'wiggle room,' which is about half an inch from your big toe to the tip of the shoe, and check for proper flexibility in the sole by carefully bending the shoe in your hands.

Continue reading to learn about the effectiveness of fitness trackers and smartwatches.

Fitness Trackers Or A Smartwatch

Another important workout essential is a fitness tracker or smartwatch. These activity trackers are the perfect way to monitor your progress toward your fitness goals. Whether you are training for a marathon, trying to lose weight, or just keeping fit, a fitness tracker provides you with invaluable insight into your journey. These trackers are designed for everyone from newbies to experts, so they accommodate any fitness level as well.

Contrary to popular belief, trackers are more than just fancy gadgets. A device like this will help keep track of your progress, find free workout tips and suggestions, monitor important components of your health, form healthier habits, and stay motivated. Plus, with most fitness trackers, users have the opportunity to connect to a great community of other health-oriented individuals, which increases a sense of belonging and further supports goal achievement. Read more about fitness tracks with How To Improve Your Overall Health By Wearing A Fitness Tracker Daily.

Continue reading to learn about another great piece to help with workouts: the compression tee.

Compression Tee

If you have been skipping the compression gear, it’s time to suck it up (literally) and give it a try. A good tee is about more than just showing off the chiseled physique you have worked hard to create. In fact, compression gear can actually enhance your workout experience in many ways. For starters, compression apparel supports recovery and promotes muscle rebuild after your workout. Likewise, compression wear is more breathable and provides natural sweat-wicking properties to keep the wearer more comfortable when sweating. Not only that, but a high-quality compression tee gives your body the support it needs when you’re performing different exercises, which can reduce strain and will help you power through the workout.

Although it’s easily the most underrated workout essential, compression apparel not only helps you look the part at the gym, but it also helps you play the part. Pulling on a compression shirt rather than a regular t-shirt is one of the easiest things someone can do to improve their training efficiency and increase their overall recovery post-workout.

Hydration is key in the next slide on this list! Keep reading for more.

Water Bottle

If compression tees are the most overlooked workout equipment, then water is the most overlooked nutrient for athletes. It goes without saying, but when you work out, you lose water from your body in the form of sweat, and you need to replace lost fluid with more water to remain healthy, ward off dehydration, and continue training.

That said, most individuals don’t need anything more than just water to rehydrate during a workout, so any water bottle should do. However, you do want to make sure you’re getting enough water during your workout and after, so packing a water bottle in your bag rather than relying on a few sips from the fountain at the gym is your best bet.

Also, if your workout extends beyond sixty minutes, you’ll need more than just water to replenish your body. This is because as your body loses water during your workout, it also loses sodium and potassium, which can cause confusion, muscle cramps, and more. Thus, those working out an hour or more need to toss an electrolyte-based drink in their bag too.

Keep reading to learn about what's required to repair, rebuild, and synthesize new muscle fiber.

Protein Powder

If you have been skipping out on the protein powder too, you’re doing your body and workout plan another disservice. When you’re regularly pushing your body to complete tough workouts, you are challenging your body and breaking down the muscle fibers. To be able to repair, rebuild, and synthesize new muscle fiber, your body needs the right mix of amino acids from protein. While it is possible to get protein from other healthy sources, one of the fastest and easiest options is a good protein blend.

The big payoff with protein powder is it packs a serious amount of nutrition in a controlled amount of calories, meaning it gives the body everything it needs without any of the extras it doesn’t need to maximize your results. Likewise, getting the right combination of protein and carbs, found in most high-quality powders, within the thirty-minute window after your workout will help you recover quickly and gain more strength.