If you’re getting into weight lifting, you’re going to need a few key items to make the most of your exercise & to keep you safe! If you’ve been in the gym before though, you probably have the majority of what you need.
But just run through my checklist real quick to make sure you’re covered! You don’t know what you don’t know, & I’ve been around the block a few times. I personally use all of the below items, & I made sure they balance price & quality because I am NOT made of money.
The NEEDS
Gym Bag (Large Enough to Hold all of the below items ~$30)
Water Bottle (I have had my half-gallon bubba growler for 5 years & counting ~$25)
Weightlifting Belt (For heavy squats & deadlifts ~$35)
Knee Sleeves (To help you maintain squat form ~$25)
Lifting Straps (For heavy deadlifts ~$10)
Resistance Bands (For shoulder mobility ~$10)
The “Nice to Haves”
Smart Watch (I recommend the Versa 4. It tracks workouts, estimates calories burned, tracks your sleep, your macros, AND it integrates with a bunch of other fitness apps. ~$180)
Wireless Headphones (I’m typically an Apple guy… & you’re going to want some music when you lift ~$180)
Foam Roller (To supplement the bands for post-workout mobility ~$10)
Chalk (For when you’re getting into some really heavy stuff (~$10)
Smelling Salts (For if you’re trying to lift insane amounts of weight (~$25)
Supplements (I recommend the below):
- Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc (Bone Strength & Recovery ~$7)
- Creatine (Strength & Recovery ~$15)
- Glucosamine (Joint Health ~$15)
- Fish Oil & CoQ10 (Heart & Joint Health ~$25)