The fitness industry is booming. Everyone is trying to sell you their magical new piece of equipment, cure-all supplement, or 10 day plan to lose weight and become a better person. As a general rule of thumb, remember that if these products worked, if being healthy, beautiful and happy was as simple as buying a product, there should be A LOT more healthy and happy people out there.
So, if the answer is not buying all the products and services, then what is it?
The answer is you. Showing up. Every single day. Making small changes overtime that you adapt forever. It’s about developing habits that serve you in the long run, like eating real food, moving your body in ways that feel good for you, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, managing your stress, building healthy relationships and practicing gratitude.
It’s easier to hope that a purchase will solve your problems rather than doing the hard work yourself.
However, that doesn’t mean every purchase is futile. Some products and services really do help. Here is a list of questions to ask yourself when considering a product or service:
Am I looking for a quick fix?
Is it really necessary? (Like really, really?)
Is it multi-purpose? (When it comes to equipment, things that are versatile will give you the most bang for your buck.)
Is it sustainable? (Are you willing to pay $7 per serving for that shake every day for the rest of your life?)
Is it a marketing scam? (If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.)
Do I have a history of buying things and then quickly giving up on them? (I’m looking at you, dusty treadmill in the basement.)
You may be wondering what we at Homestyle Fitness consider necessary. Here is a list of the products that I use all the time and recommend to my clients:
A good pair of shoes. Think about it, with just a pair of good shoes you can walk, run, hike, or do body weight exercises. With that said, you don’t have to break the bank on these. The last three pairs I purchased were under $65 and I wear them every day.
Dumbbells. So versatile. So useful. So good.
Resistance bands. Again, very versatile for a home gym. Plus, they take up even less space than dumbbells which means they are great for travelling.
A bench. This is a good move when you’re ready to level-up your home gym. Not necessary for a beginner or someone who doesn’t lift weights, but much appreciated for those who’ve committed to the lifestyle.
A barbell. Again, this is a leveling-up situation, recommended for intermediate to advanced home athletes.
Real food. No supplement, shake or magic potion compares to eating a variety of whole, nutritious food on a regular basis. And it’s usually cheaper too.
Protein powder. It’s usually the only “supplement” I use. I drink it either before, during or after most workouts.
A personal training service. Haha obviously. I wouldn’t be in this business if I didn’t believe that the guidance, motivation and accountability I provide wasn’t useful for your success!
In conclusion, before you buy anything do your research, think logically about it and in the end just do your best. If you’d like to chat more about specific products or are interested in signing up for personal training, you can send me an email at tricia@homestylefitness.ca.
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