Get Moving For National Exercise Day With GoFit

 National Exercise Day is celebrated on April 18 every year. It is a day to encourage everyone to participate in physical activities. Exercise enhances our general health by giving us more energy, making us feel better, and even extending our lives by years.

 On April 18th, I am going to be celebrating life with exercise, and I encourage you to do the same. Our bodies were designed to function better with regular physical activity, and a lack of exercise may lead to so many health problems. So, make plans to exercise on April 18th and make a commitment to fitness. If you already participate in regular physical activity, give yourself a high five and let others know about this day.

 I know the benefits of daily exercise, but unfortunately, so many people don't understand the health benefits of exercise. Obesity is on the rise, as well as chronic health conditions. Everyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability, benefits from exercise. National Exercise Day is a day to encourage and motivate people to exercise, with the aim that it will be the start of a new habit for everyone.

Say Yes to exercise and help others say Yes to movement

I am living proof that exercise has plenty of benefits. I am almost 60, and I know that exercise is a huge reason why I look and feel amazing. I also know how exercise has helped my body recover quicker from mold sickness. Daily exercise keeps my lungs strong, so I can manage my allergy-related asthma symptoms. 

 I am passionate about exercise and I will be celebrating National Exercise Day in a huge way.  Of course, I will be starting my day with exercise. I always start my day with fitness as it makes me feel so good and helps me have a good day. 

Discover how rowing builds endurance and muscles at the same time

I don't have time to exercise

 We all have excuses about why we don't exercise, but one of my favorite brands is making it easier than ever to help people get moving. GoFit is offering an awesome discount on their Ultimate ProGym. This at-home gym system makes exercise affordable and convenient. It is the perfect exercise equipment for small spaces. 

GoFit is offering 25% off their Ultimate ProGym ~ Use code PGYM25 

The Ultimate ProGym is a resistance training kit that fitness pros have used for 25 years to build strength and improve overall fitness. This portable exercise system is perfect for those new to fitness, but can also be used by those looking to level up their workout routine. This gym kit has multiple levels of resistance, so even those who lift weights will find it beneficial for their fitness goals.

I love using the GoFit Ultimate ProGym

 I have the GoFit Ultimate ProGym hanging on a door in my home workout room and use this resistance band system every day. I love how I can perform many different exercises with the bands and build up many different muscles. These bands are helping me make my muscles stronger without having to buy expensive dumbbells. This ProGym is also great for doing my stretching exercises.

You don't need weights to build muscle 

 You don't need weights to build muscle and lose fat. Strengthening and toning your body can be done by using resistance bands. All you need to get started is a door. 

 One of the best features of resistance bands or pull-up bands is their ability to be adjusted for all strength levels. So pull-up bands can be used by everyone, from beginners to professional athletes. Resistance bands will improve your strength, flexibility, and overall physical health.

How do resistance bands work?

The stretchy bands work by using resistance. Each band has a different thickness. A thinner band offers less resistance, so one does not need to put much effort into pulling it, while a thicker band requires more strength to pull. The strength of the bands to your muscle effort is also increased by how far you stretch the bands.

Check out the GoFit Workout Library for more details

Examples of exercises you can perform with the resistance bands

 Incorporating pull-up bands into your workouts can significantly enhance your strength training routine. Below are some ways to use the bands with exercises to target different muscle groups.

Upper Body Strength

Bicep Building: Loop a band under your foot and place both handles in one hand. Place your elbow by your hip and pull the band up halfway to your shoulder.

Back and Arm Muscles: Hook the bands over a door and grab the handles. Walk out a couple of feet and pull the bands in a rowing motion.

Core Strength

Single Arm Pull: Place a band over a door and grab both handles with both hands. Stand a couple feet out from the door and turn sideways. Keeping one arm in a semi-bent position, use the arm to pull the band in a half-circle motion, using both the arm and the waist.

Lower Body Strength

Squats: Place a band or more over a door. Stand on a band with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold the bands and perform squats. Build more resistance by pulling the bands out further.

This National Exercise Day, April 18th, GoFit is making it easier than ever to get moving by offering 25% off its best-selling Ultimate ProGym

GoFit is offering 25% off their Ultimate ProGym ~ Use code PGYM25 

 “For 25 years, the Ultimate ProGym has been helping people of all fitness levels get moving and stay moving,” GoFit co-founder and CEO Charles Caswell. “It’s the tool the pros have been going to for decades, and it’s just as perfect for beginners looking to kickstart their fitness journey on National Exercise Day.”

 ~ GoFit products are also available at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Scheels, Academy Sports, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and other major retailers.

Fitness Products That I Use For Performance

 Fitness and diet are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Our bodies are made to move and what we put into our body keeps it running efficiently. If you want to feel good, you need to exercise and eat a healthy diet.

 Every morning when I wake up at 6 AM to head to the gym, I don't complain. Instead, I rejoice that my body is strong and can exercise. At the age of 59, I have no plans of slowing down and it is exercise that keeps my body active. My fitness routine is what keeps my body from having any chronic health conditions. It is an exercise routine that gives me the energy I need to enjoy life. 

I also follow a healthy plant-based meal plan as I know that the food I eat is important. My body was designed to function at its best with nutrition that can be found in certain foods, including the best greens powders, which provide an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Our bodies need plenty of vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. I treat my body well so it can perform the way it was designed. I would not put crappy gas into my car and expect it to work, so I don't put crappy food into my body.

Fitness Products That I Use For Performance

I like using fitness products to enhance my workout. From a daily energy bar to give me healthy energy for my gym routine to different plant-based protein products, I have several that are my must-have fitness products. For some of the supplements that I use, I may use a particular brand, while for others it is certain ingredients that need to be in the products. Keep reading to discover the fitness products that I am using.

My favorite energy products

At this current time, I have 2 favorite energy products that I use before I exercise. These energy products have similar benefits like caffeine from green tea but they also have differences like the amount of protein and calories. I select the energy bar based on the type of workout I will be doing. 

1. Verb Caffeinate Energy Bar ~ Verb Bars are delicious energy bars that contain green tea caffeine. These energy bars have 80mg of caffeine and are equivalent to drinking one espresso. They are made with healthy plant-based ingredients like oatmeal and nuts. These energy bars are available in 9 delicious flavors and are also gluten-free. These bars also cost less than energy drinks and coffee drinks!

 I like eating a Verb Bar on the days that I will be focusing on cardio at the gym. The bars have 16 grams of carbohydrates, 110 calories, and 2 grams of protein. The bars give me the nutrition and the caffeine that I need for an hour at the gym. I used to just drink an energy drink before I went to the gym but a fitness friend challenged me to eat something before I exercised and I discovered that this gave me more energy.

 Save 40% on Verb Caffeinated Snack Bars with code TARA77427

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. Quantum Energy Squares ~ Quantum Bars also have caffeine in them and I love them for my gym energy. They are similar to Verb bars but they have more caffeine in them and also more calories, carbs, and protein. I enjoy a Quantum Energy Bar on the days that I do both cardio and weightlifting at the gym. These bars give me more energy for a longer workout and more protein to help my muscles for strength training.

The Quantum bars are made with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Each bar has 100mg of caffeine as well as 10g of protein, 20g of carbs, & 210 calories They are also Certified Plant-Based, Gluten-Free, non-GMO, Vegan, Dairy-Free, and Soy-Free. The better-than-energy drink bars come in 6 delicious flavors.

Grab the Quantum Energy Squares Here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3. Swanson Simply Hydrate Electrolyte Hydration Mix ~ Exercise makes one sweat and our body loses sodium and other electrolyte minerals that need to be replaced. If we don't replace these items, our body gets dehydrated. If you have ever sweated a ton and could not seem to quench your thirst with water, it is due to your electrolytes being unbalanced.

  I like to drink an electrolyte hydration drink while I am exercising to avoid dehydration. When selecting my hydration drink, I select one that not only tastes good but also does not contain artificial colors or sweeteners. A hydration brand that I am enjoying right now is Swanson Simply Hydrate Electrolyte Hydration Mix. My favorite flavors are watermelon and raspberry lemonade. This hydration drink comes in individual stick packs so I can stash them in my gym bag or pocket. I like that this drink gets its color from beets and its sweetness from monk fruit. It also has 3X the electrolytes of sports drinks and each serving costs less than $1.00

Grab the Swanson Simply Hydrate Electrolyte Hydration Mix Here

4. Swanson Organic 100% Organic Pea Protein Powder ~ I drink a protein shake after my workout to help my muscles recover so they don't feel sore. I also drink a protein shake to help me reach my daily protein requirements. My favorite source of protein is from pea protein. I like that pea protein is 100% plant-based and it is the easiest to digest. Pea Protein has an awesome, balanced amino acid profile that includes high concentrations of branched-chain amino acids and glutamine, which makes it ideal for fueling lean muscle development.

 Right now, my preferred vegan protein is Swanson Organic 100% Organic Pea Protein Powder. I like that this protein only contains organic pea protein powder and nothing else. I don't need any sweeteners in my protein powder as I always use fruit in my protein smoothies. I also love that I can stir this plain protein powder in my savory oatmeal or a soup recipe for added protein. Each serving of this protein has 16 grams of protein. 

Grab 2 containers of Swanson Organic 100% Organic Pea Protein Powder for $27.19 

5. Swanson Ultra Beet Juice ~ Beets are one of my favorite superfoods as it is good for the lungs. My lungs have been through a lot in the past couple of years due to allergies and mold sickness. I have been doing many things to heal my lungs and that includes adding a beet supplement to my diet. 

While I like using beet powder in my smoothies, there are days that I don't want the taste of beets in my drink. So I like that I can get the benefits of beets in a mess-free capsule form from Swanson Ultra Beet Juice. These capsules are loaded with freeze-dried juice from organically grown fresh beets and have many benefits. Beets help with blood circulation, blood pressure, and energy. Beets are also rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Grab Swanson Ultra Beet Juice Here 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6. Power Life Foundation Four  ~ I love adding a greens powder to my smoothies as it is a great way to get the benefits of green vegetables. Green veggies are loaded with lots of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. This is a superfood supplement that is awesome in smoothies and as a drink.

 My favorite green drink powder is Power Life Foundation Four. I like this one as it has additional ingredients like magnesium, fiber, and probiotics. I also like this green supplement since it is wheat-free. So many greens supplements use wheatgrass and if you are allergic to wheat, like me, that is not a good thing. This green powder helps with my digestion and my sleep. 

Grab Power Life Foundation Four Here 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8. Dried Acai Berry Powder ~ Another superfood that I like to add to my daily smoothies is Dried Acai Berry Powder. Acai berries are loaded with vitamin C and other minerals. I just love the tart and sweet flavor of these purple berries. It gives my smoothies a nice purple color.

This Dried Acai Berry Powder from Jungle Powder is 100% freeze-dried fruit from whole berries. It is rich in antioxidants and perfect for smoothies. You can also use this purple powder in recipes and as a flavoring in desserts. Jungle Powder has a huge variety of freeze-dried fruits like sour cherries and cranberries.

Grab Jungle Powder Dried Acai Berry Powder Here 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9. Nugo Nutrition Bars ~ These delicious dark chocolate bars are my favorite healthy snacks. I also love these nutrition bars for breakfast on the go. Nugo Bars are vegan and loaded with plant-based protein. They are also gluten-free. They are available in many delicious flavors like dark chocolate pretzel and peanut butter cup.

I always have several boxes in my pantry since my teen boys also love Nugo Bars. If you want to try these yummy snack bars, use my link below and you can get a variety box for half price. 

Grab 12 Nugo Bars for $15 with free shipping 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10. Oceanfoam Wave Ball Rollers ~ I don't let sore muscles get in the way of my fitness routine. I love these unique massage balls for muscle relief after a workout. The balls are eco-friendly and are made from algae. They are my must-have for sore spots and muscle tension. Their small size and unique shape make it easy to soothe my sore legs or arms after the gym. These ball rollers are also great for sore necks after a long day at work.

 Discover the ultimate relief with Oceanfoam Wave Ball Rollers, designed to target sore spots with precision and ease. Whether you're at home, in the office, or on the go, these versatile massage tools adapt to your needs. Simply roll them against a wall, on a chair, or even while seated in your car or airplane seat.

Grab Oceanfoam Wave Ball Rollers Here 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Must-have Fitness Products That I Use For Performance

These are the must-have fitness products that I use on a daily basis. From giving me energy to replenishing my electrolytes all the way to helping with my protein needs and lung function, they are products that give me the results that I am looking for. If you want better results with your fitness plan, these are healthy products that you need to try. 

So take a look at the products and get more details about each product. 

My Favorite Fitness Products For Energy

 If you only exercise when you have energy, you may never exercise. Keep reading to discover my favorite fitness products for amazing energy.

 Any type of exercise requires energy and some forms of exercise require intense energy. If a lack of energy is keeping you from working out, then taking some form of an energy supplement may help with your exercise routine. There is nothing wrong with giving your body additional energy. 

 If energy drinks help you to exercise or get your body to the gym, then drink that energy drink. Don't try to exercise on empty, as it will affect your performance, or worse yet, you may cut your workout session short. A pre-workout drink will help you exercise longer and stronger.

My motivation behind energy products for fitness

Three years ago, I switched my exercise routine from afternoon to morning. I wanted to see the benefits of morning exercise. Since I decided to exercise first thing in the morning, I needed some form of energy to get my body going. So I decided to try energy drinks. 

 Energy drinks sometimes get a bad rep as people have heard about someone dying from drinking an energy drink. That can make someone scared to try any type of energy drink. There may be bad energy drinks on the market but most energy drinks are safe to consume if you use them in the right way. Energy drinks can be bad if you drink too many of them or drink ones with a high caffeine count.

When I decided to drink an energy drink before my workout, I wanted an energy drink that was made with natural ingredients. I also wanted an energy drink that had about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee - 80 -100 mgs. Too much caffeine at one time can be bad for your heart. Since my body was used to drinking coffee, I knew that 100 milligrams of caffeine would be safe for my body.

NOW Sports Nutrition, Effervescent Effer-Energy

 I tried many different energy drinks from ready-to-drink energy drinks to powder energy drinks that you add water to. Then I discovered an energy drink tablet from Now Foods and that is now my favorite energy drink for fitness. 

NOW Sports Nutrition, Effervescent Effer-Energy

~ Contains 100 mg of caffeine

~ Provides energy and recovery support as it also has electrolytes

~ Tropical Fruit Punch Flavor

~ Does not contain wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients

~ Is easy to take on the go as you add a tablet to water when you are ready to drink it

~ Is very well priced at less than .50 a serving

~ Contains no artificial colors or flavors

~ Easy to store 

Verb Caffeinated Bar

 I discovered Verb Caffeinated Energy Bars last March at Expo West but I did not try them until several months ago. I was "a drink an energy drink before the gym person" and "enjoy my cup of coffee after the gym person." So I really did not require more caffeine. The Verb Bars just stayed in my pantry in my snack box. 

 Then a fitness influencer told me the facts about exercising without eating breakfast and how it could be hurting my fitness goals. So I ditched the energy drinks and decided to try the Verb Caffeinated Bars for three weeks to see if it made a difference in my gym routine. I was amazed at my increase in energy from the Verb Bars and that helped me to lose 2 pounds! I was hooked on the delicious bars for my before-the-gym caffeine boost.

 The Verb Bars have the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee and it comes from green tea. I had only tried the smores flavor of the Verb Caffeinate bars so I was glad that the Verb booth had different flavors of their energy bars. The delicious bars are available in 13 flavors. These bars are the delicious solution to the 2 p.m. slump. Say goodbye to overpriced lattes, sugar cravings & post-coffee jitters.

Verb Caffeinated Snack Bars

~ Caffeinated with Organic Green Tea (1 bar = 1 espresso) for jitter-free energy that lasts all-day

~ Way less expensive than energy drinks - just over $1 per bar

~ Convenient pocket-sized, so you can stash them

~ Under 110 calories

~ Plant-based, gluten-free & made with all-natural ingredients

~ Get 16 free bars and save 40% with code TARA77427

How I use my two favorite energy products

 These above energy products are what I am using for my workouts. Since they have big differences, I use the different products in different ways.

Most days I will start my mornings, before I head to the gym, with a Verb Bar. I am hooked on Verb Bars for the caffeine and it provides me some calories in the form of carbs and protein. Since I usually work out for an hour, my body needs caffeinated energy plus healthy calories.

Get 16 free bars and save 40% with code TARA77427

I will use the NOW Sports Nutrition, Effervescent Effer-Energy on days that I am doing shorter workouts in the morning or when I am exercising in the afternoon. These tablets are also good for my shorter, less intense strength workouts. I also like using the Now Energy tablets for when I travel.

10 Must Have Home Gym Items For Strong Muscles

 Want to work out at home but don't know where to start? Check out these best fitness items for the home gym. Most are perfect for small spaces, and they will help strengthen your muscles.

 Exercising at a gym is not an option for many people. From cost to time, having a gym membership is just not the best fitness routine for some people. For most people who don't visit a gym to exercise it is the price of a gym membership that makes it tough. Even for those who have a gym membership, going to the gym may be hard for them for many reasons beyond lack of motivation to workout. Time may be another reason why people don't get to the gym. 

It takes commitment, time, and money to work out at the gym.

 Then there is the mom who is busy raising kids, who struggles to find any time to exercise. So don't worry about paying for a gym membership as a way to exercise. While everyone needs to exercise, it does not have to happen at a gym. Exercising at home is a great way to do fitness. 

 A home gym is a great way to exercise as you don't have to leave the home. The best part of working out at home is there are many ways to exercise and it does not have to cost a lot of money. Exercise is about moving the body to get the heart rate up and doing strength exercises to build strong muscles.

Why Your Body Needs Extra Minerals During Strength Training ~ https://www.beamminerals.com/blogs/blog/empowering-your-lift-supporting-women-s-strength-training-with-minerals

Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to save 20% on BEAM Minerals

Ways to exercise at home

 ~ Walking

~ Running 

~ Bike Riding

~ Dancing

~ Exercise Machines

~ Using Resistance Bands

~ Boxing

~ Weight Lifting

The Benefits of Weightlifting For Older Ladies 

This post contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through the links will not cost more money but I will earn a percentage of the sale. Please support my website by making your purchases through the links.

 There are many ways to fit in exercise at home. The best way to exercise at home is by walking. So lace up those shoes and get outside for a walk. If you have kids put them in a stroller or stroller wagon. Bigger kids can ride their bikes or join in on the walking. When my kids were little, I would push them in a stroller for my daily exercise and when they got bigger, they would ride their bikes. My kids grew up knowing the importance of exercise for a healthy body.

 If you would rather stay inside for exercise, then I have a list of many fitness products to get you started. Don't worry if you don't have a space for a home gym as many of these workout products take up a little amount of space and can be stored in the closet or under the couch when not in use. For best fitness results try to keep the fitness equipment in a room that you spend a  lot of time in and keep them in plain sight to remind you to exercise.

Fitness products that I have in my home gym 

 I am lucky to have a dedicated room for my home gym, now that 3 of my kids are adults. I also have a gym membership as I get it free from my health insurance. I like using my home gym on days that I don't have time to get to the gym or the weather is bad outside. I also use my home fitness room for my strength exercises that way I don't have to deal with crowded gyms. 

 So check out my favorite at-home fitness products that I use for both cardio and strength training. Most of these are affordable fitness products.

1. Rower Machine ~ Looking for the best cardio workout that also strengthens your muscles? You need to get a rowing machine. Working out on a home gym rower uses 86 different muscles in your body. Rowing also burns more calories in less time when compared to other exercise machines. 

 I love my at-home rower as it has helped me build muscle all over my body. I have a Yosuda rowing machine and this rower is perfect for small spaces. You will love how easily it folds up when not in use. The price of their home exercise equipment is awesome and this rower is around $300. You will love the 16 different resistance levels on the rower.

Buy a Rowing Machine Here

Use my code MOMKNOWSBEST15 and save $20 off the best vegan protein

2. Portable Resistant Bands ~ These stretchy bands are great for muscle-building exercises. I love the resistance bands for my strength exercise routine and I love that they are small enough to toss in my suitcase for traveling. Look for a portable resistance band system that has different accessories so you will be able to use them for many different exercises. I like the strength bands that hang over the door as these are great for building strong muscles. Check out my full review of my favorite portable resistance band system.

I also own a resistance band system that hangs over the door and includes many bands. The bands each have a different weight load to them and can be clipped together to make your muscle-building exercises harder.

Buy a portable resistance band system Here

3. Kettlebells ~ Kettlebells are great for strength exercises to build body muscle. Kettlebells come in many different weights and colors. Some people like to have a set of kettlebells in different weights. I have a set of 5-pound kettlebells as these were what I used when I first started lifting weights. I use my pink kettlebells for many different muscle-strengthening exercises. I also have a single 20-pound kettlebell that I use for my squat exercises and arm strength exercises. My teen boys like using my 20-pound kettlebell for their weight-lifting exercises.

Buy kettlebells in different sizes Here

4. Dumbbells ~ Dumbbells are similar to kettlebells but are shaped differently. Dumbbells come in many different weight sizes and are great for strengthening muscles. I only have a set of ten-pound dumbbells but would like to add more sizes to my home gym for my husband to use. Dumbbells are great for building stronger muscles. You can buy a single pair of dumbbells or a set of dumbells on a rack for your home weight system. There are also adjustable dumbbell weights to purchase if space is limited.

Buy different weights of dumbbells Here

5. Punching Bag ~ I recently added an inflatable punching bag to my workout room as it looked like a fun way to exercise while building arm strength. This punching bag kit comes complete with an inflatable punching bag, gloves, and a pump. It was super easy to blow up and it is very durable. While the punching bag I have is made for kids, I was amazed that it was strong enough for my teen boys to punch. 

 Punching a punching bag helps to improve coordination, build strength, and increase fitness levels. It is a whole lot of fun, too! Boxing with a punching bag gives me an awesome cardio workout. I just put on my favorite music and punch the bag for a couple of songs. Not only is punching great for arm strength exercises but it can help build your core muscles. My punching bag is 63 inches tall, and you can fill the base with water or sand, to keep it from tipping over.

Buy an inflatable punching bag Here

6. Bodygym ~ I like variety with my home gym equipment, that way I can do various exercises to build my muscles. The Bodygym kit is a resistance training piece of equipment that helps me build my arm and core muscles. Resistance training is one of the best ways to build muscle and get lean. This Bodygym kit stores in a small bag making it great to use anywhere in the home. 

 I love using this piece of home gym equipment to do my biceps curls and my upright rows but you can do many more exercises with the Bodygym. Check out my full review of the Bodygym.

7. Adjustable Ankle Weights ~ Adjustable ankle weights can be used in many different ways with exercising. You can wear ankle weights while you are doing cardio for added resistance or you can wear the ankle weights on your wrists for added strength while lifting weights. Adjustable weights are great to use when you are between dumbbell weight sizes, If the ten pound dumbbells are too easy but the 15-pound ones are too hard, wearing 3.5-pound ankle weights will help. I like to wear my ankle weights when I am doing my leg raises and floor core exercises for added intensity.

Buy adjustable ankle weights Here

8. Yoga Mat ~ A yoga mat is a must-have for your home gym. A yoga mat can be used for so many exercises like yoga, stretches, situps, and other floor exercises. A yoga mat gives you a comfortable place to stand, sit, or lay down while doing your exercises. 

Buy a yoga mat Here

9. Cross Rope ~ A cross rope is great for cardio exercising. Jump roping is one of the best ways to get an intense cardio exercise. A cross rope is a weighted jump rope that gives you a better workout. Jump roping can also be a fun way to exercise. A cross rope allows you to squeeze in a quick 20-minute workout with a minimal amount of space. If you have kids, you can head outside and jump rope together. 

Buy a cross rope Here

10. Your Body ~ Your body can be the best piece of gym equipment that you own. You can use your body to do strength exercises like situps, pushups, and more. To use your body for a cardio workout just get moving through dancing, marching in place, and going up and down the stairs. I like to march in place while waiting for food to heat up in the microwave.'

So get shopping and get moving. With this list of at-home exercise items, I am sure that you can choose a couple of items to start building your home gym. Start small as you start exercising and then keep adding different pieces of fitness equipment. 

Which home gym item is your favorite?

Fitness Update: Exercises That Have Helped Me See Results

Six months ago, I made changes in my fitness routine and I am here to update you on what exercises helped me see results.

 Six months ago, I decided that I wanted to make the muscles in my back more toned. I was tired of looking at my back in photos and I decided to try some different exercises to see if I could make my back muscles stronger. So I did some research on the best exercises for stronger back muscles to see which exercise machines at the gym would work the back muscles. I also looked up the best weightlifting exercises for back muscles.

To understand my why for wanting to transform my back muscles, I will fill you in on some information about my fitness journey.

 It was the year 2019 that I decided to take my fitness to a new level. At the age of 54, my muscles were weak and flabby. I think being over 50 and the change of life thing may have had something to get my body getting weak or it may have been due to the simple fact that as I runner, I never made time for strength exercises. Take my advice and while you are young make sure to include some exercises for your muscles in your workout schedule. Strength exercises make a huge difference as you age.

 When I turned 54 my arms started to get flabby and looked like "BINGO arms" like my middle son said. After attending a fitness conference in July 2019, I noticed that I did not have the arm strength to do most of the floor exercises. As a person who had a need for speed, I only did running and fast walking for my exercise time. I knew that I had to do something to make my arms stronger. The fitness event gave me the needed motivation to make some changes to my body. When I returned home I started lifting weights and in 6 months, I was amazed at how weightlifting helped with body toning. Check out my before and after body photos.

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

 In these 4 years, I have seen my body transform from weak to strong. 

 Of course in the year 2020, due to dumb covid, I had plenty of time on my hands to do more at-home weight exercises and I made some huge body changes that year. So I stuck with my workout routine for several years, working out at home on my Nordictrack equipment.  I got stuck in a fitness routine and I became displeased with the way my back looked in photos. 

 It was a photo of me using the WeGym Rally X fitness equipment that made me want to strengthen my back muscles. 

 Then in the fall of 2022, my husband made the decision to commit to fitness at the gym and I started going to the gym 5 days a week. I now had more options for fitness equipment to work out on and decided to do some research on which exercise machine does what for the body's muscles. I made sure to focus on the back muscles and I discovered that the rowing machine was a gym machine that worked all the muscles in the body. 

 I also discovered that I could do certain exercises with the TRX Bands to build the back muscles. I know that there are other strength training machines in the gym that could build the muscles in my back but they are always in use by the weightlifting lunks.

 So I made a commitment to use the rower machine for 6 months ~ 5 days a week along with the TRX bands for 6 months to see if they made a difference to my back muscles. I also added the LIT AXIS resistance bands to my 3X-a-week strength training exercise routine.

I was amazed at my body transformation after 6 months

 My husband decided that we should do our gym time before he went to work. That meant getting to the gym at 6:30 AM! I quickly learned to become a morning person as he wanted to go to the gym and I was happy to support him. So every morning, I started my gym routine on the Concept 2 indoor rowing machine. I listened to my music and rowed for 20 minutes.

 I discovered that the rower machine did work the whole body as I was using my legs, arms, and abs to exercise. My technique to best row on the rowing machine was to alternate my row at 30 strokes per minute for 2 minutes and then speed up for a minute at 35 strokes per minute. Using the ifit program that came with my studio cycle helped me come up with this rower exercise method.

I also used the treadmill and the elliptical at the gym

 I used to not like working out at a gym but receiving allergy shots means that I can't run outside. Now that I have been attending the gym for almost a year, I have learned to enjoy my gym workouts. It is having a variety of gym cardio equipment that helps. So I tend to do 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the elliptical after I row.

 I also have added in 10 minutes of daily strength exercises to my fitness routine and have been using the TRX bands to do squats, pushups, and pull-ups. I also have been using a 20-pound kettlebell to do 50 squats a day.

It takes showing up and doing the work to see changes

 I have been exercising for health benefits for a long time so I have no problem with a fitness plan. It takes commitment and work to see results, so be patient. Your body did not get out of shape overnight. It took years of unhealthy habits. So don't expect to see body and health changes right away. Show up at least 3-5 days a week for 30-60 minutes of exercise. Treat your body right and give it what it needs to be healthy. Think of your body as a car. If you put bad gas in your car and don't do regular maintenance, it does not work right. 

 I am that person who enjoys exercise because I have been doing it for many many years. Good music helps too! I feel better after I exercise and just in the past year with my asthma issues, exercise has made my lungs stronger. Stronger lungs have helped me recover faster after an asthma issue. 

You choose ~ excuses or a healthy body

 You may feel healthy right now but a lack of healthy habits will catch up to you when you get older. It was high blood pressure and being pre-diabetic that finally got my husband to see the importance of exercise. I am almost 58 and other than allergy-induced asthma, I have no health problems, thanks to a healthy diet and fitness. 

 Yes, fitness can be a pain, and finding time can be hard. I get it, as I have raised 5 kids. I remember the days of turning on music and dancing in the house for 20 minutes for my exercise time. You can even break up your fitness and sneak exercise into the day with these fitness tips.

My teen boys have discovered the benefits of weights 

 My teen boys have decided to lift weights to help with their track events. Parents, your kids do notice your healthy habits. The older teen is a fast runner and the other one throws a discus and javelins for their track events. I just love seeing my older teen talking to his younger brother about the benefits of weights.

Enough talking and time for photos

April 2023                                          October 2022

Strength Training Without Weights With The WEGYM Rally X3 Pro Smart

 Think the only way to have strong muscles is by lifting weights, think again. The WEGYM Rally X3 Pro Smart Resistance Bands is a lightweight full-body system that helps build muscles and more.

 For so many folks, they start getting older and their muscles start to sag. This muscle sag is extremely noticeable in the upper arms. This muscle sagginess can also happen even in athletes who just focus on cardio and not strength training. I was one of those athletes who focused on running and ignored the advice of strength training. So around 50 years of age, I noticed that my arms started to look flabby. I also noticed that my midsection or stomach became more jiggly.

Misconceptions and time are excuses for not including muscle-building exercises in your fitness routine.

 I think the main reasons that I did not include any strength exercises in my fitness plan were that I did not want big bulky muscles and it took too much time. I just wanted to go running for my workout session. It was not until the muscles in my arms started waving to me that I needed to learn more about weightlifting for toning muscles. When I learned that weightlifting does not cause huge muscles in ladies, I decided to give weights a chance for 6 months.

The Benefits of Weightlifting For Older Ladies

 I was surprised to look at my before and after photos of my six months weightlifting journey. The changes in my muscles were very noticeable. I liked what I saw in the mirror and I liked that I was stronger. When I started lifting weights, I could not even do one pushup and now I am able to do 20 pushups.

Weightlifting requires a gym membership or having to invest in a set of multiple weights ~ NOT TRUE

 Most people think that the only way to get strong muscles is by visiting the gym and hanging out with sweaty bodybuilders. That is so not the case for building strong muscles. Then there are the folks who want to build some muscles and they spend way too much money on weights and barbells for at-home workouts. Only to discover that they don't have the space for gym equipment at home. So the weights get moved to the garage and don't get used.

I received a WeGym to facilitate this post.

 Don't spend money on weights, dumbells, or kettlebells until you check out the WEGYM Rally X3 Pro Smart Resistance Bands ~ the lightweight, small space way for muscle strength training. 

 Stop making excuses about including strength training exercises in your workout routine and invest in your health with a unique fitness system that improves strength, mobility, and flexibility. The WEGYM Rally X3 Pro Smart Resistance Bands is a small portable fitness system that fits your busy lifestyle and small spaces.

 No longer do you need to have big bulky gym equipment in your bedroom to get the exercise that you need to tone your muscles. The WEGYM is fitness equipment that will not become an expensive clothes hanger. This is a state-of-the-art, lightweight, and comprehensive smart fitness system that fits into a small bag. So it is also great for traveling.

+ Improves strength, mobility, and flexibility

+ Lightweight and portable

+ Easy to use

What's in the box

One Pair of X3 Rally Pro Resistance Bands, including: 

● One touchscreen LCD display 

● High-precision Smart Sensors that sync with your mobile device 

● Fully-adjustable resistance bands (10-110 lbs) 

● Instructions for downloading our FREE WeGym Training APP with extensive professional training workouts

Accessories: 

● Wrist Bands (two) 

● Ankle Bands (two) 

● Hand Grips (two) 

● Object Anchor 

● Door Anchor

All-in-one Fitness Trainer, Portable Home Gym System for all levels of fitness performance

 The WEGYM is perfect for all levels of fitness performance. The resistance bands easily adjust from 10 pounds of strength to 110 pounds. So you can use the resistance bands for building strong muscles or stretching exercises. This unique system can be used by someone who is starting out with strength training all the way to a bodybuilder.

Can be used anywhere

 The WEGYM can be used anywhere, inside or outside. This set includes a door anchor and an object anchor. I love that I can place the WEGYM over a door, around a tree, or on my exercise bike. So that allows me to work out different muscle groups. I like to keep the resistance bands on a closet door so it is always ready for me to work my muscles. That way I can get a couple of sets of muscle training in while waiting for my coffee to warm up in the microwave.

The workout sensors make building strong muscles fun

My teen son loves to see how much strength he has in his arms and the workout sensors display his resistance strength when he pulls on the resistance bands. I love that the WEGYM training app accurately records my workout data, including movement stability, variations in resistance strength, explosive levels, and much more. That way I can track my progress and plan future workouts.

Check out my review of the original WEGYM Rally X

 The WEGYM goes beyond strength training and can be used for a full-body workout. I love that I can use these bands in place of a rowing machine. These bands give me an intense workout anywhere in my home. So I can use them while watching TV or listening to music. The WEGYM app gives me access to a whole bunch of exercise videos that I can use with the device so I am learning so many ways to use this fitness equipment. This is a fun exercise system that will help keep your muscles strong.

Check out more about the WEGYM Rally X3 Pro Smart System