We have so many great reasons to work out: keeping our hearts and bones healthy, easing stress and anxiety, and having an excellent excuse to wear super cute leggings and sports bra sets (we are highly motivated by cute workout gear)! There are also a lot of things that can get in the way of making it to the gym. We've missed a gym class for everything from a sick kid to running late for work, so we know how easy it can be to have one missed workout turned into two, three, and then suddenly it's a week without cute leggings.
The convenience factor alone makes developing a home fitness routine a smart idea for busy moms. A lot of us also ditched our gym membership during lockdown and discovered that, with the right equipment, it's actually possible to get a really great workout at home. The good news is that a good home workout doesn't require having a whole dedicated room to use as a gym (though the heart can dream of all that square footage). With a few key pieces of equipment, some killer workout outfits, and a few other items, it's possible to create a home fitness routine on almost any budget. Read on for 20 items that will help anyone feel ready to ditch the gym membership for good!
Glamorise Women's Full Figure Plus Size High Impact Wonderwire Sports Bra
It doesn't really matter what kind of workout we are doing or where we are doing it, nothing happens until the girls are strapped down! A good sports bra is an essential piece of fitness gear, and we're a fan of the fact that this option from Amazon has sizes from 32D to 46H, so all us larger-breasted women can be contained!
WaterWipes Biodegradable Original Baby Wipes
Here is an essential truth about working out: it will lead to sweat. At least it will if done correctly! While working up a good sweat is a great way to release stress, having yoga mats, foam rollers, or exercise equipment that smell like old sweat isn't fun for anyone. The WaterWipes baby wipes are a great way of cleaning up sweat but don't have the harsh chemicals that disinfectant wipes can have, which aren't great for equipment.
Manduka Align Yoga Strap
Once upon a time, we were young and flexible. Then we got older, got a desk job, and suddenly it wasn't quite as easy to do some of the yoga poses that require more shoulder flexibility. Enter the yoga strap! A yoga strap is an essential tool to help make some yoga or stretching poses more easier to do while we keep working on getting that flexibility back!
Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation 7-Inch Short
These Athleta shorts, which are available in sizes XXS to 3X, are that delightful combination of buttery soft with a triple layer high waistband that won't roll down, no matter how many downward dogs and warrior poses we cycle through during a yoga session!
Peloton Bike
There is a reason that over 2 million people joined Peloton since the lockdown orders started. Peloton users are fanatics about their bikes and for good reason: the bike is a great way to get a serious workout without taking up serious space. With live classes and a massive library of on-demand options, users will never get bored or run out of classes to take.
Cadent High Rise Pocket Legging
Everybody knows that Peloton is famous for the exercise bike, but people might not know that the company also makes really, really great leggings. The Cadent High Rise has moderate compression — enough to feel supported but not so much that getting them off after a sweaty workout becomes a second workout. We're also fans of the high waist, the pocket to slide a phone into, and the fact that they come in sizes XS to 3X.
Gaiam Restore Total Body 36-Inch Foam Roller
There are few things that hurt so good as a session with a foam roller after a tough workout! Using a foam roller can help prevent muscle soreness and helps improve circulation and flexibility, all of which can help us keep up a home fitness routine.
Gaiam Yoga Mat
We don't need to actually be doing yoga to still benefit from having a yoga mat! A yoga mat is really helpful for any floor work (hello, time for crunches!) or to help protect carpet and floors from dripping sweat. We like this mat from Gaiam for being nice and thick, with lots of color options.
Neoprene Dumbbell Weight Set With Rack
Yes, cardio queens and yoga mamas, we think you should be adding weight training to any home fitness routine. Lifting weights is so good for building strong bones and for feeling like an awesome, strong woman! We like this weight set and rack for having a good assortment of weights for someone who might be newer to strength training.
Next-to-Naked Bodysuit
$118
from
Universal Standard
Fitness is for every body, so we love that this sweat-wicking jumpsuit, made of an antimicrobial fabric to keep it smelling un-funky, is available in sizes 00-40. For the jumpsuit skeptics — yes, this actually is comfortable for working out! Especially for home yoga, barre, or Pilates sessions, this moves with the body and doesn't feel binding or baggy.
Flat Band Kit Blue
No matter how small a space we have for home workouts, we can always find room for resistance bands! These are small enough to stash in any drawer but can offer big benefits when used for resistance training, Pilates work, or helping with stretches. There are plenty of online workouts showing how to use bands, so even beginners can feel the burn in no time!
Moleskine Passion Journal
A dedicated journal for fitness can be a helpful tool for folks who love to track progress and check things off a to-do list (hello, it's us!) but who don't want to get fixated on the scale as a measure of progress. We'd much rather focus on tracking our gains: more weight on the bicep curls, more minutes spent stretching, or hitting a good daily workout streak are all goals we can track with a good planner.
Reebok Fitness Multipurpose Adjustable Aerobic & Strength Training Workout Step Platform
Yes, this is a step like from the step aerobics craze of the 1980s. No, we don't think anyone needs to rock a side pony and thong leotard to use this! A fitness step is actually a really versatile piece of equipment for a home workout routine. It can be used as a step for a quick cardio interval when doing a full body circuit or used to do calf raises, tricep dips, or lunges (among other moves) during strength training. We think that moves this from retro to classic.
Everglade Zoe Superstretch Tank
$44
from
Girlfriend Collective
This stretchy tank top from the size inclusive and environmentally friendly company Girlfriend Collective features a built-in bra. While larger-breasted folks will likely want to pair it with a sports bra for more high-impact home workouts, those with smaller breasts will love the ease of having only one layer for yoga, barre, Pilates, or other low- to medium-impact workouts.
Hydro Flask 24-Ounce Standard Mouth With Flex Straw Cap
$44.95
from
Hydro Flask
Staying hydrated during a workout is important, no matter if that workout is at home or at the gym. We're low-key obsessed with our Hydro Flask bottle with straw cap lid because it keeps our water ice cold for the duration of any workout and fits perfectly in the cupholder of our Peloton bike. Plus, how cute is this sunny yellow color?
Apple Watch Silver Aluminum Case With Sport Loop
We may be working out at home, surrounded by unfolded laundry and dodging Lego hiding in the carpet, but that doesn't mean we don't still want to rock some good wearable tech! An Apple watch can give the home fitness fanatic a treasure trove of data, including heart rate tracking during workouts, step counts, measures of cardio fitness, and more. We also find that trying to close our circles (by getting a certain number of activity minutes and standing minutes per day) is totally motivating.
GIMME Bands Thick Fit Hair Ties
Sometimes we see someone working out with their long hair floating freely around their shoulders and we only have one question: Girl, are you OK?
The thought of working without pulling our hair up is low-key upsetting, so we're all about having good quality hair ties around for home workouts. We like these for being strong enough for thick hair without causing breakage.
PowerSoft Strappy Sports Bra
This medium support sports bra (available in sizes XS-XXL) looks great coming or going! This plus the matching bottoms (both leggings and shorts are available) is the perfect set for those of us who are motivated to workout when it means we can wear a cute set.
All in Motion Cooling Towel Navy Blue
We love to work out and we don't mind working up a real sweat. But having sweat drip into our eyes isn't anyone's idea of a good time. This moisture-wicking, cooling towel is designed to be used for workouts and can also be spread over a yoga mat to catch sweat drops or for mopping our faces after another dang burpee.
Peloton App
When it comes to variety, it is hard to beat the Peloton app. App only users don't need a Peloton bike or treadmill to tap into literally thousands of on-demand workouts. Want to do Taylor Swift yoga? How about a killer glute and legs class taught by an instructor with an adorable Irish accent? Maybe it's time to chill with a guided meditation? Or how about a dance cardio class with a cameo from Usher? Peloton covers all those bases and more!
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
