Personal Trainer's Top 10 Unique Fitness & Health Equipment You Need

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

There's so much more than dumbbells. Check out these 10 pieces of equipment you need. 

This is my favourite stuff to use outside of the standard and basic things such as a mat, resistance bands (my favourite!) and dumbbells. 

 1. Smart Body Tape Measure 

Check it out here.

This is great! I won't go back to regular measuring tape again.  

It has a retractable button and lock pin to lock the measurement in place when it's wrapped around the body part. It also has a digital display and you can sync the data with an app on your foot which even shows you a visual graph of your progress.

2. Blood Pressure Machine 

I truly believe everyone should have one, if not for the fact it's often recommended for you to get one as you get older. Check out my blog post here about why you need one. 

3. Heart Rate Monitor 

Check out my post here about why you need one and how to use it.

The normal resting heart rate for those 15 or older is 60-100 if you're at the 40-60 range you must be an athlete or you need to speak to your doctor. 

Take a look at the chart below to see where you stand:

4. Myfitnesspal app

I love this app and it's free! Of course you can get even more out of it upgrading (I have) but it's nice to know you can use it however and whenever you want and it's an easy learning curve. 

Keep in mind counting calories and tracking your food isn't sustainable long term but it's good to do when you're starting out and great to revisit when you want to get back on track. 

5. BMI & body fat machine

This is of course not 100% accurate. It also doesn't work on those who are 60+ and if you have a pacemaker you should not use it.

The most accurate BMI and body fat percentage you'll receive is if go to a lab to get accurate numbers (which is not cheap) but it at least this gives you an idea and a standardized form of measurement. 

You should be checking your results bi-weekly or monthly to be able to tell if what you're doing is working or not. If the scale and inches are going down, you're on the right track! If not, you need to reevaluate and something needs to be changed.

6. Meat thawing plate

Holy Crap! 

​When I discovered this thing it seemed too good to be true, but boy was I wrong.

It works and incredibly well at that.

​Instead of having to wait a whole day for my meat, fish or whatever is frozen to thaw, this thawing tray makes it happen in under a couple hours. Supposedly it's made of some special military technology to make it so. 

Click here to check it out on Amazon.

This is the exact one I bought on Amazon back in 2017 and still use today. 

BONUS: TRX

This piece of equipment was originally used in the military to train soldiers with little equipment and effectively. Now it's in many people's households and for good reason.

It is an awesome piece of equipment and all you need is your own body.

Photo by Nathália Rosa on Unsplash

7. A broom stick

Take off the broom and use the stick.

​This is excellent to use as a personal trainer during rona (corona) times but also for all individuals and exercise enthusiast because it helps you stay in line.

Use it to do superman's (or superwoman's) use it to stretch out the shoulders and back and a range of other exercises. 

For my clients I use it to provide tactile touch to allow them to connect their mind to the muscles I point to and gently poke at. 

8. Recipe binder

Have all your staple recipes here. That way when you need to go grocery shopping, you can quickly go through the ingredients you'll need and know that you'll have to get to be prepared for the week.

As they say if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  

9. Stop watch display 

This allows you to stay on track with your sets and reps and doesn't allow your phone to become a distraction if you use it as a timer when exercising.

10. Fitness & health binder 

Why? When you can just use your phone?

True. But how many apps will you need to download?

There's just something about having everything in writing, connecting pen to paper that makes such a difference.

Let's face it, the phone is a distraction during, having a binder or folder specific to fitness and your health and wellness goals makes you hold yourself more accountable, almost like you're in school again.

Go ahead and track it on your phone or an app as well if you like but I encourage you to try to have a folder or binder or notebook that contains your measurements, your weight increases for strength training, meal prep and more.

What type of equipment do you use?

Bonus: Anitmicobrial Facial Spray 

Perfect to use between workouts when your face is sweaty and dirty and you want to prevent it from staying on your skin and causing pimples and irritation.
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Get it here.