My Fit-Girl Essentials

When it comes to fitness, I've found that it's a lot of trial and error to find products that work best for you. But one of the great things about the health and fitness world is that there's plenty of options for you to try out/trends to get into. After a solid year and the gym and two years running, I now have a list of essentials that have been key to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. I absolutely love finding something new to add to my routine and I never thought I would love going into sports stores, but I honestly go in every week. It's the same with food, my Mum and I are always looking out superfoods to try or healthy recipes we can make for dinner. It truly is a lifestyle, but it's one that I am in love with!

Here are my essentials:

Nutri-Bullet
Oddly enough, I actually made fun of my Mum when she bought this. I didn't think we would get much use out of it, but we have honesty used it 2-3 times almost everyday since buying it. An afternoon smoothie can be so great for getting extra nutrients into your day when you're really busy. I also use it to make my favorite protein smoothie (banana, peanut butter, vanilla protein, almond milk) that I have post-workout. It's also handy for quickly mixing pancake batter, as I have recently discovered. Couldn't live without one now!

Whey Protein  
 I know it's a very typical fitness-lover's item, but it has so many benefits to helping you lose weight and tone up. I first started buying protein a year ago and it's been a key part of my diet ever since. My nutritionist said that I'm supposed to have 80 grams of protein a day, which is a lot when you look at how little there is in everyday foods. I just mix a scoop into my smoothie after a workout or run to help my muscles and to keep me fuller for longer. I stick with vanilla flavor since it's easy to mix with anything really. Just watch for added sugars in some brands!

Training Gloves
Because no one wants to battle with constant blisters, am I right? I started doing deadlifts a couple months back and found it quite painful to handle the bar with just my hands. I invested in some Nike gloves and I absolutely love wearing them! Not just because it makes lifting easier, but because it also makes you look like a bad-ass. They weren't very expensive at all ($30) and I've worn them quite a bit already.

Lacrosse Massage Ball
A while ago I was struggling to pull my shoulders back when I was lifting, so I asked my trainer to help me stretch them out with a massage ball and it made such a difference! I pretty much just have to add tonnes of pressure to get the knots out of my back, which is extremely painful to be honest, but worth it for the relief at the end. It's basically like the inside of a tennis ball, and it works wonders!

Over-ear headphones
 I don't know how people can survive workouts without any music. And my gym's audio playlist can get a little too retro for my taste, so good headphones can make a huge difference. I started just using my ipod ones, but they fell out a lot. I found some over-ear ones for about $20 and it made my workouts so much easier because I wasn't constantly putting my ear-buds back in. In you want to invest in cordless ones, they would also be awesome to use.

A good playlist
There is nothing that motivates me more than music while I'm working out (not even my trainer yelling at me!) I've come up with a bad-ass playlist that gets me into super-hero mode and I'm ready to conquer my workout that day. My go-to song is "Salute" by Little Mix since it has that awesome girl-power/military vibe to make you feel tough. "Unstoppable" by Sia is another great one, and I also listen to a bit of Jason Derulo for a bit of fun.

Cute workout clothes
Look good, feel good. You do the same when you put on your favorite dress that makes you feel confident, right? Fitness is no different, and it always makes me feel great. I usually go for anything black that flatters my body shape (high-waisted tights are a gift from the heavens!) I've recently been loving the different styles of sports-bras you can get too. I actually feel my most confident in sports wear, so it always pays to treat yourself to the right clothing.

Dry Hair shampoo
Saves me every time! I find even if I have washed my hair already, by the end of my workout it needs some love and attention again. Of course my go-to is Batiste; I usually use the XX-L Volume one as my hair gets so flat without any help. I always look like such a wreck after an hour at the gym (but hey, at least I know I worked hard!) so dry shampoo is a must to bring back some much needed glamor into my day.

Peanut Butter
Because there has to be some joys after a painful workout! Rewarding yourself is essential to keeping motivation up, and doing it in a healthy way that you enjoy is key. To make my protein shakes even yummier, I add a good tablespoon of PB to it for extra flavor and it is heavenly! Just what you need after working hard that day. And the extra teaspoon here and there can't hurt, right?

A Personal Trainer 
I know that this isn't for everyone, but it has let me take my fitness in the best direction possible. Trainers are fantastic for helping you with those target areas (get that booty!) or helping you build your strength with what weights to use. I do boxing with my trainer once a week and it's the most satisfying/grueling and fun workout that leaves me absolutely dripping in sweat. It's always my favorite day at the gym and it adds some fun to my usual workout programs. I wouldn't have half the results I've had without my trainer, and he keeps me motivated too : )

Good running shoes
 There is a lot of room in fitness to save money on cheaper options, BUT if you are a runner or want to get into it, having a really great pair of trainers makes an absolute world of difference. Cheaper or less-supportive shoes can leave you with sore feet and you'll have to replace them more often. My favorite make is the Nike Zoom Structure models, which are amazing at helping you run further for longer. They're super comfortable and pretty darn stylish too. They're worth every penny for making running even that little bit easier. Make sure you replace them about every 6 months, or when they get worn out.

Considering I hated PE class at school, it's still hard to believe that I'm so fitness-obsessed now. The longer I do it, the more I love it! I will probably update this list for you later in the year, as I'm sure I will find new products to love and want to share with you guys.

What are some of your fitness essentials? 

Steph x.