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What’s your New Year’s resolution? Exercise and weight loss top the list of resolutions for 2024, but you don’t have to start your workout routine on New Year’s Day to stick with it. In fact, it might be better to wait a few days before you dive into a new routine.
The benefits of working out regularly extend beyond the physical body. For example, exercise helps relieve stress, can improve your overall mental health and help you feel more accomplished (it’s not easy sticking to a workout routine!). It also stimulates endorphins in the brain to boost your mood and make you feel more relaxed.
Having personally lost 30 pounds through a strict exercise and dieting routine — which included cutting out salt, processed sugar, bread and alcohol — I know a bit about what it takes to shed the pounds and how hard it cane be. So, don’t worry if you don’t see physical results right away. In my case, it took more than a month before I saw any real results, which made it hard to stay motivated but what you eat is just as important as how much you exercise. For example, eating small portions, multiple times a day can help speed up your metabolism (as it did for me) and help you lose weight but according to some medical experts, sticking to three, properly portioned meals can also help with weight loss.
Regardless of how you go about it, if you want to see a change your body, you’ll have to change your mindset first. That means committing to a routine, giving up guilty pleasures (at least to start) and incorporating things like fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins such as meats and fish as well as beans and nuts such as almonds, cashews and peanuts, and drinking lots of water (yes, drinking water can aid in weight loss).
Although gyms usually offer holiday deal and New Year’s discounts, going to the gym isn’t feasible for everybody. Some people don’t have the time, money or the ability to make it to a gym, which is why home workouts come in handy. In addition to potentially saving you time and money, working out at home is a convenient way to start getting fit (it also helps if you’re shy or maybe self-conscious about hitting the gym, which was the case for me in the beginning).
To help you get started, we’ve collected a list of sales on must-have exercise equipment and fitness gear. While you won’t find a gym bag, smart watch, activewear, headphones for working out or a massage gun listed below, you will find a variety of items for traditional cardio, strength training and more, ranging from budget friendly to splurge worthy.
If there’s only room for one thing on your list, make it a kettlebell. Kettlebells are a good starting point on the fitness journey. The handheld weight will get your heart rate pumping while toning your arms and back muscles and strengthening your core.
Resistance bands are another simple but affective way to get in a workout. The bands pictured above are currently 46% off at Amazon. They’re made from high-grade, natural latex designed to provide longer durability and prevent the bands from snapping.
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbell Set is perfect for a minimalist weight lifter. Each dumbbell adjusts from five to 52.5 pounds (in 25-pound increments up to 25 pounds) allowing you to switch exercises with the turn of a dial. The dumbbells are on sale at Bowflex, Target, Amazon and Best Buy.
Looking for lighter and cheaper weights? Try the Fitness Gear 32 lb. Neoprone Dumbbell Kit ($89.99) set or the CAP Barbell Neoprone Dumbbells (from $7 and up), which are available in 1-15 pound dumbbells and feature hex shaped heads to prevent rolling.
Amazon
Pressed for space? This portable treadmill is No. 2 bestseller at Amazon — and on sale for 20% off the list price. It features a durable, steel frame designed to hold up to 320 pounds, and it’s compact enough to fit in small spaces like under a desk or couch, without sacrificing some of the features found on larger treadmills such as an LED display screen (it also comes with a remote). The treadmill is available in 0.6 to 3.8 MPH speed levels, has a quiet motor with an adjustable belt measuring 16.54 inches x 39.78 inches. “
The ab roller is another versatile piece of equipment as it targets your abdominal muscles, back muscles and hip flexors. Vinsguir’s Ab Roller has a 3.2-inch dual wheel for added support and it comes with a knee pad. If you’re not so interested in the ab roller, you might like an exercise ball.
Ready to step into your fitness routine? The mini stepper from Sunny Health & Fitness offers a step-by-step, total body workout at an affordable price. The compact machine measures 16.5 inches x 12.25 x 8 inches, holds up to 220 pounds and works your upper and lower body toning your arms, legs, chest and thighs at the same time. If that’s not enough to convince you, the mini stepper earned a stamp of approval from shoppers, pushing it to No. 1 on Amazon‘s list of top-selling cardio equipment.
Need another budget friendly option? This traditional step platform, measures 42.5 inches long and has four, adjustable risers with a slip-resistant surface. According to the manufacturer, the Yes4All stepper can hold up to 300 pounds.
Get in fighting shape with this boxing set. The kit includes a 70-inch, freestanding punching bag and matching boxing gloves.
Alo Yoga’s popular Warrior Mat is currently on sale for $76 (40% off) in hot pink. If you want more color options, the Warrior Mat is available in several other colors including highlighter, rose quartz, powder pink, eclipse and black and jungle for $128). The durable yoga mat measures 6.2 feet long (2.2 feet wide) and is made from polyurethane leather at the top and rubber at the bottom. Plus, it’s formaldehyde-free, non-toxic and PVC-free.
Want something cheaper? You can find yoga mats at Amazon, Walmart and Target as well as brands such as Manduka.
Shopping for a Peleton? You can save up to $400 off select Peleton bikes at Amazon and other retailers. If you’re looking for a less expensive exercise bike with similar features including an HD touchscreen and access to fitness classes, the NordicTrack S151 is on sale for $799 — 50% off the list price. The closeout deal includes a 30-day subscription to iFit.
The bike features an ergonomic padded seat, adjustable handle bars, a 14-inch multitouch, rotatable HD touchscreen, Bluetooth, Google Maps technology and more.
Click here for more exercise bikes.
Walmart
Row your way to a fitter frame with the Xterra Fitness ERG160 Rower. It features eight different levels and an aluminum slide rail ensuring “a smooth rowing experience pull after pull,” per the product description.
The rower comes equipped with an LED display, foam padded handlebars and can fit users weighing up to 250 pounds and up to 6 feet 2 inches tall.