5 Tools to Have in Your Toolbox For a Weight Loss Journey (My Toolbox)

When beginning a weight loss journey I think the biggest question outside of "When do I begin?" is probably "What do I need to begin?" In all honesty, I have no idea what is needed and I'm sure the answer depends on each person's specific goals. So, really, it's entirely up to you what tools you want to keep in your toolbox. For me, and for right now, here are 10 things you might like to have in your weight loss toolbox: 

TOOL ONE: A set of free weights. I have this cheap set of AmazonBasic dumbbell weights in three, five, and eight pounds. They also have a set with 4, 8, and 12 pounds but I thought that would be too heavy for now.

TOOL TWO: Fitness Bands. These are somewhat similar to free weights in that they just hike up the intensty of some workouts. The set I have range from Light to XX-Heavy resistance. I received these for free but if you are looking for a great and inexpensive set try these.

TOOL THREE. A jump rope.

TOOL FOUR: Headphones! Okay, this is non-negotiable. The best workouts always have the best soundtracks, right? There's nothing like a good beat that makes you want to push to your max effort. These are my absolute favorite bluetooth headphones and they are from Amazon! They have a good battery life, are wireless (so no more cords swinging around while you run or tangling you up as you switch from downward dog to warrior 1), and they stay put in your ear even when you're running.  I am always using these when I work out and I'm happy to say they are not overly expensive.

TOOL FIVE: Record-keeping
Working out is great and all but I know that many of us are focused on THAT PROGRESS above all else. So the best way to stay motivated for me is to have some kick a$$ apps or ways to keep track of all the hard work you are putting in. For me, this means a variety of apps:

• Nike Run+ App (free) - Great app for tracking runs/walks outside.
• Peloton Subscription ($19/month) - Great app for a variety of workouts including spinning, running (both on treadmill or outside), bodyweight, yoga, stretching, meditation, etc.
• MyFitnessPal App (free) - Best app for tracking caloric intake and burn.
• MapMyFitness App (free) - Good app for syncing runs/walks/workouts with MyFitnessPal to count toward caloric burn.
• TwinBody (free) - Great for inspiration, motivation, posting progress pics, and cheering people on.