If you’re the type who makes New Year resolutions, then one of them was most likely to improve your overall health and fitness. Even if your fitness level was zero in 2015, there’s no time like the present to start, and January 2016 is it. As with anything worth the effort, the hardest part is often the start… but with the right gear and proper motivation (more than a few pieces of too-tight clothes and inspiration pics taped to the fridge and bathroom mirror), you can really take your health and fitness to the next level.

Clothes – Sure, you could just throw on any ol’ shorts and any ol’ tee shirt for your work out, but here’s the thing… the change in your body starts in your mind. In order for fitness to be incorporated as a part of your life (that means lasting past January), there needs to be some aspects of “ritual” or difference about it. If you treat working out as nothing special, it will be much easier to fall off the fitness wagon sooner. Plus, there’s a lot to be said for clothing actually engineered to do what you’re doing. Shorts like these are made from a moisture-wicking material that helps you stay dry, there’s plenty of secure pockets, and the cut allows your legs to move freely. In cooler climates, these longer pants are perfect. For tops, look for tanks with moisture-wicking ability, a built-in bra, and a high content of spandex. Some even come with small media pockets and built-in SPF, like this one. If you need some degree of layering or longer sleeves, opt for light-weight running hoodies, like this and this.

Shoes – There are all kinds of shoes designed for all kinds of fitness, and before you ask…yes, they are worth the money. If you have already decided on outdoor/trail running or jogging, then you’ll need shoes with expert fit, extra tread, and the right amount of cushion, like these. On the other hand, if you’re up for some running in the concrete jungle, these offer super fit and even more cushioning designed to withstand the pavement. If your fitness routine will be largely inside, or will vary between indoor and outdoor, then you’ll need a good all-around cross-training shoe, like this one. It has a little bit of all of the above.

Tunes – Music makes everything better… and it will definitely make any workout less torturous… trust us. But it’s not exactly as if you’ll be able to throw some tunes on the Bose and kick back. You’ll be on the move, so your music needs to keep up. Bluetooth earbuds like these will eliminate the need for wires that tend to get caught up in your movement. These also have a mic so you can take important calls if the need arises. And if you aren’t fond of earbuds, or just want to stay more in touch with the noises around you, then this cool runner’s backpack has built-in speakers!

Monitors – And since you’ll be making all these positive changes in your fitness and body, you will need a way to keep track of your progress. More importantly, giving yourself a way to actually see the results in writing will give you a boost…especially when that little voice starts playing tricks on you (and it will), telling you that all the working out isn’t working. There’s the sleek, modern design of the classic water-resistant FitBit, which wirelessly syncs to monitor your sleep, steps, distance, and calories. There’s also the versatile clip-on version of the FitBit, which is great for all of the above plus stair-climbing too. And when you’ve finally established your fitness lifestyle, you can graduate to this cutting edge fitness tracker, whose bells-and-whistles include a heartrate monitor, GPS, compass, training programs, route navigation, and advanced functions for running, cycling, and swimming.

 

Image by Earl McGehee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: flickr)