Are you looking for affordable home gym equipment recommendations? Look no further! In this video, I share my advice on affordable home gym equipment – all of which will not break the bank.
Affordable Home Gym Recommendations [That Will NOT Break the Bank]
So, today we are digging into home equipment recommendations for anyone who is considering investing in a home gym.
If you are in my workout app, you will know that one of the benefits is our office hours sessions, where I answer your questions one by one. Sometimes I come across questions that I love and want to share with all of you. This week’s post is based on one of those questions. The question is…
What are your home gym recommendations?
When considering a home gym, I recommend asking yourself the following questions first:
“Am I going big, or am I going small?”
“Is this just a substitute for days that I can’t get to the gym or something I plan to do long term?”
“Should I go all in and invest in it all at once or slowly chip away at it over time?
Unless you’re rolling in the dough, most people decide to start collecting things one by one as they go.
If your goal is to create a place for those days where you can’t get to the gym or only use your home gym for specific days in your split, then you would only need heavy enough equipment to make that work. If your goal is a Full Home Gym, I suggest adding on to your supply over time.
That is what I did, and others I know with a total gym did. They started semi-small with maybe a barbell, some dumbbells and then slowly increased. Then once you see that you like it and want to stick with it, you can start investing in things like power racks and more advanced equipment.
So now that we have a general overview, take the time to watch the video above for a more in-depth look into what it takes to start creating your home gym.
If you’re like most people, you probably think of Amazon as a one-stop shop for everything from books and clothes to electronics and household items. But did you know that Amazon is also a great place to find high-quality protein products? In this blog post, I’ll share my favorite Amazon protein products and explain why I love them. Stay tuned!
My FAVORITE Amazon Protein Products
Usually, I am harping about protein and how you need to get more consistent at protein, so I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite amazon products to help me stay on track with hitting my macros, mainly my protein. And all of these products are available on Subscribe and Save so that you can have them automatically sent to you when you choose.
What you may or may not know about me is that I am a self-professed carb queen. I love carbs. I do not have a hard time getting my carbs in, but I have a hard time staying consistent. If left to my devices, I start eating whatever feels good to me or intuitively. I eat predominantly carbs, which means that my protein ratio can be anywhere from 15 to 10 percent or less because carbs and fat are life, right?
Macronutrients consist of protein, carbs, and fat, for those who don’t know. Let’s also not forget about fiber which is essential because it gives the thermogenic effect of food. This means you are burning calories just in your digestion, including protein. So if you are someone like me who needs to up their protein, then maybe some of these products and tips will help you figure out how to make it work for you.
Now let’s dive into My FAVORITE Amazon Protein Products.
Core Power Protein Shakes
The first product is Core Power Protein Shakes. This 12 pack comes in different flavors that you can try, such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry banana. You can choose between 26 or 42 grams of protein (The 42g option is called the Core Power Elite.).
If you are having a tough time hitting protein or someone who looks at your macros at the end of the day and realizes you are down 50g, these shakes may be for you! There are a lot of products that are labeled as “high protein” that are not. However, these Core Power shakes are great when you need to get some grams in.
Now, when it comes to the 42g Core Power Elite shake, I have found that many women find it hard to digest them. It is for me. Usually, in my house, what ends up happening, is that I end up drinking the 26g version, and my husband ends up drinking the 42. This is how it’s been for years, even with protein powders. If you’re somebody who has followed me for any length of time, you know that I was very anti-protein shakes and powders for a very long time, especially Pre 2013-=to 2014.
I thought they were disgusting and tough to get down. However, I discovered over time that some of the protein powders that were marketed toward women were a little bit easier to digest. Many of them were lactose-free or plant-based options, making them a little easier for me to swallow, they started tasting a little bit better, and there were many more options.
I will say that it’s not about the particular brand. Find one you like, but Core Power makes the best protein for me. They are also lactose-free and more accessible to digest than many other brands like Muscle Milk. These are my go-to.
Next thing on my list is collagen peptides. This brand has 10 grams of protein in each serving, which is excellent for adding an extra protein boost. Collagen peptides are not complete proteins, so you cannot substitute them for something like a protein shake. This is supplemental. I use it in my coffee. No, I am not keto or using it to have like coconut oil, MCT oil, or anything like that. This is literally about the protein for me. And since coffee is something that I drink every morning…. with real creamer and sugar (literally nothing beneficial for me), this is my way of boosting my macros.
If you use collagen already, you know that some can be lumpy. However, this brand (Unflavored) is our preference because it does seem to stir in better than most and gives you an excellent creamy coffee. I will warn you, though, it does not stir well into anything cold, but for us, it works for our hot coffee. It’s been a game-changer for me! I just start each day with a scoop and go about my day.
Moving onto our following protein product, Quest chips. Now, I am not going to lie and say that these taste exactly like your regular chips nor are they my favorite to indulge in, but they do the job for some healthy macro boosts.
I keep these around my home and office to have with a sandwich or a quick snack. These give you anywhere from 19-20g of protein, which is not too shabby. You can get them in various flavors like Nacho Cheese, Loaded Taco, and Chili Lime. Chili lime… Oh my goodness. So good. These don’t last very long with my husband and son in my household. They are chip guys. My husband’s favorite is Loaded Taco, and my son thinks these chips are “smack,”…. Whatever that means. (If you are under 30, perhaps you know and can fill me in!)
Tuna…. but not just any tuna. This particular type is higher in protein ranging around 22g of protein per cup. There are a lot of unique flavors to try, like Lemon and Thyme, Basil, Cracked Black Pepper, Garlic Herb, Cilantro Lime, and Smoked. You can carry them anywhere and come with a small spoon, so it’s easy to eat with your favorite bread or crackers.
Now that concludes our protein heavy lifters….. Now for the fun stuff!
Quest Caramel Candy Bites
These are DELICIOUS!!!! They only have 5g of protein, but they are only 80 calories and give you 4 grams of fiber! Are you kidding me? For chocolate and nuts? I gobble them up! They sometimes help at night when you are a snacker or have a sweet tooth like I do but don’t have the macros to grab your favorite candy bar. Seriously, get some now!
I keep this in stock because I love popcorn! I eat it every night, and if you are like me, you may want to look into something like Skinnygirl.
It’s not super macro-friendly, but there is a good amount of fiber in these.
Now that you know some of my favorites find what works for you! Hopefully, this gave you some good protein ideas. Let me know how you guys like it in the comments below.
Ok. It’s officially time to stop avoiding this one. Yeah…I’m talking to YOU.
You’ve tried just counting calories. It didn’t work for long. Now you’re stuck. You have taken your stab at high carb, low carb, paleo, weight watchers, intermittent fasting, clean eating, more cardio, less cardio, more lifting, no lifting…and that was just last month. You have probably tried EVERY trick in the book, but progress is a no-go.
How do I know? Because I am you. Not being the biggest protein fan, I’ve struggled most of my fit-seeking life trying to find any way of eating that would get me results…without having to establish the one habit I needed most: eating enough protein.
Why Protein?
Protein tends to be one of the often ignored elements – the one that most of us have heard about, but keep downplaying. Protein is the cornerstone to the most successful diets, and is one of the most agreed upon proponents of fat loss, muscle gain AND a healthy metabolism. It’s a total no brainer, yet many of us totally dismiss its importance – in our constant pursuit of shiny (and quick!).
Those of us who have accepted it, still shrug off the concept thinking that we probably eat “enough” protein already. Maybe. Maybe not. I fooled myself for years thinking that I was eating enough for my goals…even though hitting 100g on a good day was tough for me. I thought that having some protein at every meal was sufficient. As I hit the research a bit harder, I discovered that despite all that I’d accomplished, I wasn’t even coming close. Finally accepting, and attempting to truly step up my game has been a game changer.
My clients now know that before tackling ANY other area (including lowering cals), they must exhibit the ability to hit their protein goals consistently. I tell them plainly, that if they can’t hit the protein goal eating at maintenance, there’s no way they’ll be able to eat enough with even less calories. Since protein needs increase as calories decrease, skipping this step is devastating to progress.
The 7-Day Protein CHALLENGE
I learned a few tricks along the way, that can help ANY carb queen (or king) become a Macro Master (title claimed by my hubs when I taught him these same tactics). I’ve picked the top seven and turned them into a 7-day challenge that you can do as many times as you like, until the habits form. Habits that will ultimately catapult you to the next level. The challenge also includes a 16-page guide to help you nail your goals any time, anywhere. The goal: to get to the point where you are applying ALL of the tips effortlessly as a part of your new lifestyle.
Eating a higher protein diet is a huge key to the FAT (vs WEIGHT) loss puzzle.
Many of you have already signed up and stepped up to this challenge. The rest of you…what are you waiting for? If you find it impossible to even consider eating 1g per pound of bodyweight (150+ pounds and still struggling to get in 100g? Not gonna work), this challenge is for you.
If you think that you need implement multiple changes, I encourage you to first get yourself to the point where you are hitting your protein goals every week (based on your weekly average) for at least 6-8 weeks straight. Then if you need to change something else, go for it (but keep the protein at that level).
Until then, come join us!
We’ll be using the hashtag #em2wlproteinchallenge to share and hold each other accountable. Come on…you can do anything for 7 days!
Vegan protein almost sounds like an oxymoron. Protein mainly comes from animals or dairy, two of the largest eliminations from a vegan diet. So it almost seems impossible to get the suggested 30% of protein in a day in order to maximize fat loss. Many EM2WL vegans may think that this exempts them from the protein recommendations, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Vegan protein vs. vegetarian protein
It’s no secret that vegans and vegetarians can have a harder time hitting their protein macro. But it is not impossible, nor should it be excusable. Vegetarians have a slightly easier job because they can still eat dairy and eggs. Vegans however have to get a bit more creative when it comes to protein.
Nuts, seeds tofu and legumes often become the main focus for a vegan lifestyle. These items can certainly help fill in some of the vegan protein gap, but they also tend to have higher levels of fat and carbs attached to them. This means that the ratio can be harder to balance out for those striving to hit physique-specific goals.
For example, beans have a high level of protein, but the carb level also increases by 4x. This could mean that the beans carry 10g of protein, but the carbs could be 50 or 60g. This makes it very hard to hit macros such as 40/30/30. Vegans would need to pay closer attention to their vegan protein source, and it’s carb/protein/fat ratios to ensure that balance and still maximize their ability to lose fat.
Awareness is key. Simply knowing to pay attention in these areas will begin to open your eyes to items that may have been right under your nose all along. For example: many EM2WL vegans have found ways to increase their protein intake with simple swaps of plant based bread products. These give a much higher level of protein than regular bread. These can be a little hard to find locally, but if you are an international shopper you could try ordering from Here.
When it comes to balancing your macros, the only thing to keep in mind is that, for fat loss, protein should still hit that 30-35% mark. Vegans actually need to eat slightly more than a carnivore when it comes to getting in protein, simply because of the kinds of proteins they eat. They don’t process the same as meat and dairy do.
Allow carbs and fat to fall where they may, based on personal preference, so long as the protein hovers above that 30% mark. For a vegan this may take some time, (ok a LOT of time) to work your way up to that percentage, but the higher that level can get, the better off a muscle-keeping, fat-loss-seeking vegan will be.
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