This week, Healthy Living London writer Jessie has shared with us her top 10 gym necessities…
THE POWDERS
I try to start my weekdays with a workout before diving into my admin duties from 9-5. This means my days are now starting at 5:30AM and I wouldn’t consider myself and natural morning bird. I had to find a solution to feel that drive to get to the gym at such early hours and stick to this new routine.
While looking into “Clean” pre-workout I found that there were very few brands that created pre-workout powders that weren’t filled with artificial ingredients, sugars and loads of caffeine. I then stumbled across the brand My Vegan, which is naturally flavored, made with plant extracts and free from any artificial coloring and flavors. It contains 150mg of caffeine per serving, which is less than the leading brands and includes coffee and tea extracts, which means you’re getting a cleaner source of energy.
They have a range of flavors like Sour Apple, Lemon Tea and Tangy Orange (my personal favorite). My Vegan is also running an offer for Impact Week, where you can get up to 50% off their entire range of products, which include protein powders, supplements and so on.
Check out their line yourself if you want to get some clean pre-work out options for you next gym session!
Shop My Vegan pre-workout here.
Next up, I needed a something to help assist my body with preforming its best after-training.
I got to try out Indi Tone. This little carton of magic powder not only provides your body with plant protein but also works to speed up the recovery of muscles and tone your body. Who says you can’t do it all?
Indi Tone is made with pea and chickpea protein, Montmorency cherry powder, coconut water, additional natural fruit powders, green tea extract and stevia for a little natural sweetness. The blend is also bioavailable, which means it is easily absorbed by the body and has been tested by a team of nutritional experts and food technologists.
I’ve been using this powder for the last week within 30 minutes after each training session and can truly say I’ve started to see and feel a difference in my body. The powder keeps me full for a few hours after consumption and I feel quite pepped up straight after drinking Indi Tone. The ingredients feel light and natural and I am starting to see more definition in my abdomen region. I am also a massive fan of natural cherry flavoring, so the taste of Indi Tone is phenomenal to me, as cherry is certainly the most stand-out note in the blend.
If you’re looking to try out Indi Tone yourself, or any of their other products from their clean vegan range, you can shop Indi here.
THE OUTFIT
I have tons of activewear, and truly feel a bit guilty when I stop wearing the pieces due to them not fitting my body properly as the fabric starts to sag, or I notice the pieces don’t let my skin breathe, creating body acne. There is so much material waste due to companies making mass amounts of poor-quality clothing and I did not want to contribute to this issue that is negatively impacting our planet.
The brands Kit Change, KAMI Activewear and Modi Bodi are changing the activewear game by providing pieces made from recycled materials.
I received the Beluga Sports Bra and Crop Top from KAMI Activewear. What makes this brand so special is that the founder Katie Snell is a major advocate for preserving and protecting sea life. Therefore, she created this brand in a stance against fast fashion which is extremely damaging to our oceans. Her clothing is made from fishing nets and other waste materials that would have normally ended up in landfills.
Kit Change provided me with my Fit Pocket Leggings and somehow, made cloud-like material that fits perfectly to your body out of recycled plastic water bottles. It almost makes you wonder why anyone would make clothing out of anything else! These leggings give you that “second-skin” feel, are squat-proof and reduce irritation and chafing.
Modi Bodi sent through a pair of their Seam-Free, Recycled Bikini Briefs for a fashionable and eco-friendly period, because now there’s a better option to replace the “granny panties” we’d usually use during our time of the month. These clever undies, make up for the use of 3 tampons, create less environmental waste, and are super cute! They are made out of 73% recycled nylon and are seam-free, which means they’re a perfect fit to pair with those body-hugging leggings.
After wearing each of these pieces throughout the last two weeks, I’ve noticed a significant change in my skin’s appearance (less spots, chaffing, irritation) and have felt very good knowing that there are brands out there producing high-quality activewear that feels comfortable, looks amazing on, and is assisting the environment by recycling our previous waste. Before you make that next clothing purchase, think about the companies that you’re supporting.
You can find an amazing range of eco-friendly athletic apparel from all three companies listed.
Shop KAMI here / Shop Kit Change here / Shop Modi Bodi here
THE SHOES
No outfit is complete without a solid pair of shoes. Thanks to the masterminds behind On Running, I can confidently say, I’ve never been more comfortable in my own shoes (pun intended).
I chose the Cloud style to try out from their versatile range, as this shoe is best suited for everyday activities. The Cloud is made to be a comfortable addition to your every day or training outfits with its soft-touch fabric, breathable and antimicrobial mesh as well as state-of-the-art running technology.
I tried this shoe out for the week, and I’ve converted to an On-Running fan. Being a woman that is constantly on her feet either at work or at the gym, I needed a shoe that provides support throughout the day and won’t fall apart after a few months of extreme use. The Cloud shoe has ticked all of the boxes thus far, being a comfortable and stylish staple that is now a part of my wardrobe.
THE SOUND
There’s nothing that takes the pain out of a workout quite like a motivating dance beat blasting from a good quality pair of headphones.
Amazing quality sound and great structure were exactly what I got out of the latest headphones I tested out this week.
AO.com allowed me to test out the Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones and I was blown away. The sound quality is perfect, along with the headphone style, which includes comfort-cushioned padding around the ears. Some other great features of the Beats Solo 3 Headphones was its 40-hour battery life, noise-isolation blocks and fast-fuel technology for powering up quickly. I personally loved working out with these headphones as I didn’t have to worry about them falling out during my runs and didn’t have to worry about them dying when I forgot to charge them overnight. These are currently on sale on AO’s website for £169.
If you have more of a preference toward earbuds instead of the over-the-head headphones, another great option is the JBL Reflect Mini NC. These may be small in size, but they certainly stand out! With an IPX7 waterproof rating, they can withstand the most extreme workouts. They also have noise-cancelling features, allowing you to tune in to your personalized workout hits. They give you up to 21 hours of playtime and can be put away in their compact charging case once you’re done with them. The JBL Reflect Mini can be purchased for £129.99
THE BODY CARE
Getting gym-ready certainly involves material and consumable essentials to help our body be in its best state, but we must not forget about products that impact the body directly, both before and after workouts.
I take pride in my body’s appearance and overall health and hygiene so smelling my best, even when sweating profusely is a necessity in my book. Let’s be honest, no one wants to be stuck at the gym next to the person whose body odor lingers in the air. So, have no fear, Wild Deodorant is here!
Wild Deodorant is all-natural, aluminum free, and made out of compostable, plastic-free refills with a fail-proof formula.
I have definitely tried various natural deodorants and though they did smell nice, none seemed to have effects that lasted more than an hour or two. I’ve not had to apply Wild deodorants on more than once a day to find the scent lasts all day, keeping me smelling like a fresh field of lavender (or orange zest, coconut, beramont, jasmine, cotton or sandalwood).
Finding after-gym skincare has always been tough. Most people resort to standard body wash after the gym, but if your skin is anything like mine, you’ll sometimes suffer from the dreaded body acne and skin irritation after a hard day’s workout.
Nuasan has come out with an Active Bodycare Kit to solve this gym-skin crisis. Inside the kit, you’ll find Active body wash, body wipes and a microfibre sports towel.
The body wash and wipes are tailored to repair and refresh muscles, body and skin. The wash itself contains arnica and magnesium to relieve sore muscles and recover more quickly as well as L+pH Control®, which is their unique naturally antibacterial ingredient, tackling problems caused by sweat to give you long-lasting body freshness, super soft skin & fewer breakouts. The wipes contain similar ingredients, but can be used on the go and are bio-degradable which is a huge bonus for the eco-conscious!
After using both the body wash and wipes, my skin is really starting to clear up. There are times when I can’t get out of my gym wear straight away after a session, and the wipes have been a life-saver for my skin! I have not yet experienced the muscle relaxation effects of the products, but my skin looking healthy and fresh is a huge priority for me, so Nuasan’s body care kit has certainly worked wonders for me in that area. I will absolutely continue using these products in the future and highly recommend them, especially to those prone to irritable skin after a workout.
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