As a busy mom, finding the perfect fitness routine and essentials that seamlessly fit into my hectic lifestyle is a game-changer. Over the years, I’ve tested and tried countless fitness products, and I’ve finally created a list of my favorite mom-approved fitness essentials.
These items help make my fitness journey more enjoyable and efficient. Whether you’re squeezing in a quick workout during nap time or waking up before the rest of the world, these essentials will support your goals and keep you motivated.
Join me as I share my top picks that every mom will love, ensuring you can stay healthy, active, and energized for whatever the day throws your way! Let’s get into it!
Sports Bra
I am a DD cup, so I have tried A LOT of different sports bras. I typically look for high impact in order to keep everything held in place, especially when I was doing a lot of running.
Personally, I prefer straight straps over racerbacks, but you will see I have one in particular that I love for strength training sessions, but it’s unlikely I would take it on a run and I have a second one that is SO cute, but not made for running either.
First up, I own this one in 3 different colors because it works so well! It holds everything in place and the band and straps are adjustable. The straight strap situation was something that I was so desperately looking for because at the peak of the search my boobs were a little bigger than they are now due to nursing. I was an F cup, which was causing significant neck pain with a racerback configuration. This bra comes in a variety of colors and is very durable. You don’t have to worry about cups folding and the material is thick enough to keep it all covered in the front.
Next up, we have a strappy one that is super cute and actually has a decent lift and hold. This one is a medium impact bra. I ALWAYS prefer an adjustable strap, but this one made the cut for having adjustable straps. My preference would be to hike my chest up a little higher, but I still really love the look and fit of this one. This one is versatile because it’s perfect for a workout, but also perfect to wear out and about with your kids.
The only thing that I hate is the removable padding because it folds in the wash. It’s relatively easy to manipulate, but still a pain in the ass.
Lastly, if we are going on purely looks, this strappy one is so cute too! For me, it doesn’t offer quite enough support to feel comfortable if I was heading to the actual gym. It seems ideal for a C cup or smaller. I think my boobs are honestly a little too saggy from nursing my daughter to stay put in this one. I kept it because I love how it looks and because it comes down so low I figured it would be perfect as a cropped tank if I’m hanging around the house or running in and out of the house, but staying on my property.
Shorts
You need these shorts. They are versatile for fitness and wearing out for summer with your kids!
This pair is superior because the elastic waistband helps to hold the shorts at the height you choose and then you can secure it with the drawstring. So many other shorts that are comfortable I have found to ride up and I can’t stand that. They stay put for a run, chasing children, and a strength training session. Bonus, there are 2 functioning pockets that your phone will fit into perfectly. The price point is also affordable. I just bought 2 more for $25.
Watch
I had a Fitbit for many years, but I noticed they rarely made it 2 years. Each time, something crazy would happen and it wouldn’t hold a charge or once just stopped working altogether.
My husband gifted me a Venu Sq 2 Garmin for Christmas because I mentioned I heard it has more reliable GPS tracking for running. I am absolutely in love. It’s cute and functions perfectly for my fitness journey!
I use it as an alarm to get up for my workouts, it will track my cardio and HIIT sessions, tracks my sleep, and tells me when I hit my steps. I like that it prompts you to move your ass a bit more often than the Fitbit. I love the gold face and white band because it’s not as tacky as the coral Fitbit I had previously. It goes with way more without spending money to add on accessories.
Ear Buds
The ear buds I have are from Sony and they are super nice and I love the portable case. I feel like ear buds are perfect for busy moms. I use them outside of my fitness routine quite often. I might use them to listen to a podcast while I’m meal prepping or when I want to talk to someone on the phone hands-free. They function fine with one ear bud in allowing me to still hear what my toddler is doing. I rarely have to charge them because the battery lasts so long.
I do have kind of small ears so I have to adjust them when running, but once they get in a good spot I don’t feel I have to adjust them as often as some of my previous pairs of headphones. The price point in comparison to some others that I have seen is pretty good. I have white and my husband has them in black.
Water Bottle
I don’t care if you go to the gym once a week or workout in your home gym, everyone needs a water bottle. If you get one with a straw, you’ll be amazed at how much more water you consume.
It’s also highly motivating when you can visually see how much or how little you have consumed. When I’m out for a longer day away from home I typically grab my 64 ounce bottle, which is kind of excessive and not the easiest to transport, but I’ve never been out and thought, shit I’m almost out of water.
This bottle has a perfect handle, it’s extremely durable, it has a little motivation on the bottle with measurements, a straw, and a push button to uncover the straw.
With the warmer weather approaching for summer, I have decided to purchase something that is better insulated with a handle for summer. This cup was giving summer vibes so I had to get it and it made more sense for shorter trips with my daughter for the summer. It checked all my boxes for being a bit easier to carry around, having a straw, handle, and being insulated so I could avoid hot water this summer.
Gloves
My hands were getting pretty calloused when I started to lift heavier and my hands were actually hurting with pull ups quite a bit. The gloves have made it easier to grip the barbell, pull up bar, and dumbbells. These were a solid $10 price point with great reviews.
I would like to add that I don’t wear them for everything, but typically for leg day because I’m really trying to lift heavier and it’s getting tougher to progress because I’m lacking upper body or grip strength in comparison. I’ve been considering straps, so stay tuned on those.
Hip Thrust Pad
I tried my best to makeshift this one in the home gym, but was still hurting myself trying to position or getting some pretty gruesome bruising along my pelvis. This hip thrust pad was pretty inexpensive and it helps for barbell hip thrusts and squats to make it a little more comfortable.
This will be a good comfort addition to throw in your gym bag or add to your home gym because at the gym they typically have limited supplies of all of the “extras” so this way you won’t have to wait around or share the sweat of others. Win-win!
Wrapping it Up
Finding the right fitness tools and gear can truly transform your workout experience, especially for us moms who are always on the go. My favorite mom-approved fitness essentials have not only made exercising more accessible and enjoyable but have also helped me maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle amidst the chaos of daily life.
I hope that by sharing these essentials, you too can find inspiration and motivation to prioritize your health and well-being.
Remember, taking care of yourself is not just a gift to you but also to your family. Stay fit, stay strong, and keep moving, mama!