Fitness products you must have

My 25 year old niece is addicted to trends. Whether it is a diet, church or TV show she will always want to be at the forefront.
Currently, she is into the fitness trend and her bedroom looks like a sports shop. She has bought every gadget, every outfit available much of which she does not use.
The fitness industry like any other industry thrives on selling as much merchandise to consumers whether they need it or not. This is why fitness expert Robert Ddamulira cautions people against buying whatever looks good but instead buy what is suitable for their specific needs, goals and routines.
Gym bag
It may seem obvious, but it is important to start with a strong gym. A gym bag should be water resistant and should have several pockets to store all the things needed for your workout. A second hand gym bag goes for Shs50,000 and Shs150, 000 in sport shops.

Outfit
The outfit you wear to your workout can enhance or undermine your session. Haula Musoke Nakiganda, a personal trainer, recommends a form-fitting boob tube, loose vest, tights and converse for women. Remmy Semwaka recommends a tracksuit, cotton t-shirt and soft soled shoes for men. “The outfit usually depends on the activities you do most, and make sure the clothes you buy are comfortable and appropriate for that activity,” Nakiganda elaborates.
Gym shoes in downtown Kampala cost on average Shs40,000 while one can get a trendy high performance pair from city centre sports shops at Shs300,000.

Gloves
Gloves are needed to protect your hands from forming calluses especially if you lift weights, use over rods, dumbbells, punching bags and other gym accessories. If you spend a lot of time on heavy weights, you will need real leather gloves with layered padding, wrist support and excellent breathability. Gloves should fit snugly but allow your fingers to move comfortably. Suede or rubber palms and fingers are considered perfect for every kind of surface for enhanced traction and durability.

Face towel
If you are going on a workout session you should expect sweat and you should therefore carry your own face towel. “Some gyms provide towels but it is not hygienic to use the same towel everyone uses to wipe sweat,” Semwaka cautions. Ddamulira also recommends wrist and headbands to help keep sweat at bay.

Water bottles
As one works out, they lose water through sweat, so it is advisable to carry water to a workout. Look for high-quality, shatter-resistant glass with a fitting cap that is BPA-free. BPA is a toxic chemical found in some plastics.

Rope
There are times you will not be able to make it to the gym or for the roadwork; this is the time you need the trusted rope with you. “Jumping a rope in itself is a killer workout that burns around 10 calories a minute, and it works many of your major muscle groups, including your legs, shoulders, and arms. It’s a must-have in your home gym because it is small and convenient ,” Ddamulira advises.

Activity tracker
You will need something to track your activity. There are so many gadgets on the market, from a heart rate sensor with a stopwatch to wearables so advanced that they can actually track your steps and even rate your workout plan.