I’ve worked out in A TON of different gyms in my day. CrossFit gyms, HIIT studios, and globo gyms are all now part of my weekly routine. And the more I’m working out in these gyms, the more I notice certain pieces of equipment that are lacking or missing in their studios. And instead of being annoyed with it, I solved the issue and I’ve purchased those pieces of equipment for myself. You know why? Because Walmart has those pieces at insanely affordable prices so why not? Now I can take these fitness items with me to the gym, get an incredible workout in, and leave them in my car for my next workout. Instead of wishing the gym had something, I solved the problem for myself!
Today I want to talk through some of those simple pieces of equipment because all have made such a huge difference in my workouts. Not only do I feel stronger, but I’m seeing better results because of it! And some of these items cost as little as $13! At Walmart you can find pretty much anything you’re looking for when it comes to exercise equipment. Whether you’re looking to stockpile your garage with all the gear or you’re just trying to get a few extra pieces for quick workouts in your living room, Walmart has your back! And they will make sure you get the best price on the market!
First on my list, this barbell pad. If your gym is anything like mine, it has the same barbell squat pads that have been around for years now. And sadly those pads don’t give much comfort when you’re using them during hip thrusts. I do hip thrusts 2-3 times a week and I have felt at a standstill for almost a year now with my strength. Because every time I would try to increase the weight of the barbell, my hip bones were under constant stress and all I could think about was the bruising that was occurring from the barbell. The normal squat pad did nothing. But this barbell pad changes everything! The pad is so soft, it doesn’t slip or move during your movements, and it’s super lightweight so it’s easy to pack in a gym bag. I always thought my hip thrusts were incredibly weak, but this barbell pad has shown me that they are WAY stronger than I thought! Now I can concentrate on my form instead of the pain in my hips. It’s AWESOME!
Now most of you will know this piece of equipment and maybe even have it in your gym, but mine doesn’t have it! So weird. I’ve used a medicine ball for years now at a CrossFit gym, but I don’t have one at my globo gym. And I wanted one! Medicine balls are so useful and you can get some incredible full body workouts in with one. Here are just a few movements you can do with a medicine ball –
- Wall Balls
- Ball Slams
- Jumping Lunges
- Ball Throws
- Ball Cleans
- Russian Twists
- Lunge Stance Wall Throws
And these are just the tip of the iceberg! If you’re looking to get in some great workouts at home, this piece of equipment will do it! Walmart has a ton of different weight options when it comes to medicine balls so you can find the perfect size for your workout!
Now my gym has this next piece of equipment, but I’ve always wanted to have one at home so I can do some accessory balance work on my own. An exercise ball is an awesome piece of equipment to have around the house to work not only your balance (that really is neglected as we get older) but your tiny little muscles, as well. Not only can you get in some really amazing ab exercise like knee tucks, toe taps, pikes, and crunches; but you can work in some great lower body movements, too! Hamstring curls, glute bridges, hip thrusts, and wall squats are just the start of movements you can do with an exercise ball.
Now if you want a true FULL BODY exercise, pick up a slam ball. I had my first slam ball experience at one of my first CrossFit competitions and man oh man, was it quite a rude awakening. Slam balls are BRUTAL! It’s the next best thing to a barbell. You can get great push and pull movements in with a slam ball and it’s packed in a small size, which makes it easy to store if you have a home gym. Here are just a few movements you can get in with a slam ball –
- Ball Slams
- Front Squats
- Ball Cleans
- Ground to Shoulder
- Ball Over The Shoulder Throws
- Weighted Run
Now last but definitely not least, this ankle strap for a cable machine. My gym has never had the best straps for any leg movements I want to perform on the cable machine. And because of that, I was using some dinky ankle straps that made me feel like I could barely perform the movement. This ankle strap makes all the difference and it’s super easy to pack with me in my gym bag. Now I can perform movements like cable kickbacks, cable abductors, and lateral lunges in a safe way and get the most out of every rep!
Walmart has everything you need to get active and stay active, this year, next year, and every year after that. No more excuses! With Walmart’s prices, you can find equipment that matches your goals with your budget. Hopefully these few pieces give you some new inspiration in the gym or even just some insight into what can make your workouts stronger!!
Shop All My Favorite Fitness Equipment
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This post is brought to you by Walmart. It contains some affiliate links and I may be compensated for this post, but all opinions are my own. This compensation helps with expenses to keep this blog up and running! Thank you for all your support!
Can you post a medicine ball workout?! Or have you and I missed it. My gym has a video on demand system, so I can do “group” workouts by myself since I work weird hours. There’s ONE 20 minute HIIT medicine ball video, Ive done it 100 times now and it’s getting boring.
THANK YOU!!!
i’ll definitely put one together someday!!
We have our own little home gym and we have always had an exercise ball! I incorporate it quite often. I love your workout posts!
it’s so helpful in workouts!!