Anyone and everyone that trains will have a few gym accessories. But we aren’t just referring to your gym bag and sippers etc. We are talking about some accessories that you should have in your gym bag. They are really very small things and not expensive either. While there are a number of them we would like to list here, these are just 5 that we think are a must-have:
Must-Have Gym Accessories
#1 Lifting Straps
Some people feel that if they use lifting straps, they are cheating. But if you give it some more thought you will realise that isn’t the case. Of course, if you are attempting to pull a clean dead-lift or if you’re doing farmer’s carries, then yes, using these straps would amount to cheating; this is because working your grips is a major part of the territory and the challenge.
However, if you are into building and you just can’t crush those extra reps because of your grip (even though your muscles yearn for more), and then using lifting straps makes a whole lot of sense. If they help you maximise your load, then it’s definitely a good idea. Buy good quality lifting straps that will provide the right amount of support and comfort.
#2 Fat Gripz
For the most part, you can use these for those barbell “push” exercises you do. Once you have worked sufficiently with a barbell, you start looking for a challenge and will find that you won’t gravitate towards the standard size bar again. Fat grips help you build grip strength and your arms; they also save your shoulders from significant amount of wear-and-tear.
#3 Stopwatch
This seems like a simple enough accessory; but it can help you make some ground-breaking new gains. It’s very common for people at the gym to rest for too long. If you really are keen on inducing muscle growth with just the regular high volume work, you will have to restrict your rest periods in–between exercises to 2 minutes. The one way to keep yourself honest is to use a stopwatch.
#4 Resistance bands
These seem like a simple enough accessory, but not too many gyms actually have these. But we believe that anyone who trains seriously should consider using these thin, hand-held resistance bands. These aren’t the ones you use when you bench or dead-lift. You can use them in a number of different ways when you are warming up. You can also intersperse their use right through your training sessions – this helps you stay loose and they will also aid in building some extra muscle.
#5 Gymnastic rings
These are an extremely versatile tool. They are excellent for your joints and elbows and far more challenging whenever you’re doing pull-ups. However, you can also use them for feet-elevated push-ups, recline rows and a range of other bodyweight exercises.
If you are still wondering whether these are going to do you any good, just take a look at any male gymnast that trains on gymnastic rings all day and tell us if you aren’t impressed with his muscles.
These are just a few of the very basic gym accessories that are simple, inexpensive and effective. Just ensure that you buy products of a good quality, so they will last long and will be able to handle the wear-and tear. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Schembri PT. You can send us an email to info@schembript.com or fill in this contact us form and we’ll reply as soon as possible.
Thanks for reading,
Schembri PT Team
02 9648 6405