Exercising should not be an expensive lifestyle or hobby. Most fitness “memberships” and subscriptions are a waste of money. None of these products are necessary to achieve your fitness goals, but here are a few products that are not a complete waste of money.

Creatine Monohydrate

Most fitness supplements are highway robbery. Fortunately, creatine monohydrate has been scientifically proven to improve exercise performance and aid muscle growth.

• Creatine can increase phosphocreatine levels, which helps form ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the building block of energy in our cells. When I started taking creatine, I noticed the ability to do more reps during each set, and this biochemical mechanism is the reason behind that.
• Creatine can increase the amount of water in your muscles, which manifests as increased muscle size.
• Along with all these surprising fitness benefits, some research shows that creatine can improve brain function since it has a positive relationship with the formation of ATP, the source of energy in all our cells.

I have noticed muscle hypertrophy and strength gains since I started supplementing creatine. If you’re going to spend the money on any exercise-related supplement, have it be creatine.

(P.S.): Some people debate “cycling” creatine for improved results. “Cycling” creatine (Starting with 20-30g a day and then decreasing your dose to a normal level of around 5g) has not been proven to have any additional benefits. Just take 5g (one scoop) of creatine a day and you should start seeing results.

A Weightlifting Belt

Any serious lifter should have a weightlifting belt. I recommend using one when you feel your form being sacrificed when moving up in weight on a lift. Personally, I use a weightlifting belt when squatting or deadlifting over 315.

A few reasons to get a weightlifting belt:

• Stabilizes your core
• Protects your spine
• Increases strength on a lift

Pull-up bar

There may be days when you don’t have time to go to the gym or do a full workout. In these cases, a pull-up bar can be a quick and easy way to prevent muscle atrophy. At $30, this one-time purchase is probably the best bang-for-your-buck of any piece of exercise equipment available.

It can be beneficial to put one of these bad boys on the doorway to your bedroom or bathroom. An inevitable trip to the potty can serve as a reminder to do a few pull-ups in during a busy day.