We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.
– Aristotle
I am writing this post as a kind of part of an extension to one of my more popular posts – 10 Things I Can’t Live Without After a Breakup.
It was raining, and I really didn’t feel like working out that day. I was just beginning to feel like I was getting over my girlfriend who broke up with me at her parent’s house and then threw it in my face that she was cheating on me. What a great way to break up, right? Not only did she break my poor little achy heart by breaking up with me, but she also had to throw into the mixture of insult-stew that she was going on dates and seeing someone else, without me knowing. Nevertheless, I was at the point where my workouts were improving and I was growing confidence in myself, and in turn I was getting over my girlfriend. But on this rainy weekday afternoon I just wasn’t feeling it.
I forced myself to workout at home, and did my usual routine of going outside and jogging around the house to warm up. I felt the blood flowing in my body, and was beginning to feel good. Despite it being cold and wet outside, my legs were beginning to feel warm, my mind was beginning to feel focused, and I felt like I was about to have a good workout. I was ready.
I started with my usual workout that was scheduled that day, and was able to lift and get a good workout in. I was prepared and had all of the right equipment. I had my squat rack that I bought online for around $100. I had my cheap workout gloves that I bought from the nearest store in my town. I had good shoes that I know weren’t going to fail me. I had comfortable shorts, I good homemade weight belt, and a good pullup bar that I made myself all to assist me in achieving a good pump for that day. All was well and I was very glad that I didn’t skimp out on my workout that day. Things turned out well and I felt good that day and even went out to town to apply on this job I had been trying to get, and two weeks later guess what? I got the job. One good thing usually leads to other good things.
We should all know by know that working out and implementing a good, solid workout routine and plan will help significantly when it comes to getting over a breakup. But, there are also many “hacks” and shortcuts that will help you go from seeing little progress and making little gains to pumping iron like Arnold himself and having every girl from here to Texas fawn over you. In my 28 years on this Earth, coupled with another 13 or so years of experience of working out, I have experimented with many, many different pieces of workout equipment, workout programs, and workout techniques to maximize the results of the effort I put into my workouts, and fortunately for you, have found ten different cheap workout items that can be used around the home or anywhere to improve your workouts so you can get over your breakup, and be well on your way to becoming a better man. They are:
- Workout gloves with straps/wrist support
I have heard so many times that being a guy and wearing workout gloves somehow makes you a wimp, or weak. The opposite is true. Actually, when I find that I wear workout gloves, I find that I am stronger and able to lift and carry more weight. Somehow, we have fell prey to the assumption that “to be a man” you have to have rough, calloused hands. Well I can tell you first hand that I am a man, and I have had both rough, calloused hands before from working out and working on the farm drilling fence posts all day, and I currently have fairly smooth hands, and having smooth hands is much more comfortable. I actually have gotten quite a few compliments from girls on how smooth my hands were (don’t ask why they are so smooth). Protecting your hands while working out will save you a lot of pain, will allow you to protect your hands, and ultimately allow you to lift more weight. Need I say more?
2. Comfortable basketball shorts or something similar
You know what is my pet peeve? You really want to know? It is when I go to the gym on the rare occasion I feel like actually going to the gym rather than working out at home and seeing an old man or a person there wearing jeans to workout in. Ok, it may not be my biggest pet peeve, and I mean I have to give the jean-wearer credit for actually getting in the gym and getting a workout in. But in my opinion it is very difficult to get a good workout in by wearing denim that is choking your precious jewels alive. Seriously, just one pair of basketball shorts are incredibly comfortable, versatile (I actually have spent many a Summer at many swimming holes swimming in just basketball shorts), and they are incredible cheap. Go pick yourself up a couple of pairs and keep one in your car maybe.
3. A cutoff t-shirt
I have seen many articles online talking about “cute outfits to wear to the gym,” or stylish clothes to workout in. Well guess what? You’re not working out to show off how good-looking you are! Working out is an activity where you will likely look ugly, sweaty, and gross. If you’re really getting after it and getting in a heavy workout, then you will be covered and sweat and have pit stains that scream nasty. How cool will your expensive pair of joggers or your custom fit t-shirt look then? Probably not very good. I say the smart thing to do is say screw it all together, and just wear a cheap cutoff t-shirt that gets the job done. There are two reasons I have chosen a cut off t-shirt. One, being that if you have a shirt that you’re willing to cut the sleeves off, chances are you don’t care very much about that shirt and it is cheap. Two, being that cutoff t-shirts are very cheap and versatile, you can move your arms around and be comfortable. Even if you are skinny and look ridiculous in this type of t-shirt, who cares? You are working out to get the job done and get in and get out, not to look pretty.
4. Jump rope
This is one of the simplest and cheapest, most versatile pieces of gym equipment out there. If you are tired of running and can’t run, or if you are tired of biking and don’t have a bike or can’t bike, then jump roping is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get your heartrate up and get a good cardio workout going, plus you can do it anywhere. On a business trip and don’t have a gym to go to? Seek the jump rope. At your grandmother’s house for the holidays and want to get a workout in to combat all of the ham and chocolate? Seek the jump rope. At home and don’t really feel like driving anywhere and want to seek a quick workout to get a workout in? Seek the jump rope.
5. Boxing/punching bag
For my birthday one year I came home to see my best friend at my parent’s house putting something up in our garage. Confused, I stopped the car and got out and asked him what he was doing. He replied, “happy birthday, buddy” and showed me my new birthday present – a boxing punching bag that he used to have and now was giving to me. I thanked him and have used it many times since, and it has proved to be something of real value. Not only does it give me good workout and a new, good kind of workout that I have never experienced before but it was given to me by my best friend, and that gives me a good feeling inside. That’s how I know how much a true, genuine friend I have. I am lucky.
6. Workout shoes that don’t suck
This one is especially important, and it may be one of the more expensive items on the list because this is one item I am going to recommend you not consider price as much. It is important that you take care of the health of your feet. Think about it, they are your foundation, your rock, and everything you do movement wise almost always depends on your feet. So many times we take walking and being able to run for granted. I recently read a book about a Vietnam veteran who lost his legs, and his account is a harrowing testament to the fact that our feet and our legs are precious parts of our body, and we should be thankful we have them every single day. With that said I recommend you get a good pair of workout shoes that support your feet, and buy the shoe that feels and is best for your specific foot. Expensive is not always better. The shoes I am wearing right now cost me $10 (they were on sale) and they have been better than shoes that I tried on that were $80.
7. A pair of free weight dumbbells
Free weights are one of the most versatile pieces of equipment a man can own. Many a time I have taken my dumbbells outside and worked out outside in the beautiful weather while doing chest presses and various other squats. The ones I have are just handles that allow you to put on ten-pound, five-pound, or two-and-a-half pound weights on the sides with a clip on the end to make sure the weights don’t fall off. I can do dumbbell curls, tricep extensions, and even shoulder shrugs with all kinds of different weight. The only drawback is that I can’t load them up with a ton of weight, but that doesn’t matter to me anyway because I am not lifting with my ego.
8. Foam roller
This is more of a prehab item to make sure you can keep your muscles loose and avoid injury, but it is a cheap buy that is very useful for loosening up something tight, and some people even use this as a warm-up to activate muscles I believe. Plus, it feels really good and oddly satisfying to do when you have a sore muscle that you really want to massage and “get in there.” I highly recommend picking up or ordering a cheap one.
9. A Pullup bar
This past year during quarantine I decided to order a pullup bar that fits in the doorway that you can do pullups on. I was pretty skeptical at first, and wasn’t sure and was kind of scared and questioned if a pullup bar fitted in the doorway could even hold my weight in the first place. I have actually been quite pleased with this item and have used it a good bit since I ordered one online, and have not had it fall (except for once when I didn’t put it in the doorway correctly, but that was my fault). If you want a very versatile piece of equipment that will allow you to do any kind pullup or pulling movement, I high recommend you get one of these.
10. Ab roller/ab wheel
This is my most recent addition to my treasure chest of workout equipment and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised as to how much I use it. My mom got it for me as a Christmas present this past Christmas and I thought I would never use it, but politely told my mom “thanks” while I thought in my head that this item would be little more than something to collect dust on the floor of the workout room. I was wrong about this item too, and find myself using it fairly often and have found that it is a simple yet versatile item to do some more difficult ab exercises on that feels good on my back.
I could probably add about a dozen other items to this list as workout items I use on a regular basis and recommend, but was able to narrow this list down to ten different items that I have found to be the most useful to me on a daily basis when it comes to working out. Maybe I’ll create another post on ten more workout items I use on a daily basis that are more expensive but just as important. Let me know down in the comments below if you would like to see a similar post like this one that is a continuation of more items I work out with and like and recommend. Until then, I hope this list was useful to you and hope that these items will take your workout to the next level, help you get over your breakup, and put you on the road to becoming a better man.
Like this post? I highly recommend you check out my other similar post, Workout Post-Breakup – The Perfect Workout To Help You Get Over Your Ex-Girlfriend, which describes an effective workout to help you get over that girl who broke your heart. Also check out my post The Best Workout For Getting Over Your Breakup, which in my opinion tells you the single most important workout you can do to help you get over your ex-girlfriend that you probably haven’t thought of.
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional. Please do not take my advice as if I was a doctor or medical professional, as I am not qualified to give that kind of health advice. Please be smart, and use your best judgement when starting a new diet/health/exercise plan and consult your doctor before starting a new diet/health/exercise plan. Thank you.
How To Get Over a Breakup 