Greatest Bodybuilding Equipment / Purchases

[GZA]

I'm starting a new thread where I (or anyone else) will post whatever usefull things they have purchased which they find helpful in achieving thier fitness goals. Here's some of mine:

Blendtec Blender http://youtu.be/aM94aorYVS4 (Vitamix is probably equivalent): I remember trying to puree oats and vegetables, chicken etc. in my shakes in the past, my results were hard to "chug" (or even put down a beer bong on occasion... with a normal blender I almost choked to death trying this ) Not with the Blendtec

This style (or similar) clipboard http://www.amazon.com/Saunders-11017...sr=1-2-catcorr This coupled with my laser printer and some graphic software, and I now print out my own custom workout/meal plans and store them in my clipboard and simply pull a particular page out to write on during work-outs etc. I find writing down my weights/ reps etc easier than using a phone app since I can scribble stuff out/change things with ease... I used to use a planner for this but realized they weren't custom designed the way I needed them (proper space for weight/rep logs etc.) So now I custom design my own to be exactly how I want them to be


Thermos... there's two varieties I like: (One's slighty larger and one keeps things cooler a little longer) http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Classi...sr=1-1-catcorr and http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan...sr=1-1-catcorr They're the two biggest I can find and they'er great for always keeping a ton of meal repla***ent shake (you blended on your blendtec/vitamix etc) ice cold and with with you at all times. I can literally put ice in these things and still have ice in them by the end of the day, great so you know nothing will spoil

Also, I've been thinking about getting a six pack bag http://www.sixpackbags.com/ because it looks like a good idea and they have larger containers now then they used to have... however this has got me worried: http://youtu.be/UFsdnHdTdaI anyone on here have one of these bags and use them consistently? I'd like to hear how this bag has held up (I'm hoping what happened to this guys bag isn't the "norm")

[GZA]

Some more additions:
I used to try to set my alarms on my phone app (meals workouts etc.) but what I found works much better for me is a watch because I tend to (just me personally maybe not for everyone) leave my phone places, set it down to charge etc. So for me this watch works wonderfully and I find I stick to my schedule much better http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T5E231-I.../dp/B00093CZV0 It has 5 daily alarms (I use this in addition with my loud clock radio for my 6th morning wakeup/run alarm because it's loud enough to wake me (unlike this timex) I find that in most cases I never miss my alarm, it also has a choronograph for running and a pretty good interval timer (up to 9 intervals) for hit/interval training... I like to use the regular countdown timer on repeat and start/stop it every set so I can time my weight lifting workouts as well (my rest periods). It was a great purchase... the only thing I would say about it is that for some people a vibrating setup may be better (if you play loud music during your workouts). I find I have to keep an eye on my countdowns when blasting music in which case I'm considering going to a combination of a gymboss max for my workouts (which has a good vibrating interval alarm I hear) http://www.amazon.com/Gymboss-Max-Bl.../dp/B004KM9KX2 and a vibrating alarm watch for my meals http://www.eadhd.com/timer.html some of those listed on the website have up to 12 vibrating alarms per day which would be great if you happen to be more "hardcore" and eat like 10 meals a day or something (like jay cutler ) Other than that I'm also very happy with this product http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Plastic-1...5389923&sr=1-1 I use tupperwear type containers to organize my meals but these are just great for organizing my shakes as the jars screw together in a stackable configuration... also the lids screw on so you can basically stack up all sorts of shake combinations etc number them with which meal number etc (for example if your pre workout meal is different from your nightime meal etc.) these are the 16 oz variety (I find often I end up stacking 2 together for 1 meal somtimes depending on the shake size so I may look into getting some 32 oz ones as they do make those as can be found with an internet search ) I originally found these things as wall mart but often walmart doesn't carry all the sizes (I've seen stores with just the 8 oz variety and some with both 8 and 16's, probably it will vary based on location) well that's my update for now

[awms]

Fat grips. I have horrible forearm genetics! try using fat grips they are amazing!

[Mark5]

Fat grips. I have horrible forearm genetics! try using fat grips they are amazing!

Have you noticed a difference in size? Some of the guys I work with modified the "forearm broomstick attached to rope attached to weight thingy" from a broomstick handle to a 3" wide PVC handle and it is killer. Not convinced yet that it'll necessarily add size though.

[awms]

Have you noticed a difference in size? Some of the guys I work with modified the "forearm broomstick attached to rope attached to weight thingy" from a broomstick handle to a 3" wide PVC handle and it is killer. Not convinced yet that it'll necessarily add size though.

Yeah I have noticed a difference and my grip strength is unreal! Can dead life 500lbs for reps with no straps without my grip giving out at all...and while on sauce they make your forarms grow like crazy! farmers walks and hammer curls all day long with fat grips and you will have some crazy grip strength!

You can also buy thick bars which are olympic bars that have about double the width of a regular bar and although they are tough to get use to they are amazing for grip strength! they also are much easier on your joints! they cost an arm and a leg but if your goal is to add strength and build monster arms they are a great buy! Im a strength coach and they are being used more and more in my field due to the fact that they build better practical strength and they also are super easy on wrists while benching....you get a forearm workout just from gripping the while benching its pretty cool!

[GZA]

I've seen fat grips but never tried them... adding the fat grips concept to the dowel/rope/weight concept sounds pretty killer. I have one laying around maybe I'll add that exercise to my forearm day (with fat grips). I'm concerned fat grips might lower the weight I can work with for various non-forearm specific exercises (bench etc.) but that doesn't mean I can't use them as a variation for a movement for variety's sake from time to time. Personally, in addition to the standard forearm curl/extension movements I've been implementing like a wrist only hammering movement (and its opposite) as well as a clockwize/counter clockwize twisting movement (with my fist) while holding one of these attachments http://www.amazon.com/Single-Ergonom...5427928&sr=1-1 connected to a cable system. It's something I never really witnessed anyone do (I'm sure it's done by others just never seen it) although I have seen various contraptions that are supposed to work out the forearms with a hammering or twisting motion so I figure I'm replicating that and adding those movements in addition to your more traditional forearm exercises. What I used to use before going out and buying this attachemnt was just one of those captains of crush grippers (i'd clip the cable hook through the spring and just hold one of the gripper handles) and that seemed to work ok as well

[doxmaster]

Yeah I have noticed a difference and my grip strength is unreal! Can dead life 500lbs for reps with no straps without my grip giving out at all...and while on sauce they make your forarms grow like crazy! farmers walks and hammer curls all day long with fat grips and you will have some crazy grip strength!

You can also buy thick bars which are olympic bars that have about double the width of a regular bar and although they are tough to get use to they are amazing for grip strength! they also are much easier on your joints! they cost an arm and a leg but if your goal is to add strength and build monster arms they are a great buy! Im a strength coach and they are being used more and more in my field due to the fact that they build better practical strength and they also are super easy on wrists while benching....you get a forearm workout just from gripping the while benching its pretty cool!

we have all of those at the gym that I go to I'll have to try them.

[GZA]

I don't know why I ignored the fat gripz in the past (maybe because they looked so simple) but after looking at some reviews it seems as though they're the best thing since sliced bread, I'm totally sold on em! It seems as though pretty much everyone raves about em

[awms]

Honestly man some of the simplest things are the most effective. I laugh when I see other coaches doing all this crazy stuff like stand on a ball, while squating and drinking a glass of water haha It might look cool but it doesn't get results! For example If I have an athlete who has very weak grip strength...lets say a hockey player for example were wrist strength is very important! I make a simple change in their routine like use the Thick bar or fat grips for most lifts excluding a few like dead lifts and it makes a big difference!

Another example is coaches who try to make an athlete faster by doing plyometric work like its going out of style....unless your client is already strong then its pointless to do plyo's! Strength = power and speed so I simply make sure that before I even start working with plyometrics my client must be able to do a perfect squat, 1rm with 1.5 their body weight....never has it failed me yet! if you can squat a lot you will be explosive!

[Awesome_Archy]

Versa Grips for me

[abstetic]

That blend tech looks amazing I'm soo gonna buy one

[iLoveSquats]

Original Rehband Knee Sleeves. Love these things. Keeps my knees warm and safe when I squat.