Top Amazon Favorites: Fitness Gear, Food Must-Haves, Kitchen Essentials & Pet Products I Love
I frequently get asked about my favorite products or what brand of collagen or creatine I use in my blueberry brain bowl, so I'm including a round-up of all of my Amazon favorites here! I decided to sign up as an amazon associate, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. Of course, I'm only including products I love. I appreciate your support if you enjoy the content I share and choose to use on of the links.
Favorite fitness products
YOSUDA Walking Pad Treadmills
I am *obsessed* with my walking pad! A lot of the work I do involves being at the computer and I'm really not interested in sitting all day long. Now when I'm writing articles (like this one), editing a podcast, sending emails, and even reading, I can be getting steps in. I easily get 10-20,000 steps a day because of this!
Even though I love walks outside, it's also so nice to have the option to go for a walk inside on the days when it's extra cold and rainy. Anything that makes it easier for me to move my body throughout the day, I'm all about!
This walking pad can be more like a treadmill with the arm bars up if you want to jog, but I have the arm bars folded down by the belt so that I can use it at my standing desk. You can't go as fast when the arm bar is folded down, but it goes up to a 3.7 speed which is a fairly brisk walk - perfect for my needs. (If you're curious about the standing desk I have, I tried to find it but it doesn't seem to be available anymore).
Weighted vest
This was a new toy I got this year that I'm loving! I put it on for my morning walks and I love that it adds just a little extra weight (perfect for training for hikes when you'll be carrying a backpack).
I also love that it adds just a little extra challenge for my workouts. For example, I'll wear it while doing push ups or squats. I got the 10# vest, because I read a recommendation that you shouldn't go over 10% of your body weight (especially if you're running with it). I like the 10#'s but I'm thinking about getting another slightly heavier one to wear for workouts or walks.
Bowflex adjustable dumbbells
If I could only have one thing in my home gym, it would probably be these! They make it so easy to quickly transition between different weights and they take up almost no room. I've had these for years and they're still in perfect shape.
Even though they're an investment, I like to think of the cost per use and the value. At this point, these really have only been a few cents per use and the fact that I can just walk into my home gym instead of having to drive to a gym is so worth it. Plus, they give me an energy and happiness boost every morning and that's totally worth the investment.
Kettlebells
Kettlebells are so versatile - I use mine multiple times per week! I have a 15#, 25#, and 35#. A heavier one is on my wish list.
Barbell
My barbell is my new favorite toy! I'm obsessed. I reached a point where I wanted to be doing more weight with glute exercises than I could with the bow flex weights, so this was the next step. I love that I can continue to add more and more weight for hip thrusts, and I also am really loving it for squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, etc.
It involves lots of different pieces:
The one that I have is black, but this is the one it goes to when I look back at my orders. I have the shorter 5 foot one. Note: it says that it's 5#, but it's definitely heavier than that. However, it's not as heavy as the traditional barbells. I like that because sometimes I want to use it more for mobility than strength and I can just add as many weights on as I want when I am working on strength.
Barbell rubber olympic bumper plate
The best part about strength training and progressive overload is that each week, you get stronger and stronger. I love that as I get stronger, I can "earn" new weights as I progress to being able to lift more and more. Right now, I have two of each of these: 10#, 15#, 25#, 45#.
These are awesome, because it makes it super quick to change weights!
Foam Barbell Pad for Squats Cushion, Lunges & Bar Padding for Hip Thrusts
If you're planning to do hip thrusts, this is an absolute must!
Adjustable strength training bench
I can't find the exact bench that I have, but I use my bench multiple times a week. It's a great staple for so many things like hip thrusts, jump up or step ups, bench presses, rows, etc. Is it absolutely necessary? No. Is it super versatile and useful to have? Absolutely.
Bosu ball
I love this for functional movements that challenge my balance and core. I don't use mine every week, but it's a great extra to have if you're looking for a new toy to play around with.
Strong resistance band
I have other small resistance bands that are a lighter weight, but I'm not going to link to them because I go through them fairly quickly (they can't handle my strength so they eventually break 😉). This band, however, is awesome and has held up great! I love it for hip thrusts, squats, etc.
Long resistance bands
I use these multiple times per week! They're also a nice option if you want more than just body weight exercises when traveling, since you can easily fit a few in your suitcase.
Foam roller
This is just one of those things that is good to have! I use mine at least a few times a week especially on my mobility days.
Favorite Food Products
Nutritional yeast
I buy nutritional yeast in bulk, because it's delicious, nutritious, and I eat it pretty much every day. It has a cheesy flavor (but it's vegan) and it's high in protein (bonus: it's a complete protein) as well as B-vitamins.
I toss it on salads, sprinkle it on popcorn*, add it to cauliflower rice nourish bowls or spaghetti squash, use it in my tofu feta ricotta recipe (one of the many recipes you get access to in my group coaching programs)...honestly, you can put it on anything you want to have an umami or cheesy flavor.
*If you like the popcorn idea, also check out the microwavable popcorn popper and oil sprayer in the Kitchen products section.
Marine collagen
I *love* adding this to my blueberry brain bowl every day! I take frozen blueberries and slightly defrost them (usually microwave 20-30 minutes or let them sit out for a little bit), then add cinnamon, marine collagen, and creatine +/- dark chocolate chips and tahini. Blueberries + creatine + dark chocolate are all great for brain health (hence the name). I originally added the collagen because it was an easy way to add some protein to the bowl but I fell in love with the sticky consistency and texture it adds - it makes the blueberries clump together. Hard to explain, but it's delish.
Another delicious way to enjoy collage: my pecan pie nut butter with collagen recipe. 😍 It is so so good.
Clean creatine
This is the creatine I use (and put in my blueberry brain bowl described above). Creatine is awesome for brain health and muscle growth. I chose this one because they use Creapure which is a high quality, clean source of creatine. I did a lot of research before settling on this one. I liked it for the price, quality, and ease of being able to get it on Amazon.
Tahini
Since I go to ALDI a lot and they don't have tahini, I sometimes just order it on Amazon. I like to get an organic kind. Ideally, I would get ones that aren't in a plastic container, but if you're curious what I actually get and not what would be "ideal" this is the one I order. Yes, I purchase 4 at a time because I love tahini and don't like to run out. 😊
Endangered species extreme dark chocolate
This is my favorite dark brand of dark chocolate! I am particular about brands for dark chocolate, because sadly a lot of dark chocolates and cocoa powder are high in heavy metals like lead and cadmium. This brand did well on the consumer labs tests which is why it's my go-to. Bonus: dark chocolate is amazing for all 3 Life Boost B's: belly (gut health), brain (so good for your brain), and blood sugar (it's very low in sugar).
Enjoy Life baking dark chocolate chips
This is the brand I usually get for dark chocolate chips if I'm baking and also to sometimes add to my blueberry brain bowl. I'm not sure what the heavy metal level is for these, but the company does report that they do 3rd party testing for heavy metals and they fall within the acceptable range determined by Colorado prop 65.
Green tea
I love green tea! What I don't love: it's another one of those healthy foods that can also have heavy metals (dark chocolate and cinnamon are others). I got this tea, because it's tested for heavy metals and it's a great price compared to individual tea bags and saves packaging.
If you drink a lot of coffee but you're also experiencing anxiety, I highly recommend trying green tea as a sub! You could start with one cup of coffee in the morning and then transition over to green tea for the rest of the day. Why? Because green tea contains L-theanine in addition to caffeine which helps to give you a calm stable energy instead of the jittery some people get from coffee (which can feel exactly like anxiety).
Of course, if you're experiencing anxiety or struggling with low energy, your best best is to address what's causing that anxiety or low energy in the first place. If you'd like support with that, that's exactly why my programs support you with so you can create change that feels like a breath of fresh air. 💗
Chocolate salt LMNT
Electrolytes make such a big difference! I use LMNT (I also get this ). They are sweetened with stevia (unless you get the unflavored one). Another warning: they're very salty. Usually, I only use about a third of a packet. Just like everything, I recommend thinking about why you want to take electrolytes and then embracing your inner researcher and observing how it makes you feel. What amount feels good to you? Do you feel better when or worse when you take them? For example, sometimes I feel super thirsty even though I've been drinking a lot and I notice I have a craving for something salty. I use that as a sign to take some electrolytes and often feel so much better after.
I love chocolate salt, because it's delicious with so many things. It's yummy just with hot water or unsweetened almond milk for hot chocolate vibes. But I also love it with frozen raspberries and unsweetened coconut yogurt or cottage cheese. Or I create an "ice cream" by blending frozen strawberries, goat whey, and about 1/4 to 1/3 of one of these salt packets. It's super yummy for a protein and fiber rich snack or dessert!
Mt. Capra grass-fed goat whey protein powder
Important disclaimer: this does not taste good on its own. 😆 The reviews say it's not bad...I don't agree and I think I have a pretty high tolerance for enjoying healthy food that a lot of people aren't a fan of. I thought that I would like it, because I like the tangy taste of goat cheese but that's not quite the flavor. The first time I tasted this, I wanted to return it but I couldn't.
However, since that initial not-love-at-first-taste moment, I have been using it pretty frequently - mostly in the frozen strawberry "ice cream" concoction. You can't taste it at all when mixed with that and I like that goat whey is often easier to digest and may be less inflammatory than cow products. I did choose it because I liked that it didn't have a sweetener like stevia in it. BUT, I am now mixing it with the chocolate LMNT so that was totally counter-intuitive. I may try their vanilla flavor next time.
Favorite Kitchen Items
Ninja Foodi
If you've been following me for any length of time, you probably know I'm obsessed with my Ninja Foodi. I use it pretty much every day. My favorite feature is the roast and air fryer settings, because it saves SO much time when it comes to roasting veggies or fish (I roast it in parchment paper). Not having to wait for the actual oven to heat up = I'm way more likely to roast some veggies which taste SO good. Living in North Carolina, I also love the fact that it doesn't make the kitchen hot in the summer.
Did you know you can just toss frozen veggies like cauliflower florets or cubed butternut squash and roast them? Zero prep involved!
Any Day microwavable cookware
I am obsessed with these! A client gifted them to me and I use them ALL the time. You can cook fish from frozen in 4.5 minutes in these and it comes out great. I also love making quinoa in them, because it's super quick instead of having to wait for water to boil and monitoring a simmering pan. I love that you can also then use the container to store the food by closing the vent. These are a game changer.
Oil sprayer
This is an absolute must! We use ours multiple times a day. I put high quality olive oil in it and it's perfect for evenly coating food instead of a heavy drizzle that just gets a few areas. The one thing I don't like is that it's clear glass since when oil is exposed to light it speeds up oxidation, but we try to keep it in a cabinet and I only fill it about a quarter to a third of the way at a time so we're always putting new fresh oil in it.
Microwave popcorn popper
This isn't the exact one that we have, but since it's silicone it may be better. Regardless, if you enjoy popcorn these are such an awesome, easy option to make your own popcorn in no time. You just put the kernels in and microwave it and they come out perfectly! Then, you can use the oil sprayer to mist with EVOO (we really love using flavored olive oil like truffle) and then add herbs and other flavoring like nutritional yeast.
VitaMix blender
This is definitely an investment purchase, but my blender before this was the basic inexpensive kind and this is SOO much better. You can even use it to make nut butter (though honestly I still prefer to use my cuisinart food processor for that).
Cuisinart food processor
I have had my food processor forever and I really love it. I use it for so many of my recipes like amazeballs, tofu feta ricotta, and nut butter. I also use it to make my strawberry "ice cream" as described in the chocolate LMNT section and the food processor helps to create this really awesome whipped consistency that's so good (it only seems to work when you do that with a whey protein powder).
Mandolin
Every kitchen needs a good mandolin! I highly recommend getting one that juliennes so that you can make zucchini "noodles" without getting an actual spiralizer. I have a spiralizer, but it's quicker to use the mandolin and easier to clean.
Avocado saver
Every kitchen needs an avocado saver. These are simple but work really well. Also, you know that once your whole avocados turn ripe you should put them in the fridge so that they last a super long time, right? If not, now you do.
Immersion blender
Immersions blenders are awesome for when you need to blend something up but you also don't want to have to clean a blender. I use mine the most for soups when I've cooked a bunch of veggies in bone broth and want to create a creamy, thick consistency.
Thermopop Meat thermometer
When I'm cooking chicken, I like to make sure it's fully cooked. This one works great!
Meat thermometer for ovens
This isn't the exactly one that we have, but I also really like having a meat thermometer that can monitor the temperature of something while it's cooking in the oven and then alert you once it's reached the appropriate temperature. This helped me with feeling more confident roasting chickens, because I wasn't worried about overcooking it and I didn't have to keep opening and closing the door to check on it.
Dog Products
Nylabones
I really love the broccoli one - so does Woodford. Caution with nylabones: if they're too hard for your dog's teeth they can break them.
Oka chew toys
I really love this brand, because they have some give to them but hold up really well despite despite our dogs being really heavy chewers.
Jolly ball
I used to get Jolly balls for my horses and I love these durable balls for dogs, too!
Lick mat
Lick mats are so great for environmental enrichment!
Dog grooming hammock
Okay, this is kind of hysterical but Matt purchased it for Woodford to make doing his nails easier and it actually works pretty well. He puts the lick mat on the wall so that he can lick peanut butter while getting a manicure.
Vetriscience Composure chews
I love Vetriscience for high-quality supplements. Composure chews are a really great calming option to help with anxiety. Ideally, I recommend getting these through your vet! There is a special veterinary line that has a higher concentration of ingredients - plus it's nice to support your local vet instead of Amazon.
On My Wish List
These are a few products I'm hoping to get in the future!
Our place non-toxic cookware 10.5" pan
We really want to replace our non-stick pots and pans with a non-toxic version.
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