7 Tools for Your Weight-Loss Survival Kit

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Happy New Year!
If you're reading this, you're probably gearing up to make 2013 your healthiest, fittest year yet. Although weight loss takes a lot of old-fashioned hard work and basic knowledge, it never hurts to have a few extra tools in the box to help you out along your journey. Here are seven essential items for your ''weight-loss survival kit'' that will help you build a healthier life this year, one goal at a time.

   The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight [Paperback]

This collection of more than 160 all-new recipes will streamline your healthy-cooking efforts. With a focus on real food, generous portions and great flavor, these recipes are not part of a fad diet. Instead, they help you focus on making smart choices and eating foods you love to help you meet your healthy-living goals.
 
 

 
  The Spark: The 28-Day Breakthrough Plan for Losing Weight, Getting Fit, and Transforming Your Life [Paperback]
In this groundbreaking book, you'll find the best weight-loss tips from millions of SparkPeople members who have lost weight, kept it off and reached other goals. ''The Spark'' outlines a breakthrough formula that combines nutrition, exercise, goal setting, motivation and community, which has helped people change their lives beyond just the number on the scale.
 
 
SparkPeople: Total Body Sculpting DVD

This all-in-one DVD features fat-burning cardio and multi-joint strength exercises in three distinct workouts: A ballet-inspired barre routine (using a chair), an equipment-free fat blaster and a heart-pumping dumbbell workout. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced exerciser, Coach Nicole will help you along the way as you work out at your own pace.
 

 
Polar RS100 Heart Rate Monitor and Stopwatch

One of the most common mistakes new exercisers make is failing to reach the ideal intensity level during cardio workouts. Guidelines say that aerobic exercise should be ''moderate'' or ''challenging,'' but it can often be hard to know how to gauge that intensity on your own. Using a heart rate monitor lets you know exactly how hard you're working, and it will put you on the fast track to better results!
 
 
 
Fit & Fresh Lunch on the Go

Preparation is the name of the game when it comes to eating right at work. Yes, you might have to take a few extra minutes in the morning (or at night) to pack yourself a healthy lunch and pre-portioned snacks. However, after you start to eat better and feel better at work, you'll see that it's worth the time. Using a container system can help eliminate some of the mess and hassle of bringing a packed lunch while helping the environment at the same time.
 
 
CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve

No matter how you pour them, eight glasses of water every day is a lot of liquid. Even knowing about the many benefits of meeting your daily H2O quota—increased fat-burning, healthier skin, better digestion, fewer cravings—doesn't make drinking it (or the increased bathroom visits) any less of a struggle. Using a convenient re-usable water bottle can help you keep track to meet your intake goals while at work, running errands or during exercise.
 
 
SparkPeople Fitness Starter Set
 
If you're unsure of how to begin a new fitness plan, this starter set is a great way to jump right into it! This versatile kit includes a stability ball, resistance band, pedometer and a DVD with unique and challenging workouts to try at home. This kit is great for both beginners and advanced exercisers, and you can modify your workouts as you get more fit. As a bonus, all of the equipment is portable, which means that you can take your fitness routine with you wherever you go!
 

What tools have you found to be most helpful along your weight-loss journey?