Ten Epic Fitness Items You Must Own in KL

Keeping up a healthy lifestyle in the bustling city of KL comes with its own challenges. Office hours are spent sitting in a chair, you barely have the time to squeeze in exercise, and not to mention all the unhealthy food that exists in Malaysia! I mean, we’re the only country in the world that proudly claims “fatty rice” as our national dish. That pretty much speaks for itself.

Luckily, we’ve come up with a list of ten epic fitness items you must own in KL to help you in your quest for fitness. Whether you are struggling to achieve your dream body, want to improve your strength, or even striving to reduce the risk of diseases, having these items will definitely go a long way in getting you where you want to be.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #1: Xiaomi Mi Band

Mi Bands are neat little fitness trackers that are capable of monitoring your sleep cycle. The importance of good sleep is often overlooked, causing dangerous sleeping habits, or should I say, lack of sleeping habits. One step in keeping a healthy lifestyle is to always ensure that you are getting the optimal number of hours each night. The Mi Band helps with that by providing you with information about the hours slept, deep sleep duration, light sleep duration as well as sleep and wake up times.

Read more here on how sleep helps you get fit and keep that way.

Not only that, the Mi Band can also track daily distance walked, no. of steps and calories burnt. Granted the information might not be very accurate, as it is based on hand movements, so it tends to overestimate your activity, especially if you happen to gesticulate a lot. Even so, this serves as a daily reminder to get off our asses more often and take a few laps around the office.

This nifty device has been popping up more and more in public. Innocuously strapped around the wrist, it gives off a sleek, minimalist look, which is an added bonus to some of our more fashion-conscious readers out there (Who doesn’t want to look cool, right?)

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #2: Sport shoes

Source: Kaboompics // Karolina

Ditch the heels, ladies! Lose the oxfords, gents! Prepare to don your Nikes and hit the streets of KL!

Not many people know the many benefits of running. A regular 30-minute jog not only reduces the risk of lots of chronic illnesses like diabetes and various cardiovascular diseases, but it helps shed those fats and even keeps you feeling chipper throughout the day.

A good pair of sport shoes can go a long way in aiding the running habit. Improper footwear can cause a number of injuries, including ankle strains and fractures, bunions and corns. Good sport shoes should have the proper cushioning and support that help prevent injury and promote athletic performance.

Sport shoes are not just for running, they are also absolutely necessary for gym workouts and various types of sports. Just be sure to choose the correct shoe depending on the type of sport played.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #3: The Water bottle

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One of the most underrated of the ten epic fitness items you must own in KL, the water bottle is about to have its turn in the limelight! Staying hydrated throughout the day has a huge impact on your health. Research indicates that just a slight dip in normal hydration levels can cause dizziness and headaches, while severe dehydration can even cause seizures.

Read more here on how water helps you get fit and keep that way.

As such, it is vital for the health enthusiast to carry around a bottle to stay hydrated. There are so many types of bottles in the market, it can be a pain to choose one. A metal bottle is light and stylish, but dents easily and you can’t use it to hold hot water. If you want to go plastic, be sure that “BPA-free” is there on the label. A glass bottle is heavy, but can avoid the issue of BPA altogether. However, be sure to get one that comes in a silicone sleeve so it won’t shatter to pieces when you inevitably drop it.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #4: Yoga Mat

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Living in Malaysia, the ‘nice’ weather can often work against us. Too often, the scorching sun or heavy rain can thwart our exercise plans.

Fortunately, when the great outdoors isn’t being so great, there is always the option of indoor workouts. That’s when yoga mats are essential. The friction and support provided by a yoga mat is useful in all kinds of exercises, from slow, relaxing asanas to quick, brutal burpees. Not only that, yoga mats also protect your body from bruising on the hard, unforgiving tiles, especially those on the skinny side.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #5: Blender

A kitchen appliance, really? Believe it or not, for the health enthusiast living in KL, a blender may very well be the most useful gadget in your kitchen. Why? Because blenders can whip up the most delicious and easiest snack ever – the smoothie! Smoothies are the best way to boost your fruit and veggie intake without compromising on taste.

You can toss in almost anything – fruit, veggies, oatmeal, yoghurt, and voila! One delicious and uber-healthy snack, chock-full of nutrients (depending on what you put in, of course) ready to serve. With a blender, you can really get creative with your diet plans without worrying about cooking it all up together.

Just make sure to get a heavy-duty blender, as frozen fruit can sometimes overtax a cheap one.

Also if you’re out and about, unable to make your own smoothie during the day, you’re in luck! I have a list of best smoothie spots around KL for you to check out here! So you can get that cup of cold, healthy goodness anytime, anywhere, at your convenience.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #6: Bluetooth headphones

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Which is better? Running to the sound of chirping crickets or John Legend crooning in your ears? Obviously the latter, unless you happen to dislike John Legend. Whether studying or sleeping, many people do not function well without music in the background. Likewise, what is exercise without music? Pumping beats really help one get in the groove for a workout and soundtracks are even more effective than timers. Unfortunately, regular earphones just don’t cut it. They fall out with too much bouncing and movement, and the wires are just plain cumbersome.

That’s why we recommend getting a good pair of wireless sports headphones so you don’t have to stress over ill-fitting ones in the middle of your star jumps. Look for lightweight headphones with ear hooks or “memory” wire. If you’re not keen on having to charge wireless headphones, there are quite a number of wired headphones with tangle-free cords worth considering.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #7: A health-buddy!

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There’s nothing that amps motivation more than a health-buddy! Many professionals confess that having a support system is the single, most important factor in establishing a long-term commitment to healthy living. Unlike the rest of the items on this list, this one cannot be bought from any store.

It is important to look for the right characteristics when choosing a health buddy. The right person can keep you motivated to stick to your workouts and cheer you on when you’re feeling hopeless. The wrong person can derail your plans altogether. Ideally, you should look for someone who is reliable and shares a similar commitment to fitness. If none of your friends are willing to take on the role, see it as an opportunity to create new ones with whom you can pursue this mutually beneficial relationship.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #8: Adjustable Dumbbells

If you don’t feel like battling the traffic jam just to go to the gym, or if you’re simply too broke for a gym membership, having weights in your home work just as well. The rack of dumbbells in a gym look great, but most people don’t have the money or the space to spare for a whole set. That’s why these adjustable dumbbells are handy for light, toning exercises as well as those deep, muscle-ripping curls. Most come with a storage rack, so it is easy to just slide them under the bed once you’re done, and you won’t have to worry about them rolling around.

But, if you’re one who needs the extra discipline to get up and get that heart pumping, then do that! Gym is great for that extra motivational boost, a necessary evil (unless you enjoy it, then well, lucky you). But if you’re not keen on sweating it out on weights, maybe try some of these Top 15 Fun Indoor Activities to Get Fit in KL Instead of Hitting the Gym.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #9: Sports bra

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This one is for girls only! Unless you happen to be a male with unusually large boobs. The sports bra is probably THE most important thing for ladies looking to get fit. Without proper support, the breasts are held up only by the ligaments in your chest. And these ligaments are prone to permanent stretching due to age, gravity and excessive movement. With all the jumping and jiggling going on during exercise, things are bound to get … bouncy. If you want to keep those puppies looking perky, invest in a good sports bra. A good one can reduce movement by half and save you from any premature droopiness in your quest to keep healthy.

Epic fitness items you must own in KL #10: Measuring tape

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There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the results of hard work on your body. It can be a great motivation to continue pursuing the healthy lifestyle.

However, improvement does not mean watching kilograms roll off on a weighing scale. Weight is often not an accurate representation of fitness as it takes no consideration of the difference in body fat and muscle. A better way to measure fitness is the waist-to-height ratio. Physiologists claim that anything between 0.4-0.5 is ideal for both men and women. A general rule of thumb is to keep your waist circumference to less than half your height. This test is extremely simple to execute and only requires a measuring tape and a calculator.

Alright, that’s all folks! Now that you’ve gotten this list of items to assist you in your quest for fitness, feel free to experiment and make full use of what technology has bestowed upon us to make healthy living a tad bit easier.

But I feel pressed to say that it is not these items alone that will boost your fitness levels but rather your commitment and discipline towards the cause. The mind is the key in mastering your health.

So try out the gadgets and ideas above and let me know how it goes! Remember your getting fit now is an investment to your health tomorrow! And it’s never too late OR early to start! You’re very welcome to say hi, give advice or ask questions in the comments below just so that I know that my dispensing of knowledge had some sort of impact! 😀 Thank you for reading and welcome to your journey of getting fit in KL! Remember, you’re not alone!