I admit it: I’m a bit of a tech geek. I like understanding what is going on with things, how things work and why they work. I realize that I could get in shape simply by getting off my ass and exercising (and possibly limiting my beer intake to less than a keg a week). But that isn’t enough for me. I need to know that I’m making progress – and how much.

So, I have a variety of tools that I use in pursuit of my fitness goals. I am quite particular about the gear I use and I’m ridiculously regimented when it comes to tracking my progress. Some of you may just be starting this journey yourself and so I’ve compiled a list of items I use daily in my P90X / INSANITY workouts, including shoes, nutritional items, and methods for recording my statistics (note: I do not get compensated for any of these links. These are just informational and hopefully useful for you, so click without worry that you’re making me rich… I wish.):

Statistical items:

Body Fat Calipers: Accu-Measure
Heart Rate Monitor: Polar PT60
Tracking Software: Polar Personal Trainer (use to track the data from your Polar heart rate monitor)
WOWY Supergym (teambeachbody.com)
P90X App for iPhone
LoseIt! (track your weight loss and log your meals to keep track of your calories)

Shoes:

Reebok Zigtech Trainers (great price on a great pair of shoes that can handle the lateral rigors of INSANITY)
Nike Alvord 9 (super low price on a nice, lightweight pair of shoes that have been great for everything I have thrown at them)
Bare Feet (Kempo X, X Stretch, Yoga X, etc.)

Workout Tools:

P90X-Style Pull Up-Bar
Black Mountain Products Resistance Bands (identical to the P90X set for more money)
Powerblocks Dumbbells (stop wasting time changing weights)
Cap Barbell Puzzle Mat (save your knees, carpet, and downstairs neighbors’ sanity)

Nutrition items:

Vitamins: GNC Mega Men Sport Vitapaks

Protein Bars: Clif Builder’s Bar (Chocolate Mint and Chocolate Peanut Butter) (I buy mine at Target for much less than anywhere else I’ve seen, as low as $1.33 each.)

Whey Protein: Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey (Vanilla Ice Cream)

Recovery Drink: 1 Tbs Gatorade Powder (buy at your grocery store in the soft drink aisle), 1 Scoop ON 100% Whey Protein (see above), 1 Tsp Creatine Powder

Blend that baby up with this: Ninja Warrior Hand Blender

Enjoy!