Who doesn’t love presents? And since giving is sometimes as much fun as receiving, we want to buy gifts that others will really use and enjoy! Christmas is a week from Sunday; Chanukah starts on Tuesday night. If you haven’t gotten gifts for the fitness enthusiasts on your list, don’t despair. Ignore the TV commercials for the Ab-Buster (Roller, Toner, or whatever they’re calling it), and don’t pay attention to those ridiculous Top 10 lists all over the internet. Give them something they really want and can really use in their health and fitness journey.
If they are not yet fitness enthusiasts, but you would like them to be, DON’T get them: 1), a scale, 2), a gym membership or 3), personal training sessions. To the person who isn’t in shape or even attempting to get there, these gifts scream “Get off the d*%#n couch and do something already!!!”
But, if they have already embarked on their own fitness quest, here are a few ideas for gifts that are really useful and appreciated:
Heart rate monitors- A heart rate monitor can help make individual activities more effective and time efficient, safer and much more fun. It’s not just for structured exercise, and can help turn any activity into a workout. Since it serves the purpose of measuring and recording heart rates, while giving instant feedback about the work level of the heart, it is one of the most effective ways to track workout progress. It can chart the improvement in aerobic endurance and accurately calculate how many calories burned during a workout. When buying a heart-rate monitor, look for a model with features such as a watch, stopwatch, alarm, backlight, settable target zones, calorie counter, and a zone alarm. Some monitors have a GPS, so consider that option when buying for an outdoor runner or cyclist. Brands like Polar, Garmin, Timex, Mia, and Sigma offer a variety of options and price ranges.
Gym bag- Anyone who is committed to fitness is always ready for the gym at a moment’s notice, so a great gift is a bag to hold all of their equipment and gear. The bag needs to be big enough to hold all the gear, but flexible enough to fit in a gym locker. It should have separate pockets or sections for shoes, toiletries, and gadgets (like Ipods or phones). There should be plenty of room for workout gloves and notebooks, clean clothes and a waterproof section for dirty clothes and wet swimsuits. Most of the larger athletic brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas make a variety of bags. Gaiam and Lululemon are a couple of more fashionable options.
Workout Clothing- Who doesn’t love a new outfit? And, as fitness levels improve, body confidence goes up. So, to encourage the effort, why not get something that shows off the hard work? They can ditch the baggy t-shirts and sweat pants when you get them more form fitting gear in gym-friendly (aka- doesn’t show huge sweat circles) fabrics! Web sites and store brands have all price ranges. One of my favorite stores is lululemon athletica ( see http://fitnessbarista.blogspot.com/2010/03/feelin-groovy.html,), and it’s a great store for something really special, but I also love athleta.com, underarmour.com, Adidas, Nike, Puma, and Target brands! Check out mizzfit.com for a complete list of workout gear and clothing brands with links to the individual websites. (Even really good workout socks can work for a stocking stuffer or extra night’s gift!)
Fitness Magazine Subscriptions-Once you really start working out and commit to a healthy lifestyle, you want to keep up with how to continue for a long time. You need the basics, but it’s always fun to find new and efficient ways to shake up your routine. I’ll admit it. I’m a fitness information junkie. I read health magazines, medical journals, food and nutrition blogs and exercise journals daily. Weeding through all the publications out there can be daunting, but a subscription to Oxygen is probably one of the best fitness gifts I’ve ever received! I also love Fitness Rx for Women (and Men), On Fitness, Muscle and Fitness for Women (and Men), and my favorite overall health magazine, Prevention! Unlike many of the “fluff” fitness mags, these all have info you can really use. And….. they're exciting and motivating all year long!
So, take it from someone who not only loves fitness and health, but LOVES buying gifts that people really want; you can’t go wrong with these choices.
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