10 Holiday Fitness Gifts
All those holiday parties can lead to weight gain and bad habits. Luckily, Get-Fit Guy has 10 holiday gift ideas to help you and your loved ones with fitness, weight loss, muscle gain, and healthy living.
There’s nothing like the holidays to make you think about fitness. After all, you’ll need something to get you inspired to exercise once January 1st rolls around, right? And while it is, of course, an ideal and healthy plan to actually stay fit during the holidays (which you learn more about in /health-fitness/exercise/how-to-stay-fit-during-the-holidays), most people gain on average, during the 8-week holiday period, about
Last year, I wrote a fitness holiday shopping list that featured https://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2011/12/last-minute-holiday-shopping-gifts/. And this year, I’m going to give you 10 of my favorite holiday fitness gifts, and tell you exactly how to use them.
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#1. The SetStarter interval timer is a simple stocking stuffer. You’ve learned the value of /health-fitness/exercise/how-do-high-intensity-interval-training, and the SetStarter is a timer that you literally wear on your finger or thumb which vibrates and/or beeps at specific intervals to remind you when to go hard and when to go easy. You can see me demonstrating it – and as you can see, it’s small and affordable, and encourages the best form of cardio: interval training. https://getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com/ listeners and readers can get a10% discount by using the code “10 percent” at https://www.setstarter.com/.
#2. – TRX classes are popping up at gyms around the world, and basically involve a series of exercises performed while using a suspension strap that is either attached to your feet or that you hold with your handshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aExndV-T_Vg&feature=plcp with a device very similar to the TRX, but a bit more wallet-friendly – the MostFit Suspension Trainer. The biggest advantage of a suspension trainer is that they’re highly portable and good for travel anywhere, and they could also technically fit into a stocking.
#3. https://www.coolfatburner.com/ – In the episode https://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2012/09/burning-more-fat-with-cold/, you learn that cold exposure can help boost your metabolism by both lowering blood sugar and increasing formation of very metabolically active Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT). While you can certainly take cold baths, cold showers, or swim in cold pools, I’m also a fan of wearing a vest called a Cool Fat Burner, which allows you to place specially designed cold packs on your upper back and shoulder blades – two areas where BAT tends to be highest. I simply wear a Cool Fat Burner vest for about 20-45 minutes in the morning as I’m hanging around the house or eating breakfast.
#4. – Regular https://getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com/ readers know that I’m a big fan of portable exercise gear, and the Gymstick certainly falls into that category. As a simple lightweight aluminum bar with elastic tubing and handles attached to either end, the Gymstick allows you to do a muscle toning or balance workout just about anywhere. I keep one in my car and do a series of exercises when traveling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eluaEJSvjBo&feature=plcp
#5. – Here is yet another portable travel exercise device that can also easily be used as an addition to a /health-fitness/exercise/how-to-make-a-home-gym. The FIT 10 attaches to any door, and allows you to “sprint” in place (which is a fantastic calorie-burning and /health-fitness/exercise/simple-strategy-boost-your-testosterone). You can also do standing crunches and straight arm pulldowns that work your chest, back, abs, and arms.
#6. https://amzn.to/1B3668Q – The Fitbit is a simple wireless device that you wear during the day, and it records data such as the number of steps you’ve taken, calories burned, hours of sleep, and more! It is both a good way to inspire you to stay physically active, and also to learn about your health and what your body is actually doing while you’re awake and asleep. The device also comes with a phone app, a website account, and other tools you can use to upload, track, and share your activity. If you’re trying to lose weight or learn more about how many calories you’re burning, the Fitbit is a great tool.
#7. https://goo.gl/EktNy – No holiday fitness shopping list would be complete without a “big ticket” item. The ElliptiGO is very similar to the elliptical trainers you might see at the gym, but it has wheels and it is designed to be used outdoors similarly to a bicycle – with far less joint impact or knee and low back stress. As a matter of fact, many competitive runners, marathoners, and triathletes (such as myself) use the ElliptiGO to not just get around or burn calories, but also as a https://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2011/08/six-reasons-to-use-an-elliptical-trainer-and-a-killer-elliptical-trainer-workout/ This type of machine is perfect as an alternative means of transportation, something to use if you’re bored of bicycling, or as a way to run less but still stay fit for running.
#8. https://amzn.to/1B36aFE – /health-fitness/healthy-eating/green-tea, and a recent discovery of mine is edible green tea, which is exactly what it sounds like – green tea that you can actually munch on. Compared to brewing a cup of green tea, eating the actual dried leaves can give you a much bigger boost of antioxidants (over 95 times what you get from drinking a cup of tea). It’s also good for a sustained burst of energy and as a way to beat appetite cravings. These dried green tea leaves come in an attractive bag that you can easily toss into a stocking or under the tree.
#9. https://www.energybits.com/ – For vegetarians, vegans, and even omnivores, chlorella, //www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/what-is-spirulina, and https://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2012/07/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-to-use-algae-a-slimy-green-plant-to-slow-aging-decrease-cravings-and-recover-way-faster/ can satiate food cravings and provide a dense source of amino acids and fatty acids, along with a variety of other nutrients, vitamins and minerals. EnergyBits are little algae tabs that come in an attractive silver bag or small tin, and you can munch on them like popcorn or just swallow a handful when you need to quash a calorie craving. Get-Fit Guy readers and listeners can get a 10% discount when they use the code “BEN” at .
#10. https://amzn.to/1KWOs6r – Just imagine if you could arrive at January 1st with an exact description of your personal body type and a step-by-step roadmap to achieving your ideal body based on your unique shape and metabolism. My new book provides you (or your lucky loved ones) with exactly that – along with workout tips, nutrition strategies for your body type, and everything you need to know to start your year off with a no-guesswork plan for getting fit fast. Grab it today, or learn more, at .
And that wraps up my holiday fitness list (pun intended). But if you have more questions about holiday fitness gifts, or your holiday fitness gifts to add, then join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/GetFitGuy!
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.
