I don’t celebrate Christmas myself, but since the majority of the world does, I still relate to the holiday seasons. I really relate to procrastination as I’m pretty bad at waiting until the last minute to do some things.
So if you’re running out of time and hit a wall on what to get your friends or family for the holidays, then why not get them a fitness gift. Heck, you could even put some fitness gifts on your own holiday wish list. After all, who doesn’t want to look or perform better? Here is my official top 10 list of the best last minute fitness gifts for 2008:
1.) A Foam Roller
If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of your day nailed to a desk or out in the field doing construction work. And when you actually do have time to workout, all you can usually fit in is the workout itself. Really, who has time for daily stretching?
Well that’s where a foam roller comes in. It’s a phenomenal corrective self-massage tool that will dramatically bolster injury prevention and improve performance. It’s ideal to use for at least five minutes post-workout to promote healing of the small micro-tears in your muscles that result from high-intensity training to jumpstart the recovery process. Plus, a foam roller both kneads out and lengthens your muscle and connective tissues thus alleviating, if not eliminating, nagging aches and pains in your back, knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows.
If you’re going to get a foam roller, get a good one. The cheaper options tend to wear down into a limp noodle for larger individuals after a couple of months. If your’e in the Tucson area, I get all of my foam rollers from Just Weight, you can reach them at 520-229-0072 or on the web at http://www.justweight.net/
2.) Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are by far the most simple, convenient, and affordable equipment option in the fitness industry. They supply total portability for killer workouts that can be done anywhere. If you are a busy professional who does a lot of traveling, bands are the perfect lightweight training tool to take your workouts with you on the road as they can fit in the smallest of bags without a problem. If you are a busy Mom looking to workout in the comfort of your own home, bands can make this happen too. Bands provide the perfect compliment to your body weight circuit training workouts for added variety, allow for multiple levels of resistance with practically zero transition and set-up time, are easy on the joints, and are fun to use!
In my travels, I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending the world’s premier resistance band training expert, Dave “The Band Man” Schmitz. The dude is nuts, for real ! He creates the most innovative fat loss workouts with bands that you’ll ever see. He has his own line of resistance bands that are virtually indestructible and I use them year round to crank it at home or on the road not to mention my boot campers use these same bands. To get the best bands in the business check out http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=887805
3.) A Gift Card to a Sporting Goods Store For Fitness Equipment and Apparel
Gift certificates are always good because the recipient can pick out what they want and it saves you the time of trying to decide for them. Here in Tucson we have plenty of good sporting good stores whether your favorite is Big 5, The Sports Authority or Dick’s Sporting Goods, you can always count on them to get the best fitness equipment and apparel on the market today.
4.) A Gift Card to Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or Other Premium Grocery Stores
Rather then waste money on an overpriced restaurant, why not give a week’s worth of groceries to a 100% organic grocer like Whole Foods to a friend or loved one. After all, everybody’s got to eat, but how many of us actually eat the right stuff to support our fitness goals?
I’m not gonna lie, several years ago I thought Whole Foods was just for rich people or hippies, but boy was I wrong. In addition to Trader Joes and Whole Foods, Sunflower market and Sprouts here in Tucson are particularly great when buying produce to avoid foods that are typically loaded with hormones and pesticides at other regular run of the mill grocery stores. The key is to go in with a budget in mind (e.g. spend $50 bucks on protein, $20 on fruits and veggies, and $10 on miscellaneous items) only buying what you need.
5.) A Gift Card to a Massage Therapist
Most of us are crazy busy and super stressed out during the holiday season and nothing eases the tension like a good massage. This is about as can’t miss of a gift as it gets, unless you know someone who doesn’t like to be touched. (Hey some people hate massages, I’ll never understand it) It’s nice to be pampered on occasion, and though the foam roller I mentioned above can do wonders for the majority of your body, nothing can alleviate tension in your upper back, neck, and head like a good massage therapist! I recommend Peaceful Spirit if you’re in Tucson. I’ve been going there for years and I can’t speak highly enough of the treatment I receive there!
Visit them on the web at http://www.bestmassageintucson.com/
Ok, make sure to tune in on Wednesday for the second half of this Top 10 list and in the mean time...
Let's Get it!
Keegan Harris
1 comment:
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