It’s that time of year again; time to start thinking about gifts to get our loved ones. I don’t know about you, but I like to be a practical gift giver/receiver, just ask my mom. My yearly request every time she asks what I want for Christmas is a new pair of Reebok Nanos. They’re practical and something that I will use daily. And who doesn’t love new cute gym shoes 😊

For those of us that love fitness, it’s fun to get new gym items to add to the collection, whether it’s a new gym outfit, a new piece of gym equipment or even a gym membership.

And we can’t forget that self-care! Working out is important, don’t get me wrong. But being able to maintain our physical health for as long as possible, is going to be much more likely if we are getting a tune-up here and there, whether it be an adjustment or a massage! 

Top Holiday Items for the Fitness Enthusiast 

I took a poll in my “Fit In The Mitt”  Facebook  group, which is 200 fitness minded individuals (most local to Metro Detroit). They gave me their top items that they would love to receive as a gift!

Local

1. Chiropractor Visit/Massage Visit– Self Care Is SOOOOO important and most of us don’t make it a priority. Here are a couple local ideas for Chiropractic Care/ Massage Services,  if you are in the Southeast MI area. 

• Evolution Chiropractic & Wellness, Almont MI- Offers both Chiropractic care as well as Massage Treatments. Dr. Bri (chiropractor) is extremely knowledgeable and does a great job with Athletes.  Bonus- They offer a 50% discount to all veterans! 
• Mother Earth Spa, Romeo, MI- Offers Massage Treatments, Facials, Waxing, as well as great gift options in their store front. Katie and her team are amazing!!!! Make sure you get the hot rock add-on during your massage too; you won’t be disappointed. 
• Active Recovery LLC, Rochester MI- Therapeutic Massage, Cupping Therapy, Kinesiology Taping, as well as Chair Massages at the workplace. Stephen and Erin are both great to work with and will have you leaving the office feeling amazing!!!!  The “Chair Massage at the Workplace” option is a great idea for employers looking to show their employees how much they care! 

Kettlebells

A super versatile piece of equipment. If you have limited space, a Kettlebell is the way to go. It can be used for so many exercises: Deadlifts, KB swings, strict press, and weighted squats to name a few.

A couple different options are: 

• CAP Kettlebell– Available at Walmart for a very affordable price, with options to pick up or ship to your house.

• Rogue Kettlebell– If you love to get American-made products that are of high quality, Rogue Fitness is the way to go. If you are local to Columbus, OH, you can go in person. Otherwise, they offer a “3 ships free” promotion.  Grab a couple other items while you are at it and get that free shipping!

3. Workout Apparel- Whether you go to a gym or workout from home, feeling good in your workout clothes, makes it that much easier to get motivated to get your workout in. 

• Colorfulkoala Leggings– Comparable to a more expensive brand (won’t name any names!), at a much more affordable price. They offer different lengths, pockets or no-pockets and they are buttery smooth!!!  Added bonus- they are squat proof and don’t fall down when you are going for that high intensity. 

• Old Navy Active Joggers– My favorite everyday lounge pants. You could easily wear these for a workout as well, but I prefer to wear them for all day wear. Super comfy, not restrictive and they have a large variety of colors to choose from 😊 

• Next Level Racerback Tank– I have these in so many colors. I love that this is a blank canvas, which you can wear as it comes, or use those handy Cricut’s to make it your own!  These hold up extremely well too!

RUNNING

For the Runners: If you are one of those hard-core, dedicated runners, a little snow and cold weather won’t stop you from getting your miles in.

Here are a couple cold weather staples that would make great gift ideas:

• Unisex Beanie with Rechargeable Headlamp – Perfect for those dark mornings and it doesn’t require you to hold anything extra.Keeps your head warm and gives you some extra protection on those dark mornings. Double win! Comes in a huge variety of colors. Perfect for the guy runner in your life too! 

• Shoe Tracks – If you plan on running, even when there is snow on the ground, these are great to have for a little extra traction. They slip easily over your shoes and will keep you running with ease, even on those snowy mornings. 

• Saucony Trail Running Shoe – I love these shoes to run on trails or gravel roads. They are super comfy and gave me great traction for the trail race I did in the Upper Peninsula. 

• Gym Membership – This is a great gift, especially if it is for someone that has a hard time spending money on themselves. You can get a membership to a local gym or an online program. As a busy mom, I have loved being able to follow the Street Parking programming from the comfort of my own home for the past 4 years. All you need at a minimum to get started is a pair of dumbbells or a Kettlebell. Anything extra is great, but not necessary! And you can buy a year membership for only $129!!!! 

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

• Snow Shoes w/ Trek Poles – It can be hard in the winter months, to get motivated to go outside. Finding fun activities to do makes it a little easier. Snow shoeing is one great option. You can get the family involved too. These snowshoes come in men’s, women’s and kids. A great gift idea to get the family outside for some physical activity. 

• Ruck Sack– A ruck sack is a great way to add some resistance to your training. You can throw it on for a walk, use it to add extra intensity to your workout, or even throw it on while snowshoeing! Go Ruck offers a few different sizes as well as accessories too of course! 

Accessories

These items would make great stocking stuffers or great gifts if you are looking for a little lower budget item. 

• Smart Wool Socks – These come in crew, low-rise, light cushion, extra cushion, etc. These will keep your feet nice and dry, whether you are hiking, running, or just for your every day wear. 
• Mini White Boards – Whether you work out in your living room, basement or pole barn, these mini white boards are great to have to keep track of your rounds, reps or time. And it comes in a 6 pack, so you and your workout buddies can each have one! 
• Dry Erase Markers – Because you can’t have the white boards without something to write on them with!
• Gym Clock – There is a ton of different options when it comes to these. Depending on the space you have and how much you want to spend, this could be a budget friendly gift or a splurge! I have the Titan Medium Gym Clock that my “Fit In The Mitt” crew gifted to me and I LOVE it!! If you are looking for something a little smaller and a little less expensive, the Seesii Gym Timer is a great option. 

• Dumbell to Kettlebell Converter – This is another great piece of equipment for those that are short on space. This converts a dumbbell to a Kettlebell. While you can certainly do Dumbbell swings, it is nice to have the handle for a little smoother grip! I love keeping this in my sunroom with a dumbbell, for the days I can’t make it out to the pole barn. Gives me plenty of options, leaving less room for excuses. Need some help fitting workouts into your busy mom life?

Giving the gift of health, whether it’s by gifting a gym membership or a new piece of equipment, is a great way to show someone you truly care about their well-being. 

Giving and getting gifts is fun regardless, but making sure it is something that you or your loved ones with actual use is that much better. Giving the gift of health, whether it’s by gifting a gym membership or a new piece of equipment, is a great way to show someone you truly care about their well-being.  Let’s go into this new year with our health in mind!!

Nicole