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Gift

Best Fitness Gifts For Men and Women

GiftGift Ideas For Fitness Enthusiasts

Trying to find that perfect Christmas, holiday, or birthday gift idea for the fitness junkie in your life?  Look no further!  You’re about to discover the perfect gifts for guys and girls that can match any price point.  I can attest as a fitness lover myself that just about any of these gifts would hit the spot for me.

Table Of Contents

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 Workout Routines and DVDs

P90x

What Is It?

A collection of DVD videos and manuals for home fat loss and muscle building workouts and diet plans.

Who’s It For?

Men and women who are interested in burning fat and building muscle with home workouts who can spare several hours a week.  People without any major medical problems or injuries that are able to train intensely.  Those with minimal equipment like dumbbells and a pullup bar (needed for the routine).

What Are The Features and Benefits?

P90x has become one of the most popular home workout routines with good reason; it works!  Many people want the convenience of a home workout but still want a “gym body.”  The workouts target the entire body, and the routines switch up every month to give a person a good 90 days worth of workouts to go through.  It also covers diet making it a complete blueprint for transforming a person’s body.  It only requires minimal equipment so it’s a great gift for those without a gym membership.

Price Range?

$100 – $150

P90x 2

What Is It?

A collection of DVD videos and manuals for home fat loss and muscle building workouts and customizable diets.

Who’s It For?

A perfect gift for those who have completed the original P90x and are looking to go even further.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

The same as the original P90x but with new workouts to keep the progress going and build upon current progress from the original program.

Price Range?

$100 – $150

Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer Home Workout

What Is It?

A collection of DVD videos and manuals for 10 minute per day home fat loss and toning workouts and diet plans.

Who’s It For?

Men and women who want to get in great shape on a busy schedule.  The workouts are designed to be done in only 10 minutes a day, at home, without investing in any extra equipment (resistance bands included).

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Tony Horton, the creator of P90x, provides intense workouts for those with only 10 minutes a day to spare.  It includes dvds that walk through the entire workouts detailing how to do every exercise.  Eating plan is included to tailor to a person’s goals.

Price Range?

$90

Insanity Home Fat Loss Workout DVDs

What Is It?

A collection of DVD videos and manuals for high intensity cardiovascular workouts aimed at fat loss.

Who’s It For?

Men and women who are primarily interested in cardiovascular workouts, fat loss, and improving athleticism who want to do a home workout without any extra equipment or gear.  Should be capable of performing higher intensity workouts without any major medical issues.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Insanity is a 60 day series of workouts and nutrition plans designed with fat loss and athleticism as the goal.  Since it doesn’t require any extra equipment, it’s perfect for those without access to a gym and that don’t have extra gear.  Its primary purpose is to burn fat quickly and keep workouts interesting to prevent boredom and stagnation.

Price Range?

$100 – $150

Zumba DVDs

What Is It?

DVD videos on Zumba, a mix of dancing and exercise.

Who’s It For?

Primarily aimed at women (although men may enjoy it), Zumba is designed to make exercise enjoyable by combining a variety of dance styles such as salsa, belly dancing, and hip-hop.  It’s a great gift for the person who has trouble working out because of boredom.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

While Zumba won’t create radical transformations in a person’s physique like more intense routines such as P90x and Insanity, it is generally better for those looking to make workouts fun while still providing an intense workout to see benefits.  It can be done without any extra equipment and includes special fat loss routines and a variety of programs and dance styles to keep things interesting.

Price Range?

$50 – $70

 Exercise and Workout Gear

Cellerciser Rebounder

What Is It?

A Cellerciser is the best quality mini trampoline for rebounding.  Rebounding is considered to be quite possibly the best form of exercise developed by mankind according to NASA.

Who’s It For?

Guys and girls who want to improve health, strengthen their entire body, and get in a cardiovascular workout that is better than jogging in less time.  Those who want to work out in their own home, in front of a tv, and/or find a way to make exercise fun.  Rebounding has been enjoyed and touted as addictive even by those who hate other forms of exercise.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

You won’t find a treadmill on this list of gift ideas for a couple reasons.  One is the price point, and the other is that treadmills and other forms of exercise can’t compare to rebounding.  Rebounding, due to the effects of gravity, literally strengthen every single cell in the body and flush the lymph system improving health and strengthening the muscles.  More calories are burned in 30 minutes of rebounding vs. 30 minutes of jogging.  It takes up a relatively small amount of space, and can be done just about anywhere in a house or apartment.  It’s low impact so it won’t stress the joints for those who struggle with higher impact exercise like jogging.

Price Range?

$300 – $400 (For A High Quality Cellerciser)

Adjustable Kettlebell

What Is It?

A kettlebell that allows you to adjust the weight from 16 – 36 pounds.

Who’s It For?

Guys and girls who want the benefits of training with a kettlebell at home or in the gym or who currently train with kettlebells and want more flexibility with the weight.  Those not needing a heavier kettlebell.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Kettlebell training has surged in popularity due to their ability to train and condition the entire body.  A total body fat loss, muscle building, and athleticism improving workout can be done with just kettlebells.  The benefits of this kettlebell lies in the fact that the weight can be adjusted accordingly without having to purchase multiple kettlebells.

Price Range?

$100 – $150

Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells

What Is It?

Two dumbbells that allows you to adjust the weight from 5 to 52.5 pounds per dumbbell in 2.5 – 5 pound increments.

Who’s It For?

Those who want the benefits of training with dumbbells at home and want to save space.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

These dumbbells are a compact way to get in a total workout at home with levels that can adjust to match many strength levels of each exercise.  It is not for those wishing to train with very heavy weights, but the weight levels are adequate for many people’s strength levels.

Price Range?

$250 – $300

Valslides

What Is It?

Portable floor sliders that allow you to do unique exercises anywhere.

Who’s It For?

This is a simple and inexpensive gift for those who would like to be able to do a workout anywhere such as while traveling, at home, or in the office.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

These are a unique way to do new exercises with only body weight.  They are more of a supplement in my opinion to other exercises.  They are perfect for those who travel and want a way to get in a workout.

Price Range?

$30

Resistance Bands

What Is It?

Resistance bands with various levels of resistance, a door anchor (to attach to a door for more exercise options), and an ankle strap.

Who’s It For?

Men and women who want to be able to do total body workouts anywhere they want.  Allows for a unique form of resistance not obtainable with free weights.  One of the best gifts for frequent travelers, college students, and those without access to a gym.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Resistance bands are portable and can be used to exercise and strengthen every muscle of the body through the many exercises that can be done with them.  They are my favorite method of adding resistance to home based workouts.

Price Range?

$30

Pullup Bar

What Is It?

A pullup bar that attaches to any doorway without requiring screws.

Who’s It For?

Men and women who want to be able to do pullups in a doorway at home.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Be able to do one of the best upper body exercises without screwing in a pullup bar.  Needed for P90x and other home workout routines.

Price Range?

$20 – $30

Ab Wheel

What Is It?

A wheel that can be used to strengthen the abs with “ab rollout” exercises.

Who’s It For?

Individuals with some preexisting degree of core strength and athletes.  A great gift for those who are sick of the overpriced ab machines that don’t deliver results.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

This inexpensive little device is hands down one of the absolute best ways to get in a good ab and core workout.  Forget about all the gimmicky infomercial ab products out there.  THIS is the device a person needs to strengthen their core and it is extremely affordable.  Easier and more difficult variations of the ab wheel exercise can be done by adjusting feet and leg positioning, but it is generally for those with a descent amount of strength in good health.

Price Range?

$10 – $15

Manduka Yoga Mat

What Is It?

A high quality mat for yoga exercises.

Who’s It For?

Yoga lovers.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Simply a high quality yoga mat that comes in a variety of colors.  Light weight and measures 24 inches by 71 inches.

Price Range?

$60 – $80

Balance Ball Chair

What Is It?

A balance ball with a base to be used as a chair that strengthens the core.

Who’s It For?

Those who sit a lot and want to improve their posture and core strength.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Improved posture and ab strength from simply sitting around.  This is great for those who work at a computer or sit for extended periods of time.

Price Range?

$60 – $80

 Pedometers and Tracking Devices

Fitbit Tracking Device

What Is It?

A device that tracks a person’s steps, calories burned, and sleep cycle and syncs to computer software for additional features.

Who’s It For?

Men and women with health goals and want a near effortless way to track and monitor progress. This is one of the top gifts for people that like “tech” sort of stuff. Great for those who are strict or want to be strict about measuring and tracking their fitness levels.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Tracks steps and calories burned then transmits that information wirelessly to a computer.   Helps a person keep track of their goals and progress automatically.  Includes a silent alarm that allows a person to wake themselves up without waking their partner.

Price Range?

$100

Polar Heart Rate Watch Pedometer

What Is It?

A watch that tracks heart rate.

Who’s It For?

Cardio lovers who want to target a certain heart rate during exercise.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Tracks heart rate and records up to 16 training sessions to measure progress.

Price Range?

$60 – $90

 Fitness Books

The 4-Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss

What Is It?

A book that covers how to cook as well as how to learn new skills.

Who’s It For?

Men and women both young and old who want to learn the skills of cooking, eating healthy, and the art of learning new skills.  Perfect for both inexperienced and experienced cooks alike.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Best selling author Tim Ferriss always delivers with his work.  This book is full of high quality color photos and details that allow a person to quickly pick up the art of cooking.  Tim also covers the important aspects of developing any new skill making this an interesting read even for those with little interest in cooking specifically. Books always make a great affordable gift.

Price Range?

$21

The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss

What Is It?

A book that covers how to burn fat, build muscle, develop incredible strength, overcome injuries, and improve sex life in the least amount of time possible.

Who’s It For?

Any fitness enthusiast.  Especially those who want to know how to maximize their health and fitness results in the least amount of time spent each week.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

No matter how knowledgeable a person is, they’ll likely pick up a new thing or two from this book making it an excellent gift idea.  Tim has spent years personally experimenting and talking with the world’s elite trainers and professionals on how to “hack” the body to get maximum performance and results.

Price Range?

$16

 Health and Wellness Equipment

Inversion Table

What Is It?

A table that allows a person to invert aka. hang upside for back relief and health benefits.

Who’s It For?

Anyone that wants the benefits of inversion therapy or that complains about back and neck pain.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Inversion therapy benefits include pain relief, strengthening the body and joints, and decompressing the spine.  For details about the benefits of inversion, check out this article.

Price Range?

$100 – $150

At Home Infrared Suana

What Is It?

An infrared suana that can be set up at home.

Who’s It For?

Anyone that wants to enjoy the benefits of a sauna and infrared therapy in their own home.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Saunas and particularly infrared sauna are a great way to detoxifying the body and relieve stress.  They provide cardiovascular and calorie burning benefits while simply sitting in the sauna.  For more details about the benefits of infrared saunas, check out this article.

Price Range?

$500 – $600

 

 Kitchen Items

Breville Juicer

What Is It?

An easy to use juicer for juicing fruit and vegetable juices at home.

Who’s It For?

Guys and girls that want to enjoy the health benefits of juicing.

What Are The Features and Benefits?

Juicing is a tremendous way to improve health with little effort.  This Breville juicer is the one I personally use and have found it to be extremely easy to use, quick, and requires very little clean up time. It is one of the best gifts you can give to help someone improve their health.

Price Range?

$100

Reader Comments

What are your favorite gift ideas for fitness lovers?

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Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Breville BJE200xl Juice Fountain Compact Review – Juicer Reviews

The Breville BJE200XL Juicer Review

Breville BJE200xl Review
Juicing is one of the absolute best things you can do for your health.  The problem I’ve had with juicing in the past with my Champion Juicer is the inconvenience of prepping the produce and cleanup time.  When I discovered the Breville BJE200xl after my friend purchased it, I rediscovered the joys of juicing.

While this juicer is not the powerhouse of some more end juicers, I’ve found it has more than adequately allowed me to juice greens, raw beets, and just about anything I can stick in the thing.  Keep reading to find out if it’s the right juicer for you.

Appearance

The first thing you’ll notice about the Breville BJE200XL is its sleek and modern appearance.  I really like the silver look and tone of it.  While this is a small point, it’s definitely not going to be an eye-sore to keep out on the counter top at all times.

Ease Of Use

Setting up the juicer is snap.  Just put a few pieces in place, and in about 20 seconds you’re ready to go.

I LOVE the wide opening on the Breville Juice Fountain.  I rarely have to chop things up too much because the large opening lets you juice entire pieces of small fruit, and only larger produce requires being cut into a few smaller pieces.

The engine is very powerful and takes very little effort to push the food down into the juicer.  Whereas I would sometimes have to fight with other juicers, this thing seems to just suck the food right up.

It then puts the juice into a 25oz container.  That’s always more than enough room no matter how much stuff I’m juicing.

It’s got a safety that requires you to lock the pieces into place before use.

Noise

I do consider the Breville Juicer to be a bit loud.   While it is quieter than some other juicers, there’s no doubt you’re going to be making some noise when it’s extracting the juice.  For me this is not an issue, but I would expect it to potentially wake some people up in the house if using in the morning.

Effectiveness

The Breville juicer is not quite as effective as my Champion juicer for getting the most juice out of the produce.  That being said, the pulp is pretty dry.  I would rate it as a good “middle of the road” type of juicer in terms of how well it extracts juice.

It’s got a 700 water motor that runs at 14,000 RPM.  The juice comes out of the food in a matter of seconds.  The entire juicing process is extremely quick taking no more than a few seconds to minutes depending on how much stuff you’re juicing.

Ease Of Cleanup

This is why I would highly recommend the Breville BJE200XL.  The cleanup process is so fast (about 5 minutes) that I don’t dread juicing anymore.

Some pieces are a little awkwardly shaped making getting into some nooks a bit difficult.  I haven’t experienced too much difficulty though cleaning it in the sink under running water.

It includes a small brush to scrub the screen with.  This is the most time consuming part of cleanup taking usually a few minutes to really get any debris out of the screen.

Cons

There are a few things I don’t care for.  One is that sometimes a few small pieces of greens will shoot out the top of the tube.  This makes for some additional cleanup of the counter.

Another thing is that transporting the pulp container to the sink to wash will likely drip some juice unless you keep something under it.

Finally, while cleanup is very easy, it can be a little hard to reach some places in the pulp container.

Final Thoughts

I would recommend the Breville BJE200XL to anyone looking for a good quality, affordable juicer.  It’s not going to have all the bells and whistles of a higher end juicer, but it certainly gets the job done for the vast majority of anyone’s juicing needs.  You can purchase it on amazon below:

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Breville BJE200XL Juicer Review

Best Fat Loss Cookbook

The Best Weight Loss Cookbook – Over 250 Fat Burning Recipes

Weight Loss Cooking Made Fast, Easy, And Tasty

The biggest challenges I hear from people when they want to lose weight and start eating better is that they either “don’t have time,” or they hate the taste of health foods and don’t know how to cook.  While it’s easy for me as a fitness enthusiast who’s been doing this for years to forget about how hard it can be for someone first getting into “dieting,” I also remember how much I hated eating boring bland foods when I first started out.  Fortunately, I quickly started piecing together great tasting meals that were easy to make and tasty.  I even created my healthy cooking youtube channel to show off some of my favorite fat loss and muscle gain recipes.

But, finding great recipes that are both good for weight loss AND taste good is always a bit of a challenge.  Luckily, Dave and Karine have come in and saved the day.  They’ve put together what I consider to be the absolute best cookbook and recipe guide for those interested in getting and staying fit.  I really wish I had this weight loss cookbook that I’m about to share with you when I first got started.

Here are some sample recipes:

Fat Loss Cookbook Breakfast Recipe Idea – Apple Oatmeal Pancakes

Makes 1 Serving (4 to 6 small pancakes)

Ingredients

• 6 egg whites
• ½ cup oatmeal (dry)
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened apple sauce
• Pinch of cinnamon powder
• Pinch of stevia
• 1 apple, diced finely
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• Cooking spray

Directions

1. First heat a frying pan until hot and then reduce to medium temperature. After mixing together all the ingredients in a blender (except for the diced apple), spray some pam (or other cooking spray), drop by spoonful onto the pan.
2. When bubbles start to form, place evenly on pancake some of the diced apple.
3. Let them set in before flipping the pancake.
4. Makes about 4-6 pancakes depending on the size.

Nutritional Facts

(Per Serving)

  • Calories: 240
  • Protein: 28g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fat: 0g

 

Weight Loss Cookbook Lunch or Dinner Recipe Idea – Quinoa Burritos

Makes 2 Servings
Perfect for a snack, spread or sandwich

Ingredients

• 2 small whole wheat tortillas
• ½ cup quinoa, cooked
• 4 egg whites
• ½ avocado, cubed
• 1 cup lettuce, shredded
• ½ cup salsa
• ¼ cup red onion, diced
• ½ cup black beans
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Cook quinoa and egg whites separately. Then mix with black beans, cilantro and onion.
2. Spead half mixture equally on whole wheat tortillas.
3. Top with salsa, avocado and lettuce.
4. Wrap and enjoy!

Nutritional Facts

(Per Serving)

  • Calories: 272
  • Protein: 17g
  • Carbohydrates: 33g
  • Fat: 8g

 

Get The “Metabolic Cooking” Cookbook

Best Fat Loss Cookbook

Metabolic Cooking – The Best Weight Loss Cookbook

Check out the Metabolic Cookbook here for over 250 more fat burning meals!

This cookbook will not only give you just about every breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack idea you could ever need for weight loss, but it’s also filled with nutritional tips and tricks to maximize your results.  The money saved from not having to eat out at fast food places and preparing your own meals is worth the price alone.  Not to mention you’ll pretty much never need to waste time trying to track down recipes that not only taste great, but will help you get in shape too!

Get More Free Fat Loss Recipe Ideas

Want to try out some more weight loss recipes for free?  Dave and Karine are offering this free guide so you can get even more recipes to burn fat. Right click here and save to your computer.

Also check out: The Best Bodybuilding Recipe Cookbook

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Bacteria

The Best Probiotic Supplements – Top Strains and Products

Bacteria

Friendly Bacteria – A Key To Lasting Health

What Is The Difference In Probiotic Supplements?

It’s important to recognize that the term “probiotic” refers to a broad category of all the various beneficial bacteria and microorganisms found in the gut.  That means every probiotic supplement is unique in terms of the effects it will have in the body and on the individual.

It’s also important to recognize that not all types of probiotics are equal.  For instance, there are many different strains of lactobacillus acidophilus which research shows has differing effects.  So just because a person took something with acidophilus and didn’t notice any benefits, doesn’t mean another strain like the DDS-1 couldn’t be highly beneficial.

Some studies have even shown different people taking the same probiotic supplement had vastly different results.  Since the area of probiotic supplementation is fairly new, this means that it will likely take some time for science to really get a handle on how to diagnose which probiotic someone would benefit from the most.

I firmly believe the best place to start healing the gut and getting the benefits of probiotics is through the inclusion of cultured foods like sauerkraught, kimchi, kefir, and other fermented foods.   These foods also provide far more bacteria per serving than a typical over the counter supplement will.  So consider supplements to be just that, a supplement to a diet already rich in good bacteria from foods.

Best Supplemental Probiotic Products

Here is a list of some of my favorite probiotics.  Note, there are plenty of other good ones out there and this is not mean to be an exhaustive list of every good probiotic supplement.

1. Saccharomyces Boulardii

Saccharomyces Boulardii is a great probiotic yeast to start with because it stimulates sIgA production.  (see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11021572) This is important for signaling to our immune system what bacteria are in our gut.  To make a long story short, this enhances the benefits of all the other probiotics you will take.  Without adequate sIgA signaling however, the probiotics won’t do their job as well.

2. Lactobacillus GG

Lactobacillus GG (brand name Culturelle) is one of the most researched and time-tested strains of bacteria with over 400 studies done on it.  It’s well noted for its immune enhancing effects, improvement of digestion, and it’s ability to successfully survive the digestive track intact to colonize the gut.  It has been shown to aid in fighting infection and improve the skin with conditions like eczema.  It is my number #1 recommendation when starting probiotics as there are few if any that can match the research backing it has.

3. Bifantis – Bifidobacterium infantis

Bifantis (brand name Align) is well-known for its benefits on digestion.  It is great for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.  This is typically the first probiotic to recommend for digestive issues.

4. L. Acidophilus Strain DDS-1

The DDS-1 strain is a highly researched strain of L. Acidophilus that is of human origin.  This means it works well within the human body and can tolerate transition through the digestive track.  Like other strains, research has shown it is extremely beneficial for gut-health as well as enhancing the immune system.

Product Link – USA Labs – DDS-1

Multiple Strain Probiotic Formulas

Utilizing formulas are a good way to introduce a variety of strains into the gut.  While I recommend started with the previous single-strain probiotics due to their extensive research, these following formulas may offer benefits to those looking to experiment with other popular strains of bacteria.

Custom Probiotics

One of my trusted health mentors believes this to be one of the absolute best probiotic supplements he’s ever used.  He’s stated that the response people get when taking it is almost instantaneous in how they feel.

Jarro-Dophilus EPS

Called the #1 probiotic in the US.  It is shelf-stable with a good mix of 8 different bacteria strains.

Natren Trinity

Natren is also the only company I’ve seen to have the Malytho superstrain of Bifidobacterium bifidum.  While the product is expensive, some people swear by it.

 

Additional Educational Resources:

http://www.nutricology.com/infocus/pdfletters/InFocus_2009Oct_Probiotics.pdf

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Recommended Products

HEALTH PRODUCTS

Earthing Mat – Mat to keep you grounded at home on the computer and while sleeping.  Excellent for regulating cortisol, reducing pain and inflammation, and overall health.

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT

Programmable Crock-Pot Slow Cooker – A slightly higher end crock-pot that lets you program a time. Highly affordable, but still a little more expensive than other crock-pots for the added features.

Automatic Shut-off Crock-Pot – The same 6quart crock-pot I use. Shuts off automatically.

The Magic Bullet 25 Piece Set – I use the Magic Bullet all the time for smoothies, sauces, chopping, and more. The extra cups that can be stored in the refrigerator are life savers for making sauces and toppings. Whether or not you use the Magic Bullet, get ANY similar small kitchen blender/processor like this to save tons of time and for easy cleanup.

Lock & Lock Food Storage Containers – Locking containers are pretty much essential for taking food on the go as they lock tight to prevent spilling. Simply toss in the container and toss that container in a bag. Available in both plastic and glass.

FITNESS EQUIPMENT

Resistance Band Set – Set of resistance bands with multiple levels of resistance and doorway anchor. Excellent product for a total body workout at home with minimal cost.

Ringtraining Gymnastic Rings – Ringtraining.com offers some of the highest quality gymnastic rings for use at home.

Pull Up Bar – Pretty much essential to effectively working the back at home via bodyweight.

Cellerciser Rebounder – Expensive, but the best quality in terms of rebounders for health and fitness.

www.craigslist.com – Find local people selling their unused exercise equipment. Great for snagging too heavy to ship items at a discount and for great deals. Build a home gym for the fraction of a gym membership.