Over the past couple of months, Bethany and Maggie have been diligently updating you with their picks for the best fit gifts available this holiday season. Now, with only two days until Christmas, it's crunch time. You've gotta get your gifts together and under the tree pronto.

Need some inspiration? Here are a few of the best of the best fit gifts of 2008:

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I know he's been around for centuries and does the whole giving-gifts-to-kids thing, but Santa needs to seriously size up the situation going on around his middle. That belly fat may be his trademark, but his BMI is putting him at serious risk for future health issues.

The average non-magical human, on the other hand, doesn't have to worry about filling out a big red suit every December. Without further ado or excuses, here are five fit gifts that -- in addition to a good cardio program, of course -- will help trim that tummy in no time. Give them to friends, or gift yourself a six-pack in 2009.

Vegan and vegetarian ... what is the difference? There are more similarities than differences, really. Both eschew meat in their diets, but vegans take it a step further. Vegans aim to avoid using any foods and products made from animals or animal by-products. And while every vegan has different ethical guidelines they follow, many vegans opt for 100% cruelty-free products.

If you have a loved one who is a vegan, you may be stumped about what you can buy for them. Luckily, there are plenty of health and wellness gifts that mesh with the vegan lifestyle. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

It's not easy being green during the holiday season, what with all the buying and wrapping, and buying and shipping, and buying and decorating.

But fitness and green living can easily go hand-in-hand. Walking instead of driving, eating local organic foods, and limiting your consumption of resources are easy ways to accomplish both at the same time.

Your favorite health and fitness nuts (who also happen to care about the environment) are sure to love a fit gift that helps them do their part to conserve resources.

Check out the gallery below for a few ideas to get you started!

Do you have people in your life who just aren't satisfied with a jog around the neighborhood? You can foster your loved ones' adventurous spirits with holiday gifts that are as rugged as they are.

You can find adventure sport gear or accessories that fit any budget. Do keep in mind that certain items -- especially wearables such as helmets -- require a certain fit, so be sure to purchase items that can be easily exchanged if they don't fit correctly. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice, so why not ask him for a little help in being really, really good this year?

Need a loyal workout buddy? Look no farther than your favorite pet. Dogs make great walking and hiking companions. They keep you company, help you feel a little safer, and never, ever take no for an answer ... even at 6 AM.

Good pet owners know that dogs need time to build up their fitness just like humans do, and that you should never overwork your pet. But once you two make a commitment to fitness, you'll never find a more loyal companion.

Here are five gifts the fitness-loving pet owner in your life would love to see under the tree this year.

Feeling stuck about what to buy your sweetie this holiday season? Believe it or not, a fitness gift can be romantic. There's a fine line, however. Guys, if you buy your girlfriend a weight-loss fitness DVD, you are going to have hell to pay. But buy her a romantic weekend away at a ski resort, and you'll get a whole different response.

Fitness can be fun, and it's a great way to spend time together. So think about the different activities you enjoy and find a way you can do them together. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

Busy parents hit the ground running in the morning. But between kids, school, work, chores, and other obligations, they can have trouble finding time to do the kind of running they'd really love to do ... the kind that happens on a treadmill or a quiet trail.

Fitness may be one of the first things parents cut out of a busy schedule, but good health is important even when time is at a premium. Help the busy moms and dads in your life stay invested in their own personal health with these holiday fit gifts for busy parents on the go.

Tweens and teens may seem to be constantly on the go. But while they're go, go, going ... are they really being physically active? Encourage them to be more active this holiday season with gifts that either inspire physical activity or generate it.

When choosing active gifts for the younger set, keep fun in mind. While a pedometer might be a great tool for kids of any age, it's not exactly thrilling for a teenager to open a handsomely wrapped gift and find a pedometer inside. So look for items that not only promote physical fitness, but also generate some excitement. Check out the gallery for some activity-inspiring gifts for the tweens and teens in your life.

I just came across a gift idea that I think is fabulous. Gifty Box has a Choose Your Own Adventure box. It contains an gift certificate for the outdoor adventure of your choice in your area. You can choose your certificate based on region -- Midwest, Southwest, etc. -- and even in my own little burg I found several adventures within a few hour's drive: kite boarding, hiking, kayaking, parachuting (yikes!), yoga, sailing, hang gliding, and so on. There are also Gifty Boxes for classes and lessons, as well as wine tasting.

I would love to find this under the Christmas tree this year...would you?

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Most weekdays, I'm a three-step cook. If it can't get done in less than 30 minutes and 3-steps, I don't want anything to do with it. But creating healthy meals usually takes a few extra steps -- chopping vegetables, making a salad, washing and cleaning fresh ingredients -- so having the right tools in the kitchen is definitely a must. If you need some last minute gift ideas for a friend who loves to find kitchen-friendly gear under the tree, then these ideas are for you:

• I adore my Cuisinart Mini-Prep food processor. It cuts chopping time in half, especially for veggie heavy foods like soup, and is simple to clean.
• Every cook needs a decent knife. These are more decent than most, but even if they aren't in your budget, you get the picture.
• Want to give a sustainable gift that keeps on giving? Consider a CSA membership. Your loved one will get fresh, organic, local produce for an entire growing season.
• A mandolin lets the creative cook cut fruit and veggies in uniform slices, unlike the food processor.
  
• It's so cliche, but I use my salad spinner every day. I've yet to find a method that dries lettuce as well, and I can store my chopped greens right inside.

Healthy eating isn't hard, but passing up those quick convenience food is easier when you have the right tools at hand.



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Every morning (well, every morning that I don't absolutely need the car), I look out the bedroom window at the snow and ice, then I turn to my husband and say, "Really. You can take the car today."

"Nah," he usually says. Then he bundles up for the cold and heads off to work. Once you start commuting by bicycle, it just seems wrong to let a little snow stop you, I guess. I can respect that, and it gives me a few ideas for gifts to put under the Christmas tree:

• Winter commuting means traveling in the dark. Keep your commuter safe with head and rear lights. These are battery powered, but you can also find solar or even hand-crank powered versions.
• Whether it's a crucial project for an important meeting or gear for a back-country bike trip, your biker needs a place to stash his or her stuff. My hubby uses a backpack, but I'm partial to this waterproof pack/pannier.
• A bicycle computer helps cyclists keep track of their trip or workout, if they're into that sort of thing.
• Keep hands warm with CliMitts, which attach right to the handle bar, or with a pair of lobster-style gloves.
• If you really want to spend some cash, many winter cyclists outfit a second bicycle with all the necessary gear. That way, no matter what the conditions, they always have a bike that's ready for anything. Since I don't do much riding in the winter, my bike usually plays the role of second bike for my commuter.

Bicycling is excellent exercise, and there really isn't any reason you can't continue to do it in the wintertime. Like any outdoor sport, you just have to come prepared for the elements.



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Edible gifts are ideal for someone you don't know very well -- they're good as a hostess gift at a party or even to give to your second cousin who've you only met once at the family reunion. But you have to be careful when giving food -- with so many people dieting these days, it's hard to know if the gift will be well-received or not. And even if they're not dieting, you don't want to encourage unhealthy habits in someone else by giving them something that you yourself shouldn't be eating.

So, a box of caramel covered bon bons is out. So is a bottle of cream liqueur. What can you get instead? Here are some suggestions:

Is there a yoga-lover in your life whose gear could use some pizazz? Help them bring a little style to their daily workout with these funky photo yoga mats from Plank. Choose from a cobra making its way through the grass, pills spilled on a bathroom floor, or a wooden plank -- a perfect reminder to keep that plank pose straight and strong.

If pictures aren't your yogini's style, try one of the text mats. Bling it up with the "Bling" mat or let your yoga-friend center her focus on her #1 girl -- herself -- with the "Me" mat. These mats are adorable and the perfect gift for that friend who loves yoga, but who also has everything. Check them out in the gallery below.

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