That's Fit

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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With so many people trying to make healthy choices, it's no wonder vegetarians and flexitarians are popping up everywhere. Chances are there's one or two on your list, and this Christmas is a great time to help them adapt to or maintain their eating habits:

• A vegetarian cookbook. As a flexitarian, I'm constantly looking for recipes that will satisfy my appetite and liven up boring veggies.
  
• A juicer. Sometimes when cooking seems like too much of a task, it's nice to be able to whip up a fresh, nutrient-rich drink. I'll tell you from experience that a cheap blender doesn't cut it -- it's worth it to go all out and splurge on the juicer.
  
• A herb garden. The healthiest way to liven up a bland dish is with fresh herbs. DIY herbs is the gift that keeps on giving -- literally! You can get an easy-assemble herb garden at many of the home stores
  
• A gift card for a natural foods store. Natural and organic foods can be expensive! A gift card will be much appreciated.
  
• A Tshirt. There are some really cute vegetarian t-shirts out there -- click here for some examples.

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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.

Let me guess: There's someone on your list who has vowed that this will be the year that they finally lose all the weight and get fit. After the holidays, that is. Until then they're going to enjoy themselves. And chances are this person has said this before but instead of getting healthier, they seem to either stay the same or do the opposite.

So this year, why not help this loved one finally take the plunge and start living healthfully? Here are five great gift ideas for the person who's just starting out on a healthy path:

• iPod. An iPod (or any MP3 player) is a key ingredient of many people's healthy routine, mine included. An iPod can be a major motivator and cheerleader on a tough routine. Here's a trick -- before you give this gift, load it up with heart-thumping, inspiring tunes and fitness podcasts.
  
• A subscription to a fitness magazine. Give you loved one motivation delivered directly to their door each month with a subscription to Shape, Fitness, Self or any of the other great mags out there.
  
• A fitness class. Sometimes, all someone needs is a little push. Give them that, and give yourself a gift too by signing the two of you up for a class. It can be anything healthy -- maybe a dance class, a yoga class or a full-on bootcamp. Most people won't get active without someone to do it with them so you'll be doing them--and you--a favour.
  
• A fitness DVD. Some people are scared of the gym so giving them a fitness DVD will give them the opportunity to work out in the comfort of their home. They might never use it so offer to come over and do it with them.
  
• Nice fitness gear. I love my LuluLemon Boogie Crop pants. And since they're not really appropriate for day-to-day life, I enjoy having the chance to wear then when I go for a run. My point is this -- if you buy your loved one a nice piece of fitness wear, one that can't be used just for lounging or trips to the mall, they're more likely to get out and do something fit because they'll want to show off their swanky new duds. I love anything Lulu and chances are you will too.
  

Waking up before dawn for that early morning workout is hard in the wintertime. It's so cold outside, and so nice and cozy in your bed, isn't it? Maybe you should just hit the snooze and sleep for 10 more minutes, right? What could 10 minutes hurt? Your workout, that's what.

If morning is the only time of day you have to exercise, then you've got to get up and do it. The snooze button is dangerous; before you know it, those 10 minutes have turned into 30 and you've just slept your workout away. If you or someone in your life is a perpetual snooze abuser, check out these stylish alarm clocks designed to wake you up and keep you there:

• When the Puzzle Alarm Clock goes off, it shoots four puzzle pieces into the air. So what, you say? The alarm won't shut off until you put the puzzle back together.
• For the angry sleeper in your life, here's the Muji rubber alarm clock. Encased in a rubber shell, it'll do you no good to throw it against the wall.
• Put the Sleeptracker Pro on your wrist and it'll monitor your sleep cycles. When you enter the "almost-awake" zone, it will gently rouse you.
• Clocky is my personal favorite. Once it goes off, it rolls of your nightstand and looks for a place to hide.
• Don't work bankers hours or want to sleep in a little on the weekend? The Neverlate Executive has an alarm for every day of the week, as well as a customizable snooze.

Catch a peek of these unique alarm clocks in the gallery below.

As we shopped for our kids' holiday gifts this year, we brainstormed gift ideas that would get them off the couch and into active motion or imagination. Hanukkah kicked off last night and our six-year-old and three-year-old ripped open their fit gifts. The items shown in the gallery below triggered the loudest screams of holiday joy heard yet. Our son was sweating five minutes into trying out the pogo stick -- he's up to four bounces as of today.

Think out of the box this holiday season -- think fit gifts! Even if you're dealing with a stubborn teen who only wants to plug into a new iPod, maybe you could surprise them with a set of ski lessons, a pair of jogging shoes, a promise of a family vacation hike to the base of the Grand Canyon this summer or a new mountain bike.

I'm a traveller -- always have been and probably always will be. But one of my biggest complaints about leaving my hometown is the disruption to my routines -- particularly my fitness routine. I am, after all, a creature of habit, and the pounds can add up fast when I'm taking a week or two off my exercise routine. I have to find a way to keep it up while I travel. True, there are gyms in other cities, but I hate paying to use a gym somewhere else. Plus I feel odd, not knowing where anything is. So what's the other option? Taking my workout with me.

If you have a fit traveller on your Christmas list, here are a few gift ideas for them:

• Resistance bands. These are inexpensive, light and very versatile.
  
• A pedometer. Walking is something you can do anywhere in the world. Monitor just how many steps you've taken with this handy tool.
• Aquabells. These are weights you fill with water, and collapse when you're travelling.
  
• A travel alarm clock. Travellers can set their alarm early so they can go for a run before starting their day.
  
• Travel trainers. Reebok makes a collapsible running shoe that you can easily stow away in your suitcase.

Though the holidays are known for abundance of food and gifts, you can still spread a little environmentalism with that holiday cheer. After all, clean air and water means a healthier planet for us all. Do a quick Internet search and you'll find thousands of beautiful gift items made from recyclable materials, certified by environmental watchdog groups, or that are fair trade. Or, if you're looking for ways to help your gift recipients reduce their own impact on the environment, check out the list below.

• Give the gift of a programmable thermostat and know that the heat will automatically be turned down at night, even if your loved one forgets. (This will also help them save on heating costs!)
• A pair of warm, organic cotton socks will keep their toes warm when they set that new thermostat a few degrees cooler.
• Create Turn the Tide gift basket to help an eco-newbie make the transition to green.
• If you live in a warm part of the country, consider giving a tree as a gift. Or, plant a tree in your friend or family member's honor.
• Cute, reusable lunch totes make lunch breaks fun!
• Your loved one can feel good about passing up those plastic shopping bags with a reusable version.

When you're done shopping, you can even wrap all of your gifts in a reusable gift bag!

While baggy clothes are usually preferred by larger exercisers, plus-sized fitness professional Kelly Bliss recommends just the opposite. Tighter undergarments can help support the body's extra girth, reducing that annoying jiggle many are trying to melt away with healthy exercise.

Here are a few on-line sources for plus-sized fitness gear:

• Junonia is for active women size 14+. Their first catalog mailed over ten years ago, and from perusing their website, I was quite impressed with their varied activewear and clear sizing specifications. Junonia has everything from zip-legged convertible hiking pants to swimwear, intimates and casual wear.
• Enell Sports Bra's tag line says it all -- The Bounce Stops Here! With all the jogging I'm doing lately, my friends should be nestled snuggly into a front-hook Enell sports bra. Besides, with a News & Reviews page touting raves by Oprah, these bras must be good! Enell also offers a support vest for men to flatten the chest and minimize that uncomfortable "bounce" while working out.
• Kelly Bliss' Plus Size Yellow Pages is a one-stop shop for anyone needing plus-sized anything. Bliss is a LifeTime Coach and plus-sized fitness professional. Her website brings you a click away to a multitude of clothing sources, that bicycle designed for a larger rear or even a fanny pack with a wider waist.

Chocolate Santas and other sweet treats are popular stocking stuffers, but might not be appreciated by the dieter or fitness buff in your life. Why not consider a healthier "treat" instead? Below are several ideas to get you started on filling a fit stocking. I know I'd love to see any one of these items under the tree on Christmas Day!

• Brian recently told us that pedometers encourage weight loss. I like this one from Omron, but you can get a less advanced version for around $10.
• Fit Deck cards are a handy way to keep fit while traveling or to add variety to your exercise routine. Consider Fit Deck, Jr. for kids.
• Show the outdoor enthusiast in your life that you care by giving them Ear Mitts for those cold winter days.
• When in doubt, give a gift certificate to a favorite class, to a gym, or for new fitness gear.
• Write it Down Mini-Journals let hikers, birdwatchers, campers, and golfers keep track of their adventures.
• Instant ice packs are inexpensive and handy to have around.
• Substitute those sweet treats for more nutritious energy bars.
• Give the gift of peace of mind with this running shoe wallet.

Share your own ideas with us for the perfect "fit" stocking stuffer!

Swimming is sometimes overlooked as a workout, but it shouldn't be. Swimming is low impact, great for people with injuries and arthritis, and some asthmatics find they get a more comfortable workout in the pool as well. Not only that, if working out in the snow gives you the shivers, you can always bring that workout inside to a nice, warm pool.

Do you have a swimmer in your life? If so, here are some gifts to stick under the tree that just might make them smile:

• It's not inexpensive, but this underwater mp3 player will keep your swimmer in his or her favorite tunes during their workout.
• An underwater lap counter helps swimmers keep track of how far they've gone.
• Help your swimmer feel stylish in a new swim cap.
• Goggles protect a swimmer's eyes, and these goggles are competition-caliber.
• With a new kickboard, swimmers won't have to wait for one at the pool.
• Your swimmer can see her times with this waterproof watch, which is also great for triathlons.

Get a closer look in the gallery below!

Even though the holiday shopping season has just begun, when I saw Wild Planet's Hyper Dash, I had to grab it. This toy has endless possibilities for running and play outside, we can take it camping in the summer, and I can see it keeping my two little ones physically active indoors over the winter as well.

My kids love the snow, but late winter temperatures here often keep us indoors in January and February. I love to have toys that keep them moving and grooving all winter long. Health experts say kids should get at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, rain or shine.

Here are a few more gift ideas to keep kids active this winter:

• Teach little ones to jump with the Honeybee Hop by Playskool.
• Be prepared to hear some roaring with these Monster Clompers by Alex Toys. Older children might like carpet skates instead.
• Klutz books are always a hit, and the The Footbag Book will keep kids busy for hours.
• Put that bouncing toddler on a Rody and teach valuable lessons in balance. Older kids can finesse those same skills on a balance board.
• Kids love classics, and there's nothing more classic than a jump rope.

Go more ideas? Share them with us in comments. In the mean time, visit the gallery below to get a closer look at some of these toys.