Check out our Diet Reviews on AOL Health!

present-related stories

Fit Gifts for Last Minute Shoppers

Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

clock with minute hand
So your bags are packed, the car is stocked with festive wrapped presents and you're about to go over the river and through the woods when you realize ... you forgot to buy cousin Jimmy a gift.

We've all been there. At this point, you may not have time to purchase one of our favorite fit gifts, but there are still plenty of health-promoting gifts you can pick up on the way to your Christmas celebrations. Check out the gallery for ideas.

Last Minute Fit Gifts(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Fruit basketGift CardsSports equipmentRed wineSun protection

Fit Gifts for Movie Lovers

Motivation

DVD player
The days before Christmas are winding down. If you're in need of a quick gift, a DVD is a good choice. While a couple of hours plopped on the couch certainly doesn't do anything for fitness, many sports-themed movies have an inspiring message. So, when picking out a flick for your favorite movie buffs, why not choose one that motivates them to become more fit? Check out the gallery for some ideas.

Motivating Sports Movies Make Great Gifts(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Remember the TitansThe RookieRudyMiracleInvincible

Give a Non-Fattening Hostess Gift

Diet & Weight Loss

giftI'm not going to lie -- if I'm attending a party, it's pretty likely I'm bringing a bottle of wine. I like wine, I know wine and I like to think I'm pretty good at picking out something the host or hostess will enjoy.

However, some folks don't drink, and it's easy to pick out something they like, too ... although some of the first things that come to mind are gourmet goodies like chocolate, nuts or cheese.

If the hostess in question is watching her weight, though, or if she just follows a really healthy lifestyle, I'm not about to sabotage her choices with a bad move on my part. However, I want to make sure I'm still showing the same amount of thought and care. Fortunately, there are plenty of fat-free, healthful options -- check out my top picks in the gallery below!

Perfectly Healthful Gifts for Your Host(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Dean & Deluca Salt Essentials, $22 to $135Glass Teddy Bear Shaker, $2.99Anthropologie Hidden Peacock Bowl, $48-$88Pink Frame Onion Goggles, $18.04 cheftoolscomGingerbread WoodWick Candle, $20.95


Source

Bake Up a Hot Body in 7 Steps

Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

chef du jourBaking up goodies for parties, gifts and Santa is a terrific part of this festive holiday season -- even for me, your loving fitness trainer. Baking doesn't have to be bad for your body though, nor does it have to contribute to that traditional December weight gain.

If I weren't a fitness professional, I'd be a baker. It's fun and allows me the ability to be creative while making people happy. I love making people happy. I don't, however, enjoy putting fat on my hips or the hips of others. This has lead me to be really creative.

I've got a few suggestions for you to follow and a link here to my favorite baked treats in my online recipe book at Fitzness.com.


Source

Favorite Fitness Tools - They Make Great Gifts, Says Your Fitness Trainer

Fitness, Reviews & Products


I just posted a list of my favorite fitness tools of the year in my Holiday Hottie column over at Holidash, and since you are all fitness fans ... I'd feel silly not to share it with you.

The bottom line is: I'm privy to the best tools and clothes on the market. I aggressively seek out hot new items, and sometimes the makers of those items seek out me. At the end of the day, I drop the crap and keep the stuff I truly love.

My short list of Gifts to Get Greedy Over is comprised of some of the most innovative tools for training at all levels of fitness. Oh! And the apparel is to die for. So scoot on over to Holidash and give the gift of fitness. Or ... get something fancy for yourself. You deserve it!

I wish you happy and healthy holidays!

Source

Giveaway - Win Some Cool Shoes From KEEN Footwear

Giveaways, Reviews & Products

keen shoeKEEN Footwear offers some of the coolest most comfortable fashions for everything from long hikes to date nights. KEEN shoes are fun, sporty, and versatile and you may just be able to score yourself a free pair! In fact, if you win the giveaway, you could win anything on the KEEN website. Socks, shoes, purses, laptop bags and backpacks are up for grabs.

Oh ... and entering is ridiculously easy. All you have to do is visit KEENFootwear.com and decide which pair of shoes you like best and then write in this comment section which style you love and what you would want to go do in them.

And just so nobody walks away feeling like a loser, KEEN has offered That's Fit readers a special promo code to get free shipping on anything you purchase. That code is FITFREE and you deserve every penny that you save!

KEEN Footwear Giveaway(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Genoa Peak for WomenWinterport for MenMenlo Park BagTarghee for WomenWear KEEN Shoes Everywhere!

Keep reading for official Giveaway Guidelines ...

Source

What to Do With Those Sweet (and Calorie-Laden) Gifts

Nutrition & Supplements

Christmas cookiesThere are a million ways the holidays can trip up your diet -- overeating at a party, drinking calorie-laden drinks, sampling the baked goods you're making for others. But, the gifts you get from others can also create a problem.

I've definitely been guilty of giving a less than diet-friendly food gift to people, although I try to avoid giving such a thing to anyone I know is watching his or her weight. But what about that plate of (delicious) cookies your neighbor brings you? Or the freshly baked pie your aunt drops at your front door?

In my experience, if it's in the house, it's going to get eaten, which leaves one solution -- get it out. Take the naughty treat to your local police or fire station, or if you have a favorite charity in town (American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Alzheimer's Association), take it there. The workers (and residents) in your local nursing home would appreciate a sweet treat, as would nurses and doctors in the hospital. In these places, it's not just one or two people snacking -- lots of people are sharing, so it's not as damaging a gift.

Fit Gifts for Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend

Fitness

couple in front of Christmas lights
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.

Fit Gifts for Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Ski WeekendiPodYoga ClassRunning ShoesBallroom Dance Class


ESPN the Weekend = Man Heaven

Healthy Places, Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

I just returned from a place I've decided to be Man Heaven. Man Heaven is a place where loads and loads of men dressed in various colored athletic jerseys giddily board trams with feverish excitement to spend time with their favorite sports heroes. These men were squirming in their seats, beaming bright smiles and high-fiving their way all the way to the entrance gates of Disney World's Hollywood Studios. ESPN the Weekend is Man Heaven.

The weekend was filled with endless opportunities to meet, train with, question and listen to America's favorite ESPN stars: Donovan McNabb, Tony Gonzalez, Hershel Walker, John Stockton, Cal Ripken Jr., Chris Carter and more. Oodles of ESPN Sportscasters took stages across the park hosting their own scheduled and aired ESPN shows, and also hosted other fun question and answer sessions with the stars of Man Heaven.

ESPN the Weekend(click thumbnails to view gallery)

ESPN the WeekendTony @ ESPN the Weekend.

Source

Fit Beauty - Beauty gifts for him

In last week's post I talked about ways to pamper yourself or someone you love on Valentine's Day. In one of the paragraphs I discussed gifts for men, including a short bit on grooming gifts. This week I thought I would elaborate on it because, to me, Valentine's Day often seems to be more about gifts for women. I know this may come too late for today -- or not, depending on how organized you are -- but here are a few of my favorite companies that do great grooming products for men.

Aveda is easily my favorite place to buy any kind of beauty product. I don't get to shop there often as I find it a bit pricey, but it is still great for a treat. They have a good range of items for men including hair care, skin care, body and shaving products. If your guy is mane-obsessed, you can try the pomade, grooming clay or cream, or if he's looking for face care, Aveda offers the All-Sensitive Cleanser, All-Sensitive Toner and All-Sensitive Moisturizer.

Source

Your trainer's 12 Days of Christmas

Healthy Habits, Womens Health, Cellulite, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Men's Health

Want to know what professional trainers like me wish for, for Christmas? Sing along!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, one water-based heavy bag.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two boxing gloves.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three ropes for jumping.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four Body Buggs.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five Versa Steps.

Source

Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered - Gravity boots & Tipping trainers

Healthy Products and Reviews, Ask Fitz!, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Men's Health

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hello Fitz. I am currently working on getting six-pack abs. I was surfing the web and found this new device called EZ-ups gravity shoes. They basically make you hang upside-down and let you do sit-ups. Is it worth buying or not? Jonathan

A. Hey Jonathan, I know what you're talking about and I really feel neither here nor there on the product. The Teeter Hang-ups EZ-Ups Inversion System Gravity Boots, selling for $149. I have never used them, but being in this field for almost two decades has allowed me to try similar types of exercises and equipment.

Honestly. I wouldn't have any desire to purchase something so expensive and one dimensional like this. I'd prefer to have a regular pull-up bar for pull-ups and then train my abs by lifting my legs while hanging upright. Hanging upside down doesn't hold any appeal to me, since I've previously fallen from and inversion table and conked my head pretty hard. Ouch! In my opinion, there are a lot better ways to skin that cat of six pack abs. Ways that are less dangerous and expensive as well. Fitz

Source

Gifts to pamper your man

Motivation, Men's Health

There's a reason there are so many lists of gift ideas available this time of year -- although shopping is generally a good time, it suddenly turns stressful when you have difficult people to shop for. And men are notoriously difficult, yet every year we've all got at least a few of them on our gift list. It just can't be avoided!

So, if you've spent the last many years giving out socks, ties, and new gloves maybe it's time to think outside the box a little and surprise that special someone with something enjoyably unexpected. Most women don't realize that more and more men are coming to appreciate being pampered, or at least are more aware of their appearance and more interested in things like anti-aging products and finding ways to relax. eDiets.com has compiled a list of gifts ideas for the pampered man that really does have something for everyone, no matter how "macho" that man on your shopping list might be.

There are 10 ideas on the list total, ranging from cologne to a luxury shaving kit to a self-tanner designed specifically for men. No socks from me this year!

Source

Recent Comments
Featured Writers
Bob GreeneReggie Casagrande
Bob Greene
Jonny BowdenJohn GanonJonny Bowden

Tanya ZuckerbrotFadil BerishaTanya Zuckerbrot
Liz Neporent Liz Neporent