Gift-Giving Guide for the Fitness Fanatics on Your List

Finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to be difficult. All you need to do is appeal to the receiver’s interests. Nowadays, fitness is more popular than ever. People of all ages and backgrounds want to feel better in their own skin, so they are taking up exercise regimens from the light and fun (tennis, yoga, swimming) to the extreme (triathlons, CrossFit, kickboxing).

 Since exercising and pursuing a healthy lifestyle are so popular, chances are you have at least a few fitness fanatics on your holiday gift list. If so, you’re in luck. Courtesy of Blueprint Health, we have a useful, comprehensive gift guide full of ideas perfect for the fitness junkies in your life.

 Gym Membership

Getting a gym membership for a loved one who has been talking about joining one for ages can be just the push they need. One of the best parts of this idea is you can spend as little or as much as you want. You can get them a month or two or splurge on a whole year. An average monthly cost of a gym membership is $58, but that figure varies dramatically depending on location and gym.

 If your loved one already belongs to a gym, ask the staff about gift certificates for personal trainers. Even a couple of sessions with a professional can help inspire your loved one to vary their workout routine, which helps boost results. At most gyms, gift certificates can also be used at the in-house spas, cafes and salons.

 Home Gym

If you’re able to financially, go one better than a gym membership and create a home gym for your loved one by renovating a room in the house. Building out a home gym helps fitness buffs stay in shape regardless of pandemic restrictions, gym fees or foul weather. It’s also a way to increase your home's appraisal value. If selling your home is in the cards, be sure to save your receipts for the appraiser when that time arrives.

Outdoor Gear

Do you have someone on your list who loves to exercise while spending time in the great outdoors? Would they rather spend more time camping than inside a gym? If so, some top-notch camping/outdoor gear can help them enjoy their time in nature. Whether it’s a new tent, backpack, or some other type of outdoorsy gear, you can’t go wrong with this gift idea. If you’re not sure where to begin looking for this type of gift, websites like Adventure Daily provide guides and reviews for a number of products, ranging from sleeping bags to blankets.

 Fitness Trackers

 This hot fitness trend has yet to cool down. Fitness trackers cost anywhere from $50-$250 and come with a plethora of features. From counting steps to monitoring their REM cycle, your loved ones can get a better idea of their daily health habits and improve on them with the help of this thoughtful gift.

 Portion Control Containers

 This is a great gift for the person on your list who is interested in pursuing the meal prep lifestyle. When it comes to portion control, Americans have issues. Portion control containers allow your loved ones to get a better idea of the amount of food they need, so they can get accustomed to normal, healthy portions.

 Bath Salts for Soreness

 A recovery soak after a rough workout can help soothe muscles and prevent extreme soreness the next day. Recovery soaks deposit healthy minerals like magnesium, sodium and bromide through the skin and help rid the body of built up lactic acids in the muscles. If you have a loved one who is just beginning, or who has already started an extreme training regimen, they will surely appreciate how you care about their comfort.

 Fitness gifts are perfect because just about everyone can benefit from a little more exercise in their life. If you have some fitness enthusiasts on your list, gift them with something they will actually use. These ideas will last beyond the special gift-giving occasion, with health benefits for years to come.

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How to Rebuild Healthy Habits While Self-Isolating

We all know how important it is to stay healthy, especially during a pandemic. However, the nature of COVID-19 has upended many of the healthy habits we may have built over the years. Plus, we’re all overcome with the fear of getting sick and the stress of an unstable economy. Many people don’t feel like they have money to spare on healthy choices and aren’t sure how to find exercise options and positive diet choices they can afford.

If you’ve gained some weight during quarantine or fallen off your exercise routine, you don’t need to despair. These tools can help you discover new, affordable ways to honor your body’s nutritional, physical, and psychological needs. Here are some healthy yet affordable habits that will get you back on track.

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Exercise Daily

If you’re used to the gym, exercising at home can feel impossible. Gym goers get used to having access to plenty of equipment, and bringing that experience home is pretty pricey. Fortunately, there are a ton of low-budget ways to work out at home.

For example, you can utilize furniture for your workouts. Grab a chair for chair dips, or use your kitchen counter to get in some push-ups. You can also get in an effective, affordable workout by performing wall sits or dancing to your favorite music.

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Eat Right

The pandemic is super stressful, and for many of us, stress is the fastest diet sink there is. When we get anxious, we tend to turn to junky comfort foods and neglect our real nutritional needs. These foods just wind up leaving us more anxious, creating a vicious cycle. We have to break this cycle in order to thrive.

The first step is addressing your diet. Focus on making nutritious meals that use shelf-stable ingredients. Still stock up on fruits and veggies, but use them wisely to ensure that you don’t end up wasting money. For example, if you buy avocados and squash, use the avocados in the first half of the week and squash in the second. Familiarize yourself with how long certain fresh foods last, and plan your meals accordingly.

The next step is to honor the urge to eat junk. This doesn't mean just keep eating junk—although if you have an unhealthy snack now and then, it’s truly not the end of the world. What it does mean is recognizing what that junk food does for you, as well as how it’s making a dent on your food budget. If you’re eating to self-soothe, then you know you need to find some other method of self-soothing. Otherwise, you’ll just get stuck battling those same cravings, or else replacing it with some other unhealthy coping mechanism.

Be Kind to Yourself

 On the topic of self-soothing, it’s no wonder so many of us need some form of comfort right now. It’s a deeply uncomfortable time. You need to be kind to yourself in order to combat the stress and fear coming from all directions right now.

Come up with a list of activities or sensations that make you feel happy—and these need not be expensive, too. These could be anything from making some sort of art to lighting a candle to listening to a favorite album (get a good pair of headphones that tunes out other noises for ultimate relaxation). Collect these positive experiences, and try to do one every day. These little gifts to yourself will add up, and you’ll have an easier time spotting the good in the world.

Rebuilding these healthy habits is a great, effective way to get yourself back on track. Whether you’re shooting for weight loss, improved health metrics, or just want to feel better, these are sure to help. When you exercise, eat right, and treat yourself with kindness, your body—and wallet—will thank you. 

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Live a Healthy and Happy Life with These Practical, Everyday Strategies

So many of our daily decisions — arguably every decision — can have an impact on our overall health and well-being. This is especially true for people who are 40 or older. While this is not uncommon knowledge, many people still struggle to make healthy changes in their lives.

One reason why many people have a hard time with this is that they try to set impractical, radical goals, and when they fail to realize these goals, they become discouraged and give up on making any kind of change. However, there are many smaller, everyday strategies that can improve your overall health and well-being when implemented. If you’re ready to take your health and happiness up a notch, here are a few of those strategies to get you started.

Work Out Regularly

You don’t have to follow a two-hour-per-day workout regimen to experience health benefits. Thirty minutes of moderate activity each day (or even five times a week) can do wonders for your physical and mental health. So, find something you like, and make it part of your routine.

Here are a few exercise routines to consider:

• Speed walking/jogging

• Swimming

• Cycling

• Using an elliptical machine 

Actually Go to Your Checkups

Checkups are important at any age, but they become increasingly important when you reach your 40s, 50s, and 60s. Going to regular checkups and taking any tests that your doctor recommends can help you to stay in front of potential health concerns. That way, you can make adjustments to your lifestyle and/or try medications suggested by your doctor in order to prevent problems.

One area of care that is often overlooked by adults is dental health. However, it’s critical to visit your dentist at least twice a year, as your dental health is connected to many other aspects of your health and there are many consequences of poor oral health. If your current dentistry isn’t working out for you — whether it’s because of incompetency, pricing, inconvenience, or any other reason — you should definitely consider changing dentists.

Make Sleep Happen

Sleep is another factor that plays a major role in your overall health and well-being. If you’re not getting the sleep you need, there are a number of things you can try. For instance, try changing up your bedtime routine by eliminating electronic gadgets from your bedroom, listening to soft music, taking a warm bath, and/or reading a physical book next to a dimmed lamp.

Also, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekends, as this will help to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm. Furthermore, avoid caffeine after lunchtime, and avoid alcohol and spicy foods before bed.

Challenge Your Mind

Keeping your mind active is essential as you age. An excellent reason to do so is that it reduces your chances of suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s. There are many big and small ways to work your brain. On the big end of the scale is going back to school. For example, you might get an online degree in an area of interest. You could then use your degree to get a job making some extra money in your retirement. On the smaller end of the scale is simply making time each day to read, do the daily crossword, or work on a puzzle. Whatever path you take, making sure you have an active mind will pay off more and more as you age.

Invest in Your Relationships

Finally, foster close relationships in your life. We are social beings, and our connection to others is paramount in our quest for a meaningful, fulfilling life. Not only that, but healthy relationships can strengthen your immune system and lead to a longer life, among other health benefits.

Making small but significant changes to your daily life can do wonders for your overall health. Be sure to attend regular checkups with your physician, and visit your dentist twice a year. Also, establish solid exercise and sleep routines, and foster meaningful relationships in your life. You might be surprised by how changes like these can boost your health and happiness.

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