Christmas is in less than 10 days. Hanukkah already began. The clock is ticking on your shopping to-do list, Badasses!!! And you don't want to disappoint the aspiring Badasses and already-Badasses in your life, right?
So check out this fitness- and health-themed list of suggestions. And if you already bought all you need, consider treating yourself. Or save the list for the next friend's or loved one's birthday. Happy Shopping!
(For a laugh, there's an old Palm Beach Post riff on the office Christmas party, circa late 50s -- back when "healthy" was a cocktail for lunch. Badass Colavecchio, circa college sophomore, is on Santa's lap in the seafoam dress. Very Mad Men, huh?)
Badass Gear
- New kicks: The first week when I have new kicks, I am so stoked to wear them in with a few runs. Help get your honey on the right path with the right sneakers. Not sure the size or type? Two words: Gift Card. Ok, two more: Athletic store.
- Kickass threads: So they have Badass sneakers, but what about the shorts covering their actual Badass? Looking good is feeling good, dear readers. Reward their hard work with a couple of new workout outfits. And watch them strut a little taller as they move from leg curls to leg presses, knowing they look much better in the new spandex capris than in those ratty soccer shorts from college.
- Accessories: I could spend hours in Sports Authority or Dick's Sporting Goods, checking out all the cool "stuff." Yoga mats, resistance bands to use at home, a medicine ball, or a good abs or stretch DVD. They're all good gifts. I also really like the online PowerSystems, which offers good prices and a huge selection, plus fast shipping.
Books, How-to's, etc
- Jillian Michaels' "Hot Bod in a Box":This is a great workout guide for Badasses who tend to get bored easily. This very portable box of cards features 50 exercises, with instructions on form and pictures to make sure you're getting the most out of each rep. Keep it in your gym bag. And all for the cost of a couple skinny lattes. Awesome.
- Jillian Michaels' first book, "Winning by Losing": The Biggest Loser fitness and life coach lays out her own story of being an overweight teenager and covers, in her trademark no-nonsense fashion, the many truths and fitness tactics that helped her become Badass. Read it, and be inspired to do the same as she covers the gamut from good fats vs bad fats to reading nutrition labels and knowing your own emotional eating triggers.
- "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Fast Food Nation": If you haven't read these books, you should and so should your gift-ee. If you don't emerge from the final pages a changed eater, I'm just not sure what to say. I read these and became more determined and motivated than ever to clean the crappy processed food from my pantry and start eating real, whole, natural, unprocessed foods. And practically speaking, the smell of those french fries and the taste of a chicken nugget will be far less tempting when you learn the dirty truth behind how they're made.
Trial runs
- Their own personal drill sergeant: Give the aspiring Badass in your life their own personal Jillian Michaels. Most gyms and even boot camp programs have gift packages on special around the holidays for personal training or classes. Nothing says motivation like free advice and "Give me 10 more!" from a fit, strong trainer who knows what he or she is doing! Hell, even fully realized Badasses can benefit from something new like a boot camp series. Feeling extra generous? Give your honey a gym membership!
- Ommmmmmm: Exercise and activity doesn't have to be heart-stopping to yield benefits. I learned that when I started doing yoga once or twice a week. It stretches my sore muscles, soothes my stressed soul, and has given me better balance -- literal and spiritual. It's like church, without the pews. My yoga studio in town has packages of 5, 10 and even 20 classes. Wherever you live, the same options likely exist. Give your Badass the gift of Zen.
- Lessons: Tennis, golf, swimming, etc. If your loved one keeps watching Michael Phelps footage and saying, "I wish I was a better swimmer," help them get better. They'll learn something new, gain confidence, and have fun. Plus, this is the gift that keeps on giving: Once they learn their new sport, they will forever have more option for burning calories and beating boredom.
Good Eats
- Harry & David's fruit: Few things are sweeter than a ripe, juicy pear. And Harry & David's has mastered the juicy pear. For just $25, you can send the Badass in your life a box of these guilt-free treats. And they'll appreciate it because by the time they open this box o' pears, they've probably had their fill of fudge, cookies and all the other stuff that pops up between Thanksgiving and the end of December. This will taste like all-natural heaven, and it will get them off to a healthy start for 2010. Harry & David's also sells fruit by the month, with a fresh delivery each month of seasonal fruits -- apples, oranges, pineapples.
- Good-for-you gift certificates: No, not to McDonald's. How about stuffing their stocking with gift cards for TCBY, Bonefish Grill, or their favorite healthy food stop? Even Starbucks counts as healthy nowadays, thanks to their low-fat whole grain breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, smoothies and fruit and cheese plates.
- Paging Julia Child: Does your Badass friend really want to learn healthy cooking, but has given up in frustration? Find a place that offers healthy cooking classes and set them up with a few tutorials. That's a bonus gift because you get to eat the results!
- Basket full of treats: A goodie basket can be good for you. Fill it with 100-calorie popcorn bags, KIND granola bars or whatever happens to be their favorite protein bar. Toss in trail mix, dark chocolate covered raisins, gourmet coffee or tea depending on their preference, maybe some Kashi whole grain chocolate chip cookies and an organic extra dark chocolate bar for a special treat. If you're really feeling sweet, slip in a gift certificate for a massage or pedicure.
Coming up: Badass living on a budget
