Around this time of year, I get a lot of questions from friends and family of clients about gifts for them OR I get questions from clients wanting to get more into their training.
What should I get? What do you think they’d like? Will this help me with my training more? Which type of ____ is better?
So, I came up with a list of six things that I find extremely useful for me, my health and fitness, and my gym time. Some of these might seem a bit strange on first glance but there's a reason!
I hope you enjoy!
GIFT IDEA #1:
HELM x RTS T-Shirt
My Favorite Thing About This
– this is HELM's first ever pre-order!
Only for the month of November, we are doing our first pre-order.
So, if you've been wanting some HELM swag, now's your chance! This isn't a NEED for training or anything, but it was a perfect product placement :)
You can buy yours here. Printing and expected pick-up/shipping in December.
…okay, this one might not be the MOST useful but we all love a good HELM t-shirt to train in…
GIFT IDEA #2:
Headlamp
My Favorite Thing About This
– it opens the possibilities of outdoor activities in the winter.
This will help you get outside more as the days continue to get shorter and shorter. I find that a lot of people have a harder time getting outside when it's dark out, particularly after a long day of work. However, when the day gets dark at 5pm, this makes staying active and keeping movement up tough.
A headlamp is something I recommend everyone have. It goes way beyond camping, running or hiking and I use it almost daily while I walk Atlas or if Mel and I want to go on a walk after dinner. I genuinely think everyone should have one.
This is the headlamp that Mel and I both have.
GIFT IDEA #3:
Lifting Belt
My Favorite Thing About This
– a great external cue for better bracing during heavier lifts… and you also feel like a badass.
I want to start by saying that this is NOT a necessity. Lifting belts are not a requirement and really shouldn't be utilized much more than if you are at 70-80% or more of your 1RM for a lift.
What does a belt do? Well, it helps create extra intra-abdominal pressure which can in turn help with stability and force production in a lift. This is actually the job of your trunk, which is why it's even more important to not over-utilize a belt. HOWEVER, for the intermediate and progressing lifter, it's a great gift idea!
Navigating the world of lifting belts can be a lot, but the most versatile bet, in my opinion is a classic velcro belt. This is purely from ease in both putting it on and tightening it.
Another great option is a leather belt but they can be a bit trickier to get on and off, though many people feel more "secure" in them (it's just a thicker, more stiff material).
This is my favorite velcro belt but this one has customization abilities.
This is the leather belt I am buying for myself.
GIFT IDEA #4:
Lifting Straps
My Favorite Thing About This
– helps us increase the load and stimulus without worrying about trashing our CNS or being cut short by our grip strength.
Frankly, I'd choose straps over a belt for most of my clients.
Lifting straps help us move loads when grip strength might be a limiting factor.
When you are building strength, there will likely come a time where your muscle is able to move a load (think a 3-point row or a deadlift) but your grip just can't manage the duration or load. There might be a time where chalk just doesn't quite do the trick. There might be a time where you are so taxed, that you need some help.
This is where lifting straps come in.
The fun thing about straps as a gift is that there are a TON of fun designs and ideas out there. I personally have a canvas-material strap but also know a lot of people who love leather straps.
These are the lifting straps I have.
GIFT IDEA #5:
Water Bottle
My Favorite Thing About This
– great way to have a simple metric to get and stay hydrated at home or on the go.
Look, we all know how important hydration is for us. We want to ideally aim for about 1/2 oz water for every pound we weigh as a daily minimum. What's an easy way to track that? A water bottle.
Pick any water bottle you like, do some quick math, and you'll know how many bottles you need to drink to hit your intake minimum.
What else is great about a water bottle? You can bring it anywhere. In an airport? Bring it with you (just keep it empty until past security). On a road trip? Bring it with you. At work? Bring it with you. There's really no escaping the ease of carrying a water bottle.
And, you can also sticker the sh*t out of it for ~*aesthetic*~.
Go get a water bottle. I've been using my 48oz Nalgene as of late but also love my Yeti 26oz Rambler (with a straw).
GIFT IDEA #6:
COROS Apex 2 Pro Watch
My Favorite Thing About This
– all the features of a Garmin, less cost, insane battery life.
This is by far the most expensive item I'll put on this list but I felt like no gift list is complete without some type of fitness wearable.
And, honestly, as far as fitness wearables go, I think a lot of functions can be extremely overrated. The accuracies are often so skewed on most that I just don't worry about them.
That being said, I LOVE my COROS Apex 2 Pro watch. I initially got it while prepping to climb Mt. Hood because I wanted a way to track altitude / elevation on my watch and something with a better battery life. I didn't want to pay the cost of a Garmin, though.
And I'm glad I didn't! This watch has been everything and more. It has all the main features I look for (basic time, ability to see texts, pedometer, altitude/elevation, HR monitoring, old school buttons) plus heaps of other benefits I wasn't expecting (3-week+ battery life, sunrise/sunset times, built in alarms, GPS, sleep tracking, RHR, and more).
I still only use a small handful of the features but it's exceeded my expectations by miles. So, if you're looking for some tech, this is what I'd suggest!
NEED A FEW MORE RANDOM IDEAS?
Lacrosse Ball or Foam Roller
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Loading Positions Pt.2
I continue diving into various loading positions, their possible reasonings, and how you might be able to apply them to your own training - unilateral loading edition!
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I'm Alli.
A Cincinnati based personal trainer, entrepreneur, and avid traveller. I run HELM Training Co. where I offer in-person, hybrid, and remote training options to help people continue living rad lives.
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