FITNESS GIFT GUIDE

The approaching New Year means resolution time is almost here. Get ready early with great fitness gifts for friends, family, and yourself during this holiday shopping season so everyone can start on their goals as soon as the clock strikes midnight. TopForm put together a list gift suggestions (and the stuff they personally want). Check out our Fitness Gift Ideas for this Holiday 2011!

One Hour Massage Gift Certificate

Even if we're in great shape, sometimes we can overdo it at the gym. When that happens, a couple days off from exercise and a great massage can do wonders. Even if we're not sore, a massage is a great treat for our muscles. It may help improve flexibility, speed recovery time, and reduce anxiety about an upcoming competition. If you're buying for someone else, choose a gift certificate that allows them to choose between a variety of massage types (e.g. Swedish, Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Sports) to ensure the best experience.

MP3 Player Earbuds

Music is often the best way to get pumped up for a workout, but the cheap, flimsy headphones that come with many MP3 players can distort sound, be uncomfortable, and fall out too easily while you exercise. An earbud upgrade will be appreciated by anyone who always works out with music.

Yoga mat

Relative looking to start a low-impact exercise regimen? Girlfriend a yoga devotee? Looking to improve your own flexibility and tone your muscles? A quality yoga mat can mean the difference between loving yoga class and dreading it.

Blender

Know someone who's a beast in the gym and the kitchen? A blender is the essential kitchen tool for great pre- and post- workout drinks. For pre-workout, a fruit smoothie made with frozen bananas and low-fat yogurt can provide the needed fuel for later exercise. Post-workout, a tasty whey protein shake can help restore the body's essential nutrients and protect muscle mass. Our favorite? Wrap up a bottle of your favorite whey isolate protein (like TopForm's) as a great package gift.

Total Health & Fitness Sessions

Know someone who plans to get in shape as soon as the clock strikes midnight on January 1st? If they're new to working out, nutrition or have taken a long break from regular exercise, Total Health & Fitness sessions are a great gift that will help ensure their attendance at the gym and encourage their success . Total Health & Fitness often offer price breaks during the holidays – so take advantage of any deals for yourself as well as for those on your gift list, but hurry because these sessions fill up quick.

Running Shoes

Did you know you need to replace running shoes every 300-400 miles? Even if the runner in your life is not due for a shoe change this week, chances are he/she could use a new pair in the very near future. Running in worn-out shoes increases the stress and impact on your legs and joints. For a funky new running shoe alternative, check out the Vibram "Five Finger Shoes".

Set of Kettlebells

Quickly growing in popularity, a set of kettlebells is a great addition to any weight training routine. Kettlebell exercises can help build strength and endurance (especially in the legs and shoulders) while engaging the whole body at once. Today's kettlebells can range in weight from 4 to 175 lbs. Men usually start with kettlebells weighing between 25-35 lbs, while the range for women is around 12-26 lbs.

High-Protein Cookbook

Grilled chicken and tuna every, single day gets real boring, real fast. If you, or a friend, is looking to tone their body and build muscle, following a high-protein diet is the right choice. However, it's hard to know which recipes are actually smart choices and which contain so much fat or carbs that they are diet don'ts. There are a lot of great high-protein cookbooks out now. We also suggest you take a look at Jenny Grothe's new "75 Ways to Love Oatmeal" cookbook. You know you love oatmeal, now fall back in love with 75 new ways to enjoy your oats. Her book can be found at jenfitbooks.com

Gym Bag

One of the most used and abused items we have, your gym bag could probably use an update if you're like most of us here. Help yourself or your gym buddy retire his/her bag this Christmas with a new one. Check sizes before you buy so it will fit in their locker or be big enough to hold any extra gear they bring with them.

Don't forget, TopForm is currently offering sweet discounts on all of our products to help you save a little money for yourself this holiday season. Think about your plans to improve your body in 2011 when you're shopping and enter code HOLIDAY15 at checkout for 15% off EVERYTHING on TopForm!