Yep, it’s that time again. Thanksgiving is over and we’re in the holiday shopping mood, or frenzy, depending on your temperament. So why not integrate a little wellness in your Holiday gift-giving? But, Bob, what to buy? What could I possibly get that fitness focused family / friend? (You get the cool alliteration for free. The things I do for you…) Well don’t worry. One of the many benefits you get for your patronage is the benefit of my extensive, extensive research. And after working my way through countless ( read about 20 or so…) possibilities, here are my top 10. The newest, most innovative fitness gifts for this 2023 holiday season. In no particular order, here we go.

10. Fisticuff Fitness $85.99 on Amazon

This “intelligent boxing wall target” is a wall-mounted unit which will light your striking target while playing music and recording your progress via its Bluetooth connection. According to the manufacturers, it is suitable for “children’s entertainment, adult exercise and professional boxers”. Professional boxers?

OK.

Reading on, they also inform us that “Having it is equivalent to having a healthy mood and a healthy body.” So it’s got that going for it. Which is nice.

9. Facial Fitness Aid $3.50 on Shein.com

Umm. Where to begin….

Well, according to the ad, it helps tighten your facial lines, firm your skin & reduce your double chin. It is, again, according to the user guide, small & lightweight, can be used with confidence and will “meet your daily needs”. And it has a cool little pooh bear looking image on it.

Please, someone, buy this for your significant other and tell me what their reaction is. And get your collective minds out of the gutter….moving on.

8. CBD Massage Cube $45.00 by Uncommon Goods

According to the description, this cube is “Made with organic plant butters (like cocoa, mango, aloe & eucalyptus). It is also infused with 400 milligrams of CBD. Believed to reduce pain & inflammation, this hemp-derived extract may aid in relaxation.” I took the liberty of putting all of the qualifiers in bold. They also say “Just massage the cube (massage the CUBE?) onto your achy back, swollen joints or other painful areas and let it do it’s thing.” They also plant a tree for every cube you buy. And they are “handmade in San Diego”. For what that’s worth.

7. “Yes for All” water weight $34.86 on Amazon

Well, it’s a weight with handles which you can adjust by adding or subtracting water, isn’t it. Pretty self explanatory. Though looking at the picture makes me wonder whether it comes with the self tanner.

6. Female Fitness Instructor Custom Bobblehead w/ Engraved text. $79.95 at Mycustombobblehead.com

The perfect gift for that favorite instructor in your life. Especially if they teach step, evidently.

5. Sadhu Board. $58.12 on Etsy

This nail-standing board is ” a great companion for both nail-standing newbies and advanced practitioners looking for a more profound sensation.”

Profound sensation. Yeah.

It is said to release your internal energy, help normalize blood pressure and relive muscle tension. Though from my point of view, the idea of walking on nails would neither release tension or bring down my blood pressure. But that’s just me.

5. Weighted Vest $66.99 at Tribe-wod.com

It’s got yoke shoulder pads and an adjustable tension band. It’s designed for running, jumping, pull ups and “more”. It features Molly type velcro pockets for reflective patches or lights. I don’t really know what most of that means but it’s probably pretty cool. But the real reason I included this item was that it’s from a company called “Tribe-Wod”. How much more CrossFit can you possibly get?

4. Soft Weighted Balls. $32.99 at Amazon

These bean-filled weighted balls, from Bean Products, are a “comfortable alternative to awkward dumbbells and hand weights”. (Cut to the shot of the fitness model frowning as they suffer through the torture of actually using dumbbells.) These balls have a “soft, cushioned feel that is perfect for hand-held activities. They are extremely versatile and are available as a pair or a single ball in weights of 2, 4 or 6 lb.

And you thought I was going to make a joke about “soft weighted balls” (smh).

3. Whoop 4.0 Health & Fitness tracker $199.00 at Best Buy

This wearable fitness tracker gives you “daily insights about your stress and science-backed techniques to help manage it”. It connects to your favorite apps like Strava (which I happen to use) and Apple Health. You get the first year of Whoop membership free, after which you can renew on the Whoop App.

Whoop. There it is….

2. E-Jet Sports Smart Weighted Hula Hoop. $29.99 at Target

Yes, you read correctly. A “smart” hula hoop, featuring 360 degree rotating & shock absorbing massage rings, which ensure that the hoop never falls. It is “easy enough for beginners compared to traditional hula hoops”, which solves the societal issue of the failure rate in beginning hula hoopers. It works your abdominal muscles and obliques, and can improve balance and even cardio endurance. There’s even a “double safety lock to ensure safety while using”. Adjustable from from a waist size of 33-52 inches. According to the fine folks at E-Jet Sports, you can “trim your waistline without torturing your hips, and you will never get bruised during this workout.” Just in case you’ve experienced those during your previous hula hoop sessions.

And, keeping with tradition…..

1. Nutrilite Double X Supplement $62.00 (1-month supply)

Multiple reasons why this is on my list every year. One, because I actually believe in supplementation. Unless you have a perfect diet, and I mean PERFECT, there are nutrients that I believe can help you live a healthier, happier life. And I think that plant-based supplementation is the way to go, as you can get a broad spectrum of phyto (plant) nutrients which have been shown to have a variety of benefits for your overall health. And based on having worked for this particular brand for 15 years, I saw first-hand that there is expertise in the formulation and production of this product. So that’s why it’s an annual inclusion on this list.

That and it makes my friend Sam happy.

So that’s it folks. Take a look. Pick one of these, or do your own research and include the gift of wellness in this year’s stocking stuffers.

Jeez that sounded corny….

Talk Later,

Bob