5 Great Gift Ideas for Healthy People

Whether that special someone on your Christmas list is a "health nut", or aspiring to become healthier, here are some gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

1. Heart Rate Monitor:  A great tool for anyone looking for information on their workout intensities. There are several types of monitors on the market from a simple heart rate only to ones that have GPS trackers, brew coffee and do your taxes. Basic models are still well under $100. 

2. Stability Ball:  Versatile and cheap – a staple for any home gym. Tip: Get a good durable, quality ball that will hold its air. You can also use it as an office chair - just don't be like “Dwight”.

3. Pedometer with PC Download:  One such model is the Oregon Scientific where users can program their target number of steps, distance or calories for training. PC download function allows for data transfer from pedometer to PC software.  Or, just a basic pedometer if your gift recipeint is a techno-phobe!  These are REALLY inexpensive!

4. A Heavy bag combo set:  Everlast's 40-Lb Martial Arts Fitness set features a heavy bag, hand wraps, bag gloves, and a jump rope. A 70 pound kit is also available (if you think you can handle it). Rocky Soundtrack sold separately.

5. Adjustable Dumbbells: Or not – you could also get sets of weights according to your needs and space constraints. The adjustable kinds where you don’t have to unscrew anything are easy to use and take up little space. They do push past the $100 mark once you get higher than 25lbs though. 

Other ideas are -  a healthy cook book, healthy cooking class, an exercise video, a 3 month gym pass, dance lessons (great for couples), boot camp workouts or a couple of sessions with a personal trainer (I happen to know one!) Also consider universally practical items such as; athletic wear, an iPod, exercise tubing or a mat.

*A word of caution* … be sure your significant other has expressed a desire for such items, lest they take your well-intentioned gesture the wrong way. Oh, and those scales with “motivational” sounds such as tug boats, elephants and the like… never a good idea!