What would an Expert Trainer buy for Christmas?

Ok, so when Christmas comes around, being the fitness enthusiast and personal trainer I always want to bombard my family and friends with the latest and greatest of gadgets!  So if I had to pick some of the HOT items that will help you accomplish your wellness and fitness goals here is what I would select!  By the way, I have most this stuff. There are a few things on this list that I want, so if your looking for a gift idea read on  So if you have questions about how this stuff works let me know.

1. Fexibility Tools!

New Product Review! THE GRID! (trigger point tptherapy.com)  The various zones of this grid technology are supposed to represent feeling like the forearm or palm, and finger tips.  The manufacturer claims it will not lose shape or density…so I am putting it to the time test! Stay tuned for any findings.

But by far at this point my favorite Self-Myofascial Release tools is hands down the ROLLAXER by Scott Mitchell in California.  This multi-dimensional tools allows for you to grab a smaller roller to pop in your book bag for travel, the softball for hard to reach places, and the density of this thing allows me to take this outdoors for its high level of durability.  Professional athlete’s this is exactly what you need! I don’t leave home without this one!

2. Cardiovascular Training Tool! Don’t workout without your heart rate monitor!  Seriously.

I don’t care what anyone says you will have no idea what intensity you are training at unless you monitor your heart rate response.  Now you can train as you want and reach your fitness targets with the FT60’s personalized training program. It sets new targets by adapting to your personal training habits, helping you stay motivated and carry on improving your fitness. The adaptive training program features weekly targets, feedback and guidance so you’ll achieve your training targets more efficiently and effectively.

• New Polar STAR training program gives you weekly training targets, adapts to your training habits to guide you without being too strict and allows you flexibility during the week
• Fitness test measures your aerobic fitness at rest in just five minutes
• FT60 also shows you the calories burned

The coolest part about this product is you can download the time you spend training into an online website/profile and track your progress on www.polarpersonaltrainer.com. All of my trainers have one and I encourage all of my clients to make this investment!

3. Mind/Body

I would enroll you into a meditation class, buy you a pass for yoga classes, and send you a ‘green’ yoga mat or meditation cushion. Check out some of the best yoga instructors in Washington DC at YOGACHAi! You will catch me there in the evenings and weekends!  The owners have such great energy! The best part, the host AMAZING workshops on the weekend for specialty topics and classes.

4. Hire a LIFE Coach or SET SOME PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL GOALS!

I just got done teaching a two-day workshop to fitness professionals.  At the end of day two we always talk about professional development. I am always amazed when I ask a group of 100 students “How many of you set personal and professional goals?”  TEN PEOPLE raised their hands.  Success in your professional career as well as your personal life depends on setting goals.  My partner and I even set relationship goals!  I don’t know about you but life changes day-to-day.  I love that aspect of living!  I invest at least 2 hours a week on personal reflection and goal setting.  This helps me to put a perspective to my life and reminds me daily what is important.  Recently I met an amazing Life Coach Lisa Geddings.  She takes an untraditional and empowering approach to helping me and my clients achieve all their personal and professional goals.

5. HIRE A PERSONAL Trainer or Wellness Practitioner to finally tackle those fitness and wellness goals.

Hey, I am not just saying this because I am a personal trainer.  I even have a personal trainer!  All of my fellow trainer’s at MINT actually train me once a week. Believe it or not trainers need trainers to keep them motivated, hold them accountable, change their exercise routine daily, and push them physically!  Make sure though before you pay for any service that you find the ‘best of the best’.  Your trainer should be certified with the following credible organizations: NASM, NSCA, or ACSM.  Believe me there are trainers out there that are training clients without a certification.  Make sure you ask!  Also, they should have a 4-year degree in the field as well.  Get an EXPERT!

6.  Take a cooking class, hire a chef, and eat all organic foods!

Take care of your body and put healthy organic foods inside of eat. Remember to eat foods as close to their natural form as possible.  If you are super busy hire a personal chef to come to your house to cook all your meals. Believe me it isn’t as expensive as it sounds.  Check out a good friend of mine Pam Oldes at POTS and PAMS!

7. Ask for the gift of comfortable, long lasting exercise clothes!

I highly recommend Lululemon Athletica clothing. Not only does it fit and form to your body and make you look fabulous but the material is made of great fabrics!

I also love this company because they are all about GOAL SETTING!

8. The TRX for your home!

Suspension training at it’s finest! Take this piece of equipment everywhere with you to get in a total body workout, high metabolic density training, speed, agility, core training, pilates, stretching, and you name it!

Now if you do want to buy me a Christmas Present, this is what I want!

9. Exerspy for Weight Loss Clients With the exerspy activity tracking system you can track your caloric expenditure by the minute—24 hours a day!

The more you move the more calories you burn. Activity is the key. Get a true 360-degree view of your physical activity and caloric burn from 4 different physiological perspectives.  You can track your food intake online, your activity level and calorie burn throughout the day in order to get you closer to your goals.  You can add this to my Christmas list as well!