Two Fitting Gifts for the Holidays

Here are a couple of cheap, simple gifts that may help the recipient get, or keep, fit.

1. Pedometer. The price will range from $20 to $40, depending on the ‘bells and whistles’. Using to make sure one gets at least 5,000 steps a day will help improve fitness, weight loss (or control) and a feeling of accomplishment. The cheaper models just have a reset button, but fancier types can calculate the distance covered or the calories burned. Just clip to the belt or waistband.

2. Stationary Bike Adapter. Yes – a stationary bike frame can be used to turn an old or unused road bike into a stationary bike so that one can workout and watch TV at the same time. To make it a bit more fancy, you can add a ‘wind trainer’ to provide resistance, or even a ‘magnetic resistance adaptor'. The basic model costs about $40, while one with a magnetic adaptor is more expensive – $100 and up.

I got these ideas from the Tufts University Health & Nutritional Newsletter – in itself a great gift at $28 for a gift subscription, less if it’s a first subscription for yourself.