Transcript
What's up, you guys? Famous Ashley Grant here.
Welcome to More Movement, Please, the podcast
where I hope to inspire you to move your body
more by sharing my story and occasionally the
stories of others. Let's get into it. So the
holidays are coming up fast, and I know a lot
of you are probably scratching your heads trying
to figure out what to get for that fitness enthusiast
in your life. Maybe it's your workout buddy or
your spouse who's always at the gym, or maybe
it's something that you want to drop hints about
to other people that you want to get for yourself.
I get it. I've been there. Well, I've got you
covered today because I reached out to fitness
experts and thought leaders and asked them what
their favorite fitness related product was that
someone should purchase for a fitness enthusiast
this holiday season. And you guys, they came
back with some pretty solid recommendations.
So here's what they said. First off, I have to
say, if I say your name wrong, I'm so sorry about
that. But these were things that were sent to
me via text. So I don't actually know the correct
pronunciation of all these names. So I'm going
to do my best. Bear with me. First up is Julio
with Invigor Medical. He suggested the Polar
Loop. And here's what I love about this recommendation.
Julio says it's a simple band that tracks your
steps, activity, calories, and sleep. But here's
the kicker. Unlike some other devices like Whoop,
you don't need a monthly subscription to get
your own data. You pay once and you're done.
No recurring fees eating into your budget. The
Loop. It gives you a clear picture of how much
you actually move in a day, and Julio says it's
comfortable with solid battery life, and it has
an app that shows if you're really as active
as you think you are. I mean, that reality check
alone might be worth it, right? Next up is Brian
with Motive Training. He recommends the Soulmate
Kit from the Foot Collective. Now, this one's
interesting because foot strength and mobility
are things most of us completely ignore. But
Brian says they influence everything, how you
stand, how you lift, how you walk, and how your
body manages force. The Soulmate is simple, effective,
and fits right into your daily routine. It helps
wake up those small muscles in your feet and
improve balance and control. And Brian says that
Heidi from that barefoot coach introduced him
to it, and it's been a game changer for him in
his training. If you want to give someone something
that actually improves how they move and feel,
this just might be it. Next up is Hans with Happy
V. He suggests a compact massage gun for recovery.
And y 'all, I can definitely attest to this.
I love my massage gun. I cannot stress enough
how important recovery is. And Hans says that
these percussive therapy devices, they work like
mini massage guns. And his team has actually
observed that consistent recovery practices lead
to decreased muscle pain and better long -term
commitment to fitness programs. The compact design
makes them easy to carry, so you can do recovery
sessions anywhere. Hans does mention it's best
to use these under the guidance of qualified
trainers or clinicians, since proper targeting
requires some expertise. But for recovery, quickly,
for me, it's a solid pick. I absolutely love
my massage gun. Next up is Nick Rogers with RealRecall
.ai. He has a pretty cool suggestion, in my opinion,
and that is a 360 -degree sports camera. Why
in the world would you want to give someone who's
working out a sports camera? Well, Nick says
that this changes how you record your workouts.
You can film your entire training session and
check your form, cut cool clips for TikTok or
Instagram, all the things. And if you're tracking
progress and making content, this could end up
being your most used gift. I mean, how many times
have you wanted to see what your form actually
looks like during a workout? Please just do me
a favor. Don't be that guy or girl that records
yourself whenever you're around other people
at the gym because there's nothing more annoying
than someone who's filming themselves in front
of other people because nobody wants to be in
your video. They just don't. So please don't.
Anyway, for someone who actually wants to film
themselves, it could be a great gift for that
person. Next up is Chad with North Shore Sauna.
He recommends something that I actually wasn't
expecting, and this is recovery sleepwear. It's
one I've never really thought about. But he talks
about sleepwear that's made from infrared and
moisture -regulating material that actually supposedly
helps your body recover from long training days.
He said that he found a tensile sleepwear set
in Japan and was surprised at just how much deeper
his sleep seemed after those intense strength
sessions. Chad says that people invest in gadgets
such as trackers and massagers and supplements,
but they often will overlook the one thing that
actually makes a difference over time, and that
is quality recovery. Good sleepwear regulates
your temperature and minimizes that toss and
turn cycle. You wake up, supposedly, without
stiffness. I kind of think that's brilliant,
and if anybody wants to get me a set of this
sleepwear, I'll give you my address. Hit me up.
Next is Mimi Nugent with Caffe Lee. She is all
about the soft foam roller from OPTP. Now, there
are lots of soft foam rollers that you can get,
but Mimi says that she uses hers for Pilates,
warm -ups before running, and yoga. She initially
thought about suggesting just giving someone
a massage gift certificate, but she says a foam
roller is more convenient in the long run because
you can use it at home, on the go, or even at
the gym. Both provide muscle recovery benefits
and improve blood circulation, but with the foam
roller, you create your own kind of muscle care.
Mimi typically targets her lower body after high
-intensity workouts, or she'll use it to massage
her calves for better running performance. And
I should probably check this out for myself,
because y 'all, I know I've complained about
it before, but I get the worst, the worst calf
pain after some of my workouts. Next up is Runbo
Lee with Magic Hour. He also recommends getting
a 360 sports camera. He said that it showed him
how capturing a move from every angle helps sports
athletes and just fitness peoples in general
spot small details that they would otherwise
miss. Plus, he says that it lets you create videos
that get your community excited. It's not just
about improving your skills. It's all about sharing
your full picture. Next up is Josiah with Plasthetics
Plastic Surgery Marketing. He gave a client a
Fitbit charge over the holidays and said that
it got them thinking differently about their
health. The EDA sensor doesn't just count steps,
it shows how your body reacts to stress. That
one feature started new habits for their client.
Josiah says that it's sleek enough for everyday
wear, but it's not like some bulky sports watch.
If you're looking for something that handles
both fitness and stress management, Josiah says
that this one actually does the job. It's specifically
the Fitbit Charge 6. And I'll leave a link in
the show notes to everything that I'm talking
about here in this episode. Next is Rob with
Osprey. And y 'all, I have to first tell you,
full disclosure, I love my Osprey backpack. I
used it whenever I backpacked through Europe
a few years ago. It was absolutely fantastic.
I absolutely love my Osprey backpack. And Rob,
I'm going to hit you up because I would love
to get some more backpacks. It is a fantastic
quality backpack. And he says it's the ultimate
gift for any fitness lover who enjoys the outdoors.
And he does admit he's biased because, hello,
he works there. But whether it's hiking, trail
running, or a weekend in nature, a properly fitted
backpack, it really can make a world of difference.
It distributes weight evenly, and it makes it
easier to stay hydrated and prepared. If the
outdoors and staying active are important to
the person that you're giving a gift to, a quality
backpack that will last a lifetime is truly a
great choice. And again, I got to say, whenever
I used a backpacking through Europe, it was really
helpful. The way that it felt on our backs, it
didn't feel so much like we were carrying something
heavy. It was absolutely wonderful. Next up is
Jan with Camping La Salle. He runs a campsite
by the GR 34 trail, and he sees it constantly
that there are guests with hydration packs, and
they have a much better time when they have a
hydration pack. They can pull out their camera
for a photo without stopping to dig for a water
bottle, and it just keeps the day flowing. So
he highly recommends getting a hydration pack.
And hey, you can even put it in your Osprey backpack.
Rob, seriously, you got to hit me up. We got
to talk. And here's the thing. If you're looking
for a gift for a hiker, having a hydration pack
could be something that... the hiker in your
life will actually use every single time they
go out. Next is Brandon with Cellphones .ca.
He says that the Apple Watch Ultra is the one
he'd actually buy for himself. He's tested out
all kinds of different tech for years, and this
one, he says, tracks his heart rate and his sleep.
Plus, you can see text without pulling out your
phone. The setup was a bit of a headache, he
admits, but... Now it works so well with his
iPhone that he says he doesn't even take his
phone on his runs anymore. If you want to get
serious about fitness without going off the grid,
he says this is the watch to get. Next is Andre
with Medicaid. He goes with the Garmin Fitness
Watch as his top pick. He uses the Garmin wearables
and he finds that their health insights are valuable
for tracking training and recovery. And he also
feels confident in their data handling as a regulated
company. And this really matters whenever you're
worried about privacy and data security. And
honestly, that's something we should all be thinking
about more. And P .S., I know this episode is
a little bit longer than most of the normal episodes
that I've been sharing, but I kind of feel like
because it's, you know, it's about the holidays,
right? We got to talk about all these fun Christmas
presents. That's why I'm still sharing it. Next
up is Amy with Interactive Counseling, and she
keeps it simple and says that you should get
a really good yoga mat. Amy works in mental health,
and she's seen it so many times that people with
a new mat, suddenly they're getting excited about
doing their morning stretches at home. It helps
them unwind. And if you find one that's just
comfy and won't let your feet slip, it can be
something that will really help you do more than
just get your stretch on. Next up is Tlaib with
Same Day Supplements. He is an NASM certified
nutrition coach, and his favorite gift for any
runner is a Garmin 4Runner. He says that it's
the one tool that actually changed how he trains.
The GPS accuracy, heart rate tracking, and recovery
insights make every run more intentional. And
he says it's not just about go out and hope it
feels good. When he travels and switches routes,
the 4Runner actually keeps his pacing honest
and helps him stay consistent even on the days
that he has low motivation. He also says that
the battery life, it's so much better than most
smartwatches. So you're not having to charge
it before every single run that you do. Next
is Rory with... Equipoise coffee. I think that's
right. I think that's how you say it. I'm not
actually sure. But anyway, this coffee company,
he recommends getting a durable insulated water
bottle with tracking markers for daily hydration
goals. And I actually really agree with this
one because I've talked about it in previous
episodes. You've got to stay hydrated. It supports
your energy, your recovery, and your overall
performance. And for fitness enthusiasts that
have a high quality portable water bottle, it'll
actually encourage you to be consistent and mindful
throughout your workout. And giving someone a
tool that actually promotes healthy habits, it
shows thoughtfulness and it helps recipients
maintain both fitness and daily wellness routines.
Okay, two more and then we're done, I swear.
Next is Paul with Higher Fitness. He swears by
resistance bands. He says that the good resistance
bands are the game changers. They're what people
use when they can't get to the gym. And I can
attest to this. I've actually used resistance
bands everywhere from, you know, While I'm standing
in my kitchen to in a hospital room whenever
I was watching my mom recover from surgery. So
he says that resistant bands are really important
because it's the one thing that you can actually
stick with because you can use them anywhere
and get a full body workout. They're a great
starting point for anyone who's serious about
working out at home. Finally, last but not least,
is Dan with Tress Wellness, and he picks adjustable
dumbbells like the Bowflex Select Tex. Dan says
consistency usually breaks down when schedules
tighten and the gym feels like a trek. But these
weights, they bring an entire dumbbell rack into
your home or your office while occupying almost
zero floor space. You get a full range of resistance
without cluttering your living space, making
it easy to get some quick reps in between calls
or other tasks. They ensure that you'll never
miss a small weighted workout. So there you have
it, guys. 17 incredible recommendations from
real fitness experts. Everything from wearables
and recovery tools to simple but effective equipment
that can transform someone's fitness journey.
Whether you're shopping for a seasoned athlete
or someone who's just starting out on their fitness
journey, there's something for everyone, in my
opinion, on this list. And the thing is, the
best fitness gift is the one that's actually
going to get used. So think about the person
that you're shopping for. What would make their
fitness journey actually easier? What would help
them stay consistent? And what would they actually
be excited to use? And hey, if you're that fitness
enthusiast that's dropping hints for your own
wish list, there is no shame in that game. I
do it all the time. Onwards and upwards, my friends.
Have you worked out today?