2019 GIFT GUIDE: FROM THE COACHES
We’re sharing some of our favorite items that we love and use in our daily lives. We hope you love them too!
KATE’S FAVORITES
Things I love: good workouts with my friends, cooking (but only when it’s VERY easy) , and doing my best to reduce my consumption of single-use plastics. Here are a few of my absolute favorite things that I use in my life on a regular basis and would make a great gift for anyone this season. As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn a percentage from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com.
Glute Loop
For Butt Stuff at home or in the gym. I’m a big, BIG fan of Bret Conteras. He is the inspiration for many of the glute workouts I do (which have drastically improved my performance and helped me recover from a gnarly hamstring injury last year). There are many different hip circle bands out there, but I love BC’s Glute Loop.
Air Fryer
My air fryer was a skeptical purchase. I didn’t think I’d use it enough to justify buying such a big, bulky kitchen appliance, but I use it almost every day. A few favorite things to throw in the air fryer: chickpeas (tossed in a bit of olive oil and salt, cinnamon, ranch powder, or bbq seasoning), pre-cooked chicken, frozen fries, mushrooms, Trader Joe’s potato latkes, and sweet plantains. This is the air fryer I have, though I’m sure there are better, fancier ones out there.
Final Straw
To say I love my Final Straw is an understatement. I keep it in my bag and use it whenever I’m having my iced matcha from Starbucks, a Diet Dr. P from anywhere, or making a drink at home. It’s easy to clean and carry and saves you from using single-use plastic straws.
A Thrive Market membership
Thrive market has tons of fun snacks and treats, but also some great household items. A few of my regular orders on Thrive: nut butters, Brami Beans, curries and other sauces, wax wraps and reusable baggies, and all types of snacky puffs.
WHITNEY’S FAVORITES
A Good Chef’s Knife
My favorite all-around knife has always been an 8” chef’s knife. I recently got a little bit nicer version of my favorite knife (rather than a set of knives) and it is honestly such a huge upgrade. Having a solid, high-quality knife makes the time I spend in the kitchen more efficient and enjoyable.
Lululemon Show Me The Sherpa ear warmer
Let me preface this by saying that I know a $58 headband may seem a little ridiculous. I bought one of these a few years ago and it felt like a huge splurge, but I have worn it most days of the year that it’s under 30 degrees outside -- and I live in Utah, so that’s quite a few days. It fits perfectly around any hairstyle (have you ever tried putting a warm hat over a ponytail or bun?), and is soft and stylish. Whether I’m just getting from the house to the car, shoveling snow off the driveway, getting to the gym, or taking a walk around the building at work, this ear warmer is my cold-weather must-have.
Rothy’s shoes
I truly hate buying shoes. Unfortunately for me, my dogs love to eat shoes, so I recently found myself in need of some new basic black shoes for work. My shoe-related non-negotiable is that they must be comfortable enough for me to wear while I take a couple of laps around my work campus (two loops is almost a mile) so I can get my steps in for the day. These shoes are incredibly comfortable immediately out of the box, they offer a variety of work-appropriate styles, and they are made of recycled water bottles.
A Fitness Journal
(Commit30 and SaltWrap have some fancy ones, but I honestly just use a lined A5 size notebook- my all-time favorite is by Leuchtterm 1917). Writing down my workouts has added a mindfulness to my training that allows me to check in with myself and how I’m feeling, while having the added bonus of being able to go back and see how I did the week/month/year before, and what helps me feel and perform my best. I would recommend a fancier planner for someone who may benefit from prompts and goal-setting, but a plain lined notebook with a built-in bookmark will do just fine for someone in your life who has already made fitness a regular part of their life. I’ve kept a fitness journal for over four years, and it’s always nice to go back and see how far I’ve come.
DIANA’S FAVORITES
Avana Breckridge Water Bottle
Insulated aluminum water bottles and cups are everywhere nowadays. I actually have several different kinds (Swell bottle, Hydroflask, Blender Radian Bottle, Yeti tumbler) and was recently gifted an Avana bottle by Whitney! It is by far my favorite bottle that I have ever owned. Not only is it beautiful but it has all the perks of an insulated reusable bottle, like keeping liquids cold or hot for 12+ hours and reducing waste of using plastic bottles. But, what I like best of all is that it is so easy to drink water from; I magically hit my water goal by noon each day with this bottle.
Backpack Cooler + Camping Cutlery Set
I grabbed one of these backpack coolers before one of our trips earlier this year and it’s been a game changer for when we travel. Whether we’re hitting the road, getting on a plane, going to an all-day CrossFit event or at a music festival, this cooler is easy to carry and is the perfect size to pack a days worth of food. I also recommend keeping a set or two of camping utensils in the cooler so you always have cutlery on hand.
TheraGun Liv
My amazing friends pooled together and gifted this to me for my birthday and it’s the best thing I never knew I needed. It can be used as part of your warm-up or to aid in recovery after your workout. It helps alleviate chronic pain and stress in sore, stiff muscles and joints. Most of all, it’s great for a quick DIY massage to relax at the end of a long day.
Dinner Party Cookbook
I know I’m biased, but I love this cookbook. Whether you're hosting a real dinner with friends or just want to cook up a great meal at home, it's packed with a week's worth of 3-course meals that are delicious and work with your nutrition goals. The book itself is beautiful and your recipient doesn’t have to track macros to use this cookbook, either! Each recipe includes both weight and volume measurements.