Strength Training | Fueling Healthy Families

Top 10 Budget Fitness Gift Ideas

November 5, 2020 No Comments

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. While using these links will not cost you any more, I may make a commission on any purchases.

Sure, we all wish we could gift our friends The Mirror Home Workout System or a Peloton, but for the rest of us, check out our guide of the Top 10 Budget Fitness Gift Ideas. Before you start shopping, think about the following questions to guide your search:

What types of workouts do they do?
Where do they work out?
How often do they work out?

Top 10 Budget Fitness Gift Ideas

10. Speed Jump Rope

Jump ropes are all the rage in Bootcamp and Crossfit gyms due to their ability to develop coordination, agility, footwork, endurance and overall conditioning. They are compact, lightweight, and bring back those fond memories of grade school recess. And under $10!

9. Fitness Dice

For anyone working out at home, it can get pretty monotonous doing the same workout over and over. A fitness dice adds a little spontaneity, resulting in new workouts every day!

8. Running Gloves

Gloves are a perfect Christmas gift because it’s cold outside! Look for gloves that are lightweight, yet warm, with touchscreen capabilities.

7. Fitness Journal

Gym rats love to plan and track their workouts and strength progression. Runners love to track their mileage and plan their training for upcoming races. Journals are a great reminder to get that workout in and motivation to keep progressing.

6. Yoga Mat

Whether hitting their favorite yoga studio or doing a session at home, there is no need for boring yoga mats.

5. Massage Stick

The perfect self-care gift idea! It can be stored under their desk at work or in a closet at home and used to treat themselves to a tension and pressure release anytime and anywhere. It’s a great gift that will keep on giving!

4. Foam Roller

One thing almost every runner, cardio fan and weight lifter loves but never has at home is a foam roller. Perfect for rolling out tight muscles, stretching, and even some isometrics, this is an amazing Christmas gift for any athlete in your life.

3. Socks

Nothing makes a runner happier than new socks! And they are definitely not something they tend to splurge on for themselves. My favorite brands are Swiftwick, Balega, and Zelle.

2. Resistance Bands

Great for the traveler or those with little space, resistance bands can be taken anywhere and provide a wide arrange of workout options for the newbie or advanced user. Most sets are under $10!

1. Joggers

High on the trends list for 2020 have been joggers! Think of your old sweat pants, elevated to another level where they are both functional and fashionable. In my opinion, they are the new leggings. You can find budget-friendly joggers at Old Navy, and all the big-name fitness brands have their own too.

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New Trends at the Old Gym – Landmine

December 2, 2019 No Comments

Next up in my series on new trends that you’ll find at your local gym is Landmine!

Landmine – What Is It?

The landmine is a piece of equipment that allows one end of a barbell to be affixed to the ground with full rotation of the other end. Just like a traditional barbell, the open end can be loaded with plates for added weight resistance.

How Do You Use?

Single-Leg Deadlift

Start with feet together, holding the head of the barbell in your right hand. Hinge forward at hips, lifting right foot off the floor and extending it behind you as barbell lowers toward the ground. Lower torso until parallel with the ground or until you feel a stretch in your left hamstring. Squeeze through glute to return to starting position for 1 rep. Repeat on the opposite side.

Half-Kneeling Shoulder Press

Kneel with right foot on the floor, knee bent at 90 degrees, holding the head of the barbell in your right hand with torso upright. Press barbell straight up. Hold for 2 seconds, return to starting position for 1 rep. Repeat on opposite side.

Chess Press

Lie on the ground with feet flat, head of the barbell in your right hand with elbow next to your ribcage. Press barbell upward above your head. Slowly lower back to starting position. Repeat on the opposite side.

Landmine Row

Start in a lunge position with back flat, holding the head of the barbell in your right hand. Row barbell up toward ribcage, keeping movement close to your body. Lower back to starting position for 1 rep. Repeat on the opposite side.

Get Your Own

To include your own landmine in your home gym, you’ll want to make sure you have a space large enough for the length of the barbell plus room to work.

Disclosure: These are affiliate links that will help cover the costs of running this blog with no impact on you.

Grab my current workout utilizing the Battle Ropes!

Check out all the posts in the New Trends at the Old Gym Series!

Battle Ropes

TRX

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Exercise

New Trends at the Old Gym – TRX

November 25, 2019 No Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, upon which I may earn a commission if you purchase anything.

Next up in my series on new trends that you’ll find at your local gym is TRX!

TRX – What Is It?

TRX is a suspension based training system. Using just your body weight and gravity, the TRX system can support up to 350 pounds and provide up to 900 pounds of resistance. The system is attached to a door or other fixed point. The further you lean forward or backward, the stronger the resistance to overcome. You can easily change your resistance by changing the angle of your body to the floor.

How Do You Use?

There are 100s of exercises you can complete on the TRX system, but they are all variants of Push, Pull, Plank, Hinge, Lunge, Squat and Rotate.

PUSH

Chest Press – Hold handles in front of you. Brace your core and lean your weight into the handles, making sure your hips, shoulders, knees, and ankles are aligned. Push back to start.

PULL

Row – Lean back holding handles. Brace your core forming a strong plank with your shoulders pulled down and back. Maintaining your plank, pull your chest up to your hands. Lower yourself down in one slow, controlled movement.

PLANK

Inserting your feet into the TRX straps, plank up into a pushup position keeping your hands directly under your shoulders. Brace your core and make sure your head, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles are aligned. Lower your knees to the ground.

HINGE

Extend arms, pressing down on handles, knees bent. Bend forward from the hips, maintain a lengthened spine, extend the knees. Press on handles, extend at hips to an upright position.

LUNGE

With one leg through both foot cradles on the TRX, ground yourself through your working leg. Push your hips down and back, and lunge down until your front knee is bent to 90 degrees. Keep your core braced and your chest up the entire time. Drive through your front foot using your glutes and hamstring to bring you back up.

SQUAT

Stack your elbows under shoulders, with feet hip-width apart. Lower hips down and back, weight in heels. Drive through heels, squeeze your glutes, and lift your chest.

ROTATE

Place arms in a “T”, body in a half-kneeling position. Maintain lengthened spine, shift hips forward, rotate torso away from your rear leg, side bend away. Shift hips back to return hip to neutral, arms down.

Get Your Own

TRX Suspension Trainers are available at the official TRX Training site. Prices range from $100 – $200 for at-home use versions.

Exercise

New Trends at the Old Gym – Battle Ropes

November 17, 2019 No Comments

In this series, I’ll be featuring some of the new trends that you’ll find at your local gym (or even for use at home). First up, Battle Ropes!

What Are Battle Ropes?

A battle rope is a long thick rope anchored in the middle with two ends for you to work with. Battle ropes vary in length from 30 – 50 feet, with 1.5 – 2 inch diameters. They are great for working the hands, arms, shoulders, back, abs, core, and legs.

How Do You Use?

While any continuous movement of the ropes will work your arms and core (to stabilize your body), these 3 exercises are a great start.

Waves

Grab each rope with a hand. Alternate going up and down with your left and right hands, creating waves with the rope. Waves are an effective workout as the work each arm independently and keep your muscles under tension for extended periods. Start with 30 second reps, building up to several minutes at a time.

Stagecoach

Holding both ropes together with both hands, move up and down together like you’re driving an old-fashioned stagecoach.

Overhead Slams

Hold each rope in a hand. Pull them up over your head, then slam them to the ground as hard as you can. Wait for the ripple to reach the anchor point, then repeat.

Get Your Own

Battle Ropes are available at mass online retailers like Amazon.com and Walmart.com, as well as specialized fitness stores. Prices range from $35 – $200.

Grab my current workout utilizing the Battle Ropes!

Check out all the posts in the New Trends at the Old Gym Series!

TRX

Landmine