Gift Guide for Guys
As I’m writing this, Christmas Eve is one week away.
I feel so relaxed this holiday season it's sort of freaking me out. What am I forgetting to do? lol.
Alan and I had the best date night in Lawrenceville last Saturday. We started with coffee and Christmas shopping. I discovered a candle shop called Fjord and Fable, bought a Kit-Cat Klock for our kitchen, and browsed a midcentury furniture restoration store.
After that, we had dinner at The Vandal, which was such an intimate and creative concept. What a perfect night.
Walking Pad Collaboration
I have a few exciting new partnerships on the horizon, and I am excited to share that I've partnered with WalkingPad.
The weather has been cold and rainy here, and I'm thankful for my WalkingPad that allows me to walk while I'm working, reading, or watching TV.
I genuinely recommend this product for anyone who wants to add more movement to their day, but doesn't want to store bulky equipment.
My code FITWITHHAILEIGH will save you 30% at checkout.
the active guy gift guide
Today, I wanted to share the last of three gift guides. This one is for the active guys in your life who love training and want to maximize recovery.
Also, keep reading for some tips for how to balance your gym gains with celebrations and alcohol this holiday season.
I hope you have a great week. Thank you for being here!
Portable ice pod
Up first is a portable, budget-friendly, and foldable Ice Pod. Ice bathing can reduce stress, help improve mood and sleep, and help to manage chronic pain. At $89, this is a great gift idea for anyone who wants to prioritize their recovery without spending a lot of money.
lifting shoes
I've recently started wearing heeled lifting shoes on leg day and have noticed a difference in ankle support and depth. These Nordic Lifting Megin Powerlifting Shoes are a great option for men and come in black or blue.
sleek backpack
The Gymshark Sleek Backpack would be a perfect gift for guys running from work to the gym and beyond. It has an aesthetic, waterproof design, a padded back panel, and plenty of pockets for storing everything from a laptop to meal prep supplies.
Airpods leather case
Next, give a gift to protect his AirPods with this stylish leather case from Andar. It comes in 10 colors, although Merlot is out of stock today.
adjustable dumbbells
I write about the BowFlex Adjustable Dumbbells often, so it's no surprise they showed up on this gift guide. I love and recommend this set for people who work out at home - it replaces 15 sets of dumbbells and allows you to progressively overload your exercises, critical for success over time.
alcohol and the holidays
With all the parties, travel, and family gatherings, there might be an uptick in your drinking during the holidays.
If you want to strike a balance between maintaining your gym progress and indulging with your favorite people, this part is for you.
Although alcohol doesn't impact women's muscle growth and recovery much, it is still not beneficial, and can really detract from your progress.
Some of the biggest negative impacts for women are:
metabolism disruption - your body will prioritize eliminating the alcohol before processing the food you eat
ATP (energy) disruption
poor sleep
increased cancer risk, especially breast cancer
excess, empty calories
negative mental health impacts
your weekly actionable tip
Alcohol and the holidays go hand in hand, and biggest short-term fitness impact for women is the excess calories.
This week, I'll challenge you to drink responsibly and manage the negative impact to your fitness goals.
You can do this by:
setting drink limits
choosing lower calorie options such as vodka soda, white wine, light beer, gin and tonic, or a hard seltzer
decreasing your overall calories during the day - especially fats, since they contain 9 calories per gram
keeping your protein intake high throughout the day
That’s all for this week. Be sure to follow along on IG @fitwithhaileigh and sign up for my weekly newsletter, if you haven’t already.
