Great health gifts: From counting steps to improving your tennis game
Strive to make 2016 your healthiest year yet by gifting and requesting health and fitness presents. Gadgets that merge your health into every aspect of your life are hotter than ever, said Liz Welch, a chiropractor and the founder and CEO of PostureFit, an exercise bar that can be used to build muscle, to tone and to help with posture.
"One of the hottest trends in fitness right now is using products that help create a fitness-centered lifestyle," Welch said. "We are seeing health and fitness move out of the gym and permeate our lives, allowing for easy, attainable changes that lead to real wellness."
From fitness apps that let you track your progress and keep you motivated, to apparel that goes from the gym to the supermarket, it's all about ease and convenience.
InMovement Elevate Desktop DT1
Standing desks are great for your health, but sometimes you're having an off day and simply looking at that standing desk makes you want to call in sick. That's why this device is ideal: It gives you options. You mount your laptop to your desk with a clamp and elevate your laptop when you feel like standing or lower it when you don't. $299 at inmovement.com
FlexStrider Variable-Stride Trainer
When you're ready to elevate your home gym, this will do the trick. It's basically a combination of an elliptical and a treadmill and is able to emulate walking, joggling and running because your can control your strides. The machine is low to the ground and is easy to start, so it also offers a low-impact workout if necessary. The FlexStrider comes with a console that's Bluetooth compatible so it's already hooked up to TV, Internet and fitness apps. Starts at $10,998 at lifefitness.com
Jawbone UP3
If you want a fitness tracker that looks like a bracelet, this is the one to get. It tracks steps and food, and it measures your resting and passive heart rate plus sleep, using a multisensor technology. The splash-proof tracker has a smart alarm, an idle alert, and it connects with the UP app to give you personalized guidance and feedback. $179.99 at jawbone.com
Tory Sport All-Weather Run Jacket
Look stylish during your run with the Tory Burch waterproof jacket, designed specifically for runners. It'll protect you from the wind and the rain while the vents in front and the back will keep you ventilated. $325 at torysport.com
TomTom Spark GPS Fitness Watch
This new watch (it was released in October) is a Bluetooth fitness watch that can store up to 500 songs, plus it can track your steps, miles, calories, heart rate and sleep. It provides real-time progress updates and has a voice coach who will encourage you during those last few pesky mar
athon miles. Starts at $149 at tomtom.com
Elle bkr
There's nothing like the perfect water bottle to get you going to the gym. This bottle is is dishwasher safe, is BPA-free and phthalate-free, is made out of glass and silicone and just looks luxurious. $35 for the 500 ml bottle at mybkr.com
Adidas miCoach Smart Ball
This soccer ball is Bluetooth- and app-enabled, so whenever you kick it, it will transfer data, including the strength of the kick, the ball spin and the impact points, so you can learn every time your foot makes contact with the ball. The app also has a training section with tips and tutorials to help you improve your game. $200 at adidas.com
Babolat POP
Up your tennis game via this wristband, which will send stats about your tennis session to your phone or tablet. It'll tell you stats such as racket speed, best rally and number of shots per minute. $89.95 at tenniswarehouse.com
This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Great health gifts: From counting steps to improving your tennis game ."