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6. Chef Todd's Web Cooking Classes & DVD's

Why not deliver a gift of something healthy, that doesn't include dry smoked salmon, crackers and dips that are full of preservatives?

Try a more refreshing nutritional approach. I want to introduce you to a friend of mine: the talented and highly entertaining Chef Todd Mohr from WebCookingClasses.com, a revolutionary, healthy cooking instructor who I met last week while I was in New York. And at the bottom of this post, I have a special question for you.

Why is Chef Todd Mohr so revolutionary, you ask? Well, his philosophy on healthy cooking without recipes is totally unique. He has truly changed the way I view cooking and I know it will have the same impact on you. You see, Chef Todd Mohr believes that most of us don't really know how to cook!

Sure we can follow a recipe – sometimes, especially if we've made it before and figured out its “quirks.” But we don't really know the techniques we used and, worse yet – we don't understand the cooking methods that recipes call upon. As Chef Todd explained to me, your cooking methods are EVERYTHING in Cooking!

Chef Todd Mohr has even developed an entire cooking system based on this philosophy and this system has thought thousands of people around the world to cook!

If you want to know more about Chef Todd, then just click here to get access to his 5 Cooking DVD's or a free trial of his cooking classes!

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7. Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes

These are rich flakes of magnesium chloride hexahydrate and other trace minerals, in a convenient and economical form for utilization in baths and foot soaks. Ancient Minerals magnesium flakes are approximately 47% magnesium chloride by weight, and if you listened to Podcast #45 from BenGreenfieldFitness.com (the interview with Dr. Mark Sircuis), then you know that this form of magnesium packs a powerful punch for human physical performance, testosterone release, muscle and strength gains, elimination of fatigue, cardiovascular health and reduction of heart attack risk, bone density, and a solution for muscular cramps and spasms.

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes are extracted from the Ancient Zechstein Seabed in Europe, 1600 to 2000 meters deep in the interior of the Earth. Well protected for over a  millenia, they are the most pure magnesium flakes in the world and a mark of purity on every bottle of Ancient Minerals.

For therapeutic use, you can dissolve 1 to 3 cups of magnesium flakes (or more) in full tub bath or foot bath and soak for 30 minutes or more. Temperature of the water should be 101F to 103F (not hot). Hot bath water causes the skin to eliminate rather than absorb. Following the bath, rinse your skin with cool running water, then pat skin dry with a towel and apply a natural moisturizer. The benefits of a magnesium bath are enormous:

• Restores cellular magnesium levels
• Acts as a cellular protectant
• Supports detoxification
• Relieves aches and pains
• Improves mood and relieves stress
• Encourages healthy skin tissue

I personally use not only the Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes on a weekly basis, but also the topical magnesium oil you will find at the same website. This canister of flakes with a bottle of the oil would be a perfect “one-two” combo gift!

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8. “Expanded GI Panel” for Food Allergy and Parasite Testing

In her bestselling book “The Gut Flush Plan” and in Podcast #29 from BenGreenfieldFitness.com, Dr. Anne Louise Gittleman warns us of the bad bugs and food allergies that threaten our guts on a daily basis. In her discussion about how to cleanse your body of toxins, maximize athletic performance, destroy the yeast, superbugs, parasites growing in your gut, and eliminate food sensitivities, she mentions actually getting yourself tested to actually see “what is going in” inside your digestive system.

That is where the complete “Expanded GI Panel” comes in. From your own home, it allows you to test for parasites, 4 major food allergens and intestinal function using multiple stool and saliva samples. The Expanded GI Panel helps to find causes for digestive problems, gluten intolerance, hyperactivity, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. The “Expanded GI Panel” tests for H. plylori and pathogenic bacteria, Candida Albicans and fungus in addition to screening for many types of protozoa and worms, including C. difficile, Giardia, E. coli, Blastocystis hominis, Roundworm, Toxoplasma, Trichinella spiralis (from swine) and Tapeworm.

That's not all! It also measures allergies to gluten, cow's milk, eggs, and soy. Intestinal function markers including GI immunity-SIgA, pancreatic enzyme output, blood in stool, and stool pH will also be included in the results. In the privacy of your home, 3 stool samples and 2 saliva samples are collected and then sent to the laboratory. Results go directly to Ann Louise Gittleman's office, after which you will receive a personalized letter of recommendations and test results which may include natural anti-parasite herbal formulas, nutritional supplements, diet, and lifestyle changes.

Click here to order the panel today!

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9. MuscleTrac Massage Tool

Before my triathlons, and after tough workouts and races, I rely on a small, portable and incredibly effective tool called the Muscletrac, which I’ve been successfully using on the multiple knots and adhesions I develop while swimming, cycling and running.

The Muscletrac is basically a self-massage device with special wheels attached. When rolled across the muscle tissue, the individual articulating wheels allow for targeted penetration and stretching of the muscle tissue and overlying fascia. It has quite a different feel from the similar tool that is more commonly seen (“The Stick”). So how does this actually help performance and recovery? Restrictions such as muscle tightness, knots, trigger points and adhesions can cause pain, decrease range of motion and ultimately lead to injury. By applying pressure and releasing these tight areas, performance and mobility can be improved!

I’m a big fan of the Muscletrac, especially since it’s smaller and more portable, for those times when you can’t throw a personal massage therapist in your suitcase. This is useful for not only athletes, but also sedentary individuals who need to enhance blood flow and flexibility. Prior to my latest triathlon, I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to warm-up or stretch prior to the race. So during the drive to the race, I used the Muscletrac on my legs, shoulders and back to improve range of motion.

It worked perfectly. After the race, I used the same strategy to work the inflammation out of the tissue, vastly reducing post-race soreness and enhancing recovery.

You can click here to check out the Muscletrac website, which gives detailed instructions for implementing on a wide variety of muscles.

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10. BenGreenfieldFitness Training Plans & Premium Subscription to TrainingPeaks Fitness & Nutriton Logging Software

At the TrainingPeaks website, you can actually purchase a Premium subscription gift to what I consider to be the best workout and nutrition logging software that exists. I’m not one to recommend that every time you go exercise, you take eight pounds of heart rate monitors, GPS devices, foot pods and fancy cell phone applications with you.

Neither do I endorse being so “caught-up” in writing down everything you eat and every workout you do that you forget to enjoy yourself. It is true that when it comes to your health and fitness, too much technology can bog you down. But for simple logging of your nutrition and exercise, there can be enormous benefits to going beyond the mere “chicken-scratch” on a notepad approach. TrainingPeaks online training software allows you to:

-Monitor fitness and health trends over time so you could compare last month’s workout to this month’s workout…(incredibly motivating to get you off the couch and into the gym!)

-Track exercise, nutrition, weight, stress & more, even down to how many hours of sleep you get every night…(you’d be surprised at how the stress/sleep correlates with the quality of your exercise sessions)

-Search and record your favorite running and cycling routes or map your own (i.e. you’re on vacation in Denver and you want to find a good 5 mile run, so you just type Denver, and do a search for 5 mile run routes)…

-After your exercise session, use your cell phone, Facebook, or Twitter to share workouts and routes with friends (i.e. check out this run I just went on!)…

-Upload heart rate, power meter & GPS workouts so you can save all your workouts (it actually makes using a heart rate monitor or GPS device easy and fun)…

-Apply exercise programs and meal plans (there is a big store inside the software where you can shop for anything from a 5K running plan to a gluten-free meal plan for triathletes)…

-Plan and schedule your own exercise & meals (the software will automatically send you e-mails that remind you about workouts and meals!)…

-Be able to seamlessly share all this data with your coach or your personal trainer (makes accountability WAY easier)…

Probably the best part is that the entire software program that allows you to do everything listed above is ONLINE, so you still have all your data if your computer crashes.

It’s called TrainingPeaks, and you can check it out and get a subscription which can be activated by your gift-recipient by clicking here. They even have a “coaches version” that can be used by a personal trainer or triathlon coach to manage their clients and athletes! And did I mention that you'll have access to all my training, nutrition and fitness plans?

Check it out now!

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11. ActionWipes Care Package

You've changed since your days in the nursery… You're bigger, play harder, smell stronger and your skin is not as smooth as your once cute baby behind. That's why there is a bigger, thicker wipe especially for adults.  One that doesn't leave you smelling like a baby, or remind you of one when its your time to play.

ActionWipes are created with a clean, fresh aromatic scent that smells like you just stepped into a spa.  They're made with all natural ingredients and therapeutic aromatherapy oils of tea tree and eucalyptus to clean sweaty pores and remove bacteria. They have a mild sudsing action that doesn't require rinsing, so you're doing more than just wiping your skin, you're actually cleaning it!

Quick to dry, it leaves your skin soft – not sticky. ActionWipes are naturally antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal, so they're good for your skin. The gentle formula is safe for your face, sensitive skin, kids, pets and our planet too. And they're extra strong too!

Unlike other single-use wipes, ActionWipes can actually withstand several machine washings and drying, so you can repurpose them for other uses – such as washing your dishes when you're out camping, cleaning your equipment, or dusting your furniture.

So go ahead, use them before, during and  after Triathlons, Yoga,  Music Festivals, Surfing, Golf, Tennis, Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, Soccer, Rugby, Roller Derby, Horse Back Riding, Motocross, Raquetball, Football, Baseball, Wine Tasting, Travelling… whatever! I personally incorporate ActionWipes into my triathlon training routine and take them everywhere I go when traveling – the spray and wipes never leave my gym bag!

Be sure to activate your 10% discount code “BGF” today by ordering at the ActionWipes website. They even have an ActionWipes Gift Set, which comes with 5 Action Wipes, 2oz sports gel and sports spray packaged in a washable mesh bag. ActionWipes are perfect for the athlete or outdoor enthusiast on your gift list!

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12. Miracle Noodles

It’s not often that I stumble across a product that I automatically begin recommending to all my clients and working into the meal plans that I write… …but a physician whom I highly respect recently mentioned to me the product called “Miracle Noodles“, an incredibly effective fat-loss tool for those of you who have to have your pasta and eat it too.

So here’s the skinny on Miracle Noodles: Originally called “Shirataki” noodles, Miracle Noodles, which have a chewy, rice-noodle type of texture, are traditionally a staple known and used in Asia for over two thousand years. They are made from a soluble plant fiber called glucomannan, which in Miracle Noodles is derived from a carboydrate-free flour made from konnyaku imo root. So what does it actually mean if you are eating a noodle made from a root?

Think of it like Stevia, the natural root-based sweetener and completely carbohydrate-free version of sugar.

–Miracle Noodles are made of naturally water soluble fiber with no fat, sugar, or starch.

–Miracle Noodles contain zero net carbohydrates and zero calories.

–Miracle Noodles are wheat free & gluten free.

So how do you cook them? The answer is…you don’t. To the extreme benefit of any “busy” healthy eaters out there, it’s this simple: Miracle Noodles are instantly ready. You just drain the pack and rinse in a strainer or collander for a couple of minutes.

Then you add any number of spices, herbs, vegetables, seeds, nuts or lean meats to complete the meal. The Miracle Noodle website actually has a huge collection of incredibly healthy meals. As an added bonus, this glucomannan fiber significantly slows the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream means that any carbohydrates that you may consume with the Miracle Noodles would actually cause less damage.

I completely approve of these as a way to get your carbohydrate fix without actually eating carbs. I wish they were available in more commercial grocery stores, and with their fantastic fat-loss health benefits, I’m certain they will be soon. In the meantime, you can get them or gift them by clicking here. (Did I mention they have 10 different varieties, and they’re practically as affordable as Top Ramen noodles?)

By the way, on the Miracle Noodle website, there is an “Ultimate Sample Pack” which features 12 different varieties of their noodles, a perfect holiday gift.

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14. Triathlon Dominator Package

This is my ultimate training collection of books, CD's and DVD's for triathletes that allows a busy person to finally break the mold and dominate Half-Ironman or Ironman triathlon with a zero-guesswork training and nutrition plan, and do it WITHOUT neglecting family, WITHOUT quitting a career, WITHOUT saying goodbye to friends for a year, and WITHOUT giving up other hobbies. The following items arrive in your mailbox when you order the Triathlon Dominator Package:

-The Official 36 Week Ironman Dominator Plan: my 9 month step-by-step plan that will bring you to any Ironman triathlon on the face of the planet, 100% confident that you will cross the finish line with a big smile, guilt-free because you did not neglect your family, friends, work and life during your Ironman preparation.

-Holistic Fueling for Ironman Triathletes: the ultimate key to the secrets of fueling with the thousands of calories necessary for Ironman triathlon – without getting sick, missing training days, or destroying your body!

-Top 12 Resistance Training Routines for Triathletes Book: a strength training manual that breaks the mold by giving you short and incredibly effective gym workouts designed specifically to enhance endurance while maintaining strength, muscular tone, and explosiveness.

-Top 12 Resistance Training Routines for Triathletes DVD: the jam-packed companion exercise video that will teach you the tips, tricks and form for each of Ben Greenfield's proprietary triathlon workouts, so you're no longer standing around the gym scratching my head.

-The No-Guesswork Guide to Ironman Race Week CD: your secret weapon to ensure zero guesswork and complete confidence that you're perfectly prepared when you stand on the beach on race morning – a step-by-step roadmap that walks you through the eating, tapering, pacing and Ironman race day logistics!

-Endurance Sports Supplements Secrets CD: a no-nonsense roadmap to navigating the confusing world of sports performance enhancing supplements and dietary aids and knowing which “dietary aids” in the magazines and expos work and which ones are a waste of your money or a hazard to your health.

-The Triathlon Supplements Discount Guide: this guide will ensure that nutrition supplementation is no longer an expensive guessing game by giving you exclusive discounts on products that have been hand-picked by sports nutritionist Ben Greenfield, allowing you to easily choose the supplements that are perfect for your sport.

“Instant 24-7 Triathlon Coach”: Your own personal triathlon coach and the designer of the entire Ironman training program to take care of any questions that you may have along the way!

The entire Triathlon Dominator Package, featuring all the elements listed above, is available for special, web-only pricing at the Triathlon Dominator Website. Act fast, because limited copies are available during the holiday season!

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15. Essentials of Triathlon Swimming DVD

Another perfect gift for the triathlete or swimmer on your list, the Essentials of Triathlon Swimming DVD is broken into three sections:

• Drills to Improve Your Swim Technique
• How To Train Safely With Powerful Workout Routines
• Open Water Swimming and Race Strategies

You can simply curl up in your favorite comfortable chair, watch the video and start using these techniques in your next training session.Use either of two complete swim training plans to optimally prepare for your next Sprint, Olympic Distance, Half Ironman, or Ironman Distance race. You will have confidence and ability that you can finish the swim strong with much more energy and shave your swim leg down tremendously.

Anybody could spend hours researching different types of swimming techniques, and spend even more time testing each of those techniques personally — and still not see any improvement in race time. But you don't have to research swimming techniques… because this program has done the research for you.

When I see countless triathletes overtraining… putting in long hours in the pool… and then not enjoying the level of racing success that they should, it frustrates me. I absolutely hate to see other people making the same swim technique mistakes that many of my swim coaching clients used to make…especially when it's so easy to correct them.

The Essentials of Triathlon Swimming DVD will give you a huge boost in the right direction — so you can reach new levels of success race after race — and do it pain-free. If you are ready to get started on your journey to getting rid of poor swim techniques, overtraining, and the loss of fun in your triathlon training sessions, then grab you or your gift-recipient a copy of Essentials of Triathlon Swimming DVD!

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16. Cocochia Bar

When I am coaching people to reach their nutritional goals, whether via phone, e-mail, or face-to-face, one of the documents that I supply is a proprietary 20+ page primer on the “Top 18 Dietary Questions to Ask Yourself”. One of these eighteen questions covers the topic of supplements…and includes the following snippet:

When choosing energy bars, look for:

-Primary carb source (at least 3g of fiber or more) from whole grains like brown rice, oats, bran, barley, rye, buckwheat or whole wheat flour.

-Natural sugars (preferably 15g or less): dried or fresh fruit, fruit juice, purees (fructose), milk (lactose), agave nectar, and honey

-Lean protein sources such as whey, soy, casein or eggs

-Monunsaturated fat supplied by nuts and seeds, nut butters or flaxseed

-Limit ingredients like wheat flakes, rice, white flour, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, dextrose, malitol, malt syrup, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and colors, saturated/trans fats, palm kernel oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil or extra calories from chocolate, caramel, frosting, or icing.

So what if you wanted to cut to the chase and actually get your hands on a bar that automatically fulfills all those critera?

I do it, and I’m going to tell you exactly how and also give you a special discount code. It exists. It's called the Cocochia Bar and you can get a box of them for a Christmas gift by clicking here. Perfect for eating on the go, this snack bar is made of only clean, raw, all natural ingredients.

Ingredients include: Organic Chia Seeds, TheraSweet (safe and healthy alternative to traditional sugar products and artificial sweeteners), Certified Organic Raw Almond Butter, Certified Organic Agave Syrup, Non GMO Rice Protein, Organic Gum Acacia, Certified Organic Cocoa and Certified Organic Chocolate Liquor. Bon appetit!

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OK, that's about it! You could pretty easily shop guilt-free for your entire list from the items described above, and feel proudly satisfied that you gave yourself the gift of health and fitness this holiday season.

If you have questions, feel free to leave them below, and remember that all your purchases will help support this website!