November 10, 2009

Alright folks, this is officially it. I've had multiple requests for a quintessential holiday shopping list for the health nut, fitness enthusiast, multi-sport junkie or fat-loss devotee. Consider this the ultimate answer to your head-scratching hunt for the perfect gift. You've stumbled upon the final solution.

I've tracked down the best deals, the highest-quality products, and the most unique, health-conscious gifts your significant gift-recipient isn't going to get anywhere else – and provided you with a range of options from inexpensive, custom-designed energy bars to gold-standard laboratory performance testing packages. You'll find everything for the person who just wants to shed a few pounds of fat, to the coveted tools of a top triathlete.

So consider the following items the gold-standard for giving the gift of both creativity and health. You can click on any of the items in the list, and they will open in a new window, so you'll always be able to access this list later. Finally, if you have items you'd like to see added, just leave a comment – and be sure to experiment with the “Bookmark & Share” button at the bottom of this post, where you can easily e-mail friends and family members with the list!

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1. Gymstick

Originating in Finland as a popular exercise tool at health clubs and homes, the Gymstick is an incredibly versatile and portable exercise device that can be used for fat loss, lean body toning and beginner to advanced fitness. As you can see from the picture, it is comprised of a flexible fiberglass stick, soft foam hand grip and pair of latex rubber resistance tubes with durable fabric loops at both ends. I use my Gymstick three times per week for 30-45 minutes: once for a core workout, once for a toning workout, and once for a sports performance workout! Here’s why I recommend the Gymstick:

-It’s highly portable, making it great for home and travel based workouts…

-It is perfect for muscle toning, but also can build strength and enhance sports performance…

-By simply twisting the stick, you can instantly increase or decrease resistance…

-It can be included in a high-calorie burning, metabolism-boosting workout OR a slower, toning and strength-building routine…

 

-Compared to other pieces of home exercise equipment, it is inexpensive and easy-to-use!

Each Gymstick includes a stylish fabric cover  and carry bag, a Gymstick Instruction and workout poster (including 18 basic movements), and a 60 min Gymstick Workout DVD (incl. 3 workout programs). Just click on Gymstick for the best deal on the internet, which includes FREE shipping to anywhere in the USA.

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2. Shape21

As a culmination of all my fat loss, nutrition, and “do anywhere” exercise secrets, I originally designed the Shape21 Lean Body Manual five years ago to help people get fit and burn fat fast. In the summer of 2009, I re-designed the “no guesswork” meal plan in Shape21 to completely eliminate any potential barriers to maximum fat loss, including food allergens, toxins, and preservatives. Shape21 includes grocery shopping lists, meal plans with recipes for each day, clearly-written workouts and exercises, and every tool necessary for you to achieve a lean body as quickly as possible. Included with each order of Shape21 is:

-An exercise DVD with clear demonstrations of each workout…

-A month of free unlimited access to the Shape21 Member Forum…

-A free Shape21 Audio Download, in which I walk you through all elements of the book…

-Free access to my 1 hour Fat Loss Secrets Seminar video…

Just click on Shape21 to go to the official Shape21 website, where the book and DVD are available a special, web-only package. This is a perfect gift for a beginner who wants to jump-start their exercise program for the New Year, an intermediate exerciser who wants something like P90X or Crossfit, but with better eating instructions, or even an advanced athlete who wants a new challenge (and trust me, if you do the advanced section of the book, it is a serious challenge).

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3. Oil of Oregano

For literally thousands of years, this incredibly potent antiseptic and antifungal oil has been one of the best kept secrets of natural medicine. You can put Oil of Oregano on your skin to treat acne and eczema, place a few drops under your tongue to kill fungus, microbes, yeast and bad bacteria in your gut, and even mix a little into a spraybottle to mist in your house and on your kitchen counter to destroy microbes. It is a perfect antidote against winter viruses (including swine flu) and gives you complete peace of mind in sickness carrying crowds, such as on airplanes, trains, buses or sporting events.

In my own personal research, I’ve found that interestingly, in most commercial grocery stores and health food outlets, what you are getting is not the actual Oil of Oregano but rather, a fake knock-off imitation oil or compound that is a complete waste of money, and potentially harmful at higher dosages. But last spring, I received a phone call from a fan of BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and was given complete access to one of the most highly concentrated and certified sources of Oil of Oregano, at a price so affordable that I literally thought I was being pranked.

This Oil of Oregano is a 7:1 mixture of Mediterranean oregano extract and almond oil, bottled in a 1 ounce medicine droplet bottle that lasts 1-2 months, depending on your frequency of use. The almond oil is a Virgin Sweet Almond Oil, which is more readily assimilated into the skin and less greasy that another other available carrier oil, including olive oil, which is the normal carrier oil for oregano. Each bottle comes with a laboratory certificate of analysis, is 100% pure undiluted and unadulterated, and contains 75% Carvacrol, the primary indicator of quality and effectiveness. It is harvested in France and stream distilled in a blend that is stronger than other blends that are available on the retail market – at a fraction of the price.

I guarantee that you will begin to notice results within just 2 weeks of implementing Product X as a topical treatment for skin problems, microbe killer in your home, or soldier against bad bugs in your gut. So if you're ready to save money on doctors and hospital bills, eliminate yeast, fungus and bad bacteria in your gut and introduce a completely natural, healthy, and highly effective microbe killer into your home or office, you can click here to get your hands on Oil of Oregano today.

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4. FINIS Freestyle paddles

Do you have a swimmer or triathlete in your life? The FINIS Freestyler is the only hand paddle specifically designed for freestyle swimming. Utilizing what is described as a patented “skeg” technology, the Freestyler allows swimmers to properly position the hand at the beginning of the stroke. The FINIS Freestyle paddle will force the swimmer to maximize their extension and initiate the rotation at the beginning of the stroke. They force your hand entry to be correct, but don't chafe your wrists like other paddles.

I've been using them for about four months now, and include them at least once a week in my swim sets to unlearn bad habits I've developed from swimming incorrectly without the paddles. It's amazing to feel your hand literally tugged into the exact correct position every time it enters the water. The hydrodynamic shape of the paddle also eliminates shoulder stress, while promoting high elbows in the pull and recovery phases of the stroke. The FINIS Freestyle paddles can be a little hard to find, but I've found one of the most reliable sources to be at the online swimming superstore “Swim Outlet”, which you can access by clicking on FINIS Freestyle paddles.

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5. Bioletics Performance Performance Profile

If you listened to Podcasts #53 and #62 from BenGreenfieldFitness.com, then you heard my interview with Dr. Richard Cohen about the six key internal performance factors that every athlete or serious exercise enthusiast needs to know about their own body. The Bioletics Performance Performance Profile allows you to to assess the key biological factors involved in performance and well-being, from the comfort of your own home. When you order the profile, a box arrives to your house that includes all materials and instructions for the following assessments:

• Vitamin D
• Mineral analysis and pH
• Strength and recovery hormones
• Metabolic-typing
• 30 min consultation

In addition to the tests listed above, you can also choose to add a ferritin, magnesium, essential fatty acids and amino acid analysis to your performance package. When I first did these tests, I was amazed at how easy it was to actually test your body from your own home, rather than having to go to a bunch of doctor's offices, hospitals and laboratories. Dr. Richard Cohen and Tim Monaco at Bioletics walk you through the process with no guesswork. Even more amazing was what I actually found out about my body. The changes that I've made since the testing have result in profound improvements in my energy levels, immune system, and overall feeling. Order a kit for you or your loved one at Bioletics.com.

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6. CherryPharm Cherry Juice

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 gift box. The folks over at CherryPharm Cherry Juice have produced the best tasting, most powerful tart cherry juice you can buy. Packed with the goodness of 50 tart cherries, providing over 10,000 ORAC units and 2 fruit servings per 8 oz. bottle, the 100% all-natural juice was developed at Cornell University to preserve the delicate phytonutrients in cherries unlike weak cherry concentrates.

You have the option of their regular Natural Health bottle (pictured and described above) or a Natural Light version, which offers the taste of real tart cherries in a lighter low calorie drink that contains no artificial sugar or preservatives. Their Natural Recovery drink starts with the juice of 50 wholeart cherries,  then adds 8 grams of whey protein and other nutrients to deliver a great tasting blend perfect for pre- or post-workout refreshment. Finally, if you're not sure which juice to buy, or just want to drink or gift them all, you can get a mixed case or trial pack, each with a selection of the three deliciously healthy flavors. Click on CherryPharm Cherry Juice to go to the website and order today (it would actually go quite well “combined” with some other healthy items in this healthy holiday shopping list)!

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7. Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes 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” from UniKey Health Systems

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” from UniKey Health Systems 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. Premium Subscription to TrainingPeaks

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!

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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 ccomes 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. Box of Ben Greenfield's Super-Seven Supplements

I am often asked what my “Top Recommended Supplements” are. Sometimes the question is vague (i.e. overall health) and sometimes it is more specific (i.e. burn fat fast). But it is probably the most common question I receive.

That’s understandable.

Ever walked in a health club, gym or supplement outlet and been hounded by what seems like eight thousand “fat loss” labels staring back at you? Or some supplement with thirty ingredients designed to “shed fat and build lean muscle”? Or an article in the newspaper that basically tells you “nothing at all works, just exercise harder”?

Having worked for over a decade with thousands of people from across the planet, I realize that everybody’s nutritional and dietary needs are vastly different. Because everybody’s body is different. BUT there are a handful of supplements (SEVEN, as a matter of fact) that I actually do recommend, across the board, for everybody. These specific supplements will ensure that your body operates at peak capacity with maximum fat burning, optimized physical performance, laser focus, enhanced mental clarity, and a bulletproof immune system.

In other words, if you were headed to a stranded desert island, these are the supplements you’d want to take along. My “Super-Seven”, if you will. Anything else is just icing on the cake. Here they are, and there's a special link farther down to get them (and yes, I take them all):

1. Mediterranean Oil of Oregano (Origanum Vulgare Essential Oil)

I know you’ve probably never heard of it, but you can read more about by clicking here. I just put a few drops under my tongue every night before bed, and also put a couple drops in a glass of water if I have to drink out a hotel room water tap or think I’ve eaten something that might be contaminated, like funny tasting meat at a restaurant. I also use it as an immune system booster (along with the Enerprime listed below) before and after I get on an airplane. It is mixed in a very unique and highly effective and absorbable 7:1 almond:oregano oil ratio, and the version of this oil that I use is 75% carvacrol, the primary indicator of quality. It even comes with a laboratory certificate of analysis, which the “fake” stuff at the grocery store doesn’t give you. It is enormously effective in quickly eliminating yeast or fungal problems that lead to fat gain, eczema, acne, poor performance, and chronic fatigue. It can stop bad bugs in their tracks. It is also an incredibly rich source of iron and calcium, and can also be used as a topical anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and anti-fungal.

2. Delta-E

This is an all-natural energy booster powder that you simply mix with a few ounces of water (but sometimes I just pour a packet into my mouth and let the energy hit me right away!). It includes healthy doses of the most bioavailable form of B vitamin, taurine for giving you physical energy, trace amounts of caffeine to stimulate the central nervous system, and L-theanine to increase dopamine production in the brain and give you happy energy (incidentally, with zero chance of a “crash”). I use this stuff as a pre-workout energy boost, I use it before triathlons, and I use it as an alternative to commercial energy drinks to bring me out of an afternoon “slump”. Way healthier than coffee (basically I have one cup of coffee in the morning, then I have this in the afternoon).

3. Enerprime Superfood Multi-Vitamin

Enerprime is basically like having ten salads for breakfast. It is a unique blend of ground-up vegetables, superfoods, adaptogens, antioxidants, phytonutrients, herbs, enzymes and micronutrients, over thirty of them that are too numerous for me to list here, but that you can read more about below. I put one teaspoon of the powder in a glass of water before breakfast every morning, which is basically the equivalent of six capsules. For the healthiest cocktail on the face of the planet, I actually mix the teaspoon of this with 1 packet of the Delta-E (listed above). This offers an enormous benefit for enhanced immune system and increased physical and mental performance, and I haven’t been sick in the 2 years since I started taking Enerprime. I also crack open 1 capsule and put it into my baby’s food to help them get the powerful nutrients.

4. Lean Factor

LeanFactor is a proprietary formula with a synergistic blend of ingredients important for thyroid function and the addition of lean muscle tissue. The way that I like to explain it is that Lean Factor is for people who have too much fat and not enough lean muscle, or for people who have sluggish metabolism and low energy levels. Many of my fat loss clients or bodybuilders combine it with ThermoFactor (the next supplement down) for maximum fat loss shedding and lean muscle toning results, and I take it when I need to lose weight, fast.

5. ThermoFactor

ThermoFactor is a synergistic formula that successfully addresses major issues associated with weight gain, or a resistance to weight loss. Its ingredients provide powerful metabolic-boosting support and help control the appetite and blood sugar balance. So if you have carbohydrate cravings because you just started a diet (or you just like candy!) or if you have problems with your appetite getting out of control, then this can help quite a bit, especially if you combine it with Lean Factor (the supplement mentioned above). If I’ve been having trouble with snacking at night, I take 1 capsule one hour prior to dinner, and my cravings melt away.

6. EnerEFA

Ever heard of fish oil? This is basically the non-animal, non-”fishy tasting” alternative. EnerEFA contains a well-balanced combination of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in convenient capsule form. These powerful nutrients cannot be produced by the body and must be included in our diet. The oils in these capsules assist your body in maintaining a healthy immune system, proper hormonal balance and a strong heart. Critical for healthy joint function, prostate health and youthful moisturized skin, and in one study, people who took omega-3 fatty acids and did nothing else “extra” lost 2 pounds of fat in 3 weeks. Interestingly, it is also great for developing healthy brains, and I break a capsule open and rub it into my kid’s feet before bed at night!

7. ProstÉlan

OK, last one, and this is for you guys out there (although it has some really good effects for females as well). This synergestic formula includes a powerful flower pollen extract, clinically proven in Europe and Japan to promote prostate health and reduce inflammation, especially useful for male cyclists and triathletes, people who exercise frequently, or an older male population who worries about things like difficulty urinating or erectile dysfunction. It gives quicker and more comprehensive results than the usual nutritional choices such as saw palmetto or pygeum. ProstÉlan is rich in important anti-inflammatory nutrients for men and women, and I’m especially careful to take a couple capsules after a hard workout or when I’ve been riding a bicycle alot! Ladies, if you don’t want the urinary tract infection prevention properties and the benefits of the super-food pollen extract included in this supplements, just give it to your father, boyfriend, or husband. They’ll owe you for life.

If you simply want a big box with each of these super-seven supplements to arrive at your doorstep ASAP, or you want to send them out as a gift to someone on your list,just click here. You’ll instantly be brought to a page where you can get them all with an instant 25% discount and FREE shipping (to the USA only!). It’s that simple. You don't have to enter a coupon code or anything. If you were to order all of these supplements individually without the discount or free shipping, it would be over $300! Instead, by clicking here, you get it all for just under $209.99! Enjoy (and just e-mail [email protected] if you have any trouble ordering or have questions)!

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13. 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. BenGreenfieldFitness Ultimate Audio 10 CD Set

Do you want to take the top interviews from the popular BenGreenfieldFitness podcast and bring them with you everywhere you go? Good news: the first 24 interview episodes from BenGreenfieldFitness are now available in convenient Compact Disc form for you to listen in your car or home stereo, your computer, or your portable music player!

Now you or your loved one, friend or family member can have complete access to the most popular audio features from BenGreenfieldFitness, without even turning on your computer! This CD set gives you the perfect way to conveniently play the cutting-edge fitness and nutrition audio content from BenGreenfieldFitness on your home or car CD player. You’re about to vastly increase your knowledge and awareness of cutting-edge health, fitness, nutrition, and alternative medicine.

Imagine how much smarter you’ll be and how much more you’ll know about your body!

These are the highly content-rich interviews, completely commercial-free, with no special  announcements, calendar of events or additional cluttered content – for those of you who just want to cut straight to the chase and learn as much as possible about diet, exercise and health and get over 1400 minutes of cutting-edge content! The BenGreenfieldFitness Ultimate Audio 10 CD Set comes packaged in two beautiful jewel cases, complete with a booklet that gives you a synopsis of every show and direct links to the shownotes for each episode, in case you want to learn more after listening! You can learn more and order now by clicking on the BenGreenfieldFitness Ultimate Audio 10 CD Set.

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17. YouBar

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 13 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 custom design your own energy bar? I do it, and I’m going to tell you exactly how and also give you a special discount code.

I use this guy’s kitchen in Los Angeles and give him instructions over the internet. I’m not kidding. It’s called “YouBar“.

Here’s how it works:

1) I choose a simple list of ingredients on his website. Stuff like almond butter, stevia, rice protein and dried cherries.

2) The bars are custom-made and shipped directly to me 4 days later.

3) I get a free box of bars if I don’t like my recipe.

This is the coolest healthy bar alternative I’ve seen in a long time, and the only way to get a completely customized solution. To top it off, you can also custom design your own energy shakes also, which are sent to you in convenient packages for individual mixing! You can check it out at http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=464640&U=279818&M=45446&urllink=, and he’s even throwing in a 5% discount if you use discount code “BGF”.

So what about custom designing for you or your loved one their own energy bar, complete with their name on the wrapper. It's more fun to make up your own, but you can use my recipe if you want. At http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=464640&U=279818&M=45446&urllink=, my custom recipe is cashew butter + whey protein + hempseeds + organic shredded coconut + agave nectar + organic cocao nibs + no grains + spirulina. Bon appetit (and remember to use 5% discount code BGF!)

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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 the gift of health and fitness this holiday season. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail me: [email protected]. Finally, if you have items you'd like to see added, just leave a comment – and be sure to experiment with the “Bookmark & Share” button at the bottom of this post, where you can easily e-mail friends and family members with Ben Greenfield's healthy holiday list!