fitnessprincess’s BodyBlog

A couple years ago I penned a December blog entitled “Want to know what to get your girl friend who’s into fitness for Xmas?”  I got a lot of positive feedback from it and really enjoyed writing it so I thought I would revisit that topic today.  Here are a few of my favorite things that I am sure your fitness friend would love, too:
One of the best gifts I ever got was a Dakine Campus backpack (http://www.dakine.com/sport-packs/girls/channel/).  I have had mine over two years now and it remains one of my absolute favorite gifts.  Very sporty and practical.  Best part: guys it’ll only set you back at most $60 (less if you look around a bit).  This 1400 cu in. backpack rocks!  It has a special insulated front compartment where your girl friend can store her food for the day - the section is surprisingly deep and I have stuffed an 8-oz container of cottage cheese, a salad, apple, salmon, fresh veggies all inside and had them stay cold all day.  Not bad.  The backpack also has a nice large padded laptop compartment inside the very large main compartment.  The laptop compartment is elevated so when you insert your laptop into the backpack, it won’t strike the floor and get damaged.  The backpack also has a nice lined compartment  intended for your sunglasses but I use it to store my charger and assorted computer supplies and cables.  The bag also has a small organizer section that includes a place for your cell phone, iPOD nano, 3 pens, and keychain.  Of course there’s a cord port for easy listening.  There are also two deep mesh side pockets for her coffee/water bottle.  The back is very well padded, rests eronomically at the hip, and the thick shoulder straps cinch together with a safety strap in the front.   It comes in several cool colors and patterns.  Amazon and Swell are among the websites where you can purchase it (and get it shipped overnight just in time for the holidays!)
If your girlfriend is a foodie, check out Chatila’s Bakery (http://www.chatilasbakery.com/).  They have simply marvelous fat-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, and low fat bakery products  (Kosher by the way!!!) that are actually relatively high in protein (they have two different muffin lines and one contains soy flour).  They sell the most remarkable mountain bread, bagels, muffins (to die for), english muffins, pies, cheesecakes, and cookies.  Nutritional information is available for most of their items on the website.  They ship overnight!
If your girlfriend is like me she probably wants to look like a real fitness princess when she works out in the gym. So, why not get her a giftcard so she shop on-line for some attractive new workout clothing.  Hey! You’ll benefit too!  After all we both know you will be looking, right?  LOL!  Here are a couple of my favorite choices.
Title Nine Sports. http://www.titlenine.com/   Mmmm…where do I start?  LOL!   This is a company run by women for women that really know/understands what women want and need in terms of clothing.  The style of all their clothing is simple, attractive, clean cut, well fitting and designed for real life. This is exemplified in their mailing flyers as the models for their clothing are real women who are fit and have full, active lives.  They sell an amazing selection of bras that any woman will appreciate – whether you are big or small.  Whether your girl friend is into rock climbing, yoga, bodybuilding, or pilates, she will go crazy when she sees what Title Nine has to offer. 
San Diego Fit.  http://www.sandiegofit.com/ There’s something really special about Brazilian fitness wear.  These guys just really get it.  Clothing that is sexy, well-fitting. Clothing that moves with you. Clothing that makes you feel good about your body.  San Diego Fit sells all the top Brazilian brands.  They ship free if your purchase is over $99 (which is easy to do these days!). 
Crazee-wear.  http://www.crazeewear.com/  As the website says:  “Crazee wear is designed for comfort, with room for muscle movement.  I am crazy for crazee wear classic baggy pants ($40).  Terrific for weight training – wear well both in and out of the gym and look great!   
Lastly, if your girl is into fitness, you might get her some workout gear!  Guaranteed that you can’t go wrong here either.   A couple of my favs include my versa gripps (http://www.versagripps.com/ ) Mine have a Jenny Lynn (I love Jenny Lynn!!!) logo on them.  Versa gripps cost $50 and are well worth the price.  LOL!  Ever since I discovered these I can’t live without my versa gripps  They are terrific for both pushing and pulling lifting more than your natural hand grip may allow.  The FIT line was created for smaller wrists like women’s.  If you haven’t tried versa gripps yourself, you may want to get yourself a pair for the holiday!   Another gadget I can’t live without are my Harbinger Pro women’s weight training gloves (http://www.ladiesonlysports.com/woprowadryby.html).  The knurls on the dumbbells and barbells in my gym used to cut my hands all the time.  The gloves have solved that problem and now I have softer smoother hands.  I have tried a number of brands and I have found that Harbinger wears well – you can wash them and they don’t shrink.  I own two pairs – at $10 they really are a steal! - and I alternate between them.
Last comment guys:  Whatever you get, let me assure you, you can’t go wrong.  It really is more about the fact that you got her something more than anything that matters most.  I know that’s true for me.
Have a great holiday!
 

I am in love!  LOL!  Not with a person but a new tool:  my versa grips!  Awesome!  If you aren’t familiar with them they are aids you can use in pushing and pulling exercises to get the most bang for your buck.  Basically they take your grip strength out of the equation so the limiting factor when performing an exercise is the strength of the muscle you are working and not your grip strength.  When you put them on (vide infra), the versa grips protect your hands and “grip” the Db or Bb.

Above you will see a photo of the ones I bought.  Mine are Jenny Lynn versa grips!  I bought them from Jenny Lynn Fitness (URL: http://www.jennylynnfitness.com/index2.html)  Mine have Jenny Lynn Fitness and her logo on them – feminizes them and it inspires me!  Jenny rocks in my book!! LOL! If you don’t know who she is, Jenny is a two time Figure Olympia champ.  Jenny’s versa grips are the classic versa grips and cost no more than if you bought them directly from the Versa Grips website (URL:  http://www.versagripps.com/ ).

I bought a pair of xs versa grips as my wrist is 5.75” in circumference.  The xs fits me just right!

Versa grips are very easy to put on and use.  They secure around your wrist with Velcro.  The tongue of the versa grip is what you use to grip the Db or Bb.  Versa grips do have a “handed-ness.”  Laying the odd shaped pad down, match the cut in the odd shaped pad of the versa grip with your thumb and that determines which versa grip you will use for your left or right hand.  Once you have done that pull open the Velcro strap – note that you do not need to completely remove the Velcro strap from the stainless steel ring just make the loop large enough that you can slip your hand inside and then secure the Velcro around your wrist.  Secure it tightly but not too tightly – you don’t want to cut off the blood supply to your hands.  Now you are all set to go!  To use them in pulling use your hand to bend the tongue around the bar of the Db or Bb and then close your hand around the tongue.   The versa grips website (URL:  http://www.versagripps.com/?area=video)  has links to several very good YouTube videos showing Jenny Lynn and Monica Brant using them.   Jenny uses the versa grips on lat pulldowns, Db rows, close grip seated rows, etc.

Yesterday was the first day I used them in my workouts.  I used them on a Back & traps workout and found that they really improved the quality of my workout.  I have been struggling to hang onto the bar and this has taken the focus for me off of the muscle which is where my mind should be during the exercise.  I had no problem keeping hold of the bar and never lost my grip yesterday.  It was great because I was able to use a heavier weight than in the past and really focus on my back.  Needless to say I was successfully able to use a heavier weight and in fact had a personal record doing sumo deadlifts – I did a whole set wielding 135 lb which is just a bit more than my bodyweight – pretty sweet!  If you feel that your grip is compromising your workouts, I suggest looking into versa grips.  Best purchase I have made recently!