6 Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is around the corner and you might find yourself panicking about the presents you haven't had time to buy. Good news, though, if you're buying presents for someone who loves fitness and gym is his or her favourite place, we have some tips for you!

I. Voucher or a gift card

If you know what his or her favourite gym is, you'll nail this one. Buy a gift card that will enable them to try new lectures or to train with a personal trainer for a few hours, or if there's a wellness and spa section there you can't go wrong with that!

II. Sports clothes

It's a lot easier than it sounds to buy sports clothes actually if you're buying it for a person you know quite well. They're stretchy so you don't have to worry about the size too much and there are quite a few options – a pair of leggings with a cool pattern, a top in a cool colour or some accessories such as a headband or run gloves for the colder weather – just make sure you're buying pieces made of top quality material.

III. Water bottle

Yes, water bottles are a thing now. You don't have to have the huge plastic one anymore, there are many with a sleek design that will make any trip to the gym even more enjoyable. Choose from collapsible ones, golden ones, colourful ones or ones that filter the water, the possibilities are truly endless.

IV. Wireless headphones

Everyone who likes to work out and listen to the music at the same time needs these. They are not cheap but they are worth every penny! I can promise you this gift will be greatly appreciated since there's nothing more motivating than a good song during a winter workout without having to deal with tangled cords.

V. A healthy cookbook

There are so many new cookbooks out right now, it's very easy to find something that suits different eating habits. So whether your fitness friend is vegan, vegetarian, paleo, sugar free, loves juices or doesn't, there's a cookbook that will make him or her happy. Go to your local bookshop, they will help you choose the right one.

VI. Subscription to a fitness magazine

If reading about the latest trends is their hobby, a subscription to a magazine you know they might like is a great choice. The biggest plus is that they'll receive it throughout the year so your gift will keep on giving long after Christmas :).

Social Listening: Tools, Tips & Tricks to Try Now

  Social Media is here to stay – we use it to share our life happenings, talk about the latest episode of “This is Us,” and to praise or bash brands and companies. The latter is the reason why small businesses should listen carefully by trying Social Listening. Are you aware of what your clients... Read more »

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Health and Fitness for Busy People

We want to be healthy and fit but when life gets busy we just can't find the time to work out, to shop properly or to cook. So we're hoping we'll get back to it when we don't have to stay at work until late or when we finish this project etc. And it's getting harder and harder to actually start again. Which is why I have a few tips for on how to find the time to  do something great for yourself.

Downsize to smaller plates

This might sound quite random but there's a study to support it. Researchers from Cambridge University have found out that people who have eaten from smaller plates have consumed fewer calories per day. Although we might want to believe that how much we eat is a conscious choice, it's really not so this is quite an easy way to affect the amount of food you eat – just buy smaller plates.

Walk when you talk

Use headphones (or a loudspeaker) when you're on your phone and go out of the office for a walk or pace around the office even. It's a great way to be active whilst on the phone.

Learn quick recipes and prepare your food

It's easy to just grab something to eat in the supermarket after lunch or on your way to work when you're feeling hungry but hunger is the enemy of discipline and you're more likely to buy something unhealthy. It might not seem like it at first but if you learn some super quick recipes and prepare your food at home, you'll actually save time, money and eat healthier compared to a quick run to a shop for a snack.

Drink more water

By simply drinking water when you wake up, at work and 30 minutes before a meal you're already making great progress towards a healthier life. It literally takes no time to drink a glass of water so it's the perfect way to integrate it into our busy lives. It's the same if you're used to buying bottled drinks, just leave the fizzy drinks in the shop, buy a bottle of water instead.

Choose a great workout outfit

It depends on whether you prefer a sports bra and hot pants or if you feel more comfortable in leggings and a t-shirt, but the result is the same for everyone. If you have a nice outfit to work out in, you're much more likely to actually do it. So treat yourself to nice shorts, leggings, tops, bras and shoes (Christmas is the perfect opportunity to do so!) and get excited about wearing it!

Plan short workouts, take advantage of commercial breaks

If you can't imagine fitting in a whole workout session or a class twice a week, start small. It's a lot easier to convince yourself to do a 20-minute workout at home compared to an hour or two a trip to the gym would take. So create a short playlist (e.g. on Spotify) of your favourite happy songs, think of five moves you'll do, do each for 30 seconds and after four rounds you're done. 20 minutes is not that long and you can fit it in in the morning, after work or even during your lunch break if you wish to. If 20 minutes is too much, turn on your TV and work out in the commercial breaks. This way working out will become a part of your routine after some time. Trust me, you'll feel much better!

Prepare your outfit

Well, you have a nice outfit, a workout plan and still not feeling like working out? The trick is to avoid all chances for excuses – prepare your outfit the day before so that you don't have to waste time by looking for it once you've actually started thinking about working out.

Relax

This might look unrelated to health and fitness but it's equally important to relax as it is to work out. And by relax I don't mean eating a chocolate bar and drink a milkshake before bed while watching Netflix. I mean taking a bath (and watching Netflix), doing a few yoga moves or meditating, going to the cinema or away for the weekend even. Especially now, before Christmas, it really is important to slow down, switch off and enjoy the atmosphere.

Social Listening: Tools, Tips & Tricks

  We all know by now that Social Media is here to stay – we use it to share our life happenings, talk about the latest episode of “This is Us” and praise or bash brands and companies. The latter is the reason why small businesses should listen carefully. Are you aware of what your... Read more »

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Kirstie Tancock [27] dies weeks after failed lung transplant

[Jane Howdle | Yahoo! News]

“I always wanted to make a difference with my life, leave a positive impact on the earth. I like to think I've done that.”

A young woman has died of cystic fibrosis two days after writing her bucket list.

Kirstie Tancock, 27, became the face of organ donation when she appeared in moving BBC documentary Love on the Transplant List in 2011.

She married partner James on the show, at a time when she was considered to be hours from death.

Kirstie had a lung transplant operation three weeks after her wedding, but her body sadly rejected the organs after two years.

A second transplant was also unsuccessful, and Kirstie – who had suffered from cystic fibrosis from birth – was told at the start of November that doctors couldn't do any more.

She died this morning (Thursday) just two days after writing her bucket list, which described a Christmas break with her family as one of her greatest wishes.

Stuart, her husband, said: “I am sorry too say that this morning my beautiful wife and Lyn's beautiful daughter passed onto a place where she can dance, sing, party and pole as much as she wants. There is also no pain and suffering now.

“Kirstie was one in a million and meant the world and more to so many people. As you know Kirstie is a fighter and fought to the very end. She went peaceful and pain free.

“I can't express what we and the family are going through currently and hope you understand if we've not called you personally.”

He ended by thanking Royal Devon and Exeter and Harefield hospitals, adding “what they have done over the years has been above and beyond and also her two donors who gave her the extra five amazing years with us”.

[READ MORE]

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