Happy Holidays my friends!
In case you’re still shopping for the strong & healthy people in your life, here are a few of my favorite things from 2018.
I may not be Oprah level, but I’ll create this list again next year along with some giveaways (wink, nudge- sponsors holla at me).
Not everyone on the list has given me free stuff, but if they have I will disclose it below.
AND I will be hitting them all up for donations to use in prize drawings throughout 2019.
When I’m approached about trying out an item or a brand, I’ve always stuck to one rule… if I won’t use it myself, I won’t recommend it to clients.
So check out the list below & please post a comment to tell us what’s on your wish list this year.
For the new powerlifter –
Rehband knee sleeves give good compression and are what I consider a good starter knee sleeve. New powerlifters may not be ready for super duper compressive sleeves right away.
Shoes – for a new lifter on a budget, I recommend whichever lifting shoes you can find on sale. Some of my clients have found great deals on Adidas Powerlifts for $60-70.
Chucks – Converse makes another great shoe for beginner athletes to lift in. Scour the web for a deal in your size (Journeys has them for $29.99)
Custom singlets – Elite powerlifter Becci Holcomb is strong AF and she’s also a gifted seamstress. She’ll make a singlet or shorts in the pattern of your choice, custom made for your exact measurements! I ordered this one (below) for Pull for Pride. To place an order, contact Becci for through her Instagram page.
For the experienced powerlifter –
SBD knee sleeves are widely considered to be the best knee sleeve you can buy for raw powerlifting. They are hella compressive and will give you a nice boost out of the hole when you squat. I recommend you get them from Anderson Powerlifting. They have great customer service and a flexible return policy, in case you need to exchange for a different size.
Shoes – the Nike Romaleo 2s are my favorite squat shoe. They’ve been discontinued by Nike, but you can still find some pairs floating around the interwebz. Check out Ebay or Hook Grip, and holler at me when you hit that squat PR.
For the active human –
No Bull trainers are super durable and comfortable shoes. Wear them for lifting, cross-training or coaching.
Vuori joggers* are quite possibly the most comfortable pants I’ve ever worn. They make both men’s & women’s cuts.
*YES, they give me a discount.
Evee Tiger’s t-shirts – Eric Vasquez aka EveeTiger is one of my favorite artists. He used to design stuff for Onnit but now he’s doing his own thing. The Viking ordered his two latest shirts (for both of us :)) and we love them. Super soft tees with his awesome artwork on the front. Check ’em out at eveetiger.com/store/
Side note – I don’t recommend that you order apparel from Onnit. Their customer service and return policies SUCK.
Health & Recovery –
NOW Foods* makes some of my favorite supplements. They’ve also got a whole line of specialty food products, essential oils, and my favorite new toy, their black ultrasonic oil diffuser.
*Yes, I get free stuff from NOW. Before I was an ambassador for the brand, I bought their products regularly. They are committed to quality and I am so grateful to partner with them. Also, they are very generous with donations for events and giveaways that I have hosted.
The Ōura ring is one of the best smart rings around. Mr. Viking’s brother had a Gen1 ring that he passed off to little bro when he got their new Gen2 ring. I’ve been wearing it for a few weeks and I love the sleep feedback and Readiness score it gives me each day. Their customer service is just average, but otherwise I love the product.
Yuni Beauty* makes “mindful beauty for an active life.” They make an amazing warming body oil that I use when dry brushing my skin (with the brush below). But my favorite product is their Shower Sheets, for when you have to transition quickly from gym rat to street human and don’t have time for a shower. These things saved our lives in Europe… they help remove that pesky travel or training stank.
*As a Yuni ambassador, I get a discount on my purchases with them. Before becoming an ambassador, I bought their products at full price.
Body brush – Recently I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Basically I am constantly achy and fatigued. The practice of dry brushing to stimulate my lymphatic system is helping me fight the chills this winter. I highly recommend it if you suffer from chronic pain or if winter weather has you feeling blue.
The Back Buddy is my favorite tool to work on tight muscles and do self-myofascial release.
My Inversion Table is my favorite new toy. I get intense headaches a few times a week, and laying on the table hanging upside down helps loosen up my shoulders and neck to give me pain relief. If you’ve never tried inversion therapy, I recommend it for pain relief and mental health.
Atlanta local gifts & experiences:
Native Bear is a lady-owned small business. They create beautiful paper products. My favorite is their annual planner. I got one last year for 2018, and for the first time ever I used a planner for the entire year (rather than starting off gung-ho about it and losing motivation before springtime). I purchased the 2019 planner as soon as pre-sales began. Their products are lovely and customer service is outstanding.
COFFEE. For your local coffee lover, I recommend beans from Revelator (they supported our Pull for Pride fundraiser with prizes & product. If you visit the Westside store, say hi to my friend Ky!).
A gift card to Joe’s Coffee or Hodgepodge would also be amazing for the coffee-lover in your life.
Local Experiences make cool gifts. Perhaps you’d like to help a friend get healthier in 2019?
If so, I recommend you get them a gift card for counseling, acupuncture, massage or a sensory deprivation float tank.
My go-tos for those services are Modern Tribe, Art of Healing, Future Perfect Massage and Flo2s.
And finally, Stocking Stuffers… if you need a small Secret Santa gift or wanna stuff a stocking for someone special, I recommend these small treats:
Nuun Hydration makes cool electrolyte tablets. Just drop one in your water bottle and voila, improved recovery.
Mini Bands are great to use for warm ups or travel workouts. I recommend this set to all my clients:
Tiger Balm is my favorite muscle rub ever. The Viking hates the smell of it, but he puts up with it anyway because LOVE.
And finally, the gift that keeps on giving…
why not buy a Team Lis Smash gift card to help your pals get stronger next year?!?! They come in 3 different price levels – $50, $100 or $200.
What did I miss? If you’ve got a wish list item that I left out, please add it in the comments below.
Finally, don’t forget my #holidayminimalistchallenge. For every new item you bring into your home this month, can you get rid of an older possession? Sell, trash or donate it to keep your home clutter free.
Thank you SO MUCH for visiting my site this year and for your support.
I am so grateful to all of my #smashfam.
I wish you all an amazing December and a fabulous 2019!
