Month: December 2023

1 Year Sports Recovery Sunday: 2023’s Top Clicked Tools

 

Here at FITAID, we feel strongly about a few things: No artificial sweeteners, clean caffeine, quality ingredients and Sports Recovery. You spend so much time in the gym, at work, and showing up for the people around you, that you have to spend the time to recharge and recover.

As the sun sets on another transformative year, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve embarked on together. In 2023, we began the Sports Recovery Sunday newsletter to provide weekly tips, tricks and more to help you maximize your recovery and show up as your best, everyday. We believe that the definitive way to boost your performance is to focus on your recovery: physically, mentally and emotionally. How you show up for yourself is how you show up for the rest of the world, and we’re honored to be a small part of it. In this dynamic era of ever-evolving knowledge, we invite you to join us in a retrospective journey through the year’s top-clicked resources.

As we unravel what caught your eye on a scroll through your inbox, we’re excited to continue to grow together in 2024.  The data trails left by your clicks serve as breadcrumbs, guiding us and shaping our understanding of how we can best provide you with the resources you need to succeed.

  • TOP 5 RECIPES
  • TOP 5 SONGS
  • TOP 5 TOOLS

 

RAVE-WORTHY RECIPES

Protein Pancakes

Featured in SRS # 14

There’s nothing quite like waking up on a Sunday morning to the smell of pancakes (even if you have to make them yourself). This recipe is loaded with protein to keep you full and maintain the gainz.

Get the recipe

Chicken StirFry

Featured in SRS #15

Throw in veggies, your choice of protein and toss in some sauce for a delicious dinner recipe. It also serves as a great leftover lunch option!

Get the recipe

Honey Chipotle Salmon Bowls

Featured in SRS #6

A little sweet, a little spice, and a whole lot of yummy. Level up your cooking skills with this delcious honey chipotle salmon recipe. Served with rice and a cucumber, avocado mixture. Delish!

Get the recipe

DIY Protein Cider Doughnuts

Featured in SRS #41

A Fall time favorite: apple cider doughnuts! These homemade treats are a healthier alternative to the sugary doughnut you’d grab at the cider mill, or apple orchard. Packing double the protein and half the calories this recipe is a must try!

Get the recipe

Breakfast Egg Muffins

Featured in SRS #33

Perfect for the school year, or commuters, these on-the-go egg muffins are the perfect mix of convenience and nutrition. Say goodbye to morning chaos and hello to hassle-free mornings.

Get the recipe

 

MOST VIEWED SONGS

“Honey” by Kehlani

Featured in SRS #14

“Reasons” – Khalid

Featured in SRS #15

“Springsteen” – Eric Church

Featured in SRS #33

“Saturday Sun” – Vance Joy

Featured in SRS #13

“Sunset Lover” – Petit Biscuit

Featured in SRS #6

 

TOP CLICKED TOOLS

Recovery Shoes

Featured in SRS #15

Do you know the full impact your shoes have on how the rest of how your body feels? You might be surprised… Check out some of the below recovery footwear to give your feet some love. Have another favorite? Let us know!

Beslip Orthotics

HOKA

Oofos

Books about Habits

Featured in SRS #41

Habits are the small steps that lead to big transformations. Good habits are crucial to leading a healthy lifestyle. If you’re having trouble forming healthy habits, these books are a great place to start! They breakdown building routines and behaviors AND most importantly, staying consistent.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey & Sean Covey

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Magnesium Lotions

Featured in SRS #33

Lather up! Magnesium lotions aide in relaxation, muscle recovery, and promote overall well-being. The quick absorption helps replenish your body’s magnesium levels while nourishing your skin.

Life Flo

Magnum Solace

Sweet Bee

Gua Sha

Featured in SRS #39

Face Gua Sha blew up on Tik Tok as a way to chisel chins, but did you know it actually has health benefits? A tool for lymphatic drainage, gua sha works similarly to muscle scraping to promote circulation, reduce inflammation, and relieve muscle tension.

Rosenice

Zoe Ayla

Anthropologie

Blue Light Glasses

Featured in SRS #2

Prospek

Warby Parker

Whoop

 

What are you go-to recipes? What songs do you chill out to? What is your favorite music genre for productivity? Do you have a recovery tool you swear by? Let us know over on Instagram!

2023 FITMAS FIT GIFT GUIDE

The holiday season is upon us! We’re eagerly anticipating the joy of giving and receiving thoughtful gifts that align with our wellness goals. If you’re part of a fitness-focused community, or have friends and family who prioritize clean living, we’ve got something special in store for you: FITAID’s favorites of the season!

This year, we’ve curated a selection of gifts ideas to prompt the perfect present. Whether you’re shopping for the avid fitness enthusiast, the wellness warrior, or anyone looking to embrace a healthier lifestyle, our gift guide is designed to inspire, delight, and contribute to a season of well-being.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Gifts for the Fit Friend
  • Gifts for the Friend that is “Always Sore”
  • Gifts for the Foodie Friend
  • Gifts for the Friend that’s “Always Tired”
  • Gifts for the Fitness Fashion Friend

 

Gifts for the Fit Friend

Garmin Venu

Garmin’s smart watches are a great gift for someone invested in tracking their holistic health. Featuring a sleek display, it allows you to monitor sleep, workouts, recovery, and more all in one convenient place. Check it out – the Venu is on sale now!

Reebok Nanos

Every fitness-lover could use another pair of sneakers. Reebok’s Nano’s are currently marked down and offer versatility, durability, and comfort like no other.

Ascent Protein Powder

Snag Ascent’s limited edition holiday flavor Peppermint Mocha to spice up your bestie’s post-workout treat! Protein powder is a great gift for anyone with fitness goals.

Gainz Box Subscription

This is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Gainz Box delivers a variety of accessories, on-the-go workout equipment, supplements, healthy snacks, & wellness products. Each box is made to deliver a surprise & delight each month when it arrives on your doorstep.

Ice Shaker Bottle

Do you know someone whose gnarly shaker bottle needs an upgrade? We’ve got you covered. Ice Shaker’s signature shaker bottle is insulated and comes in tons of fun colors and patterns to pick from!

Rogue Giftcard

We can’t knock a gift card. Rogue is a one-stop shop for ALL things fitness. Let your friend shop for their favorite equipment, apparel, or accessories.

 

Gifts for the Friend that is “Always Sore”

Hypervolt Go 2

Portable and practical, the Hypervolt Go 2 makes your body feel like new. It can help you warm up fast, release stress and tension, and unlock tight muscles, wherever your life takes you. PS. it’s also on SALE.

Pso-Rite

The psoas complex (hip flexors) are considered to be the soul of our body. The Pso-Rite® was designed to provide relief on the deepest level for any age, size, and shaped individual out there.

3 month sub to Pliability

So your friend is complaining about how sore they are again… did they do their mobility? Make it simple for them: gift them a subscription to Pliability! Pliability fuses mobility, yoga, prehab, rehab, recovery, mindfulness, and strength into short, guided videos.

TheraBody Wave Roller

This is a 2 in 1 gift, and a level up from a traditional foam roller. The Wave Roller combines powerful vibration therapy and an innovative wave texture to deliver the most powerful, efficient full-body foam rolling experience. Did we mention it’s on sale?!

Pure Spectrum CBD Salve

Massage away your aches and pains, and manage inflammation with Pure Spectrum’s 500mg CBD-infused lavender salve. Formulated with carefully selected essential oils and a harmonious fusion of all-natural ingredients, Relax is the perfect way to enhance a massage or aid in recovery from your active lifestyle.

Ice Barrel Eucalyptus Epsom Salt

If your comrade is into cold therapy, this epsom salt soak is a winner. Ice Barrel developed this product to help relieve muscle soreness while opening your mind to ultimate relaxation thanks to the aromatherapy of eucalyptus.

 

Gifts for the Foodie Friend

HIPPEAS

These chickpea chips and puffs are a spectacular treat for your snack-loving sister, mister, or sister from another mister. Offered in a variety of flavors these are a great choice!

CHOMPS

Stick to the basics: zero sugar and plenty of protein, in a range of Chompable flavors. These meat sticks make a superb stocking stuffer for a fitness foodie.

nocow protein bars

nocow offers high protein, plant-based bars that leave the loads of sugar behind. These are another great stocking stuffer for your plant-powered peer.

Wilde Chips

Wilde chips redefine snacking. In 6 unique flavors, these are a great alternative for your potato-chip-lovin’ friend. Featuring 10g of protein from chicken and egg whites they are a terrific, tasty gift.

FITAID

Every fitness-y person in your life needs to feel the FITAID love this holiday season. A 12-pack of their favorite blend looks great under the Chritsmas tree. Complete with BCAAs, Turmeric, Electrolytes, Vitamins B, C, D3, E, and more, don’t forget to add a bow on top!

 

Gifts for the Friend that’s “Always Tired”

Manta Sleep Mask

The Manta COOL Mask is designed to soothe puffiness and completely block out all light. The calming compression may help your friend feel more well-rested in a matter of nights.

Hatch Restore

From sunset to sunrise, this gentle and soothing alarm offers sounds to doze of to and an automatic wake up light. This all in one dream machine is a top-notch gift.

Brooklinen Weighted Blanket

This cozy blanket will have your sleepy friend cocooning and snoozing in no time. The added weight may help ease anxiety and aide in decompression and relaxation.

Stance Cozy Crew House Slipper Socks

Happy feet, happy life, right?! Help your bestie unwind with Stance’s comfy, cozy crew slipper socks. We’re often about knees over toes, but today we’re about keeping the toesies warm.

Ergonomic Pillow

Maybe your friend is always tired because they need better sleep. What’s the first step to better sleep? A pillow upgrade. This ergonomic pillow is suitable for back, side, and stomach sleepers alike. Designed to support your body and aide more optimal sleeping positions, this plush pillow is a perfect present.

DreamAid

Each delicious pack of DREAMAID GO will help get you to a place of cozy and restorative slumber. Fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling brand new.

 

Gifts for the Fitness Fashion Friend

Born Primitive

Shop our favorite joggers, or explore their collections of sports bras, leggings, shorts, hoodies, and more! They even sell jeans for your quadzilla friends that can never seem to find pants that fit!

Goodr Sunglasses

Affordable, stylish, and fit for performance, a pair of Goodr sunglasses are a great option for your friend that values fitness fashion. Nothing shady about a good pair of sunnies!

Caffeine & Kilos Apparel

For your coffee-loving friend, we present to you: Caffeine & Kilos. They’ve got tons of fun designs for your friend to rock on the daily.

Junk Headbands

We all know at least one person that can’t do a workout without their trusty headband secured in place. Junk Headbands has hundreds of designs to pick from. Personalized, thoughtful, and useful, we can’t think of a better gift.

Bear Komplex grips or knee sleeves

Fitness style does not stop at apparel… gear counts too! Bear Komplex makes an array of gymnastics grips and vibrant knee sleeves to support your friend as they *try* to beat you in the WOD.

Salty Britches Trucker Hat

Do you know a trucker hat stan? Look no further than Salty Britches. Offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns, these hats a cute, stylish, and a winning wishlist item.

MERRY FITMAS: Celebrating the Season with Top Gyms

 

Deck the halls with boughs of FITAID! The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and we’re turning up the holiday cheer for our 3rd Annual FITMAS Campaign. This December, we’re not elfin’ around. We’ll be celebrating our FITAID Family by featuring some of the top gyms across the country and running lots of giveaways over on Instagram! If you drank a FITAID in 2023, you’re on the nice list, so grab your jingle bells and let’s dive into the festive fitness spirit!

 

Flawless Fitness

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Instagram: @BeFitBeFlawless
Website: BeFitBeFlawless.com

We got the chance to speak with Coach Carly to get an inside peek on how Flawless Fitness gets in the spirit. One of their seasonal staples is “WTF Week”, a full week of grueling, challenging workouts to kickoff the holidays. Proceeds from “WTF Week” are donated to charity, and Carly’s favorite part about this time of year is seeing all of the women come together for community service. It’s a special spectacle to see members band together to give back for the greater good.

Fitness and Christmas mean you’re bound to run into a classic ’12 days of Christmas’ workout. If you’re not familiar, the reps are performed according to the song (1; 2, 1; 3, 2, 1; … 12-1). At Flawless, you’ll be getting down and dirty with this annual themed workout Christmas Eve! Carly believes: “it’s not the holidays without a soul-crushing workout with your friends before you feast!”

The Pit Fitness Ranch

Location: Three Rivers, Michigan
Instagram: @ThePitFitnessRanch
Website: PitFitnessRanch.com

Autumn Yost, owner of The Pit Fitness Ranch loves how excited every body gets about the holiday season, especially in dreary Michigan… it’s something to look forward to. On Thanksgiving, they do a hallmark workout dubbed “The Dessert Table” and host a large, community workout on Christmas Eve. Members love to partner up with people they don’t usually get to workout with on special occasions. Likewise, Autumn loves the challenge of programming for classes when it’s a packed Pit – she has to get creative with bodyweight movements (for equipment and safety purposes, duh!). This has backfired in a 12 days of Christmas workout though… have you ever thought of throwing REVERSE burpees, or candlestick rolls into the mix? Regardless, Autumn feels it’s not the holiday’s without family.

She also had some words of wisdom for everyone during the busiest time of the year. Autumn’s best tip is to simply “enjoy the holidays with your family. Eat the food. Have a good time. Don’t beat yourself up. Definitely just relax and indulge. Don’t make a big deal about macros and protein – you’ll get back to your fitness and your normal nutrition as soon as possible.”

 

 

Natural Selection CrossFit

Location: Kennewick, WA
Instagram: @NSXFit
Website: NSXFit.com

Natural Selection CrossFit sets out to be Santa’s biggest helpers each lap around the calendar. Owner and head coach, Leo Barillas, took the time to share the gym’s charitable efforts. Each year, they help out Habitat for Humanity to sponsor families and deliver Christmas gifts. In past years, they have helped build homes for those in need as well.

Leo feels Christmas is the most fun part of the year and takes pride in designing unique 12 Day’s of Christmas workouts for his members. One year, they completed a rendition in which EVERY movement required a barbell. He might be the grinch that stole your grip, but here’s his best holiday tip: “just spend time with family and relax… it’s not the holidays without family and friends.”

 

 

 

Halo Fitness Inc.

Location: Burke, Virginia
Instagram: @HaloFitnessExperience
Website: HaloFitnessExperience.com

Every year, Coach Dan looks forward to how the gym rallies together. They host a big Friendsgiving dinner party to raise awareness for a select charity like clockwork. The tradition of giving back to an organization each year has become a core value of Halo’s. Dan likes to find special and unique ways to ring in the holidays. One December, they programmed a ’21 days of Christmas’ workout regimen leading up to the 25th (each workout was based off the day in the countdown).

Dan preaches the 3 R’s during the holiday season: relax, rest, recover. People get so caught up in the idea that they are going to ruin all of their progress. His wish upon a star is that people are able to truly enjoy themselves and not look back and think, “why was I so caught up in trying to eat straight…”

 

 

CrossFit Bison

Location: Midland Park, NJ
Instagram: @CrossFitBison
Website: CrossFitBison.com

Leader of the Bison Beasts, David, hopped on the line to tell us about CrossFit Bison’s holiday traditions. The week before Thanksgiving, they host The Bison Holiday Party, a massive backyard bash to kick off the season. The happiest time of year tends to also be the busiest time of the year. Due to the chaos, Bison uses the month of December to repeat crowd-favorites where the gym runs 3-weeks of fun WODs (yes, we said fun… ask Dave, he keeps a running log) to boost morale throughout what can be a stressful time.

David’s best recovery tip for the holidays is to value sleep more than you think and to stay hydrated. You’re up early to squeeze in a workout and you’re out late running errands, playing magical elf, or Santa Claus himself. To avoid getting sick, sleep and hydration are key. Last but not least, he feels “it’s not the holidays without giving more than you receive.” Need some gift inspiration? Check below!

Stocking Stuffer Speed Round

We asked these gym owners and coaches what they thought would make a superb stocking stuffer for your CrossFit-doing, gym-loving, fitness-y friend and they did NOT miss. Here are their answers:

Carly: FITAID Go! Sticks!

Autumn: Thumb tape… AND FITAID (of course.)

Leo: Definitely FITAID.

Dan: Hand wraps or gymnastics grips!

Dave: Thumb tape – not too expensive, and small enough to fit!

 

As FITAID’s FITMAS Campaign unfolds, these gyms prove that the holiday season is not just about indulging in festive treats, but also sweating it out with friends and family.