The “wellness” industry will tell you that you need allllllll of the things, with honestly 60% of it being fake news (I should know, I’m a professional sucker). But there are some fitness and health apps/products that I love that do really work for me that could make good gifts for someone in your life, or you, looking to gather together the tools for 2026. None of this is sponsored, and very few affiliate links in this post, just good old-fashioned recommendations.

The Workouts That Work For Us

Brian and I both love Peloton, which at this point, you either have one or don’t want one, so no real selling there. But if you need extra motivation, might I suggest doing Sam Wu’s “Wicked” ride (so fun, I scream-sing the whole 1/2 hour and time fliiiiiieees by). Brian wants me to suggest the K-pop demon hunter ride (he loves it), and I do Cody’s rides. I also do Emma’s Hamilton rides every often (I know every lyric). The point is Cody and Sam are our favorites, and leaning into musicals makes the time fly so fast (would love to hear any of your favorite Peloton trainers or ride suggestions).

Brian – Fight Camp Boxing Bag And App

This is year 7 of Brian boxing with Fight Camp – a floor-mounted boxing bag that comes with a training app that kicks his ass. Don’t get this as a surprise for someone – it’s a big enough purchase (both physically and financially), but boy does he swear by it. Sometimes he just does 15 minutes and comes out drenched in sweat. Also great for getting out stress, obviously (Charlie does it now, too).

My Favorite Workout Apps

When I want to do a HITT workout or strength training, I have two apps I go between that I think would make great subscriptions (they are cheap, like 7-10$ a month, but like everything can add up).

1. Playbook – this has a ton of trainers to choose from, but I love Hannah Pointer. It’s 30-45 minutes a day, and since it’s not an audio app, I can listen to my favorite podcasts (Pivot and Armchair), and the time flies. I learn and sweat at the same time.
2. Aaptiv – I’m on year 8 with this app, my favorite trainer being Akeem. This is an audio training app, with music included (or you use your own), they pump you up and guide you through it, and you choose from thousands of workouts based on time, trainer, body part, body weight versus dumbbells, yoga, etc. Many are also videos, but I prefer just audio. Honestly, a 20-minute Akeem workout does the job so fast. I like their pilates, but don’t love their yoga (but I haven’t tried any in a couple of years, so if you know of a great Aaptiv yoga instructor, let me know – I want it to be really challenging).

The Now Famous Weighted Vest Walks

Y’all, not to brag, but I’ve been rucking for a few years now (remember that I was a dog walker in my 20s in New York, so walking is one of my best hobbies… ). With my bragging behind us, I have a lot of thoughts/feelings about weighted vests based on my vast vest experience.

1. If you are a first timer, just get a 15 OR 20 lb weighted vest. I started with a 12lb, but quickly it felt like nothing (I use it for chores now). I upgraded to 25lbs, which is aggressively heavy, and I do it, but at times it’s just too much. I wish I had a 20lb (but I’m not getting three). There are some that are adjustable, but I don’t love parts that I would lose. I like how simple mine are. But get 15, 18, or 20. No less or more.
2. Go for the hills – flat walking with a weighted vest might not be as good for us as we think (possibly just wear and tear on joints, research is inconclusive). But up hills or stairs, it’s incredible for your leg muscles and bone density. My legs will get so tired and feel toned. My muscles feel it, especially when I push myself (I feel it that night for sure). And your heart rate won’t rise unless you do hills, so for the cardiovascular/heart workout, you’ll need to step it up, literally.
3. It’s enjoyable!! Weighted walks with a podcast and a coffee (or a friend to dinner and back) is my favorite form of moving my body. I listen to Armchair Expert, anything Brenne Brown or Adam Grant, so much true crime (not the creepy, more the journalistic uncovering), and I literally look forward to it daily. Dogs certainly help with the motivation because it’s a win/win for the whole family when they get exercise.
4. It’s the key to a long life. Sanjay Gupta carved into my brain the key to a long, healthy life: It’s simple – “Walk with a friend and talk about your feelings”. Essentially, moving your body (exercise), with someone you feel connected to (deep family-level-friendship) while processing your inner world (intimacy and emotional release/therapy) are the three main elements that will keep us healthy, holistically. Do it at the same time and add in nature (amongst trees!) and BOOM – the health SUPERFECTA!!!!

My Daily Supplements

Ugh. This is where I’m a genuine sucker, so I won’t show you my supplement drawer. But there are a few things that I can say have been effective (because they are targeted).

1. Nutrafol – Like every person on the internet, I started Nutrafol after my hair started thinning and I was panicking. I started last May, and five months later, my new growth is incredible, and even my hairstylist is shocked. Running my fingers through my hair at my scalp feels so much thicker than it did months ago. It’s expensive ($80/month), which is why an annual membership would be a killer gift. Don’t wait til your hair is thinning (I wish I hadn’t). I used to have a sponsorship with them like 6 years ago, when my hair wasn’t in bad shape, and I liked it, but since it wasn’t a dire situation, the results were harder to physically see (and I think I was only on it for three months before COVID hit). This time around, I started out of dire need, and it’s clear that this stuff really works. To be transparent, right now I have some extensions that I clip in until the hair grows long again, btw. Hoping to be done with them and be back to long, healthy, thick hair in a year. But I’d vote Nutrafol for president.
2. Vitamins, protein, creatine, and fiber. I definitely just try to eat whole foods to get all the good stuff, but of course, I have a dumb library of help. The options are endless, but I love the Grüns gummy vitamins (Athletic Greens hurt my stomach), and I’ve been buying Barebells and David for protein bars and Floura for fiber bars. Zero spons – just stuff I love that is kinda expensive, therefore good presents (I would love them, BTH). I also just started taking hydrogen pills, which medical researchers swear by, but you can’t really feel anything different. More to come as I just started testing a lot more…

The “Function Health” Test

The algorithm gods finally broke me down, and I bought the Function Health full blood tests for me and Brian – and I’m so happy that I did. It’s expensive (starts at $500) with a lot of add-ons (like early cancer detection). You get your blood drawn three times over a few weeks, once during your period, to ensure that alllllll the tests are accurate. Then you get your results through a portal, which is extremely user-friendly and intuitive. These are tests that no GP or insurance will do unless you are sick, which I’m not.

What Does Function Health Test For?

I tested literally all the organs, proteins, cells, hormone health, thyroid, vitamin levels, immune health, cancer detection, gut, heart, liver, kidney, sensitivities, and allergies. All the things. Many are part of the $500 package, but many are “add-ons” that, of course, add up to way more (I spent $1,000).

What Were My Results?

My results were generally less awesome than I would have predicted, even though I have zero symptoms and a lot of energy. Turns out I have a lot of heart inflammation (specific proteins detected) and very high cholesterol (which I knew, but I didn’t know about the heart inflammation, and combined was terrifying). Did it give me anxiety? Yes. For a bit. But then I felt empowered. Since it’s not dire, everything is reversible, and I’m now seeing a functional medicine doctor who I never would have booked before, who has me on a lot of supplements to lower the inflammation without hardcore medicine (my lifestyle is healthy, but now even healthier). I love that it’s an online portal and I can retest at any time (I’m testing now for food allergies, which I didn’t do the first time around). You can 100% get obsessed with it in a bad way, and people with health anxiety might not love it. But I am finding it really empowering and finally taking charge of prevention.

I haven’t had a GP since we moved here (which is so dumb), so I was overwhelmed with health-guilt/anxiety that I wasn’t doing any preventative work (kids will do that to you – I want to be alive for grandkids!). I couldn’t get in to any good doctor for MONTHS, so I always gave up. This was a great way to check a box on my own terms. I also want to recognize that I know this is for privileged people due to the cost (insurance doesn’t cover it), and I wish it were available for everyone. The guy at Quest Diagnostic Lab mentioned that it’s like $15k worth of lab tests for $500, so they are definitely losing money on just the OG program, meaning that there is likely an alternative business model – either developing future supplements or selling our information for research. I guess I just don’t really care because I like the platform so much and appreciate knowing the results that I wouldn’t have gotten through mainstream healthcare with no symptoms. I’m very excited to re-test in March and see how all these holistic supplements have changed the heart inflammation (before I go on a statin and get even more hardcore about diet and exercise).

Saunas, Redlight Therapy, And Cold Plunges…

Now to the stuff that is definitely specific and luxurious – i.e., not gifts for anyone. But here’s my experience:

Cold Plunge – I’ve always been a polar plunger in lakes, and I’m still a cold plunger, mostly for mood boosting and stress relief. I actually do it way more in the winter to get the dopamine hit during the more depressing times of year. I have a Plunge, which has worked great. Listen, you have to do it frequently, or it’s 100% not worth the expense of the product and the energy. If you don’t like jumping in cold lakes, you will not all of a sudden like cold plunging. Be real with yourself (for a lot of people, it’s torture, but Brian, I, and Elliot love it).

Sauna Blanket – I laid in this 3-4 nights a week during lockdown – I love it. You can lie in it while watching TV, you sweat a ton, burn calories, and of course, boost your mood. The only drawback is that you sweat so much that you have to shower, and since I have curly hair, I can’t go to bed with wet hair, so I then have to dry my hair. That was fine when the kids went to bed at 8, but now that they go to bed at 9:30, I find that I don’t have the time to shower/dry afterwards if I want to be asleep by 10. That’s all to say that it’s an expensive purchase, so make sure it fits into your lifestyle. I started modifying and just having my legs in and not doing the full 50 minutes, so that I didn’t have to wash my hair because I didn’t get quite so hot. But I just pulled it back out for winter, and I’m excited to get back in while watching Survivor with the kids (we are binging all 40 seasons, lol). And something VERY exciting, here’s a 20% off sitewide code – BFCM2025

Red Light Mask – Every year, I say that I’m going to do this twice a week because you can’t get any results unless you are consistent. And yet that lasts a couple of months. All the evidence says overwhelmingly that red light therapy so great for your skin. Maybe 2026 is the year I do it all year long. It’s a fantastic gift. This is the Higher Dose Red Light Skin Starter Kit that includes a “mask” for your neck and chest, too. Jess has this Dr. Gross one and loves it.

Red Light Hat – We know that red light therapy is meant to be really good for your skin and now scalp. I’m getting this for Brian and I both to share – so easy to wear while I work from home, and it promises hair regrowth, which I really can’t get enough of these days.

More Fun Products

My favorite shoes (for cross training, walking, and honestly just to walk around all day – lightweight and extremely comfortable). The vest is really cute and perfectly covers my weighted vest on my walks.

This is basically my walking formula – the vest and what I think are the best headphones (the charge lasts hours and hours, and they never fall out of my ears – no mic though).

This bar and kettlebell converter is really awesome, especially if you don’t have a ton of room for tons of gym equipment.

Arched yoga mats are all the rage, folks (I haven’t tried this one, but people love it), and if you know someone who is pickleball curious, this set is cute (there is a pattern on the other side).

I’m SO excited that Keens are having a moment – they are a PNW staple for all of our water sports (rafting, hiking through rivers – lightweight, feet stay cool, and so comfortable). And my Columbia jacket is on a huge sale and is my favorite lightweight but highly warm jacket (with patented technology). I have it in black but wish I had bought it in this dark burgundy.

For a splurgier health enthusiast, people are either obsessed with these (above) or they aren’t. It might be worth a conversation with your fitness friend/family member to see if they are into it.

Vitamins are a weird gift to give, I’m just saying, I like these a lot. Nutrafol hair supplements are an absolute game changer for me – I have five months of new growth now to prove it (Brian just got on it). And for the to-go salad enthusiast (Brian), this pod is extremely convenient.

I could link up a ton of clothes, but they are so specific to body type and performance, and I don’t have a ton of new ones that are linkable right now. I love Nike shoes, P.E. Nation or Lululemon tights, and a lot of Vuori and Free People. Maybe I’ll do a fashion post in January:)

Thanks for listening to my weighted vest rant, and if you have Function Health experience, let me know in the comments. I’m also open to doing a deeper dive on my results (and follow-up results) in the new year if you guys are interested. xx

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OR TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OTHER 2025 GIFT GUIDE BLOG POSTS:

• Em’s Fashion and Beauty Gift Guide
• Em’s Home Decor Lover Gift Guide
• Kids/Tweens/Teens Gift Guide
• Brian’s “For Him” Gift Guide

*Photos by Kailtin Green