If you have a woman in your life who likes to stay active, then a fitness gift may be the perfect idea. It could be your wife, sister, cousin, daughter, mother or even your spry grandmother who refuses to head off to Boca and relax her years away. There are gifts for all shapes, sizes, ages and levels of fitness. Of course a woman would prefer a diamond tennis bracelet or a car, but let’s face it; that isn’t in the budget for most of us. Why not buy them something that will make them think of you all year round every time they work up a sweat. Here are a few great ideas, just remember to buy gifts based on her level of fitness and activity. If you have a woman in your life who is a bit out of shape and prefers watching TV to exercising then it’s a good idea to tread lightly. Hand weights and a light exercise video = a good idea. A home gym and a membership to a weight loss clinic = a trip to the ER for you.

• Heated Glove Linings- Whether you live in a cold-weather climate or just have a woman with cold hands in your life, these are fantastic. These will really help them stay active outdoors, especially during the colder winter months.

Venture Battery Powered Heated Glove Liners 7.4 Volt Glv Sm Break Free From the Grips of Chilly WeatherWith its thin micro-alloy heating elements, literally right at your fingertips, continuous heat is effectively distributed all throughout your handsThanks to +Venture’s Heated Glove Liner, you are free to go about your active lifestyle with heated comfort…

Seirus Thermax Liner Gloves Seirus Innovations nbsp Deluxe Thermax liners create an extra layer of warmth to boost the performance of your winter gloves The milled Thermax fabric is specifically designed to enhance both comfort and moisture wicking performance / /strongFEATURES /strong / Thermax cornerstone warmth technology…

• Kettlebells- These are cast-iron balls that also have a handles attached. You can get them anywhere from five pounds on up to 100 pounds. These are great for strength and toning and also boost cardio by leaps and bounds.

Cap Barbell 35-Pound Kettlebell The kettlebell has long been a favorite for those seeking a special edge in strength and endurance. Kettlebell training develops strength, power, endurance and balance. Working out with kettlebells will sculpt and tone the entire body because lifting and controlling a kettlebell forces the entire…

CAP Barbell 10 -Pounds Kettlebell The kettlebell has long been a favorite for those seeking a special edge in strength and endurance. Kettlebell training develops strength, power, endurance and balance. Working out with kettlebells will sculpt and tone the entire body because lifting and controlling a kettlebell forces the entire…

• Class Gift Cards- Even an avid fitness enthusiast could use some new tips and tricks. A class or personal training gift card is a great idea for anyone. Whether it be a yoga or Pilates class or some undivided attention from a personal trainer, they will thank you.

• GPS Training Monitor- These are really cool, but not cheap. A wrist mounted unit that has many features including measuring your heart rate, speed, how many calories you have burned, etc. You can also get detailed workout results on your computer. Works on trails and in deeply wooded areas as well.

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor Package Includes: Forerunner 305, Heart rate monitor, docking cradle, expander strap, AC charger, PC/USB interface cable, Quick start guide, Garmin Training Center CD & owner’s manual The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS System combines form and function. This combination running partner and personal…

Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue) No description available

• Water-Resistant MP3 Player- This is great for the swimmer or aqua-sports enthusiast in your life. They come in all storage sizes to store as many songs or files as you need and are submersible to three meters.

Finis SwiMP3.2G Waterproof MP3 Player Waterproof MP3 Player for Swimming

• Padded Socks- Yes, you read that right, padded socks. These are great for someone involved in any type of impact workout. They are padded on the ball of the foot and the heel and are thin and supportive everywhere else.

Thorlo Unisex Thick Cushion Running Rolltop Sock, White/Navy, 13

Thorlo Unisex Thick Cushion Running Mini-Crew Sock, White / Navy, 13

• Spa Day and Massage- This may seem a bit odd as a “fitness gift” but it might be the most appreciated gift they get. Avid fitness enthusiasts rarely take the time to slow down and take care of their body. Let them take a day to relax and pamper their body, this will re-energize them to get back into their fitness regimen.

• Running Shoes- Make sure they have the right shoes for what they do. Whether it’s running, tennis, trail running or rock climbing; there is a shoe specifically made for it. Give them the right tool for the job.

New Balance Women’s Wr1012 Nbx Motion Control Running Shoe,Silver/Blue,8.5 B

New Balance Women’s WR860 Stability Running Shoe,Grey/Pink,8 B US

New Balance Women’s WR890 Running Shoe,Purple/Black,7 B US

• Fitness DVD - There are training programs on DVD for every level of fitness. Expand their library and give them new and exciting programs to try. Doing the same thing over and over every day can get mundane and there are literally hundreds of different types of exercises they can learn on DVD.

P90X: Tony Horton’s 90-Day Extreme Home Fitness Workout DVD Program No description available

Dance Fitness for Beginners with MaDonna Grimes: African Beat – Latin Heat

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training No description available

• Adventure Pack- These are somewhat new and great for the hardcore enthusiast. They are guidebooks with coupons and vouchers for such things as rock-climbing, white-water rafting, paintball, self-defense and tons more. And they are tailor-made based on your location so you are not traveling 1500 miles to do something.

This is obviously just a small sample of the millions of fitness gifts you could give someone. Just remember to know the person you are buying for and give them something they will actually use and appreciate.

She starts her day at dawn, juggles work and home life, and still manages to look great at the end of the day. This is not some genetic miracle. She is as fit as she is because she constantly works on her figure. Between a good stationary bicycle and a box of chocolates, she would probably prefer the prior. Besides, chocolates and other such sugar-rich food items are inconsiderate gift ideas to someone who is obviously watching her weight. Look into gifts for fitness buffs. Instead of giving her another clichéd gift like a bottle perfume that she may potentially be allergic to, why not make a gift of longevity? There are many fitness gifts in the market, each targeting a specific part of the body—the abs, the buttocks, the arms, or the thighs. Other women want more oomph in their cardio workouts. 

Here are some examples of gifts fitness lovers cherish:

1. Nike+ iPod Sport Kit (and a Sportsuit Sensor+ from Marware for non-Nike users)
This iPod Sport tool contains an accelerometer the size of a wad of gum that you can easily insert in your Nike+ shoes (or you can use Marware’s Sportsuit Sensor+ to put your hardware in the tongue of your non-Nike trainers). This hardware connects to also a tiny receiver that you can plug into your iPod’s port with a permanent battery meant to last a thousand hours (that translates to 1,000 days or 2 years and a little over 7 months for people who work out an hour a day). Once you are plugged in, then you can measure the time, pace and distance you have covered during your daily jogs or walks. The data is about 90% accurate. Users can opt for the Basic Workout or the Power Song on the menu of your iPod under Nike+ iPod. The Sports Kit also allows you to get interactive by competing with friends on the Nike+ site, serving as a good motivator. If she is a gear-head and she does not have a kit yet, she is definitely going to love this.

2. Treadmill with a laptop cradle
If the woman in your life works from home (e.g., writer, web developer, etc.), she might want to spice things up a little by incorporating some cardiovascular exercise on the job. This can get the creative juices going and keep her alert whenever she gets bored with the humdrum of just sitting in front of the computer, trying to figure out the next thing to put in. As you know, exercise produces endorphins which make people happier (and therefore, more likely to be productive and creative). If she has an existing treadmill but she does not have the laptop attachment, you can get her a separate laptop stand she can attach to her treadmill or to her stationary bike. It is a great gift for women constantly working on the computer.

3. Comfortable Yoga Sticky Mats
Give her a pair in different colors that she will like. That way, she can have something to use while the other one is in the wash.