A 'FIT-ting' way to celebrate Father's Day: Gifts to maximize Dad's health
If Dad doesn't cook for himself or have someone who does it for him, he may not always make the optimum nutritional choices — especially when he's busy. Meal delivery services are a great way to ensure that he's always eating fresh healthy foods. And one of the great things about daily meal delivery services is that they have multiple plans and menu options to fit the subscriber's lifestyle and nutritional goals.
And we're not talking about meal delivery 'kits' where the user assembles the ingredients. No, the best, most convenient and popular daily services provide chef-prepared meals that simply require the user to pop their boxed food into a microwave. And I can tell you from having seen neighbors use them in South Florida, the daily provisions always arrive long before sunrise — thus ensuring Dad has a healthy breakfast waiting for him if you sign him up for a three-meals-a-day plan.
If Dad is already in pretty good shape and has a good foundation with weight-training but doesn't always have time to make it to the gym, a so-called 'power tower' may be a useful apparatus to help him keep his strength workouts on track. It's all about bodyweight exercises on a power tower — and even if Dad never stepped foot back in the gym, as long as he maintained his power tower sessions, he'd be on a path to one day looking like Robert DeNiro in 'Cape Fear.'
Pullups and chin-ups with varying grip widths work the forearms, biceps, shoulders and upper back. Dips work the shoulders, triceps and pectoral muscles. Hanging knee raises work the forearms, core, oblique muscles and improve grip strength.
In other words, you get a full upper body workout on a power tower. And if you think Dad would want to do some extra work, throw in a few rubber resistance bands with handles and/or a battle rope — both of which he can wrap around the power tower and use as he desires.
Back in the day, NFL Hall of Famer Deion 'Prime Time' Sanders had a fun mantra about why he paid such meticulous attention to every detail of his uniform on game day: 'Look good, feel good ... feel good, play good ... play good, paid good!'
Of course, for Dad the 'getting paid' in this scenario means maximizing his health and fitness. And if getting some new gear helps inspire Dad to exercise more consistently or take his workouts to the next level, he wouldn't be the first.
Listen, I'm a man of a certain age and I still get a charge out of breaking out new athletic fits.
The soft feel of today's lightweight, moisture-wicking T-shirts and athletic shorts.
The intoxicating scent of brand-new athletic shoes fresh out of the box.
The exquisite sensation of slipping on brand-new Coolmax athletic socks for the first time.
And rest assured in knowing that even if Dad doesn't use his new gear for increased exercise, he'll still look sharp when doing chores around the house or running weekend errands.
Is Dad an avid pickleball player, tennis player or golfer — or maybe all three?
If so, then gift him a few sessions with a teaching pro in the sport(s) of his preference.
It's amazing how much a good teaching professional can help a recreational athlete fine-tune their game. Dad will benefit from having a pro assess their techniques — what he's doing properly and what he's doing less than ideally — and make suggestions for how he can improve both the strengths and weaknesses of his game.
Another benefit of a private session with a teaching pro is that it can be tailored exactly to what Dad wants to accomplish. And private lessons offer the recreational athlete the chance to practice — which is something that often falls by the wayside for the aging recreational athlete.
If you and Dad share an affinity for the same sport, you can also buy two-for-one time with a teaching professional, so you can both benefit from the pro's expertise — while also enjoying the time spent together.
Along the same lines as sessions with a sport-specific teaching pro, you might also consider giving Dad a few sessions with a personal trainer.
A good personal trainer can teach you aspects of fitness you may never have considered.
Whether Dad wants to learn how to lift weights properly, lose weight, increase his endurance and/or improve his balance and flexibility, a personal trainer can provide a wealth of knowledge.
For example, Dad might think he needs to focus on cardio to lose weight, but the fact is he also needs strength training and core training to maximize your results. A good trainer can guide you on what steps will help you achieve your goals most efficiently and adjust the program as circumstances warrant.
A personal trainer can also help with motivation while also keeping Dad accountable as he or she provides fun and variety to their sessions.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Health and fitness gifts for Dad on Father's Day
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