The principles I teach are pretty simple. Sleep well, eat good food, be active, and get outside. I put together a Christmas list of things you may not have thought of before that fall within each of these principles. As always, if I promote a product it’s because I personally use it, have found success with it, and can attest to its quality. Each of these items are staples in my daily routines and I am confident you will love them.
Sleep Well: Getting good quality sleep is important for any goal and if you struggle to get 8+ hours per day, it’s even more important to make sure the sleep you do get is the best possible quality. Below are the products I use personally and with my clients to ensure they get the best quality sleep.
Rest: The BEST Sleep Supplement I Have Ever Tried
With my travels and early morning hunting days I’ve tried every natural sleep-aid on the market. As a Dietitian I can’t warn you enough against the dangers of consistent melatonin use so it’s very important to me that a sleep-aid is melatonin free. Protekt “Rest” is without question the best sleep aid I have ever found. It not only promotes restful sleep but also improves the quality of your sleep overall. I’ve even had multiple clients state that since using Rest, they no longer needed their prescription sleep medications. It’s been a life changer for me.
Manta Eye Mask for Pitch Black Sleep
Sleeping in a pitch black room is necessary. Our bodies are designed to be more alert when light enters our eyes and more rested in darkness. This mask is not only the best I have found for blocking out all light, but the most comfortable. I love it so much I keep one by my bed and one in my luggage so I never leave home without it.
Medcline Pillow System for Pain Free Sleep
For years after my shoulder surgery I would wake up in the middle of the night because my arm would fall asleep every few hours. Ever since I found this pillow I’ve slept throughout the night with no issues. Studies have shown that elevated pillows also help reduce snoring.
Mouth Tape for Snorers that Don’t Want Their Mouth Covered
Ever since I broke my nose I’d been a chronic snorer. I had tried mouth tape before but having my mouth completely taped shut gave me a feeling of claustrophobia and as any parent knows there are nights you’re going to wake up to a sick or scared kid that needs words of wisdom. This mouth tape has drastically reduced my snoring (ask my wife) without completely closing off my mouth. It works by providing just enough pressure to keep the lips closed, sticks well, and doesn’t irritate my skin.
Eat Good Food: You won’t follow a diet if you don’t enjoy it. These are a few of the kitchen and nutrition staples I have found to make sticking to a diet far easier, taste better, and more efficient.
Tacticalorie Seasonings: My Favorite Food Seasonings
Making food taste great is so much easier when you have readymade seasonings and sauces. Tacticalories is the absolute best company I have found to provide amazing flavors using quality, zero to low calorie ingredients. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed terrible cook or a culinary school educated chef, this stuff is going to be your best friend in the kitchen.
Meater: Bluetooth Meat Thermometer
Cooking meat to the exact ideal temperature is the single most important factor I have found to drastically improve the taste of meals. This bluetooth thermometer allows me to cook my meat to the right temperature without having to check on it and sends data to my phone to tell me exactly how long the cook will take and alerts me when it’s finished. This may be my single favorite cooking gadget.
Water Bottle: To Make Hitting Your Water Goals Easy
Getting enough water is difficult and I have found a few tricks to help people get enough. This Yeti bottle has been the best one I have found. Since it’s clear it allows you to easily see how much you have left so you know you need to hustle if you’re far from your goal and since it holds 1L of water, most people can hit their water goal easily with only 2-3 refills per day.
Food Scale: For the Macro Trackers
This is a simple food scale that I have found can measure even the lightest of food ingredients, making sure that when I track my meals, I can be confident in the accuracy.
Kitchen Knives
Feder Knives makes my favorite cooking knives and Geoff is widely recognized as one of the best knife makers in the world. There are a bunch of different styles to choose from
Ninja Creami for Healthy Ice Cream
This thing has been an absolute game changer for me. I love ice cream and now I eat entire pints of high protein ice cream with 300-400 total calories. There are hundreds of recipes available online and the combinations are endless.
Hand Mixer for Shakes, Smoothies, and More
I use this mixer for coffee, protein, and to mix my ingredients together for my Ninja Creami ice cream.
Be Active: If you’re building out a home gym or just looking for equipment to add to your gym routine, this is the list.
Glute Ham Roller: Sorinex
This is one of the coolest, most beneficial pieces of exercise equipment you’re probably not using. I’ve not found a piece of equipment on the market that can target your hamstrings like this, and certainly not at this price.
Walking Treadmill to Get Steps in at Home or the Office
I’m a big fan of daily walks outside but not everyone’s location or schedule makes this possible. I bought this for my father last year and it’s been a huge part of his weight loss success in the last year. If you want to make sure something gets used, make it easy to use and easy to access. This treadmill is both.
Squat Stand: Sorinex
I like these because they address the issue many people have who are trying to build out a home gym- space. If you are looking to start a home gym and have limited space, squat stands are one of the first things you should purchase.
Adjustable Bench: Sorinex
An adjustable bench is a gym staple. By varying the angle of your pressing movements you can target different muscle groups, opening to yourself to far more possibilities than a simple flat bench.
Barbell: Sorinex
The barbell is the foundation of every resistance training program and if you buy a good one you’ll likely never need to buy another one. This is the one.
Bumper Plates: Sorinex
If you have a home gym or are looking to build one, a set of bumper plates will be an important purchase. If you could only buy 2, get a pair of 45’s and if you can buy 4, get a pair of 45’s and a pair of 25’s. Trust me.
Bodyweight Scale
There are a bunch of these on the market and most are insanely overpriced. Working so many weight cuts over the year I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I have bought well over 100 and none have performed better or been more accurate than this one.
Get Outside: If you’ve followed me for any length of time you already know I’m a big outdoorsman. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list but it’s items I have found that most overlook, make great gifts and are hunting staples that you can build off of.
Knives for Anything
Half Face Blades make the best hunting knives I have ever used and if you don’t believe me, try checking the website 30 minutes after a batch of knives drop. These things are loved by many and sell out fast. Make sure you subscribe to the newsletter and follow them on socials to be in-the-know for the next knife drop.
Rechargeable Hand Warmer
I got tired of constantly buying new packs of hot hands and having to deal with the trash left after each use. Once I got my hands on this rechargeable hand warmer I never went back. It gets hot fast and holds a charge for 6-12 hours depending on the level of heat you use.
Base Layer Pants: For Cold Hunts, Hikes, and More
Base Layer Pants: Origin
Base Layer Pants: Born Primitive
Once you have a good base layer, being comfortable in the cold is a lot easier. All Origin products are made in the USA and are extremely comfortable to wear. The Born Primitive Ridgeline Heavy Base Layer Bottom is the warmest pair of base layer pants I have personally ever used. They are extremely good at holding in the heat and after a couple hundred washes are still in excellent shape.
Base Layer Tops: For Cold Hunts, Hikes, and More
Base Layer Top: Origin
Base Layer Top: Born Primitive
As with the pants, a base layer top can make a huge difference in keeping you warm in the winter months.
Heat Holders Cold Weather Socks
I’ve gone through hundreds of socks over the years and these are by far the best I have ever found. Even standing in water covered my feet stay warm in my wader boots as long as I have these on.
Classic Outdoor and Hunting Clothing
I’ve always felt camouflage is a bit overrated and I’ve successfully harvested hundreds of animals without it. For centuries, those who came before us hunted in natural fivers like wool and cotton in earth tones of brown, green, and black. If you want to break up your pattern it’s hard to beat flannels and Legendary Whitetails has been my go-to brand for hunting clothing. I also love that their shirts come in long sizes making them easier to tuck in for layering.
