I’ve read a dozen articles this season about the wonders of giving fitness gifts during the holidays. “The gift of fitness is something you can give to virtually anyone on your list,” one author proclaimed. “After all, who doesn’t want to look better, feel better, and live a healthier lifestyle,” another one argued.

Bah Humbug!

Let’s be realistic: Giving the gift of fitness is not as easy as it seems. I know from personal experience. Not only did I give my husband a fitness dud last year–a high tech heart rate monitor that ended up in the bottom of his sock drawer–but I’ve also sold many personal training packages to well meaning spouses that never got used.

Gift giving at any time of year can be tricky. According to marketing experts, Davy Lerouge and Luk Waldrop, who have studied how we give gifts to people close to us, we often use our own attitudes to predict what our friends and loved ones will enjoy, and then go on to choose gifts based on these preconceived ideas. Add to that the emotional baggage surrounding lifestyle habits, body image, and lack of confidence in the exercise department, and your fitness gift of a shiny new treadmill with a bright red bow on it, may be received more like a big lump of coal in the toe of a Christmas stocking.

I fell into this trap when I gave my husband a heart rate monitor last year. While I thought that a trendy fitness gadget might nudge him back to a running program he seemed to enjoy during less stressful times, it turned out to be just one more thing to add to his already full plate.

Don’t let my fitness gifting faux pas stop you from giving it a try though. I still believe that fitness gifts around the holidays can be both fun and meaningful. Start by setting aside your preconceived notions of what the receiver should want in the health and fitness department, and focus instead on what would really make them happy. Need a few ideas? Here are my tips and suggestions for scoring the perfect fitness gift for just about anyone on the fitness spectrum.

For the “I hate to exercise!”

Don’t even go there. This is probably the worst time of year to remind someone with a gift, that they need to exercise or eat a healthier diet. (I’m thinking stay away from a pedometer, a scale, or a year’s supply of Healthy Choice meals) Instead, why not plant the seed of wellness with a gift card for a massage or spa day.  This says, “I care about you. It’s time to put yourself first. Go enjoy the day—I’ve got the kids!”

For the “fitness shy.”

Gym memberships, personal training sessions and fitness equipment can seem wonderfully extravagant, but can be overwhelming for a beginner exerciser. What do I wear? What do I do when I get there? Will the personal trainer kill me during my session? Instead, look for clues that might lead you in a better direction. Do they watch Dancing With the Stars each week and dream of being on the show? Why not salsa lessons or a class card for Zumba classes? (Their tag line is, “Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!) Fitness newbies respond well to “fitness in disguise.” Think fun, not exercise, and you have this one in the bag.

For the “fitness fanatic.”

Time to pull out the gadgets and put a little bling into their workout. Fitness warriors are always on the hunt for something to take their workout to the next level. Jennifer, a marketing manager at Glen Ivy Hot Springs, received a pair of Nike running shoes from a friend, complete with a snazzy sensor in the heel to track her workouts. While she loved the shoes, she re-gifted the sensor to her husband who loves that sort of thing. Other cutting edge gifts for this set include a TRX Trainer, barefoot running shoes, and yes, even a heart rate monitor–especially if comes decked out with a GPS system.

There’s no doubt that fitness gift giving can be perilous, especially at a stressful time of year when we are most aware of our fitness limitations and shortcomings. On the other hand, consider the positive potential of a fitness gift well-given. It may be that your gift reconnects the recipient with how wonderful life feels when they take good care of their health. Focus your attention on the happiness of your recipient, and meet them where they are on the fitness continuum, and your fitness gift will be, without question, as fun to receive as it is to give.

Meg Root is an ACE certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist with over 25 years in the fitness and spa industry.