No Excuses; A Holiday-Time Workout

Good afternoon there! What's this, two posts in a row? Must be the shortened week, I'm all amped up and churning out fun things to share! Yesterday, a recipe, today, a workout!

As a personal trainer, I've been struggling to convince all my clients to reschedule their usual Thursday workout this week. In my eyes, not being open for a holiday just means they have to work out on a different day this week. In their eyes, it means they get to take a nice long break from any type of physical activity. WRONG! After shooting down several meek excuses and pointing out that you shouldn't take 5 days off normally, but especially when the menu for Thursday includes artery-clogging pecan pie, most conceded to making up their workouts. Yay! :)

Since I'm not your own personal trainer and can't mark down your workout in my schedule, I'll do the next best thing. Give you a workout you can do that gets around all your excuses! :) This can be short and sweet or take up a little more time, depending on your day, and you don't need any equipment besides a bit of room and a door leading you outside! You can adjust the rest time based on your conditioning as well as modify the strength exercises if needed. Now you just need to remember shoes you can work out if you're traveling! :)

Warm-up:
Walk fast/jog (depending on your fitness level) 3 minutes. Treadmill or outside, doesn't matter!
10 forward kicks each leg
10 squats

Workout:
Sprint 30 seconds (no watch? Sprint to the end of the block or road, or to a distant tree or mailbox while counting slowly to 30).
Rest 30 seconds.
Sprint back 30 seconds.
Rest 30 seconds.
Go back inside if you're outside and cold.
30 seconds (about 20) push-ups (modify these so you're on your knees instead of toes if needed)
30 seconds (about 20) tricep dips
1 minute skipping high knees (in place is fine! Too hard? Make it a high knee march)
1 minute walking lunges (no space? Do 30 seconds in-place lunges, then switch legs. No watch or clock? Do between 15 and 20 a leg)

20 minutes total: Repeat entire circuit one more time, then cool down walk/jog 2 minutes.
30 minutes total: Add the following exercises to the circuit after the walking lunges:

1 minute jumping jacks (about 100)
30 second plank
30 seconds squats
30 second sprint
rest 30 seconds
30 second sprint
rest 30 seconds

Do entire circuit (with additional exercises) twice, then cool down walk/jog for 4 minutes.

Working out around/on Thanksgiving will make you feel so much better, what with all the couch-sitting and eating and general lack of movement that is usually part of the day! :) Have any questions on the workout? Let me know! Do you have any specific dishes at Thanksgiving that you could eat platefuls of? I enjoy the real cranberry sauce on my turkey; why don't I do that with turkey sandwiches year-round?? Panera figured it out and started serving a turkey-cranberry sandwich; its like they know the thoughts inside my head! :) Well I must get on with my afternoon, I've got workouts to write! Hope your Tuesday is marvelous. Tata for now (so cliche, but its so fun)!

--KQ