Cardio for Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving week and we need to get your heart rate up!  With all the food most of us will be eating, we all will want to make sure and take time for exercise.  Have your goal be to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day this week (except for Thanksgiving…that day will probably be busy enough).  Not only will these sessions burn calories, they will also ease any tension or stress starting to build up.  Then, on Thanksgiving Day, grab a few loved ones and go for a (brisk) walk.  After working in the kitchen, eating great food, and rushing about, I promise the walk will feel good.  Plus, it is an excellent time to relax, talk, and bond with loved ones while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Our exercise of the week is an oldie but a goodie.  They seem so simple and yet they truly are a great way to get the heart pumping and work out your entire body.  What exercise am I referring to?  The classic jumping jacks (but we’re going to do them with a twist).  Trust me, this exercise is an “oldie but a goodie” for good reason.

JJacks with Crossover

Begin with feet together, belly in, chest up, shoulders relaxed.  Jump your legs as far apart as you can while bringing your arms together overhead.  As you come back to your starting point, instead of bringing your feet side-by-side, cross your left foot in front of your right; then on the next round you will bring your right foot in front of your left.  Continue alternating your left and then your right foot being in front.  This crossover will give an extra workout to your inner thighs while still working your whole body.

Some tips:

 1. Keep your arms straight to enhance the arm and shoulder workout.

2. Really try and jump your feet as far apart as you possibly can.

3. Alternate between jogging in place, doing sprints, or jump rope and your JJacks with Crossover (try to do at least 100 JJacks for each round).