The 5th Day of Christmas with Clare Smith–Peak 313 Fitness

Welcome to the 7th annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!!!

12 days graphic

12 Days.

12 friends guest posting sharing a Christmas idea, recipe or favorite with you.

12 great giveaways for you to enter along with one GRAND PRIZE for someone who comments to enter all 12 days!!

clare473On this 5th Day of Christmas, I am  clapping for Clare Smith as she comes to our holiday fitness rescue! Clare lives with her husband and 2 children in Northeast Ohio. She has her bachelor’s degree in business management and left a promising career to be a stay-at-home mom to her children. She is a certified fitness instructor and teaches pilates and group fitness classes at her church and local university. Clare’s passion (outside of raising and nurturing her children and home) is motivating women of all ages and stages of life to live well physically, emotionally and spiritually. Visit her at Peak313!

Now, for Clare’s idea….

“In a Hustle” Holiday Workout and Hoppin’ Holiday Workout Playlist! I know that this time of year is CRAZY! We have extra parties to attend, shopping to fit in, Christmas cards to address, and volunteering to be done, so one of the first things we tend to leave out is our workout!

Many of you are determined to keep this in check thanks to our holiday challenge, “21 days to a Hunger-Free (& Healthy!) Holiday “, but for those of you who need some additional motivation, maybe this will help!

You’ve heard many times that quick, intense workouts do a great job in regards to your health–and I’ve found this to be true in my own life! Sometimes you just can’t hit a home run, but making a hit to first base is what you can do–and that’s just fine! Here is an 18 minute routine that you can do on your own as soon as those little feet hit the floor!

Blast your own music, OR, use this Christmas playlist I created! I tried to get some fun, up-tempo music that you may not usually choose. These songs are all done by Christian groups or musicians! Enjoy! Or grab playlist from iTunes!

Workout PlaylistAnd now, onto the workout!

The image below is just a quick reference for you. Read below for details on each move if you aren’t sure of them! You will need a timer of some sorts and a pair of dumbbells. (A light and heavy pair would be awesome, but if you don’t have both, then it’s not necessary)

You will want to do each exercise in each circuit for 45 seconds without stopping. Don’t sacrifice form and rest when you need at ANY time. Rest for 15 seconds before you move to the next exercise! (Right click and download the image to your computer or phone, or screensnap it on your smartphone for reference!) Holiday Workout

Warm-Up

1.) Jumping Jack, Jog in place, Squat with circle knee

Circuit 1

1.) Curtsy Lunge with shoulder raises 2.) Skater Taps

Circuit 2

1.) Rear Lunge Kick with bicep curl

2.) Weighted Jumping Jack: Take one weight and press it into the air as you do a jumping jack.

Circuit 3

1.) Burpee/Renegade Row/Push-Up

2.) “W” Hops: Hop left, center, right,center, left and repeat.

W Hops

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.) Weighted Plank Pull

Circuit 4

1.) Alternating Punches

2.) Cross Jab with a knee (Make sure you do both sides!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.) Knee Drive (right and left side)

KneeDrive

Circuit 5

1.) “The Hover”

2.) Thread Thru Needle

Remember, you do not have to sacrifice your health during this season! There are very practical ways to keep you in the game if you want it!

 

Today’s Giveaway:  

Clare would love to give you a chance to grab some new workout tunes AND grab a new workout top or socks! She’s giving away a $5 gift card to iTunes and a $15 gift card to Target! For a chance to win these great gifts post a comment below sharing some of your tips to keep moving during the holidays. Or share your struggle with fitting in exercise at the holidays. Or how about this…what do you think your favorite Christmas tune to exercise to would be?

Don’t forget to come back for all 12 days! You can comment on all twelve posts until midnight December 14th. {And remember, if you comment on all 12 posts, you might win the Grand Prize!}

216 Comments

  1. I feel so much better when I get excerise. Remin ding myself to make the time will keep me stress free. taking a walk or A run with a friend or my husband keeps me connected too.

  2. My exercize schedule is so sporadic. I started exercizing again regularly when I turned 48, and at first, I couldn’t even manage one sit-up. I used to be a gymnast back in the day, so that felt discouraging; but with perseverence, improvememt came. We have 5 children still at home, and I have started working full time for the past 5 months. Exercize time has suffered, but I really keep moving at my Subway job. I need to get creative for fitting my workout back into my day. I will get down on the floor and do sit-ups, leg lifts, and other floor exercizes when my daughter needs help with homework. Then I can multitask. Right now exercizing is easy because I am staying at a Marriot hotel that has a pool and a workout room. Yay!

  3. I feel like I haven’t been keeping up with walking running and Pilates like I had been in the past. I read Candace Cameron’s books and was reminded that I need to have done willpower when it comes to eating chips and sweets. Three pieces and then that’s enough and Ito chew my food slowly and enjoy it. I go walking with friends or invite them to work out at the Y with me instead of talking in the phone or going to lunch. I enjoy Clare’s website!

  4. I struggle with this as the winter rain sets in. On the days we just cannot get outside I try to make extra steps up and down the stairs and chase my children around as we play.

  5. Due to knee and back problems, I can’t do much exercising other than walking, and our weather has not cooperated with me on that for several weeks. Appreciate the playlist and think I will use it to at least walk around the house!

  6. This particular one is over my limit but I can testify that regular physical activity helps with holiday blues & overload.

  7. Get a pedometer and find creative ways to walk 10,000 steps – especially if you have a desk job!!! I love my Fitbit!

  8. I’ve struggled with losing 20 ilbs the doctor has asked me to lose. Claire’s current challenge will help keep me on track with the diet part this holiday season!

  9. Due to many physical limitations I can’t do many of the exercises listed here, but I do use my exercise bike. I can do 30. minutes at a time. I find your encouragement very helpful. I enjoy your blog.

  10. Thank you for your workout today. I find it hard sometimes to fit my workout in but I know how much better I feel when I do. I am a runner and sometimes due to weather or time I don’t have an hour or more to run, so this is perfect on my off days… Thank you

  11. I try to walk first thing in the morning and/or after dinner in the evening with my kids. They ask, which helps to motivate me. Beyond that, we live on a military base, so watching people run constantly here helps put my butt in gear! I don’t like to run, but try to a few times a week. I HATE to say it, but (gagging as I write it!) Justin Bieber’s ‘Under the Mistletoe’ has a great beat for working out. I KNOW! I KNOW!!! HA!

  12. Don’t like to admit it, but after teaching all day and running errands, etc. I often convince myself that if I’ve done my 10,000 steps I don’t need to do anything else. I have started slipping in muscle building exercise at random moments throughout the day. I’ve seen and felt the difference, but know that I need to vary my exercise to really maximize its benefit.

  13. Sadly, exercise is not at the top of the list. The many roles of motherhood leave me stretched in this season. Thanks Claire for the workout routine. I’m going to hallenge myself to find those 20 minutes a day. ????

  14. I try to do steps whenever I can so when I in the mall shopping or somewhere I park father out and use stairs.

  15. Bundle up, bring a water bottle with warm lemon water, and enjoy Christmas lights! If you’re neighborhood hasn’t lit up just yet, it’s worth a drive to find one that has the Christmas spirit! :)

  16. Active exercise is difficult for me but I am trying to incorporate more movement into my everyday lifestyle and to get more steps each day. I have invested in a fitbit and have a way of trying to monitor it more. Thanks for your ideas here.

  17. Not sure on the song. My husband and I go to gym in the morning before work. I am thankful for him because if it was just me – probably would not be getting up that early.

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