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. Rockin Around The Christmas Tree! :) We try to park away from the door of the stores. This time of year, it is pretty easy to do, but it does make me feel better to know I am moving. And if it is cold, a brisker pace is essential.

  2. I struggle with finding time to fit exercise into my busy life. I work full time outside of the home and my husband is a civilian contractor working in Afghanistan. We have 2 boys who are 13 & 11 and they both are busy with after school activities. I’m busy from the time I wake up until I go to bed, so sometimes finding time to exercise gets thrown to the bottom of my list. I need to schedule in exercise and treat it like an appointment that I can’t miss and hopefully that would help me to find time for it.

  3. I think Jingle Bells would be a great song to workout to, as it would be a good one to keep you going at a fast pace!

  4. I have health problems that prevent me from doing hard exercies but I recently bought a Vivofit watch that helps me keep track of my steps. If I have not moved within an hour a red bar lights up telling me to get up and move. It really helps.

  5. I get plenty of exercise outdoors from late spring through mid-fall, but I struggle the rest of the year. I seem to have no motivation to work out indoors. But, this post has given me hope. I like the idea of listening to Christmas music while exercising and plan to incorporate that into my day. Thanks!

  6. Wear a step counter and keep track of how many steps are taken each day. If there aren’t enough, then I know how many I need to get done that day to meet the goal. Each week, I increase the steps by 75, so there is always a challenge.

  7. I get up around 4-430 so I can get a workout in. I run a few miles and do strength training. It’s hard when there’s company around so I try to be flexible and modify my workout to what is going on. Family walks are always fun!

  8. In general, I don’t do much exercising at all, let alone during the Christmas season. I do, however, enjoy walking and it is so easy to do. I love walking at night in winter and looking at all the Christmas lights. I also enjoy the stillness – the quiet. The moonlit snow is so beautiful. We don’t have sidewalks or streetlights, but nonetheless, there are enough Christmas lights, porch or driveway lights, etc. that it is easy enough to see. I bring a flashlight and my phone.

  9. I am an outdoors walker. Lately, I have had so much going on in my life that I am choosing to spend whatever time alone I have in quiet time. The cold winter weather never bothered me before, but it sure does now. I am hoping that things will settle down a bit and I will make the time to exercise somehow. I feel a New Years resolution coming on….

  10. I am sidelined with an injury right now, but was supposed to be running a Hal marathon later this month. Planning for a race in December or January helps to keep me motivated to move!

  11. oh, my gosh, it’s tough to get excited about exercising during the holidays. But you sure did make it interesting and I know it’s good for me!

  12. I just stick with my elliptical, plus we are looking forward to some holiday hikes in our gorgeous Rocky Mountains.

  13. I have been so encouraged by Clare’s Blog. I love how she incorporates physical and spiritual growth.
    Thank you Clare for this playlist

  14. After having surgery a few months ago, and then school started and the weather turned cold, I’ve had a hard time making exercise a priority. I’m going to use this to motivate me today!

  15. Sometimes it’s hard to make this a priority, especially during the busy days of Christmas, but even jogging up and down the stairs two times each time I head down or up will help!

  16. I am determined to exercise at least 30 minutes every day!! These are great bc I can do them at home anytime!! Thank you!!

  17. Thank you so much for this workout!! I love it! I needed it! I am trying to get at least 10,000 steps a day on my fit bit, but I need this extra bump!!

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