For most people, the holiday season involves a lot of feasting and family time. While that’s not a bad thing, it’s always a good idea to make time to get active, especially when you're enjoying some holiday beverages and baked goods.
Staying fit during the holiday season can aid in your digestion, boost your metabolism and enhance your mood. Plus, it gives you that extra energy you’ll need to make it through that third holiday party.
Try this full-body strength training workout next time you’re looking for a short, sweet and simple workout to get you out of the turkey coma.
Goblet squat (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Lift the kettlebell and hold it against your chest
- Stand with your toes pointed slightly outwards, feet shoulder-width apart
- Bend your hips and knees before lowering your body as close to the ground as possible
- As you descend, remember to keep your arms close to the sides of your chest and elbows pointed down
- Pause at the bottom of your squat before driving through your heels, legs and glutes to bring your body back to the starting position for one rep
Single-arm overhead dumbbell press (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent
- Hold a dumbbell just outside of your shoulder joint, with your arm bent and palm facing inward
- Contract your core before pressing the weight overhead until your arm is completely straight and your bicep is pressed against your ear
- Exhale as you are pressing the dumbbell upwards
- Briefly pause at the top of this movement, then inhale as you slowly lower the weight back down to the starting position for one rep
Dumbbell reverse lunge (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Begin standing upright holding two dumbbells at your sides
- While keeping your torso upright and balanced, step your right leg backward and lower your body into a lunge position
- Pause briefly before pushing through your heel on your front leg to move upward into the starting position for one rep
- Repeat on the opposite side
Bent over row with barbell (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Begin with your feet hip-distance apart gripping the barbell with a pronated (overhand) grip slightly wider than your hips
- Hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your head and neck in a neutral position with your eyes forward (the barbell should hang directly in front of you with straight arms)
- Begin the row by bringing the elbows back and activating the rhomboids to move the barbell towards your body
- At the top of the movement, squeeze the upper back before slowly lowering the weight back down to the starting position for one rep
Barbell bench press (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Begin lying flat on your back on a bench
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Grip a barbell with your hands a little wider than shoulder-width apart, so when you’re at the bottom of the movement, your hands are directly above your elbows (this allows for maximum force generation)
- Bring the bar slowly down to your chest as you breathe in
- Once you’re an inch or so above your chest, breathe out and push the bar upward for one rep
Reverse grip bicep curls (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Begin standing while holding a barbell with your hands shoulder-width apart, palms facing down in a pronated grip and your elbows close to the torso
- Keep the upper arms stationary as you curl the weight upward
- Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level
- Pause briefly at the top of this movement before releasing the weight back down to the starting position for one rep
Superman (3 sets of 8 to 10 reps)
- Begin laying facedown with your arms extended in front of your body and your legs extended behind you
- In one movement, engage your glutes and lower back to raise your arms, legs and chest off the floor
- Hold for a predetermined amount of time before slowly returning your limbs to the starting position for one rep