NO-Excuses 10-minute Thanksgiving Workout

Take a guess at my favorite food for Thanksgiving dinner…it’s not the stuffing, I’ve never been a fan of that. It’s not green bean casserole, because that’s my least favorite vegetable. And no, it’s not the bird, although that’s obviously an essential part of the meal.

The truth is that my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal is…
 
Mashed sweet potatoes.
 
Like a mushy shot of beta-carotene pleasure straight to the brain. I’m a sucker for sweet foods, and last year Joel’s wife, Lisa, made a big dish of mashed sweet potatoes…and I nearly ate the entire thing myself.

And they’ve promise to make it for me again this year. Can’t wait. We’re just a few days away from me celebrating my 2nd “American” Thanksgiving with my friend Joel Marion and his family near Tampa, Florida. (Fact: Up here in Canada we have Thanksgiving all the way back in October…and I like to sneak down to America for a 2nd celebration!)

What’s your favorite food at Thanksgiving? Let me know on Facebook here.

But until the big day, we need to slip in some workouts.

Today I’m going to give you a 10-Minute NO Excuses workout. You can do this while traveling or staying in airport hotels. It would have come in handy for ol’ Steve Martin and John Candy to blow off some steam during their journey back in the classic holiday movie, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

So don’t let the travel blues get you down. Use this short workout to boost your calorie burning, pump up your mood, and make it through a hectic day.

10-Minute No Excuses “American” Thanksgiving Workout

1) Spiderman Climb Pushups (alternating sides) or Regular Pushups
2) Total Body Extensions
3) Cross-Body Mountain Climbers (alternating sides)
4) Overhead Lunges*** (alternating sides)
5) Burpees
6) Rocking Plank
7) Prisoner Squats
8) Close-Grip Pushups
9) Burpees (Again!) – but NO pushup

– Do each exercise for 30 seconds.
– Rest 30 seconds & repeat one more time for a NO excuses 10-min session.
– For an advanced 20 minute workout, rest 2 minutes after the 2nd circuit and then go through the circuit 2 more times.

*** For overhead lunges, hold a towel, resistance band, or broomstick overhead with your arms in a Y position. Squeeze the muscles between your shoulder blades to work your upper back, just like you do in Prisoner Squats.

You will work every muscle in your body with this workout. You will increase your fat burning and boost your fitness. You will get stronger at pushups and you will have a lot of fun, anywhere, anytime.

And then…then you will have mashed sweet potatoes!
 
Ha, or at least I will.

It’s going to be a great week. I love this time of year. Make sure to have gratitude, give thanks, enjoy the outdoors, visit with family, and of course, to TAKE CARE of yourself. You can’t be at your best for others if you are not eating right and staying active. Take some time to build yourself up so that you can support everyone who needs you.

Hope you have a great week,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
 
PS – If you are struggling…

If you are frustrated…if you made a mistake yesterday…if you are ready to give up…PLEASE stay strong! And remember these beautiful words:

“The first step to healing is not to step away from the pain, but a step toward it.” – Henri J.M. Nouwen ...

…You have already gone through the worst. Challenges remain, but they will be met with energy, not exasperation. You have us on your side now. You are not alone. Good people will support you. We are here for you.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill …
 
So keep going. Stay strong and keep on pushing on.

You CAN do it. I believe in YOU.