Monday 3 December 2012

Bet you didn't think of Christmas Decorating as Exercise!!




I don't know about you...but we store our Christmas decorations in bins in our cold room and Saturday was the day to decorate! The boys weren't home and I was in one of those moods to get things done so decided to grab the bins...and for some reason...the tree which was stuffed in there also!

Have you put up your decorations yet? If not...perhaps keep this article in mind as you do so! Don't have time to work out? Utilize your decorating time!!! If you think about it as you work....you could be working shoulders, biceps, abs, legs and more! 

Need to reach up for boxes? Squeeze your abs! When I say squeeze...I'm saying imagine trying to pull your belly button towards your spine and keep it there (whilst breathing of course!).

Do you have something up high but need to lift it over something else to get it own? You'll need to use your upper body strength  as you lift over but wait!! What's going on in your core? Squeeze those abs again, but I bet as you lift up and over you can feel the rotational work going on. As well as the full core....you are working those oblique muscles hard!

Now....are your decorations upstairs? Downstairs? When going empty handed - RUN up or down! If you have multiple boxes and tree parts to get...you could be going up and down those stairs ten times or more! As you go up with the boxes or tree in your arms...be careful (and don't run!) but now you've added weight and are working those muscles hard through resistance!

Lifting up items and putting them down...I'm sure you are bending this knees (yes?!)...liken this to squatting...now you are working your quads, butt.....etc, etc... Bend low! Add an extra squat here and there!

See what I mean? If you feel you don't have the time to work out (which will be the subject of my next blog!! (LOTS of tips and NO excuses!) utilize what you are doing while Christmas decorating and make it work for you! I was decorating, running, climbing, squeezing for a good hour - and I didn't even TOUCH on you the work going on as you put your tree together, put on the lights (if they aren't already on lol!) and decorate it!!! - meaning I was working my muscles for a good amount of time!

You must focus and be in the moment when doing this.....sounds corny I know ...but feel what is going on when doing these things; think about the muscle(s) hard at work...I'm always telling my Clients to visualize the muscle(s) hard at work!

Go ahead! Decorate...and work hard as you do so! Already decorated? No worries! You can use these tips when pulling it all down!!

Have a 'Shining' Christmas!!

No comments:

Post a Comment