The Twelve Acts of Fitness

On the first day of Christmas my trainer gave to me... a really awesome fitness challenge!

See how many of these 12 acts of fitness you can perform by the New Year. You get 1 point for each one you accomplish. PLUS you get to double your points if you accomplish ALL TWELVE. Yes, that’s right: DOUBLE POINTS!!! This is a good way to really rack up the points (and perhaps make up for your slacking on the previous challenges) during, this, the last Golden Sneaker challenge of 2012!!!

You can choose to do them all at once or spread them out until the end of the month. Here's to a healthy, happy holiday season!

· Spend 1 minute doing a yoga tree pose on each foot. (Foot can be placed on thigh, calf or ankle – avoid placing on the knee)*

· Do 2 minutes of stretching. Must include a neck stretch and doorway chest stretch.*

· Do 3 varieties of squats, 10 X ea. Choose from the following: body squats, ball squats, sumo squats, sissy squats, jump squats, plié squats, chair squats, single-leg squats, or choose your own! *

· Spend 4 minutes dancing to a song you love.

· Eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies in a single day.

· Do something active 6 days in a row. This can include anything from an actual workout to standing and marching in place during the TV commercials.

· Eat 7 shelled Brazil nuts; or 26 almonds; or a handful of shelled pistachios. Find out what 1 serving of your favorite nut is and make it a regular snack… just don't over-do it.

· Take 8 deep breaths before responding to someone who just really ticked you off.

· Take no more than 9 bites of a particularly indulgent treat. Depending on what it is, this could be quite a lot or not nearly enough!

· Spend (at least) 10 minutes doing something that will make you feel like a kid again: hula hooping, trampolining, playing hop scotch, jumping rope (But you MUST also do a chant. Y’know: Cinderella, dressed in yellow went down stairs to kiss a fellow…), skipping to your Lou (or is it loo… I’ve always wondered).

· Perform 11 crunches with a 5-second hold. Too easy? Do them with feet elevated and squeezing a medicine ball between your knees.*

· Knock out 12 pushups (wall, kitchen counter, knee, standard). Too easy? Make them burpees instead.*

* email me, text me or leave a comment if you have any questions about the technique of any exercise.