The Best 20-Minute Workouts For The Busy Holiday Season
The holidays are the perfect time to workout out. You are ingesting a lot of extra calories that you probably also want to get rid of, and you need some exercise to conquer those winter blues.
However, working out is also very difficult to squeeze in between meeting family, preparing for meals, planning special events, and shopping.
But even a little bit of exercise can make a big difference if you practice continually.
So here are several simple workout moves you can use for quick, 20-minute regimens that only require a little breathing room and a quick break from that holiday schedule.
Planks
The plank is ultra-simple, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great ab workout, too. Find enough room to get down in the push-up position, but instead balance on your toes and forearms, keeping your back straight.
Hold for as long as you can, preferably around a minute. Rest and repeat three or four times. It is a great idea to include side-planks and other variants for an even better core workout!
Squat Jumps
Stand with feet at shoulder length, with arms folded across your chest or above your head. Then bend down and push up like you are doing a regular squat, but add enough extra force so that your feet actually leave the ground.
This is a great workout for strengthening your legs, and uses up lots of energy – try for several sets of five to ten and feel the burn.
Push-Ups
In our era of high tech fitness gadgets, the old push-up still has a valuable place. It is great for both increasing upper body strength and burning extra calories, and it can be done almost anywhere that you have enough space to lay down.
If push-ups are not quite your style, you can try the easier knee-based push-ups instead. For an effective workout, set a goal, such as 50 pushups, to reach in your 20-minute workout.
Make the goal challenging enough to work up to over time, and divide your sets as efficiently as possible to meet your quota.
Step-Ups
Find a step. Step up it. Step back down. Repeat for ten minutes. This may sound super-easy, but it is actually a handy light cardio workout that you can do almost anywhere.
For the best results, use a sturdy wooden stand for step-ups and alternate your starting foot regularly. You will be surprise how well this workout works!
Lunges
Lunges work out your legs, hips and lower back. Start by standing, then raise your foot and take a large, steady step forward.
Shift your body weight into the step and gradually sink down so your back knee nearly touches the floor and your front knee creates a right angle.
Push up with your front leg to return to a starting position. This works out some of the largest muscles in your body and, when used in quick succession, can be an excellent 20-minute workout.
Jump Roping
If you have a jump rope and a durable, flat surface, you have everything you need for a great cardio workout in a very short amount of time. The trick is to pause for as brief a time as possible.
Try to do around 100 jumps, then stop for only 10 to 15 seconds to catch your breath before moving on to the next 100. This will provide great cardio benefits without the pressure of a long run or the required space.
A Full Routine
If you love your workouts and want to maximize your time even further, combine multiple moves into one 10-minute regimen.
For example, a series of jumps with the jump rope can lead into 10 to 15 lunges, followed by the same number of squats, push-ups, and similar exercises.
End with a quick plank, then return to the start. Perform the set several times and you’ve just completed a great workout!
