Fitness Me In Workout Series #13

Shape-Up Shopping (Grocery Day)


My 5-year-old loved doing this grocery store workout with me. This is an especially fun workout because people think you are humoring your children, so you get “fun mommy” points and lots of smiles.
Don’t forget your cell phone so you can keep track of time.

1. Walk the aisles for 4 minutes looking for “ABC” items (having your child find an item with an “A” on it and so on.
2. Now, walk backwards down one aisle, tightening your butt each time you take a step – Don’t forget to watch where you are going! TIP: It’s good to drag your cart instead of leading with it on this one.
3. Walk forward down the next aisle.
4. Walk backwards again.
5. Walk forward down another aisle.
6. Walk sideways down one aisle, tightening the hip flexor (side of the leg) of the forward foot each time you take a step.
7. Walk forward along perimeter of store for 2 minutes
8. Walk another aisle sideways with the other leg leading.
9. Walk up and down aisles for 2 minutes looking for more ABC items.
10. Take one more backwards walk and one more sideways walk on each side.
11. Walk 2 more minutes.
You’re done (if your child agrees)!


Cardio Cooking


Here’s a tasty recipe from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. With no added salt and very little oil in the marinade, these broiled or grilled kabobs made with skinless chicken breasts are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Plus, you can get two workouts out of this one!

CHICKEN ORIENTALE

8 skewers
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
8 fresh mushrooms
black pepper to taste
8 parboiled whole white onions
2 oranges, quartered
8 canned pineapple chunks
8 cherry tomatoes
1 can (16 oz) frozen, concentrated apple juice, thawed
1 cup dry white wine
2 T soy sauce, low sodium
Dash of ground ginger
2 T vinegar
¼ cup vegetable oil

Workout 1:
1. Gather and prep your ingredients as you have your own dance revolution.
2. Sprinkle chicken breasts with pepper.
3. Thread 8 skewers as follows: chicken, mushroom, chicken, onion, chicken, orange quarter, chicken, pineapple chunk, cherry tomato. Do a squat for each piece of chicken you thread. Jog in place each time you thread another item.
4. Place kabobs in shallow pan.
5. Combine remaining ingredients; spoon over kabobs. Meanwhile do side leg lifts. HOW TO DO THEM: Lift your leg straight out to the side until your foot is 6 to 12 inches off the floor. Slightly bend leg you are standing on and keep abs tight. At the top of the movement pause and count to 3.
6. Marinate in refrigerator at least 1 hour.
Workout 2
7. Drain the marinade. Broil 6 inches from heat, 15 minutes on each side, brushing with marinade every 5 minutes. For the first 5 minutes dance or jog around the kitchen (it’s a good time to do some clean-up if needed while you stay moving). For the second five minutes do lunges to and from the table as you set it. For the third 5 minutes go back to your dancing or jogging.
8. Discard any leftover marinade.

Yield: 8 servings. Serving Size: 1/2 chicken breast kabob. Each serving provides: Calories: 359. Total fat: 11 g. Saturated fat: 2 g. Cholesterol: 66 mg. Sodium: 226 mg

Cleaning Day

Time to clean again – does it ever stop? That’s OK; it can be a good workout too. Today let’s vacuum. First, don’t bend to pick up toys, pieces of tape (they’re always on my floor, don’t ask me why) or other objects. Do a squat and squeeze your buns at the top. To get from object to object, jog or jump to get your heart rate up.
Now, instead of standing in one spot and using your arms, walk with your vacuum to get the room clean (similar to mowing your lawn). Keep your abs tight also to work this area as well.

Play Day

Do you ever get frustrated because you’re trying to sneak in a workout and your kids won’t leave you alone? Well if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em – or have them join you in a fun, physically active game.

This activity, from the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund web site, is called Hit The Deck.

Here’s what to do:
1. Get out a pack of cards.
2. Have your child select a card. Do the corresponding activity for each suit:
Heart: touch elbow to knee or crunches for 20 seconds.
Diamond: jog in place or march in place for 20 seconds.
Club: modified push-up or push-ups for 20 seconds.
Spade: jumping jacks or scissors for 20 seconds.

Note: It’s helpful to write the corresponding activities on a board or piece of paper where you can see them. If you don’t like these activities, make up your own!

More ideas from this web site are found at: http://www.fitkidsnc.com/default.aspx

Groggy Day

Here’s a Pilates workout on YouTube for your abs and back to bring some energy you’re your day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qBqptPNA7s&feature=PlayList&p=E72B3947D9C7B873&playnext=1&index=11

Legal junk/Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice or care of medical professionals. Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, or exercise program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.