20 Day Holiday Workout Challenge
Now that we’ve said sayonara to both Halloween and Thanksgiving, I think it’s safe to say that we’re currently in the thick of the holiday season. I’ve even got the decorations to prove it.
From holiday parties with buffets of seasonal cakes & cookies, to the urge to cook and devour warm carbs every night, the chilly winter season is full of temptation and opportunities to overindulge. For me though, it’s easier to manage winter weight gain by staying active instead of refusing to enjoy special, once-a-year holiday goodies. Therefore this year I’ve decided to ward off the weight with a plan.
There’s 20 weekdays from now until Christmas, and I intend to workout on every single one of them, taking Saturdays & Sundays off. ‘Cause your body needs a break, and I hate working out on the weekends.
There, I said it.
Luckily I have 40+ treadmill and workout routines to choose from on my Workouts Page, so every day I’ll pick one and, come hell, high water, or, shudder, a 5am trip to the gym – I’ll complete it.
Please feel free to join me in my challenge if you’d like, in any way you can. Maybe you hate running, but love walking, using the elliptical, or taking workout classes. Perfect! The idea is just to stay active over the next 20 weekdays.
I’ve created a 20 Day Holiday Workout Challenge page where I’ll be documenting what I do. Leave your blog URL, or name if you don’t have a blog, in the comments section of that page if you plan on participating in the challenge. I’ve also tossed around the idea of making a button to copy/paste on your blog, so let me know if there’s any interest in that!
In the meantime, here’s to the most wonderful, time – and YOU – of the year!
~~~~~
How do you ward off holiday/winter-related weight gain? Making careful food choices, taking it up a notch in the gym, or just figuring it will even out eventually?
Do you have to cook to accomodate a special diet, or food allergies?
sara 11.28.2011
Kristin,
I agree with the other readers above, please change your settings back so I can see all of your posts in my reader!
kathleen 11.28.2011
Im in! :) I am going to try to eat EXTRA healthy during the week so that I can enjoy all the parties and cocktails when they do come around. Hoping that will make me feel less guilty. I CANT BELIEVE THERE ARE ONLY 20 WEEKDAYS LEFT!!! what? omg.
Sarah 11.28.2011
I really miss being able to read your whole post in google reader, since often I cannot click over to the site (at work or on my phone). Is there a way for you to go back to the old way so the whole post can be read in Google Reader, or is it that way now for profit/ads reasons?
Thanks! Love your blog–and I will definitely still click over, but I can only do that at home (I like pinning your recipes!)
Sarah 11.28.2011
I really miss being able to read your whole post in google reader, since often I cannot click over to the site (at work or on my phone). Is there a way for you to go back to the old way so the whole post can be read in Google Reader, or is it that way now for profit/ads reasons?
Thanks! Love your blog!
Katie 11.28.2011
I love this idea! Very inspirational to take care of yourself!
Kate 11.28.2011
Did you change your reader settings? I only read on my reader and IGE is my favorite food blog! I don’t know if I will read nearly as much now. Please change your settings back!!!!!
Helen 11.28.2011
I agree with this! Love IGE but with these new settings, I’ll probably unsubscribe. Any chance you can change them back?
Melanie 11.28.2011
My husband and I have *promised* each other that we’ll both workout every day in December. Lucky for us, we don’t have to start until Thursday (Dec 1st)! We’ve agreed to at least 30 mins of moderate exercise per day. We’ll see how it goes! Love your blog and can’t wait to try the turkey burgers.
Lauren 11.28.2011
Love this idea! And I love that you’re taking the weekends off. A great mindset to go into this Christmas season.
shandy (@webgals) 11.28.2011
Oh please, oh please, change your feed settings back to full post. I know it’s harder to measure and less ad revenue possibilities….but readers want easy reading. Like me. That being said, I’ll still visit…just prefer the fewer clicks (I’m lazy) :)
Holly 11.29.2011
I second this!
New site looks beautiful!
Sorry to hear about your hubby’s cholesterol. Hopefully it comes down naturally through diet and then maybe you can add back in a few cheese-ish meals from time to time.
Abby 11.28.2011
Totally getting on track for the next few weeks as well. Tried something new (from Pinterest) tonight- Kale chips. OH. MY. GOD. Amazing. I’m trying “two-a-days” from Mon-Thurs; morning workout at the gym (mostly cardio), plus a quick Jillian Michaels Shred after work. Did it today… one down… ?? to go!
allison @ thesundayflog 11.28.2011
did you change your settings? i couldnt view the post in my reader. (im not one of those people who refuses to “click over” but the convenience factor of reader is unmatched, especially when i read blogs on my phone). anyways, i LOVE all things greek, and these look awesome….if i ate meat haha!
Sarah 11.28.2011
Yea, what they said about the reader settings!
Amy 11.28.2011
I love this idea! I have recently challenged myself to try and fit in two Body Pump classes per week because I was just relying on my running and neglecting other forms of fitness (naughty exercise physiologist that I am).
This is the first year I will be celebrating the holidays at my goal weight so I am trying to be very careful with my indulgences and keep up my activity. Luckily it is easy for me to fit this in and my sister is very active so she inspires me to keep going :)
I cook to accomodate the omnivores in my house, and they cook to accomodate the no meat, no wheat chickpea that I am!
Can’t wait for all the candy at Christmas though :)
Blog is the New Black 11.28.2011
LOVE a good Greek burger! Looks divine!
Diane 11.28.2011
I love this idea. I’m definitely going to try and work on the weekdays until Christmas. I’ve been needing a ‘reason’ for getting back into a workout routine :o)
Also, how long have you been running? I have a desire to run for peace of mind and exercise but I always get discouraged. Any tips?
Iowa Girl Eats 11.29.2011
You bet! Check out the bottom of this post: https://iowagirleats.com/2011/01/27/how-to-run-longer-and-faster/, or the bottom of this page: https://iowagirleats.com/workouts/
Allison 11.29.2011
Also, I suggest running with a partner who is faster and in better shape than you. I will give up much more quickly on my own than if I have someone at my side pushing me onward. My dad is a member of a running club, and running in a pack really helps him keep going, too.
Amber 11.28.2011
My hubby has high cholesterol too (or had – he was able to get it under control but you know – I watch it like a hawk) so these burgers look perfect. We will definitely be making them in the next week or so. Thanks for sharing!
lauren @ sassy molassy 11.28.2011
Yes, I’ll definitely be taking part in this time of parties galore and decadent foods. My first time to see the new layout (as I read from google reader) – cute!
Chloe (In Fine Feather) 11.28.2011
Great idea! I don’t know if working out 5 days a week is feasible with my class schedule & finals coming up but I will definitely be making some sort of fitness commitment.
Does high cholesterol run in Ben’s family? I only ask because I know a lot of young people can develop it if there is a genetic pre-disposition. Hope those numbers come down!
Iowa Girl Eats 11.29.2011
Unfortunately (well, fortunately) it doesn’t, so hopefully all his eating & working out efforts will bring it down!
Chloe (In Fine Feather) 11.29.2011
That is good news, and I’m sure with a creative wife like you he’ll be enjoying a lot of great cholesterol-lowering foods without even knowing the difference :)
Michelle 11.28.2011
I love this idea and the new look of your site!
Amy Ramos 11.28.2011
I am doing this:
http://trainingdaily.runnersworld.com/2011/11/17/announcing-the-inaugural-rw-holiday-running-streak/
So far so good-I have logged at least one mile a day.
And this started today:
http://www.bobbimccormick.com/?p=23664
I can take the workout to the gym and do this and then do my one mile run on the treadmill or go outside.
Worth every penny to me!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn 11.28.2011
DOIN IT. Thank God I worked out today! Ahah.