Let’s face it. Most would agree that Thanksgiving is the mother-of-all-holidays when it comes to FOOD. So, getting in an early workout that day could help some of us feel not as guilty about over-indulging later.
Garrett Kanehann of Birmingham has his favorite dish. “I eat more stuffing than I do turkey,” Kanehann said.
Emily Davidow of Bloomfield Hills is focused on the bird. “Definitely turkey! Just a turkey leg!”
“I’m hoping somebody shows up with some apple pie,” said Sherri Guoan of Bloomfield Hills.
“My real favorite food for Thanksgiving is pumpkin pie,” explained Bill Solomon of West Bloomfield.
Chris Triplett of Farmington Hills a personal trainer at Life Time, but he’s all about pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, too. “Oh yeah! With all the whipped cream,” Triplett laughed.
Tineile Heiler, Senior Group Training Coordinator at Life Time in Bloomfield Hills, has a Thanksgiving Day workout strategy.
“My suggestion would be first thing in the morning. Get it over with so you can move on with your day and enjoy it the best that you can. The longer you wait, the less you’re probably going to do it,” Heiler said.
So, if you’re going to workout on the holiday, you might as well have fun! Get the family involved. All you need are some light to moderate weights, a little bit of space, and an urge to spell your heart out!
“This is the Turkey Day workout that we’re going to do. Each letter represents an exercise that you’re going to do that spells out Turkey Day,” explained Heiler.
T = Thrusters with Dumbbells
U = Underhand Bent Over Rows
R = Reverse Crunches
K = Kettlebell Swings
E = Elbow Planks
Y = Your Choice of Skaters, High Knees or Jumping Jacks
D = Deadlifts with weights
A = Alternating Reverse Lunges
Y = Your Choice of Burpees or Mountain Climbers
Watch the video above for a demonstration of each move.
Heiler suggests doing 10 reps of each letter’s exercise as many times as possible until 20 minutes is up.
You can make it like a game, so even the kids can get into it.
“You can do this at home before all the festivities begin,” said Heiler.
Spelling out "TURKEY DAY" with these moves will likely work up an appetite!
Thanks to my fellow Turkey Day workout volunteers for demonstrating this.
And extra thanks to Tineile Heiler at the Life Time in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, for leading the charge.
Happy Thanksgiving!
