Everyone gets a little conscious of their tummy area around Christmas. Even if you have six pack abs, we all feel a little softer around this time. Old friends are in town, chocolates just appear out of thin air, and greetings are usually accompanied by a little tipple of some kind.
This is the beauty of Christmas. I like to see it as a way of seeing out the year surrounded by the people who made your year what it was.
We have lots of physical and emotional challenges that come our way at Christmas. For people who have lost loved ones, there is a heartbreaking loneliness around this time. Others may have some money worries. Whatever is on your mind, getting physical can really help your mood, outlook, and waistline. As your fitness professional, it’s my job to help you enjoy the next two weeks by being the happiest you can be!
Movement plays a huge part in this, which is why I want to share three go-to workouts with you to use over the festive period. These workouts are all 12 minutes long and can be done anywhere. While everyone else is lounging around on the couch, grab your phone or iPad, press play and get a sharp, fast workout done.
The benefits are enormous. As these workouts are all High Intensity Interval training (HIIT), you will burn fat for hours after you finish! Our focus is on saving time, giving it our best, and forgetting the hassle of travelling to a gym or even getting into our gym clothes (I have often hopped out of bed and done these workouts wearing the bare minimum). As there is some jumping around, a sports bra and trainers are recommended, but it’s entirely up to you.
All three workouts tighten your core, get your heart pumping and burn plenty of calories. Make them your on call sessions for when the gym is closed, and the holiday season gets a bit too hectic!
3 Core Workout Christmas Crackers
I love each one of these workouts and all are highly effective. You can do them in the order they are in, or mix and match them depending on how you feel. Two were filmed in Madrid while the other was filmed in West Cork. Each one showcases a moment in time on my fitness journey, and I’m very excited to train with you virtually side by side over the coming weeks.
1. The Rock Body Workout
This all action workout consists of 12 exercises and was filmed in Drombeg Stone Circle in West Cork, Ireland. The name was inspired by the 17 giant rocks that make up this unique location. It’s an all over body workout that keeps you moving. You’ll jump, punch, twist and kick!
It’s high energy mix of cardio, strength and core is the perfect tonic to the Christmas season’s excess. Start this one slowly, and as you get warm pick up the pace. Do as many repetitions as you can in each forty second work phase, before taking your twenty second break.
Check out the 30 second preview below, or for the full video click this link: The Rock Body Workout
2. The Cardio Abs Workout
My most recent workout sees us joined by my occasional workout partner Polina and was filmed in Madrid, Spain. This is your chance to rope a friend or family member into training with you. It’s great fun and both of you will push each other.
At one point in this video. I comment on how fast Polina is doing one of the exercises. I was seriously struggling to keep up! This energised me and made me dig deeper. I loved the fire and enthusiasm it brought and really enjoyed filming together.
Whether you have a tall, strong, Russian woman accompanying you (Polina!), or your Uncle Tim, try this one out with a buddy for some Christmas workout fun! The mix of cardio and core is perfect for when you’re looking to tighten up and feel better before a night out or after a long day of eating.
Check out the 30 second preview below, or for the full video click this link: The Cardio Abs Workout
3. Titanium Abs Workout
Set in a forest in the city of Madrid called Casa de Campo, this Abs workout mixes, jumps, twists, hops, and crunches to strengthen and tighten your core and makes those abs burn! It continues to be one of my most popular workout videos and is just what you need when a little guilt sets in. Yes you ate all those chocs, but here is a way to feel enormously better in only 12 minutes.
This workout moves away from most of the traditional Ab moves, and instead concentrates on your complete central area that gives you the strength and support you need to do your essential daily activities. It certainly gets tough, but again, just do your best and try to complete as many reps as possible in the time allowed. Break when you need to, but always finish a move with me.
We are working out together, and at times suffering together, so stick with it. If we are all giving it our best, then the workout has been a success.
Check out one of the moves in the preview below, or for the full video click this link: Titanium Abs Workout
These three core and cardio workouts will no doubt help keep your fitness on track this Christmas. Enjoy this time of year. It certainly is special. However, somewhere in your subconscious mind, be gearing up for the fittest year of your life.
Nobody wants to stumble into a new year feeling in bad shape. Start making the right moves now and get a head start on 2017. It’s going to arrive, and when it does, I’ll be ready to greet it, feeling absolutely wonderful after putting in my little bit of work over the holidays.
I hope you will too.
Give the workouts a try and be sure to let me know how they go!