Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge

[Baltoscott]

December 10

I'm doing a Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge at my gym and thought it would be fun to share with the community.  

It is a cumulative challenge.  Here is how it works.  On the First Day of Christmas, instead of a Partridge in a Pear Tree,  I'll give you an exercise to do.  Not too hard.  On the second day of Christmas, instead of a Partridge in a Pear Tree and Two Turtle Doves, I will give the first exercise, and a second.  On the third day, three exercises, and so on. 

If you miss a day, or see this late and still want to join, you can just double or triple up the missed days with the current day.  For example, if you don't join until day three.  You would do the day one exercise, then the day two exercises, and then the day three exercises all on day three. (You might need to get to a gym for some of these, but a gym isn't required; if a particular exercise is too hard or you don't have available equipment you can substitute something similar, but part of the fun is trying to do them all).

The first day of Christmas is tomorrow, December 11, which is when I will give you the first exercise.  Post here when you finish each day. Lets see how many people we can get on board to sweat a little (just a little) during the last month of 2017! 

[Baltoscott]

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@WendyB wrote:

Sorry @Baltoscott I thought we could do anything from the pic you posted.

I have nothing around this house for a pull up. Nothing where I walk either.

No way can I go under one of my heavy tables. They have bars that go around the table legs. And my Coffee tables are way to light to hold my weight.

I will see what tomorrow brings but I think I will be dropping out.

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No need to drop out @WendyB.  Curls are fine for day 2 if that's what you did, (it's a pulling exercise!); I just didn't understand what you were trying to show.

[Baltoscott]

December 13

On the Third Day of Christmas @Baltoscott gave to me, a one minute plank, two pull-ups (assisted or regular), and three county blocks (0.5 mile on treadmill or walking about).

[Jotex]

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@Baltoscott wrote:

 

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No need to drop out @WendyB.  Curls are fine for day 2 if that's what you did, (it's a pulling exercise!); I just didn't understand what you were trying to show.

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Good to know we can substitute curls!! I couldn't find anything for the pull-ups yesterday either, and like @WendyB had just about decided to drop out. I can do the curls for yesterday and today (!). Thanks for an easy 3rd day! 🙂

[Baltoscott]

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@Jotex wrote:

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@Baltoscott wrote:

 

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No need to drop out @WendyB.  Curls are fine for day 2 if that's what you did, (it's a pulling exercise!); I just didn't understand what you were trying to show.

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Good to know we can substitute curls!! I couldn't find anything for the pull-ups yesterday either, and like @WendyB had just about decided to drop out. I can do the curls for yesterday and today (!). Thanks for an easy 3rd day! 🙂

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I’m glad you said something @Jotex.  I’m using the exercises my gym has been using and some are really hard; but the ones that are new to me are fun to learn.  I’m trying to find less extreme variations and equipment substitutes on the internet as alternatives but feel free to substitute any movement you can do that sort of mimics the posted exercise.  

[Julia_G]

@Baltoscott, since I have only ever been able to hang uselessly (not moving my body one inch) from a pull up bar, I really have no idea what muscles it is even meant to work.

But, as I mentioned, I did the door knob variation (without any fitness bands, so not that much pulling).  I did 10 of these several times throughout the day.  This morning I can definitely feel this activity in both my triceps (especially) and my biceps, so I am very happy with the experiment.  (Ladies of a certain age love it when they feel they have worked their triceps! -- it puts off the day they have to give up sleeveless tops...).

Your variant is a great tip and easy to remember going in or out a door, and no need to get out any equipment.  Thanks!  (But let me know if I was instead meant to feel this in my chest or back instead... in that case it was a big FAIL)

Today's challenge is pretty easy -- I manage that most days.  For any European friends taking part, 1.5 miles is a little short of 2.5 km..

Meanwhile, plank done, door pull ups done,  Walk deferred until it stops raining...

I guess @Daves_Not_Here will be using day 3 to stroll to the pub...and will be pulling up a few glasses before he again collapses plank-like on the floor. Bravo!

(edited to correct miles to km conversion)

[NellyG]

Just done day 2. My pull up under the kitchen table were approximations of what they were supposed to be! This time difference thing is a bit weird. Im not sure which day I should be on!  I've only just done day 2 and some of you are on three already. I'll just plug along on my own time frame!

[Julia_G]

@NellyG, please can we have an under the table photo???

[NellyG]

@Julia_G 🤣🤣 No chance!

[JustMieka]

This challenge seems crazy to my rational mind. Fortunately I'm not letting my rational mind make my decisions lately.  So...I'm in!  

I'm just starting today on day 3 so I'll find a way to make up the 2, 60-second planks and set of pull-ups from days 1 & 2.  Thanks for the challenge! 

[WendyB]

1 minute plank done
3 reps of 12 Curls done
3 mile walk done

I did more curls so I edited it

[Jotex]

Plank - 1 minute  √

Curls - 2 minutes √

Walk - 2 kilometers √

[benvegi]

Day two, plank and two pull ups............... 

    Did the plank, but the pull ups, very humbling, does it count that I used to be able to do pull ups?!

                      So, after reading the posts I substituted curls (3 sets of 15 @ 5, 10, 15 lb) and 

                                  three sets of Lat pull downs. (4 sets of 12 @ 45, 55, 65, 75 lbs)

               Perhaps I'll be able to do pull ups in a month

Day 3 did plank, pull up substitute, and took a 3 mile walk in place of the 1/2 mile walk.  It was 64 and sunny today so why not.

[MarciM]

Done, done, and done. Curious what tomorrow brings us. 🙂

[DramaQueenDiva]

One Min. Plank: Done

2 Pull Ups: Done

3 Country Blocks: Done...3.46 miles walked today!

[MakMak]

Day 3 done! Took a little more motivation today, that hibernation desire is kicking in with the particularly cold day I had! I did work out normally today, but making sure I had the right exercises in took a little more effort.

[Baltoscott]

December 14

On the fourth Day of Christmas @Baltoscott gave to me, a one minute plank, two pull-ups (assisted or regular), three county blocks (0.5 mile on treadmill or walking about), and four man makers.  

Hopefully the link works.  Trying to do it from my iPad on the train this morning. Have fun with the man makers. They were new to me when they came up in this challenge.  I use dumbbells at about 40% the weight I currently use for overhead press.  To make it easier, don’t use any weights and/or put your knees down in the push-up/row parts.

[Baltoscott]

Hey @JustMieka — the rational mind is overrated; at least when it’s telling you that sitting is more comfortable than a Twelve Days of Christmas challenge.  Welcome!

[NellyG]

I have done my day 3 too. The walk was easy peasy. The pull ups were a little more as expected today (I was scared of the table tipping yesterday 🤣) and the plank was accomplished easily.

@Baltoscott  Dont be too hard on us tomorrow!

[DramaQueenDiva]

Planks: DONE!

Pull ups: DONE!

Country blocks: DONE!

Man makers: DONE!

All by NOON too!

[benvegi]

Day 4

When I saw the Man Maker on youtube I groaned.

Did the plank, 3 sets of curls, 1.5 mile walk by 9 am, and actually did the Man Maker!  I'm sure my form was not perfect but got the job done.  I used my 10 lb weights for man maker