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! 

[MarciM]

I am woefully behind, but determined to get caught up today. Even headed out to work on foot today in 37 degree weather hoping to get 20+ miles in to make up for the past couple of days that were spent in a chair in front of my computer. Wish me luck!

[DramaQueenDiva]

My progress for Day 10:

1 One Min Plank: DONE

2 Pull Ups: DONE

3 Country Blocks: Only 0.1 miles done so far, so I will have to wait for this one to come in

4 Man Makers: DONE

5 Pistol Squats: DONE

6 Fitbit Floors: Only 2 done so far, so I will have to wait for this one to come in too

7 Overhead Squats: DONE

8 Lunges: DONE

9 Medicine Ball Drops: DONE

10 Rows: I will have to add a mile to my Country Blocks for this one as I don't have access to a rower or any workout equipment whatsoever.  So I will be waiting for this one to come in too.

[WendyB]

1 minute plank Done
3 reps of 12 Curls Done
3 mile walk Done
4 Man Markers on knees Done
5 on each leg Pistol Squats Done
6 Fitbit floors Done
7 Overhead Squats Done
8 curtsey lunges Done
9 medicine ball slams Done found a different ball
10 Adding a mile to my walk as I do not have a rower or access to one Done

[DramaQueenDiva]

Day 10 is finally done: I did 12 Floors and needed 6. Also did 2.22 miles when I needed 1.5 miles!

[Baltoscott]

December 21

On the Eleventh 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), four man makers, five pistol squats (each leg), six fitbit floors (or Step Mill/Stair Master), seven overhead squats, eight curtsey lunges, nine  medicine ball slams, ten hundred (1000) meters on the rower, and eleven  curl and presses.

[NellyG]

Today all done. And that was after 5 hours ofndance lessons so I am pretty tired!  Our wonerful coach from Perthnis donw here on holiday and dedicated a day to showing us new routines! Bit of work ahead!  So what are tomorrow's  curl and presses? Maybe google will tell me!

[DramaQueenDiva]

Day 11:

COMPLETED:

1 One Min Plank

2 Pull Ups

3 Country Blocks

4 Man Makers

5 Pistol Squats

6 Fitbit Floors

7 Overhead Squats

8 Lunges

9 Medicine Ball Drops

10 Rows (or 1 mile walk)

11 Curl Presses

Day 11 is IN THE BOOKS!

[Baltoscott]

@NellyG -- Yes, google will tell you, but I've made it easy and added a link for curls and presses in my day 11 post.  (I was posting from my phone this morning and didn't have the patience to put in all the links).

I wonder what Day 12 of Christmas/Fitness -- the last and final -- will be?

[Jotex]

Day 11 - All complete with alternative options as needed, to the best of my ability). 

[WendyB]

1 minute plank Done
3 reps of 12 Curls Done
3 mile walk Done
4 Man Markers on knees Done
5 on each leg Pistol Squats Done
6 Fitbit floors Done
7 Overhead Squats Done
8 Curtsey lunges Done
9 medicine ball slams Done found a different ball
10 Adding a mile to my walk Done
11 curl and presses Done

@Baltoscott  Hoping its a @Daves_Not_Here Plank

[Jotex]

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@WendyB wrote:

1 minute plank Done
3 reps of 12 Curls Done
3 mile walk Done
4 Man Markers on knees Done
5 on each leg Pistol Squats Done
6 Fitbit floors Done
7 Overhead Squats Done
8 Curtsey lunges Done
9 medicine ball slams Done found a different ball
10 Adding a mile to my walk Done
11 curl and presses Done

@Baltoscott  Hoping its a @Daves_Not_Here Plank

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Ditto what  @WendyB  said about @Daves_Not_Here type of ‘gift’! 🍷🥂 

[Baltoscott]

December 22

Happy holidays everyone.  Here is your last day, Woohoo!!

On the Twelfth (finally) 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), four man makers, five pistol squats (each leg), six fitbit floors (or Step Mill/Stair Master), seven overhead squats, eight curtsey lunges, nine  medicine ball slams, ten hundred (1000) meters on the rower, eleven  curl and presses, and twelve  box jump burpees (like burpees aren't bad enough!). 

At my gym they were using this as the 'box.'  If you are at home, you could also do box jump burpees at the bottom of some steps and hop up one or more steps for the box jump part.

adjustable "box"

[Jotex]

Oh no, @Baltoscott! Those in that video you shared the link to looked deadly (and I would NEVER be able to jump that high - it's about half my height!). I was thinking about ditching today, and drinking something instead. Found this..

.But with your recent edit, I admit I have been inspired. So, I'll use what is 'do-able' for me {arthritis notwithstanding}:

Yep, my rolled up yoga mat. I hope it won't slide on the carpet, else I'll fall back and bang my head on the trampoline and end up in Emergency {wouldn't mind if George Clooney were there... }. As you see, I suffer from too much imagination, which always leaps to the worst case scenario!]

Thanks a million for the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge @Baltoscott! Many were the times these 12 days when I thought, albeit fleetingly, of dropping out, but you and our colleagues here kept me inspired and motivated.

Also wishing everyone Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and a good start to the New Year! See y'all in the Weekly Weigh-In {should be interesting with all the tempting food around...!}.

Cheers!

[NellyG]

Well I just finished day 11. Im notnsure if I want to do tomorrow. The only thing keeping me honest is that it is the last day. Im sure I can manage one more day. Though I like @Jotex burpees better 🤣

[Baltoscott]

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@Daves_Not_Here wrote:

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@Julia_G wrote:

@Baltoscott, you started with a hard one!  And I guess this means I have got to do a 60 second plank every day for the next 12 days... Yikes! 

---

@Julia_G - Right?  See how he is?  Taking a perfectly good holiday and putting pain right in the middle of it.  The Grinch's got nothin' on this guy.

OK @Baltoscott - Here's yer plank:

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If you do @Daves_Not_Here style planks on day 12, burpees won’t be far behind 😝 

[DramaQueenDiva]

Day 12:

COMPLETED:

1 One Min Plank

2 Pull Ups

3 Country Blocks

4 Man Makers

5 Pistol Squats

6 Fitbit Floors

7 Overhead Squats

8 Lunges

9 Medicine Ball Drops

10 Rows or in my case, 1 extra mile

11 Curl Presses

12 Box Step Burpees

CHALLENGE COMPLETE, THANKS @Baltoscott!

[Julia_G]

I thought this was a really good idea, and theoretically a lot of fun, but I have to admit that I am way behind and did get a bit discouraged.

My biggest problem was that at this busy time of year I just can't fit in learning all these new activities and techniques sufficiently well to make sure that 1.  I don't hurt myself while 2. getting enough out of the activity actually to benefit.

I kind of got stuck on the pistol squats where the guy said you had first to perfect your squat technique.  (I'm still working on that.)

I have had at least a look at every day's gift, and I have done some of the tasks, where I could without equipment: for example, I loved the idea of using door handles/ knobs or a table to simulate a pull up, but there was really no substitute for a medicine ball to get anything out of the activity, or a rowing machine.  Today's exercise is a definite no no for me:   even if I had stairs in an area where I could also stretch out and do a burpee (I don't) I wouldn't do those jumps -- not at all healthy or recommended for many older woman who have had children..

My thoughts and suggestions if he (or anyone) thinks about doing this again (because I do think it is a lovely idea): start a little earlier -- maybe first week in December, so the game finishes before things get quite so busy with Christmas, and assign more familiar and basic exercises that don't involve gyms (or gym equipment) or can be done by anyone (like exercises that could be done only using your own body weight) -- example lunges with or without dumb bells.  (Well, I admit, this would probably be boring for anyone in the gym every day... but in the run up to Christmas, I, for one, don't need a lot of excitement, but I do really appreciate someone helping me keep up with basic fitness routines amidst all the hustle and bustle...)

I'd like to thank @Baltoscott for his idea, for posting all those links, and for sticking with it when he must also have been very busy.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to everyone who has "enjoyed" these lovely gifts!  

[WendyB]

1 minute plank Done
3 reps of 12 Curls Done
3 mile walk Done
4 Man Markers on knees Done
5 on each leg Pistol Squats Done
6 Fitbit floors Done
7 Overhead Squats Done
8 curtsey lunges Done
9 medicine ball slams Done found a different ball
10 Adding a mile to my walk Done
11 curl and presses Done
12 Sorry had to revise no way I can do Burpees right now with my hip. So I did Wall pushups and I used my StairMaster to jump on which is a lot smaller than that box.

Thanks Scott!

[Baltoscott]

Thanks to all of you played along and congratulations on completing the Twelve Days of Christmas challenge. Good debrief, @Julia_G, and thanks for keeping the thread alive with your daily check-ins and sharing substitute exercises @WendyB @DramaQueenDiva @NellyG @MarciM, and @Jotex.  

I appreciate that some of the exercises were crazy challenging, and that most of us had to find some substitutions along the way (I haven't seen anyone at my gym at work do a full butt-to-heal pistol, for example, but that is probably because we are older government workers and not the 20-something crossfit crowd).  Even so, I thought it was fun and enjoyed having something new and a little ridiculous pop up for a daily challenge for a couple of weeks.   

[MarciM]

Thank you @Baltoscott! it was fun to learn some new moves, but the best part was reading everyone's comments. Happy Holidays!