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! 

[WendyB]

Plank is done

[Dominique]

Haven’t done planks for ages, but done!

[MagsOnTheBeach]

I ended up googling and it looks like for core, forearms, for shoulders, on hands.  I don;t mind either, but your link showed different ways. 😄  I like threading the needle in plank position.  It's really hard but fun.

[MakMak]

Wow, way to start out strong! We did a plank challenge in the gym last week to see who could hold out the longest. The last two of us didn't want to give up, so we finally agreed to mutually drop at 2:45. This was much less painful than that!

[DramaQueenDiva]

I'm in! I'll see how to do a plank on my Wii Fit...kind of hard to see it on the Ionic as you're doing it!

[DramaQueenDiva]

And DONE, although the Wii board was cutting into my left forearm at the end! Got some yoga and aerobics in as well!

[Baltoscott]

December 12

On the Second Day of Christmas @Baltoscott gave to me, a one minute plank, and 2 pull-ups (assisted or regular).

If you cannot do regular pull-ups but belong to a gym, see if they have an assisted pull-up machine.  Very cool contraption for progressing to full pull ups.  The link I gave shows creative ways to get body weight pulling type exercises if you don't have access to a pull-up bar -- including pulling up from under a table, or leaning back from the door knobs on either side of an open door.  Whatever you can do.

[NellyG]

I'm with @MarciM here! I have had a very long day today (literally) - up at 6am and flew bcak to WA from Victoria which entails gaining three extra hours, then 5 hour drive back to Albany. And then a PLANK?? But I did it lol

[Baltoscott]

@NellyG — Wow.  What a long day!  You should have done the plank in the aisle on the plane.  If you did it during a descent it might have even been easier.  😉

[benvegi]

OK, did my 1 minute Plank!  Ben

[Julia_G]

I've never been able to do a pull-up, or even come close.  I found the suggestions for alternatives without a pull-up bar very interesting.  I tried the table version, but that was a total non starter because I couldn't get my butt off the floor at all (let alone pull myself up...).  Next I tried the holding on the door handle version, which I managed without too much trouble. so I am pretty sure that it wasn't really a substitute...  But to make up for its easiness I did 10.  

I also did the 2nd Day of Christmas plank.

I hate to think what's coming tomorrow...

[WendyB]

I thought you said easy???

Plank done

Pull ups done I did this one as I have to watch my hips. Did more than 2 as I do this all the time

[Baltoscott]

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@WendyB wrote:

I thought you said easy???

Plank done

Pull ups done I did this one as I have to watch my hips. Did more than 2 as I do this all the time

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@WendyB - did you crop to the right exercise?  The model in the big picture looks like she is getting ready to do barbell curls.  I can see an arrow pointed to the picture in the middle under the bigger one, but can't tell what exercise is being done there because cropping.

[Baltoscott]

@Julia_G -- I've got a door frame pull up bar at home a bit like this one for days when I'm not at the gym.  One way to do assisted pull ups with something like that is to loop an exercise band over it, and then put your foot or knee in the band so it helps pull you up.

I tried the door frame variation too.  Not sure how you did them, but you may be able to make them a bit more challenging tomorrow by squatting close to the open door, moving your knees and hand on doorknobs to either side so that your butt is on or near the floor and your torso is hugging the edge of the door. Then try pulling your torso up without any, or as little as possible, assist from your legs.

[MagsOnTheBeach]

LOL, I can't pull up and my house is rickety, I'd lose a doorknob or flip a table using the options.  Instead I did rows with a kettlebell, hopefully that will count.  I planked too.

[MarciM]

Plank and 2 pull ups. This is feeling more like 12 days of torture. 

[Daves_Not_Here]

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MarciM wrote: This is feeling more like 12 days of torture. 

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@MarciM - I'm glad somebody else said it.

Awright @Baltoscott -- last night, in your honor, I fell asleep laying flat, which I submit is somewhat plankesque.  Today after work, I'm going to Pull-Up to the bar.  Cheers!

[DramaQueenDiva]

Planks and pull ups done, albeit from under a pool table!  

[WendyB]

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.

[MakMak]

2 days down, 10 to go! Thanks for sharing those bar alternatives, @Baltoscott!