28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Eighteen #28DayFit

Today, we are combining strength training with cardio training to get the maximum benefit from our workouts.

Day Eighteen
(combined)

Beginner Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 14 times (that's up AND down counted as one time), while holding hand weights. Make sure to move your hands in a jogging motion while holding the weights, in time with your jogging. You may use water bottles or cans of food if you don't have hand weights. This is a great way to get your heart rate up while also working your arm muscles. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure to wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 24 minutes at a reasonable pace; then do 8 minutes of planks. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. A plank is where you klay face down to the ground and hold your body up using your hands and your feet, keeping your legs, back and arms, straight.

3. Jog for 14 minutes; then do 9 push-ups. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 14 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. If jogging for fourteen consecutive minutes is too difficult for you, break it up and do two separate sessions of jogging for 7 minute each, followed by 5 push-ups with the first set and 4 push-ups with the second set.

4. Jump rope for 14 minutes; then do 9 front lunges. For the lunges, place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs. If 14 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 4 1/2-minute sessions. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 5 squats while lifting hand weights from shoulder height to all the way extended and back down again. Then, setting the weights out of the way, do 5 jumping jacks/star jumps. Then repeat, doing 5 squats and then 5 jumping jacks/star jumps. Then repeat the process one more time so that you have done a total of three sets of 5 squats/arm lifts and four sets of 5 jumping jacks/star jumps. Raise the arms while doing the squat and lower them back to your shoulders when you are coming up from the squat.for the squat, place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your abdominal muscles. the arm weights will work out your upper arms and the jumping jacks/star jumps will get your heart rate elevated to help burn off calories.

6. Spend 10 minutes roller skating while wearing ankle and wrist weights. This will work out several areas of the body, with particular focus on the legs. Be sure to wear appropriate safety gear.


Intermediate Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 24 times (that's up AND down counted as one time), while holding hand weights. Make sure to move your hands in a jogging motion while holding the weights, in time with your jogging. You may use water bottles or cans of food if you don't have hand weights. This is a great way to get your heart rate up while also working your arm muscles. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure to wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 44 minutes at a reasonable pace; then do 14 minutes of planks. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. A plank is where you lay face down to the ground and hold your body up using your hands and your feet, keeping your legs, back and arms, straight.

3. Jog for 24 minutes; then do 14 push-ups. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 24 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. If jogging for 24 consecutive minutes is too difficult for you, break it up and do two separate sessions of jogging for 12 minutes each, followed by 7 push-ups each time.

4. Jump rope for 16 minutes; then do 12 front lunges. For the lunges, place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs. If 16 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 8-minute sessions, followed by 6 front lunges each time. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 5 squats while lifting hand weights from shoulder height to all the way extended and back down again. Then, setting the weights out of the way, do 5 jumping jacks/star jumps. Then repeat this three more times (for a total of four sets of 5 squats/arm lifts and four sets of 5 jumping jacks/star jumps). Raise the arms while doing the squat and lower them back to your shoulders when you are coming up from the squat.for the squat, place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your abdominal muscles. the arm weights will work out your upper arms and the jumping jacks/star jumps will get your heart rate elevated to help burn off calories.

6. Spend 15 minutes roller skating while wearing ankle and wrist weights. This will work out several areas of the body, with particular focus on the legs. Be sure to wear appropriate safety gear.


Advanced Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 32 times (that's up AND down counted as one time), while holding hand weights. Make sure to move your hands in a jogging motion while holding the weights, in time with your jogging. You may use water bottles or cans of food if you don't have hand weights. This is a great way to get your heart rate up while also working your arm muscles. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure to wear appropriate shoes. Your hand weights, if you have them, should be no less than 5 pounds each, although, at the advanced level, you are probably capable of using heavier hand weights.

2. Walk for 47 minutes at a fast pace; then do 15 minutes of planks. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. A plank is where you lay face down to the ground and hold your body up using your hands and your feet, keeping your legs, back and arms, straight.

3. Jog for 32 minutes; then do 18 push-ups. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 32 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. If jogging for 32 consecutive minutes is too difficult for you, break it up and do two separate sessions of jogging for 16 minutes each, followed by 9 push-ups each time.

4. Jump rope for 22 minutes; then do 18 front lunges. For the lunges, place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs. If 22 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 11-minute sessions, followed by 9 front lunges each time. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 5 squats while lifting hand weights from shoulder height to all the way extended and back down again. Then, setting the weights out of the way, do 5 jumping jacks/star jumps. Then repeat this four more times (for a total of five sets of 5 squats/arm lifts and five sets of five jumping jacks/star jumps). Raise the arms while doing the squat and lower them back to your shoulders when you are coming up from the squat.for the squat, place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your abdominal muscles. the arm weights will work out your upper arms and the jumping jacks/star jumps will get your heart rate elevated to help burn off calories.

6. Spend 20 minutes roller skating while wearing ankle and wrist weights. This will work out several areas of the body, with particular focus on the legs. Be sure to wear appropriate safety gear.

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28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Seventeen #28DayFit

Day Seventeen
(aerobic/cardio)

Choose two exercises within your level:

Beginner Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 12 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 22 minutes at a relaxed pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 12 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 12 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. 

4. Jump rope for 12 minutes. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 12 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this twelve times.

6. Do 12 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, three times, then do the 14-minute boxing session once. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 12 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take a 30-minute long beginning-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

10. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 3 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 3 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 3 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 3 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

11. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 4 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this four times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, three times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 4 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

12. Hula hoop for 5 minutes. If you don't have a hula hoop, mimic the action you would do if you were trying to keep a hula hoop from falling.

Intermediate Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 22 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 32 minutes at a reasonable pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 16 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 16 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. 

4. Jump rope for 16 minutes. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 16 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this 16 times.

6. Do 22 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum. 

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, four times, then do the 14-minute boxing session once. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the intermediate level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 16 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take a 30-minute long intermediate-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

10. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 5 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 5 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 5 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 5 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

11. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 6 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this six times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, six times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 6 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

12. Hula hoop for 10 minutes. If you don't have a hula hoop, mimic the action you would do if you were trying to keep a hula hoop from falling.

Advanced Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 32 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. And wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 38 minutes at a fast pace and then jog for 7 minutes. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. 

3. Jog for 22 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 20 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog.

4. Jump rope for 11 minutes, then do star jumps/jumping jacks for 11 minutes, then do another 11 minutes of jump rope and finish with 11 more minutes of star jumps/jumping jacks. Changing up the exercise helps to break the monotony of doing the same thing. The mind likes having the second-long breaks between doing one action and doing the next to look forward to. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Use the elliptical crosstrainer for 32 minutes. You need to either vary your speed and incline or you need to stay at a mid-to-high range with both. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

6. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, five times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the advanced level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

7. Dance to fast music for 22 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

8. Take a 30-minute to 60-minute long advanced-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

9. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 7 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 7 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 7 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 7 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

10. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 8 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this eight times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, eight times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 8 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

11. Hula hoop for 16 minutes. If you don't have a hula hoop, mimic the action you would do if you were trying to keep a hula hoop from falling.

12. Work out for 30 minutes to a Tae Bo exercise video. Tae Bo is a combination of tae kwon do and boxing. Tae Bo is effective in toning and defining the body as well as giving an excellent cardiovascular workout.

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28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Sixteen #28DayFit

As I stated yesterday, in whichever level you are doing, whether it's beginning, intermediate or advanced, you are going to choose TWO things to do for your daily challenge.

The reason for this is to prevent boredom and routine from setting in and to work out a wider variety of muscles within your daily fitness routine.

Day Sixteen
(anaerobic/strength training)

Choose two exercises within your level:

Beginner Level

1.  Grab some small hand weights and put your arms straight up above your head. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering the hand weights to behind your head. Slowly unbend your arms and repeat this 10 times. This will work out the underside of your upper arms. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights. Start with smaller weights. At this level, you will probably need to work your way up to heavier weights. If you are comfortable using heavier weights, then go ahead.

2. Do 10 squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. Repeat this 10 times. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your abdominal muscles.

3. Do 10 front lunges. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs.

4. Do 10 sit ups. Lay with your back flat and your knees bent. Either have someone hold your feet down or tuck them under your couch to be certain you don't lift them off the floor. Cross your arms behind your head, but keep them loose. Keeping your back straight, lift your upper body until you are sitting up, then slowly lower yourself again. Be certain not to pull yourself using your arms. This is meant to be working out your abdominal muscles, so let them do the work.

5. Do 10 stomach crunches. These are similar to a sit up, except you do not sit up all the way. Lay flat with your knees bent. Cross your hands over your chest. Curl your shoulders up towards your pelvis. As you lift your shoulders, keep the small of your back against the floor. Repeat this ten times. This will work out your abdominal muscles and your obliques.

6. Do 6 push-ups. Facing down, put your arms on the floor, elbows straight and keep your back straight and your legs straight out behind you. Slowly bend your elbows to touch your chin almost to the floor while keeping your back straight. Then straighten your arms, raising yourself back up from the floor, again, keeping your back straight. Repeat this six times. This is an excellent workout for your arms, but can also have a positive impact on your abdominal muscles and back. If this is too difficult for you, instead of keeping your legs straight out behind you, you may instead kneel on your knees for this.

7. Grab some small hand weights and hold the weights at shoulder height, almost sitting on top of your shoulders but nor touching. Slowly raise your arms straight up, as if pushing the weights up above your head. Then slowly lower them to just above your shoulders again, keeping them close to you. Repeat this 10 times. This will work out your upper arm and your shoulder muscles. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights, and be careful not to drop them.

8. Swim 10 laps in a pool that is smaller than Olympic-sized or 6 laps in an Olympic-sized pool. The resistance of the water against your movements is a great way to tone your muscles and the weightlessness your body experiences in the water means that the exercise is not harmful to your joints. Most communities have a pool that you can use for small fee.


Intermediate Level

1. Grab some small hand weights and put your arms straight up above your head. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering the hand weights to behind your head. Slowly unbend your arms and repeat this 15 times. This will work out the underside of your upper arms. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights. At this level, you should be able to start with some medium-weight hand weights. You might still need to work your way up to heavier weights.

2. Do 15 squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. Repeat this 15 times. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your stomach muscles.

3. Do 14 front lunges. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs.

4. Do 20 sit ups. Lay with your back flat and your knees bent. Either have someone hold your feet down or tuck them under your couch to be certain you don't lift them off the floor. Cross your arms behind your head, but keep them loose. Keeping your back straight, lift your upper body until you are sitting up, then slowly lower yourself again. Be certain not to pull yourself using your arms. This is meant to be working out your abdominal muscles, so let them do the work.

5. Do 15 stomach crunches. These are similar to a sit up, except you do not sit up all the way. Lay flat with your knees bent. Cross your hands over your chest. Curl your shoulders up towards your pelvis. As you lift your shoulders, keep the small of your back against the floor. Repeat this fifteen times. This will work out your abdominal muscles and your obliques.

6. Do 10 push-ups. Facing down, put your arms on the floor, elbows straight and keep your back straight and your legs straight out behind you. Slowly bend your elbows to touch your chin almost to the floor while keeping your back straight. Then straighten your arms, raising yourself back up from the floor, again, keeping your back straight. Repeat this ten times. This is an excellent workout for your arms, but can also have a positive impact on your abdominal muscles and back.

7. Grab some small hand weights and hold the weights at shoulder height, almost sitting on top of your shoulders but nor touching. Slowly raise your arms straight up, as if pushing the weights up above your head. Then slowly lower them to just above your shoulders again, keeping them close to you. Repeat this 15 times. This will work out your upper arm and your shoulder muscles. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights, and be careful not to drop them.

8. Swim 15 laps in a pool that is smaller than Olympic-sized or 10 laps in an Olympic-sized pool. The resistance of the water against your movements is a great way to tone your muscles and the weightlessness your body experiences in the water means that the exercise is not harmful to your joints. Most communities have a pool that you can use for small fee.


Advanced Level

1. Grab some small hand weights and put your arms straight up above your head. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering the hand weights to behind your head. Slowly unbend your arms and repeat this 20 times. This will work out the underside of your upper arms. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights. If you have hand weights, they should be a minimum of 5 pounds each, but, at this level, you are probably capable of heavier weights.

2. Do 20 squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. Repeat this twenty times. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your stomach muscles.

3. Do 20 front lunges. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs.

4. Do 30 sit ups. Lay with your back flat and your knees bent. Either have someone hold your feet down or tuck them under your couch to be certain you don't lift them off the floor. Cross your arms behind your head, but keep them loose. Keeping your back straight, lift your upper body until you are sitting up, then slowly lower yourself again. Be certain not to pull yourself using your arms. This is meant to be working out your abdominal muscles, so let them do the work.

5. Do 20 stomach crunches. These are similar to a sit up, except you do not sit up all the way. Lay flat with your knees bent. Cross your hands over your chest. Curl your shoulders up towards your pelvis. As you lift your shoulders, keep the small of your back against the floor. Repeat this twenty times. This will work out your abdominal muscles and your obliques.

6. Do 20 push-ups. Facing down, put your arms on the floor, elbows straight and keep your back straight and your legs straight out behind you. Slowly bend your elbows to touch your chin almost to the floor while keeping your back straight. Then straighten your arms, raising yourself back up from the floor, again, keeping your back straight. Repeat this twenty times. This is an excellent workout for your arms, but can also have a positive impact on your abdominal muscles and back.

7. Grab some small hand weights and hold the weights at shoulder height, almost sitting on top of your shoulders but nor touching. Slowly raise your arms straight up, as if pushing the weights up above your head. Then slowly lower them to just above your shoulders again, keeping them close to you. Repeat this 20 times. This will work out your upper arm and your shoulder muscles. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights, and be careful not to drop them.

8. Swim 25 laps in a pool that is smaller than Olympic-sized or 15 laps in an Olympic-sized pool. The resistance of the water against your movements is a great way to tone your muscles and the weightlessness your body experiences in the water means that the exercise is not harmful to your joints. Most communities have a pool that you can use for small fee.

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28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Fifteen #28DayFit

Today begins our third week, and the challenge is going to change a bit now. This week, in whichever level you are doing, whether it's beginning, intermediate or advanced, you are going to choose TWO things to do for your daily challenge.

The reason for this is to prevent boredom and routine from setting in and to work out a wider variety of muscles within your daily fitness routine.

Day Fifteen
(aerobic/cardio)

Choose two exercises within your level:

Beginner Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 10 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 20 minutes at a relaxed pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 10 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 10 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. 

4. Jump rope for 10 minutes. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 10 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this ten times.

6. Do 10 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, two times, then do the 14-minute boxing session once. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 10 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take a 30-minute long beginning-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

10. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 2 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 2 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 2 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 2 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

11. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 3 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this three times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, three times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 3 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

Intermediate Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 20 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 30 minutes at a reasonable pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 15 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 30 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. 

4. Jump rope for 15 minutes. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 15 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this 15 times.

6. Do 20 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum. 

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, three times, then do the 14-minute boxing session once. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the intermediate level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 15 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take a 30-minute long intermediate-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

10. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 4 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 4 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 4 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 4 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

11. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 4 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this four times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, four times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 4 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

Advanced Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 30 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. And wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 40 minutes at a fast pace and then jog for 5 minutes. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. 

3. Jog for 20 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 20 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog.

4. Jump rope for 10 minutes, then do star jumps/jumping jacks for 10 minutes, then do another 10 minutes of jump rope and finish with 10 more minutes of star jumps/jumping jacks. Changing up the exercise helps to break the monotony of doing the same thing. The mind likes having the second-long breaks between doing one action and doing the next to look forward to. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Use the elliptical crosstrainer for 30 minutes. You need to either vary your speed and incline or you need to stay at a mid-to-high range with both. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

6. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, four times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the advanced level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

7. Dance to fast music for 20 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

8. Take a 30-minute to 60-minute long advanced-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

9. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 5 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 5 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 5 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 5 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

10. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 6 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this six times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, six times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 6 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

11. Hula hoop for 15 minutes. If you don't have a hula hoop, mimic the action you would do if you were trying to keep a hula hoop from falling.

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28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Fourteen #28DayFit

Day Fourteen
(aerobic/cardio)

Beginner Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 20 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 45 minutes at a relaxed pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 25 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 25 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. If jogging for 25 consecutive minutes is too difficult for you, break it up and do two separate sessions of jogging for 12 1/2 minutes each.

4. Jump rope for 20 minutes. If 20 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 10-minute sessions. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 20 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this twenty times.

6. Do 20 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, dour times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out,, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 15 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take a beginning-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

10. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 5 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this five times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, five times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 3 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

Intermediate Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 40 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 60 minutes at a reasonable pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 30 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 30 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. 

4. Jump rope for 30 minutes. If 30 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 15-minute sessions. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 25 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this 25 times.

6. Do 30 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum. If you are finding it too difficult to do 30 minutes without stopping, break the workout into two separate 15-minutes sessions.

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, six times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the intermediate level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 25 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take an intermediate-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

10. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 6 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this six times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, six times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 4 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

Advanced Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 50 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. And wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 60 minutes at a fast pace and then jog for 20 minutes. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. If you find it difficult to fit in 80 minutes of consecutive exercise into your schedule, break it down into two 30-minute walking and 10-minute jogging sessions.

3. Jog for 60 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 60 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog.

4. Jump rope for 15 minutes, then do star jumps/jumping jacks for 15 minutes, then do another 15 minutes of jump rope and finish with 15 more minutes of star jumps/jumping jacks. Changing up the exercise helps to break the monotony of doing the same thing. The mind likes having the second-long breaks between doing one action and doing the next to look forward to. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Use the elliptical crosstrainer for 70 minutes. You need to either vary your speed and incline or you need to stay at a mid-to-high range with both. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

6. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, eight times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the advanced level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

7. Dance to fast music for 35 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

8. Take an advanced-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

9. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right ankle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 5 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 5 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 5 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 5 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

10. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and wiggle your hips very fast, not moving any other part of your body, keeping your stomach and back as straight as you can, for 6 minutes. Then move your body in a semi-circle from the waist up down to the right, moving fluidly down in front and then to your left. Do this six times. Then do this in the opposite direction, starting on your left and moving to your right, six times. Then hold your arms straight out to the side, shoulder-height, and make small circles with them, keeping the elbows straight, for 4 minutes. This works out a wide variety of your muscles.

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28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Thirteen #28DayFit

Day Thirteen
(anaerobic/strength training)

Beginner Level

1.  Grab some small hand weights and put your arms straight up above your head. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering the hand weights to behind your head. Slowly unbend your arms and repeat this 14 times. This will work out the underside of your upper arms. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights.

2. Do 14 squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. Repeat this 14 times. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your abdominal muscles.

3. Do 14 front lunges. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs.

4. Do 14 sit ups. Lay with your back flat and your knees bent. Either have someone hold your feet down or tuck them under your couch to be certain you don't lift them off the floor. Cross your arms behind your head, but keep them loose. Keeping your back straight, lift your upper body until you are sitting up, then slowly lower yourself again. Be certain not to pull yourself using your arms. This is meant to be working out your abdominal muscles, so let them do the work.

5. Do 12 stomach crunches. These are similar to a sit up, except you do not sit up all the way. Lay flat with your knees bent. Cross your hands over your chest. Curl your shoulders up towards your pelvis. As you lift your shoulders, keep the small of your back against the floor. Repeat this twelve times. This will work out your abdominal muscles and your obliques.

6. Do 6 push-ups. Facing down, put your arms on the floor, elbows straight and keep your back straight and your legs straight out behind you. Slowly bend your elbows to touch your chin almost to the floor while keeping your back straight. Then straighten your arms, raising yourself back up from the floor, again, keeping your back straight. Repeat this six times. This is an excellent workout for your arms, but can also have a positive impact on your abdominal muscles and back. If this is too difficult for you, instead of keeping your legs straight out behind you, you may instead kneel on your knees for this.

7. Grab some small hand weights and hold the weights at shoulder height, almost sitting on top of your shoulders but nor touching. Slowly raise your arms straight up, as if pushing the weights up above your head. Then slowly lower them to just above your shoulders again, keeping them close to you. Repeat this 10 times. This will work out your upper arm and your shoulder muscles. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights, and be careful not to drop them.


Intermediate Level

1. Grab some small hand weights and put your arms straight up above your head. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering the hand weights to behind your head. Slowly unbend your arms and repeat this 20 times. This will work out the underside of your upper arms. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights.

2. Do 20 squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. Repeat this 20 times. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your stomach muscles.

3. Do 18 front lunges. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs.

4. Do 24 sit ups. Lay with your back flat and your knees bent. Either have someone hold your feet down or tuck them under your couch to be certain you don't lift them off the floor. Cross your arms behind your head, but keep them loose. Keeping your back straight, lift your upper body until you are sitting up, then slowly lower yourself again. Be certain not to pull yourself using your arms. This is meant to be working out your abdominal muscles, so let them do the work.

5. Do 17 stomach crunches. These are similar to a sit up, except you do not sit up all the way. Lay flat with your knees bent. Cross your hands over your chest. Curl your shoulders up towards your pelvis. As you lift your shoulders, keep the small of your back against the floor. Repeat this ten times. This will work out your abdominal muscles and your obliques.

6. Do 10 push-ups. Facing down, put your arms on the floor, elbows straight and keep your back straight and your legs straight out behind you. Slowly bend your elbows to touch your chin almost to the floor while keeping your back straight. Then straighten your arms, raising yourself back up from the floor, again, keeping your back straight. Repeat this ten times. This is an excellent workout for your arms, but can also have a positive impact on your abdominal muscles and back.

7. Grab some small hand weights and hold the weights at shoulder height, almost sitting on top of your shoulders but nor touching. Slowly raise your arms straight up, as if pushing the weights up above your head. Then slowly lower them to just above your shoulders again, keeping them close to you. Repeat this 15 times. This will work out your upper arm and your shoulder muscles. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights, and be careful not to drop them.


Advanced Level

1. Grab some small hand weights and put your arms straight up above your head. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering the hand weights to behind your head. Slowly unbend your arms and repeat this 24 times. This will work out the underside of your upper arms. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights.

2. Do 24 squats. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your bottom as though you are about to sit in a chair, keeping your back straight and your knees should not bend any further than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 10 seconds and stand back up. Repeat this 24 times. This will work out your buttocks, the backs of your thighs and, if you keep your posture straight, your stomach muscles.

3. Do 24 front lunges. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take a big step forward with one leg. Lower yourself so that your front knee is bent at no more than a 90 degree angle, keeping your back straight. Hold for 10 seconds and then straighten your leg and bring it back together with your other leg until you are standing straight again. Repeat, stepping forward with the opposite leg. This will work out your buttocks, your abdominal muscles, and the tops of and back of your thighs.

4. Do 34 sit ups. Lay with your back flat and your knees bent. Either have someone hold your feet down or tuck them under your couch to be certain you don't lift them off the floor. Cross your arms behind your head, but keep them loose. Keeping your back straight, lift your upper body until you are sitting up, then slowly lower yourself again. Be certain not to pull yourself using your arms. This is meant to be working out your abdominal muscles, so let them do the work.

5. Do 22 stomach crunches. These are similar to a sit up, except you do not sit up all the way. Lay flat with your knees bent. Cross your hands over your chest. Curl your shoulders up towards your pelvis. As you lift your shoulders, keep the small of your back against the floor. Repeat this twenty-two times. This will work out your abdominal muscles and your obliques.

6. Do 20 push-ups. Facing down, put your arms on the floor, elbows straight and keep your back straight and your legs straight out behind you. Slowly bend your elbows to touch your chin almost to the floor while keeping your back straight. Then straighten your arms, raising yourself back up from the floor, again, keeping your back straight. Repeat this twenty times. This is an excellent workout for your arms, but can also have a positive impact on your abdominal muscles and back.

7. Grab some small hand weights and hold the weights at shoulder height, almost sitting on top of your shoulders but nor touching. Slowly raise your arms straight up, as if pushing the weights up above your head. Then slowly lower them to just above your shoulders again, keeping them close to you. Repeat this 20 times. This will work out your upper arm and your shoulder muscles. If you don't have hand weights, you may substitute bottles of water or canned food. Just hold the bottles of water or the cans in place of the hand weights, and be careful not to drop them.

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28 Day Fitness Challenge - Day Twelve #28DayFit

Day Twelve
(aerobic/cardio)

Beginner Level

1. Run up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 18 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 42 minutes at a relaxed pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 22 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 22 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. If jogging for 22 consecutive minutes is too difficult for you, break it up and do two separate sessions of jogging for 11 minutes each.

4. Jump rope for 19 minutes. If 19 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 9 1/2-minute sessions. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 18 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this eighteen times.

6. Do 16 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, three times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out,, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 12 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take a beginning-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

Intermediate Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 38 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 55 minutes at a reasonable pace. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs.

3. Jog for 29 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 29 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog. 

4. Jump rope for 29 minutes. If 29 minutes of jumping rope is too difficult for you to achieve all at once, you may break the session into two 14 1/2-minute sessions. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Do 22 star jumps/jumping jacks. You start with your legs together, then jump them apart. While this is happening, you are also bringing your arms up to clap above your head, keeping your arms straight at all times. Then bring your arms down as you jump your feet back together. In the USA, these are called "jumping jacks," and in the UK, these are called "star jumps." Do this 22 times.

6. Do 26 minutes of running on an elliptical crosstrainer. You need to be at a level 3 or above for incline. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum. If you are finding it too difficult to do 26 minutes without stopping, break the workout into two separate 13-minutes sessions.

7. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, five times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the intermediate level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

8. Dance to fast music for 22 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

9. Take an intermediate-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

Advanced Level

1. Run  up and down one flight of stairs (in your home, at work or at the mall) 49 times (that's up AND down counted as one time). This is a great way to get your heart rate up. Just remember to be careful; the last thing you need at this point is to slip and fall down a flight of stairs. And wear appropriate shoes.

2. Walk for 64 minutes at a fast pace and then jog for 16 minutes. Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor walking, go to your local mall or shopping center. You can also use a treadmill, if you have access to one. Take deep breaths as you walk, letting oxygen fill your lungs. If you find it difficult to fit in 80 minutes of consecutive exercise into your schedule, break it down into two 32-minute walking and 8-minute jogging sessions.

3. Jog for 58 minutes. You can do this either by jogging in place at home, on a treadmill if you have access to one or by jogging outside for 58 minutes. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes. Don't forget to stretch before and after you jog.

4. Jump rope for 15 minutes, then do star jumps/jumping jacks for 15 minutes, then do another 15 minutes of jump rope and finish with 15 more minutes of star jumps/jumping jacks. Changing up the exercise helps to break the monotony of doing the same thing. The mind likes having the second-long breaks between doing one action and doing the next to look forward to. Make sure you are either wearing appropriate shoes or are on a padded surface (rug or mat) to prevent overly jarring your joints.

5. Use the elliptical crosstrainer for 68 minutes. You need to either vary your speed and incline or you need to stay at a mid-to-high range with both. Varying speed and rate of incline will give you the most effective workout. Don't forget to keep your arms working too. Elliptical crosstrainers give an overall body workout while keeping stress to your joints at a minimum.

6. Use the Wii Fit step exercise, the 5-minute session, eight times, then do the 14-minute boxing session twice. This may seem like a very slow-moving work-out for the advanced level, but the key to these workouts is variation, so even though it seems slow, it should work-out a variety of different muscles.

7. Dance to fast music for 34 minutes. This works even better if you find a music video featuring dance moves that you can try and follow. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" is one music video that, if you try and follow her dance moves, filling in your own movements for the few moments when dancing is not shown, will give you a good workout. That is only about 4 minutes long though, so you need to find some fast music that you can play continuously and move your body to it.

8. Take an advanced-level class that involves aerobic training. This class can be ballroom dancing, belly dancing, stationary cycling, Zumba, aerobics, kickboxing, martial arts or any number of things. Choose something you think you might enjoy learning.

9. Jump side to side, starting by moving your right foot to the right and following it with your left foot until your left foot touches your right angle and then doing the same towards your left. Do this for 5 minutes. Then jump, with your feet together, from side to side, for another 5 minutes. Go back to the first form of jumping for another 5 minutes and then do the side to side jumping with your feet together for another 5 minutes. This will work out your leg and hip muscles.

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