One of my top tips for enjoying your Thanksgiving happily and healthily was to fit in some exercise. I’m all about the Turkey Trot, but if you’re not able to fit one in or just don’t want to participate, I wanted to provide you with a workout that you can do from the comfort of your home (or your relatives’ home, or your hotel, or wherever!). In just 12 short minutes (or 25 if you do 2 rounds!), you can get in a quick little sweat that will make you feel more energized and ready to tackle all the cooking, eating, family, and football you can handle!
Right before I made up the workout, I came across this article that lists the 4 biggest problem areas for runners: the hips, glutes, hamstrings, and ankles. The article gave a few exercises to strengthen each area, so I’ve included them in this workout (they are marked with an asterisk in the graphic). They’re helpful for building strength in runners and non-runners alike! I’ve copied the descriptions straight from the article. 
(source)
All you have to do for this workout is complete 1 or 2 rounds of the workout in the top box (it took me about 12 minutes to complete each of my 2 rounds, and I rested for 1 minute in between for 25 total minutes). Then, sometime throughout the day, choose any activity from the lower box to round out your workout … all while spending time with family, focusing on your gratitude, relieving stress, or watching football!
Fit-It-In Turkey Day Workout: Descriptions and Video Links
- Jumping Jacks
- Plank with leg-raises: Hold plank, lift your left leg for a set of 10 and then your right leg. Alternate until 90-seconds is up, taking breaks if needed.
- Wacky Jacks: a great oblique workout! You really have to watch the video to understand, but I learned these when I did P90X.
- Clams: Lie on your right side, legs stacked, with knees slightly bent; lift your left leg up to 60-degrees and lower. Do a set of 35 on each side.
- 3-way calf raises: Place your toes facing forward on the edge of a step for a set of 10 raises, the second 10 raises point your toes inward, finally, for the third 10 point your toes away from each other.
- Lunges (called “front lunges” on that link)
- Squats
- Tricep dips
- Back bridges (called “bridge lifts” on that link): Lie on your back, knees bent and feet placed on the floor in front of your bum. Squeezing your glutes, lift off the ground aiming to keep your torso in align and lift until only your shoulder-blades are resting on the ground.
- Burpees
Whew! Now that we’ve worked out, I have a few links to share with you, some of which are sure to make you laugh:
- Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner in GIFs from Yumsugar
- “Life-saving” Thanksgiving Dinner Hacks from Buzzfeed
- 10 Ways to Get Out of Awkward Conversations at Thanksgiving from Buzzfeed <– Maybe this makes me immature, but I couldn’t stop laughing at this one!
- How to Carve a Turkey Perfectly from Buzzfeed <– I admit the carving part kind of sketches me out, but this is good to know!
- How to Find a Local Food Bank <– It’s not too late to donate some canned goods, money, or time! Take all the gratitude you’ve amassed from Thanksgiving and use it to give back to someone who needs your help in some way!
Last thing before I go … since I won’t be posting tomorrow, I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to you, my readers! I am truly so grateful … for every time you read one of my posts, every comment that you make on the blog or email me, every “blend” that I’ve made. I’m honored that you continue to read, and hope that I’ve been able to provide some motivation, education, or inspiration somewhere along the way. If you ever have any questions or suggestions, you know where to reach me. And I hope you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving (if you celebrate) and a wonderful day no matter what! 
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So tell me in the comments … What are your “weak” areas and what do you do to fix them? What do you do to get out of awkward conversations? What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
What a great workout especially to do in such a compact amount of time- Definitely will be pinning it for days I work from home and get cabin fever!
Also, big thanks to YOU for constantly posting informative and helpful posts- even though you have such a hectic schedule- it means alot to your readers and ‘blends’ 😉
Thanks for pinning, Arman! You know how much I appreciate your constant support, it means a lot!
Great advice for a workout – tomorrow I am taking a family day (did today and will do Fri-Sun as well).
Weak areas – too much time spent on technology. Yeah, constant struggle 🙂 I have no problem with silence or being along – so if there is an awkward situation I will just be silent. My wife says that I can really make it apparent if I don’t want to talk to someone …
I am thankful for an amazing wife and two great kids. We made pies today (well, younger son and I) and am looking forward to a great relaxing day tomorrow.
Enjoy the holiday!
Haha, Michael, I laughed when I read this, because I am the SAME way! I also have no problem with silence or being alone, and am not the best at covering up when I don’t want to talk to someone :). So glad you’re thankful for the things that truly matter – I hope your holiday was amazing!
In the past I’ve had IT Band issues so I would say that’s my weak area. I managed to get through my most recent marathon training cycle with it not being an issue, but I definitely need to work on it more.
this is a great workout – I will try it sometime
Congratulations on getting through your marathon training cycle without your IT band flaring up, Kim! I had some IT band issues several years ago, and it was terrible – went into my piriformis for a while, then down to the knee. The foam roller was truly my saving grace – do you have one?
Love this Megan! Thanks for sharing!
This has been one of the most challenging years buts I am so thankfully for my husband, my family, my fur children, and most importantly my health and happiness!
Sara, I know you’ve been through a lot this year, but it’s so great that you can still appreciate what’s truly important to you! Like I said above, we often forget to appreciate those things that are MOST important!
I’m doing a fun charity 5k tomorrow morning. I love starting Thanksgiving that way! My problem areas is my calves. Any advice for that? I bought a new pair of shoes which seem to be helping a little. Happy Thanksgiving!
How was the 5K, Tonya? I hope it went great! Regarding your calves, what seems to be the biggest issue? Is it tightness, or pain, or an area you find difficult to tone? Let me know and I’ll be happy to share my advice (although I’m not a doctor, of course!).
It went really well. Best pace to date. My calves just get really really tight, even though I’m stretching after and foam rolling, but the guy at the shoe store said that’s to be expected with switching from sand to pavement. I’m only just over a month into running on pavement. My new shoes do seem to be helping as well. Hopefully it will work itself out eventually. As long as nothing is too painful to run.
You know what’s strange, Tonya? I’ve NEVER had problems with tight calves until a recent race, and since then, mine have been super tight! I’ve been using the stick and the foam roller, and concentrating on stretching as much as possible. I also got a massage and asked them to really work on the calves. All those things have helped, but it’s still nagging me a bit – I hope we both recover soon!!
and THANK YOU! I love going to your little space everyday and reading what’s on your mind/what you have to share. I legitimately look forward to reading TLS 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving beautiful!
Thank you so much, Davida. I appreciate it so much :).
Awesome workout & extra ways to sneak in some exercise throughout the day. This year I’m thankful for the life I’ve been blessed with Sure it sounds a bit cliche, but I have a wonderful husband – a supportive husband – hilarious friends – an adorable dog, and I’m healthy. Couldn’t ask for more <3
It sounds like you know right where your priorities are and appreciate what you have – that’s awesome, Jessie! Health and family are SO important, and we often take them for granted!