A Pumpkin Workout to Burn Off Those Halloween Candy Calories
Make your workout more fun this fall by incorporating a pumpkin into your routine!
For some of us, monsters and ghosts aren’t the only scary part of Halloween— it’s the potential extra pounds put on by all that yummy Halloween candy that really have us feeling fearful! All that extra sugar could cause trouble for your waistline and your fitness goals. Luckily, there’s an easy way to blast those additional calories while at the same time allowing yourself to get into the Halloween spirit! Try incorporating a pumpkin into your workout for a fun and festive way to tone your legs, abs, and arms. Check out the routine below!
Double Push-Up
Start in a plank position with your hands on the top of the pumpkin and your feet wider than hip distance. Keeping your torso stable, bend your elbows to lower your chest toward your hands. Keep your upper arms parallel to your torso. Straighten your elbows and return to starting position to complete one rep. Do 10 reps in a set.
Goblet Squat
Start standing with your feet wider than shoulder width. With your back slightly arched, push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your elbows touch your knees with the pumpkin in front of you. With your weight focused in your heels, push yourself up to the starting position and lift the pumpkin above your head. Do two sets of 15 reps.
Side Lunge
Holding your pumpkin in both hands, stand with your feet and knees together. Take a large step with your left foot to the left side, and lunge toward the floor. Lower your pumpkin to the ground in front of you. Make sure your left knee does not extend past your toes, and keep your right leg relatively straight. Push off through your left foot to return to the start to complete one side lunge. Do three sets of 10 on each side.
Twisting Lunge
Stand with your feet shoulder-width distance apart. Grasp your pumpkin (or a five- to 10-pound medicine ball) between both hands, your arms outstretched in front. Keep your core stable and weight on your heels. Take a large step back with your right foot, planting it behind you and then lowering your body until both legs are bent in right angles. As you sink into the lunge, twist your torso to the left and over your left leg. Bring your torso back to center, and exhale as you extend your legs. Bring your feet back together, and then repeat with your left leg, this time twisting to the right. This completes one rep. Do two sets of 15 reps.
Overhead Triceps Extension
Stand with your feet hip distance apart, placing one foot slightly behind the other. Hold the pumpkin with both hands, bending the elbows behind your head. Straighten your arms to lift the dumbbell into the air, then slowly bend the arms to lower. This counts as one rep. Complete two to three sets of 10 to 12 reps.
All images courtesy of POPSUGAR.
