Thanksgiving is a time of family, friends and festivities. But it can also be a great opportunity for you to get your fitness on with a Thanksgiving WOD CrossFit workout! In this blog post we will discuss what CrossFit is, how to get started with a holiday-themed WOD, tips for proper form during the workout and even how to pair food and exercise for optimal results. Let’s dive in and learn more about how you can make the most out of your Thanksgiving holiday by getting your workout on.
What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is an incredibly popular form of exercise that focuses on building strength, power and endurance through functional movements that are done at high intensity. It combines elements of weightlifting, gymnastics, plyometrics and aerobic exercises into one comprehensive workout program designed to improve overall physical performance. CrossFit workouts often use equipment such as barbells, kettlebells, medicine balls and bodyweight movements like burpees, air squats and push-ups. They typically last anywhere from 10 minutes up to 45 minutes depending on the type of workout.
Getting Started with a Thanksgiving WOD
Before diving into your Thanksgiving WOD CrossFit, it’s important to understand some basic principles and warm up properly so you don’t injure yourself or burn out quickly. Here are three simple warm-ups you can do before starting:
- Run/jog around the block
- Do dynamic stretching such as arm circles, leg swings and ankle rotations
- Perform light cardio such as jumping jacks or mountain climbers
These activities will help increase blood flow to your muscles, activate your core and prepare your body for the higher intensity exercises ahead.
Why Do a CrossFit Workout Over the Holidays?
With all the feasting, partying and spending time with loved ones over the holidays, it can be easy to let fitness take a back seat. Doing a quick CrossFit workout over Thanksgiving is an excellent way to keep your energy levels high throughout the day and ensure you stay fit while still enjoying yourself. Not only that, but studies have shown that short bursts of intense exercise can actually boost metabolism and help you burn calories faster. So if you want to get the most out of your holiday meals, a good CrossFit session may just be what you need!
3 Simple Warm-Ups Before You Begin
Before doing any kind of exercise routine, it’s important to warm up properly to avoid injury and fatigue. Here are three simple warm-ups you can do before beginning your Thanksgiving WOD CrossFit:
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Dynamic Stretching – This includes activities such as arm circles, leg swings and ankle rotations which help increase blood flow to your muscles and activate your core.
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Light Cardio – Jumping jacks or mountain climbers are great ways to get your heart rate going without being too strenuous on your body.
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Jog Around The Block – Take a few minutes to go for a jog around the neighborhood or park; this helps to further increase your body temperature and get your mind focused on the upcoming workout.
Easy Way To Modify Any WOD
No matter what level of fitness you’re at, there’s always a way to modify any WOD (Workout Of The Day) so that it fits your abilities and goals. For example, if you find certain exercises too challenging you can always decrease the number of reps or substitute them with easier variations that still work the same muscle groups. Likewise, if something isn’t challenging enough then feel free to increase the number of reps or add weights for extra resistance. Remember: no matter what modifications you make, safety should always come first!
10 Ideas For An Amazing Thanksgiving WOD
Ready to start putting together your own amazing Thanksgiving WOD? Here are ten ideas that are sure to get you sweating:
- 50 Burpees + 25 Push-Ups + 15 Pull-Ups
- 20 Air Squats + 30 Sit-Ups + 5 Wall Climbs
- 5 Rounds of 8 Kettlebell Swings + 12 Box Jumps + 15 Jump Rope Skips
- 200 Meter Sprint + 10 Thrusters + 20 Medicine Ball Slams
- 10 Barbell Back Squats + 15 Dumbbell Lunges + 20 Step Ups
- 4 Rounds of 10 Push Press + 12 Hang Power Cleans + 14 Reverse Lunges
- 10 Broad Jumps + 15 Frog Hops + 20 Mountain Climbers
- 20 Alternating Spiderman Planks + 25 Glute Bridges + 30 Lateral Raises
- 15 Ab Mat Sit-Ups + 20 Decline Push-Ups + 30 Superman Holds
- 4 Rounds of 6 Burpee Pull-Ups + 8 Goblet Squats + 10 Renegade Rows
## Tips for Proper Form During a CrossFit Workout
It’s very important to maintain proper form when performing any exercise in order to maximize effectiveness and reduce risk of injury. Make sure to pay attention to these key points:
- Keep your core engaged and spine straight throughout the entire workout
- Move slowly and controlled through each rep/set
- Breath steadily throughout each movement
- Listen to your body – stop immediately if something feels wrong
## Rest Days During the Holidays
Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean you should forget about taking rest days! Rest days allow your body time to recover after tough workouts and prevent burnout or exhaustion due to excessive training sessions. On rest days you can focus on yoga, walking or other forms of low impact exercise in order to stay active while giving your muscles much needed recovery time. Taking breaks between sets can also be beneficial in helping you mentally reset so you can perform better during subsequent workouts.
## Post-Workout Recovery Tips & Tricks
Recovery is essential for optimal performance and improved health benefits from working out. After completing your Thanksgiving WOD CrossFit try incorporating these strategies into your routine for fast recovery:
- Hydrate with water or electrolyte beverages
- Eat protein within 1 hour of exercising
- Foam roll sore areas using a foam roller or tennis ball
- Stretch affected muscle groups after cooling down
- Take a hot bath or shower to ease tension in tight muscles
## Pairing Food & Exercise for Optimal Results
Pairing food with exercise can provide many health benefits such as increased energy levels, improved digestion, enhanced immune system response and faster recovery times after workouts. Some examples include eating complex carbohydrates prior to exercise for sustained energy and healthy fats afterwards for faster recovery. If you’re looking for delicious snacks that double as pre-workout fuel try fruits like apples or bananas with nut butter or Greek yogurt with berries; they contain plenty of carbs and proteins which will help keep you energized during the WOD!
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has provided some useful information about how to make the most out of your Thanksgiving holiday with a fun yet effective Thanksgiving WOD CrossFit workout! From warming up correctly and modifying workouts according to skill level, to tips for post-workout recovery and pairing food with exercise; now you know how to stay safe and reach those fitness goals this season. So grab those gym shoes and get ready for a killer sweat session!