How to turn Black Friday shopping into a mini-workout

Sure, you can sit at home and shop online over the holidays, but for many of us, it's all about the fun of mixing it up with the crowds and finding on-the-spot specials in the malls. 

With that in mind, the team from online training portal FitOrbit.com put together fitness tips from trainer Ilyse Baker for your shopping adventure. 


Black Friday Workout tips to keep you fit while you shop: 

These workouts can be logged in to your FitOrbit app on your Smartphone straight from the store to keep you on track – even at 4 a.m.

Waiting-in-Line Calf Workout: Calf raises are discreet enough to try while you’re waiting in line, but effective enough to give you a mini-workout. All you need to do is stand straight with your feet about hip width apart and rise on the balls of your feet, lifting your heels off the floor.

 

Shopping Squats: While you’re standing outside the dressing room, waiting in the never-ending line for the register or staking out the perfect parking spot, bend your knees slightly to complete a squat and target curves. 

 

Embrace the crowds: Although Black Friday means a crowded mall or store, park the car further away and walk whenever you can. Although you don’t realize it, walking from store to store can be a great workout. If you’re feeling exceptionally excited about Black Friday shopping, try jogging from your car to the mall for a burst of pre-shopping energy.

 

Shopping Bag Arm Workout: As your arms become filled with purchases, even out the weight in each hand and lift the bags up and down when waiting in line or deciding between purchases. 

If you're not familiar with FitOrbit here's what their team sent: For less than $2 a day, FitOrbit delivers personal trainers and individual fitness and nutrition programs online. All members get a full lifestyle package, including a smartly personalized workout regimen, a realistic meal plan, plus 24/7 standby support. Members get to choose a real, certified trainer whose personality and approach mesh with theirs. 

Ready? Set? How to get fit for summer now.

With summer around the corner, Darren Capik, CEO of Watch It Now Entertainment (WIN) and producer of countless workout DVDs including Bob Harper, Jane Fonda, Billy Blanks, Richard Simmons, Kim Kardashian, Julianne Hough, Brooke Burke, Tara Stiles, Deepak Chopra, George St Pierre and Carmen Electra, has provided fitness and nutrition tips to help prepare everyone for the summer months ahead. Capik has compiled top tips from countless fitness authorities that he has worked with and a few from his expertise as well.

Top fitness and nutrition tips:

• Get creative. Busy at work? Change your social and eating habits to promote healthy lifestyle changes. Instead of eating a heavy lunch, pack lunch or a snack and go for a walk on your lunch break. Snack on fruit or veggies or drink a protein shake while enjoying a brisk walk. Break the stressful workday and feel refreshed and invigorated in the afternoon.
• Plan your meals ahead of time. Plan meals a week in advance so that you have adequate time to grocery shop and have fresh, healthy foods available instead of scrounging up what you have in your refrigerator at the last minute and facing the problem of not having all necessary ingredients.
• Eat 5 – 6 small meals a day rather than 2 – 3 big meals. Each meal should have 200 – 400 calories and contain carbs and protein.
• Schedule exercise dates with a friend or family member in advance so you cannot skip out at the last minute.
• Relax in the sun. When you have downtime try to spend as much time as you can in the sun. The sun does wonders for our bodies; it can cure diseases, replenish your vitamin D stores and make you feel good.
• Commit to cardio. There are many options to choose from cycling, running, cardio machines at the gym and group fitness classes, just to name a few.
• Write out a plan and take photos of yourself. When starting your fitness regimen, write down exactly what you plan to accomplish and what types of exercises you plan on doing. Take photos of yourself and record your initial weight and continue to do this each week.
• Get outside and exercise. Bike, rollerblade, walk the dog or walk around the neighborhood, getting some fresh air as you exercise.



WIN helped Kim Kardashian brand herself with her "Fit In Your Jeans by Friday" DVD

Orsoni's Le Personal Coach is lightweight but fun

I just posted a review of Valerie Orsoni's book, Le Personal Coach on San Jose Fitness Examiner and rated it 5 stars - the stars came mostly on the strength of my thoughts that this is a good gift book. 

The book is a collection of quick tips...the kind of stuff people love when they see it on the cover of a magazine in a supermarket check out line: the 30 second butt builder, the simple way to get perky breasts, how to have sexy ankles....that kind of thing.

If the book sold for $30 I wouldn't like it so much, but it sells on Amazon for  about $11 and that's a good price for a book you can add to fill out a gift basket or give to a friend on Mother's Day or Christmas or whatever.

If you're looking for some ideas for fitness gifts, check out the review.