Christmas Crunch Time: A Living Room Friendly Fitness Routine

You may be half way across the globe, a far cry from Equinox...

...Or in a chilly mountain town where the only outdoor activities your relatives take part in are smoke breaks...

...And it's possible (shocking I know) that your family doesn't have an indoor state of the art gym. What no home gym?!?! We're not in Hollywood anymore folks.

But no matter what remote location you originate from, there are many fat blasting indoor activities you can try, that won't have you collapsing outside from the cold.

This 30 minute living room workout is inspired by my favorite Total Body Blast trainer Tafik at Golds Gym in Weho, and can be performed with actual fitness equipment or these MacGyver-esque improvised tools.

You’ll need:

-Two 5 lb weights, or two large Laundry Detergent jugs
-A Jump Rope, or an unplugged (this is key) extension cord
-A Body Bar, or try a broom, fire place prod, or even the bar from your closet if it’s removable
-Stop watch or clock in sight

Warm-up:

-5 minutes jump-roping at a slow to moderate pace. (approximately 45 calories burned)

1st Cardio Blast:

-Pick up the pace jump-roping for 5 more minutes at an all out pace. (55)

Strength Session:

-Drop the jump-rope and grab the weights (or jugs) and for the next 5 minutes perform walking lunges up and down your hallway. You should be able to perform about 120 in this time period, but your legs will be on fire! (60)

Note: If it gets too hard, drop the weights and continue lunging. If you don't have room, do static front lunges.

2nd Cardio Blast:

-Drop the jugs and do 60 jumping jacks in place for a minute. (10)

-Now do 2 minutes of "butt kicks." Do them as quickly as you can, and strive to get your feet all the way up each time. (30)

-Switch to "knee-ups" for 2 more minutes. (30)

Strength Session:

-Grab the Body Bar (or whatever you’re using), and hold it straight up and down in front of you. You’re going to do lunges again, but this time you’ll be staying in place and alternating stepping backward with each leg. Twist your torso and the bar inward toward the front leg with each lunge. Repeat for 2 minutes or about 20 t0 25 times per side. (25)

-Now hold the bar parallel to the ground in front of you with your legs shoulder width apart and and do 40-45 squats for 2 minutes. (25)

-Now freeze in a deep squat for one minute, holding the bar straight out in front of you. (10)

Final Cardio Blast:

-Quickly grab the jump rope again and skip rope for 5 minutes like your playground reputation is riding on it. (55)

Total Calories Burned: 345!*

If you have any energy left, finish up with some floor exercises. Hit your abs with one minute in plank position then lift up and do two sets of 15 push-ups...girly or old-fashioned, whatever you're capable of.

Note: During the strength sessions focus on performing the exercises properly, not as fast as possible. For lunges, keep your back straight, eyes forward, and make sure your top knee does not overextend your foot while your bottom knee comes as close to the ground as possible without touching.

*The calorie counts are based on a 125 lb person and estimate butt-kicks and knee-ups under the running (6mph) category, and lunges under the squat category. It also assumes jumping jacks are similar to jump-roping.Calorie Chart