Brit’s 5 Heart Pumpin’ Pumpkin Exercises

Brits Heart Pumpin Pumpkin Exercises

Hey Friends!  I made this workout just for you and just in time for Fall!  Below, I’ve put together five of my favorite HIIT (high intensity interval training) exercises and substituted a medicine ball with a pumpkin – so festive!  To complete the HIIT circuit, do each exercise below for the time duration indicated.  Once you finish, rest for 1 minute and then repeat all five exercises 2 more times.  The total workout will take you 16-20 minutes and you can expect to burn 250 – 300 calories – woo hoo!

BONUS: I made an instructional video to guide you (scroll to the bottom to watch!)

  1. Pumpkin Jack – Holding the pumpkin at your chest with both hands, press the pumpkin up as you jump your feet together and lower back down and you jump your feet apart.  Do as many reps as possible to elevate your heart rate. (40 seconds)
  2. Reverse Lunge with Pumpkin Chop – Holding the pumpkin straight out in-front of your chest with both arms straight, swing the pumpkin down by your right knee as you do a reverse lunge with your left leg.  Twist your torso to the side and engage your core and your gluten with each rep.  Repeat on the other side. (20 seconds right, 20 seconds left)
  3. Side-to-Side Pumpkin Push – Hold the pumpkin at your chest with both hands then forcefully push the pumpkin away as your turn your body and lunge to the right, then to the left.  Alternating lunging and pushing the pumpkin away side to side as many reps as possible.  Feel the burn in your shoulders and in your legs. (40 seconds)
  4. Straight Arm Pumpkin Hold With Side Leg Lift – Stand tall, holding the pumpkin straight out in-front of your chest with both arms straight.  Balance on one leg and then raise the other leg out to the side to work the core and oblique.  Try not to shift your weight side-to-side, but rather keep all of the weight in your stationary leg.  Repeat on the other side.  (20 seconds right, 20 seconds left)
  5. Pumpkin Squat Jump With 180 Turn – Holding the pumpkin at your chest with both hands, do a deep squat and then jump and turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction.  Keep squat-jumping and turning 180 degrees back and forth for as many reps as possible. (40 seconds)

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Bye Bye Summer, Hello Fall! My Favorite End of Summer Activities

OMG I cannot believe it’s September – my Summer flew by! Fortunately it was filled with lots of fun in the sun, beach time and quality moments with friends. I don’t know about you, but I love the transition from Summer to Fall because the weather is still warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities all while a crisp autumn breeze starts to fill the air – it’s amazing! Here are some of my favorite end-of-Summer activities that prepare me for a fabulous Fall…

Planning my Fall Workout Routine

I like to switch up my workout routine for the Fall. In the Summer I take advantage of unique exercise experiences (e.g. paddle boarding, swimming in the ocean, hiking, etc.). It’s always best to switch thing up a little. If you are in the Salt Lake City area of Utah, you could try to look into tennis lessons Salt Lake, to find adult tennis classes. However in the Fall, I follow a more consistent fitness regimen that fits well with my work schedule and personal commitments. There’s something about Autumn that naturally motivates me to develop a workout plan and stick to it.

Shopping for “Back to the Gym” Clothes

The one thing I hate about no longer being a student, is not being able to partake in “back in school shopping.” Alternatively, I now go “back to the gym shopping” in preparation for cooler weather and more indoor workouts. I always hit up Target® and check out the Champion C9 activewear department. Every time I go, there’s always a killer sale! Personally, I’m a fan of Target® C9 Activewear because the styles are on trend and functional – yay for bright colors, leggings and racer-back tanks! Honestly, I wear my C9 gear on the weekends as casual wear, even if I’m not working out.

My PiYo Classes on the W Hotel Roof-deck

I love teaching my end-of-Summer rooftop PiYo Class at the W Dallas Hotel!

So I’m a little biased on this one because I actually teach this PiYo (Pilates / Yoga) class in Dallas, TX. But I’m super excited that classes have been extended to last throughout the end of September – yay! We have an amazing view, great playlist, effective workout and it’s all free and open to the public! I highly encourage you to check out some free workouts in your local community – there are often free “back to school bootcamps” at local parks.

Running/Jogging at my Local Park

Going for an outdoor run in Dallas is one of my favorite end-of-Summer activities!

There’s a beautiful window of time during late September/early October that’s perfect for outdoor runs. In the middle of the Summer it’s way too hot to run outside in Texas – temperatures are over 100 degrees! While I live an active lifestyle and teach lots of group fitness classes, I’m not an avid runner. However, during this sweet stretch of time I like to go for a 5K jog once or twice a week. I find it very therapeutic, especially when I have a good playlist to energize my stride. In fact, I’m about to peace out and go for a run right now – see ya! Lots of love, Brit

What are your favorite end-of-Summer activities?

How do you stay active in the Fall?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target® C9 through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Target® C9, all opinions are my own.
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