Joining a fitness challenge group can be a lot of fun and a great motivator. Check out the benefits to burpees, planks, push-ups and exercise in general!
In case you haven’t heard by now, I’m hosting a really fun fitness challenge for the month of January. It’s called the Burpees, Planks, and Push-Ups challenge and you can learn more about it by clicking here. It’s perfect for resolutioners, goal setters, runners in their off-season, and pretty much anyone, anywhere. The exercises are easy to do and require no equipment.
Amazingly, what started as a quest to improve my own fitness and shake off some extra holiday weight has blossomed into a fantastic group of individuals working toward a common goal. We’ve got an amazing, active group on Facebook full of individuals and perfect strangers rooting each other on. We’re posting selfies and videos, and having a great time! The excitement and interaction in this group has far exceeded my expectations. I thought maybe a few people here and there would join me, but boy was I wrong. I’m ecstatic with the direction the group is heading and I can’t wait to participate in the next few weeks with this crew.
Since today’s topic for the Friday Five 2.0 is “Goals and Resolutions,” and you may be considering 2018 resolutions and fitness goals yourself, I thought I’d tell you all about the benefits of each challenge exercise plus why you should join me! But even if you don’t want to join me for the Burpees, Planks, and Push-Ups challenge, you should still do these exercises on your own. Here’s why:
Benefits of a Fitness Challenge Group
1. Benefits of Burpees
If you’ve done CrossFit (or know a CrossFitter), you’ve likely heard of burpees. But did you know they’re particularly beneficial for runners? The explosive nature of the burpee helps build muscles that are typically ignored by runners.
Burpees are a full body workout. They’re a strength training exercise that works almost your entire body (arms, chest, abs, glutes, quads, and hammies.) They’re mostly anaerobic which helps build strength and muscle mass. They also help you burn calories for a long period of time after you’ve completed them. Plus, burpees help burn fat!
Burpees are a great workout as they require no equipment and can be done virtually anywhere.
2. Benefits of Planking
I’m certain you’ve seen your fair share of planking on Instagram if nothing else. This isometric exercise is phenomenal for runners because it forces us to focus on muscles that we normally don’t think twice about. Pecs, delts, triceps, biceps, TFL, quads, abs, shins, abs — the list goes on! By incorporating the plank (and all the variations), you work a whole lot of muscles all at once. It’s an exercise you ought to be doing — runner or not!
3. Benefits of Push-Ups
The cousin of the plank, push-ups are another great exercise. Push-ups work similar muscles to the plank but focus more on arms and abs. They’re a good complement to burpees and planks, and again, use muscles that are often overlooked or forgotten about by runners.
4. Benefits of Exercise
As much as I want to ignore the fact that I almost always get a little soft during the holidays, I can’t hide from reality. While this holiday season was a little rougher for me in terms of fitness, I usually get a little careless with my food choices during this time of year. Burpees, planks, and push-ups will help me (and you!) shake any extra winter weight we may have added in recent weeks. They’re a good place to start and easy enough to do that working out won’t be intimidating.
Aside from firming up, toning, and slimming down, what are some other benefits of exercise? With regular exercise you’ll enjoy:
- increased energy levels
- better sleep
- improved concentration
- overall feeling of well-being
5. Benefits of a Challenge Group
Now that you know why I chose burpees, planks, and push-ups for the challenge, and why exercise is good for you, here’s why you should join a challenge group (even if it’s not mine):
There’s plenty of research to indicate the power of herd mentality. When you’re in a group reaching toward a common goal, you’re much more likely to succeed at that goal. When you share your own accomplishment or read someone else’s post about their success (or challenge) for the day, you’ll be more likely to try again and succeed at the next obstacle that comes your way. It’s groupthink at its finest. A challenge group will hold you accountable.
A challenge group will also help you cultivate new relationships with others you may not have otherwise ever known or interacted with. It allows you to grow and learn new things about yourself and others.
Challenge groups are FUN and positive places! Posting selfies, videos, and other encouraging thoughts will help you feel better and think better. In turn, it will help others, too. It’s a win-win situation!
I hope everyone is hunkered down safe and warm for the lovely weather we’ll be experiencing here in the eastern half of the United States this weekend. Don’t drive if you don’t have to, and when you get bored, get down and dirty with some burpees, planks, and push-ups!
Happy 2018!
xo
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