Your BJJ Turkey Day Workout

Thanksgiving is coming up quickly… too quickly. While catching up with the fam and eating allll the glorious food is something to look forward to, for some of us, it’s a time to dread. Why? One very singular reason: making weight for winter tournaments.

You have two options. You can either get in a holiday workout, or you can just not eat anything. But there’s no way in hell you’re saying no to your mama’s special stuffing, the freshly made [insert flavor] pie from your favorite bakery down the street from your childhood home, or your Abuelita’s homemade tamales. So really, you only have one option.

But maybe those pesky holiday gym schedules are complicating that choice. Or maybe you can’t slip away from the family to train because your Auntie Olga is watching you like a hawk.

Never fear. We’ve got the perfect Turkey Day workout to keep you on track.

True Turkey Trot

You’ve probably heard of a “Turkey Trot” before, but those are just regular marathon style runs for crazy families who like to run together. Weirdos. We can do one better.

For this one, you’ll have to start early; before the bird has gone into the oven. For obvious reasons. If it’s not that obvious: you don’t want to be running with a piping hot turkey. Although… your mother chasing after you with a wooden spoon might add that extra incentive to run faster. No, no. Better to play it safe. Offer to help thaw that poor unfortunate avian by carrying it against your chest or hoisting it onto your shoulder – like a medicine ball – and taking a jog around the neighborhood. The bigger the bird, the better. You’ll be huffing and puffing in no time, and your increasing body temperature will help get that gobbler to the perfect pre-cooking temperature.

Casserole Calisthenics

Depending on how much of your extended family will be coming – and how many of them are from the Midwest or the dirty South – you’ll have plenty of casserole options to choose from. Pick the one you like least. That way if you drop it, you won’t be too upset that you did (if that happens, just, you know, at least be clever enough show an appropriate amount of contriteness).

Balancing the dish in one hand, do several sets (three to five, depending on how many pounds of green beans made their way into the dish) of the following movements:

• Forward Lunges – 20 each leg
• Thrusters – 10 each arm
• Backward Lunges – 20 each leg
• Crunches (holding the casserole off your chest) – 50
• Russian Twists (holding the casserole level, if you can…) – 25 each side.

Wrestling With the Whipper-Snappers

Have a large, extended family with lots of small humans? Perfect. Develop your confidence in  your wrestling skills by practicing on the little boogers.

Of course, you don’t want to actually finish the takedowns, smashing them into the earth and yelling out victoriously. That won’t go too well with the parents of said offspring. But you can work on your entries. Their small stature will force you to get low into your shots, and their light weight will allow you to lift them successfully into the air without breaking your back. The bonus? You’ll become their favorite uncle/auntie.

Gathering Place Granby Rolls

Been working on your inversions? You can still practice by doing granby rolls wherever there’s a plethora of chairs and tables.

Offer to help set the table and take the opportunity to try out various arrangements. Start with one long oval or round circular arrangement. Master that, then do figure eights. Get clever with it and weave in and out of the legs of the chairs and tables. Ideally you’ll be self-supporting, but if you find yourself pulling hard enough to threaten toppling everything, enlist the support of the before-mentioned whipper-snappers.

Family Feud Fun Run

What’s a family gathering without some good, wholesome arguments and long-standing grudges?

Every time Aunt Karen says something snarky to your mom, or your Uncle Jim Bob talks about politics, or your Grandma June asks when your sister is going to get married and stop living in sin, go for a quick jog around the house. This servs a dual purpose; not only does it get you out of the house and away from the tension, but you’ll also burn off some calories (making room for that second slice of pumpkin pie). It could even potentially serve a third purpose: it might quickly end the fight. Why? Because you’ll look like a crazy person, and that’ll be something all of your relatives can agree upon.

Whatever your plans this holiday season, know that you don’t have to choose between spending time with your family and keeping fit. You just need a little imagination.