News Benefits Veteran Jobs Military Life Discounts Join the Military Login Advertisement Military Fitness Try These Thanksgiving Classic Workouts for the Holidays Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division participate in flag football at Falcon Field, Fort Bragg, N.C., May 22, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Jesse Leger/3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division) Military.com | By Stew Smith, CSCS® For many of us, the hours leading up to the Thanksgiving feast are a time for getting outside and moving a bit more than usual. After sleeping in on a day off, many will find themselves ready to do something physical before enjoying a large meal and watching football the rest of the day. Here are some of my favorite go-to activities that can be a part of your Thanksgiving Day. Advertisement Turkey Trots These community gatherings are usually family-oriented, five-kilometer running or walking events that often raise money for feeding or clothing needy families. Get out and enjoy a 3.1-mile event and feel like you have earned that big meal. Turkey Bowl Advertisement There is nothing more fun than a flag football game on Thanksgiving Day morning with friends and family visiting for the long weekend. If you have the numbers, get out there and enjoy the morning with a friendly neighborhood game of football. Sometimes, these turn into tackle football games and can get pretty serious, but unless you want a Thanksgiving Day trip to the emergency room, opt for the less-intense version and go with two-hand touch or flags. Longer Cardio Workouts Thanksgiving is a classic morning for runs, rucks and long bike rides if you are looking to work the heart and lungs and burn some calories. If you live in warmer climates or gyms are open for you, you can amass a huge calorie burn and also add other options such as swimming, elliptical or rowing machines. Set a time for 60-90 minutes and mix in multiple 15- to 30-minute cardio segments to help break the monotony, if needed. Hero Workouts Over the past 20 years, Thanksgiving Day morning has become a perfect workout period to honor the fallen and thank people for their sacrifices and service. If you need some ideas for hero workouts, check out The Hero Workouts, a book written by my friend, Carter Henry. There is not a better way to honor the fallen, give thanks for their service and get in a tough workout than to do a hero workout before a Thanksgiving Day get-together. My Personal Favorite My friends, neighbors and family have been joining me for a Thanksgiving Day classic every year since I got out of the Navy in 1999. We do a variety of workouts, but the one element that has stayed the same is -- you guessed it -- the PT Pyramid. Depending on the group, this workout is scalable for different fitness levels by adjusting sets, reps and exercises to make them either easier or much tougher. Using a set of outdoor pull-up bars, we mix in short runs, pull-ups, push-ups, dips, core exercises, squats, lunges and carries of either gear or people (fireman carry), all mixed into a pyramid-style workout. The great thing about the pyramid is that the workout starts off easy and creates a good warmup, builds up to a near-max effort level, then returns in reverse order as a nice cooldown. We follow the pyramid with a moderate distance run or ruck to create our Classic Turkey Day Workout, now going on its 22nd year. For ideas on how to use the pyramid, see the related links below: PT Pyramid: Classic Style Top Ten PT Pyramid Workouts PT Pyramid and Its Many Uses PT Pyramid Mixed with Weights PT Pyramid Murph Workout The goal of the Turkey Day Exercise Day is to get out and enjoy some activity prior to a big meal with your family and friends. If you had one of those typical rushed weeks full of deadlines and travel headaches, you may want to opt for an easier version of activity and just walk and stretch. Take a mobility day to de-stress as the holidays and hurried work and social schedules can turn an enjoyable time with friends and family into an anxiety and stress-filled event. Get outside and breathe some fresh air and try to relax before, during or after your family event. The goal is to stay healthy and live well. I hope you enjoy the start to the holidays and find reasons to be thankful. Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for fitness and basic training tips, or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Related Topics: Military Fitness © Copyright 2021 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Advertisement You May Also Like Ask Stew: Preparation Tips for Army Basic Combat Training Joining the military and having to lose 25 pounds or more prior to basic training is very common these days. Importance of Sleep Part 2: Rituals You have a lifting schedule, a running schedule and a work schedule. You should create a sleep schedule. Tough Mix of a Few Types of Workouts Eventually, what was a workout becomes a warmup as you progress into bigger and better conditioning. Workout of the Week: TRX Options #2 — Circuit Options Sometimes you need a break from high-repetition calisthenics and/or heavy weight training in your program. Fitness by Service The US Military Coronavirus Response Army Fitness Navy Fitness Air Force Fitness Marine Corps Fitness Advertisement Select Service Army Marines Navy Air Force National Guard Coast Guard Space Force Spouse Login GET THE MILITARY INSIDER NEWSLETTER Get the scoop on discounts, pay, benefits, and our latest award-winning content. Right in your inbox. Email SUBSCRIBE NOW By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice. 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