Almost there! This is the penultimate 12 Days of Fitmas guide to staying trim and feeling sprightly this Christmas. If you’ve taken part from day one, your whole body should be feeling great, and you’ll have some incredible recipes to consider when the big day comes (and for the days afterwards).
If you’ve not yet encountered or 12 Days of Fitmas exercise guides, you can check out our ‘how to’ guide [here], and catch up by completing the full [beginner] or [intermediate] routines.
Exercise
Today’s exercise helps you take those press ups to another level altogether. These are tough, but we know you can do it!
Day Eleven routine: Arms & Chest III, Diamond press ups
- 3 sets of at least 10, or as many as you can!
These are called diamond press ups for two reasons. Firstly, because your fingers should form a diamond shape on the floor, and secondly, because they are the very best for working your chest, shoulders and upper arms.
Adopt a normal press up position, but bring your hands so close together underneath your face, that the tips of your fingers and thumbs touch, forming a diamond shape. This narrow point of balance will work your core balance as well as your arms and chest.
Do three sets of at least ten press ups for an effective workout.
Recipe
Poached Pears in Spiced Tea
Ingredients:
50g golden caster sugar
1 tbsp clear honey
1 tbsp redcurrant or cranberry jelly
2 spiced fruit tea bags (Pukka’s ‘revitalise’ is good, or apple & cinnamon)
4 firm pears, peeled, halved and core scooped out with a spoon
handful fresh cranberries
yogurt or sweetened crème fraîche with a little orange juice or zest, to serve
Directions:
Put the sugar, honey, jelly and tea bags into a big saucepan with 600ml water and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the pear halves, then cover and simmer for 12-15 mins until the pears are just tender – poke them with a skewer or the tip of a knife.
Lift out the pears, then turn up the heat, throw in the cranberries and boil for a few mins until syrupy. Discard the tea bags. Serve the pears with the warm syrup poured over and a spoonful of crème fraîche or yogurt.
Recipe courtesy of Shape.com.
