Let’s face it: the holidays are here, as well as the food, festivities and weight gain. Between shopping for your nieces and nephews and ensuring they get to all the holiday spectacular events in your area, time for exercise is very limited. However, during this stressful period, exercise is most crucial. Studies have shown that people who maintain a regular workout schedule tend to be more cautious about the foods they eat, have a lower stress level and are most successful at maintaining their current weight throughout the holiday season.

Boot camp-style workouts are very much the craze in the fitness industry right now. This is because they are a great way to burn lots of calories in a short period of time. They are easy to fit into a busy schedule, and can be done practically anywhere with very little equipment.

Boot camp workouts are extremely efficient as you can work your whole body in a short period of time with extreme intensity. They also avoid boredom, as every workout and each exercise is different. These workouts combine a series of calisthenics like jumping jacks, crunches, pushups and other body weight exercises - you work your heart and muscles by going from one exercise to another with no rest. They also provide a Auntie with a great way to combine cardiovascular training with strength training.

In boot camp, your challenge is to take your body to its limit. You work, you sweat, and, best of all, you burn calories like crazy. Your workout will be as challenging as you want it to be - work hard and work strong!

Time-efficient workouts can help a busy person attain a healthy lifestyle - an hour is often a large commitment that many people cannot make to fitness during this busy time of year. It is my personal belief that any exercise is better than no exercise, and I always advocate if you do not have one solid hour to dedicate to a workout, then get in ten, 20 or 30 minutes, whatever time you have! Don’t let a tight schedule stop you from being the Savvy Auntie that you are - check out this ten-minute boot camp routine that is sure to get your heart pumping and muscles working! What’s more is you can recruit your nieces or nephews to work along with you to keep you motivated and working hard.

For this ten-minute boot camp workout, I have developed a superset with two of my favorite moves to help strengthen your entire body and get your heart rate pumping. Perform this routine in the morning before you leave for work, then try to sneak in some cardio throughout the day, whether it’s taking the stairs to your office, walking to work, whatever - you will see results in no time!

Be sure to change up your routines and not work the same muscle groups on consecutive days. Do what you can when you start and be sure to warm up and stretch out before you begin. Try to make your movements continuous and exert maximum effort. Drink water as needed. Good luck and have fun!

BURPEES SUPERSET WITH SQUAT JUMPS
Perform ten repetitions of the exercise described below to complete one set. Rest one to two minutes in between sets; perform three to four sets depending on your fitness level.

1. Start position: Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides. Crouch down into a deep squat position with your legs together, palms on the ground and hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart.

2. In an explosive movement, jump/shoot both legs backward into a push up / plank position. Keep your abs tight and back flat.

3. Bend your elbows and lower down into a push up.

4. After you push up into plank position, then jump both knees back into your chest to return to the deep squat position.

5. From there, leap straight up into the air, striving for maximum height.

Perform all four movements in fast succession to complete one repetition.  

For more boot camp workouts, visit www.BeckysFitnessCompany.com.