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Pumpkin Press - A Workout That Will "Squash" All Others

By HERWriter
 
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Fitness related image Photo: Getty Images

It is not just eating pumpkin that is good for your health, but lifting a pumpkin too. Grab a 5 to 7 pound pumpkin and sculpt and tone your entire body. Here are some great Pumpkin Exercises from my Fitness Answer Workout Plan.

Pumpkin Press and Squat
Start with your feet placed wider than hip distance apart and knees slightly bent. Hold the pumpkin with arms bent in front of your chest. Slowly bend down into a squat position while pressing the pumpkin straight out in front of you. Return to the starting position and repeat.

Pumpkin Crunch
Lie on the floor with your knees bent and place the pumpkin between your bent knees. Squeeze your knees together to hold pumpkin in place while stabilizing your torso. Place your hands behind your head. Slowly begin to lift your shoulders off the mat, at the same time bringing your knees to meet your elbows. Focus on contracting your abdominal muscles to complete this motion. Slowly return to the starting position.

Pumpkin Reverse Crunch
Start by sitting on the floor with a pumpkin between your bent knees. Squeeze your knees together to hold it in place. Place your hands behind you for support; then lean back slightly bringing your feet off the floor. Slowly bring your knees toward your chest, pause and then return to the starting position.

Pumpkin Pelvic Thrust
Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent. Place a small pumpkin between your knees as you lift your hips off the floor while squeezing your glutes. Slowly lower your hips back down to the floor.

Pumpkin Pullover Sit-Up
Start by lying on your back on the floor with your knees slightly bent and feet flat on the floor. Hold the pumpkin overhead toward floor. Keeping your arms straight, slowly raise the pumpkin up over your head. Slowly lower yourself back down to the floor.

Pumpkin Power Raise
Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Hold the pumpkin in your hands in front of your body at waist height. Slowly raise the pumpkin up and above your head, while keeping arms straight. Return to starting position.

Pumpkin Extension
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold the pumpkin behind your head with your elbows bent and pointing forward. Keeping elbows tight against sides, straighten your arms until the pumpkin is high above and directly over your head. Return to starting position and repeat.

Joanne Sgro is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training. Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com. She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.

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Anonymous

What a creative way to end a Thanksgiving feast by passing out pumpkins (sizes - age appropriate) by hosting a family fit activity - training with pumpkins/squash!
www.jaynie.me

November 11, 2010 - 2:23pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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