Xtreme Chase: Getting a Great Workout Playing With Your Kids

By: Guest Blogger, Luann Abrams

I am a nature fanatic and I make sure my son and I get outside every day to breathe some fresh air. But somedays it just doesn’t work to stay out very long. Today is a gloomy, rainy, cold winter day, and even my little guy, who is more like a mailman in that neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail will stop him, wants to stay in. And so we were off for a great game of Xtreme Chase.

Xtreme Chase, named because everything sounds more exciting with Xtreme at the beginning, is a fun way to get moving and playing with your kids. We just run back and forth down the hall or through the house chasing each other. If you are one of those fuddy-duddies who doesn't allow running in the house, well, put away the breakables and loosen up! Sound effects are highly encouraged and pretending to be various extinct animals adds a bit of flair for the younger kids; Playing some of your favorite tunes a little louder than normal can add some energy. But you can really turn it into a workout by adding a few sports conditioning moves as you race down the hall:

High Knees–Lift your knees up to hip-level as you bound after your little one

Butt Kicks–Hit your butt with your heels as you run. This is great hamstring (back of your thigh) strengthening.

Jumps–Just jump! But remember to land softly, which means you have to use your muscles to slow the momentum of your lowering body. Add some pillows that you have to jump over - a great way to tone your lower body.

Skip–I have no idea how to explain how to do it! If your child is younger, this is a great opportunity to work on this coordination skill.

Walking Lunges–Step forward with your first leg landing heel first. Lower body by bending both knees until back knee nearly touches the floor. Lift yourself up using both legs and step forward and repeat with the opposite leg.

Stairs–If you have stairs in your house, you have a built-in workout machine. Running up and down the stairs two-at-a-time, sideways, backwards, is great for firming the glutes. You may want to skip this with the younger kids until they are sure-footed.

Drop and Give Me...–Stopping throughout the chase to punch-out 10 push-ups or 10 crunches will ensure you get a full-body workout.

That should get you started on your first Xtreme Chase competition. When your child has completely worn you out, end your game with a few snuggles and some stretches. Be well and have fun!

Luann Abrams is a personal trainer who focuses on family fitness. She maintains her own blog, http://trainingforfun.com/, to encourage family-fitness.

Be a Bumple

Want to become an official Bumple? Why not join Bumples Interactive Magazine today?

This month Bumples is going to the Olympics with fun, interactive sports, games, fiction and fact. Plus, Bumples has made it even easier to join the club. For only $2.25 an issue, your kids can have the fun of a paper magazine, with the interactivity of a computer game. Plus, Bumples even has fun facts that relate back to the fiction story so they'll be learning along the way....Shhhh, don't tell them that part.

For the low price of $2.25 an issue, that's less than you'd pay for one of those fast-food kids' meals and, let's face it, a lot healthier - Bumples nourishes the mind and fuels the imagination.

In addition to all this fabulous fun, the first 10 people who sign up for a yearly subscription ($19.95) will receive a FREE Miss Bumples book. Hurry this offer won't last long! Check out Bumples Interactive Magazine at; http://www.bumples.com/

Now on to the winner of our book giveaway, Miss Bumples Moves to Bumplesville...
.....drum roll please...

The winner is Katherine. WOOHOOO CONGRATS!!!!
(Katherine if you could email me your address we'll get your prize right out to you)

Thanks to all who entered and be sure to check back as we have more giveaways planned :)

On the 7th Day Til Christmas...

...Twimericks

I read a lot of books and I must say Twimericks by Lou Brooks, is some of the most fun I’ve ever had reading a book.

What is Twimericks?

A Twimerick is a limerick added to a tongue – twister.

“It’s supposed to be a kids’ book,” says Brooks. “Or at least I think it’s a kids’ book. But when adults start to read it aloud to one another, they seem to get hooked on it.”

Being the author and illustrator of this quirky, little book, Brooks insists that you read the book aloud and as quickly as you can. He says, “I’ve wanted Twimericks to be a portable party that you can carry around with you.” Brooks is right. Bring this book out at any gathering and hilarity is sure to follow.

Here’s an example of what you can expect to find among the pages of Twimericks;

Fred’s False Teeth

Fred’s false teeth fell five hundred feet,
From the fifty-fourth floor onto 45th Street,
Fred flagged a fleet florist,
With five ferns from the forest,
Who said, “Fred, now how will you eat?”

Is your tongue tied in a knot yet?

Twimericks would make a great stocking-stuffer or gift for anyone (young or mature) on your holiday list this year.

For more information on Twimericks or any other Workman Publishing products, check out their web site at: http://www.workman.com/

Direct link to Twimericks; http://www.workman.com/search/search.pl?query=Twimericks