Burn 300 Calories During Tonight's Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine
Courtesy of NBC Universal
Courtesy of NBC Universal

Amanda MacMillan,SELF magazine

Tonight is the (very long) opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. We're not usually fans of parking your butt in front of the television for such an extended period, but we'll make an exception for such an awesome display of athleticism and national pride.

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And speaking of athleticism, there's no reason you need to just sit and watch: To get into the spirit yourself, I pow-wowed with Heather Hatfield, a personal trainer at the Maryland Athletic Club in Baltimore, to come up with a SELF Summer Games Game you can play right from your living room. (You can even invite some friends over to make it a friendly competition!)

Just by concentrating on the moves below and moving for about 60 minutes overall, Hatfield estimates you can sizzle at least 300 calories -- and with the ceremonies scheduled to air for more than four hours, there's potential to burn even more. Follow these as written, or add your own rules for a favorite athlete or celeb sighting. Let the Games begin!

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  • Do a pushup (either regular, or standing and leaning against a wall) every time you see British royalty.

  • Stand up (if you're seated) every time a non-athlete celebrity is shown. Hello, Paul McCartney!

  • As the parade of athletes starts, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms out in front, and begin doing slow squats as the first country enters the stadium. As the second country enters, squat lower and hold until the third country is announced. Continue alternating moving and holding squats, switching for each country, until all nations have entered.

  • Hold a plank pose for the entirety of the British national anthem. You can alternate between being on your knees and toes -- we know it's a long song!

  • Reach down and touch the ground, then jump up with your hands overhead every time you see an athlete filming the festivities on their smartphone.

  • Do a burpee if you see an athlete say "Hi, Mom!" directly to the camera.

  • Pass a dumbbell (or a soup can, if you don't have hand weights) from your left extended arm to your right extended arm, up over your head in a rainbow arc, and then across your body to your left again, as you watch the Olympic torch being passed.

  • Stand in tree pose as you watch the musical performances, switching legs every time director Danny Boyle's name is mentioned in the commentary. (Hold for at least 20 seconds each time, but take breaks in between if you need to.)

  • Cool down during the grand finale fireworks with Cat Cow pose.

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What did we miss? How else will you stay active while watching the Games?

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