I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

I have seen 9 out of the 10 Oscar nominated movies this year.  My goal was to see all 10 but 127 Hours only played in our town for about 15 minutes and I did not make it to the theater in time.  But I have never gotten so many of them viewed prior to the awards, so I'm pretty excited to see who wins.  If I were a member of the Academy, here is how I would vote (this is not necessarily who I think will win):

Best Picture: Black Swan
Best Director: Black Swan
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Actress: (you guessed it) Natalie Portman
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo

And now, for your pre-Oscar viewing pleasure, here is an Oscar workout for the weekend. 

OSCAR WORKOUT

You have been nominated for the highest honor, the Oscar, for acting like you love every moment of every workout. Choose one winner from each category. Then match that number to the workout number listed. If you want to make it even more like the Oscars, write out the nominees and put them in envelopes for you and your partner to take turns opening.

I. We get our strength to push and pull and lift, not to mention look good in tank tops, from our upper body. The nominees in the category of upper body are:

1. Muscle Beach Party
2. Iron (Wo)Man
3. Pecs and the City
4. Hannah and her Muscles
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

II. It keeps us pumping, helps us love, and keeps the blood flowing. The nominees in the category of cardio are:

1. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
2. The Quick and the Dead
3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
4. Rush Hour
5. Speed

III. They walk us thousands of miles each year, walk us up the stairs, and generally keep us supported. The nominees in the category of legs are:

1. My Left Foot
2. The Leg and I
3. It’s a Wonderful Leg
4. When Harry Met Sally’s Legs
5. A Few Good Legs

IV. They lift things, grab things, carry things, and if treated right, look good in sleeveless tops. The nominees in the category of arms are:

1. A Farewell to Arms
2. Armed and Dangerous
3. My Big Buff Greek Arms
4. The Sound of Muscles
5. The Whole Nine Arms

V. The most elusive of all prizes, the nominees in the category of tight core muscles are:

1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Abs
2. The Firm
3. Bridget Jones’ Workout Diary
4. Flubber
5. Absolute Power

Now take your nominee from each category and see what exercise you need to do.  And be sure to gush and thank the Academy during your acceptance speech.

I. Upper Body Category

1. 25 push-ups and 2 sets of 15 front and lateral raises
2. 3 sets of 12 incline press, reverse incline press and overhead press
3. 3 sets of 10 lat pull down, chest press and overhead press
4. 3 sets of 10 chest press/flyes on bench and seated cable row
5. 2 sets of 15 hay bales, push-ups, and upright row

II. Cardio Category

1. 25 jumping jacks
2. 2 minutes on the stationary bike, PRE 9-10, twice, with a one minute break
3. 1 minute jump rope, three times, with a one minute break between each
4. 2 minutes on the elliptical, PRE 9-10, twice, with a one minute break
5. 2 minutes on the stairstepper, PRE 9-10, twice, with a one minute break

III. Legs Category

1. 2 sets of 15 step-ups and calf press
2. 3 sets of 10 leg press and calf press breakdowns
3. 2 sets of 15 stability ball squats with a thirty second wall sit in between
4. 2 sets of 15 leg curls and leg extensions
5. 20 plie squats, 10 balance moves (per leg), and 10 lunges (per leg)

IV. Arms Category

1. 1 set of triceps pressdown 21’s and 1 set of bicep curl 21’s
2. 2 supersets of 15 push-ups/dips
3. 25 each: triceps extension, dips, alternate curl
s4. 2 sets of 12 skull crunches and 30 second wall sit/bicep curls
5. 2 sets of 15 triceps kickbacks and hammer curls

V. Core Category

1. 100 crunches and a 30 second plank
2. 2 sets of 25 Roman chair
3. 2 sets of 15 reverse crunches
4. 25 bicycle crunches (each side)
5. 2 sets of 25 oblique crunches and 2 sets of 25 crunches