Exercise Tips from Dwight Howard and Disney XD

If you watch the Disney Channel or Disney XD, make sure you pay attention during the commercial breaks between your favorite shows. Starting today, NBA superstar Dwight Howard and White House chef Sam Kass share tips on exercise and healthy eating with some of your favorite Disney stars — and with you!

In these minute-long clips called "TRYit," Howard demonstrates exercises that will strengthen you muscles while Kass will show you how to toughen up your body by eating better. They also give us viewers insight into how they stay fit and healthy. "It's great for kids to have something like this, and I'm happy to be a part of it," Howard says.

In one of the first "TRYit" clips, Howard show Leo Howard of the show Kickin' It how to work on the triceps by doing something called close-grip pushups:



The "TRYit" videos are part of a larger campaign called Disney Magic of Healthy Living, which is aimed at getting kids and adults thinking about how to lead healthier, more physically active lifestyles. Another part of the campaign is the two-part special Disney TRYathalon. TRYathalon is a competition show that pits three teams of Disney and Disney XD stars — and three kid viewers — against each other in a series of contests that will put their mental, physical, and teamwork abilities to the test.

TRYathalon kicked off last night on Disney XD, and part two will air on August 19 at 9 p.m. The Disney stars taking part are Howard and Olivia Holt from Kickin' It, Calum Worthy from Austin & Ally, Jake Short of A.N.T. Farm and Mighty Med, Spencer Boldman from Lab Rats, and Bradley Steven Perry from Good Luck Charlie and Mighty Med. They're joined bythree kid viewers who won an online contest: 14-year-old Javon, 14-year-old Julia, and 16-year-old Stephen.



That guy in the yellow t-shirt is Tryathalon coach and former NFL star Shawne Merriman. He keeps the kids going through the tough, physically-demanding challenges.

"I always have tried to be a coachable player throughout my career, so to see the kids today really taking the coaching and understanding and applying it was really fun to be on the other side as a coach," Merriman says."

He adds that his favorite Tryathalon challenge was Sky Ball. And when you watch this clip you'll see why: It's way harder than it looks!

For more about TRYathalon and how you can take part in the challenge, visit the Disney XD website. And let us know in the comments section what you do to stay healthy and active!

Photos: (top) Leo Howard and Dwight Howard in a "TRYit" segment (Disney XD), (middle) Shawne Merriman, Leo Howard, Julia Bost Domann, and Jake Short get ready for SkyBall, one of the TRYathlon contests (DISNEY XD/Rick Rowell)