5 tips for a fitter holiday
Sun-cream bought, out-of-office set on email, suitcases weighed. Flight times triple checked, currency ordered. Let the holiday begin!
We all look forward to a break in the sun, but there’s no need for that fun fortnight to wreck all the hard work in the gym. Try these ideas for a fitter and healthier holiday.
1. MAKE A LINE IN THE SAND
Are you a runner? That sandy beach in the early morning is the perfect place for you. Quiet, not too hot and with a good surface to keep up that distance. And what a view!
2. TRY SOMETHING NEW
The mental and physical exercise of trying a new skill is a perfect way to leave those work worries behind.
If you are on the beach, there’s a fitness centre right in front of you.
Swimming in a warm sea is never a chore. Unpowered watersports will strengthen your core and arms – try surfing, windsurfing or sailing when there’s wind or paddlesports when it is calm.
3. FIND THAT LITTLE GYM
Missing your regular workout? Many hotels and resorts now offer gym equipment. It might not be on the same scale as at home, but it will help keep you on training schedule. The air conditioning and shade also make a great respite from mid-day heat.
4. ENJOY YOUR FOOD
It might be glorious Greek cooking or wonderful Italian dishes. It may even be gourmet French cuisine. Make the most of new tastes and new dishes and go local for taste and nutrition. All that activity will help you burn it off, so indulge a little.
5. LOSE TRACK OF TIME
You are on holiday and (hopefully) away from it all. There’s no work stress and no comfort eating required. There are no deadlines. So why do you need to know the time?
Take off your watch and turn off your phone. Set your activities according to your natural clock. Sleep when you are tired, eat when you are hungry, rest when it is hot, move when it is cooler.
Holidays are all about recuperation. Try these ideas and come home fitter in both body and mind.
The Author
Jessica Ambrose
Jessica is a fitness writer who loves long distance running, yoga, strength training and healthy eating.
Comments
30 July 2016
Mike D.
I don't tend to do any proper fitness on holiday. But we do a lot of walking and sight-seeing so I don't feel the need to use a gym as well. I would rather spend my time visiting the local area personally.
14 July 2016
Emma C.
Oh this makes me feel like going on holiday! I love to use hotel gyms, it's a real part of my holiday, so my exercise routine doesn't generally slacken off, which keeps me feeling great.
12 July 2016
Matthew C.
Nothing beats running on the beach before breakfast. But my run tends to be along the Cornish coast, rather than any European one, but I reckon it's better anyway. And you don't have to worry about flight times to get there!
31 July 2016
Roger B.
the idea of removing the watch and turning off the phone is a simple piece of stress-busting genius. This time I will be returning without a white band on my wrist and with the phone battery flat - but I won't have noticed.