Topsail Island is 26 miles of gorgeous North Carolina beach paradise. A marathon is 26.2 miles of grueling physical fitness performance. Coincidence?
Yeah, it totally is. But that doesn't mean that the combination of beach and fitness isn't a match made in spandex heaven. Getting beach fit is all about being able to enjoy the things that YOU want to do while you're on vacation, whether your goal is to spend your whole time soaking up the Topsail Island sun or boogie boarding across the East Coast waves.
Set Clear Goals
When it comes to setting any type of goals, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We are all fabulously different, with unique wants and needs. That's why it's important for YOU to identify what you want to achieve and why.
Take Heart
Do you ever find yourself breathing harder than you want to be while you're doing something active? If so, you may be thinking about working on your cardiovascular fitness. While it's true that cardio exercises are some of the most efficient when it comes to losing weight, they also happen to be great for getting beach fit.
Below are three low-impact cardiovascular activities that you can do at home
AND during your Topsail Island vacation!
When it comes to getting beach fit, walking may be one of the best steps you can take. If you have a decent pair of shoes and a basic level of physical fitness, you can start working out right now! Increasing your walking capacity is also really important because you'll want to be able to do things like stroll along the shore and hunt for seashells during your Topsail Island vacation.
Even if it's been a while since you've cruised a neighborhood on your Huffy, the great thing about this skill is that it's, well, like riding a bike. Cycling is a great workout for your legs and butt. While you're on Topsail, you'll find that it's also a great way to see the the local sights and keep up your fitness levels at the same time. Don't want to haul your bike back and forth from home? Rent one here.
Swimming is a fabulous way to get a full-body workout. In fact, it may be one of the quickest ways to lose a little weight while simultaneously toning your arms, legs, and stomach. And you might as well get in some practice beforehand, since you'll no doubt be spending lots of quality time while on vacation body-surfing and frolicking through the waves with your loved ones.
Stay Strong
Cardio fitness is a big part of being beach fit and therefore able to participate in all of the awesome things that you want to do while on vacation (and in life!), but cardio is not the only method for achieving your beach fitness goals.
Arm Exercises
Having a set of great looking arms is a fun beach accessory, but having a set of arms capable of enjoying all of the fun Topsail Island beach activities is WAY more important. Prep your arms for hours of sand-castle building and body-surfing with these effective arm exercises.
Leg Exercises
You already know that walking along the beach day after day, running in and out of the Atlantic Ocean surf, and tackling those stairs in your Topsail Island rental will be leg workouts in and of themselves! Check out these leg exercises to make sure your legs are ready all of that and more!
Core Exercises
You'll definitely want to make sure that your core muscles are prepared for the many hours of laughing along with your family and digging enough sand to turn your family's smallest vacationers into the world's cutest mer-kids. If you think you'd benefit from a core exercise routine, try these.
Are you already on vacation? Check out one of our earlier posts for active ideas on how to boost your beach fitness.
Eat Smart
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 dieting rule? The basic premise is this: make healthy food choices 80% of the time, and you can eat pretty much whatever you want to eat for the remaining 20% of the time.
If you aren't used to paying attention to what and when and how you eat, adjusting to this method may take some amount of effort, but the payoff will totally be worth it.
But what if you aren't really in the mood to overhaul your entire eating routine? No problem! Even small but consistent efforts like increasing the amount of water that you drink each day or adding a small salad to your regular lunch and/or dinner routine can help you achieve your beach fitness goals!
Our post about clean eating has ten really great ideas to help you achieve your smart (S.M.A.R.T.) eating goals.
Above all else, vacations are about making lasting memories with your loved ones. Keep this in mind as you set and work towards your beach fitness goals, and you will be successful all around!
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