The 4th of July is just around the corner and, like many other Americans, you may be planning on celebrating away from home. You probably can’t wait for the cold drinks, beach days, and delicious food off the barbecue… right? But, maybe you’re worried about looking your best in that new bathing suit you bought and have wanted to wear for WEEKS now!
You can look good and feel good by fitting in a workout while you’re on vacation. There are a variety of activities you can do with the entire family that burn calories and leave you feeling great!
Here are some of my favorite suggestions:
Hiking
Find a trail in the area you will be in (whether that is away or at home) and take the family for a hike. This can be anywhere from an hour to an all-day affair.
Hiking does a lot for the body including improving blood pressure, core strengthening, weight loss, and mood boosting.
You can burn TONS of calories hiking! Depending on your weight and the incline of the trail you choose, you can burn anywhere between 430-550 calories per hour (Livestrong.com).
Check out this website to find a trail near you: http://alltrails.com/
There are beginners trails and more advanced trails with steeper inclines, rockier paths, etc. Make sure to choose one that works best for you and your family. Also, pack a nice picnic to enjoy while you take in all that nature has to offer.
Bike Riding
Riding around might just be the perfect activity for your family and friends. Bikes can be rented at most campsites and vacation areas. Some trails even rent bikes out with outlined paths for you to follow. If you have your own it’s even better!
Cycling is a great way to stay in shape and have fun doing it. You won’t even realize how much exercise you’re getting in because it’s such a fun activity. Cycling can build strength, increase cardiovascular health, and improve your posture.
See more benefits of cycling at Better Health: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cycling-health-benefits
You can burn upwards from 435 calories per hour cycling depending on the intensity and your weight. Taking the time to ride around and get a vacation from the car will leave you feeling amazing!
See what you could burn: http://www.bicycling.com/training/weight-loss/cycling-calories-burned-calculator
Swimming
Lounging by the pool over your holiday weekend? Try jumping in a taking laps every so often for a worthwhile cardiovascular workout. Swimming has some fantastic benefits that you may never have realized (and it keeps you cool when it’s too hot to handle).
Swimming builds endurance, strength, and is a stress-free workout. The water can actually be peaceful! You’ll maintain a healthy heart and lungs and may find that it improves your overall physique.
See more benefits here: http://www.bucknell.edu/athletics/recreation-services/swimming-information.html
Many friends and family go to the beach, backyard pools, and resorts where swimming is a popular activity. You’ll burn about 400+ calories for every hour of laps you do in the pool. Jump in a few times throughout the day and keep track to see how long you spent.
People will wonder how you look so good in that new suit!
Canoeing & Kayaking
Have your group hop into a canoe or individual kayaks for a fun activity. You can pack lunch and canoe to a campground or go on a short lap in a nearby lake.
Canoeing and Kayaking is great for your arms and torso! You’ll start to see the definition in your body after rowing for a few hours. It is a very relaxing activity for everyone to enjoy.
You’ll burn 200+ calories per hour of canoeing with a group!
Go to Paddling.net to find trips & destinations near you!
I highly recommend using an app like MapMyRun that will tell you exactly how much you’ve burned based on your weight. They have lots of other calculators and features too that include route mapping, activity tracking, food logging, etc.
I use it for all of my activities and they have fun contests that motivate you to keep working! You can sign up easily from your phone and download the app. Connect to Facebook to challenge and workout with your friends.
If you try out some of these activities, let me know where and how they went. I’d love to share my own adventures with y’all so feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @biancablogs
Have other ideas for me? Comment below!