Buff up at the beach
By Gina Lombardi
Going to the beach in the heart of summer brings back fond memories of being a kid. And when you hit the beach as a child, you didn’t just lounge around -- you played! Well, why not bring out the kid in you this summer with some fun and games that can give you a great workout without making you feel like you’re actually exercising.
Here are three ideas for fun beach activities. Just bring along a gym bag filled with equipment such as a dodgeball, weighted VersaFit bag (5- to 20-pound bag with handles) and weighted football (such as those made by Champion Sports or Power Systems) and try the following exercises in between swimming stints:
*Dodgeball
Break out that old rubber ball and get a good game of dodgeball going in a remote corner on the sand. You’d be surprised how many grown-ups will want to play. And running in the sand after -- and away from -- that ball will give you a great cardio workout you didn’t expect.
*Walking with weights
Place the VersaFit bag over your shoulders and hold onto the handles (Do not position the bag too high on the neck. You should be able to tip your head back without obstruction.) Then walk for 20 to 30 minutes in the sand and feel the added resistance the bag and the sand offer to this walking workout. When you’re done, position the bag on your shoulders but off of the neck completely, and hold onto the handles. Then jump, skin or hop across the sand for a count of 20 and back again to your starting position.
*Football toss
You could play with a standard football, which weighs about 1 pound, but why not try a 2- to 3-pound weighted football for added resistance during exchanges, hand-offs and short passes. Or just have an informal game of catch for 20 to 30 minutes for a great upper-body workout (try alternating arms instead of just using the same one over and over).
Be sure to drink water consistently throughout the day and wear your sunscreen. And when you get too hot -- dive back into the ocean!
