A seaside cottage or a holiday lodge. Your own holiday home is the perfect place to fit in some fitness time.
Not many people go on holiday to dedicate themselves to a fitness regime. (You do? This probably isn’t for you). But, getting away from the daily routine is a good opportunity to make sure you keep up the activity. Fitness and movement is integral for a healthy mind, bone health, energy levels and better sleep among others, and studies have shown that focusing on exercise over weight loss may actually lead to healthier outcomes.
When you own your own UK seaside holiday home you have lots of holiday benefits. And one of the key ones is that you’re in control of your own time. You’re a free spirit. Make sure you keep it moving while you’re on holiday with this top fitness tips.
Swimming pool at Caldecott Hall Country Park
1. SWIMMING
In what parallel universe does having a swim not go with having a holiday? If your holiday home is in a location like Tingdene Broadlands Park and Marina in Suffolk, or Caldecott Hall Country Park and Waveney River Centre in Norfolk, you’ll have a pool on site. Easy.
And a seaside holiday home gives a bit of a clue to swimming in its name - the sea! Swimming is one of the most effective forms of exercise and, certainly when it comes to the sea - it’s free. It’s not about booking slots in club schedules or leaving towels to keep your sun bed. It’s about doing what you want when you want. Setting your own agenda. It’s never easier than when you own your own UK holiday home.
2. WalkING
It doesn’t come easier to do, cheaper or more flexible and impromptu than walking does it? Walking is good for you, and even if your job or your lifestyle involves walking regularly - maybe even daily - there’s a difference when you set off from your holiday home.
First - there’s no pressure. You don’t have to be anywhere by a certain time. Second, it’s for fun. Third, it’s a chance to explore. Actually finding out more about your holiday home area while strolling is a big double bonus. You’re getting exercise while you’re absorbing information. That’s a very good cocktail of happiness inducing science. Simple sightseeing is good for you. Who knew?
Sure, you can step it up a bit now and then to get the heart rate pounding. Other times you can amble a bit. Being in your holiday home means you can try different terrain too. A good beach walk is good exercise because you’re walking on sand. Keep this in mind - around 10,000 steps a day will burn around 400 calories. (You do the maths about ice creams and such. Just saying…)
3. Running
A fairly logical next step to walking. Staying on the beach, a run on the sand is a real cardio booster. And like walking, holiday terrain is different to home turf. It varies depending on your location too.
A run around the Mablethorpe Park on the Lincolnshire coast is going to be flatter than a jog around the North York Moors near Tingdene’s superb site at Redcar Beach Caravan Park in Teeside.
Be sensible about footwear, and don’t overdo it if you’re not used to running, but it’s another very cheap - well pretty much free in fact - means of staying fit while you’re away. And you can do it your way, on your time, when you’re at you own UK holiday home.
4. Weights
Do not panic. This is not rooted in the idea that you install a mini gym in your holiday home - although you could if you want to, it’s yours after all.
Let’s keep this in perspective. A little bit of weight training is a good thing. If you have weights and don’t want to haul them to your holiday, or if you don’t have weights but would like to make start while you’re away, here’s a tip: buy a couple of big bottles of water, check out some moves online, and get started.
While we’re on the subject of water, and indeed the subject of holiday home fitness, it’s a good idea to keep hydrated - especially if you’re spending lots of time outside and sweaty! A little indulgence is great on holiday, but it’s also easier to be mindful of what you drink and eat when you’re in your own holiday home.
5. Fitness Apps
No, that’s not a typo for Abs. We’re talking Apps. You might not want to make your holiday time too ‘teched up’, but there are some great fitness Apps around. Download a couple to your phone or tablet and you can have good advice on how to maximise your fitness opportunities at your finger tips. What better place than in your own holiday home to take advantage of all of those Yoga Apps too. Make time, because you have the time.
A pedometer or Fitbit style tracker is worthwhile holiday tech too, You don’t have to turn it into an obsession, but having an idea of your daily activity and reaching step goals can be really fun!
Owning your own UK holiday home is a great idea. A seaside lodge, a static caravan. Norfolk, Teeside, Suffolk - wherever you choose you’ll have somewhere to call your own and somewhere to go to when you want to get away. And it’s yours. Almost as importantly, your time is your own too. Make the most of it, and make the most of you.
