So many people think going away on vacation is an excuse to let loose and over indulge; well to a certain degree they are right. A vacation by definition means a period of suspension from work or study for purposes of rest and recreation. When we go away we all like to forget reality for a little while. We eat and perhaps drink with little inhibition. We like to relax and be sedentary for longer periods of time than usual. While letting our figurative guard down from time to time can be very healthy for our minds, what about our bodies? The human body was not designed to be sedentary, even for short periods of time like a vacation; we all know the deleterious effects of limited physical activity. The yearning to sit down and essentially vegetate at every opportunity is a recent thing in our history, thanks in part to our rapidly advancing technology.
We all love our Ipads, Iphones and laptops and certainly they make our lives easier but they are also distractions. I was amazed to see numerous people daily while I was in Disney World who had their faces buried in their phones. I felt bad for these people who were in such an amazing place with their loved ones and yet they were distracted by a phone. I found it to be a wake-up call to be conscience of the time spent in frivolous activities that could cause me to miss what is important.
People fall into these distractions because of the stresses of daily life and a need for escape. Exercise can be that escape. Exercise itself is a means to achieve focus and relaxation! Exercise can improve your appearance, your attitude and outlook, your energy levels, and your ability to get restorative sleep, and yes even improve your sex life. I can spend all day expounding on the positive effects of exercise, of which many of you already know, but I won’t bore you. Instead, here is a fun and fast workout that requires no equipment and can be done in your hotel room or outside next time you’re on vacation. This routine will fire up your metabolism and keep you feeling refreshed and energized so you can enjoy your trip guilt free.
The following can be done daily while away, ideally first thing in the morning before starting your day:
Warmup–
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Jumping Jacks x 30 seconds
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Stationary High Knee’s x 30 seconds
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Scissor Kicks x 20 seconds
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Reverse Planks x 20 seconds
Workout–
** Complete 2 sets with no rest between exercises; increase repetitions or time to make the workout more challenging.
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10 Burpees, 20 Jump Squats (Box Jumps if there is a suitable platform)
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10 pushups, 20 Dips (using 2 chairs or edge of bed and a chair)
End with a 20 Minute Jog
-Billy Riccio
Transformation Coach for TBBC