Health and Beauty - Keep fit and have fun on holiday
Keep fit and have fun on holiday
You're on holiday and you've over-indulged on the local food and drink. Don't panic, you can burn off those extra calories with minimal effort and maximum enjoyment. Here’s the low-down on six cool holiday activities that will help keep you in shape on the beach − and they've even been tried and tested by A-list celebs… Golf: Thanks to Mr and Mrs Michael Douglas, golf now has a glitzier image.Celeb fan: Catherine Zeta Jones
Good for: Toning the obliques, the muscles which create definition at the side of your stomach. And if you forget the cart, you can burn a few calories strolling around the course.
Calories burnt: Up to 350 an hour.
Benefits: Golf is a sociable way to keep the pounds at bay, while a good golf swing can do wonders for bingo wings.
Downsides: It’s not very strenuous on the cardiovascular front so you might want to complement a round of golf with a swim afterwards. Jet skiing: It may look easy but if you find yourself on a stand-up jet ski, you’ll really feel your whole body being put through its paces.
Celeb fan: Coleen McCloughlin
Good for: Putting your Pilates into practice and strengthening your abs.
Calories burnt: Up to 350 an hour.
Benefits: Whether sitting down or standing up, you’ll still be working both your abs and the tops of your arms.
Downsides: Jet skiing can be an expensive way to tone your muscles.Water skiing: Not only is it fast and exciting, but water skiing also tones all your major muscle groups.
Celeb fan: Jemima Khan
Good for: Toning your shoulders, back muscles and legs − if you manage to stay standing up
Calories burnt: 300 an hour.
Benefits: You can’t beat the combination of feeling exhilarated at the same time as getting a workout.
Downsides: Expect a fair bit of soreness in the arms afterwards.Dancing: The chances are you’ll spend at least one evening on the dance floor during your holiday so make sure you make the most of it.
Celeb fan: Paris Hilton
Good for: An all-over workout. As long as you’re moving, you’ll be working on your fitness levels and conditioning your arms and legs at the same time.
Calories burnt: It depends on the type of dancing. A slow smooch will burn around 100 calories for a 10-minute dance, while an hour of salsa burns 500 calories plus.
Benefits: You don’t need any skill to get a workout on the dance floor.
Downsides: It’s not the comfiest way to get in shape. Be sure to have a good supply of plasters handy, particularly if you're wearing your favourite four-inch heels.Body boarding: If the prospect of surfing is too daunting, why not compromise with bodyboarding? It’s not half as scary but you still have to work hard.
Celeb fan: Jodie Marsh
Good for: Just about everything − shoulders, arms, legs, stomach…
Calories burnt: 450 an hour.
Benefits: You can still get a good workout even if you’re no pro.
Downsides: You may find that your arms and legs tire quite quickly when you’re starting out.Hiking: Exploring your surroundings on foot means that you save on bus fares and burn off your breakfast at the same time.
Celeb fan: Jennifer Aniston
Good for: Lower body muscle tone. If you can include some hills, you’ll intensify your workout and make your bottom and thighs work overtime.
Calories burnt: Up to 400 an hour for a fast-paced, hilly hike.
Benefits: Hiking’s a more leisurely way to take in the scenery.
Downsides: You need to clock up some miles in order to see results. WHAT’S IN CHILLI SAUCE: Add hot chilli sauce or hot mustard to your meals. This can also help to boost your metabolism and the amount of fat you burn. STRETCHING YOUR BACK IN SIX DIRECTIONS EVERY DAY: Forwards, backwards, sideways and rotationally… Losing weight will also protect your back as it takes a load off the disks and joints (visit www.garrytrainer.com). SPRAYOLOGY DIETPOWER MOUTH SPRAY: Contains homeopathic compounds that help to quell your appetite (www.blissworld.com, $32 plus $32 shipping from the US). WHAT’S OUT TARTARE SAUCE: 133 calories and 10gr fat per 50gr serving. RUSHING TO THE DOC WITH BACK PAIN: According to celeb osteopath Garry Trainer’s new book Back Chat (Aurum Press, £10.99), most back pain starts to heals on its own after three days. CELSIUS COLA: Claims to boost your metabolism because it contains green tea extracts but each bottle contains 200mg of caffeine, the same as five cups of proper green tea. CREDIT: Half a 215gr bag of Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts (350 calories) = DEBIT: 2 hours of playing Frisbee LIQUID LUNCH – The easy way to lose weightExperts are hailing the humble bowl of soup as the holy grail of successful weight loss. It’s not only a low-calorie nutritious food but it also keeps you fuller for longer. This was shown in a recent experiment when food scientists at the University of Nottingham prepared two versions of the same meal: grilled chicken with vegetables and a bottle of water. One group of volunteers ate the meal and drank the water separately. Another group tried it blended with the water as a soup. The group who ate the soup felt fuller for longer and scans of their stomachs proved it was physiologically true. Add to this the fact that having low-calorie soup or vegetable juice before your lunch can reduce what you eat by more than 100 calories, and you’d be a fool not to try it!(Experiment from The Truth About Food by Jill Fullerton-Smith, £15.99, Bloomsbury.) WHAT’S NEW?The Fit FlopStrolls needn’t stop now summer is here and you can’t face sweating into your MBTs. Get your name on the waiting list for a pair of Fit Flops – they have a “micro wobbleboard” built into the midsole, to help fight cellulite, improve posture and firm up your legs. Fit Flops cost £36 (www.runningbare.co.uk). SPICE AWAY YOUR SUGAR CRAVINGSA sprinkle of cinnamon can help you stave off cravings for sugar. It contains chromium, a mineral proven to satiate your body’s desire for sugary foods – and encourages detoxification. This makes it the perfect hard-working alternative to calorie-packed sweeteners such as honey, sugar and chocolate. Try it in place of sugar, dusted over porridge, or on frothy hot drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. AND FINALLY…Only eat when you’re sitting down and fully aware of what you’re doing. This tip alone could save you three kilograms (about half a stone) a year!
