Simple Workouts for Busy Beach-Body Seekers
With all of the thinking I have been doing about upcoming spring break plans, I somehow managed to miss the big elephant in the room…spring break means it’s officially swimsuit season!
Just because I live on Sanibel Island off Florida’s gulf coast where our winters average in the mid-upper 70’s doesn’t mean I’m beach-ready all year, if ya know what I mean. I think that, no matter where you live, the fall and winter become this huge whirlwind of new school years, holidays (which in our family also includes some birthdays), finishing big projects or reports that can’t go into the next year, plus all of those little life surprises. Then, by the time the Valentine’s bouquet has finally wilted, you realize that you haven’t stopped and taken a deep breath in six months.
However, this isn’t the healthiest motivator to hit the gym like crazy and diet like a pageant pro so that you can feel good in a bathing suit. And honestly? Are you suddenly going to have more free time, or more energy, or like the gym any more than before? No. But we often do have some time in our days if we multitask and find the right workout. The following workout includes exercises that can be done in front of the TV while you’re watching the nightly news, while you’re watching the kids at the park, in the time it takes for clothes to wash before they have to switch to the dryer, and all of those other little moments in the day.
I recently found this great workout designed by Pro Volleyball Player Nora Tobin in Shape magazine. What I love about it is the ability to mix and match the 10 different exercises to target trouble zones, and it also keeps every workout interesting. All of the moves are super simple and most can be done anywhere without fancy equipment. I warn you though! If you have kids and they catch you doing the shoulder stand in the middle of the living room floor while you’re watching the Today Show, they may look at you like you’re nuts (mine certainly did).
The top 10 exercises Nora Tobin recommends for stomach, inner thighs, booty, and shoulders; plus, tips on how to add them into your workout routine.
- Single-Leg Deadlift (Use dumbbells or large water bottles)
- Side Plank
- Pushup
- Second Position Plies
- Intervals
- Triceps Extension (Use dumbbells or large water bottles)
- Step-ups
- Bridge
- Plank With Arm Raise
- Shoulder Stand
I know this workout has been a great tool for me so far and I hope it is as simple to integrate into your daily lives as it was in mine! See you all at the beach!
