Ah, the long weekend trip. What could be more relaxing than Easter on a beach in Florida? The problem is, while rest is essential for repairing the body from hard workouts, all that sitting around on planes, driving, and loafing on the beach just doesn't cut it when it comes to a fit lifestyle! Not to mention the unhealthy options served on beach menus. But don't worry, you don't have to take the tropics off your bucket list after all. There is a way to experience the travel and the beaches the healthy way. We started this trip out in the usual way, waiting for a plane to arrive. Don't you love all that rushing to wait? You get up super early to hurry to the check in, then you wait in a nice long line and go through ticketing and security. Then you rush to your terminal so you can sit and wait for 45 minutes before boarding. aha, 45 minutes, in a huge airport with tons of corridors, shops and people watching you say? This is our first opportunity to get ourselves a little calorie burn for the day. Comfortable shoes are a must, because we're going walking! When you're about to sit on a plane for 3 hours, a 30 minute walk isn't an extravagance, it's a necessity! I must tell you, there is something very soothing about walking around an airport when you're not hustling to get to your gate. The world actually slows down. You see everyone around you (and there are few places better for people watching than an airport!). Once we board the plane the test of wills kicks in. Stuck in tiny seats on a tiny plane for 3 hours with my magazines and my headphones. I'd recline my seat and sleep if I could (and after getting up at 4am to rush to the airport I sorely need it) but who can sleep at an 85 degree angle? So there I sit, boredom hunger creeping in. The quick breakfast I ate in the car is wearing off, but I come prepared. Instead of the low nutrition pretzels they hand me, I decline and whip out a protein bar and an Emergen-C to put in my complimentary water to help fight off the germs of the other 125 passengers.
Once we arrive and stretch out the stiffness, it's time to get some real food. We head to Barbara Jean's seafood on the river. Seafood restaurants are so tricky to navigate because even the well intentioned can be diverted by the alluring smells of fish fry. Barbara Jean's happens to specialize in lump crab cakes and creamy shecrab soup. Beach food is notoriously bad for you but it doesn't have to be. Fresh grilled seafood and veggies are not only super lean and nutritious, they're a tasty local fare that's just as much a treat as their fried evil twins. I opt for fresh grilled shrimp with a twist of lemon, and double vegetables (which they season VERY well). I am satisfied and without the heavy gut and guilt that comes along with "vacation food".
Onto the beach. The beach isn't just for bums anymore! Instead of sitting around like a beached whale waiting for the tide to come in, we whip off our shoes and start strolling. Gorgeous views, cool ocean breeze, sand between your toes, why would you ever want to stop??? A 1.5 hour walk on the beach (sunscreen please!) can easily equal a 400-500 calorie burn and you're not even suffering (who would have thought fitness could be fun!?!). I know I know, it's not your die hard, all out, sprint till you pass out cardio session, but this is about having a healthy life regardless of your surroundings. And if you're not with your in-laws making it a family affair, nobody said you couldn't strap on your running shoes and do sprints in the surf. The point is to get your body moving, wherever you are. And I can't think of a more serene place to break a sweat than the edge of the ocean!
Next time....Tampa: How to wear sunscreen and still feel the burn.
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