Health and Fitness Blog: Surfing and Wakeboarding for Weight Loss

Are you looking for a way to lose weight that doesn't involve running, walking, aerobics or going to the gym? Most people would categorize surfing and wakeboarding as fun activities rather than weight loss activities, but this is not necessarily the case, because you can easily lose weight through surfing, wakeboarding and other fun and exciting water based activities, as long as you keep some basic things in mind.

- To get the most out of surfing, wakeboarding, body boarding and other water activities, you should warm up and do a little stretching first. Since you're near the water already, you may consider warming up simply by jumping around in the waves for a bit. Get yourself used to the water, and warm your muscles up. Once you are feeling more limber and more comfortable, you can move onto a basic stretch and then hit the water. Stretching and a warm up will allow your muscles to become more pliable, as you are more prone to injury when they are stiff and cold.

- Right off the bat, you should realize that you are burning calories and therefore losing weight when you are swimming out to find the wave. Swimming is an excellent way to burn calories, especially in the ocean where the waves are working against you. Natural resistance from the waves allows you to build stronger, leaner muscles, and also allows you to burn more calories than activities that do not involve resistance. It is like the difference between running on flat ground and running up a hill.

- Once you find the perfect wave, consider how much strength and conditioning goes into getting you up onto your board. You begin on your belly, and have to launch yourself up onto your feet, holding your balance as the wave comes up at you. Maintaining balance works the muscles in your entire body, and not only does getting yourself up on your feet burn calories, but it also conditions your body from head to toe.

- Everything that is involved in surfing, wakeboarding and other water sports promotes weight loss, building long, lean muscles, and conditioning your body from head to toe. Surfing, especially, is a challenging sport that involves conditioning your body, fighting the resistance of the water, and getting in shape. Surfing may not burn calories the same way sprinting would, but it certainly works your body over well. After your first few surfing activities you will probably find yourself feeling the ache in your muscles, a tell tale sign that you have worked them out thoroughly and that they are feeling the results.

Surfing and wakeboarding are two excellent examples of ways that you can lose weight non-traditionally, while still having a lot of fun in the process. Surfing every day may not be on your menu, but if you can hit the waves once a week, it may be the perfect way to toss up your workout regimen to keep things from getting stale.

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Originally posted 2008-12-15 05:43:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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