My husband and I walked Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
Ever wonder how you can take a beach vacation, yet sometimes come back without having gained any weight–despite the indulging in food and drink that goes hand in hand with vacations? It could be as simple as walking in the sand, which burns far more calories than walking on a hard surface, since it requires more than double the effort. My husband and just got back from a couple of days in Bermuda and its lovely pink sand, where I got exercise without even realizing it.
Here are some more facts, courtesy of the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph: A gentle walk along the beach can provide a surprisingly vigorous workout. “Walking on sand uses up between 20 and 50 percent more calories than a similar stroll at the same pace on a hard surface,” explains LA Fitness trainer James Forbes. How much of a workout you get depends on where on the beach you walk. The least strenuous route is along the waterline, where the wet sand acts like a pavement. “The softer the sand,” says Forbes, “the greater the resistance and the harder the workout.” In just 10 minutes, you can burn some 80 calories.