Bikings is agreat way to get your morning exercise in.

Getting your Morning Exercise

Wake Up and Get Moving!

If you are driving to work in the morning, on the Crystal Coast,  you may pass the time by counting the people biking and walking in the morning. I normally guess a number on top of the Atlantic Beach Bridge and see how close I will come to being correct. This morning I guessed 26. By the time I made it to 200 Mangrove Drive in Emerald Isle I counted roughly 56. I was so off today. But it got me thinking about exercise and vacation.

Traveling can be exhausting. Every time I travel I find myself walking more, being more adventurous, and of course eating and drinking more than when I’m home. Those 56 people this morning have it figured out. Start the day off getting some fresh sea air in your lungs to boost your energy for the adventures that lie ahead for the day.



BENEFITS OF MORNING EXERCISE

  • More Focused

    Try walking, biking or kayaking alone and enjoy the quiet time to center and refocus your life and your priorities. Don’t kill yourself, 30 minutes of exercise is enough to get you going. When you are focused you’ll make better decisions.

  • Boosted Metabolism

    By getting your exercise in the morning you will burn more calories throughout the day which will help since you’re on vacation and treating yourself to dining out more than usual. What do you think happens when you eat after exercise? Yup – you are replenishing your body. What happens when you eat later in the day while your metabolism is still rocking from your morning workout? You guessed it â€“ you are replenishing your body and providing calories to meet your higher metabolic needs. You do not get this benefit when you exercise later in the day.

  • Better Mood

    You’re on vacation, so why not start the day by clearing your mind of the toxins that have been poisoning your system since your last vaca! Release the stress of the day-to-day and just have a fresh start.

  • Sleep Better

    Waking up early in the morning to exercise will in turn help you sleep better. Your body will enjoy a healthy sense of fatigue at the end of the day and will be ready to sleep.

GETTING YOUR BLOOD FLOWING

  • WALKING

    You can do this just about anywhere. As I mentioned many people use the bike path or sidewalks along the stretch of road on the island known as 58. I would prefer walking along the shoreline, the views are better!

  • BIKING

    Hop on the bike path and cruise around Ocean Drive and check out the houses and the landscaping. You can bike around the side streets with minimal traffic in the early morning. Remember a basket for your bike, you can swing by and get coffee and breakfast in town before heading back. 

  • BEACH YOGA

    Ahhh yoga. Not the cardio blast like the other activities but certainly will improve flexibility and mobility and strengthen your body. This is also a great way to warm up or cool down after your other activities.

  • KAYAKING

    This is a great activity to do in multiples. I wouldn’t suggest going it alone. Take your husband or wife, friend or child with you. It’s not as hot first thing in the morning and the boat traffic is low. Kayak on the soundside of the island or journey into Beaufort and paddle down Taylor’s Creek you may even get to spot a wild pony along your way.

  • SWIMMING

    More than half of the properties managed by Bluewater have either a private pool or community pool. As well as being fun, swimming is a low impact full body exercise that most people can do. It’s great cardio and strength training. But please make sure you are a strong and knowledgeable swimmer if you are attempting to swim in the ocean; rip currents can be deadly so never go alone.

Doing these things isn’t just about the physical benefits it will provide for you it’s about seeing new things and taking in the pure moments of the morning. It’s the fresh start a new day brings. Starting your day recharged. Remember doing something for yourself radiates to others. Kindness is contagious. You’re in the south it’s what we are known for.