Lose 30 Pounds for Better Surf Performance and improve health and lifestyle in the meantime. Let’s face it, in this era statistics show 40% of adults are obese and soon it will be over 50%. The trend won’t reverse soon because our lifestyles are too set. It takes a great goal to make a change.
I teach over 400 students a year to surf. I have noticed that on average there are more overweight people who want to surf. There are many good reasons to surf. Its fun. Its great exercise. It opens an opportunity for many destination resorts. Its one of the best activities for visiting the beach. The whole family can surf. Its a great connection to Nature and the ocean. It is a culture and that culture creates a chill attitude toward many of life’s problems; yes, it reduces stress.
Losing Weight for Athletic Performance
Surfing is one of the more demanding physical recreations. It is full body. It requires strength, flexibility, and stamina. It also requires courage and confidence. A lot of people arrive at lessons with some anxiety. They may be worried about their ability to learn. They have some trepidations about their physical trepidations. They have some fear of ocean waves. All three are common.
What people don’t realize is that being overweight creates learning problems due to the highly technical process of surfing and the physical demands of which their body is not accustomed. The surfing pop up is part of a sequence in the middle of catching the wave and then riding the wave. Surfing is the only board sport that starts in the lying down position and requires a sequence to arrive in a balanced standing position on the board. If not for this requirement, most anyone could surf.
The difficult part of the beginner pop up is getting one foot under the butt and putting it flat on the surfboard so the surfer can stand on it. As he rises, he releases his hands and brings his other foot to the front of the board. The small little requirement of being able to put the foot flat on the board far enough forward to be placed under the butt is what stalls many beginners and especially those who are overweight.
Losing weight can be a fun battle. At first it is difficult because new habits have to be formed and perhaps addictions overcome. As losing weight progresses, it becomes easier because we develop a mind set that starts accepting and working with our effort. It also becomes harder because when our metabolism starts realizing what we are trying to do, it sets up its own defenses to prevent it.
Losing weight should be a focus for the long term. We can start slowly. We have to maintain our routine after we have lost the desired weight because most people then become too comfortable and put the weight back on. So what are some good strategies:
1.Calorie Restriction
2. Intermittent Fasting
3. Daily Exercise
4. Drink at least half our weight in water ounces ( 200 pound person drinks 100 oz of water)
5. Keto Diet
6. Have a meal replacement shake each day
These strategies can be included in most lifestyles and are effective. The diet plan you select can be varied especially if you are or are not a vegetarian. The old Pritikin Diet of high protein and fat with fewer carbohydrates now similar to the Keto diet continues to build followers. Athletes that want to build strength and lose body fat at the same time like the Keto diet. It is suggested for diabetics because losing fat in the liver and pancreas is a secret to supporting insulin production. (Intermittent fasting may be discouraged for diabetics by doctors and nutritionists).
Build Strength and Lose Weight at the Same Time
Professional surfers want to be lean and strong. They spend as much if not more time out of the water cross training as they spend in the water surfing. The lighter or leaner surfers are, like most aerobic sports, the greater the oxygen uptake and therefore stamina and endurance. For the fun aspect, the more stamina surfers have, the longer they can stay in the water.
Some specific exercises will build surfer stamina, strength and flexibility. Push ups, burpies, squats, and deadlifts are the four main surf specific exercises that will effect the pop up. Aerobic programs will assist in weight loss and stamina for effort and recovery. Aerobics with intervals are the most effective for calorie burning and stamina building.
Keep track of daily progress. I write down my weight each day. I currently am on a program to get under my high school weight in which I was a two sport athlete. I want to lose up to a pound a day. I have to experiment with various combinations of food to watch my metabolism. If I don’t lose weight each day, it may have been not drinking enough water. It could be eating too late. On my intermittent fasting, I try to have dinner no later than 5 p.m. and have breakfast around 8:30 a.m.
I test my physical development with exercise keeping track of progress and trying to push my limits. Move slowly but steadily. Avoid burn out with plenty of rest days. The body builds muscle during the rest. A variety of exercises keeps it more fun. I can walk, hike, bike, lift weights, and surf. A different exercise each day rests some muscles while then testing new ones.
The more weight you lose, the more oxygen uptake you have and the easier it is to move your body. This opens the opportunity for lots of different recreations. It also improves how you feel, your self esteem, and your longevity. (See my book below on how to lose 30 pounds)
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
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The Surfers Life
Why do surfers surf? What is it about the culture that attracts and holds millions of people in the world? Why is the culture growing and how has it infiltrated our world with clothing, music, fitness, and stoke?
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Lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf. All in one concise summary of 3 books, Combines The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide.
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The Perfect Start for losing weight and getting fit is the E Book The 3 Week Plan
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Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
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Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
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Everybody Can Surf
To read a great book for getting in shape to surf or getting in better surfing shape, read my new book Everybody Can Surf, a Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Surfing Adventure
Description:
Get healthy and fit to surf or set a goal of surfing to improve weight, fitness, nutrition, and health. This guide by a surf instructor/health coach/personal trainer gives the short version of how to lose weight, get strong, build stamina, develop nutrition, and learn to surf. Surfing is a lifestyle enjoyed by millions and so is fitness. Fitness creates opportunities to enjoy life through lots of different kinds of recreation. No need to stand on the sidelines while others are having a great time. Start your program to health with easy steps and progress at your own pace. That is the secret to maintaining a lifestyle. Do it at your pace. This book will start you on the path.
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Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
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Read a Book in the Markap Series
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Start Now is the process of losing weight, building strength and stamina, developing cardio fitness for surfing, recreation and health. Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99 and the Paperback for $6.95. Get into surf shape, start a new lifestyle, and enjoy life at a new level of health.
Build Immunity in this Covid Era
The new Omicron variants can often sidestep the anti-bodies in vaccinations. This is when we need to have a strong immunity system. This is when people with underlying conditions like obesity or chronic metabolic disorders like diabetes become vulnerable.
Developing good health habits will help your immune system. The main components would be to attain a healthy weight. Eat healthy. Exercise, Get adequate sleep. Mitigate stress. Drink half your body weight in water oz (a 200-pound person drinks 100 oz.) Consider supplements for the nutrients you may not consume in your daily diet.
One of my favorites is the Rishi mushroom. It has been chronicled in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It supports the major systems. It fights viruses, bacteria, allergies, and inflammation. I get a compilation of 5 reishi mushrooms extracted and combined into one powder. You can get a discount as my client with this link.
This is a short statement that says it all:
- Reishi: Reishi is arguably the most important and most revered herb used by Asian people throughout history to promote radiant health, longevity and a more centered state of mind. It is known to be among the most protective herbs in the world. Reishi may help improve immunological, neurological, metabolic, hepatic and vascular protection, among other functions.
