Blog - a healthy way to healthy

Your board’s ready. Here’s how you can be, too.

• Prepare your body. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is great exercise for all fitness levels, but by the same token, everyone can shape up for more time on the water. Exercises like pulldowns, lat presses, iso twists and sumo squats can help develop your balance and the leg, core and arm muscle groups you’ll need to keep paddling for hours – and a five-minute dryland routine of stretches, squats and other pre-paddle warmup exercises can stave off aches and injuries. Don’t forget a protein, fat and carbohydrate-balanced breakfast or failing that, plenty of healthy snacks for the day.

• Gear up for safety. A personal floatation device (PFD) is crucial. Make it a life jacket if you’re not a strong swimmer. A leash between your ankle and your board can be the difference between an embarrassing tumble and a dire situation. Don’t cheap out! Using a paddle that sinks when dropped is a great way to get stranded. Should stranding happen for any reason, a whistle and/or a water-tight cell phone bag could prove your saviour.

• Dress for wetness AND dryness. On warm, sunny days, quick-drying swimsuits or boardshorts are fine. There are plenty of UV-resistant clothing options, including hats, which, like sunglasses, should be tethered to you. If you prefer to feel the sun on your skin, wear less clothes but more sunscreen (preferably with insect repellant). For colder or changeable weather, consider a rash-resistant wetsuit and/or neoprene/lycra clothes and shoes.

• Know what to do at all times. The weather isn’t the only thing that can catch you by surprise. So knowing how to locate a spot to embark, get on your board, find your balance and start paddling will put you ahead of many fellow beginners. So will knowing how to get back on your board and, believe it or not, how to fall off in the first place. Emergency paddling, towing and rescue methods may seem like a lot to think about, but it doesn’t take long to learn. Ask an experienced friend to show you (the company alone will make you safer) or find a SUP course near you.

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• Want more accessories or information? A SUP expert at a Flaman Fitness location near you is ready to help you have the safest, most enjoyable experience possible.

Identifying what you want from a standup paddleboard is the first step to getting it. Step two is discussing your desires with a SUP expert at your nearest Flaman Fitness location.

The Bowflex LateralX LX3 may be the hot new elliptical, but the BXE116 and Max Trainer M5 have plenty of moves to win you over. Try all three at your nearest Flaman Fitness location.

Measure up these three worthy workout suitors here.

Stand-up paddle boarding offers it all - cardio, calorie burning and muscle building, in the perfect spot between the warm sun and the cool water. Whether you’re an experienced paddle boarder or it’s something you’d like to try, your nearest Flaman Fitness location has the inflatable or hardboard SUP for you.

Gliding over the sparkling water can be your pleasure cruise to wellbeing. Discover SUP’s health benefits here.

The LateralX LX3 is the latest innovation from Bowflex and it is designed to improve the way you move. Click to see eight reasons why you should be excited about the LateralX.

Our digital marketer, Paul Boechler, sat down for an interview with Flaman’s Executive Vice President, Steve Whittington, who is an accomplished mountaineer and avid outdoorsmen. They chatted about goal setting, taking steps to achieve them and what it means to finally accomplish them. This is something Steve knows a lot about and came to the forefront when he achieved a lifelong goal by summitting Mount Everest in 2013.

Finding a routine that works for you is vitally important in your overall health. Read more about my weight loss journey and about how finding a routine has changed my life.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK

Having trouble finding gifts for that hard-to-buy-for loved one on your shopping list? We've got the equipment and accessories you need for the latest fitness trends. Read our top 5 gift ideas that you'll feel great about giving and won't break your budget this holiday season.

Today, a break from my recent “How to use X” series to focus on (drum roll please…) nutrition! Why? After over 15 years in the fitness field, I know one thing for certain: Unless you have impeccable genetics and are in your prime, training alone will not ensure you reach your fitness goals! Here and in the next blog I will outline 10 simple tips for healthy, nutritious eating.

Recently I have been writing a series of “How to use X” blogs where I break down how to use various pieces of equipment from free weights to the treadmill to the Bosu to the kettlebell. I know what you are thinking: “Are there exercises that I should always do, regardless of the piece of equipment I am using?”

Excellent question! The answer is, “Yeppers peppers. 100%!" There are 4 types of exercises that I consider non-negotiables: squats, balance exercises, multi-directional motions, and intervals.