Wednesday's Workout

After a much needed vacation FitBritt is back with more frugal fitness tips.

This Wednesday's Workout is a tip inspired by recent travels. Traveling and vacation can mean difficult maintaining your workout regime. Try this workout to stay fit while on holiday (especially good if you are going to be at the beach!).

In the pool:

If the hotel you are staying at has a pool (indoor or outdoor), try these moves to get in a good workout.

First, you can warm up by swimming some laps or treading water for a few minutes.

Then get some toning exercises in by going to a shallow end of the pool and holding on to the side of the pool. The natural resistance of the water will make these ballet inspired moves even more difficult than on dry land.

Plies- Hold onto the side of the pool with both hands with feet in a wide plie stance (legs out wider than hips and toes pointing to the side), sink down into a squat then squeeze your glutes to rise up. Complete 15-20 repetitions and then hold the last rep and do small pulses for another 15-20 reps.

Releves- Still facing the wall, bring feet in together so they are touching with toes pointing towards the pool wall. Lift heels off the ground and onto the balls of the feet. Lower heels down then lift and repeat. Do 15-20 reps. On the last rep, hold the releve and see if you can balance by letting go of the side of the pool.

Tendus- Stand with the left hand holding the side of the pool and left side of the body facing the wall of the pool with feet and legs together. Bring right foot in front of the body with toe pointed but keeping the foot on the ground of the pool. Then bring it back in to meet the left. Repeat 10 times. Then do the same move but this time bringing the right leg out to the side. Repeat 10 times. Finally, repeat the move but this time bringing the right leg behind the body to the back. Repeat 10 times. Then turn around to face the other direction and repeat the entire exercise on the left side.

Grand Battement- This exercise is the same as tendus, however, this time when you bring the right foot in front, lift the foot off the ground so that the leg is about hip height (but still under the water). Repeat to the side and back ten times each and then switch sides to work the left leg.

Donkey Kicks- Face the pool wall and hold on with both hands. Feet are together with toes pointing forward. Lift the right foot off the ground to the back and bend the right knee to make a 90 degree angle. Start to pulse the right foot to the back with the toe pointed. Try to keep the right thigh in line with the left thigh so it is just a small movement of the foot and you feel the work in the right glute.

Arm Circles- Step away from the pool wall so you have enough room. Raise the arms out to the sides to shoulder height but keeping the arms under the water. Start to make slow circles forward with the arms. Do this 30-40 times, then circle the arms backwards.

Rows- Start with arms straight down by sides. Bend elbows to a 90 degree angle out to the side, causing the arms to rise away from the sides. Lower and repeat 15-20 times.

Bicep Curls- Start with arms down by sides. Curl hands up 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to the top to perform a bicep curl (make sure your hands stay under the water). Release down but keep the contraction in the biceps by not releasing the arms all the way to sides but almost all the way and then immediately go back into the curl.

Once you have completed all of the moves, you can do a second set or to get some cardio, swim some more laps or tread water again.