Read on for Sweeney’s 7 slim-down tips that’ll keep you happy, energized, and lean—and out of that stuffy gym—this season. (Of course, if you are gym bound, we have you covered with Allison Sweeney’s Top 8 Exercise Secrets, too.) Get your sweat on in the sand “I took my kids to the beach over the weekend and I got a good workout just chasing my son through the surf, and playing tag and catch by the ocean,” Sweeney says. “A lot of things happen in a simple game of catch that are [often] part of a normal workout routine, like running back and forth, and diving for the ball or reaching down to get it when it hits the ground. But doing it in a causal environment with your child is a lot more fun.” For more tips on slimming down while you’re on vacation, check out our Healthy Travel Guide. Shed pounds at the pool “If you’re already in a bathing suit ready to catch some rays or read a book, get in the pool and work it out before you relax,” Sweeney says. “Swim laps, practice kicking on a kickboard—it’s a fantastic workout and it’s really easy to do. Swimming uses muscles you never even knew you had.” For some easy moves that anyone can try, check out our Fat-Blasting Water Workout routine. Wheel off weight “Biking is a really solid workout,” says Sweeney. You get your cardio, but it’s also good for your abs, because you have to engage your core to balance on two wheels. “Rent a rack of bikes for the family and get out there!” Fly away fat Need a kid-friendly activity that burns calories? Go fly a kite. “I think it’s a great one,” says Sweeney. “Until it’s up in the air, it can be a really good workout. You don’t realize how much you’re running around trying to get it off the ground. It’s actually better if you don’t get it up there,” Sweeney says with a laugh. Up the burn with baseball “My son plays baseball, so we’ll play a little family game,” Sweeney says. “Again, all the little things that kids do [for fun] can count as a workout if you just get invested in it and commit to chasing him around the field or trying to tag him.” Paddle off pounds “I’ve started [stand-up] paddleboarding, which is like paddling with an oar as you stand on an oversized surf board. It’s really cool, and it’s hard,” says Sweeney. “It’s a mistake to think you’re just using your arms—you have to get your whole body in there to push that paddle.” Get hot by hiking “We like to go hiking as a family,” Sweeney says. “There’s a nice, leisurely path at a park in our neighborhood. I quickly realized that the walking part wasn’t going to be enough for me to consider it a workout because [my kids] stop so often. I made a pact with myself that the entire time they’re stopped, I’ll do squats or lunges or something. So while they’re looking under rocks, I’m doing jumping jacks. My kids think I’m crazy, but it works. And sometimes they join in, which is hilarious.”
