Living Well on the Gulf Coast

Posted: Aug 02 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

Lap Band, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy surgery patients alike often forget how fortunate we are to live so close to Florida’s beautiful and serene Gulf Coast. New research suggests that coastal living is linked to better overall health, which is all the more reason for patients of bariatric surgery in Naples and Fort Myers to take advantage of the perks that living on the coast provides. According to the study conducted by the University of Exeter, people who lived inland were less likely to report having ratings of “good health” than their coastal counterparts.

Health and Place Study

Researchers from the University set out to better understand the connection between time spent at the beach and its potential positive effect on overall health and well-being. Until now, little evidence has supported this notion beyond the general idea that most people tend to have a great time when they visit the beach.

The study analyzed self-reported data from the England census of more than 48 million people before discovering that coastal living may provide a small but promising health benefit. Though this study was conducted on a smaller scale, researchers believe the positive effect of coastal living could be noteworthy on a populace level. Researchers cannot prove cause and effect with this type of specific type of study but they are interested in extrapolating more specific reasons why coastal living is seemingly connected to better overall health.

All in all, researchers conclude such positive effects may be due to the myriad opportunities for stress reduction and increased physical activity that coastal living provides. While this study was based on data from across seas, who is to say that such positive health effects aren’t present right here on Florida’s Gulf Coast?

Relaxation? Check. Physical Fitness? Check.

Living a healthy lifestyle after any bariatric surgery procedure is a necessity, but you may forget how your coastal city can help you maintain your health efforts. Bariatric patients who live smack dab in the middle of Kansas or Idaho don’t necessarily have access to the luxuries that living life on the coast provides. You may see life in Naples or Fort Myers as pretty typical for Florida living, but when compared to the land-locked lives of many others, yours surely takes the cake. Don’t take living on the coast for granted. Use the benefits of the beach to enhance your healthy lifestyle for long-term weight loss.

How to Get Fit on the Gulf

Try not to view access to the beach as a standard luxury of Florida living—take some time to really appreciate your easy-access to some of the most beautiful waters in the United States. Instead of visiting the beach on a day off to sunbathe, use your time at the beach to get fit in an alternative environment to the gym or your home. There are plenty of physical activities to do in the water at the beach that can actually burn more calories than when performed on land. What’s more, the fun of beach activities will likely help you forget that you’re even working out.

Here are some beach activities to help you stay in shape after bariatric surgery:

• Strike up a game of beach volleyball with friends and family
• Go for a walk or a light jog on the uneven surface of the sand
• Build a large sandcastle on the beach
• Practice yoga at sunrise on the flat surface of the sand
• Toss a Frisbee with a partner

This list of activities barely scratches the surface of the fitness fun you can have at the beach! Talk with friends, family or your bariatric surgery support group members for more ideas on how to stay in shape by visiting the beach.

How to Get on Island Time

It doesn’t always have to be five o’clock somewhere for you to enjoy the benefits of Gulf Coast. It’s important to recognize the relaxation benefits that your beaches can provide you at all hours of the day. Stress is detrimental to any weight maintenance program after bariatric surgery, but luckily for coastal dwellers the calm, meditative qualities of the sea can help you keep stress at bay.

Here are some ways to relax at home in Naples and Fort Myers:

• Visit the beach in the early morning to watch the sunrise
• Head to Dockside Boardwalk to soak up the charm of coastal living
• Write in your journal about weight loss success in the warm sun
• Take your dog for a walk on the beach or pier
• Enjoy a healthy picnic on the sands of the beach

Living on the coast may just seem like any other day on this planet, but many people aren’t as lucky to have such beautiful coastlines within close proximity. Take some time to appreciate your home on the coast and use the beach to your advantage to stay fit and relaxed for long-term weight loss results.