Disclosure: Abbott has partnered with influencers like me for its Ensure Program. As part of this Program, I received compensation for my time—but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was a summer baby and so were my kids. All three of our birthdays fall within 10 days of each other and this year I asked the kids if we could all ask for a group gift: stand up paddleboards. We had the chance to try them last summer, as some of my cousins own them. They are a lot of fun, and, a lot of work.

Paddle boarding puts all of your muscles to work – your arms, your legs, and especially your core. If someone told me to go to the gym every weekend and do some kind of hard core, all body conditioning, I’d tell them, “Thanks, but no thanks.” But paddleboarding? Sign me up! If I going to get my 30 minutes of exercise a day to fight the inevitable muscle and and energy loss that happens over 40, then I want to have fun doing it.

That’s one of the great things about summer. On sunshine-filled, vacation days, exercise doesn’t feel like exercise. It just seems like fun. Some days, I complete triathlons, albeit mini ones. I’ll start my day with a short jog around the lake where we spend weekends, then go for a bike ride (and ice cream stop) with my kids, and end up swimming in the ocean. During the rest of the year, I’m lucky if I get a 3-mile walk in a few times a week.

We all know how important it is for caregivers to care for themselves, and how difficult it can be to find the time. But during the summer, the weather is nicer, the days are longer, and what might actually be exercise, can just feel like fun. So, get out side and play!

Here are 4 ways to stay healthy and active this summer:

1. Ride a bike. There’s a reason the phrase, “It’s just like riding a bike,” is so popular. You really can’t forget how to ride one. Go with friends and family or go by yourself. Find a rail trail, or just hit the local streets. Just remember to wear a helmet.
2. Make a splash. Swim, sail, paddleboard or kayak. Just commit to trying one new water-based activity this summer. No need for goggles, worrying about the chlorine mixing with your hair color, or scheduling a lane during free at the pool. Just head to the nearest beach and have fun.
3. Visit the farmer’s market. Summer is a great time to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet because you can buy fresh. Blend a fresh smoothie, sauté some veggies on the grill, or make a garbage salad with whatever you find at the farm stand. Better yet, visit a local farm and pick your own meal.
4. Consider adding a specialized nutrition drink to your diet to help rebuild muscles. After 40, we lose muscle mass and energy. In fact, we can lose up to 8 percent of our muscle mass each decade as we age. That’s one of the reasons why my kids can hop on paddleboards and go, while I feel the effort all over.

Ensure Enlive is a new nutrition drink that contains a high amount of protein (20 grams) and the unique ingredient HMB. It contains the right amount of nutrients you need in a convenient bottle, and when combined with a healthy diet, allows you to stay strong and nourished even when the tasks of caregiving can get the best of us and we need to refocus our health routine and rebuilding muscle mass lost. I discovered Ensure Enlive when the parent company Abbott invited me to participate in its “Mind Your Muscles” program where I was treated to an aerial yoga class and learned some important facts about how, with the help of nutrition and regular exercise, I can maintain and rebuild muscle mass. Visit Ensure Enlive to learn how you can build your muscles too.

If you recall, it was after that event I committed to fitting in exercise regardless of my busy schedule. As long as I can mind my muscles on that paddleboard, I know I can honor that commitment this summer. Now, what will you do to have a healthy and fun summer?

Abbott partnered with influencers such as me for its Ensure Program. As part of this Program, I received compensation for my time. The opinions and thoughts in this piece are my own. Abbott/Ensure believes that consumers and influencers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Abbott/Ensure policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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