Whether it’s for business or pleasure (or both), many of us are regular travelers. While we’re on the road, we may not always take the time to incorporate our normal healthy habits into our daily routine.
Let’s get real here; it’s easy to make a lot of excuses for ourselves to avoid working out while traveling. We’re away from the gym, our sleep schedule is often irregular, and we’re “too busy” because we’re working…or sightseeing…or partying. We have some suggestions for incorporating fitness into your travel plans even if you’re nowhere near a gym.
First of all, our travel workout can be done anywhere, including in the comfort of your hotel room. It is a challenging but effective workout. (You can have it emailed to you right from our homepage.)
If you prefer to exercise in the great outdoors, there are plenty of ways to do it. One of the best things you can do if you have the time while traveling to other cities is to check out some walking or bike tours. Not only do you get some exercise, but you also get to explore the city. Check with the front desk or guest services, as they can be very helpful in finding different options for you to explore.
Some of the walking paths have exercise stations set up every 100 yards or so, like chin-up bars or dip and push-ups stations. Take advantage of these if they’re available and do some of the stations in between your walk or run. If there aren’t stations set up along the walking path, make up your own! Every time you stop along the way to savor the view, do a set of bodyweight squats, push-ups, or jumping jacks to engage your muscles and get your heart rate up a bit more.
As we all know, sticking to your healthy eating plan is extremely difficult while traveling. Plan ahead—be prepared with healthy snacks for when you are on the go. Inevitably, most of us will overdo it during a dinner meal or two, especially when trying new restaurants. To counteract some of the damage, drink extra water before, during, and after your big meal. Follow that meal with a walk to help the digestion process.
When you overeat, your body starts sending you signals that it wants you to go relax so it can digest and store all those calories. So, instead of returning to your hotel room and crashing in front of the TV, go for a walk and you change the signals you are sending your body. Now, instead of storing the calories, you are telling your body to burn them up. In addition, you will feel much better afterwards and, most importantly, you will sleep better.
Finding ways to incorporate some exercise into your travel plans is important because it can help you feel energized before a big business meeting or conference. It can help you unwind after a long day of attending a training seminar or talking with clients. Or maybe you just want to feel less guilty as you eat that decadent dessert or tropical drink while vacationing with your friends or family.