If you’re finally able to stick to a fitness routine, the idea of traveling may cause you to worry about how you can continue to workout. This is especially true if you’re used to going to gyms like Bay Club and Lucille Roberts. How are you going to attend your bi-weekly spin class or Barre class on the 2 weeks you’re going away? Don’t panic! You can still maintain a healthy lifestyle, burn any excess calories and enjoy your holiday.
Consistency is key to being able to maintain (or achieve) your desired results. It’s great to have a routine that works for you. But keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle is about having balance, and it’s not just about spending hours at the gym each week, it’s also about being mindful of what you feed your mind and body, and of course, getting your heart rate up to boost your metabolism.
That said, here are some tips to help you stay fit while traveling:
1. Explore new surroundings by foot.
Whether you’re headed to a beach destination, a cottage by the lake, or a city overseas, walking is a great way to look around and explore. Take a stroll to see the sights and without you realizing it, you’d have taken 10,000 steps already.
My husband and I often spend 3 weeks on a tropical island during the summer and we always make it a point to walk 2 miles along the beach every morning just before sunrise. That’s 4 miles of walking (back and forth) every day. There’s no gym on that small island but we still get to maintain fitness.
2. Try online classes.
So as long as there’s Youtube, you should be able to find yoga, Pilates, dance and bodyweight exercise videos that you can stream for free. They often vary in duration and level of difficulty. So no matter where you are in your fitness journey, there are quite a few tutorials you can watch.
3. If possible, bring some light workout equipment on your trip.
If a yoga mat is out of the question, it’s really not a problem. You can always use your hotel room bed or even just placing a towel on the floor for some cushioning if you need to. There are also standing exercises you can do using resistance bands and light weights.
4. Download a fitness app.
A fitness app on your phone ensures you can find a workout no matter where you are. Most of these apps have a library of workout videos of various types, intensity and level.
5. Be mindful of what you eat.
When you’re on vacation or even on a business trip, it’s easy to overeat. There are buffet breakfasts and dinners are often accompanied by drinks that pile up on calories. The key is to be mindful of what and how much you eat. So if you know you’ll be attending a dinner event in the evening, it may be best to eat a light breakfast and lunch so you can stick to your usual calorie consumption.