One of the secrets to fitness success is maintaining a routine! You go to your gym at certain times, on specific days, and follow your personal fitness plan. That's why travel can really throw off your progress. Fortunately, there are ways to stay fit while traveling!
Why You Should Stay Fit While Traveling
Do you know the worst part of vacation and travel? Getting back into a routine afterward! Many people return from trips and immediately feel regret and exhaustion as they play "catch-up" in work and life.
Here's why staying fit while traveling is smart:
- Physical activity while traveling equips your body with energy for post-trip activities
- You'll feel better and perform better so you can enjoy vacation or travel more
- It's harder to get back in shape after a break than it is to maintain
- Travel workouts add variety to your fitness routine, which is good for you
Tip #1: Build Exercise Into Fun Activities
Staying fit while traveling doesn't have to be a chore! One of the best ways to maintain your progress while you're away is to plan some fun activities that are also good for you. Book a rock climbing excursion. Go for a hike to see the sights. Enjoy some volleyball or yoga on the beach. It's more fun if people join you!
Tip #2: Take Every Opportunity to Be Active
Even the busiest travel plans have waiting periods. You wait between flights, meetings, or while your family gets ready for the beach. Take every opportunity to be active! Do squats or lunges while you wait. Stretch when you're sitting around. Go for walks, take the stairs, and practice tensing and releasing your stomach muscles.
Tip #3: Learn Some Sedentary Stretches
Whether you're sitting on a plane (or stuck in a long meeting,) you can do some exercises while seated. Lots of basic sedentary stretches will keep you loose and limber even during the "stuck" parts of travel. Think neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and side twists.
Tip #4: Adjust Your Diet Accordingly
Travel, especially for vacation, can make blowing off your diet tempting. By bringing healthy snacks, knowing what your best fast food options are, and watching portion sizes you can keep your diet on track (or at least close to it!) Rather than counting calories while on the road, just try to stick to whole, natural, healthy foods.
Tip #5: Plan Ahead
If you just tell yourself "I'll work out while I'm away," it's going to be hard to make it happen. Planning ahead of time makes a big difference.
- Find out if the place you are staying has gym access or if there are places to workout nearby
- Bring resistance bands with you or plan to repurpose packing items as weights
- Create a bodyweight plan you can do no matter where you stay
- Use an app, like Gold's AMP, to find workouts you can follow
For a quick and effective workout plan, use our FREE 30 Minute HIIT Guide. Happy travels!
Gold’s Gym SoCal is an association of separate clubs—click here for info.
