BLOG 12 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL

BLOG 12 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL

As you are aware, I believe that fitness is a way of life. This means that working out and eating right are lifestyle habits, so there are no temporary fixes or short cuts. My most successful clients have adopted this motto and have found with diligence and patience, the changes do take place.

And then…. life happens. I thought now would be an appropriate time to discuss how to keep an exercise and good eating regime going while traveling. It is the time of year for vacations. There are also many of us who travel constantly for work too, so this is not just a seasonal topic. And of course, once my video phone app is released, I can travel with you!!!! It is going to take effort, but don’t let a week of being out your element tarnish months of hard work and progress.

Being on the road presents many challenges to our body, including those associated with time zone changes, different sleeping environments, eating out, social activities, and simply being out of routine. If all else fails, you can WALK (so no excuses). Many trips require lots of walking with tours and adventures, but when you feel left out of options…. go WALK.

Start out the trip right by packing protein bars, beef/turkey jerky, and almonds for the airplane ride, in order to prepare yourself for the long haul and not rely on complimentary peanuts and pretzels. Technology is a great resource for planning out what to do. When booking a hotel, look online and check to see if there is a workout facility on site. You can also search local gyms in the area, which often times provide a guest pass through the hotel or even a week-long trial pass for a fee. Hotels often have pools which are great for workouts. Find a local class to try out. Many studios have drop in rates for single classes.

There typically is a refrigerator in all hotel rooms, so healthy breakfast options and snacks can be stored there. Make the effort to go to the grocery store (everywhere has a grocery store), and minimize eating fast food or “out” where you can. By keeping fresh fruits, vegetables, yogurts, and other options in stock, one can keep more on pace with eating every 2-3 hours.

Packing bands in your suitcase can make workout planning easier. Upper body can certainly be worked with bands and lower body can always be done with body weight exercises.

The internet is your fitness friend while traveling. Research menu options at local restaurants and plan what you intend to eat for each meal. When we go in with a plan of attack, rather than blindly looking over a menu, we set ourselves up for a higher success rate. This can also help us better track what our daily nutritional totals will be so we don’t just aimlessly eat on the fly.

Now I don’t expect you to be a total “downer” and ruin everyone else’s vacation, so that might mean you have to put in some extra effort. You might have to wake up earlier than the family to get in your workout, turn down dessert at dinner, and not have chips on the car ride. Do take charge and select restaurants when you can. Do go to the store when everyone else is taking a nap. It can be done. Anything worth having, takes times and patience. I understand that the road seems long, and in a perfect world the freeway would take us to our fitness destinations quickly. Trust me, do your best to stay on track during travels, because once we tell ourselves it’s just a week or few days, a downward spiral starts to take place. Be conscious of your choices, be smart about your options, and find strength in your diligence and discipline.