Nothing beats going to the gym and sweating it all out. Whether you go to the local gym, or a home gym, or even a yoga mat, a daily dose of workout is a necessity for the body as well as the mind.
But what about when you are traveling? You may not always be lodging in a fancy place that has gym facilities. Does this mean you give up on your fitness routine?
Well, you don’t have to. There are many ways for you to incorporate physical activity even when you are traveling or on the move. Of course, it will not be as intense and full body engaging as you would at a gym. But it is so much better than letting go of your daily dose of endorphins.
In this post, we share our top tips to stay in shape and keep up your energy levels while on the move.
1. Warm-up in the hotel
So what if you don’t have access to a gym in the hotel? You have access to a large spacious room!
Set the alarm for about 15 to 20 minutes before you go about your day. You can stretch, jump, do pushups, crunches, and sit-ups, and get your heart pumping. Aerobics are so versatile that you can perform them anywhere.
Squats are also a great way to tone your lower body. If you love the weights, use the chairs or heck, even your suitcase, to perform alternate rows.
Another great way to get your daily exercise is by swimming. Most hotels have one these days, so make the most of it.
2. Walk everywhere, anywhere you can
Walking is the most fundamental yet very effective way to burn calories and stay in shape at the same time. A person with an average body weight can easily burn 100 calories after covering up to a mile. When you are traveling, avoid transportation by automobiles and et al. as far as you can.
Walk around the neighborhood and do your touristy activities on foot. This is a fantastic way to stay in top shape and get your work done at the same time.
If you have access to a bike, use it instead of taking the bus or a taxi. Biking around from one destination to the next is also a great way to burn calories. Walking and biking are also the most love you can give to the environment while traveling. Just remember to put on your best walking shoes, and you are ready to go.
3. Partake in fun, very actively
Every city has a different physical activity that you can usually find and participate in. Whether it is dancing on the streets of Brazil, climbing the insane number of steps in France, or a martial arts training in Asian countries, there are many opportunities for joining a class for visiting tourists.
These activities are not only fun and good for the soul. They are also great physical exercises that are new to your body so that it will burn even more calories. Training and workouts need not only be a grueling session with the weights at the local gym. Be as active as you can, and you will have no reason to compromise your physical fitness wherever you may be.
4. Make the most from your environment
When you really think about it, the opportunities to get in your exercise are endless. If you are staying near a beach, you can go for a run on the shores. You can even do a lap or two around the park if there is one. You can also do pull-ups from the swing set, perform squats and dips on the park benches, and many more.
If there is an opportunity for hiking, skydiving, or other adventurous activity, grab them. If you are not such an adventure junkie, you can still have a lot of fun that will give you a good workout. Consider using Google maps to learn about your current location and what you can do. The front desk is also an excellent place to gather useful information.
5. Your diet counts
All of us have a tendency to let go of the iron grip we have over our diet while traveling. We eat everything that is placed in front of us. Of course, half of the fun of traveling comes from trying out the local delicacies. But this is no reason to gorge on junk foods for the entire trip.
While it is perfectly fine to have a day or two where you go all out on the oiliest and the unhealthiest food, it is not a good idea to do all the time. You may workout and exercise with religious fervor, but if your diet is crap, your body will reflect it.
The key is to find a balance between eating the foods you know are detrimental to your fitness and trying out the local cuisine. But if you are out with friends and you ate and drank more than the healthy dose, do not feel miserable and be hard on yourself. You can work out more the next day to compensate for it.
It is also a good idea to limit your intake of alcoholic drinks while traveling. This is not only from a fitness point of view; it is not wise to get senselessly drunk while in a foreign city.
Final thoughts.
Just because you are on the move, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your health. In fact, you need to be on top of your game to enjoy the new sights while traveling. While you may not have access to a well-equipped gym on the go, there are ample opportunities to realize your fitness goals.
The best strategy is to make the best of the resources in your environment while traveling. It is also a good idea to have moderate control over your diet as it constitutes up to 80% of what your body looks and how you feel. Feel free to add your best workout ideas to our suggestions and have a blast on your travels.
