Keep your healthy habits on track, wherever your travels take you
You worked hard to get your bod beach-ready, so don’t let all your hard work go down the drain once you hit the open road this summer.
New sights, new food and new adventures are just part of the fun of vacationing, but that doesn’t mean your healthy habits have to go out the window. Here are some tips for staying active, wherever your travels take you:
- Set reasonable expectations for fitness. If you’re used to pumping iron in the gym, you’re probably not going to get the same intensity – or quality – of workout as you would at home. Embrace that fact and just try to stay active on the road. Even the most committed fitness devotees take some rest days, so don’t feel bad if your routine is shorter, simpler or less intense.
- Pack travel-friendly fitness equipment. Let’s get real: A set of free weights will do MAJOR damage toward the 50-pound max if you check your luggage. But a jump rope and resistance band? Lighter than air (or at least lighter than your swimsuit!). Use the jump rope for cardio and the resistance band for strength. You can get a great workout without taking up valuable real estate in your suitcase.
- Embrace bodyweight exercises. Jumping jacks, squats, lunges, burpees, push-ups and sit-ups are classics for a reason. They’re simple and effective, and they require no equipment whatsoever. Choose four or five exercises and squeeze in three or four sets of 12 to 15 reps throughout your day. (You can even do triceps dips in the airport.)
- Hit the pavement. Get a pedometer and make it your mission to get in 10,000 steps. Every. Single. Day. Opportunities to be more active abound, so don’t miss a chance to sneak in extra steps. Hoof it in the airport rather than taking the moving sidewalk. When you get to your destination, take a walk and get to know your surroundings. Take the stairs at your hotel. Go for a walk on the beach. Volunteer to get refills at the Tiki bar. Moving just feels good, especially if you’ve been trapped in a car or cattle car – err, we mean airplane – for hours on end.
And our favorite tip:
- Make exercise part of your vacation experience. If you’re headed to the woods, go geocaching or take a hike. If your plans involve water, rent a kayak, canoe or paddle board. Or, seek out classes with a regional flare, such as a sunset yoga class on the beach, line dancing or ballroom dancing lessons, or try something you wouldn’t have an opportunity to do at home.
Do you try to stay active when you go on vacation, or do you make R & R a royal mandate?
