How to Stay Fit While Traveling

How to Stay Fit While Travelling

I have something a little different for you today. We are going to take a break from eating for a moment and talk about something that is also near and dear to my heart - fitness!

I don't talk about fitness very often here on the blog. But this is something that is extremely important to me, even when travelling. Wellness and the ability to stay healthy is a combination of eating healthy and working out (amongst other things), and combining the two are so important for a healthy lifestyle.

Travelling, while fun, can also be stressful and the best way I find to relieve some stress is to sweat it out! Anyone else agree? My mind is never more clear than after a good workout.  But I realize that staying fit while travelling can be a challenge so I thought I would share my best tips for how to stay fit while travelling, or staying in shape while you are on the road, the things I pack to help me stay in shape, and some of the workouts I do when I'm travelling to give you some inspiration for your next adventure.

1. Pack the Essentials

My first tip is to pack a few essential fitness items that you can use anywhere, even in your hotel room. Now the key to packing fitness items is that they need to be light. If you are like me your suitcase is always skirting that 50lb weight limit so you don't want your fitness essentials to be the items that put you over. My first recommendation is to pack a good pair of running shoes. Now when I am at home I have different shoes for different workouts. I rely on my Mizuno Wave Riders for running and my Nike Free Tr's for interval or cross fit type workouts. But I realize that packing two pairs of running shoes is ridiculous so I usually only pack my Mizuno's when I am travelling.

The next item I always pack is a skipping rope. Skipping is one of my favourite types of cardio. Nothing gets my heart racing quite like a great set of double unders. They are perfect for those quick, high intensity workouts that don't take a huge amount of time. I have tried many different types of skipping ropes. My current favourite is this one which can be found on Amazon. There are so many exercises you can do with a skipping rope so don't be scared to change it up: high knees, cross overs, double unders, slow skips, single legs… changing up your routine will ensure you don't get bored! If you have no idea what I am talking about I recommend this book to get you started.

Next to go in my suitcase is a resistance band. Bands are a great way to get some strength training in while you are traveling. There are so many exercises you can do with a resistance band, and the great thing is that they come in different strengths, so as you get stronger you can progress from very light to very heavy resistance.

The most recent addition to my travelling fitness essentials are Gliding Discs. Don't laugh, but I actually saw these being used by various Victoria Secret models in preparation for the Victoria Secret Fashion Show so I decided to give them a try. And although the exercises look easy and you wouldn't think they would be that effective they really are! These are a great way to target the little muscles in your legs and glutes (ie. bum) that can be difficult areas to train. I was surprised at how sore my legs were the first time I used these. You can get them for carpet  or for hardwood surfaces and both can be found on Amazon.

The last item that I can't workout without is a stop watch. I do a lot of interval workouts and high intensity timed exercises, so I would't be able to survive without a timer of some sort. I use a sports wrist watch for this purpose. There are a ton out there and you can find very cheap options at places like Target, Wal Mart or on Amazon.

2. Walk

Yes walk. A pretty simple suggestion don't you think? I rarely rent a car when I travel for conferences so I end up walking almost everywhere. Not only is this a great way to add some exercise to your day and burn a few extra calories, but it is also a great way to explore the city you are visiting. If we think back to our caveman ancestors they did not have the convenience of cars, buses, trains or bikes to get them around. They relied on their own two legs. And if the whole goal of the paleo or primal lifestyle is to emulate how our ancestors treated their bodies, walking is one simple way to get back to your caveman roots. Pack a comfortable pair of walking shoes, stick a few Epic Bars in your bag (or another paleo snack of choice) in case you get hungry and get out there!

 

3. Stay at a Hotel with a Gym

If you have the option, try staying at a hotel that a has a gym. I love starting my day with a quick sweat and hotel gyms often have equipment I've never used before so it's a great way to try a new exercise or two!

 

4. Try a New Activity or Sport

Why not try a new fitness class or sport while you are travelling? This is something you could book with your friends, colleagues or family. The first time I ever tried a spin class was a while travelling. There are so many things you could try! Yoga, rock climbing, a spin class etc. Many facilities will offer a day pass that you can get as well. It never hurts to ask if they have any deals you could take advantage of.

 

Here are a couple sample workouts that I do when I am travelling to give yo some inspiration. If you try them please let me know!

Workout one: As many double-unders as you can in 10 minutes

I did 614

 

Workout Two - Whole Body Challenge

Equipment needed:

Running shoes, skipping rope, stop watch

** 5 Rounds, for time:

20 double unders

20 sit ups

20 burpees

20 squats

20 pushups

My time: 16:15

Workout Three - Leg Death by 100's

Equipment Needed:

Running shoes,stop watch

** 1 Round, for time:

100 Mountain Climbers

100 Squats

100 Mountain Climbers

100 Lunges (alternating legs)

100 Mountain Climbers

100 Wide Squats

100 In and Out Squats (Alternate: Center squat, R leg out and squat, Center Squat, L leg out and squat)

100 Mountain Climbers

100 Lunges with Knee Lift (Backward lunge and pull same leg through into knee up position - alternate legs)

100 Mountain Climbers

100 Donkey Kicks - L leg

100 Mountain Climbers

100 Donkey Kicks - R leg

100 Mountain Climbers

My time: 24:10

 

Alright everyone that's it! I hope you found these travel tips helpful! Let me know if you have any comments or questions. Will you start packing any of my recommendations? I hope so!

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