Top Tips for Sticking To Your Exercise Routine When You're On Vacation
Updated: Aug 15, 2022
How do you stick to your exercise routine when on vacation?
The summer months are peak travel season for many people, which means more time spent jetting off to new and exciting destinations. Whether you’re spending your vacation exploring a nearby city or hopping on a plane for an international excursion, there can be challenges to staying active on vacation.
Hotel activities, sightseeing tours, and delicious local restaurants often come with lots of stairs and not much walking involved. This can make it difficult to keep up with your normal exercise routine while traveling. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you have to ditch the fit-and-fun part of your getaway in favor of excess baggage and guilt-inducing food experiences. There are plenty of ways to stay active while traveling so you don’t have to sacrifice your workout regimen during these trips away from home.
Here are some practical tips that will help you stick to your exercise routine when on vacation this summer…
Plan Ahead & Research Your Destination
There are a few things to consider when planning out your fitness routine while on vacation. First, think about what type of activities you’ll be doing on your trip. Are you going to be exploring lots of different cities?
Are you spending most of your time on a beach? Will your vacation have you exploring both?
If so, it might be beneficial to split up your exercise routine. If you’re exploring a few different cities, for example, you might want to keep your workouts to about 30 minutes at a time. On the other hand, if you’re spending several days on the beach, it might be best to stick to shorter, more intense workouts.
When it comes to your fitness routine, don’t assume you’ll be fine to keep things as they are. Think about where you’ll be staying and the types of amenities that are available. Some hotels don’t have gyms, and some may only have limited equipment.
If you’re staying in an all-inclusive resort, there may not be a ton of options to choose from. Instead of assuming nothing has changed, do some research and see what’s available. You may be surprised by what you find
Don’t Be Afraid of the Hotel Gym
Some hotels include a state-of-the-art fitness room in their amenities. If the hotel you’re staying at doesn’t have a gym, it doesn’t mean you can’t get your workout in. It just means you have to get creative with your routine.
The hotel gym might not have a full range of weights, but it might have what you need to get a great upper-body and core workout. Depending on the equipment you have available, you can do exercises like dumbbell rows, bicep curls, push-ups, and more.
You might not have a selection of cardio machines, but you can still get a good cardio workout in. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to the beach instead of taking a cab, or go for a run (or walk) in the neighborhood around your hotel. One unexpected way to get more out of your hotel workout is to bring a jump rope with you. You can bring one that folds up into a small design and bring it with you to the hotel gym.
Bring Your Own Shoes & Equipment
If you have a specific workout routine or type of equipment you prefer, such as yoga, pilates, or TRX workouts, you’re better off bringing your own gear. If you have a favorite pair of sneakers or workout shoes, bring them with you.
If you use specific weights or other pieces of equipment, consider bringing them with you. And while you may be tempted to pack your full-sized workout mat, you might want to consider packing a mini mat instead.
When it comes to yoga or pilates, you don’t necessarily need a mat since you’ll be lying on the floor. But be sure to check the flooring at your hotel to make sure it’s clean enough for you to lie down on. If it isn’t, you may want to consider bringing a yoga mat with you.
Pack Light, & Strategically-Planned Exercises
When packing for your trip, be sure to pack light. Don’t pack so much that you can barely lift your bag, but don’t pack so lightly that you have no room to bring your exercise equipment. You might not be able to bring your treadmill or resistance bands with you, but you can get a lot done with just a few items.
For example, you can do a full-body workout with just a jump rope and a mini rubber ball. Additionally, you don’t need to spend hours at the gym to get a good workout in. Studies show that a typical person burns about 100 calories per hour at the gym. Try to fit in 20 to 30-minute mini workouts when you’re on vacation.
Conclusion
Finally, don’t forget to take a few moments to breathe. When you’re on vacation, it can be easy to rush through your day. You wake up early, rush to see as many sights as possible, go out to eat, and stay up late. If you’re staying in one place, it can be even more stressful as you try to squeeze everything into that one day. You can even take this time to meditate if you’d like. There’s no better way to start your day than with a little bit of quiet time. And even though it’s tempting to spend your vacation rushing from one place to the next, you’ll get more out of your trip if you slow down and enjoy the moment.
Disclaimer: Body Health Outlet nor the author of this blog own the product reviewed above. Nor should the contents of this blog be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician before making changes in your diet plan. This blog should be used for informational purposes only.