Travel can be exciting, but it can take a toll on your fitness routine. There’s nothing worse than getting back home and hitting a wall when you try to exercise after several days of inactivity. Try these ways to get a workout in on your next trip.
1. Pack resistance bands.
You might have a difficult time packing weights into your suitcase, but resistance bands take up very little room. Strength-training workouts are essential to your fitness routine. Even though it’s ideal to use heavy weights to burn calories, you can still challenge and tone your muscles through training with resistance bands. They’re easy to fit into any suitcase or purse. You can use them in any location. If you’re unfamiliar with how to use them, there are tons of tutorials on social media and more; just by doing a few reps with resistance bands, you can get an excellent workout. Here’s a sample total-body resistance band workout.
2. Do online workouts.
Online workouts are great for travel. In addition to platforms like YouTube, there are plenty of other online workout tutorials you can follow. As long as you have your laptop or your smartphone, it’s almost effortless to tap into the millions of online workouts. That’s the beauty of the internet. Do a quick search to find exercises that align with what you’d like to do. Whether you prefer yoga, cardio dance, or step aerobics, there’s something for everyone. You can also look online to see the workouts produced by celebrity trainers through platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Visit the app store to look for fitness apps. Through them, you can listen to guided workouts. If you’re trying to learn how to run a mile without stopping, there’s an app to help with that goal. If you’re trying to increase your endurance, high intensity interval training (HIIT) apps will work well.
3. Use the local gym.
If you travel a lot in the United States, get a membership to a nation-wide gym. That way, you still take advantage of having a gym and personal training services as you travel. Sure, the basic set-up might be different in specific areas. However, your card will get accepted. Before you head to the nearest location, call ahead with any questions you might have. If you’re used to training with a personal trainer, see if it’s possible to reserve a time with one of the gym’s personal trainers. Sometimes, it’s as easy as picking up the phone to make a call.
If your gym isn’t nationwide, hope isn’t lost. Do a quick Google search to find workouts near the location you’re staying in. Some gyms offer day passes for free or discounted rates. If you’re staying in a hotel, most hotels have gyms in-house. Call before making your reservation to confirm their gym is in working order.
4. Jog outside.
If you’re traveling to an area that’s relatively familiar to you, throw on your running shoes to go for a jog outside. If you don’t know the area, feel free to use your GPS. First, determine how far you’d like to go. If you know you’d like to run a 5K (3.5 miles), make sure you map out the distance before leaving. If you choose to run a 5K going, you can take a cab back home. It’s okay to feel things out to see what works best for you.
If you’re concerned about your safety, it’s a good idea to find an area where other joggers tend to run. Whether it’s a local park or a cityscape that’s pretty populated, ask around to find out where the joggers tend to exercise the most.
5. Get more movement into your day.
Never underestimate the power of incorporating more movement into your day. Use travel days as opportunities to get some extra steps in by walking instead of taking the elevators the entire time. If you have light luggage that can roll alongside you, try to get to your destinations early so that you’re not rushing through the airport to catch your flight. If you’re able to get 10,000 steps on a travel day, you’re doing extremely well.
On the other days, you can incorporate movement by taking the stairs, going for a walk after your lunch hour, and doing jumping jacks when you wake up in the morning. If you’re hard-pressed for time, do a HIIT workout in your room. HIIT workouts only require twenty minutes of focused dedication. Between the alternating movements in a HIIT workout, you’ll burn tons of calories to replace a morning jog.
There are plenty of considerations to remember when it’s time to get ready to travel. However, don’t forget about yourself. Your needs come first. This includes the need to exercise. As you get creative with the efforts you take to prioritize exercise, it’ll be easier to get the job done.
