On the heels of the holidays and trying to get back in to my
normal eating routine and finding time to restart regularly exercising. As much
as the thought of exercising makes me want to grab a piece of cheesecake and
curl up on the couch with the dog, I know it’s in my best interest to see it
through. Somehow, I always come back from vacation with the best intentions to exercise
more and walk everywhere, like I do while I’m sightseeing, but then come home
and totally fall back into my eat-dinner-on-the-couch-watching-tv-and-playing-games-on-the-computer
mode.
While I need help getting motivated at home, I know a lot of
people need help getting motivated while on vacation. I know traveling is fun
and you don’t want to think about exercise or eating healthy while you’re supposed to be relaxing and leaving “reality” behind.
Unfortunately, as much as I claim that calories don’t count on vacation, they
truly do. This is why I walk as much as I possibly can. If you have a regular
routine where extra walking really won’t benefit you and you want to keep on
track, here are a few ideas for packing equipment in your carry-on, without
taking much room away from things you really want to take, like underwear and shoes.
Yoga – Many
people are into yoga and it’s great for relaxation, working your core and
increasing your flexibility. A yoga mat is easily transportable, but you can
also bring along a DVD and some packable yoga items, like a block (though you can use things you’ve found in your room) and yoga socks and gloves
that can prevent slippage. I recently bought a friend a yoga set that came with
a resistance band for strengthening. I bring along a yoga strap that helps your stretch out and get into poses more easily. It’s
great for helping you distress after a long day of walking.
Jump
rope
– This is an easily packable item and gets you great exercise anywhere you have
some extra room. Not just little kids love to jump rope. It’s fun and helps you
tone and keep in shape. Make sure you buy a nicely weighted one that will stand
up to the rigors of the road, but will also do the job, like this one that has removable handle weights.
Boxing – You
don’t have to bring along full gear and a punching bag, but a pair of weighted gloves is a fabulous way to tone your arms and legs. Bring along a DVD to
pop in your laptop or just search for a few good training videos that you can
use. I have a nice pair that I bought for a cardio game I play on Wii, but I
have also used them when doing regular exercise and they are awesome. They are
pink and sporty, but are adjustable, so they can be used by everyone in your
travel party.
Running – You’re
going to bring along a pair of walking shoes anyway, so why not make them
running shoes that are also good for walking. If you run at home, then keep
your routine set and get up early to run around the block or the hotel grounds.
Swimming – If
you are a swim freak, like my husband is, then you might be way more interested
in using the on-site pool for your workout. Early mornings are a great time to
get in your laps without having to dodge waders and cannonballing children.
Make sure you pack your suit, so you’re prepared! Even if the pool isn’t good,
you may have a choice of a lake or the ocean, depending on where you’re
vacationing.
Hit the
gym
– A lot of hotels, timeshares and resorts have free gym access. Use the treadmill,
weight machines and more to get in as much exercise as you need. Packing a
spare pair of running shorts and workout top is easy and you’ll probably
already bring along your ipod (or similar), so you’ll have something to
entertain you, whether it be your favorite music or an audio book.
Make
your lodging a gym – There are so many exercise videos online that
you can use to switch up your workout and do in your room with just a little
bit of room to move. Another thing you can do is get a set of resistance bands which you can use to do many different exercises, as well as with the
assistance of any sturdy door. Does your lodging have stairs? If so, then make
some time to run up and down them several times. As long as you aren’t annoying
your travel companions, this is super cheap and nothing to pack!
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| This is really inappropriate :-) |
Go dancing – Enjoy a few nights out on the town while you dance to local music and maybe even make some new friends. What a way to exercise without realizing you are doing it. Some cities have free dance lessons on certain evenings, so you can learn new steps of the region your're traveling in.
Do you have some good travel exercise tips? Do you use any
of the above ideas?
