How summer travelers can also bring along their fitness habits
Everyone loves going on vacation. But one side effect of traveling can be that when people are enjoying dining out and not being in their normal workout routine, they may tend to gain weight.
However, there are ways that travelers can keep active during vacations.
“Whether your vacation is one week, two weeks or even longer, it can get people off of their workout schedule, and that can spiral and continue once they return home,” says Jennifer Scherer, a Fredericksburg, Virginia registered dietitian/nutritionist, medical exercise specialist, certified personal trainer, and fitness studio owner. “That’s why it is a good idea to keep working out while on vacation.”
Here are some tips from Scherer for getting in physical activity and workouts while on vacation:
Make it a priority. Rather than coming back home feeling guilty for not exercising and having a hard time getting motivated to start up again, keep the commitment on the road, too.
Get it in whenever you can. There is no right time to exercise. Fit it in whenever and wherever you can. Walk some laps and squats while waiting in the airport, do some stretches when stopped at a rest area, and use your body weight doing pushups, squats, etc. Pack some resistance bands, which only take up a little room and can provide a good workout in any hotel room.
Explore the area you’re visiting. Workouts can be done at many places, including a nearby park or playground. Look to see what is around where you are visiting and make the most of it.
Split your exercise into little “activity snacks.” Your workout doesn’t have to be done in one 30-minute increment. It is okay to break it up into two or three sessions throughout the day in order to be convenient.
Do some active sightseeing. Choose activities that require walking, hiking, biking, or otherwise being physically active. This way, travelers get a workout while checking out the area. And you won’t even notice how many steps you’re taking.
Scherer recommends trying to maintain your fitness while on vacation with the following exercises, which can be done in any hotel room:
- Body weight or resistance band squats.
- Resistance band lateral walks.
- Pushups.
- Reverse lunges.
- Wall sits.
- Planks.
- Yoga poses.
“It can be hard not to gain weight while traveling, and even more challenging to return to your fitness routine once you return,” noted Scherer. “Planning to be physically active while you’re traveling really is the best way to approach your upcoming vacation.”
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