Struggling to Stay Fit While Traveling? Try Something New!
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, trying to maintain a fitness routine can be a challenge. It throws you off your routine, your schedule is often extra hectic, and you may not have access to the same equipment or classes you're used to.
Instead of getting frustrated or foregoing exercise, take this as an opportunity to mix it up and infuse different types of exercise. Our bodies hit plateaus where we experience diminishing returns from our fitness routines. We get to a level or stasis, or maintenance. Adding variety to the types of motion and intensity levels of exercise that you do spices things up for your muscles, so to speak, and can amp up your results. Change also helps combat workout burnout & boredom. In exercise as in life, change is good!
Try a body weight workout of classic boot camp cardio and body toning exercises right in your room. In 20 minutes you can get a heart thumping, muscle burning workout with no equipment. Some hotels offer workout clothing, like the Westin gear lending program, portable resistance props such as resistance tubing and even in room workout videos through their TV and online media channels. Likewise, in room stretching, body sculpting, Pilates or yoga classes are a great way to fit exercise around your travel schedule when its convenient for you.
Make exercise part of your travel. Explore the area on foot, bike or kayak. A great way to do some sightseeing and incorporate exercise is to ride a bike. You get a more intimate view of the region, can stop and explore sights all while getting some good cardio.
Many cities around the world have bike share programs where you can pick up and drop off bikes at key locations around the city. I've used these in Washington DC, Boston and Paris and now my hometown, New York City, has implemented CitiBikes with convenient sites at attractions all over the city.
If you're near water, try renting a canoe or kayak. Its a great upper body workout as well as a fun way to explore urban and rural waterways.
And remember, it doesn't require a mountain to have a great hike. Urban hikes can be as engaging, vigorous and fun as climbing a mountain, its just different scenery.
To keep fit when on the road, think out of the box.