Staying healthy while traveling can be a major challenge. After all, you’re away from home, your routine is completely disrupted, and you often end up eating things you wouldn’t normally put into your body. But have faith. There are ways to stay fit while on the road, they just require a little discipline, foresight, and planning on your part.
Here are some tips that may come in handy on your next trip.
Don’t Skip Your Workouts
It can be tough to maintain a regular workout schedule while away from home, but if possible find a way to exercise when you can. It may not be for the same duration or intensity as your regular workouts, but at least you’ll still be burning some calories, and you’ll feel a lot better about yourself too.
These days, most hotels have a fitness center on the premises, which you can usually take advantage of both in the early morning and in the evening. Even 30 minutes on the treadmill or stationary bike can do wonders for maintaining your current fitness level and keep you from regressing too far if you’re away for an extended period of time.
If you don’t have access to a gym while you’re traveling, pack your running or walking shoes instead. When the opportunity presents itself, sneak in a little cardio workout to help keep the heart and lungs in tip-top shape. Besides, if it’s a business trip, you’ll appreciate the fresh air and sunshine after a long day indoors.
Don’t Overindulge
While we’re traveling there is a tendency to overindulge in both food and alcohol. That’s part of the fun of going on vacation, of course, but it can also be counterproductive for reaching your fitness goals. While you should absolutely enjoy yourself on your vacation, don’t lose sight of where you want to be health-wise either.
By all means, enjoy your trip and live it up a little. That is truly one of the great joys of travel after all. But when perusing the menu at a restaurant for something to eat, check to see if there are any healthy options to choose from that might still make a tasty meal. If you plan on having dessert, why not order something lighter for your main course and avoid heavy, fried foods when you can. All of those things are delicious, of course, but you may end up regretting them down the line.
In terms of alcohol, we all know how enjoyable it can be to have an adult beverage from time to time. But those drinks are also filled with mostly empty calories, and if you truly want to maintain your level of fitness you’ll limit the amount of alcohol you take in too. The same goes for sugary drinks like soda and some fruit juices as well. Water is the best option, of course, but there are a few others—such as all-natural fruit juice—that are good choices too.
Pack Healthy Snacks
Although sometimes it’s impossible to control exactly what kind of meals you’ll be eating while traveling, you can have direct control over the snacks you munch on between those meals. Bring your own healthy snacks—such as nuts, energy bars, and granola—or pick up fresh fruit after you arrive at your destination. That way when you find yourself feeling a little hungry you’ll have healthy options to choose from.
Stay Active
If you’re someone who prefers to sit on a beach and do nothing while on vacation, you’re probably not doing much to help maintain your healthy lifestyle while away from home. Taking a vacation is meant to be relaxing, of course, but when it comes to staying fit you need to try to be at least a little active. That means walking to nearby destinations such as shops and restaurants, taking the stairs rather than the elevator, or renting a bike to get around town. The possibilities for maintaining your fitness levels are there. You just need to look out for them and take advantage of them when you can.
As you can see, there are some good ways to remain healthy and fit while on the road that still allow you to enjoy your vacation too. Ultimately, the goal is to return home feeling refreshed, rested, and relaxed while still managing to maintain your level of fitness. This does take a bit of planning and discipline to accomplish, but in the long run you’ll probably find that it is well worth the effort.
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