Staying fit while traveling is a common issue for travelers. We feel that it’s our time to indulge and treat ourselves while on vacation, and we often come home weighing considerably more than when we went.
You won’t want to waste all your hard work while on vacation, especially if you normally work out and eat properly at home.
As someone who is often on the road and struggles to keep active and stay fit when traveling, we wanted to share our top tips for staying fit on travel with you.
9 Ways to Stay Fit When Traveling
These easy 9 methods can help you to stay fit when traveling:
- Keep Active Along the Way
Traveling by car, train, or plane can require you to sit for long periods, which is bad for your health. Wear your walking or running shoes on your trip days to make physical exercise easier.
If you’re traveling and have time or if there’s a delay, walk through the airport terminal rather than sitting at the gate. When taking the train, walk through the cars occasionally. Take breaks while driving to get out and stretch.
If you know you’ll have a long layover at an airport, ask if there’s a gym there and pack your carry-on appropriately. Do not stand on the escalators; instead, walk up to them. Rather than using the elevator, take the stairs.
Make it a point to walk at least 10,000 steps every day. Consider purchasing a Fitbit; it will motivate you greatly.
- Walk and Explore More
The easiest method to stay fit when traveling is to get moving and develop an active lifestyle.
Instead of utilizing public transportation, walk several steps. If there is a nice viewpoint, look for a hike method rather than drive to it. Hiking, apart from providing good training, always gives some beautiful scenery along the way.
The best thing is that the more we exercise, the fitter we get. Yes, it won’t be easy at first, but our bodies are amazing at adjusting to everything. You’ll gradually gain strength and start to love it.
- Plan an Activity Trip
If you have the choice of choosing what to do on your vacation, go on an activity trip. It’s a lot more enjoyable than exploring a new city.
It may be trekking in the Himalayas, a surf camp in Sri Lanka, or a high-altitude skiing vacation. Whatever kind of adventure you want.
Traveling for a specific activity not only helps you to mentally charge, but it also keeps you in great shape. Moreover, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals most of the time. And there’s a good possibility you’ll make friends along the way.
- Practice Yoga
Yoga has several advantages, but it will leave you feeling energetic when it comes to traveling. Not to mention that you’ll need a nice stretch after all of that walking!
Make a morning routine to help revitalize your body or a nighttime routine to ensure a good night’s sleep.
- Stretch and Mobilize
The essential thing to do in the evening for people who spend a lot of exploring or walking is to stretch. Legs, shoulders, and lower back tense and fatigue more than usual due to the weight of the muscles and/or a backpack. If left untreated, it can cause pain in the knees, neck, lower back, shoulders and even cause a headache.
When we think about staying fit, we usually think of increasing our fitness. Muscle tightness also has a much greater impact on us than we may think. We often believe we have lost fitness when, in fact, all we need to do is stretch.
- Plan Ahead of Time by Researching Healthy Restaurants
When it comes to eating healthy when traveling, planning ahead of time is usually a great help. Look out for some healthy restaurants in the region where you will be staying before you even board the plane. They can be found on Facebook Groups, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Happy Cow, and even Google. Enter phrases like “Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Amsterdam” or “Healthy Restaurants in Vancouver” into Google.
Make a phone list of the best places to get a nutritious meal and keep it accessible for when you’re hungry. This way, you can find several really great hangouts and cafes!
- Drink Tons of Water
Water is probably one of the most important things you can do to stay fit when traveling, and it is also important for your health.
Drink more water than you normally do, especially if you live in a hot, humid, or high-altitude location. Your body will be adapting to the new environment, and you will most likely sweat more than usual.
Preventing dehydration is important to avoid unnecessary setbacks on your journey. Because our bodies are composed of around 60% water, it makes sense that enough water consumption is required for us to function properly!
Your skin is your body’s biggest organ. So, if you want to avoid having a dry and wrinkled look, H2O is your best buddy.
Taking a few sips of water while you’re hungry might help reduce those nagging cravings and keep you from gorging at your next meal.
- Work Out in Your Room
Maybe it is simply too hot and humid outside. Maybe you’re on a work trip and don’t have much time to explore.
Whatever your reasons for staying in your room, there is still plenty of opportunities for physical activity. Free up space and watch a short yoga video on YouTube. You may carry a jump rope or a resistance band in your backpack if you plan ahead of time. They take very little space and can improve a hotel room workout.
Don’t you have any workout equipment? Not an issue. Calisthenics (also known as bodyweight exercise) helps you to keep fit by utilizing just your body. Here are some workout ideas to help you get started with a fitness routine in a hurry:
- Push-ups
- Squats
- Sit-ups
- Jumping jacks
- Burpees
- Planks
- Tricep dips
- Wall sits
- Watch the Alcohol
What value is a beautiful sunset in an exotic location if an iced cocktail doesn’t accompany it? Let’s face it: drinking and vacationing are intimately connected.
While it is enjoyable to consume while on vacation, keep in mind that alcohol is not the healthiest option. Alcohol temporarily inhibits your body’s fat-burning, and beer and wine are high in empty calories.
Enjoy your rooftop margarita, but limit yourself to one or two, and avoid late-night cravings for fatty, cheesy foods.
The Bottom Line
It’s fine to relax every once in a while. Travel may have a significant impact on how we sleep and eat, making it an unsuitable time to try to improve our fitness.
