Exercise Information

Workouts That Travel


A vacation can do wonders for reducing stress levels, but it can derail a healthy fitness regimen. Even some of the most die-hard exercisers find it difficult to stick with a workout program when away from home. Sure, many have good intentions. They may even pack their workout attire. Unfortunately, their gear never makes it out of the suitcase until they're back home.

But travel from home doesn't have to result in an interruption or complete abandonment of your healthy habits. You can still fit in exercise time when away from home, regardless of whether you find yourself in a warm or a cold climate. Even if bad weather forces you into seclusion in your hotel room, there are exercises you can complete without a single piece of equipment.

Below are some tips to help you stay fit while traveling and avoid coming home with unwanted extra baggage.

  • Be realistic. You probably won't be able to fit in your normal weekly workouts and that's okay. Shoot for completing at least 50% of your normal regimen.

  • Plan ahead. Before leaving town, find out what type of workout facilities your accommodations will have or if there is a nearby park of jogging track (weather permitting, of course).

  • Scope out local gyms. If you are staying somewhere that doesn't provide a workout area then inquire at the nearby local fitness centers for their rates. Often they offer day passes for minimal fees.

  • Pack a resistance band in your suitcase. The band takes up very little space, yet can provide you with an entire upper and lower body workout routine.

  • Don't deprive yourself of all local delicacies. You can enjoy some special meals without going overboard. Ask the restaurants to prepare your favorite dishes with a few lower fat ingredients.

  • Be creative. Find unique, fun ways to exercise instead of doing the same routine you do when you are at home. Try biking, hiking, a pedal boat excursion, water-skiing, beach volleyball, etc. Effective workouts aren't limited to the standard fares of walking, jogging and fitness machines.

  • Try out your travel routine at least once at home. A new workout that you've never done before will require more time and preparation. This type of frustration just makes for an easy excuse to skip the workout.

  • Prepare snacks. If your journey includes a lot of time in the car, be sure to pack some healthy snacks so you aren't forced to eat at all the fast food and convenience shops along the way.

  • Play in the pool. If lounging poolside is part of your vacation plans, then hop in the pool every 20 minutes for 5-10 minutes of pool walking (try it in waist-deep or higher water for a really challenging workout).

  • Get comfortable. Don't forget to pack comfortable workout attire that fits your destination's climate.

Here is a quick, simple circuit workout that only requires a resistance band and can be done anywhere. Complete at least one set of 8-12 reps of each exercise.

  • Bicep Curl

  • Tricep Dip

  • Lat Pull Down

  • Front Raise

  • Push-Up

  • Squat

  • Abductor lifts

  • Adductor splits

  • Hamstring Kicks

For detailed instructions for each of the above exercises, visit http://www.workoutsforyou.com/travel_plan.htm

About The Author

Lynn is a certified personal trainer and founder of WorkoutsForYou.com. Don't return home with extra baggage. We can custom design a workout for you that will help you stay fit while away from home. You don't even need any fitness equipment! We'll help you stay fit while still fully enjoying your trip. Visit http://www.workoutsforyou.com/travel_plan.htm for more info.

info@workoutsforyou.com


MORE RESOURCES:

USA TODAY

Study: Tai chi helps ease symptoms of Parkinson's
USA TODAY
NEW YORK – The ancient Chinese exercise of tai chi improved balance and lowered the risk of falls in a study of people with Parkinson's disease. Fuzhong Li, AP The ancient Chinese exercise improved balance and lowered the risk of falls in a study of ...
Slow movements of tai chi helped with balance, reduced falls in Parkinson's ...Washington Post
Tai Chi Makes Parkinson's Patients Steadier on Feet, Study SaysBusinessWeek
Tai chi may help balance in people with Parkinson'sReuters

all 157 news articles »


BBC News

Bold Alligator: 19000 troops amphibious exercise
BBC News
Bold Alligator, an international training exercise involving upwards of 19000 troops, has been under way since the beginning of February and is taking place across Virginia and North Carolina. US military officials say it is the largest ...
Combat Cargo steps up for Exercise Bold AlligatorDVIDS
Libya Lessons Learned Drive Huge Amphib ExerciseAOL Defense
Marines storm US beaches in training exerciseCBS News
The Associated Press -Newsroom America
all 281 news articles »


Fars News Agency

Envoy: US Unable to Exercise Threats against Iran
Fars News Agency
Sajjadi said on Wednesday that Iran's response to any probable military adventurism will be very tough and far beyond expectations striking US targets worldwide. He told reporters that Iranian armed forces have full access to the US targets worldwide ...
Dwindling Time, Rising Tension Make Iran Top FearNPR

all 897 news articles »


NORAD to conduct exercise over Washington region early Thursday
Washington Post
WASHINGTON — NORAD is planning an exercise in the Washington region The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct a series of training flights on Thursday from 3 am to 5 am Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD's intercept and ...
^..6530< AP-DC--NORAD Exercise,69WBFF/WNUV Baltimore
Training Flights Set for Early ThursdayPatch.com

all 4 news articles »


New York Magazine (blog)

Exercise-Video Giant Anchor Bay May Now Split With Komen
New York Magazine (blog)
Insiders tell Vulture that Anchor Bay Entertainment, one of Hollywood's largest producers and distributors of women's fitness, dance and exercise videos, is "submitting lists of new charities…to replace [long-time beneficiary] Komen," even after ...
Exercise Video Behemoth Considering Pulling Support from KomenJezebel

all 353 news articles »


MannKind Announces Exercise In Full of Over-Allotment Option and Completion of ...
MarketWatch (press release)
... including 4687500 units sold pursuant to the full exercise of an over-allotment option previously granted to the underwriters (with each unit consisting of one share of its common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.6 of a share of its common stock).

and more »


Earthquake exercise promotes awareness
Cleveland Daily Banner
by GREG KAYLOR, Banner Staff Writer Hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans took part in the critical exercise to raise awareness in case a catastrophic quake were to hit the Southeast. Millions of people in the Central zone also took part.

and more »


Senior leaders unite during seminar at Exercise Cobra Gold 2012
DVIDS
CAMP SURANAREE, Thailand – Senior officers from more than six countries convened at a Senior Leaders Seminar at Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 on Feb. 8 to discuss strategic topics and share lessons learn from real world experiences. According to Maj.
US-led Military Exercise Cobra Gold 12 Commences In ThailandBernama
Thailand to host US-led military exerciseChina Daily
Joint Thailand-US "Cobra Gold" DrillNTDTV
Marines.mil (press release) -GlobalPost (blog) -Channel News Asia
all 30 news articles »


Skiing: Snowga a new way to exercise on the slopes
Poughkeepsie Journal
Thunder Ridge: Your Turn, Ladies' Day with Lisa Dinsmore, 845-878-4100 or go to www.thunderridgeski.com. Hunter: Women Only Workshop. 800-486-8376 or go to www.huntermtn.com Mohawk: Pirate Day, treasure hunt. Participants are encouraged to dress in ...

and more »


Study: Doctors only advise 1 in 3 people to exercise
USA TODAY
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY Only one in three people in the USA say their doctor advised them to start exercising or continue doing so during an office visit over the course of a year, a new government study shows. The trips to the doctors were for a ...


Google News

home | site map
© 2006