Traveling can easily wreck your fitness routine. Changing time zones, fighting traffic, and arriving in an unfamiliar destination can leave you frustrated and tired.
But you shouldn’t use travel as an excuse to skip exercising.
Forget the Magic Number
Corporate wellness expert Mark Verstegen is the founder of Core Performance, a company that educates professionals on staying fit while traveling. One of the major reasons travelers do not work out is lack of time.
Verstegen said, “If people don’t have a full hour to train they end up skipping out on the workout altogether. Whether you have ten minutes or forty-five minutes, focus on getting active. A walk outside or twenty minutes on the treadmill will get your endorphins going and increase your energy levels to power you through long meetings or a redeye home. There is no ‘magic number’ for working out. Any time spent training will improve how you look, feel, and perform every day on the road.”
Know Before You Go
Before booking your hotel, call to discuss their fitness options. Do they have a swimming pool, work out center, or complimentary passes to a nearby gym? Ask what type of equipment or wellness programs are offered by the hotel.
Sheraton hotels offer 30-minute Video on Demand workouts that can be viewed anytime in the privacy of your room. Forgot your workout gear? No problem. Westin Hotels and Resorts will lend guests New Balance athletic shoes with disposable insoles and apparel for a nominal fee.
Go Outdoors
Get some exercise outside. Run or ride a bike at a nearby park or jogging trail. San Antonio’s bike sharing program, B-Cycle, has 14 downtown stations. Visitors can sign up online to use the easy and affordable service. At the Grand Hotel in Minneapolis, staff members serve as tour guides leading guests on “fun runs” past notable sights in the city.
Try something new like surfing or paddle boarding. The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel’s “Fit for Fun” wellness program offers lessons. Ask your hotel concierge for suggestions on outdoor activities or contact the city’s Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Jim Twardowski, BSN, RN, CMSRN, is a travel writer based in Louisiana. His work has been featured in AAA Home & Away, Global Traveler, and QUEST magazines.
[…] “Don’t Wimp Out On Working Out”: When travelling, it’s easy to “wimp out” on maintaining regular physical activity due to the lack of familiarity of your surroundings, the change to your schedule, the desire to go exploring a new town, and so on. We’ve written popular posts about exercises for travellers before, so here are some more tips from the Healthcare Traveler blog that you might find useful for staying active while abroad. […]
Went to Florida for vacation with the family for the Summer and was pleasantly surprised to find a small gym at our condo when we arrived. Wasn’t the most “authentic” gym around, but it definitely got the job done!