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8 of the Best Ways to Workout When You're Traveling

Here are some tips to help you stay in shape even while on the go.

Everybody travels, whether it be for work, pleasure, vacation, or planned events like weddings or family gatherings. If you travel frequently or have a trip coming up, you will want to keep up your fitness routine to make sure you stay in shape even while you’re away from home.

Though there are several reasons it's hard to stick to your normal healthy eating and exercise routine while traveling.

You may not have access to a gym, and if you regularly rely on that to get your exercise in, this can throw you a curveball. You may normally cook your own meals and snacks, but if you're traveling, you may not have access to a fridge, stove, microwave, or other cooking essentials. If you typically like to run or walk in your neighborhood for exercise, being away from your normal paths may make you uncomfortable. Your healthy sleeping habits may also take a hit when traveling, considering possible time zone changes, jet lag, unfamiliar or uncomfortable sleeping areas, and perhaps somewhat unpredictable schedules.

But don't let these challenges throw you off your game. Here are some tips on the best ways to get your workout in while you travel.

Make Exercise a Priority

Regardless of your reason for traveling, try to make exercise one of your priorities, just like you do at home. Before you leave for your trip, plan out your daily schedule and ensure that you pencil in exercise. Work trip? Determine when you will have breaks in the day to squeeze in a workout. Traveling for pleasure? Let your friends and family know that you want to fit a few exercise sessions so they are on board with your commitments. This may mean making sure you work out first thing in the morning. Add a reminder in your calendar, enlist the help of a friend by asking him or her to remind you to exercise each day, or set an alarm on your phone so you can avoid skipping it.

Bring the Gym with You

Bring travel-friendly exercise equipment with you so you can exercise wherever you go. Pack an ab wheel, thigh master, resistance bands, a yoga mat — whatever small items you can easily transport and use in your room. An easy way to sneak in cardio without having to leave your hotel or guest room? Pack a jump rope! Jumping rope is an intense cardio and full-body workout that can be done practically anywhere. In fact, jumping rope burns more calories per minute than any other form of cardio. Lastly, don’t forget to pack your running shoes.

Take a Tour

Depending on how much time you have each day, try to plan a walking tour around the city you are in. Do some sight-seeing and take in your surroundings — just be sure to avoid taking a taxi or Uber and plan to walk everywhere.

Slay Some Stairs

This is not revolutionary advice, but you should try to take the stairs everywhere you go during your travels — yes, even up all those flights of stairs to your hotel room. Avoid the elevator and hit those stairs to burn calories fast and get a fit booty.

Burn Calories with Calisthenics

Calisthenics is any form of exercise in which you use your own body weight to build muscle. You use the resistance of your own body weight to torch calories, build muscle, and increase your flexibility. Examples include push-ups, lunges, squats, sit-ups, calf raises, leg lifts, tricep dips, and thrusts. See a wall nearby? You can even do wall sits to strengthen those glutes and hammies which will help you avoid the stiffness and cramps that sometimes accompany long car trips or flights. Planks can be done anywhere, so do several of these whole-body exercises several times a day and hold your position as long as you can each time to really build muscle.

Choose the Right Hotel

If you prefer working out in a gym, be sure to seek out hotels that have adequate gyms on-site. Certain hotel chains offer fitness perks and can even loan you running shoes or exercise clothing. Additionally, quite a few hotels can provide you with a walking or running route directly from the hotel itself.

Get Your Steps in at the Airport

If your travels require flying, you’ll likely have some downtime while you wait to board the plane. Take brisk walks around the airport — most of them are so vast you could easily rack up a few miles while you wait.

Seek Out One-Time Deals at Area Gyms

A lot of gyms offer free classes or free guest passes for people who may be looking to join a gym. Even if you don’t live in the area and have no plans to join that gym, you can still take advantage of any of the freebies they offer. Additionally, if you already have a membership to chain gym that has locations all across the country, check to see if they have one in the area to which you’ll be traveling.


[Image via Shutterstock]

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