When you’re travelling, sticking to an exercise routine can be difficult. Doesn’t it sound much better to throw yourself into the local culture and enjoy the restaurants and bar scene instead of running laps in the nearest park? Some people think that holiday weight gain is inevitable, but instead of falling into that trap, keeping fit while on the road is easier than you think.
So why is it so important to exercise regularly? With more chronic illnesses than ever before, such as coronary heart disease – the most common cause of death in the United States and 2.3 million people in the UK living with the disease – prevention has never been more important. Preventing a condition like heart disease or type 2 diabetes doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your entire lifestyle, but you need to be willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle. That means you need to stick to it, and yes, that includes during holidays and travelling! But when your schedule is thrown out of sync, is that possible? The answer is yes! Here are three simple tips to follow to make sure you stay active when you’re travelling.
- Choose an activity that’s accessible and something you enjoy. Say you’re in Bali for a few months – the last thing you’ll want to do is spend hours in an enclosed space like a gym. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do, though – beach yoga, volleyball, running…there’s plenty of things you can do outdoors. You can even work on your tan at the same time!
- Stay in a hotel that has fitness equipment. Like I say, you don’t want to be holed up in a gym when you’re on holiday. But if you opt for a hotel that has a swimming pool and an outdoor area with a tennis court or basketball court, it allows you to exercise as and when you feel like it. If the gym equipment isn’t the best, there are plenty of exercises you can do without machinery.
- Don’t rely on taxis – explore the city on foot or bike. Most hotels offer bike hire but if that’s not your thing, put on a comfy pair of shoes, bring a map, and walk around the city to orientate yourself. You’d be surprised at how many miles you can rack up by walking around for a few hours a day. Ask the staff at your hotel where to go – or perhaps where not to go!
Letting your fitness levels slip on holiday doesn’t need to be a given. Your exercise routine will likely be very different and it might take a few days to adapt, but that’s not always a bad thing. If you’re missing a number of workouts, it’s best to slow things down and give your body time to readjust. Always listen to your body and if you feel like it’s struggling to keep up, slow down the pace and enjoy some holiday relaxation!