*This is a guest post by Agness of E-Tramping. Read more about her in the bio below!
While you may have a fantastic workout routine at home, when you’re on the go it’s always a challenge to keep yourself fit and active. Am I right? That “vacation weight”, which never fails to get added on during your trip, seems impossible to get rid of, and can cause you to feel down on your workout schedule even when you come back! Trust me, I went through it many times.
How can you beat the lazy-traveler blues? Well, it can be very simple. It is all about implementing few things into your daily routine when travelling. Check out my top 6 ways to stay fit while traveling and you will never worry about your travel weight gain:
#1: RUN
Personally, this is one of my favorite ways to stay fit in general. When you’re traveling, you may feel burdened by the idea of going out for a long run; but don’t force yourself to go out for a 10K if you don’t feel like it! Instead, go for shorter runs that boost your energy and allow you to see your surroundings. Do your running in the morning right after you wake up. In this way you will still have the entire day for sightseeing and you won’t miss your workout.
Not sure where to go? Check out free apps like Map My Run or Runtastic which allow users all over the world to input their personal routes and upload them to the community. Find a route that’s about the length you want and hit the road. You will love it!
If you’re not an avid runner, check out some of the benefits that I get from running and maybe you will start running too.
#2: GET ON A BIKE
This is a great way to multi-task. Bicycling is a fantastic exercise, but it is also a mean of transportation! Most cities in Europe have bicycles to rent on nearly every corner. Check online for where you’re staying and see what companies rent bikes there, and how close they are to you.
When in France, I found 3 coolest cycling destinations that allowed me to stay active and see beautiful spots France has to offer.
Usually for around 15 to 20 euros, the bicycle is yours for the entire day! In other countries around the world this is also possible, and you may be able to rent one for more than one day if you plan on exploring the area on two wheels. Get fit while taking in the sights!
#3: WALK
When I was young, vacations to foreign cities with my family included days that never seemed to end, walking from morning until dusk and only stopping to eat. This, although somewhat exhaustive after a few days, actually kept us all quite fit. If you’re looking to stay healthy and fit while seeing some incredible sights, then make sure you pack a pair of good shoes and get walking! In one day you can pack on an incredible amount of miles.
To know exactly how many miles you’re doing, use a free app like Map My Walk or Moves. This way you can keep track of what you’re doing and motivate yourself.
#4: WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
This may seem obvious, but it can be the hardest thing! When we’re on vacation, it’s so easy to add on that extra appetizer or dive into a dessert we wouldn’t normally have. The excuse? “I’m on vacation!”.
No more excuses! Although it’s great to splurge on the delicacies of another place, don’t let yourself get carried away. Try to get your daily regimen of fruits and vegetables, and don’t allow yourself two bad meals in a row.
Want to really keep track of what you’re eating? Free apps like Myfitnesspal allow you to calculate calories and keep you on track with daily goals and informative charts. I use it daily and really like adding new things to my daily menu.
#5: WORK WITH YOUR OWN BODY WEIGHT
Are dumbbells too heavy for your suitcase? No problem. You don’t need a gym to work out! There is an amazing amount of workouts that can be done with just your own body weight. Different yoga positions and Pilates workouts can be easily done wherever you are. YouTube has great videos that you can follow right in your hotel room. Video routines from people like Jillian Michaels or Zumba are fun and help you work up an incredible sweat.
If you want to get outside, try a playground workout (pullups on monkey bars are so hard, but so fun!) or find a bench, level tree branch, or other non-gym items and turn them into your personal gym!
#6: BE CONSISTENT AND HAVE FUN!
The goal is to make your routine work. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but it will definitely be worth it! So make a schedule for your trip, and put it in your calendar or in your fitness app. Make sure reminders pop up in your phone, and make yourself get out there!
Of course, don’t forget to have fun. Lots of places that you visit will have exercise included in the fun, such as hiking to Machu Picchu, or rock climbing in the gorge of Ronda, Spain. Find activities that get your heart rate up and take advantage of them!
All in all, staying fit on your trip will give you more energy and enthusiasm, and you’ll really enjoy the best of your trip!
Say hi to Agness who, together with her best friend Cez, are budget travelers who enjoy staying healthy while on the road while blogging about it on eTramping. As their lives basically revolve around travel, they have to work hard to stay fit while on the road through most of Asia, Europe, and beyond! Their goal is to stay healthy while enjoying every bit of this beautiful planet they live on.
