Stay fit on your travels

Flying Squirrel


FLYING HIGH—Having trouble exercising while on vacation? You can still work out even if you don’t pack bulky shoes and clothes. Of course, this inspiring view at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel helps.

FLYING HIGH—Having trouble exercising while on vacation? You can still work out even if you don’t pack bulky shoes and clothes. Of course, this inspiring view at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel helps.

If you’ve ever packed for a trip—be it vacation or business— you may have faced one question when deciding what to put in your suitcase: Should I bring exercise clothes?

My default answer to that question was always, “Absolutely!” Packing the running shoes and gym wear would make me feel, well, virtuous. I planned to find time every day on the trip to work out, so of course I would need my gear!

And then on the trip, while my Nikes may have pounded the hotel gym’s treadmill on the first and second days, my good intentions didn’t last the whole trip. By day three, I had seemingly good excuses why I didn’t have the time to work out.

Returning home, looking at the barely-used gear in my suitcase, I had to face facts. Maybe I wasn’t a vacation exerciser.

This was a troubling thought to consider. After all, when you’re traveling or vacationing, it’s often very easy to work out, and there are compelling reasons to do so.

Many modern hotels and resorts have elaborate gyms and/ or exercise classes a short way from your room. So it’s harder to get away with the “I don’t want to drive to the gym” excuse.

As for having good reasons to keep up with your fitness routine, many of us indulge our vacation appetites with tourist drinks and rich food, so burning off a few extra calories can be a good thing.

Yet, all that gear—shoes, shorts, shirts, socks—takes space and adds weight to your suitcase. So on a recent trip to Mexico, I conducted an experiment. I did something I previously would’ve considered unthinkable. I left it all home. Didn’t bring any of it.

Honestly, I didn’t miss it. I went five days without exercising which, truth be told, can sometimes happen at home. For this particular trip, that was . . . OK.

Of course your travel fitness routine doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. There are ways you can pack lightly and still maintain a level of activity while away from home. Here are a couple of possibilities:

Walk. If you already plan to bring or wear a pair of shoes suitable for walking, consider taking time daily to hit the great outdoors. If you’re in a city, on a ship, or at the beach, it shouldn’t be too hard to record 2,000 to 2,500 Fitbit steps (about 1 mile.)

You might be thinking it doesn’t count as exercise if you don’t sweat. But certainly getting in some exercise is better than none, right?

Gear needed: shoes suitable for walking. Ideally the shoes can do double duty for your touring or casual dress needs.

Swim. If your hotel or resort has a pool (or ocean) you could swim a few laps as your daily exercise. On my recent Mexico trip, this is what I did. Fifteen minutes of pool laps provided a good overall workout and left me feeling energized for the day ahead.

Gear needed: bathing suit. To avoid chlorine eyes, add a pair of swim goggles.

Calisthenics. You don’t have to leave the room to exercise. Before showering in the morning, try performing this Jack LaLanne-style routine: jumping jacks, pushups, sit-ups and forward lunges, followed by simple stretches or yoga poses. For bonus points, add a stretchy band for arm curls and door-anchored pull-downs.

Gear needed: pajamas. Seriously, you could do this routine in anything (or nothing). Adding an inexpensive stretch band expands the number of exercises you can perform.

Take the stairs. You’ve often heard the advice to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Well, if you can’t jump on the gym’s StairMaster because you chose not to pack workout wear, go old school and get to know the hotel’s staircase. Additionally, pass on the hotel shuttle. And if there’s a shortcut to get where you’re going, skip it and take the long way. Even these few minutes of exercise will help.

There you have it. Whether you bring your workout gear or not, it’s possible no matter where you are to maintain some level of health and fitness while traveling. No excuses.

Thor Challgren is a travel consultant who lives in Thousand Oaks. For more info and resources on this story, visit www.loveyourvacation.com/acorn. Email questions to thor@theacorn.com.


 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *