Exercising while traveling has its challenges. Yet older travelers may say, as we age, exercising anytime has its challenges. It’s surely not like what we accomplished decades ago. When we travel though, our daily timeline varies so much we need to work at finding time to fit in any exercise … and that’s not always easy!
Our cardio days, strength training days, and rest day per week becomes a jumbled mess while traveling. A poor night’s sleep, driving weariness, change in eating plan, dehydration and whatever else can lead to lack of interest in doing a workout of any sort, let alone trying to find time to fit it in!
But here are a few of ideas to consider if you want to do any exercise/workout. At least these are what I tell myself to consider … as I have this challenge too:
- Take a walk after every meal. Got more time? Walk further and/or faster.
- Use luggage as weights. Can bicep curls or tricep extensions with hand luggage be accomplished? Or chest press or shoulder press with larger luggage?
- Use own body weight for squats, planks or yoga poses.
- Use exercise tubes and/or straps for strength training.
- Access to a pool, swim; a jump rope, jump; a canoe; paddle away! Ask: what’s at this new town/park/environment providing me a way to be active?
Realizing that maintaining a level of fitness while we travel is a challenge is an important start. Sitting/driving a vehicle for hours, often eating more food and not getting our best sleep is often part of travel. But our bodies need to be active, hydrated and strong to travel as we wish!
My goal is to travel the world, thus I need a healthy body for the miles ahead! I’ll find time each day to do something active. Of course, I love trips where I bicycle or hike each day. Unfortunately my upcoming 2 month road trip will not include any bicycling, but maybe some hikes. What exercise(s) do you do when you travel? How do you stay active? Got a favorite full body exercise? Please share!
PS. I am reminded of an 84 year old woman who walked a half hour before breakfast every morning as she travelled for 6 weeks with our tour group. Why can’t I do that for starters! Our group was in awe of her and she motivated us to get moving in the morning! That’s a start!
