We often fear that missing our exercise plan would ruin our training, but it’s recommended to take one or two days of rest from our routine. However, successive days of no exercise will lead to muscle atrophy. You might be thinking how that month-long vacation you just booked could pose a threat to your workout routine. The question is: would you let your vacation lose your hard-earned progress, or would you take up the challenge to train your body in different environments?
Take advantage of your new location
Leaving your gym isn’t the end of your training. There are numerous ways you can take advantage of your new terrain. Whether it be beaches, mountains, or even cities, you can always find a new variation of exercise that’ll help keep muscle atrophy away.
Skip the taxis.
No, I don’t mean unnecessarily walking for miles. We travel to explore the new locale, and being stuck in a vehicle hinders that. Leave your bags at the hotel and walk around; you might even see hidden shops with unique trinkets that you might never come upon if you stick to your travel guide.
Mix adventure with training.
You can mix exercise with your travel plans through activities like hiking, cycling, or rock climbing. When planning your vacation, it’s best to look for activities that allow you to explore and train your body simultaneously. If you’re going to faraway places like South Africa or Mexico, you can check out cultural references like afro-centered magazines for ideas on what activities you can try. You might even find a new hobby doing so!
Keep your diet in check
We all know how fun it is to try out local dishes, but keep in mind that snacks add to our daily calorie consumption. While working out and training your body is vital, sticking to your diet is essential, too. You don’t have to bring your food scale and obsessively weigh everything you eat on your vacation. That’ll add more work to an otherwise stress-free holiday abroad! The few key points to remember to keep your weight in check are: lessen liquid calorie consumption, avoid binge eating, and relax. Adding another serving of ice cream won’t hurt you; just remember to keep things in moderation.
Practice calisthenics
If you’re not incorporating calisthenics into your workout routine, you should now, and there’s no better time to do so than when you’re traveling. Calisthenics, also known as bodyweight exercises, are workout routines that are performed with varying intensities.
The best thing about calisthenics is that it’s inexpensive and you don’t need any equipment to practice it, both of which are important to travelers. As you’re vacationing, you won’t have access to all the equipment you need for your usual training regimen. If you find a gym there, why would you waste your whole day stuck in a building when you can train outside?
A fun way to practice calisthenics is by doing HIIT workouts at your hotel. HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, is a training routine that focuses heavily on cardio laid out in short bursts of challenging exercises. HIIT routines are quick, usually lasting 8 or 12 minutes. If you’re used to lengthy rest periods during workouts, you won’t find any of it here. You’ll get active rests that are sure to keep your heart beating under the duress of time, which is a great way to start your day and keep the energy flowing all day.
Enjoy your trip
If you’re used to vacations that involve relaxing at day-spas and partying all night, there are still ways to keep you active and healthy. It doesn’t have to be complicated to keep your well-earned physique. If you’re too hellbent on focusing your whole trip on your workout routine, you’re not going to enjoy your trip (unless that’s your version of fun). Simply adding small yet meaningful ways to keep your body active throughout your journey can help you stay fit and active while traveling!
