Vacation season is here and it’s finally time to take a break!
Whether it’s relaxing on the beach or exploring a city, a time out from the normal routine can be wonderful thing. But it can also make it tough to stay fit—all those meals out and indulging a few cocktails does not exactly help either.
All that fun means you might return home feeling less than refreshed. The good news is feeling healthy during and post-vacation is totally possible. Making just a few smart choices will keep you active and energized and help you get the most out of that vacation—and look forward to the next one.
Use these tips and tricks to stay fit and feel good no matter where time off takes you.
1. Embrace your surroundings. If you’re on the beach, try doing the usual yoga routine on the sand instead of indoors. A change in scenery might be the boost needed to get physical. Take a long walk through a local park when kicking it in a new city.
2. See the sights. On foot or bike, that is. Skip the bus tours and check out your new surroundings the old-fashioned way to burn calories while taking in the views. Lots of cities even offer running tours to let you explore while getting a workout in.
3. Take the stairs. Skip the elevator and sneak in some extra cardio. Bonus: Lots of sightseeing attractions — churches and towers, for example — have stairs with architectural interests, letting you kill two birds with one step.
4. Be adventurous. Break out of a workout rut and use vacation as an excuse to try new, fun activity. Whether it’s rock climbing, sailing, or trapeze swinging, challenge yourself to try something different while you’re away.
5. Make exercise your vacation. A surefire way to guarantee you keep moving while traveling is by planning a getaway around a fitness event or competition. Force yourself to vacation by registering for a race in a different city or try a weekend fitness retreat.
6. Do it anywhere. Bodyweight exercises: push-ups, squats, lunges, abdominal crunches, and plank can be done anywhere and require zero equipment. Bust a move in your hotel room to keep fit.
Need a little help coming up with ideas? Have your trainer make you a workout plan just for your vacation!
Get your own personalized plan!Written by Grace Selwitschka, Certified Personal Trainer at Elite Sports Club-North Shore