By Dana Jones, M.S.

You‘ve finally developed a good exercise routine and have been making it into the fitness center four times a week for at least 45 minutes. Then it happens...you‘re called away for work or your vacation time rolls around. Whether it‘s business or pleasure, travel can throw a wrench into your finely tuned exercise program. Don‘t let your program fail due to travel.

Plan Ahead

Check on available facilities at your destination. Does your hotel have a fitness center? Is there a YMCA or public fitness center nearby? Surf the Internet to find out more about your destination and what it has to offer. Pack the necessary exercise gear. The best-laid plans can be foiled if you forget your exercise shoes, shorts or T-shirt.

Survey Your Surroundings

Even if your destination doesn‘t have a fitness center, it is likely to have open roads, paths or beaches. Look into the possibility of renting in-line skates or a bicycle by the hour. Ask the concierge, innkeeper, or local residents about places to walk or jog. Inquire about the safety of the area, especially if you are venturing out alone.

Pack Exercise Tools

Exercise tubing and bands travel well and provide an effective way to maintain your strength training program. Bands and tubes can generally be purchased through exercise equipment catalogs and in sporting goods stores. Also available are water-filled dumbbells. These items are light when empty, but increase in poundage as you add water. A jump rope is compact and can provide a great cardiovascular workout if ample headroom is available.

Improvise

Use your surroundings to create a workout. You can perform crunches, push ups, squats, and lunges easily in any hotel room. Pull up a chair to do triceps dips or use any wall to do wall-sits or wall-push-ups. Find a safe stairwell and walk or jog up and down to supplement your cardiovascular program.

You don‘t have to backslide simply because you are out of town. Make a commitment to continue working towards your fitness goals.

For additional information please contact NIFS at 317.274.3432.