Summer is notorious for being an excellent time for most people in the country to travel. Whether they take road trips, fly, or hop on a cruise, there are plenty of options for people, and some may even travel this summer using more than one method. One side effect of traveling is that people tend to gain weight and get out of their workout routine, which can impact their waistline and commitment to being physically active. The good news is that there are things that people can do to keep active during vacations.
"Whether your vacation is one week or three, it can get people off of their workout schedule, and that can spiral on and continue once they get home," explains Jennifer Scherer, a registered dietitian nutritionist, medical exercise specialist, certified personal trainer, and owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio. “As much as possible, it is a good idea to keep working out while on vacation.”
According to a study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, vacations tend to result in significant weight gain. After putting it to test with 122 adults who went on vacations ranging from 1-3 weeks, they found this out. Body weight increased while on vacation, and six weeks after the vacation, the people still had the extra weight on them.
Continuing to exercise while on vacation can help keep the commitment and habit of exercising going, plus it will help burn extra calories. People tend to eat more while on vacation and often eat restaurant meals, which may not be as healthy as dining at home.
Here are some tips for getting in physical activity and workouts while on vacation:
Make it a priority. Rather than coming back home feeling guilty for not exercising and having a hard time getting motivated to start up again, keep the commitment on the road, too.
Get it in whenever. There is no right time to exercise. Fit it in whenever and wherever you can. Walk some laps and squats while waiting in the airport, do some stretches when stopped at a rest area, and use your body weight doing pushups, squats, etc. Pack some resistance bands, which only take up a little room and can provide a good workout in any hotel room.
Explore the area. Workouts can be done at many places, including a nearby park or playground. Look to see what is around where you are visiting and make the most of it.
Split the time. The workout doesn't have to be done in one 30-minute increment. It is okay to break it up into two or three sessions throughout the day to be convenient.
Do some active sightseeing. Choose activities that require walking, hiking, biking, or otherwise being physically active. This way, travelers get a workout while checking out the area.
“We are happy to help our clients with personally tailored workout recommendations for when they are on vacation,” added Scherer. “We know how hard it is not to gain weight while traveling and how challenging it can be to return to your routine once you return. Being physically active while traveling is the best plan of action."
Here are a couple of powerful exercises to do while traveling:
1. Body weight or resistance band Squats
2. Resistance Band Lateral Walks
3. Push ups
4. Reverse lunges
5. Wall Sit
6. Planks
7. Walk at least 8,000- 10,000 steps a day (sightseeing)
Fredericksburg Fitness Studio offers a reformer Pilates fitness training program, a fun and unique exercise method with many benefits. The reformer can be done sitting, standing, or lying down, which gives a great workout. The program helps with strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, core control, and more. To get more information about the reformer Pilates program, visit the site: https://www.fburgfitness.com/pilates-reformer
Fredericksburg Fitness Studio doesn't offer memberships as other gyms do. They offer private customized fitness programs that are available by appointment. Many people who go to the studio are referrals from physical therapists and doctors. The wellness professionals at the studio communicate with the medical teams to keep them up to date on patient progress. To learn more about Fredericksburg Fitness Studio, visit the site: https://www.fburgfitness.com.
