Travel signals summer to many. In fact, according to Deloitte's ConsumerSignals, 53% of people plan to take a leisure vacation this summer, which is an increase from the prior year. They report that this summer trip frequency is up, with many people taking quick getaways. Those committed to a healthier lifestyle will want to follow their healthy habits wherever they go.
“It’s easy to get off track from our health-related goals when we travel,” said Jennifer Scherer, a registered dietitian nutritionist, medical exercise specialist, certified personal trainer, and owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio. "It’s important to plan to try and incorporate some healthy things into the vacation to help keep you on track and to avoid gaining weight and feeling guilty after the fun is over.”
Many people enjoy summer travel, and the good news is that they can get a lot of benefits from it. According to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, when people travel, they increase their knowledge and experience, they experience a promotion in well-being due to psychological detachment, and vacations allow people to reflect on their lives. They report that the benefits gained from traveling transfer back to their everyday lives in new relationships, abilities, and changed perspectives.
Whether or not people have access to a gym while traveling, they can still get in a good workout and maintain their healthy habits. Here are some tips for taking their nutrition and movement with them on the go:
Spend time outdoors. Vacation is a great time to spend some time in nature, which provides a host of benefits. According to a study published in the Journal of Global Health, 98% of people who engaged with nature improved their mental health. Additionally, the majority of people improved their heart rate and blood pressure. Whether taking a hike, sitting in the park, or swimming in the spring, spend some time immersing yourself in nature if possible.
Do online workouts. Gyms are unnecessary on vacation as long YouTube can be pulled up on a phone, computer, or tablet. Fredericksburg Fitness Studio’s YouTube channel helps keep people active and healthy on vacation, offering hundreds of workout videos that people can easily do on vacation. They also offer a featured exercise that people can tune into every Tuesday on their social media pages.
Prioritize movement.Getting in more movement while on vacation will help you burn some of the extra calories. Consider participating in activities such as mini golf, swimming, walks, hiking, etc.
Stay hydrated.It's easy to become dehydrated on vacation because people are busy and may not make a point of drinking enough fluids. Not only should it be a priority, but it's also a good idea to take electrolyte packets on vacation so they can be easily added to water. These will help replenish the body's essential minerals that may be lost during sweat and activity.
Sleep well. Those who want to maximize their vacation and maintain their health must take their sleep seriously. Getting a good night's sleep will help the body feel better, which will encourage healthier choices and provide the energy needed to enjoy everything planned for the day.
Allow for adjustment.The body adjusts to time zone changes at the rate of a day per hour. Those who are traveling outside of their time zone should try preparing their bodies a couple of days ahead of the trip by exposing themselves to more daylight and taking a brief nap during the day. Be gentle as the body adjusts to the difference in the time change.
Snack wisely. It's easy to sabotage a healthy eating plan when traveling, and it's often done with our snack choices. Aim to eat at least 80% healthy on the vacation and keep plenty of healthy snack options around. Pack non-perishable snacks such as fruit, nut butter, single-serve bags of popcorn, roasted chickpeas, nuts and seeds, roasted or freeze-dried edamame, freeze-dried fruit with no added sugar, etc. An easy and satisfying snack is to make your own mix, by creating a container of various nuts, seeds, unsweetened dried fruit, and a few dark chocolate chips.
Prioritize health. It’s easy to push healthy living to the backseat while vacation, especially if we have a busy itinerary. To avoid falling into that trap, priority healthy living, so that some time each day is spent on yourself.
Take time to breathe. Vacations can be exhausting and while they should be all about relaxing, they can cause stress from being so busy. Take time each day, even if it’s only 10-15 minutes to sit and do nothing, meditate, or do some breathing exercises. This will help reduce the stress and keep you feeling refreshed.
“Summer travel is fun, and it can also be healthy if we plan and make it a part of what we do," added Scherer. "We are happy to help keep people motivated and healthier while traveling this summer and all year!”
Fredericksburg Fitness Studio doesn't offer memberships like other gyms. Instead, it provides 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.Their reformer Pilates fitness training program is 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 learn more about Fredericksburg Fitness Studio, visit the site: https://www.fburgfitness.com.
