I have had a few people ask me, “how do you stay in shape while you’re traveling?” The short answer is moderation and movement. The long answer you’ll find below! I hope this quick guide on how to stay in shape while traveling helps you on your next trip!
Moderation
I’m a big fan of everything in moderation. Even though I’ve been tempted to eat all the fried chicken and corn bread (if you’re new here, cornbread is my spirit animal) on my latest trip to Kentucky and Tennessee, I’ve refrained and helped myself to enough to satisfy myself, but not go overboard. At the end of the day, I go to bed not feeling stuffed but happy and content, plus I still enjoyed myself!
Another tip? Drink lots of water! Did you know that most of the time hunger is actually thirst? I try to drink a full glass of water before every meal so I don’t over do it on the food!
Creating Moderation While Eating Out
Obviously if you’re sitting at a restaurant, you’re hungry. And they always say, don’t go to the grocery store hungry, right? So, how do you make good choices while you’re out to eat and hungry? I’ve found that the simplest way for me to make the BEST choices at restaurants is to plan where we are going and look at the menu ahead of time. This way, I make the the choice of what I’m having before I arrive and when it comes time to order, will be confident knowing it’s healthy.
If planning ahead isn’t possible, then I try to eat a handful of nuts before we arrive at the restaurant. I’m a big snacker. I always have either nuts, granola bars, raw veggies, beef jerky, something on hand while traveling. This way my hangry-ness is curbed and I can make a more mindful decision.
I always survey the menu and look for food that has been steamed, grilled, or roasted. In general, these cooking methods equate to less fat and are a bit more healthier. If the meal comes with sides, I always go the steamed vegetable route and add on a salad prior to the meal.
Make sure to also ask for sauces and dressings, on the side. This way you can control how much you’re consuming.
Exercise
Sometimes when you’re go, go, go like we were on our last trip, there is seriously no time for a full workout and that’s okay! Maybe you have a day where you have some time to get in a full workout which is always great! Here are a few tips to get in a bit of exercise while on the road.
First, I always try to make sure the hotel we are staying at has a gym with free weights, a treadmill and maybe one other piece of equipment. I also always bring my running shoes. This way when I do have some free time to squeeze in a workout, there is something available close by. If I have time and the weather is nice, I’ll get outside for a walk or run.
Second, I never travel without my fitness bootie band and my arm workout bands. They are lightweight, easy to pack and ready to use right when I roll out of bed in the morning and only have 15-20 minutes to get a workout in. If I have time at night before bed, I will try to squeeze in another 15-20 minutes. Divide and conquer!
Third, don’t under estimate using your own bodyweight! I try to do 50 pushups every morning and 9 minutes of planks (side planks and normal plank) every morning whether on the road or off and I’ve noticed a HUGE difference!
Lastly, I am a HUGE believer in your everyday activities adding up to BIG calorie burn. Use your phone or a smart band to track your steps and aim for at least 12,000 steps a day! All that activity helps keep your body burning calories at a steady rate.
I hope this little guide to staying in shape while traveling was helpful! When you arrive home, consider trying my Green Smoothie to help you hit the reset button!
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exercise fitness on the road healthy healthy eating on the road Kentucky stay in shape Tennessee Travel travel exercise travel guide Travel Tips travel workout travelstravel fitness
We are going on a trip to Europe and I am following very tip! I don’t want to be a slave to the gym while we are vacationing.
That’s great! These are so easy to follow and you’ll feel great while away. Thanks for reading and let me know how your trip goes!
Thanks for the reminder to drink a full glass of water before eating. I used to be great at doing this but slowly stopped. I’m definitely going to integrate it again!
It makes such a big difference! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks for reading 💗