I have some exciting news! Today I have the honor and privilege of sharing some PROFESSIONAL information with you. I worked with Stacey Shipman and Jenny DiDonato to develop a “How to stick to healthy habits when traveling” list. Jeez! That was a mouthful, huh?
Let me first tell you a bit about each of these amazing women:
Stacey Shipman, M.Ed., a wellness educator, speaker, writer and media host, is passionate about to helping women live a happy, healthy and balanced lifestyle (she and I have a lot in common in regards to the importance we put on balance!).
Stacey is the host of the TV show “Back to Your Senses”, where she shares valuable information on stress relief, yoga, communication and general wellness to a wider audience. Shows include yoga segments, fitness, walks in local parks and interviews with a variety of wellness professionals.
Jennifer DiDonato is a certified personal trainer in Metro Detroit, Michigan where she owns her in-home personal training business. Because she is based in one area, Jennifer connects with people all over the world through her health and fitness videos on her website www.MadeFitTV.com.
Jennifer loves what she does by combining experience, knowledge, and love for health and fitness to deliver helpful information in a fun way. Through her videos and information, she provides a down-to-earth approach on topics that include a variety of strength and cardio training methods, recipes, and nutrition.
You can see Jenny every Wednesday morning (new episode each week) on www.MadeFitTV.com!
With many of us taking vacations this summer and having to travel for work (I have 5 trips this year!), I thought it would be a good idea to review some pointers on how to stay active and keep fitness a priority when traveling.
Jenny’s list:
Utilize your hotels gym or pool
Take just 30 minutes out of your day and swim some laps or do some interval training on the treadmill. Sticking to your normal routine as best you can will encourage you to keep active while on the road.
Pack resistance bands
Resistance bands come in a variety of resistance levels by color and typically run about $8 to $12 per band. They’re affordable, light-weight, and are convenient in replacing other pieces of equipment and dumbbells for arms, chest, back, and leg exercises.
Use your body
Body-weight movements are a great way to challenge your muscles and endurance – and you don’t need any equipment! Push ups, crunches, squats, and lunges are all great movements that involve big muscle groups functioning together for a total body workout. Even throwing in some elevation with a chair or step stool in your hotel room can drastically change the intensity levels. It’s convenient and you don’t even have to leave your own room!
See the sights
If you’re lucky, typically a business trip may include a day or two of down time. So, use that time to unwind from the daily grind and venture out. Ask the hotel concierge for a map or brochure of things to do in the area. Take a walk downtown, go jog at a local park, visit an amusement park (just stay away from the food!), or hike a popular scenic trail in the area. If you’ve been cooped up in an airplane or car this is the perfect excuse to get moving!
Eat right!
Being on the road means fast food stops and business lunches, which can add inches to your waistline in a matter of days if you’re not careful. Try to eat at the same times as you would when you were home, adjusting with the time zone change if necessary. Select your foods wisely. If you know you will be eating at restaurants for the next three days, just chose one night that you will eat something “bad” and chose healthier options the other nights. For the daytime, hit up a local grocery store for some on-the-go, no-prep foods like packaged tuna, ready-to-drink protein shakes, breakfast bars, or fruit. This way you will always have snacks with you and you will be less-likely to have the urge to splurge!
Stacey’s list:
Lower your expectations – If you spend 1 hour 5 days per week exercising at home, don’t expect to keep that pace on the road. Try to get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise per day when you’re on the road. Just don’t give it up for good!
Have sneakers, will travel – No matter where you go, bring your sneakers and workout clothing. You have no excuse, you made room for it in your suitcase, now use it! Besides, walking is a great way to explore new places!
The Diet Dilemma – Traveling usually means eating out for every meal. That can be damaging to any waistline. Splurging is ok some of the time, but do you really need that 3-egg omelet with bacon, sausage and pancakes everyday? Try having a bowl of cereal with fruit some mornings, and for dinner try a fresh salad with grilled chicken or fish. You don’t need to eat gourmet everyday! Cutting back on food can also save what’s in your wallet.
Strength training – Yes, you can still strength train while your on the road, and you don’t need to bring any fancy equipment with you. If you do have resistance bands or tubing, bring them! They are easy to pack and easy to use. If not you can use picnic tables, chairs in your hotel room, bottled water (for weight/resistance) and the floor to do exercises like push ups, tricep dips, bicep curls, crunches, squats and lunges. You won’t be throwing weight around like you do at the gym, but when you get home you won’t start from scratch, either.
Try something new – Heading towards the water? Rent a kayak for a great upper body workout or go for a swim. Heading to the hills? Strap on a water pack and some hiking shoes and start climbing. You’ll get exercise and enjoy the new scenery all at the same time!
Be safe – No matter where you go, if you’re not familiar with your surroundings, go out with a buddy. You’ll be safer in pairs or small groups, and you’ll have someone to share the experience with. Plus we all know that working out with a friend is more motivating than going it alone.
It makes perfect sense that there was a bit of overlap in these lists — these women know what they’re talking about! I love that both of these experts mentioned utilizing local attractions and hiking trails. What better way to get a glimpse of the city’s natural beauty?!
Many thanks to both women for their insightful tips and advice!
Have any of you thought about taking an adventure vacation? The Mister and I are looking into it for a possible trip this year or next. I think it would be a great way to stay active and experience the true beauty of some areas. What about yoga retreats, has anyone been on one of those? There is this fantastic lodge in PA that I’m trying to convince the Mister to go to for a weekend getaway. It’s a lil pricey, but it include all meals (in a healthy, organic gourmet kitchen) as well as fitness classes, excursions, hikes, etc. I think going on a trip that is already focused on health and well-being is a great idea!
Have any of you taken a health or wellness-themed vacation before? I’d love to get some ideas from you!
Fashion Friday is right around the corner. Have you emailed me your outfit shot (you can keep it anonymous by chopping off (that sounded grotesque!)/blurring your head)? Come on! Please don’t let me be the only loser with full-length bathroom mirror shots! Remember… there are PRIZES at stake (and I promise they’re good! 
) Make sure to email photos to: info@thedailybalance.com
