You don’t have to worry about losing your fitness levels as you travel as there are so many ways to keep in shape while you are on the road. This post will show you three ways to keep yourself in check.
Of the many ways to look after yourself, keeping fit is one of the simplest methods that will make a big difference to your mind and body as you travel. But so many people can find that the act of traveling just gets in the way of a proper fitness regime.
If you are someone who is already physically fit and you are concerned that you’re not able to maintain it if you go on a long journey, it’s important to remember some of the following things.
There Are Classes Everywhere!
If you are looking to maintain a certain fitness levels as you travel, for example, if you are already well-versed in karate or boxing, you can find classes as you go on your travels. One of the biggest problems many people have is worrying that if they go to a class far away from home, they could get injured.
This is especially true in terms of boxing, where you could easily damage your fingers if you are not careful. But it’s always a good idea to have a basic knowledge of first aid. Knowing how to wrap a jammed finger can help, and if you have health insurance you will be seen by a medical specialist.
So, rather than letting the skills slide, before you head off on your travels look at the classes that appeal or find a new class that piques your interest. For example, this could be the perfect opportunity to start practicing yoga.
You Won’t Lose Your Fitness Levels
So many people are concerned that if they don’t exercise for a couple of days, they will get significantly weaker. The fact is that our bodies are not built that way.
It can take a long time for you to lose any sense of strength. And besides, when you are traveling you can incorporate activities that will improve your fitness level. A lot of people find that when they go traveling they come home a lot fitter and healthier than before they left!
If you have any concerns, there’s a lot to be said for bodyweight workouts! You don’t need to find a gym to benefit. There’s a great selection of exercises you can use to your advantage anywhere. One approach that fell out of favor 50 years ago to be replaced by the gym was isometrics.
This is a practice where you tense parts of your body and it is one of the most effective ways, not just to maintain strength but increase it! And the beauty of isometrics is that you can do them anywhere. You don’t need to get to a gym. You can use your own body as resistance. There is a great website on isometrics here.
But if you like the challenge that comes with sheer physical endurance, there’s a very simple workout plan that you can craft yourself using the key compound movements. As long as you build in lunges, burpees, and squats into a little workout routine this is more than enough to work your entire body.
Also, to make things more challenging, you can slow down the cadence of your movements. Many people think that it’s more beneficial to crank out more reps, whereas in fact, getting a good workout is about the intensity.
You Will Not Need to Workout Every Day!
Again, this goes back to thinking that you need to maintain a certain level of fitness by obliterating yourself in the gym every day. This is not the case. Many strength training enthusiasts operate with a more abbreviated approach to training.
To maintain and build strength, you only need one good workout a week that focuses on every part of your body and one high-intensity interval training protocol, like Tabata sprints.
Because you have to remember you will be out and about a lot and for many people, this is more than enough to maintain a basic level of fitness. If you are determined to do any form of strength training, make sure that you fuel yourself properly.
The great thing about exploring and keeping your fitness levels as you travel, is that you get to taste so many wonderful foods and you will be working hard enough that you can easily fill your boots at an all-you-can-eat buffet!
But also remember that when it comes to food, do your best to stay away from the processed stuff. Part of the beauty of traveling is that you will find so many great eateries away. So make the most of them.
*This is a contributed post, all images owned by jetsetandforget, unsplash.com, pexels.com and pixabay.com