As if it wasn’t hard enough to stay fit when you are at home, being on the road can present its own unique challenges. Never fear though, there are lots of ways to burn those calories as you travel!
One way to stay in shape is going to a gym. Using a gym is easy when you are at home, but did you know that many people continue using their gym memberships when they travel? Popular workout locations like Gold’s Gym or Anytime Fitness have locations all over the country. If you will be traveling to destinations where your gym has a facility, many clubs will allow you to have reciprocal privileges. It’s worth checking out. If you like using a gym but don’t have a membership, you can ask about daily or weekly guest passes. If you are a first time visitor, you might get a guest pass for free to check out the facility, but even if you have to pay it can be worth it to have access to a large variety of workout equipment.
If you don’t have a gym membership, you can work out in other ways while you travel. The easiest of all workouts is going for a walk or run. You don’t need special equipment other than a good pair of athletic shoes. Many places have parks, walking trails, or at least sidewalks where you can get in some mileage. You might even do some sightseeing while you hike like we did at the Petroglyph National Monument. It sure makes walking more interesting if you are seeing new things. If the weather is bad, you can even walk in a mall. My husband likes to do races, so we look up what is going on in an area we are visiting. You might just find a 5K or even a marathon in a city near you—there are activities for all levels!
If you play a sport, you might be lucky enough to find a place to play during your travels. Individual sports are a little easier to do on the move, but if you stay in one place long enough you might also find a team to join. (bowling, softball, soccer, etc.) Golf courses are plentiful across the nation, so if you have room to bring your clubs along you could play 18 holes. Many courses will let you rent clubs if you don’t have yours with you. Even just hitting the driving range can keep your skills up until your next round. I am just learning golf but it is still good exercise….especially if you walk the course instead of riding in a golf cart!
Another way to keep in shape is with calisthenics or weights. We have some dumbbells and a flat bench that we carry with us on our travels. Our BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells allow us to dial-in a specific weight so we only have to carry the two dumbbells rather than a separate one for each weight. We can do exercises for our arms with the weights, as well as chest, back, and shoulders. Exercises like squats and lunges will give your legs an even better workout when you are holding dumbbells. While not as extensive as having a gym at your disposal, having the dumbbells is a nice way to work on keeping or building muscle mass.
There are so many options of things to do to keep active. If you are near a beach or pool you can swim. Recreation areas near rivers often have kayak or canoe rentals. Parks have trails for walking, hiking, and biking. We carry our bicycles with us, but many places rent them as well. We have a very easy-to-use Kuat dual bike rack that makes it easy to carry the bikes on our car and even locks them as well.
There are also places where you can jump on trampolines, climb rock walls, or do yoga. Whatever your interest, it isn’t hard to find a place or activity to help you stay fit. Remember, anytime you are moving you are burning calories so get out there and have fun while you are on the road!
This article is for informational purposes only. Remember to consult your physician before starting any new exercise routine. The fitness advice presented here is in no way intended as a substitute for medial consultation.
Great workout ideas! Oh and yeah, it’s all about the DESSERT.
You’ve got that right, Sandi! I need all the motivation I can get sometimes:)
You’ve shown so many different activities that are not just fun but you get a good workout too. I must say I like that better than the gym.haha
Great ideas ,love the products and choices . Great job, with all your stories, you have become the blogging queen. I think your enjoying your new hobby, more then you thought you would, you go girl.
Thanks, Pam. I am enjoying the traveling and the blogging–it’s a great way to document our travels and share with others. As Mike says, it also keeps me out of trouble!