Constantly traveling from place to place makes it difficult to stick to a workout routine and healthy diet. However, there are several ways to do so. Here are some healthy travel tips you should try to get into when traveling.
Stacy Moutafis, a nutrition and fitness expert – therapist, personal trainer, sports nutritionist, and New York State Strength & Conditioning Coach – from Long Island, New York, also offers several, valuable suggestions on how to overcome your traveling obstacles in order to ensure that you are able to stay healthy while on the road. This way, you will never have to sacrifice your health for your profession.
Fitness
Book close to the gym
One of the best healthy travel tips to follow is to keep the gym close. When booking your hotel room, ask for a room near the hotel fitness center. Going to the gym may seem like an obvious way to stay healthy while traveling for business -and it is- but many people do not think about how their room’s proximity to the gym is a key factor in actually making it there. Stacy advises her clients to make this a priority because she says, “So many people go away on vacation and the gym is on the other side of the resort.” The same applies for business travelers as well; they go on a business trip with the intent to make time to work out and lose their motivation when they realize their room is nowhere near the hotel fitness center. Think about it: Would you make the effort to walk over to the complete opposite side of the hotel in order to go to the gym as opposed to a few yards, especially after a long day of meetings? Probably not. Asking for a room close to the gym eliminates this hurdle.
Go to a class
Stacy explains that some hotels offer workout classes at the fitness center and this is also a great way to stay in shape. She points out how being in a group setting helps people stay motivated since “It’s helpful to do things together.” When you want to achieve a specific task, having other people in the same situation doing it with you is encouraging because you’ve all made the same goal. So booking a room near the gym helps get you in the door and taking a class creates an inspiring and productive workout environment, leaving you feeling accomplished and revitalized.
Bring your own equipment
Throwing in some workout equipment in your travel bag is another way to make sure you’ll be able to get a good workout in during your business trip. Stacy recommends for people to bring resistance bands, anything you can deflate, such as a 10-ounce stability ball, and a yoga mat. She continues by saying that packing these lightweight items in your travel bag will not take up much space either. Plus, Stacy expresses how important it is to vary what kinds of workouts you do at your hotel.
Use technology
Stacy also mentions how people always have their laptops and smartphones whenever they travel, so they should “download 30-minute workouts with stability balls or yoga mat.” This way, you can make use of the workout equipment you bring with you. By downloading various exercises, you are able to work different parts of your body and it keeps working out interesting. Plus, there is no shortage of resources in this departmenas as a result of the numerous travel apps available, which makes this one of the easiest healthy travel tips to follow.
Find a trail
Finding a walking trail near the hotel is a great way to exercise as well. You do not have to go far, but you will get a good workout in. Plus, walking is a great way to stay relaxed; business trips are grueling and demanding, so walking can help you unwind and clear your head. This could be a great habit to get into after a long business meeting. And if the weather is nice, it allows you to enjoy the time outside of the conference room and actually outside in the fresh air.
Diet
Inquire about the menu
Stacy emphasizes that you should call the hotel before your trip in order to find out more about their menu options. This way, you will know what is offered before you even arrive. Stacy continues, “Stay away from dressings and sauces filled with fat and sodium.” When you are not cooking for yourself, it is important to make smart food selections while on your business trip. It will definitely make a difference when it comes to your health. To take this a step further, Stacy adds that you should “always ask for sauces on the side and try to avoid the bread basket.” Instead, “hit the salad bar” when you are eating out. All of these small, but rewarding, decisions will ultimately affect your health for the better.
Pack healthy travel snacks
- Organic steel, plain cut oats (in packages): This snack is low on carbs and sugar. Plus, it is easy to make. Stacy explains that you can heat the oats by simply using “hot water and coffee cups.”
- Rice cakes: Stacy suggests packing plain, lightly salted rice cakes because they are "low on carbs and won't go bad."
- 100 calorie snack packs – almonds or walnuts: Bringing along low calorie packs with you is another healthy option. Besides the fact that they are low in calories and sodium, Stacy points out that they are a “great energy source” as well. For frequent business travelers, this snack is essential as you will need to be energize on your trip.
- Protein powder: This is a “great protein source without all the sodium,” Stacy notes. And it is easy to prepare as she explains that all you have to do is “Just add cold water and bring your shaker!”
Look for the fridge
Lastly, Stacy recommends calling the hotel in advance to find out if there is a refrigerator in your room in order “To healthy snacks to bring from home.”
Every business traveler is aware of how tough it is to be active and eat healthy while traveling; as fun as it is to travel for a living, there are certainly a number of drawbacks when it comes to fitness and diet. However, there are various options that can make exercising and eating right a bit more manageable. The key is deciding to follow and stick with a workout and meal plan. Following these healthy travel tips from Stacy is a definite way to do so.
