Most of the times when we travel, we do our best to relax and even indulge ourselves from the hard work we’ve been doing in our everyday lives. Why not? It’s well-deserved! Whether it’s relaxing on the beach and doing nothing, or overeating on a cruise, we tend to forget to stay active while traveling. Every time I go on a cruise, I attend the gym orientations on the first day (so I can enter a raffle to win a spa day or some other prize) and they always tell us that people gain about 5-10 pounds by the end of their vacation. Especially if it is all you can eat. If you don’t want to go home and have to spend all your time at the gym, here are 7 ways to help you maintain your weight and stay active on vacation.
1 – Use A FitBit Or An Apple Watch
Or any other brand that does a similar thing of tracking your heart rate, your amount of physical activity as well as give you alerts when you’re not moving enough. These smart watches are great in helping you stay motivated and aware of how active you are and how many calories you’re burning as you go about your day. These watches act as a great reminder to help you be conscious of staying active throughout the day. Being able to see how much you’ve walked without even noticing is a great motivator. I know when I’m traveling, I tend to walk at least 18,000-21,000 steps a day. Accomplishing any small goal you set or doing more than you normally do is a positive to take into consideration.
2 – Opt For More Active Excursions
Instead of taking a car or boat tour, you can choose more interactive excursions. These include tours that offer hiking, biking, snorkeling and diving, horseback riding, city walks, ziplining, and more. Of course different countries and cities will be able to offer active tours that are unique to their location. This way, you can enjoy your new destination while being able to participate and bring home amazing and fun memories. I’ve ziplined in Belize, hiked through the Costa Rican rainforest and up the Rocky Mountains, and walked down the Eiffel Tower. I’ve also gone snorkeling, scuba diving, free diving, horseback riding and kayaking in many different countries, just to name a few. I had the best time doing this rather than just touring a city in a car as I’m able to do something new and diffrent. Because of how fun these activities you, you may not even realize how active you are.
3 – Choose To Walk Instead
Like I’ve shared in my blog post on 10 Travel Hacks To Save Money While On Vacation, I love walking while on vacation. I like to be able to stop and spend some time at places that catch my eye. I find that I miss so much when I’m taking transportation. Most of the time, I can’t even go back to visit something I missed because I don’t know where I was. And it’s not always easy to get the car to stop, and it’s even harder if you’re on a bus. You can also find a lot more hidden gems while taking yourself on a walking tour on the way to your destination. You’ll be able to enjoy the city more too if you’re in an area where there is a lot of things to see.
4 – If Your Hotel Has A Gym, Spend 30 Minutes
If not, go swimming. I know it’s hard to have time or energy to want to work out while you’re enjoying your vacation. If you haven’t had a long and tiring day, it’s good to make an effort to spend a little time at the gym. Even if you aren’t an avid gym-goer, you can easily walk or run on a treadmill. If you want it to be more enjoyable or even less boring, swimming is always fun and actually burns quite a lot of calories. It also doesn’t feel like a workout which is a bonus and you get to use the amenities you paid for in your hotel stay. If I’m not on a cruise, I usually don’t go to the gym as I spend a majority of my day engaging in active excursions or walking all day until my legs are sore. I’ve also traveled with friends who will go to the gym multiple times during their vacation and I totally applaud them for that. It’s hard to stay disciplined while on vacation and it’s not always easy to want to stay active while traveling. After all, you’re there to relax.
5 – Enjoy The Outdoors
Go hiking, bike riding, or even walking to local areas. Maybe you’re not an outdoors person or don’t know how to ride a bike, but everyone walks. Take in the fresh air, the new sites and surroundings, and spend time enjoying where you are. I think that as long as you make an effort, it counts. When you enjoy yourself, it’s very easy to not pay attention to how active you are actually being and you can actually surprise yourself with how much you do. Sometimes, the more you start having fun and are comfortable with where you are, the more energized you’ll be to want to explore.
6 – Take The Stairs
I know, it’s a drag sometimes and the scenery is never nice in a stairwell. But if you really don’t do much, try to make an effort to take the stairs especially if your hotel room is on a lower floor. Sometimes depending on the accommodations you stay at, elevators take a while to come or they are very small and cramped. Opting for the stairs might be much faster and less claustrophobic. If you’re more ambitious in terms of outdoor activities, instead of taking a gondola up a mountain, you can “take the stairs” and walk up.
7 – Go Dancing!
Now this is one activity that usually doesn’t feel like work for people. Dancing allows you to enjoy the nightlife and help you stay active while enjoying your vacation without really even feel like you’re working for it. You can let loose and have fun while giving your body a workout that is much appreciated. This could also be taking a lesson in local dance to help you learn about the culture – which can technically be an “excursion”.
Staying healthy and active while you’re traveling does not always mean going to the gym every day. You can do so without even noticing. But sometimes you’ll need to make more of a conscious effort. But every little effort counts.
Don’t forget to download your free Pre-Trip Planner and Checklist to help you plan a vacation to help you stay more active.