Workouts To-Go

Happy Friday everyone! As we gear up for the best days of the week (Saturdays and Sundays, obviously) and all the adventures, trips, and weekend getaways that they might entail, I always like to think about where my workouts are going to fit in to said shenanigans. Especially when I’m traveling or otherwise distant from my usual gyms, it can be a challenge to figure out where, when, and even if I want to exercise.

 I’m kind of on the fence about the concept of exercising on vacation. On one hand, vacation is supposed to be a break from the tedious activities of everyday life and a brief release from some responsibilities. It can be nice to skip a few days at the gym and just enjoy a well-deserved rest. Conversely, I don’t like to think of exercise as a boring, humdrum responsibility, or something that I would avoid if only I could. Of course, I don’t have to exercise ever. I do it because I find going to the gym or exploring my area during a good run a fun experience. So, why do I sometimes have such a desire to forgo workouts while on vacation?

 Even as I wonder about this, I recognize that when I do exercise on vacation, I feel good. While I often resist physical activity once I’ve assumed the permanent-lounging state of most of my trips, my boyfriend Dave is often able to coax me off the couch and to a gym. A fitness fanatic in his own right (actually, much more so than me), Dave takes his health really seriously, which I respect and admire a lot. Since it’s important to him to exercise while on vacation, it’s important to me to support his commitment, and then I get a workout in too. It ends up benefiting us both, because while I might be cranky about getting out of bed on the way to the gym, I’m generally thankful that we got there once we’ve each wrapped up our workouts.

 Off days are definitely important and so is listening to your body when it tells you what it wants [and sometimes that’s a full day in bed complete with The Office and Ben & Jerry’s Non Dairy Cherry Garcia – are you guys getting that I like that flavor?]. That said, attempting even a short workout on a morning that you aren’t totally feeling it can be surprisingly rewarding and set you up for a whole day of feeling great, especially when the pride of exceeding your expectations of yourself kicks in!

 In that spirit, and so you can listen to your body when it asks for exercise even when you’re on vacation, here are some suggestions for getting in a solid workout on the go:

1. Hotel Gyms
Okay, this might be an obvious one. But I’ve definitely done comprehensive Google searches of an area’s gyms before realizing that my hotel had a complimentary one that would suit my needs. Granted, some hotel gyms are [much] better than others, so it’s always a good idea to search your hotel’s website for some pictures of the space so you know what you’re getting in to.

 2. Local Gyms
It might take some uphill battling with online maps, but if you do your research, you can likely find some gyms near the hotel you’re staying in, especially if you’re in a city or more urban area. A lot of these gyms will have day passes available for purchase, or (if you’re lucky) even offer a complimentary first visit. Definitely worth the research, and also a fun opportunity to potentially check out the kind of luxurious, upscale gyms you might not be able to normally afford a full-scale membership to!

 3. Branches of your Gym
Don’t forget that some gyms have branches all over the country! A gym you already belong to might even have locations convenient for your trip and allow you to use your membership throughout its various sites. I know Planet Fitness and the YMCA both offer this perk for some levels of membership, and it can be a great low- or no-cost option.

 4. Gym-less Workouts
One of the best things about running is that you don’t need to visit a specific physical location to squeeze a run into your often-busy vacation schedule. Of course, gym-free workouts are not limited exclusively to running! In terms of cardio, you could go for a hike, rent a bike and explore the city you’re visiting, go kayaking, or even run the stairs in your hotel. Alternately, vacation is a great time to try out that Instagram ab workout or yoga sequence you’ve been eyeing in your hotel room before you set out for the day.

 These are my go-to strategies for getting in a workout while on vacation; I’d love to hear from you guys if you have any other suggestions or tricks to keep up your fitness when you’re away from home. Do you normally workout while on vacation? Drop a comment below to chime in!