How to be an active Jet Setter

Beautiful white sand beaches in Fiji, back-packing in the Teton Mountains, or exploring New York City, traveling is a common and one of our most fulfilling day-dreams! We all have our bucket list of our top places to go. Even day travelers who find their next big adventure locally have a bucket list! Whether your day dream is about exploring new cities, states, countries or eating new exotic food, there is always so few hours to do everything you want. That is why many people come to the common problem when working towards a fitness goal.

How do I stay fit while on vacation?

This is a common problem that many people struggle with and other it Drives. Us. Mad. Unless you are going on a excursion that demands exercise, we often tend to overeat, over-drink, or stay sedentary too long because we are “on vacation”. Over-drinking may be the most common; without the responsibility of work, we are free to drink whatever we want, but we can over-drink our calories faster than over eating them.

 I tend to travel at least once a month, which becomes challenging with marathon training, working, and being a full time student. When I travel, I like to find places to explore that I can stay active in like hiking, walking around, or another outdoor activity. Rarely, since I live at a beach, do I go somewhere that I just lounge at, but this does not mean that I am not exposed to the pressure to maintain my eating and continue my training so I don’t have to start over.

When we fall behind after a vacation we are less motivated to earn our hard work back because we watched it go so fast. This causes too much anxiety to carry in your baggage on vacation. Remember the you shouldn’t exceed the 50lb limit on your baggage.

Here are my 3 key rules that I live by while I travel, and I hope that you too can find these helpful in staying healthy and fit on vacation.

Change your mindset.

You don’t have indulged on every piece of food that comes your way because you’re on vacation. We often feel like we need to take advantage and break our diet or be lazier than usually because we don’t have to move. Truth is, you’ll enjoy vacation much more and have more energy to enjoy it if you eat and exercise as regularly as you do normally. Granted, vacations bring about the time constraint and lack of facilities. That’s okay! Walks, bike rides, kayaking, paddle boarding, yoga, or even a few body-weight exercises in the morning when you wake up! Something, anything, to keep you moving regularly to keep you motivated.

Remember a vacation is a change in your daily routine not your daily diet.

Find New Activities in your Environment

This one was covered briefly previously, but let’s dive further into it. When on vacation it may not even be possible to do your regular routine. Here are some options depending on the environment you’re in:

Traveling in the City:

• Walk to your destination
• Try a new yoga or fitness studio, they are everywhere and you have so many options!
• Run or walk at the city park, always busy with other active people to motivate you!

Traveling to the Mountains:

• 

• 

• Hiking
• Mountain Biking
• Trail running
• Fishing
• Back-packing
• Rock Climbing

Traveling to the Mountains in the Snow:

• Skiing/snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Cross Country Skiing
• Tubing
• Ice Skating

Traveling to the Beach or Island:

• Paddle Boarding/Kayaking
• Walking the beach
• Surfing
• Kite Surfing
• Water Skiing/wake boarding

There are endless other opportunities to stay active on your vacation that aren’t mentioned above! Google is a great way to find local activities and meet new people! Although some may be at a price, walking and running can happen at almost every destination and you can make the beautiful scenery your new gym!

Have Go-To items that are on Every Menu

If you are staying within a certain region where the food menu’s are similar, this is an easy one. If you are traveling across countries with new dishes, then this could pose more of a challenge. Anyhow, your goal here would be to think and write down a few items in your phone that you know most restaurants have, regardless of their specialty.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A SALAD.

Here’s a brief list of foods that are popular across restaurants that can be your go to choice to avoid the hamburger and fries.

• Chicken sandwich (not fried) with vegetables
• Chicken Wrap/Veggie Wrap
• Soups
• Steak with broccoli and asparagus or mashed potatoes
• Meat and Rice and choice of vegetables
• Salad or wrap (light on the dressing)
• Light Tacos with a Veggie side

Just remember, if you need a break and you can’t stay active, don’t let it set you back. A vacation it is not the end of the world! We are continually too hard on ourselves as it is, we do not need to punish ourselves for taking a break. Our brain and bodies need breaks, therefore take one, but always remember what your goal is and why you started.

If you found this article helpful, like it and share it with your friends who may have the same question! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and twitter at @cccruns for more tips and tricks to a healthier and more positive you!