Health and fitness advocate and lifestyle advisor for BML Fitness shares his take on living well wherever you are in the world:
Health and fitness advocate and lifestyle advisor for BML Fitness shares his take on living well wherever you are in the world:
Take your lifestyle with you.
I openly admit that I LOVE travel. It’s empowering, it’s freedom personified, it’s a privilege that I’m grateful to have in my life and most of all I feel like my own scaled down version of Captain Cook when I descend upon a new land or venture upon new seas.
In this modern age, travel has become more accessible and many of us travel for both work and leisure but it provides a few unique complexities when it comes to staying fit and maintaining habitual change. Here are my top tips to help you live well, wherever in the world you may be;
1. Pack your gym clothes last
So they’re at the top of your bag/suitcase. This instant reminder of your home routines will empower you to keep in shape.
2. Order in
Most hotels do ‘arrival request’ meals to your room so if you’re arriving late, don’t fall into the trap of grabbing greasy foods to curb your appetite, it’s not going to do your jet-lagged self any good.
3. Get out and about
Running or walking is undoubtedly the best way to see your new location and it will help you keep those vacation calories in check. Always ask a local/hotel staff for safe routes and use a route planner (apps like MapMyRun) so you know which ground you have trodden and how to get back safely.
4. Get the wheels in motion
If you like the idea of exploring and seeing more than you would by foot, get on your bike! Bike hire is usually very cheap and an effective way to do some solo sightseeing. Again, take a map and ask for advice!
5. Pack lightweight equipment
Skipping ropes and resistance bands are personal favorites. Weighing in at just a few pounds, they won’t tip you over the luggage allowance and hey presto you have both cardio and resistance equipment! After all, a hotel room will have a chair that can used for body-weight exercises so with the added bonus of skipping ropes and resistance bands, you’ll be self-sufficient in your room…no need to use the pokey hotel gym (but that is a very obvious option)!
6. Check out the local events
I’m speaking from experience here. I took a trip to Cambodia last year and whilst googling the local attraction of Angkor Wat – the temple on the Cambodian flag – I discovered a half marathon was on during my visit. Needless to say I signed myself up (and my more reluctant partner). The run started at the temple at 6am, coinciding with sun-rise – an event consistently voted one of the best things to see in the world – it was an absolutely stunning setting and a phenomenal experience which has spurred on more fitness travel trips for 2016, notably the 50km Tarawera Trail run in New Zealand!
7. Take relevant literature
If I’m reading a book on travel, I want to travel more. If I’m reading a book on mountain climbing, I want to climb Everest. If I’m reading Harry Potter, I want to be a wizard. Nope, I don’t read 50 Shades but you get my drift…if you read a book/magazine on healthy living, exercise/fitness it’ll be more at the fore of your mind.
8. Social Media
Announce your arrival on Facebook along with your intent! “Hey guys, I’ve just arrived in Sydney and I’m looking for somewhere cool to run or bike/someone cool to run or bike with. Will buy coffee’s in exchange for good advice!” – you’ll be amazed how many friends may have friends in that neck of the woods who’d been keen to show off their local knowledge (and get a free coffee from you).
9. Use your environment
By the sea? Go for a dip. In the hills? Go for a walk/jog/run. In the city? Use google! I recently visited home (Newcastle Upon Tyne, England) for a short period of time. I found a website that allowed me to book gym sessions online, avoid membership tie-ins and not have to do an induction (ask questions if you don’t know about the equipment though). The site is www.payasugym.com and it contains thousands of gyms and health clubs – and all it took was a quick google.
10. Play and have fun
Remember when you were a kid and you loved the sight of a playground? Well, they can be a traveller’s saving grace in the absence of a bricks and mortar gym. Pull-ups on the monkey bars and legs lifts lying on the slide can be killer for bodyweight workout. Best to do it when the children aren’t there so maybe an early morning run to a park is the way to go!
11. Nutrition rules apply world over
Of course you’re away from home but you’re not away from your body…treat it with respect and it will love you back. Stick to your fruit, nuts, veggies and lean meats to get the most out of your body while you’re away. The better you feel the more fun you can have!
12. Try a local cooking class
I tried a class in Thailand and in Cambodia last year and wow, just wow! Their use of fresh ingredients and their effort for every single meal puts the western world to shame…remember 95% of these guys don’t have fridges (think about that) so the importance on fresh ingredients is huge. Learn some local skills to take back home, 9 times out of 10, the dishes will be healthy and nutritious!
There you go, only 12 tips to remember… along with your toothbrush! Enjoy your travels and remember, lifestyle is an international term, take it with you!
-Ant Patrickson
Lifestyle Advisor @www.bmlfitness.com
Talk to one of our Travel Specialists on 1300 551 353 or contact us here to discuss tailor-making your perfect healthy holiday.
