INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Vacations and Exercise
Sponsored Content
You Can’t Take
Your Gym with You,
But Don’t Leave Your
Fitness Behind
By Lisa Troyer
e are coming off one of the longest winters
ever — summer has finally arrived! It’s
time for a little fun in the sun and hopefully a
vacation or two. Vacation time and a good break from real life
is something everyone looks forward to all year round.
Do we really have to worry about exercise while getting away? Well,
did you know that the more fit you are the faster you lose your fitness?
UGH!
Taking time off from exercise can sometimes be a positive thing.
I can’t stress enough the importance of giving your body a rest from
over-training, especially if you are hardcore and you exercise at a highintensity level several days a week. Your body may be in dire need of a
complete recovery period. If this is the case, then your vacation time
may be perfect for this much-needed rest.
If you do not fall into that hardcore category, then you should
definitely try to do something while away. There are so many ways to
W
stay active without cutting into the fun. I speak from experience —
when you fit in your workouts it helps to alleviate the guilty feelings
of indulging in extra calories. If your mind works the way mine does,
justification is key.
There are very few vacation destinations that do not offer a variety of
exercise options and activities. If there is not a great gym available, then
think body weight exercises (push-ups, lunges, crunches, squats, etc.).
Or get out and walk/jog, surf, swim, bike or golf. These activities will
keep you moving without having to actually go to the gym.
Sometimes I send an exercise tube with my clients when they travel.
It fits easily into a suitcase and if you Google
“exercise tube routines (or xertube)”
online you can find a workout that hits
every muscle group.
During your travels you may not
always have healthy choices available
when it comes to your diet. And
let’s face it, who wants to worry about
that anyway? I sure don’t when I’m on
vacation. I do try to be really picky about
my indulgences though. Enjoy the food
that you wouldn’t normally get at home
and try to regulate portion sizes.
We are a hard-working country. We
live for our vacations. There’s just no cure like
travel. But I promise you, if you make the time
to squeeze in a little fitness, you will return extra
refreshed and it will be much easier to get back
into your regular routine. Bon Voyage!
This Industry Insight was
written by Lisa Troyer. Lisa has
been in the fitness industry for
over 22 years and is the owner
of Fitness Fanatics in the Great
Southern Shopping Center. She
currently holds four nationally
recognized fitness and personal
training certifications and can
be reached at L