In This Article
In This Article
Traveling is all about having new experiences. Unfortunately, it can throw you off your routine—which I learned isn’t always a good thing for your health.
If you’ve been watching your calories, managing your weight, or making other lifestyle adjustments, a trip can derail you from these healthy habits.
For example, you’re more likely to eat empty calories or consume more calories than usual when you’re trying out foods you haven’t eaten before.
I’ve also seen many people stop their daily workouts because they’re out most of the day and are too tired by the time they get back to the hotel.
This doesn’t have to be the case when you’re traveling. You can make healthy choices while enjoying your vacation.
Below are some practical ways to stay fit even when you’re not at home:
We all plan our trips in unique ways. For example, I enjoy walking around historical districts and going to beaches even if it’s ninety degrees out.
My friend, Alex, hates the sun. But she wouldn’t mind hiking mountains for a few days, camping out for a week, and taking skiing trips when snow hits the ground.
Regardless of what you plan for your next big adventure, you will probably expose yourself to environments and temperatures you’re not used to.
You want to drink plenty of water so your body is ready for these physical challenges. This is usually around 9 to 13 cups of water daily.
Here are our recommendations for staying hydrated:
If you’ve been trying to lose weight, drinking water with meals may also help you avoid high-calorie beverages like soda and shakes.
Summary
Make sure to drink water frequently throughout your trip to stay hydrated. You can enjoy a bit of alcohol as long as you drink moderately.
It’s perfectly fine to drink some alcohol especially when you’re traveling to wine or beer destinations. What’s not okay is if you drink too much.
Excessive alcohol intake is unhealthy and dangerous, no matter the occasion.
Alcoholic beverages also add unnecessary calories and sugars to your diet, which isn’t good for your blood sugar levels and weight.
You’re more likely to get into accidents, fall victim to a crime, and engage in risky behaviors when you’re drunk. Here’s how you can control your alcohol intake:
Part of traveling is enjoying food, snacks, and delicacies that are unique to the places you visit. However, this doesn’t mean you should overeat.
There’s also no need to miss out on less healthy dishes just because you’re on a calorie-restricted diet. Try out our suggestions for maintaining a healthy diet:
Summary
Remember to eat healthy while indulging in local cuisine. Don't forget to exercise or engage in fun excursions that require physical activity so you can stay fit.
Traveling already involves a lot of physical activity. But it’s not the type that will help you burn off excess calories or make your trip more enjoyable.
This is why we recommend building activities into your travel plans so you can continue to stay active, such as:
You can either plan your excursions before your trip or seek recommendations from hotel staff once you reach your destination.
Remember to sync step counters like Fitbit and Apple Watch with compatible fitness and weight loss apps so you can keep track of the calories you burn.
You can plan most vacations to include some kind of physical activity. However, some trips—like guided bus tours and island hopping—aren’t as flexible.
If excursions aren’t possible, you’ll need to add exercise to your daily routine.
You can do simple workouts in your room like push-ups and squats without any equipment. You can also use the gym or pool at your hotel to get some exercise.