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Finding time for fitness on vacay
So, you’ve finally taken the time to get away from life and go on vacay. You don’t want to worry too much about working out, but you want to move a little so that you don’t feel guilty about those extra mai tai’s and appetizers that you deserve. So there’s a good balance I like to strike between maintaining a exercise routine while also relaxing a bit from the intensity and duration of it.
I’ve recently partnered with hotels.com. Results from the Hotels.com Activacations Survey show that a whopping 80 percent of 18-35 year olds now consider keeping fit one of the most important parts of their holiday experience, compared to 66 percent of baby boomers. Activacations is the new way to think of vacations. Top activities that travels want to try are mountaineering, strength and body training, HIIT swimming, and hot yoga.
I recently just did this on a vacation to Kauai with my family. Thanks to easy booking on hotels.com, we chose a beautiful hotel right on the ocean. I wanted to workout everyday but didn’t want to be hardcore about it. Here’s what I found:
I think most people fall into 3 categories on how they feel about exercising while on vacation. People who like to get up early and get it in before the day starts, those who like to sneak it in when the opportunity arises, and those who like to use their daily activities as a way to challenge the body in new ways.
To be honest, I usually fall into the first group. I like to get up an hour before everyone else and get a quick run or hotel gym session in. I like the solitude in the morning. I like doing a short workout and then getting back to meet the family as they wake up and have the entire day together. Those of you who still need to get in some serious training in because you have an upcoming race or competition, this is the best option for you. Get up and get it done. Don’t leave it hanging over your head. You get back from your workout feeling accomplished and like you can truly enjoy the day.
For those of you who like to sneak it in when the opportunity arises, I’ve got some pointers for you. If you fall in this group, you aren’t too concerned with sticking to a routine while on holiday. You’d like to get a workout in here or there, but you don’t want to miss anything going on with friends and family. There is nothing wrong with this and there are plenty of ways to sneak in a few sessions throughout the trip. For instance, if you are looking out the window and it looks like this,
but get back from breakfast and it now looks like this-
this is the prefect time to run off the the gym or out the door for a quick 15-30 min. If bad weather rolls in, chances are you have at good 30ish minutes before the storm passes. Seize the opportunity! While your travel companions watch some TV or take a quick nap, go for a jog around the block. Try to hit up the hotel gym and do a quick circuit on their weight equipment. What often happens to me is that something work related will suddenly come up for my husband. He’ll say he needs 15 minutes to fire off a few emails. I usually try to take that as an opportunity to do a little hotel room core. You can do planks and squats anywhere. Take advantage of little breaks, even if it means just dropping to the ground for some sit-ups and push-ups. You’ll be glad you did.
The final category is those of you who like to use adventures as your workouts while on vacation. You like to use exploring your surroundings as a way to hit your fitness goals- kill two birds with one stone. Explore your resort grounds or do a walk/jog up the beach. Seek out new scenery while on foot, you are seeing amazing things while being active. Of course you can set yourself up for a fun workout in other ways as well. On my most recent vacation I took a tour with my family that included hiking, kayaking, and zip-lining. We hiked up mountains and kayaked along rivers. I know zip-lining isn’t considered exercise, but it did give me a spike in my heart rate! We got to see so much more of Kauai than we would have by staying at the hotel and got a great workout along the way. Use your adventures to your advantage!
Enjoying your hard-earned vacation doesn’t mean you have to abandon your fitness. Get out there, stay active, and love your vacation!!
Enjoy,
Kara
#wewhotravel #activations #hotelsdotcom #ad