Many people who work out on a regular basis feel tinges of guilt for missing their trips to the gym while on vacation. This is not necessary because it is possible to get exercise without even visiting a hotel fitness center.
Take the Stairs
On a recent stay-cation to a local water park resort, I made it a point to always take the stairs to our fifth floor suite. Taking two steps at a time and slowly lifting yourself up with your front leg gives you not only a little cardio but works out multiple muscles in your legs.
Get Strong in Long Lines
We are all familiar with the long lines getting through airport security, amusement parks, etc. Make the best of them! Doing calf raises (repeatedly raising yourself up onto your tiptoes, fully flexing your calves) is a great way to strengthen your lower legs. People may look at you a little funny as you rise up and down, but hey, who cares? You have sexy, defined calves! And if you are wearing shorts at the time, people will see the fruits of your labor.
Another way to benefit from long lines is doing curls with your carry on (if you are in an airport). And this may seem funny, but you can also “curl” your kid (assuming you have one)! I have a 37 pound five year old so he is the perfect weight for me to lift with both arms. I simply grab him by the hands or under his arms and “curl him” strengthening my biceps. Not only are my arms benefitting, but he thinks it is fun! Beware though, your child might enjoy it so much, he/she may not want you to stop even when you are tired!
Plenty of Hotel Room-Friendly Exercises
There are many exercises you can do in the comfort of your hotel room while watching TV or whatever else you like. These include: crunches, lunges, push-ups, jumping jacks, jogging in place, squats, yoga….and the list goes on. It is also a good idea to keep your body flexible by stretching often.
Skip the Cab
If you are in a city where you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, skip the cab and walk to wherever you want to go. While in New Orleans recently, my husband and I did just that. We walked three or four miles just sightseeing and looking for a place to have lunch. It was actually quite fun and we felt really good afterwards. (Admittedly though, since it was rather warm outside and we were quite far from our hotel by then, we got an air conditioned cab back. Oops.)
Don’t Discount the Exercise You are Already Getting
Whether you are visiting an amusement park or a city full of sightseeing opportunities or a beautiful beach somewhere, it is likely that are burning quite a few calories just enjoying yourself. So refrain from feeling guilty about not hitting the gym. You are probably already burning more calories than you give yourself credit for! With that said, relax and enjoy your vacation!
