Make A Plan to Exercise on Vacation

By Michael Lasalandra
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center correspondent

 

Going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to give up your daily exercise routine. But it may take a little planning to fit it all in: just as you would make a plan to go sightseeing or to visit an amusement park, you’ll need to make a plan to exercise around your vacation activities. The best part? Walking is probably the easiest workout to incorporate!

 

The most obvious thing to do is to make sure you are staying at a hotel with a fitness center or pool and use them each day, planning set times to do so. This way, you can pretty much do what you normally do at home.

 

But there are many other opportunities for exercise while on vacation. For example, many cities, such as New York or San Francisco, lend themselves to walking. That makes it easy to plan a walking tour of the city: you can sightsee and get your exercise at the same time.

 

If you are staying near the ocean, walking along the beach is a perfect way to get exercise; and, walking on soft sand burns more calories than does walking on a flat surface.

 

If you are on a golfing vacation, make sure to walk the course rather than take a cart. Mountain vacations lend themselves to hiking. Renting a bicycle is another good way to get a nice, fun workout just about anywhere. Even just taking the stairs to your hotel room rather than using the elevator can help.

 

Having a fitness center at your hotel is particularly important in case of bad weather (who wants to go walking in the rain?). Walking on the treadmill or hopping on the stationary bike in the fitness center may be more boring than taking a walking tour of the city, but at least you know you are going to be able to get in some exercise.

 

Don’t forget to pack workout gear, including sneakers, or even an exercise mat to do sit-ups or Yoga in your hotel room. Some hotels even offer guests the opportunity to borrow workout gear during their stay, so that may be something to check into before you take off on your trip.

 

There are so many options to get exercise while out of town — and many are really fun. So take a few minutes to make your vacation exercise plan, and you’ll be glad to come home relaxed, refreshed, and still in shape!

 

Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care and before starting any exercise program, consult your doctor. 

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