Traveling & Workouts

Gooooooood morning! Obviously I’m in a chipper mood considering where I’m headed today. A great workout to kick off the day bright and early helps too.

With leaving this afternoon, I knew I would want to fit in a workout first thing and before the kids woke up. That way I can soak up my last moments with them, finish up last minute details, and not get super antsy on a 5 hour plane ride thanks to some good movement earlier.

I hope to get in some quality workouts while away, too. I know I won’t get to workout on Saturday with a full day of travel and then on Sunday, I plan on catching up with my family. To get my goal of 5 weekly workouts I want to fit in at least one workout on Thursday or Friday morning before the day’s activities. Just like this morning, planning ahead makes it completely possible!

You can travel and still include fitness when you come prepared with an arsenal of options. Since I will have to workout early in the morning, I’m not sure if the fitness center at the hotel will be open early enough. That means I need to come armed with my own options that can be done in my hotel room. Here are the options I’m bringing along for my travel this week.

Option 1: Quickie Workout Videos on YouTube – like the Quaker Oats 2 Minute High Intensity Videos

I’m a fan of Quaker and we buy the stuff in bulk from Sam’s Club with all the oatmeal we eat. So when I discovered videos from them on YouTube with their new fitness campaign, I had to take a look. Quaker has a series of fitness videos they’re calling “2 Minute Movers” up on the Quaker Oats YouTube channel.

Each video features dancing star Denise van Outen and fitness legend Mr. Motivator, who is hilarious if I do say so myself. The videos CRACKED ME UP, while also making me want to move along with them. I love a campaign aimed at making fitness more achievable and FUN. Way to go, Quaker.

I’m looking at combining the following 5 for a full body, high intensity blast:

• With Superman Run
• With Sumo Squats
• With Press Ups (aka Push Ups)
• With Triceps Dips
• With The Plank

And then finish it up with the Stretches video

Option 2: Resistance Band Workout

Resistance bands are SO easy to pack and you can do such a wide variety of exercises with them. I received this set of bands as a Christmas gift.

A perfect thing to toss in my luggage and provide a hotel room workout.

Option 3: Travel DVD

I heart Cathe and have for years. I used her Travel Fit DVD on vacation to the beach last summer and like it well enough. I’m considering bringing it along for this trip. I like to keep my options open and this is a workout I know will be easy to do in a hotel room.

Option 4: Previously Downloaded Yoga Workouts

From Yoga Download I have a few workouts already downloaded to my laptop that I can easily load up for a quick 20-30 minute stretch session. I’ll probably do this one of the days and one of the other options the other day.

Option 5: Bodyweight Workout Circuit

When in a hotel room, you don’t really have equipment besides, like, a chair. That means my own body weight will be my best friend for resistance training. I have my No Excuses workout I shared over the holidays and here are some other links to good travel bodyweight workouts (or ones with minimal equipment) from some of my FitFluential friends.

• No Creativity Needed Workout via Aspire Fitness
• Bodyweight 20 via Lean Green Bean Blog
• Travel CrossFit WOD via Blonde Ponytail
• 12 Move Ladder Workout via Katie Heddleston
• Travel Tuesday Trainer via Lindsay’s Lis
• Ultimate Total Body Travel Workout via Enjoy Your Healthy Life
• Do Anywhere Upper Body and Do Anywhere Lower Body via Mom’s Little Running Buddy
• Quick & Simple Hotel Room Workout via Love Life Surf
• Amanda from Run To The Finish’s entire YouTube Channel
• Booty Camp Blast Workout Video via Stuft Mama
• No Weights Tabata For Legs via Where’s The Beach
• Living Room Workout via Your Trainer Paige
• 5 Minute Workout via Kate Moving Forward
• Hundred At Home Workout via Fit Knit Chick
• Couch Workout via The Purple Giraffe
• Hotel Room Workout via Cait Plus Ate
• Get Active Tabata via Coffee Cake and Cardio
• Travel WOD via CSW Fit Yoga

Obviously, if you get creative enough, you can have more than enough options to bring you through a trip away from the gym. These are great options for days you can’t make it to the gym and need a quick option for at home too. It’s about making the most of what you have available!

Your Turn – Did you watch any of the 2 Minute Movers? Are they not a hilarious fun way to get moving or what? Any favorite travel workouts to share?

Tagged as: at home workout, cardio workouts, circuit workouts, fitness, strength training, travel, workout tips

Best Body Bootcamp

Register now for Round 5 Best Body Bootcamp

BBB is a flexible 8 week workout program to challenge you at YOUR fitness level. Join for new workouts, motivation, cash prizes and fun! Starts April 1.