Published on: 18-Sep-2023
Traveling, for most people, can be an exhilarating and positive experience. With the right planning and preparation, it can be an opportunity to learn about new cultures, explore different landscapes, and discover something new about yourself. However, while this is all transpiring, your fitness and health are typically placed on the backburner.
Working out while traveling can actually enhance your vacation. While most people see exercising as a chore and something to avoid, it will make you feel more energetic, and help you make the most of your vacation. Below are six benefits of working out while traveling that you should consider:
Discover New Activities
Working out is often seen as running on a treadmill, or lifting weights at the gym. But on a vacation, there are far more creative ways to exercise. Exploring the local beach or running in a new park can be incredibly refreshing and motivating.
If you have mountains available for hiking or a lake for kayaking, it’s the perfect opportunity to try something new. Learning a local activity not only builds muscle and increases strength, but helps you appreciate where you are. If you have a friend, encourage them to join you to make it more fun. Consider altitude sickness supplements if you are working out in high altitude locations.
Discovering new gyms in your area can be an enjoyable experience. If you’re in Australia, why not explore some of the best gyms located nearby This will give you the chance to check out local towns and meet new people, providing you with an authentic taste of the region.
Improved Energy Levels
One of the biggest drawbacks of traveling is that it’s taxing. From adjusting to being in a new time zone, to simply sitting in your car all day, your energy levels will naturally dip. Working out can help to regain your energy levels, allowing you to do more during vacation.
Furthermore, physical activity can help you lose weight, allowing you to move more freely and with ease. You’ll find that being even 5 lbs lighter can make a world of difference when doing simple tasks like walking around or carrying your luggage.
Releases Stress
Traveling can be incredibly stressful, whether it’d be preparing for the trip or simply adjusting to a foreign environment. Working out can help you release some of that stress and tension, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation.
Exercising releases endorphins and lowers cortisol levels, allowing you to boost your mood and maintain a positive attitude on your trip. It also enhances your sleep, so you don’t suffer from fatigue during the day.
You’ll Have More Confidence in Your Appearance
If you’re going to a place that will make you take your shirt off i.e a beach or pool, working out can help you feel more confident in your appearance. You’ll look better and more importantly, feel better and it will show in your self-esteem as well as photos.
Many people are afraid to show off their bodies on vacation, but with the right amount of exercise, you can put your worries aside and focus on having a good time. And who knows, you may even attract the attention of someone new.
You’ll Appreciate the Destination More
When you work out during your vacation, it will not only benefit you physically and mentally, but you’ll be able to experience the destination on a more intimate level.
Exercising helps us to appreciate our surroundings in a way that sightseeing cannot. Whether it be going for an early morning jog, or taking a yoga class at sunset, you can really soak it all in when you’re active. Even fresh air feels better when it’s being inhaled during a light jog!
Help to Maintain Your Fitness Goals
Many people start off as fit before their vacation but fall off their routine when they reach their destination. Whether it’d be excuses like “oh, there are no local gyms here” or “I’m too busy taking in the sights,” these excuses will only lead to feelings of guilt and regret.
Working out while traveling keeps you on track with your fitness goals, which shouldn’t be ignored just because you’re on vacation. Ofcourse, you don’t need to push yourself as hard as when you’re back home, but maintain a light workout plan throughout the trip. That way, you can keep your fitness goals on track and come back into the swing of things.
Furthermore, you’re far more likely to resume training when you get back if you don’t stop during the trip. Taking a few months off from training for many people can lead to a huge decrease in motivation, resulting in quitting the gym altogether.
You’ll Meet New People
Gyms, whether they’re in your home country or abroad, are more than just a place to work out. It’s also a great chance to meet new people, either from your own country or from the locals. You can hangout with fellow enthusiasts at the gym, which can lead to fun nights out and shared experiences.
If you’re alone on your trip, working out can be a great way to meet new people and make friends while keeping in shape. Sure, you could go sightseeing, but it can be a bit intimidating to approach someone and strike up a conversation by yourself. But at the gym, you already have something in common with everyone there: exercise.
It Lets You Eat More and Get Away with It
Whether it’d be an intense squatting session or a HIIT workout, your body needs extra calories to recover and repair itself. This means you can eat a little bit more, guilt-free, and get away with it. Even if you splurge on a few extra desserts or an extra glass of wine, the calories burnt from the workout and the extra calories needed to build muscle will balance each other out, so that you don’t gain weight.
So, if you do splurge, do it on a day you lift weights or engage in high intensity exercise. But if you’re stuck behind the wheel all day or simply being sedentary, be more mindful of what you put into your body. Either way, you don’t want to binge-eat your vacation away.
Final Thoughts
Exercising while traveling has plenty of benefits, from looking and feeling better, to helping you make new friends and enjoy the destination more. You don’t have to go all out, but even at 75% intensity, you can maintain and even build upon your fitness goals while having an enjoyable vacation.
