Staying Healthy While Traveling
June 12, 2008
I’m all the way across the country from my home, my family, my kitchen, and my gym. I’ll be here all week. I’m at a conference, so most of my food is provided, and I’m working long hours, so I can’t even guarantee that I’ll get meals on a regular basis. But so far, I’ve kept up with my healthy eating and exercise. How do I do it? Discipline, careful planning, and some luck.
First we’ll talk about exercise. I’m lucky enough to use running as my main form of cardio. I can run almost anywhere. I brought my running shoes, appropriate clothing, and my MP3 player. I got an easy 4 miles in this morning. I chose to use the hotel gym today, but most concierge desks (mine included) will usually have running maps available. Just ask.
Since I had some extra time this morning, I also used the hotel’s free weights. The gym in my hotel is just about the ideal gym. There are weight machines, free weights, balance balls, exercise mats, a scale, fresh fruit, and water. However, this isn’t always standard. If your hotel gym leaves a lot to be desired, you can look into renting a bicycle or just going for a walk. If your hotel isn’t in a walkable area, just walk the floors. Tomorrow, weather permitting, I’ll go for a swim and do another weight training workout.
Next we’ll talk about food. I admit, I have different standards for work travel and vacation travel. When I travel for vacation, I am actively seeking out new culinary experiences. When I travel for work, I’m just trying to make sure I’m giving my body enough fuel to get through the day. Here are a few tips I’ve used successfully when on business.
Don’t skip breakfast. Most hotels have at least a coffee shop. Even if your limited to a less than healthy piece of banana bread or a scone, have a little something. If you want, buy a scone and have half, saving the other half for the next day. The point is to get at least some food in your system first thing in the morning. For lunch, aim to have some form of lean protein along with some carbohydrates. Avoid the sugary soda and stick with water or iced tea. Dinner is usually the worst meal of the day. If you’re with coworkers, the pressure to have a glass of wine or two may be high. Order a glass and not a bottle and alternate drinking water with the wine.
June 12, 2008
I’m all the way across the country from my home, my family, my kitchen, and my gym. I’ll be here all week. I’m at a conference, so most of my food is provided, and I’m working long hours, so I can’t even guarantee that I’ll get meals on a regular basis. But so far, I’ve kept up with my healthy eating and exercise. How do I do it? Discipline, careful planning, and some luck.
First we’ll talk about exercise. I’m lucky enough to use running as my main form of cardio. I can run almost anywhere. I brought my running shoes, appropriate clothing, and my MP3 player. I got an easy 4 miles in this morning. I chose to use the hotel gym today, but most concierge desks (mine included) will usually have running maps available. Just ask.
Since I had some extra time this morning, I also used the hotel’s free weights. The gym in my hotel is just about the ideal gym. There are weight machines, free weights, balance balls, exercise mats, a scale, fresh fruit, and water. However, this isn’t always standard. If your hotel gym leaves a lot to be desired, you can look into renting a bicycle or just going for a walk. If your hotel isn’t in a walkable area, just walk the floors. Tomorrow, weather permitting, I’ll go for a swim and do another weight training workout.
Next we’ll talk about food. I admit, I have different standards for work travel and vacation travel. When I travel for vacation, I am actively seeking out new culinary experiences. When I travel for work, I’m just trying to make sure I’m giving my body enough fuel to get through the day. Here are a few tips I’ve used successfully when on business.
Don’t skip breakfast. Most hotels have at least a coffee shop. Even if your limited to a less than healthy piece of banana bread or a scone, have a little something. If you want, buy a scone and have half, saving the other half for the next day. The point is to get at least some food in your system first thing in the morning. For lunch, aim to have some form of lean protein along with some carbohydrates. Avoid the sugary soda and stick with water or iced tea. Dinner is usually the worst meal of the day. If you’re with coworkers, the pressure to have a glass of wine or two may be high. Order a glass and not a bottle and alternate drinking water with the wine.