The Top 5 Tips For Staying Fit During Holiday Travel

Traveling during the winter holidays can wreak havoc on even the best health and fitness plan. For one thing, you'll be away from your indoor cycling classes while you're gone – and, let's face it, few of us have the time or inclination to research and find a place to go exercise while we're spending the holidays with our extended families!

While on our holiday vacations we've also got additional challenges to face – everything from spending more time sitting (in the car, train, plane and in the houses of friends and relatives) to the treats and goodies our hosts have on offer.

But while everyone wants to enjoy their holidays, we also don't want to come home to find it hard to fit into our clothing or to have to back off our WATTS and other achievements when we return to RydeOn! for class.

With that in mind, here are our top  5 tips for keeping up with your fitness during holiday vacations:

1. If you'll be staying at a hotel, pick a facility that has a workout room or pool. Then be sure to schedule at least some exercise time for yourself every day – even fifteen minutes on a hotel treadmill will help, and what could feel better after a long day of visiting with Great Aunt Sarah and your cousins than a few laps in a heated pool? (Remember to take proper shoes and clothing and/or your bathing suit!)
   
   
2. Staying with friends or relatives? Take the same amount of time each day to take a walk – or, failing that, do some simple exercises, like jumping-jacks, pushups, and situps – as part of your morning routine. Even a few stretches will help with your fitness, and stretching will keep you from feeling stiff from all the time you'll spend sitting.
   
   
3. Plan more active activities – like shopping or sightseeing – and ask your friends and relatives to come along. That way, everyone will get a bit of exercise with you. Do any of the people you'll be seeing regularly go to a dance, Yoga, or other exercise class? Don't ask them to change their plans – instead, see if you can drop in and enjoy the class as a guest!
   
   
4. This one may seem obvious, but during all of the changes in our schedules we experience while traveling it can be easy to forget the basics: take the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator. If you travel by train, get up and walk the cars from time to time – if by car, be sure to get out, stretch, and walk around regularly. In other words, look for opportunities to spend even five minutes moving your body; remember, exercise adds up!
   
   
5. Finally, take some time before your trip to register for your regular RydeOn! indoor cycling classes during the week you get back home. That way, you can jump right into your regular exercise routine seamlessly – and you won't forget in the rush to catch up on your laundry and all of the other tasks that come up immediately post-vacation.

Of course, exercise is only part of the health and fitness equation. Keeping a healthy diet is also a must – and how are we supposed to do that in the face of our Mom's special holiday cookies??? But don't worry – we've got you covered. Our Dec. 5 e-newsletter will feature a special article on tips for eating well while still enjoying a goodly amount of holiday cheer. If you're not on our subscription list, register on our website today to receive health and fitness tips – and news about your RydeOn! family – on the first Wednesday of every month. Happy Holidays, and RydeOn!