Imagine Fitness

Having just gotten back from Washington D.C., I thought I would share my comments about staying in your workout routine while away from home and staying at a hotel.

I know, you are thinking, when you go away that is the time to relax and take a break from our everyday routines. That is true, except for exercise. If you can keep up or even modify a little your workout when on the road, then when you arrive home you won’t face the dreaded weight gain from to much good food and alcohol.

Most hotels, and of course cruise ships have a workout area. From personal experience I have seen them range from a small, small room with only 2 pieces of equipment to a huge modern gym that actually makes you want to workout.

When you book a hotel make sure you look for one that has adequate facilites and they sometimes will even post pictures so you can be prepared and know what to expect. All you need is a piece of cardio equipment, such as a bike, treadmill, or elliptical and some basic dumbells. If you find a gym with machines now is a good time to try out pieces that you don’t normally use.

I don’t make machine based exercise a part of my everyday workout, but when you are away from home they can certainly get the job done. Don’t feel shy about going to a new workout facility, remember everyone else there is new to that gym and they are probably a little uncertain as well.

The key is making the decision before you go that you will committ to exercise while you are away. You will feel better while you are away and when you return home you won’t experience that slowdown of getting back to where you were before you left.We start to lose the benefits of cardio exercise 24-48 hours after our last workout, and while our muscles take longer to start reversing, if you have ever experienced post workout soreness after taking a few weeks off, it isn’t pretty and you won’t quickly forget it. Frown

So if you are planning a get away in the near future, pack your runners,and your workout clothes they should be considered essential. After you check in, find the gym and get familiar with it. Remember, that exercise is an everyday part of your life whether at home in Calgary or on the road.

Stay fit,
Shelley Healy