Fitness for Life on the Go- A Traveler's Guide: Guest Post by Mike Manning

It's a banner week for guest posts!  Today's comes from Mike Manning, a health and fitness enthusiast who travels quite a bit.  Here are some of the ways he's helped make his own health and fitness a priority on the road! 

M.

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You know that physical fitness is an important part of your healthy lifestyle. In fact,
at home, you regularly spend time working out. When you travel for business or
pleasure, however, that routine can take a pretty hard hit. Fortunately, you can
maintain healthy physical activity while traveling. It simply takes some advanced
planning and self-awareness.

A great trip begins before you leave home. While making travel arrangements,
take the time to research the place you will be visiting. If you are booking your own
accommodations, research to find a hotel that offers fitness amenities or is located
near local fitness venues you can use. On a recent trip to San Francisco I was able
to book a hotel with a 24-hour fitness center because I did a little due diligence on a
travel reviews site. This site gave me a list of hotels in San Francisco and from there
I was able to see which hotels had the best fitness centers. Members of nationwide
health clubs might be able to find a local gym that they can use during their stay.
Runners should check for local running trails or tracks they can take advantage of
while traveling.

When you pack, be sure to bring some exercise equipment. An exercise band takes up little space and can help you get a good workout in limited space. Also, bring
along a good pair of athletic shoes.

En route to your destination, do a little stretching and exercising. Simple chair
exercises and stretches make long drives and flights bearable. They can also help
eliminate swelling, stiffness and pain associated with traveling for long periods of
time in cramped spaces.

During your trip, be realistic about the amount of exercise you will get. You probably
won’t complete your regular exercise routine, but you can take advantage of
opportunities for some physical activity. If possible, get up early and exercise before
breakfast. This might take the form of a morning run through the neighborhood, a
brief workout session in the hotel fitness center or yoga in your room. At the end of
a long day, unwind with a little physical exercise. If you like relaxing poolside, get a
little crazy and jump into the water. Moving about in the water will burn calories, and
the water itself with help you relax.

A healthy trip also includes being mindful of what you eat and drink. Add more health
and fitness to your time away from home by drinking plenty of water and eating lots
of fruits and vegetables. Take a refillable water bottle with you everywhere you go
to help you stay healthy and hydrated. Select fresh fruit at breakfast instead of a
doughnut. Back home, you’ll easily return to your healthy routine.

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Mike's got a new blog up at http://www.mikemanningmusings.com/.