How to stay fit while traveling

I have come across a lot of blogs about how to stay healthy while traveling for a long time. This makes me wonder do people think short time travels made by working professionals are easier? Hell no! We slog night and day, and on Saturday instead of sleeping late we wake up at 4 am go for those long drives. Telling someone to go hit the gym after this, is easier said than done. Staying healthy with this kind of lifestyle is in not easier than traveling full-time. For me, top it up with my passion which is blogging, life becomes incredibly busy leaving almost no space for taking care of health. Or does it? 

After many trial and errors, I have figured out some easy, most importantly practical ways of staying healthy with a hard job and a passion for travels. Do I always follow this? Mostly yes, but not always and not all of them. But this year, I have made a promise to watch my health, so I just sat down to write the pointers. These are written not from the point of view of a fitness-freak, but from a common man’s (or woman’s) perspective. A common person who loves to travel, eat chocolates and occasional fish-fry. Here goes the list.

1. Book complimentary breakfast and have it of course

The key to good health is to have breakfast like a king, lunch like a commoner and dinner like a pauper. These rules do not change while traveling. Breakfast indeed is the most important meal of the day. If you are a budget-conscious traveler it is always advisable to book a complimentary breakfast at your hotel. This has a dual benefit. One, the breakfast buffet in hotels usually have a wide range of food with all ingredients of a perfectly balanced diet. A standard breakfast buffet has at least the following- milk, cornflakes, bread, eggs, and fruits. If you eat outside you may just grab a sandwich on the way to curb your hunger. Plus you don’t know before you visit somewhere for the first time, where you would get good food, when will the shops open and how costly that would be. You also don’t know how the day would pan out and when you would have your next meal of the day. Breakfast is the only certainty you can get in your tentative day. So just sort out your breakfast while booking your hotel. 

2. Stretch and stay hydrated on road-trips

We do a lot of road trips on weekends. People tend to drink less water on road-trips lest they need to pee often. That’s probably the most unhealthy thing to do. Stay hydrated always. Take small breaks on a road trip to breathe in fresh air and soak in the positive vibes of nature. Step out of your car, face those obscure mountains and stretch your hands. Don’t just stop there, stretch your legs and rotate your neck. See, it’s that simple. Enjoy your road trip and take care of your health too.

3. Walking, Cycling and using public transport in cities

People said we would gain weight on our holiday in Europe because there is no way to avoid fast-food. I could ask you to avoid fast food, but that would not be a practical solution always. When you are on a packed trip with so many places to see, in expensive cities like Amsterdam, or Paris, hotdogs, burgers, and subs are often unavoidable.

But walk, instead of renting a car. Use public transport, or rent a bike. On our trip to Europe, we walked at least 10km a day on an average which is why when we returned we had actually lost weight.

4. Go for hiking

Choose a small hillock nearby, or a forest this weekend and go hiking. It’s so much more fun than running on a treadmill at the gym. You don’t need to be super-fit for this. Here in Bangalore, there are so many one day trips which include caves, forts, and hills surrounded by beautiful forests of western ghats to do the same. Once in a while, we keep going for short, easy treks.

Check out this simple guide on how to choose the best travel shoes in India.

5. Morning run along the beach

What if you choose the beaches instead of mountains? Well, have you tried running on the sand? It’s strenuous and really puts muscle strength to test. If you booked a beach resort to relax over the weekend why not turn it into a healthy one by starting your day with a morning run on the beach. Or try yoga! There are a lot of beaches in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa where people do yoga in groups. It is such a fun way to stay healthy.

Don’t forget to pack a pair of Yoga pants or joggers when you go for vacations or even small getaways.

I love the Yoga pants collection on Myntra.

6. Choose your street food wisely

I will not ask you to avoid street food altogether but be prudent in your choice. Don’t buy a fruit bowl with cut-fruits which are kept since God knows when. Coconut water and cane juice are the most refreshing things you will come across on your road trips in India. 

Let’s take an example of the food-scene in my own city, Kolkata.

At Dalhousie in Kolkata, there are many roadside stalls where they actually make the parathas and “luchi”s right in front of you – from kneading the dough to frying those delicacies. They may be oily and full of calories, but you can clearly see what’s going on.

On the other hand, there are many confectionaries where they just heat the readymade pizzas and patties kept in the fridge for a week! How would you know how stale those are before eating? Well, if I am at your place, I would simply avoid those and visit an eggroll shop where they are preparing it right in front of me. 

7. Check alcohol consumption

This is a problem I never face because I don’t like to drink, however, I have an observation. People with taxing jobs tend to drink more when they travel. Apart from the fact that it does no good for your health it also spoils your mood in the morning. I’m not propagating to stop drinking, but just to limit it, especially when you travel. Limit your consumption, and save your money for other experiences while traveling.

8. Carry a medicine bag with you always

This is a must but this part of the duty is always handled by my husband. So credit to this list goes to him

•  Norfloxacin tablets for stomach upsets
•  Paracetamol for pain relief and cold
•  Vitamin tablets
•  Antacids and digestion tablets
•  Antiseptic
•  First-aid kit
•  Mosquito repellent cream

These are the basics that you should carry with you.

 So, what do you think about it? Do you have any suggestions or tips I can add to this? Please share in the comments because I need to incorporate it into my routine. To kick-start my new health goals I am joining HealthWatch. 

What is Healthwatch?

21 days is what it takes to form a habit they say. So Blogchatter, a community of Indian bloggers have come up with this awesome inclusive and fun way to cultivate a healthy habit. No this is not the ultimate muscle-toning, body-building challenge we are talking about. Just pick something you have been procrastinating on – exercise, or cutting junk food, or controlling sugar in food – anything that could improve your health. Pick your choice and start doing what you have just been thinking about. Keep posting your updates on Instagram with the hashtag #BlogchatterHealthWatch, and catch up with your Insta buddies! Isn’t that awesome? Well, you can participate too by registering through this link.

I promise to rigidly follow what I just wrote about and keep updating. When I’m not traveling I will exercise for at least 10 minutes every day. What is your health goal this month?

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