Staying fit during your holidays might sound like an impossible task. With all the delicious food and drink choices surrounding you, it can be hard to resist.
However, maintaining a sense of well-being will help you to feel better and will make you enjoy your holiday even more. It’s not difficult to incorporate exercise and healthy eating into your trip and you don’t have to deny yourself the local food. Just remember to make sensible choices and stay healthy with our experts’ fitness holiday tips:
Don Graham, Dan Roberts Training
Factor in the heat and increase your water consumption. Aim to drink three to four litres of water per day.
Limit alcohol to evenings and stick to the same choice of drink, ideally a clear spirit with a sugar-free mixer e.g. gin and slimline tonic. Avoid lager and ales.
Try to avoid desserts in the evening – tough, I know! If you really want to satisfy your sweet tooth, maybe have an ice-cream earlier in the day. The sugar contained in your treat will be more likely to be used as energy instead of turning into fat.
Try to do a quick hotel room workout every morning. Do bodyweight exercises such as squats, lunges and press-ups for about 20 minutes. You could also go for a run every two to three days and take in some of the local scenery.
A fun holiday is a healthy holiday! Take the plunge and swim.
William Tuffin, Keep Fit Boot Camp
It’s great to unwind on holiday, but staying active can help you keep fit and get more out of your trip. Here are some ways to stay healthy and have fun:
- Swimming – this is the perfect exercise, especially if you are visiting a hot country. If the hotel has a pool, dive in and do some laps.
- Walking – ditch the hire car and take a walking tour of your destination. This is ideal for city breaks, as you get to see all the sights and keep fit. Just keep the coffee and cake stops to a minimum.
- Cycling – hire a bike for the ideal way to get around. Whether it’s whizzing around a city or taking country cycle routes through parks and forests, this is one sure-fire way to keep the pounds off.
- Surfing – if you’re heading for the coast, why not book yourself in for some surf lessons. This is an all-round workout and a fun activity for all the family, with some courses offering photos of you riding that wave.
- Tennis – many hotels have tennis courts, so book yourself in and have a game or two.
- Yoga – slip a yoga mat into your suitcase and enjoy a relaxing workout inside or out. Perfect if you don’t have room for lots of kit or it’s too hot for strenuous outside activities.
Christian A. Eilers, Dauntless Jaunter
When travelling abroad, try to forego public transport, if possible. Whenever you are not pressed for time, walking from point A to point B is not only more active and helpful for your body physically, but you will see things and experience a bit of the local lifestyle and culture that you might not have had you not walked.
Also, try to steer clear of cabs. Taxis are much more expensive, and the door-to-door service will leave you with barely any walking to satisfy the slightest bit of activity that you should have each day.
Mark Thomas, No1 Boot Camp
Don’t rely too much on the Body Mass Index (BMI), as it doesn’t apply to everyone. Body fat and measurements are the way ahead and as is exercise without time constraints. Don’t base workouts on duration. Set yourself what you want to achieve the session, complete it as fast as possible and get the hell out!
