While most people step up their training before vacation, I highly advise my clients to continue a variation of their program while on vacation. Training shouldn't be a short-term goal, it's a lifestyle! Taking an hour out of your 24-hour day to train (while on vacation or not) is crucial for both short and long term health and well-being.
If you're planning on taking a trip this winter season, don't ditch your training program. Instead, alter your program and adapt to your environment.
While I was on vacation in Barbados last February, I designed a program that I would embark on every morning. It looked something like this:
7am Wake-up, drink a glass of water and coffee
7:30 Prepare my BCAA drink and head out!
7:45-8:00 Run the stairs from the base of the beach (at the Crane Hotel) to the top of the stairs (60 steps total) x 10
8:15-9:00 Workout at the hotel gym (full-body weight training). This gym was quite small and had a lot of cardio equipment so I used my bodyweight to do lunges, squats and eccentric pull-ups, along with the dumbbells for upper body (bicep curls and tricep kick-backs).
After training on an empty stomach, I would walk back to my hotel to make a hearty yet fast breakfast (usually consisting of either gluten-free oats with protein powder, or eggs and avocado).
By 9:30 I was finished with my training, felt amazing and was ready to take on my day of relaxing and soaking up the sun.
By 3pm I would swim laps in the pool for about 20-30 minutes after a late lunch, or walking on the beach.
Training shouldn't be a hassle while on vacation (or in day-to-day life). Remember: this is a lifestyle. Find an exercise program or sport that you enjoy and stick with it!
Remember to eat well in conjunction with your training program for optimal results!
xoxo JMH
