5 Ways to Take Your Workout on the Road
Think you need that high-dollar gym membership to get fit? Think again. We often see our possessions for their sole purpose, and nothing more. The truth is though, most objects have multiple and sometimes infinite, uses. If you’re anything like I am while traveling, you eat unhealthy food that often ends in weight gain. You not only miss your workouts, but are sitting for more hours in the car than you thought were possible to withstand. There are ways to shake off that travel weight gain, however—we only need a little bit of imagination to turn everyday commodities into body-busting machines.
- Your car
Other than getting you from Point A to Point B, your car is a fitness beast, much like your local gym. The opportunities for workouts and exercises are endless. You’ll even find that you can do many exercises while your car is in motion (with you as the passenger, of course). Depending on what kind of vehicle you drive, you may have more or less room, but you can utilize the space you do have to maximum capacity with these simple exercises:
- Passenger Seat Crunches/Sit-ups
Tilt your seat back as far as you can, and get that ab workout in. If crunches on the ground are slightly difficult for you, this is a good option with your position as it doesn’t allow your feet to move upwards—sort of like someone was holding your feet down.
- Trunk Push-ups
At a rest stop along the way or at your destination, open your trunk and use the back end of your car as a slightly easier push-up. Instead of going all the way to the ground, you push up from the car, which is easier both on your body or if push-ups tend to be particularly difficult for you.
- Your suitcase
What do you have with you no matter where you go? A suitcase. If you thought your extra shoes and beauty products you stuffed into your travel bag were always negative, you’ll have to reconsider. Whether it’s a duffel bag, backpack, or carry-on size, you can use that weight in the pursuit of fitness.
- Suitcase lifts
Just as if you were lifting dumbbells, hold your suitcase while you squat and lift it over head as you stand up. Depending on your level of fitness, you may have to take out or add “weight” (lotions, clothes, shoes, etc.) to your suitcase. This is best done in your hotel room in case you need to rearrange items.
- Benches
Most rest stops and parks have benches nowadays, which make for the perfect platform for workouts on-the-go! Even if there’s not a bench, chances are you might be able to find some sort of log, table, or built base from which to support yourself. One of the best exercises on a bench is this:
- Bench Dips
Sit at a 90-degree angle, and lower yourself a low as you can while holding onto the bench, and then pull yourself back up to your starting position. You can simply do this, or you can change it up by alternating bringing your leg up as you lower yourself down.
- Walls
Walls, and I mean any and all walls, can be used to tighten your core. This can be in your hotel room or on the side of the gas station building—there’s bound to be a wall somewhere!
- Wall sits
Sit at a 90-degree angle, just like you were sitting in a chair, except you have to hold yourself there in that position. This one gets to you pretty fast, so be sure you time yourself so you don’t quit too early.
- Your Feet
Yes, it’s true. One of the best and least expensive workout tools are your feet. When you’re at a gas station, take the opportunity to stand up and walk around the car or station for the few minutes while you’re there. The possibilities are endless:
- Stretch
Truly an exercise you can do anywhere, this can take the form of a two minute stretch waiting for your gas to pump or a 30-minute relaxation session in your hotel room. You decide what form your stretches take on.
- Jumping jacks
A great way to get your heart pumping quickly, do these on the side of your car at a rest stop after a long day in the car.
- Jog in place
It’s not necessary to take laps around your car or hotel, simply jog in place to energize yourself for the journey ahead.
