Let Exercise be Part of Your Next Vacation

By Desiree Giroux

Vacation. It's a time of leisure, relaxation and pleasure.

Leave your hectic work schedule behind, let your hair down, and just unwind. Phone calls, chores, and errands can all take a back seat this week. But should you also put your exercise routine on hold? A whole week of doing nothing but eating and lounging by the pool can really put a wrench in your health goals. What's a woman to do? Easy, don't stress about it. Get outside, wherever your destination is, and have fun!

Too often we think about exercise as something we have to do on ellipticals, treadmills, and stair climbers inside the cold and metallic world of the gym. But feel free to throw this idea right out the window when on vacation. As long as you are moving, you can count it as part of your daily routine. Swimming, dancing, hiking, biking, skiing, and even shopping can help you feel less guilty about leaving the treadmill at home. Best of all, many of the vacation activities you find yourself doing will probably blow your regular routine right out of the water! Let's think about it. You find yourself taking a ski vacation in Colorado, where the powder is to die for. Are you only going to spend an hour skiing when you came all that way? Of course not! More likely, you will be spending the whole day on the mountain, working your body harder and longer than your normal work out, while at the same time, enjoying yourself.

But what if you've chosen a vacation that's not as physically intense as a ski trip or a weeklong hike through your National Parks of choice? No problem – there is exercise to be found everywhere! Check out what your hotel has to offer. Many have year-round accessible pools, rent bicycles for short day tours, and offer exercise programs such as yoga or tai chi. And for those of you who can't get visions of the stair climber out of your mind, most hotels also offer fitness room access with your stay. And wherever you choose to go, don't forget to get outside. Forcing yourself outside is almost always a sure start to exercise. Go for a walk, explore the area by foot, and make sure if you choose to go shopping, do as much of it on foot as possible! It may even make you feel less guilty about your daily purchases!

The bottom line to incorporating exercise into your vacation plans is simple; don't stress about it. You're bound to go exploring, shopping, or swimming at least once during your vacation. And remember, relax, you're on vacation!

03/06/08  By Desiree Giroux