You’ve been putting the hours in in the gym since the new year, there has undoubtedly been a few minor hiccups in your fitness journey along the way and then you come to that point where its your first holiday of the summer. What do you do? Do you take it easy and lose some of the momentum both physically and mentally or do you get yourself prepared to train when on holiday?
Its a question I get asked a lot. What shall I do when I’m on holiday?
You might be going somewhere where there isn’t the best training facilities or you just aren’t sure what the gym is going to be like. We’ve all been to that gym where your trying to workout how they made it look so big in the pictures, to find yourself in a shoe cupboard trying to put together a workout on 2 bits of kit. Yes you can do the odd run but if you want a bit more than that in training you need to be prepared.
The good thing is with a tiny bit of forward planning you can stay on track with your training and nutrition. All you need to do is squeeze a few bits of kit into your luggage and with a bit of knowhow you can keep on track over the summer.
Fitness Kit
Floor glide pads – Glide pads are becoming common place in the gym and in studios these days. They are really versatile tool. One of the things that frustrates me with a lot of body weight training workouts I see is there ends up being a lot of pushing based moves where the thighs get worked lots but often a lack of pulling moves to get the hamstrings and glutes working. The glide pads are great because they open up a whole host of pulling based movements to balance out your training plan.
Mini band / strength band – Personally I wouldn’t even step foot in the gym without bands. So they are a none negotiable when it comes to travelling. Bands open up a huge range of exercise as they can be used for countless exercises and are a great way to load exercises like squats and hip hinges or to pre exhaust muscles before doing bigger compound moves, an example of this couple be doing band tricep presses before a push up.
Suspension trainer – These need a bit more space in your suitcase and an anchor point to work off but the suspension trainer is a super versatile tool. The suspension trainer adds a whole range of rowing and pulling exercises into your repertoire as well as making pretty much every exercise a brutal core workout at the same time. They also give the options of being able to regress certain exercises like single leg pistol squats.
Nutrition
Neat pouches – Making sure you get good quality protein in can be tricky even at home so its a real struggle for when you are on your travels. Well the cleaver folks at Neat have you covered with small pouches which are perfect for the busy on the go fitness enthusiast.
Stay hot keep cold bottle – Whether you are on a beach workout or hiking in a snow capped mountain. Keeping fluids to the temperature you desire is a small thing that actually becomes really important when you get a break between activity.
Pro max battery operated blender – These is nothing better than a handful of berries or some ice in your post workout shake. Theres no reason these small luxuries should to be dropped on your travels. Battery powered shakers are a great way to have a smooth perfectly blended post workout treat after you train or just on the go when you are on your travels.
Training Kit
Lightweight trainers – Asics Gel-DS Trainer 24 – Space saving is key and if you are travelling with hand luggage only, shaving a few kilos off your cabin bag can be really handy. Lightweight trainers are key. Im personally a loyal Asics customer and I love their woven lightweight runners.
lululemon clothing – It’s important to feel good the you train, my mum always use to say “buy cheap buy twice”. So its worth spending the money and get good quality kit that’s a pleasure to wear and that you look forward to putting on, as thats one more small motivation to get up and go train.
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