My personal training clients often ask me how to “cope” with holidays (I mean, if they’re looking for tips on seeing the sights whilst eating all of the delicious foods and enjoying a lot of drinks, they have come to the right place…), meaning that they want to know how to “stay on track” whilst away or “get back into it” when they come home.
And I’m here to tell you that none of that is strictly necessary. In fact, I believe that vacations are good for fitness – here are five reasons why…
Walking
Whilst I’ve covered the myth of needing to get 10,000 steps in per day on the blog before, and stand by my previous point, I won’t deny that being mobile is good for all of us. The idea of walking (or any other locomotion-style cardio) is incredibly ableist, so I’m going to simplify things: some holidays do encourage sitting around, and believe it or not, I have been known to enjoy the occasional “fly and flop”. Emphasis there on the occasional.
It isn’t good for us to stay still permanently and regularly. The main point of so many trips and travels is to go and explore a new place. Which, typically, involves getting around! So, here’s your permission slip to use your body to go and do some sightseeing. Whether you walk, wheel or crawl, going out and about will have at least two benefits – you get to see some interesting things; you move your body in the process.
Trying something new
Continuing the theme of expanding our horizons, holiday destinations present us with many opportunities, particularly when visiting a different climate. I, for one, am far less inclined to go anywhere near an outdoor non-heated and treated body of water at home in the UK than I am abroad. Which means that I’ve never managed to stand up paddle, windsurf, sail, snorkel or any of those other things. Do I want to try them? Well… that’s another thing.
Many of these activities aren’t readily accessible to a lot of us, and they can often involve a significant investment of time and money when we’re not certain of the outcome or gain. However, when we’re at a resort with little else to do other than another single-handed bicep curls (meaning: try the next cocktail on the list), where’s the harm in trying an unusual activity which is on our temporary doorstep?
The risk (in terms of time and sometimes money, if not danger itself) is minimised and, in even better news, if you make a fool of yourself, there are few people around who you’re likely to see again. Best case scenario? You enjoy yourself, get some exercise, and also have some cool photos to show off.
Enjoying normal activities in a different environment
A change is as good as a rest, right? Along a similar theme to the previous point, it may be that you DO want to take your hobby away with you. If you’re a keen cyclist, pedalling about is a great way to achieve my first point of sightseeing. Perhaps you love hiking or golf, and there’s a particularly good option near to your destination. My own bucket list has had some serious ticks thanks to my childhood adoration of horse riding: I’ve invested in some excursions (when I went to Iceland, I went on a ride to try out the Icelandic breed’s gait of the tolt), and even some full-blown trips (I spent ten days in South Africa enjoying a horseback safari and a beach trail).
Combining my favourite activities with seeing a new place is high on my list of things I enjoy doing, and I truly recommend it. I’ve got memories I can treasure forever, I got to enjoy being outdoors, and I can call the feeling to mind any time I repeat those activities at home.
The great outdoors
I’m aware I’m working along a theme here, but… I’m sticking with it. In the UK, we tend to spend a lot of our time indoors, because it’s usually too wet and windy, and if it’s not one or both of those things, it’s the wrong kind of hot for our sensitive bodies.
But when we’re away on holiday, something shifts. We enjoy being outside, even though it’s hot and sunny and there are sometimes bugs. It could all have something to do with our relaxed, not-at-work state, or the fact that we’re in a new place, but it doesn’t really matter. The outdoors is good for our souls. A cautious, suncream-supported dose of source-fed Vitamin D is very good for us. Fresh air rather than artificially-filtered air is good for us.
So again: I urge you to make the most of what’s in front of you, get outdoors and move around a little whilst doing so.
Taking time out
Ask any of my clients and they’ll tell you that I’m a huge advocate for rest. Rest days between activity sessions at home, deload periods (when you dial back your training to take a rest without taking an actual break), and fully taking a slice of time out. The world will not collapse. You will not leave the gym never to return (providing you plan when you’ll go back before you leave, and stick to the commitment!).
You will instead get this: a fully-rested body and mind; the chance to re-evaluate your practice and goals. Here’s my invitation to you: whilst you’re away enjoying yourself, if a thought of exercise occurs, allow yourself to follow it. Think about what’s popped into your head and why that might be. If you’re able to, jot a note down (in your phone is a great way) so that you remember when you’re home. If the thought occurs that you’re dreading going back, is that because you’re worried about finding it hard? Or producing a disappointing performance? Or is it all-out dread of the activity?
The two former options are fixable – you possibly will find it more difficult than when you left (you also might not!), and you may not hit the same numbers immediately. But those things can also be caused by injury or lack of sleep or a bodily cycle as well. As for the latter… this is a sign that now is a good time to re-assess what you’re choosing to do and why. If you truly hate your exercise routine, it could be time for change.
Having read this post, have your feelings about activity whilst on holiday changed? If you’d like some help with how you’re feeling, let’s chat!