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Expert Q&A
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| By Catherine Cram, M.S. Postpartum Fitness Expert Exercise Physiologist | ||
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How can I stay in shape while on vacation?
Vacation can be a difficult time to stay in shape, especially if you are spending a lot of time in a car. Here are a few tips to help maintain your fitness level and stay energized during travel:
- Build several daily stops into your travel. Get out of the car and take a walk or if in an airport and you have a layover, take a walking tour of the terminal. It may not be very exciting, but it will help keep your back and muscles from becoming sore.
- Try and incorporate exercise into your vacation. Plan to hike, bike, swim or run as part of your vacation. If you're hitting the beach, rent a beach bike and tour the coast. If you're in the mountains, talk to area park personnel about good hikes to take, and find out what your will need (clothing, footwear, water, rain gear etc.) to make sure it is a safe and enjoyable experience.
- If you won't have the ability to get out and exercise, bring a jump rope. Twenty minutes 3-5 times a week will help you maintain your fitness. Top it off with some push ups, sit ups, or bring along a resistance band so that you can do your strength training on the road.
- Be creative! Do tummy tucks while driving, or some stretches every morning before you get out of bed.
Remember, vacation is supposed to be fun and restorative -- make your exercise routine simple and enjoyable.
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