If I am to enjoy my life, my travels, find balance, and still maintain any semblance of a youthful body, I need to figure out how to snap back quickly after a trip, which means I have to put working out back into my trip itineraries.
That’s what I said to myself after my last overindulging vacation and the resulting bitter aftermath – that stage immediately after a vacation when I basically have to start my strength and cardio training from scratch — all my hard work gone in one fell swoop. My body, unable to snap back the way it did in its prime, has to go through a period of adjustment to get back its strength. So does my brain. I feel sluggish, heavy, toxic…old.
I prefer to feel light, energetic, and strong – feelings I associate with youth. In my time-warped brain, where I feel like I am young, I need the confirmation of those physical feelings to validate my delusion; otherwise, I may start to believe that I am in my 5o’s.
To which a sane person may ask, “But aren’t you in fact in your 50’s?”
My answer: “That’s merely a technicality.”
It wasn’t that long ago that I’d pack my workout clothes in my suitcase every trip I took. And every trip I took, I made time for a workout — even if it was only a quicky. I’d get back home, and slip effortlessly back to my routine.
I’ve since slowly and progressively strayed towards lazy. Or maybe it’s not lazy? No, it’s lazy. I’d like to think that I just want more time to sightsee and enjoy my trip. In reality, I want more time to sleep.
And why take up valuable suitcase real estate with sneakers when a pair of sexy wedges would be put to better use?
Excuses and the inner dialogue of a crazy person.
I’ve come to accept (begrudgingly) that I no longer have the luxury to get away with getting away from all of it…especially exercise. There’s a new normal, one in which I am no longer in my 20s or 30s…or 40s, but who’s counting?
As Oprah would say, “This I know for sure…”
At my age, if I don’t make the effort to do some form of exercise, whether it’s half an hour cardio session at a hotel gym, or a quick hotel room workout, I will not look the way I want to look…young and fit.
Note (to self): casually walking the streets of your vacation city eating a gelato doesn’t count. Neither does a stroll down bakery lane tasting regional goodies as a cultural or culinary experience.
I can offer little more than my experience here. I am not a fitness coach nor a personal trainer. What I have is experience with my own over-whatever-age travels and the catastrophe that skipping a beat produces. And I offer this advice because I know that you may have also encountered this byproduct of aging: the can’t-snap-back-how-I-used-to effect.
I also consulted with my beautiful friend, Natalia, who is a personal trainer and ex-bikini fitness competitor and over 40 Chicky for some advice.
So let’s vow to reserve a spot in our suitcases for a pair of sneakers one pair of workout tights or shorts and a couple of sports bras and t-shirts for a week’s worth of vacation. That’s three workouts.
Surely we can all fit in three workouts.
These workouts don’t have to be big productions. You just have to do something, anything really, as long as you keep the blood flowing, and incorporate it in your vacation itinerary. In other words, make time for it.
Here are a few of my soon-to-be-again vacation routines…
The Run and Done
I used to try to run on the beach while on vacation because it looked so amazing in movies, you know? Like I would be able to run forever propelled by the beauty of the ocean and the sound of the waves. Reality: running on the beach is hard, not only do you have to struggle to prevent your ankles from twisting, but running on sand is hard. So I stopped trying to be like Robin Wright in the movie, Message in a Bottle — that’s the movie that comes to mind.
I’d rather step on a treadmill sans nature and its soundtrack, run for 20 minutes, then plop my butt on that beach with a good book and a skinny cocktail. (Pina Coladas have not touched these lips since I myself was a virgin.)
The Big Three
Okay, if you’re north of 3o something then you have (at least) three areas of special concern. These are (in no particular order):
- Abs…or lack thereof.
- Glutes…saggylicious — a sad twist on “bootylicious.”
- Triceps…or bat wings.
Focus on these three dwindling body parts. You can do a quick HIIT workout in your hotel room with a series of crunches, dips and glute bridges or air squats or lunges. Throw on some jumping jacks for cardio and you’re good to start your day of sightseeing.
Cardio Sightseeing
Find a park or an area in town you want to explore. Put your sneakers on and go. Run past boutiques, or find a bench and do a little routine there: dips, step ups, or sitting crunches. A few years ago I remember doing a makeshift Bootcamp by the vineyards in Napa. Then I drank wine.
Crunch it
This is a favorite of ours (the hubby joins in too). If you’re walking the city, or on a road trip, contract and release your glutes. We call it crunching. It works. You just have to remember to do it. If you’re married to my hubby (oh, that’s just me), you’ll hear: “Are you crunching?” over and over again. “Yes, damn it, I’m crunching!” Is my typical response although usually, I’m not. I forget.
Wine Tasting
Just kidding. Although if I can think of a workout that includes drinking wine, I’ll be sure to let you know.
Do you try to stay in shape on vacation? Tell me what kinds of things you do to stay on your fitness game.
xoxo,
V