3 Basic Tips for Keeping Fit on the Road

For those of us road warriors who work out, the stress of traveling coupled with lack of facilities and poor diet on the road can really de-rail the best laid plans of gym-rats and men. In this article I'll try and help by giving you some tips so you can stay on target when you're away from home.

1. Bring your gear

As simple a tip as this may seem, it goes a long. I find that if I pack some workout clothes I'm almost certain to workout at least once during my trip. Shorts and a pair of sneakers don't take up too much room, and you'll find it motivation to follow through with your plan. It's so easy to say, "Well I'll work out when I get back" but it's hard to open up your suitcase and not work out when your gear is right there staring back at you.

2. Avoid Fast Food

Though there are many diets out there, one thing will serve you no matter if you're low-carb/low-fat/south beach or whatever. Stay away from fast food. According to a study published in the Lancet, subjects who ate 2 or more meals at fast food restaurants a week (an easy number to hit while you're on the road) ended up gaining an extra ten pounds and had double the increase in insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Before leaving try and pack as much healthy snacks in your bag as possible. Nuts, tuna, and beef jerky will keep without refrigeration for months. Walk down the supermarkets canned goods aisle, and you'll find a lot of products come in pouches that are perfectly sized for throwing in your suitcase. The availability of food options makes it way easier to avoid the 12 dollar room service hamburger and fries at 9pm.

3. What to do in your room

Question posed to the six time Mr. Olympia:

"Arnold, how do you keep winning this year after year? What do you do to gain that extra edge?" Schwarzenegger's reply? "It is the extra 3 push ups".

Well we all know that he didn't get that body from push ups alone, but trust that the Governator did his share, your share, and all of Austria's share of push-ups and sit-ups. No need for a state of the art fitness center on the main floor, just drop down and crank some out. Then bust out an extra three! If you have trouble sleeping however, try to avoid working out right before you want to sleep as it may make it more difficult. Check out my other article for some tips on getting some sleep in hotel room if this is a problem for you.

I hope these basic tips help you maintain a healthier lifestyle on the road. Come back and check out the next article in the series for some more in depth talk on the subject. If you have any tips or want to share your regimen leave your comments or send me a message.