




01
I was really happy to turn the calendar over to “March” today. Super happy. Then the sun made an appearance late in the day, making it seem like spring might actually be within reach. Hey, in Ohio, these little victories matter.
But, I know that in some parts of the country, the sun actually shines in the winter, making the three months we curse here in the midwest actually tolerable, and fun – especially if you’re into winter sports. If you’re not ready to let go of winter yet and are looking for a great deal on a ski get-away, check this out:
Sunriver Resort, a AAA Four Diamond property in Oregon, is offering a free night and lift tickets to a stay if you go at the end of April. Rooms start as low as $65/night (such a great deal!), and only a 3-night minimum is required. There are taxes and other fees that apply, but still…AND, kids ski free! What a great way to spend a long weekend, or spring break!
20
Vacation itineraries don’t often include time for exercise, but with a little planning and creativity, there isn’t any reason your trip has to derail your normal workout routine. Here are some helpful tips for sneaking in some exercise while you’re away.
1. Pack small, lightweight equipment in your suitcase. Resistance tubing fits easily into any suitcase or carry-on and you can use it tone and strengthen every muscle in your body (even NFL football players use this simple tool – it REALLY works!) Do your workout right in your hotel room, or wrap it around your waste and jog to the nearest park. Trees, fences, and even parking meters make great anchors to wrap the tubing around for chest presses and rows. A jump rope is another convenient, grab-and-go tool you can use for a quick, calorie-burning session.
2. For a more challenging workout, consider investing in the TRX, which is a suspension training system originally developed for the Navy Seals. The TRX made its mainstream debut several years ago and has become one of the fastest selling strength training tools for both novices and hard-core fitness buffs. It is a total body strengthening and conditioning tool that is a snap to assemble. It weighs less than 2lbs, sets up in under 1 minute and you can use it in the hotel room, outdoors, at the gym…options are nearly endless. You can purchase one from FitnessAnywhere.com and can also see instructional “how to” videos on the website.
3. Take advantage of the hotel pool and fitness room. For business travelers, the pool and fitness room are busiest during the week in the early morning and evening. For leisure travelers at a resort, these tend to be the least busy times.
4. If the thought of running on the hotel treadmill is about as exciting as watching grass grow, book a City Running Tour and see the city you’re visiting on foot! Tour guides who happen to be distance runners take you on guided tours that include all of the tourist sites (or anything else you’d like to see). Distances vary in length according to your training level too.
5. Finally, many hotels now have fitness TV, so you can order up a workout to do right in your room. Another option is to pop open your laptop and download a fitness video straight from the Internet. And let’s face it – if you’re on vacation, relaxation is surely a priority too. Check out Yoga Download – you can choose from thousands of yoga and Pilates videos and if the mood strikes you, strike a pose!
Give one of these ideas a try during your next trip, and I guarantee you’ll come home feeling fit and refreshed.
30
With summer in full swing and vacations on the horizon, one question seems to arise again and again: “How do I stay fit while I’m away from home?”
Whether you want to stay active during your vacation or not, there could be unwelcome consequences to stopping, even for a week. According JAMA, regular exercisers who suddenly turn into Buffett-loving hammock sloths experience higher levels of glucose and fat in their bloodstreams. Unfortunately, 90% of frequent travelers admit that while being health conscious is important during their travels, they end up slacking off. According to a survey conducted by Hilton Hotels, women follow these tendencies more than men, and it is no wonder – one in four household trips include children under the age of 18. It is hard enough to muster the will-power to workout when you’re alone, much less traveling with the family.
While taking a break from your routine now and then can be a good thing, it doesn’t have to come to a screeching halt the minute your plane leaves the terminal. Traveling with kids? Make them part of the action too.
Here are a few of my favorite vacation workout tips: