What Happens To Your Workouts On Vacation?

This is a dilemma many of us have. We get a routine going, getting to the gym after work on regular nights, making time during our day for a walk, setting a schedule to workout weekly.

Then vacation comes along and the plans can sometimes go array. Our schedule is different, we feel different, getting up later in the day, relaxing with the family or friends. Sometimes it is harder to find the motivation to make the time for some formal type of exercise. This is all understandable.

If you workout hard 51 weeks out of the year and you want a week off then take it. There are studies that show an "active rest week" can regenerate your desire to exercise. The Fitness by Phone program actually suggests this as a way to prevent burn out and give the body and mind a rest.

But if you are the type of person that works out on a more sporadic basis, you may not want to take and entire week off from exercise. Perhaps you don't want to loose your momentum but it can still be difficult to make the time during vacation to exercise.

Making some specific plans before you leave for vacation can help. Plan a few days you can get up a little earlier, slip away after dinner any time you may find to add in a little exercise "me time". Make the goals ahead of time and you are more likely to keep them.

Another good idea, if you can manage it would be one or two days of simple strength training. A few push ups, some tricep dips, and some abs. This will keep whatever muscle conditioning you have accomplished before you trip in shape and prevent soreness when you start up exercising again.

Have a great vacation week whatever you decide to do for exercise or not!