Exercise Programs Don't Have to Take A Vacation

When you go on vacation, exercise may be the furthest thing from your mind.

You’re in the mood to get away from it all—and that includes the gym. But if you’ve just started an exercise routine you don’t want to take a break for a week or more.

Our vacations are always meant to be relaxing. It is always planned that way, but it’s not the way it usually works out. We’re so worried we won’t get to see and do absolutely everything that we end up running from sun up to sun down. We literally collapse into our hotel beds. Hitting the gym just is not an option at that point.

I find the best time to squeeze in a workout is first thing in the morning. I never sleep well when we’re away and I’m usually the first one up. With the boys and a husband snoring away, I can get in a few minutes of strength training right there in the hotel room.

• For Legs: Squats. Using the chair that usually accompanies the desk in your hotel room, stand facing away from it, your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly bend your knees, keeping your back straight, and lower yourself until you’re almost sitting on the chair. But don’t sit; instead begin to slowly rise back to your standing position. Repeat ten times or do as many as you can before moving to the next exercise.
• For Legs: Calf Raises. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly rise up onto the balls of your feet. Slowly lower back down to your start position. Repeat this twenty times. For the second set, turn your toes in, creating an inverted V, but still keeping your feet apart. Perform the same movement you did for the first set and repeat twenty times. For the last set, turn your feet out, with your heels closest together (still not touching) and perform the last twenty repetitions.
• For Arms: Push-Ups. Get in plank position with your hands shoulder-width apart. You can do these on your toes or from your knees, but remember to keep your tummy sucked in and your bottom tucked under (not sticking up in the air). You want your body as straight as possible. When you lower yourself toward the floor, stop when your arms become a right angle. Do not dip your body lower than your elbows. Push yourself back to your start position. Repeat ten times.
• For Arms: Tricep Dips. You can use the side of the bed or a desk chair; just make sure it doesn’t roll. Sit on the edge and place your hands on either side of your body. Move your bottom off the chair. You want your legs to be together and form a sitting position. Slowly lower yourself until your arms form a right angle. You want your arms close to your sides. Using your arms, raise yourself back to your “floating” sitting position. Repeat ten times. If you want to increase the difficulty, you can extend your legs further.
• For Abs: Crunches. Lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you and your hands behind your head for neck support. Slowly raise your body straight up toward the ceiling until your upper back has left the floor. At the same time, bring your left foot up and lightly cross your right foot. As you lower your body back to the floor, slowly uncross your feet. Alternate crossing feet with each crunch. Repeat as many times as you can.

You can do all of these exercises together or break them up and do one or two of them each morning. If you decide to do them all, shoot for two or three days during your vacation, taking a rest day in between workouts.

If you choose not to continue your exercise routine or just can’t find the time or energy to work it in, remember: it’s okay to take a break. You’re on vacation, after all.