Staying active when you’re travelling or on vacation and don’t have access to a gym can be difficult, but not impossible. Today on the blog I’m sharing 5 ways you can keep yourself moving without access to equipment. This can be useful if you travel a lot or want to keep up your movement when you’re on vacation but it can also be helpful if you want to workout at home but don’t have access to any or little equipment.
Walking
Don’t neglect walking. Walking is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get your movement in, especially when you don’t have access to a gym. You can walk outside or on a treadmill but getting your steps in can be a great way to stay moving. It can also be a great way to implement an active recovery week if you typically lift and are looking for a break. If you’re on vacation, consider walking to more of the places you are going then driving or taking transportation, this can be another great way to get some steps in and increase your activity level throughout the day.
Invest in Some Light Workout Equipment
When I say light workout equipment I mean mostly bands. Bands can be a super affordable way to add resistance to your exercise if you don’t have access to a gym. They are typically fairly affordable and your able to take them with you pretty much anywhere you go. They can be great for traveling or if you don’t have a lot of space but want to have some equipment at home. Remember that resistance training doesn’t have to include dumbbells or barbells. Bands do introduce resistance as well.
Give Bodyweight Training a Try
As I mentioned above resistance training doesn’t mean we have to use dumbbells or barbells. Although that is typically thought of as strength training your body has weight to it too and your bodyweight shouldn’t be neglected from the exercise you are doing. We can add external weight, but there are so many exercises that we can do with only our bodyweight and nothing else. You can look for bodyweight exercises, or take existing programs you follow and adjust them so that you don’t have to use equipment for them. Either way, bodyweight training is still a form of strength training and we shouldn’t neglect it all together.
Use Household Items to Add Weight
If you are still looking for some additional resistance because bodyweight training isn’t quite enough for you consider using household items to add weight to your workouts. Laundry soap containers, backpacks filled with books or suitcases, cans, bottles, ect can be great ways to introduce additional weight into your workouts without having to invest in expensive gym equipment (or have access to it). Get creative with what you’re using in your workouts and add resistance in any way that you can.
Rethink What You Consider Exercise
Whether you are on vacation or running around at home chasing kids around rethinking what you consider exercise during these times can be something that can help shift your mindset around exercise and how much of it you’re getting. Taking your kids to the beach, to a playground, riding bikes, walking…all of these things can be considered exercise and keep you moving, even if you don’t have access to a gym. Instead of beating yourself up over not getting your workout in, try to look at exercise and movement in a new light.
Keeping moving when your routine gets thrown off can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Hopefully, these tips give you a little guidance and some ideas on keeping yourself moving during these times. At the end of the day, a few days or a week off isn’t going to hurt you either. Taking some time to rest and step away from our regular routine can also be a good thing in the short term. Remember it isn’t forever!
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