CARDIO GAME STRONG

Sarah Khan shows you ways to stay in shape even when you’re on tour

Sightseeing, trekking, shopping, island-hopping, and of course, gorging on never-before tried cuisines are things that entice your average tourist. But as amazing as it is, your travels can sometimes put a damper on your fitness routine, especially if you’re someone who maintains a decent lifestyle that involves healthy eating and exercise. However, you can still snack your way around the globe, provided you give yourself at least an hour everyday to burn the high-octane junk food that you will be consuming in the coming days. Trade in your flip-flops for a pair of gym shoes, and let’s roll!

PORTION CONTROL
Keeping track of your portions can really be a bummer when you’re a foodie. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to quit eating certain foods or starve yourself. You can eat and still lose weight, provided you watch your portions when having your meals. As the saying goes, “Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” Meals in the morning should be full; so loading up with proteins, fibre and some carbs would be the way to go. At noon, you might want to ease up on the carbs seeing that they go straight to the tush; additionally, having a staple diet that is rich in carbs will make you feel full and unproductive throughout the day. As for your nights, try to have something light like soups, salads, chicken or even fish.

POWER WALK
Walking might not seem like a strenuous activity, however, if you keep at it, you can definitely lose a pound or two. So, if you’re visiting places that aren’t too far away from your hotel, walking might do you some good. Wear running shoes while you’re at it because walking even a short distance in sandals might result in blisters and sore feet. In case you’re feeling a little ambitious, take the stairs, provided your suite isn’t on the 12th floor!

TRY FAMILIARISING YOURSELF WITH THE HOTEL YOU’RE STAYING AT. IF THEY HAVE AN OPEN SPACE OR A WALKING PATH SOMEWHERE, TAKE A STROLL THROUGH IT AT FIRST TO UNDERSTAND FROM WHERE YOU WANT TO BEGIN YOUR CARDIO ROUTINE

RUNNING/JOGGING
When travelling, the thought of running around in unknown vicinities might strike you as odd. Try familiarising yourself with the hotel you’re staying at. If they have an open space or a walking path somewhere, take a stroll through it at first to understand from where you want to begin your cardio routine. If you can’t manage to run or jog every day, then try every alternative day for at least 30 minutes.

FREE HAND EXERCISE
If you feel like staying cooped up in your hotel room, try a little free hand exercise. All you need is a little beat to get cracking. You don’t have to try anything complex; just throw in basic stuff like arm circles, jumping jacks, planks, downward dog or even squats. Keep at it for 30 minutes or less, and you’ll be sweating bullets in no time!

REWARD SYSTEM
Falling off the fitness bandwagon might seem like an easy choice, but it finds a way to bite you back when you least expect it. And you’re most likely to give up especially when you’re vacay-ing. To keep yourself motivated, refer to the reward system. If you’re in a country for more than 4 days, then try to get at least two days of workout in a week. Once you’ve done it successfully without any relapse, buy yourself a nice meal or those suede shoes you’ve been eyeing.