Real life humans have real life issues. Or at least minor lifestyle “conundrums” that, when combined with overwhelm and anxiety (or just being really Type A) can quickly become full-fledged problems.
I wrote about dieting on vacation in my last blog but wanted to expand on a side matter that comes up often: what about training, specifically business travel vs. vacations? Do the same rules apply?
Vacations: Unless you are “prepping” for a specific event/date, training on vacation should be all about fun, feeling good, freedom, and restoration.
Train cause you WANT to and cause it makes you feel good, and only if it’s not a logistical nightmare (i.e. another source of stress).
So if you’re spending a week in Santa Monica and need an hour away from the kids then go to Golds. Soak up the atmosphere. Do full body workouts or just “bomb the shit out of X body part” kind of thing.
Don’t log or track or search for your favorite machine — try new machines and key in on all the data that CAN’T be measured (number one being how you feel).
If you get the training itch but are a zillion miles away from a gym then go for a brisk walk or jog or run the stairs or…
Or don’t. It’s a vacation.
Now business travel? Totally different story.
Business travel is (typically) during the work week and usually involves full days, meetings, restaurant meals, and hotel gyms. At a glance working out might seem like a huge headache but I encourage all my clients to do SOMETHING.
The most important success factor in changing your body is not sets and macros but CONSISTENCY. Or working hard and doing the best you can, every day, for an extended period of time.
And consistency is all about maintaining rhythm, even during logistical challenges like travel.
So here’s when you research hotel gyms vs. other facilities in the immediate area. Pre-plan your schedule so you have a daily workout window (usually its very early or very late).
And if the facilities aren’t ideal and you can’t do your programmed workout, that’s no excuse. The daily “clock punch” and achieving a training effect is the important thing, not whether the local gym was shit because the dumbbells stopped at 80 pounds and they didn’t have a reverse hyper.
I often will give clients two sets of workouts: their “normal” training and specific travel workouts, usually stuff like DB giant set “smashes” that you can pull off at most hotel gyms but can still be progressed methodically.
Because this is work travel. We’re on the clock and we have goals to hit. And results matter, not excuses.