Easy exercise tips during your vacation trip

      Everyone looks forward to summer! The sun is shining, the pool is open, and it is the perfect time to go on vacation! Vacation is normally a time for family or friends to go and get away from it all. Even though you are getting away from everything, exercise is not something you should get away from. Although you should not try to kill yourself trying to fit in your normal exercise routine from home, you should try to keep your fitness level up while you are trying to get away from it all.
     Vacation time is a great time to try new forms of exercise! If there is not a gym available near you, or you just don't feel like spending your time in the gym, try something new like rock climbing, or a dance class, or even hiking. You can start your vacation exercise even before you get there! If you are taking a roadtrip, and you know that you will be spending hours at a time in the car, you can still make time for fitness while on the road. When you pullover for a bathroom break, stretch your legs and move around. You can jog in place to get your blood moving, and then do some lunges and squats. Or if you like yoga, bring a yoga mat along and do yoga streches outside. You could also bring a jump rope for a high-energy cardio exercise. You can also burn calories while sitting in your car. You can bring small weights and do some bicep curls. Or take a knitting or needlework project with you, because any movement of your arms will keep your metabolism up. If you are going on a plane ride, you can still squeeze in some exercise before you take off. Go on a 15-20 minute fast paced walk with a friend or family member without making any pit stops. Walking will definitely get your heart pumping, and it will be a better way to use time before your flight, rather than waste it just sitting around. Another way to fit some exercise in while you are waiting at the airport is to use stairs rather than escalators. Every little bit of exercise helps get your metabolism going, even something as small as using the stairs.
      Once you finally reach your vacation destination, take advantage of all the extra time you have to try some new exercises. If you are staying at a hotel with a gym or a pool, take advantage of that! Take some time in the morning to do a little workout routine. You don't even have to do your usual routine, just workout enough so your body doesn't lose all the muscle you've gained. Vacation should be fun so don't worry about becoming stronger or thinner, just focus on maintaining the fitness level you already achieved.
      If you do not have a gym, don't fret! There are many different ways to workout other than using a gym. You can walk, hike or do strength training without a gym nearby. Bring along resistance bands for resistance training. These bands will be a lot easier to pack, because they are lightweight, and much smaller than hand weights, and you still can get the same results from using these strechy bands rather than the hand weights. You can also bring a towel or yoga mat to cover the ground during floor exercises such as crunches, or yoga and pilates exercises.
      Make sure you also bring equipment for outdoor exercise such as swimming and hiking. Bring a swimsuit to do some swimming in a lake, ocean or pool near you. Also bring a pair of comfortable running shoes for a hike or a walk/run. Bring a hat and sunscreen along too for outdoor activities such as family baseball or volleyball.
      Hopefully these tips will help you have a fit vacation, but don't forget vacations are supposed to be fun, so don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to keep up a super workout while away. Any activity you do while on vacation is better than nothing, even dancing at a party! Remember, you're on vacation so enjoy it!