Traveling While Training

Traveling is something that we all love to do (unless you don’t, in which case I think you are a little crazy). As a bit of a wanderlust myself, I often find myself in battle with how to stay in my routine of healthy habits while spending hours in the airport, driving in the car, or catching up with friends while indulging in a delicious glass of Cabernet. Not only that, but I am probably one of the biggest over packers that you will ever meet. The last few weeks have been so busy and life is only about to speed up. Atlanta last weekend, home in Dallas this weekend, and back to the PNW next weekend (GO SEAHAWKS!) So not only do I have to worry about what I am going to eat, where I am going to fit gym time in, but what am I going to even do about packing gym clothes?! Where is the happy medium? Well, from one experienced traveler to another, here is my solution.

            For starters, you have to go in to your travels with the mindset that you are going to continue to hold your dedication in your training. If you go in optimistic, it will ensure success in keeping on track.

            Next comes the packing. Like I said before, I am an extreme over packer. For my last trip to Atlanta, I was allowed a single backpack. Not a carry-on suitcase, a backpack. For someone who checks a bag for a three day weekend, you can imagine my dismay at my luggage shortage for my four day trip where there was a possibility of storming. I packed one pair of nikes and stuffed them in my waterbottle holders. I rolled all of my workout clothes the smallest they could possibly go and layed them on the bottom of my backpack and I brought just enough for each day. Next… The supplements. There was absolutely no way I was going to fit all those bottles in my bag so I resorted to baggies. The following picture shows my small luggage and my supplements all bagged up. The important thing to remember in this situation is serving size. 

I threw in all the scoops with the corresponding powders (protein, UCAN, and bcaas) and put all my multi-vitamins together. I just labeled the baggie what capules were so that I didn’t get my am/pm/glutamine mixed up. I can not stress enough that you have an accurate way of measuring what you are taking in. Humans are terrible at guessing. I thought that ¼ cup was way more than it actually is by eyeballing. If you have a suitcase, your food scale fits perfectly in between two shirts. If not, wherever you are staying should have portion sizes weighed out (at restaurants). If you have ever gotten a job at a restaurant you know that they portion EVERYTHING. If you ask them, someone will know how much of what you are taking in. If you have neither your scale or someone with knowledge, Walmart and Target carry super cheap scales – include that in your travel budget.

            The next important thing is to know your area. If you know someone where you are going or have been there before this is a huge help, if not; there’s google. Look up where you are going to be ahead of time so you know the scene. Learn what restaurants are in the area so when discussing where to eat you know what you can fit in to your daily caloric/macro intake. Find a grocery store. The first thing I did when I got to Atlanta was take note of where the grocery store’s were and googled gyms in the area. The awesome thing about gym’s is that if you can’t find one that you belong to, most of them offer free week trail passes… PERFECT for the weekend traveler. You have to plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. 

            Know what you are going to workout ahead of time. Just because you are out of town doesn’t mean that you have to alter your routine. You can still workout the normal body parts on the normal days, it might just take you a little longer because you don’t know exactly where each station in the gym is. Once you get there, familiarize yourself so that you can maximize time each day. You are obviously traveling for a reason, you don’t want to waste time every gym trip walking in circles to find the dumbbells.

            PLAN your timing. If you are going to breakfast with someone and lunch with another, make sure that you allow yourself adequate time and know where you are going so you don’t carb load at breakfast and then hit up Olive Garden for pasta at lunch. Be smart, plan. Know your general activites for the day as well. I have a love for the outdoors. When I travel during the summer, if I'm around the mountain... I'm on it. What a great way to workout AND enjoy the scenery where you are traveling to. And if you don't think climbing a mountain is a workout, you aren't doing it right.

 Above: My sister and I at Heather Lake in WA.

Below: Me on top a mtn in Snoqualmie, WA.

            My last note is just as important as the first… Remember that you are human. I am 30 days out from competing and I am heading to Seattle in a week to watch two amazing people get married. I’m not going to go all crazy but I am going to wake up early that day to get the gym session in, and then I’m going to relax. I’m going to socialize, I’m going to see people I haven’t seen in months, I’m going to snuggle with my amazing neice Olivia, dance the jig on the dancefloor with the bride, and have a glass of champagne. A (as in single, or one) glass.  Yes, I’m training and very close to the finish line, but I’m still human. I have to make time for it. A glass of wine, a shot of whiskey isn’t going to kill me. I am SO excited for my travels (this is the longest time I haven’t made a trip back home since I first moved away). And the next day, I am going to kill it in the gym a little extra. And I am going to love every minute!

RECAP for Traveling while training:

1.     Think success

2.     Pack accordingly

3.     Know the area

4.     Have a timeframe

5.     Indulge - be a person

6.     Kill it in the gym