No matter what your definition of fitness is, it’s not something that you achieve in a day. And, once you have reached that summit or benchmark you have set for your fitness, keeping yourself there is easier said than done, especially, if you’re a big fan of travelling and eating. We recently came across someone who battles that dilemma every day – how do you maintain your current level of fitness if you are out travelling?

They said:

Travelling is a way of life, but then, so is fitness. Both of them are a choice, and the brutal truth for most people is – when you choose one of them, the other one goes for a toss. No matter how much of an amazing workout you pull across at the gym or the supplements you use – be it Creatine, Whey, or steroids from trusted players like Steroidsfax, your diet trumps everything. And, travelling primarily involves eating what you find – especially in remote places and regions far from home. So, do you shy away from the mouth-watering Thukpa when in Tibet or do you give in?

It’s a tough question, but the answers aren’t rocket science. Let’s take the important bits one at a time.

Eating: No, you shouldn’t be consuming all the junk you come across. But then, you shouldn’t be doing yourself or the place injustice by saying ‘no’ to all the local specialities; eat, but in a healthy and pragmatic way.

• Portions matter – If you have regular access to food along the way, then you can have smaller portions of all the dishes that are on your wish list and spread your meals across your day, so that there are more of them, but in smaller quantities.
  If you don’t, ask the localsor your host nicely about places where you can find food on the way. Trust us – everyone’s out to help.
• Asketh, and you shall receiveth – One of the most saddening facts in the culinary industry is that people don’t ask. Seriously folks, you are allowed to request your chefs to make things in the way that you prefer. When you know that the Biryani is supposed to be a bit more toward the oilier side, ask your chef if he/she can strike a balance between the oil and the taste. People are more than happy to accommodate your requests, but you have got to ask them first.

Now, the Workout part:

Okay, we all know that carrying your dumbbells around doesn’t make sense, so here’s the advice of the day – something is better than nothing.

• If you’ve been relying on chest presses all along to give your chest that killer workout, how about going with pushups when you’re out travelling? It works! Keep the reps high and a good posture and you’ll be good to go.
• Are your legs missing the gym too much? Go for free-weight squats and lunges. You might look a bit weird doing that in the courtyard of your backpacking hostel, but remember – it’s your body, and you’re incharge of keeping it in shape. Plus, it further adds to your reputation for discipline and makes you a rockstar amongst your co-travellers.
• Rely on non-gym exercises: Yoga is an excellent way to keep your fitness incheck; furthermore, it adds to your body’s capabilities. Download an app and a couple of YouTube videos or get professional advice on doing the Asanas.

At the end, it’s shouldn’t really be that hard of a choice to make – it’s about keeping the balance of enjoying the experience of visiting different places while keeping your investment in the form of effort and time saved. And, like everything in life – it takes discipline and it takes persistence, so do your research well in advance and plan accordingly. Lastly, don’t forget – it’s the small efforts that take us the long way ahead. Aim to be 1% better every day with these small efforts and have a great time.