Now some may say I'm a little crazy exercising on holiday but to me it's important! It's what makes me happy and I love the free time to dedicate it to improving my fitness, so why should I stop on holiday? Gone are the days when the norm is sitting by a pool all day drinking cocktails...exercising and going on fitness retreats are the new luxury. On my recent holiday I ran a lot, did circuit training, sand dune reps and also did local fitness classes, for me it's not necessarily about keeping the holiday weight off but I genuinely enjoy it and see it a huge luxury. Having time on my hands to do nothing but sunbathe, eat, sleep and train in glorious weather is like heaven! When I don't exercise I feel lethargic, I get cranky and unhappy, so holidays for me always include exercise.
Now I do obviously relax on holiday, so yes I do have the odd mojito and red wine, but for every alcoholic drink I have, I then follow it with a glass of water. I do get a little tipsy every now and again but I find alcohol really affects me and I don't like it, so I only have the odd one or two. Over the years there's been a lot of trial and error to make my body the healthiest it can be and I'm learning everyday, the key is to listen to the body. Unfortunately mine doesn't like too much alcohol.
The beaches in Fueteventura are some of the best I've ever been on, bright white sand and crystal clear turquoise water, it's such a beautiful Island I'm in love with this place!
Having trained a lot abroad previously....whether that has been professionally in my athletics career or simply on a holiday...here's my top tips on what I've learned from the past.
GPS Watch - Essential! Not necessarily to track your minute per miles but mainly for safety reasons. You're in a foreign country, you maybe on your own and then a mixture of heat and dehydration can make your inner sat nav disappear. For safety reasons it would be wise to use this, if you don't have one use an APP on your smart phone and always tell someone where you are planning to go.
This Garmin one comes with me everywhere!
Sunglasses - Sun, Sand, Sweat and Suncream. All a perfect mix to mess with our eyesight. Protect the peepers and wear glasses.
Theraband - No gym needed. A great piece of equipment to keep on top of strength, core and stability. Use it to engage the glutes and work against the resistance to feel that inner burn.
- In a squat position walk side ways making sure the knees don't stray inwards. Do 10 reps one direction, 10 the other X 6 sets.
- Lying on your side tie the theraband tight around your knees and assume the Jane Fonder position. Think clams, straight leg side raises and drawing small circles with the foot. Aim for 10 reps each, 3 sets on both legs.
Salt Deodorant- Salt Of The Earth. Great for the environment and a space saver! This completely natural product provides a layer of minerals on the skin which stops bacteria growing, they don't block pores but stop you stinking...all naturally too!
Suncream - When I'm on holiday I tend to run really early in the mornings, but a few times I've mistaken how hot the temperature can rise and how much the suns rays can increase within a 30minute window. Always put some on (factor 30) but be careful round the face area though, suncream in the eyes stings like a mother-pucker.
Kit - Important to have the right kit. Don't wear anything you haven't worn before. Ive had vest tops that chaffed on the arms, shorts that ride up (which is rather distracting) and sports bras that dug in too much. All because I bought them new for my holiday and didn't try them before leaving! In the heat you want to be as comfortable as possible...try before you fly!
Water Bottle - 1 Litre preferably. I know this seem's a little silly, but I always carry a huge empty measured sports bottle through security. You need to keep on top of your hydration and in warm climates we lose water a lot more. Having a water bottle with measurements on will help you keep track of how much you've consumed. You normally need 2L a day, but in 30degree heat you'll need to increase this by at least a 1L.
Breathable Socks - This is actually a really important part of the kit! In hot weather the feet expand a little more then they would normally and we sweat a lot more! If you have a bad pair of socks this can lead to chaffing and blisters and no body wants that when you're wearing sandals all day. Always aim for double lined socks.
Skipping Rope - Another great piece of equipment which doesn't take up too much room in your luggage. Use this for interval training, try 1mins of intense skipping, 15 secs rest X 20 rounds.
Ipod/Iphone - Use it for music, maps and for a stop watch in circuit training.
Supplements - I don't like to have too many supplements as I aim to get everything from my food. But there's a couple of things I always take just incase.
Vegan Protein Powder - You never know when breakfast is going to be a dive. Sun warrior Protein in Warrior Blend is great, it's raw vegan protein powder it contains NO gluten, GMO's, soy and no artificial nasties. It contains all the essential amino acids and easily digestible.
Electrolytes - I like Elete Electrolyte Drops, all natural and essential for hydration. You lose water when you sweat but you also lose electrolytes. Lose enough and you can experience muscle cramping, numbness, sickness, dizziness and fatigue. Things like Lucozade and Powerade isotonic drinks are not good enough in my eyes...you may as well go drink Coke. Full of sugar, artificial dyes, flavourings and E numbers. Stay away from these ill health products. Elite Electrolytes are natural, plus no flavour.
Probiotics - I have a sensitive tummy and foreign foods can wreck havoc on it. So Probiotic tablets are key for me. These from Holland and Barrett are fantastic.
All these things are tiny and won't take up essential packing space. I always manage to pack all these things mentioned in this post plus 4 other pairs of shoes (not including trainers), all my makeup, a different bikini for each day and new evening outfit for each night. There's no excuses now!
Stace x
Thank you for all the advice about going on a fitness holiday. I also try to keep exercising whilst on holiday. I think its a great time to try out new sports or activities. I also enjoyed your list of things to pack as this was very helpful and I will definitely be looking into buying some of the things you recommended.
ReplyDeleteCatarina @ Wild Fitness