What to Pack to Stay Active  

Opportunities to be active can pop up everywhere…when you’re looking for them! This is why you need to carry your sneakers and athletic clothing with you wherever you go. These should be a mainstay in your suitcase because you need to be prepared to capitalize! Here’s a great example. Say you get to the airport only to find your flight has been delayed. Yes, this is certainly an inconvenience (as traveling often is), but you can look at it as an opportunity to get a good walk in before you board your flight. If you have your sneakers handy, just throw them on and take a walk around the terminal. With such large, spacious hallways, airports are a great place to walk. If you can, carry your bags while you walk. While your bags may not be made of iron and sitting on a weight rack, this does not mean that they do not have weight! So use them to get an added boost to your workout.

You may also want to bring some portable fitness gear and gadgets with you that enhance your commitment and enthusiasm for being active. If music pumps you up, definitely back a portable mp3 player with a pair of headphones. Or if you are a multitasker and like to read while you get a sweat going, be sure to pack some magazine. Also, if you like to track how far you walk, you may want to bring a pedometer, a portable device that monitors how many steps you take. And definitely bring a water bottle with you so that you can stay hydrated wherever your physical endeavors take you!

In terms of portable equipment, a jump rope is also a great fitness tool to carry around with you. Even though you may have not practiced jumping rope since you were a young child, this is still a great form of physical activity. A jump rope is portable and lightweight so you can fit it easily into your carry on bag. Plus, you can do it anywhere, even in the privacy of your own hotel room.

Another great suggestion for fitness equipment is resistance bands. Although these elastic tubes are not as effective as normal weights, they are ideal for travel. You can get a few different colors, all of which correspond with a different resistance, and pack them in your bags. Then you can use them in the comfort of your own hotel room for your workout. It is true that resistance bands are a bit different than regular weights. Although the resistance my feel different and perhaps not as effective, if you approach your workout with intensity and aim to do a high number of repetitions, you can get a great total-body workout.