STAYING ON TRACK WHILE TRAVELING

A week from now, I will be visiting my family in France (Carcassonne) and well, let's just say this is a disruption to my exercise schedule. Between the length trip, the 8 hour time difference, the amazing and readily available DELICIOUS food and the fact that it is a vacation, it is hard to maintain any kind of training routine.
Most of us go through some version of that kind of disruption during the holiday: trips to be taken, children to be entertained and such. The summer can wreak substantial havoc on any exercise schedule.
The truth is that during those times, best can be the enemy of good. Don't fall for the "all or nothing" mentality because there are plenty of things you can do to maintain your fitness level.

Here are some ideas on how to adapt your workouts.

• VIDEOS: this is a no brainer. Can't go to the gym or meet with your trainer? Do an exercise video at home. Pick a time when you are least likely to be interrupted. Being a Team Beachbody coach, I can assure you that there is something on the market to suit your taste; from the high intensity Insanity to the slow and controlled Tai Cheng, you will find something fun and challenging. Take some time to investigate and find the perfect DVD series for you.

• TRX: I really do love this device. It is fairly light and not too cumbersome to travel with. All you need to set it up is a door and there are many exercises you can do (you can download apps with TRX exercise descriptions). If you have never tried using a TRX, be warned, it is harder than it looks!

• BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES: push-ups, planks, side planks, squats, lunges, pike presses, burpees, mountain climbers, jumping jacks etc... Seriously, get creative and mix and match to create a heart raising and muscle building blend.

• WALK AND/OR RUN: enjoy your surroundings by taking a long walk or running. This is such a great way to discover a city or to enjoy a landscape and all it takes is a pair of sneakers.

• FORCE YOUR CHILDREN TO SHARE A SUITCASE AND USE YOUR 50LBS ALLOWANCE TO BRING YOUR KETTLEBELL ALONG OVERSEAS: true story, I love my bells that much.