Traveling Makes Me Fat: Exercises You Can Do In A Hotel

One of the biggest hurdles I have when it comes to working out is that I consistently travel for work. It is like something triggers in my mind to do two things with authority: eat and sleep.

Let me amuse you with a general travel story…

I get up at 5-6am and have to drive very quickly out to the airport. I get motion sickness which makes the plane ride a living nightmare.  I usually OD on Dramamine, pray I pass out early, and hope to not wake up until we have landed.

Usually the sleepy time is better supported with some delicious Mentos or other candy that can jolt the insulin spike and drop that will help me sleep. (Not smart)

Then I get there usually feeling bloated from sitting and eating crap only to travel somewhere and eat some fatty over proportioned lunch that is too much for my belt to appreciate.

Next I have to go to some meeting, prepare for a trade show, or meet up with other co-workers.  The plumpening continues into the evening at other over priced restaurants that call something a meal that could feed a family of five.  Of course I can’t ration, so I eat it all.

By the time I get to the room I am usually tired and like to cap the night off with more sugar (some of you may insert alcohol or something else poisonous, but that is not my bag).  My body says, “Thanks Cade. I will return the favor with more fat tissue.”

Rinse and repeat for a few days and the next thing you know I am a poster child for Biggest Loser next season.

It stinks because I don’t get to take the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells or P90X Chin-Up Bar with me unless I want to get a cavity search at the airport.  So I have to compromise.

Of course I could use the gym at the hotel and sometimes I do.  Unfortunately a lot of gyms tend to be limited with equipment and crowded at hotels.  (Anyone have a great experience at a hotel they would like to share for reference for others?)

Now the great thing is that you can use gravity and the weight of your body as leverage to not only get cardio, but weight resistance training.

The problem is that most people think a workout HAS to be an hour.  It doesn’t.

Often 20-30 minutes of intense training daily can be enough.  Tony Horton developed his one-on-one trainer program that lasts about 10 minutes long that has evolved into P90X One-on-One.  You could also take portions of the P90X compilation such as the Ab Ripper X 20 minute core video and use that as well.  Play it on your lap top and you are good to go.

Just make sure you have a couple options if you are traveling for multiple days. This way you provide variety to keep your body guessing and not hit that plateau effect.

There are actually quite a few options on the internet with short 5-20 minute videos.  BodyRock.tv is one of my favorite.  I don’t know if it is because how intense she is or because I am a single 28 year old guy watching a Russian chick work out. (Hands up in air questioning my decision)

This video has 2.3 million hits and I actually found it Googling for “fitness”.  Noooo, I didn’t search for “hot babes”.  I am not a pubescent teen peculating with testosterone anymore.   Zuzana is legit and passionate about fitness.  As far as I can see, she runs this site with a guy named Freddy.  I attempted a few of her videos and they are difficult.  If you lack in time and want to get a quick work out that is beneficial, this is the way to go.

If you want to do more of a beginners exercise, then you can work on your jaw doing something like this in a hotel:

About Cade

Cade is the founder of Know My Body. Sorry...no doctor degree, fancy gym, multi-million dollar fitness program, or label as a self-proclaimed health guru of biblical proportions. He is a common guy just like you. Maybe that helps him get you a bit better.

He has worked the past several years trying to get a grasp of "health knowledgeries" from the perspective of a person working a 9 to 5 job and dealing with the normal and not-so-normal challenges that life gives. Visit our About Page to chew on some more knowledge about Cade and how we want to help you at Know My Body.