How can I workout when travelling?

It can be tough to maintain a solid workout routine when traveling, whether that be for work or on holiday. One of our big mantras here at Be Mobile is to "do something, rather than nothing" and this is important to remember whilst traveling. 

There's a good chance you won't have access to as much exercise equipment (unless of course you are permanently traveling and have a niche set up!). But that won't stop you from performing strength and cardio exercise. If equipment is limited, you will just have to make some modifications to how you exercise.

Check out our article 'What equipment you can use for your strength workouts?' in the related articles at the bottom. It will give you some great ideas.

If you don't have access to the weights you normally use, there are still plenty of ways to make exercises more challenging for your muscles and joints, without adding weight.

How can you make a strength workout more challenging without more weight?

1. Slow the movements down
   1. If you are performing a squat for example, slow down the descent of the movement so that it takes 5 seconds. This means that your muscles have to work harder for each rep.
2. Increase the repetitions and sets
   1. Instead of 5-10 reps perform 15-20 reps
   2. Instead of 3 sets perform 4-5 sets
3. Increase the difficulty of the movement by using a variation, or choose inherently harder exercises
   1. Instead of regular squats, try a split squat or lunge
   2. Instead of regular deadlifts, try a single leg deadlift
4. Pick bodyweight exercises as substitutes if you don't have any weights. Pick a movement which works similar muscles. 
   1. Instead of a deadlift you might try a glute bridge on the ground.
   2. Instead of an overhead press you might do a push up. 

Be Mobile Travel Friendly Workouts

If you are a Be Mobile Online Member, then we have great news for you! We have 2 different series of workouts designed for travelling.

The first is the Nomad Workouts, which are no-equipment, bodyweight strength workouts designed to challenge you when you don't have access to your strength training equipment. Access your Nomad Workouts from the 'Extra Member Workouts' section at the bottom of your Member Library in the portal.

Login now and try one of our Nomad Workouts.

The second are our Band Workouts, which are strength workouts using just elastic resistance bands. Typically when doing resistance training we prefer you to use weights rather than bands, however the bands are a great option when travelling as they are compact and light.

Access your Band Workouts from the 'Extra Member Workouts' section at the bottom of your Member Library in the portal.

Login now and try one of our Band Workouts.

And remember..

Try to stay active on your holiday or whilst traveling. Walk from place to place instead of catching a cab. Explore the area you are visiting on foot or in the saddle of a bike! There is no reason to fear dramatic strength losses if you are being physically active. 

This may also be a great time to work on other aspects of your fitness that perhaps get less attention. For example you might have a goal of improved floor mobility, so you could perform workouts focusing on just that. A floor-mobility workout might include getting up and down from the ground, as well as some abdominal exercises (eg. crunches) and push ups - none of which require any equipment.

As long as you "do something, rather than nothing" you are on the right track.