I’m back! It feels great to be back home, but I loved visiting my Utah home. But I stayed active and still had a great time without worrying about fitting in workouts! Here are some tips to workout while on vacation – without ruining your vacation!
Working out + traveling: how to balance it
1. Recognize non-traditional exercise. While I didn’t break a sweat every day, I was very active for most of the trip.
I played with my nephews in the backyard, running races across the yard, and doing yoga.
At the time I wasn’t thinking, hey score, I’m burning calories. But at the end of the day when I was pondering if I should go for an evening run, I remembered I’d been playing all afternoon and could enjoy spending that evening with loved ones instead.
2. When you do exercise, exercise with others. Now that I live away from home, many of my vacations are “functional” meaning I’m there to visit family and friends, not just a vacation to unwind on the beach. I love both types of vacations, but when I’m home I hate to go workout for an hour when that’s precious time I could be spending with loved ones. 
Luckily, my mom is very active and is training for her first marathon. We ran together one afternoon, had a great conversation and enjoyed doing something together that we both love. I also went running one evening running with a friend. We got in our workouts and caught up on life. (Does anyone else have an easier time discussing the complexities of life while running? My friends have told me that I run a lot faster when I’m fired up about something. 🙂 )
Moral of the story: if you have a friend, family member, or significant other that loves running, hiking, biking, ask them to join you for a workout. Check out a new yoga studio or get a guest pass to a local gym and try that class you’ve been too scared to try at home, bringing someone along for moral support.
3. Take your days into perspective and realize you are more probably active than a traditional day at home. For my job, I sit at a computer desk all day. In Utah, I was on my feet the majority of the day, whether it was enjoying games in the backyard or shopping, I still moved a lot more than I normally would.
Walking, even slowly, with my niece is more active than moving a computer mouse.
Get off the sofa and have fun with your loved ones. And don’t sweat it that you might not break a sweat.
4. Get out and enjoy the area! In Sugarhouse, one of my favorite Utah cities, there are some cute little shops scattered across a few blocks. My mom and I parked our car and walked through the neighborhood. We got some fresh air and got our bodies movin’. 
I’m convinced one of the best ways to experience a city is to get out and walk through it. Ditch the subway/skip the taxis/park your car and walk through the city, big or small. Find others ways to explore the area you are visiting, whether it’s walking from your hotel to a museum, running barefoot on the beach or hiking in the mountains. Just get out and walk!
5. Relax! You’re on vacation, remember? It’s OK to take a vacation from working out too.
Do you exercise while on vacation?
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21 Comments
Ashley
atSuch a cute little vacation recap and great ideas about working out or just being active while away from home. I know what you mean about trying to spend as much time as possible with the family. Vacations at home always go waaay too fast and there are always too many people to visit + catch up with. Glad you had fun though..you are adorable!! Love all of your outfits. I want to see your shoes + hat too!! xoxo
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run]
atThank you for posting my post : ) I’d be happy to do it again!
I try to exercise on vacation, but it’s usually not a priority. This past vacation it didn’t make it in my agenda. Oh well, the trip was fun nevertheless!
.-= Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run]´s last blog ..Vegan for a Day + GIVEAWAY! =-.
Lauren
atWow, you were hard at work all vacation!!! LOL. Looks like you had a wonderful time! 😉
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Just a Typical Tuesday =-.
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
atI’m so much more active on vacations than I am at home. At home I’m sitting at my desk from 7 to 6:30. On vacation, I like to see as much of a city/country as I can with the time I have. So I’ll get up early and explore all day. When my friends and I went to Rome, I think we walked 15 miles a day exploring the city and sights!
Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries
atLove this post because I love to see pics 🙂 Your family is precious and I’m so glad you had fun. Welcome back!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
ati try to by either actually working out, swimming in the ocean, skiing, or just walking everywhere i can!
.-= Heather (Heather’s Dish)´s last blog ..I Just Haven’t Met You Yet =-.
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather
atSo true that you probably move way more than you normally would. I have a desk job too and love it when I can spend all day walking around on vacations. Looks like you had a great time!
Sarah
atWhat great pics! Such cute little kiddos 🙂
When me and hubs go on vacay, there is NO WAY I can even begin to convince him to skip a workout. That man will go for a run after a late night out, while I’m still in bed in half a coma. Because of that, if I’m in the frame of mind, I usually will hit the gym with him and at the very least get in a bit of cardio. Sometimes I even bring my yoga DVDs and squeeze that in. I feel like a slacker if I don’t 🙂
Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries
atI agree, the trampoline is definitely exercise!! Adorable picture of you and your niece. Looks like you had a wonderful trip!
.-= Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries´s last blog ..almond joyful =-.
Tina
atI agree with all of these tips! I don’t ever stress myself to keep up with traditional workouts during vacation. I rest more from focused exercise, but I know I a more active with all the activity I do on vacation. It all balances out and it’s good for the body and the mind. Glad you had a great time!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter
atThis is definitely how I exercise when I’m on vacation. When I was in AZ with my parents I went on a hike, went to my mom’s zumba classes, went to the biggest mall I have ever been to and conquered it and rode bikes too. I was only having fun and I didn’t gain any weight even though there were scones, red velvet cake and lots of bread!
.-= Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter´s last blog ..Shopping and Saving Part 1 =-.
Lisa
atMy vacations usually have some activities planned that include exercise. Hiking, sight seeing. I use the hotel gym if I need to.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Pesto Delish Dish =-.
highonhealthy
atI do exercise while on vacation but I usually tone it down a bit. Most of the time I’m exercising because without it, my day feels off. It helps lift my mood. 🙂
Thanks for the tips! They were great.
.-= highonhealthy´s last blog ..I swear I’m not blonde. =-.
Samantha @ Foodedu
atI like to exercise on vacation, but I don’t make it a priority. All the tips you suggested are excellent–all the moving and sight seeing probably adds up to a lot of exercise itself!
.-= Samantha @ Foodedu´s last blog ..Looking for "Crystal" =-.
Lauren @ Health on the Run
atThis is a great post!! When you’re on vacation, you shouldn’t stress about missing a few workouts. In the long run, you’re going to regret skipping out on time with your family (or exploring whatever area you’re visit), than skipping out on a workout….or 7. And you make a really good point that just moving more than you are used to is a form of exercise. Also, I love that you can run with your mom! I used to run with my parents a lot (before both of them had to stop running for different reasons) and I loved having that time to catch up with them.
Looks like you had a really great trip! I love all the pictures…your niece and nephews are SO cute…and I really like both dresses you’re wearing! 🙂
.-= Lauren @ Health on the Run´s last blog ..Don’t Judge a Food By Its Health Claim =-.
Jennifer
atAww how cute are your nephews?! And I love your hair! Glad you had a nice trip and stayed active without actually having to work out! 🙂
Gracie @ Girl Meets Health
atI LOVE your take on exercising while on vacation. I especially agree with the fact that we’re generally more active while on vacation that we would be on a normal day anyway. Like you, I work at a desk all day. So lately – instead of trying to burn “x” amount of calories – I just try to GET MOVING! Our ancestors didn’t think “oh my gosh I didn’t burn enough calories today,” they just enjoyed life…and being active was part of that! Okay, now I’m going off on a tangent 😛 But the further I go on my “healthy lifestyle” journey, the more laid back my view of exercise becomes…so I naturally love this post !
.-= Gracie @ Girl Meets Health´s last blog ..slow it down. =-.
Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker
atCUTE dress! And I do exercise on vacation. Usually I take it easier and enjoy myself more with different activities (like kayaking and biking). 🙂
.-= Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker´s last blog ..Grilled EVERYTHING =-.
andi
atwonderful thoughts and tips! one of my gems is to not be afraid to cut it short–we exercised most days on our honeymoon, but halved what we normally did. and ditto above, super cute dress! 🙂
.-= andi´s last blog ..hey hey, married lady. =-.
Nichole
atClearly you waxed me on working out while on vacation, lol. I had the best of intentions. Mornings I managed to swim and run, but the afternoon I managed to swim…up to the pool bar. Ahh…when in Rome or wherever. Sneaking it in is important though. Pics are awesome!
claire
atI am just catching up now but love all the ways you talked about to keep active while on vacation. I do a TON of walking on vacation usually and try to fit in a little running when possible for some quick cardio. I ran only one mile while in philly over the weekend when I had ten extra minutes to go down to the gym. I didn’t care though since I walked miles each day. Relaxation is definitely more important to yourself and those you are with though.
Sounds like a fun trip!
.-= claire´s last blog ..quick & sweet =-.