When you have a regular daily routine of work and sports to follow, there’s always an excuse to delay that next holiday vacation abroad. Many of us create barriers to prevent ourselves from traveling, because we face issues with finding equipment, space, time, and motivation to do sports or work-out when being on the road; especially if you decide to go on a long-term journey. However, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself fit and motivated on the road. In this article, I will go through 6 ways to travel Europe in shape and how to keep a healthy body on the road.
Book your next trip to a destination with hiking trails
With endless popular mountains and hills to explore, Europe offers lots of hiking trails expanding from the Northern Lapland Mountains, to the famous hiking trails of Cinque Terre in Italy, as well as the popular volcanoes for hikers in Santorini. These spots are dreamlands for adventurous travellers, and you will enjoy getting ‘into the wild’. Some of my favourite destinations, requiring a lot of hiking through the exquisite nature to explore, are Iceland (Reykjavik), Luxembourg, and Romania (Brasov).
Try various water-sports
If you love the seasides and waterways, come visit harbour cities like Hamburg, Lisbon, and Genova (Genoa). There are endless water sports here for you to try: snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddling, etc. Be more adventurous and go for surfing and diving in Portugal! If you prefer to just relax by the beach, going for a swim is also a good way to keep fit.
Go on foot instead of taking public transport
Most cities in Europe have all the main attractions lying around the city centre or a certain area, making it easy to explore things on foot instead of using public transportation. If you don’t plan on going out late for the nightlife, wake up early the next morning for a short workout, and even put on your running shoes for a quick round of exploring the city while burning calories.
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Join the free walking tours
Have you have just decided to book that plane, and landed in a new city without either knowing about it or planning anything? In this case, I recommend taking a free walking tour on the first day of the trip. These tours are usually organized by the locals and experienced travellers who will show you the city that they know by heart. Some well-known associations that run free walking tours in Europe are Sandemans New Europe and Can You Handle It Tours. Mosts of these tours last for about 2 to 3 hours. Bring comfy shoes to be prepared for a lot of walking.
Eat healthy and save money on food
Pack healthy snacks or small meals in a box to take with you on the road instead of grabbing junk food along the the way. Stay in a hostel and cook in their kitchen if you can. Take a refillable bottle of water, and constantly drink plenty everyday to keep yourself hydrated. Before ordering in a restaurant that you have never been to before, keep in mind to check other tables or ask the waiter/waitress for the portion size. You may not want to end up eating a huge pizza by yourself, so instead go for a healthy option on the menu (e.g. seafood instead of red meat).
Spare extra time for working out
For long-term travellers, learn some quick, fat-burning workout routines, and spare a certain period of time every day for it. Check ahead if your hotel has a gym. One highly recommended hotel chain in Europe and America that focuses on fitness is TRYP by Wyndham. Their gym rooms are equipped with the latest facilities including treadmills, ellipticals or exercise bikes, workout gear, and mats. Their fitness centres are also open 24 hours a day, and many of their hostels offer access to local sport clubs. For most local gym chains in Europe, you can purchase a day-pass if you plan to spend no more than a month in the city.
Keep a health journal and be consistent!
Most importantly, make sure you do some physical activities everyday and reward yourself by writing down your progress. Even just a few push-ups, sit-ups, or squats count in your health journal. Stop worrying about interrupting your daily exercise routine, and book your next trip soon!
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