Travelers: Advice, please!

GreenTeaForDays
GreenTeaForDays Posts: 166 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
My job is sending me to Canada (I'm an American) for 6 weeks. While I am totally excited about the opportunity, I am pretty disappointed that the trip is going to slow down my progress towards my fitness goals (training for a half marathon and starting a weight training program). I would like to know if anyone has any advice on how to keep on track without reliable access to MFP or a gym!

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • alyson820
    alyson820 Posts: 448 Member
    They don't have internet in Canada? Running is illegal?
  • stephmo86
    stephmo86 Posts: 45
    When my mom was on vacation (or wherever) she'd start the day out with a long walk. Just take a map in case you get lost. :-) Maybe you can find some good workouts for no equipment, google travel workouts or something like that?
  • LillysGranny
    LillysGranny Posts: 431
    They don't have internet in Canada? Running is illegal?

    not to be a smarty butt.....yeah.
  • nakedsun
    nakedsun Posts: 115
    Where are you coming up here? It's great scenery in some areas!


    Walking/running is an easy to do thing without access to a gym. It also depends where you stay - most hotels have pools or gyms, etc as well. There's also a ton of public pools as well.
  • mfp_junkie
    mfp_junkie Posts: 359
    Where are you going in Canada? I live in Toronto, used to live in Vancouver and Ottawa. Could give you some help re: where to run, if you are coming to one of these places.
  • sister_bear
    sister_bear Posts: 529 Member
    I have travel tips in my blog. Some of it may be useful.

    In the dinosaur times, I lost about 30 lbs by keeping a food diary in a real notebook with pen and paper. I had a book that estimated nutritional content of food, so I would add up my calories at the end of the day. It was tedious and more hit or miss than MFP, but it worked, which is why I started calorie counting again.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Stick to lean unsauced meats and steamed veggies. Limit starches especially in restaurants where the bread is often smothered in butter or some oil. Just make good choices as best you can.
  • virginia65us
    virginia65us Posts: 106 Member
    Walking and jogging can be done anywhere. Resistance bands and pilates DVDs can be done in any hotel room. Food can get tricky when you're eating out all the time. Many times when I go out to dinner I order a garden salad and an appetizer instead of an entree. It takes a lot of focus when there's so much good food available, but you can do it. You sound really motivated. Good luck on your trip!
  • fabafter5
    fabafter5 Posts: 200 Member
    It doesn't have to slow you down. You can run anywhere right? I would try and eat right and get some milage in. In the hotel room you can set up your own HIIT.

    Make a list of excercises you can do and do a ladder. For instance 40 push ups, 35 jumping jacks 30 squats, 25 lunges, 20 mountain climbers, 15 dips 10 bend and thrusts and 5 burpees. Do these for 30-60sec and a short rest in between. Rinse and repeat.

    This is what I have to do when my husband travels and I'm stuck at home working out. It really gets my HR up!

    Oh and there is an App for that!

    ETA: Most Hotels have stairs so you can add that into your morning training. You might look like a crazy person but you will stay in shape. Make sure you have access to a pool if you get to choose your lodging.
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    It's only going to slow down your progress if you allow it.

    Walk. Everywhere you can.
    Go to the store and get healthy foods.
    Find a gym. Use it.
    Run. I bet Canada has parks, too. Find one.
    If you don't have Internet access daily, track your calories via paper/pencil. Take a calculator if it will help.
    Drink water.

    Also, while you're there you can:

    Enjoy the culture. That might include Canadian Beers/Wine ... find some you like. Account for it.
    Go to their museums and other points of interest. You never know if/when you'll get back there.

    What you can't do:

    Use this as an excuse to derail. It's life. It happens. Go with it. Enjoy!
  • impyimpyaj
    impyimpyaj Posts: 1,073 Member
    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/12/20/the-20-minute-hotel-workout/
  • sweetheart03622
    sweetheart03622 Posts: 928 Member
    If you really won't have access to internet, get a paper and pen diary. If you can't get outside for a run, start your day with body weight exercises: push-ups, lunges, squats - and be extra mindful of your eating. You can do it if you stay focused.
  • virginiejaubin
    virginiejaubin Posts: 497 Member
    Like others are asking..where are you exactly going?! I'm from Montreal so I might be helpful if your coming my way!
  • GreenTeaForDays
    GreenTeaForDays Posts: 166 Member
    They don't have internet in Canada? Running is illegal?

    I am not am idiot.

    :(

    No, I won't have my iPhone with me and will be doing field work rather then my usual desk job (definitely looking forward to being less sedentary!).

    As for running, I really hope I will be able to find time and nice routes. I have been looking into it. I guess I am just accepting that the weights are going to have to take a back seat. I wanted to start NROLFW :/
  • GreenTeaForDays
    GreenTeaForDays Posts: 166 Member
    Like others are asking..where are you exactly going?! I'm from Montreal so I might be helpful if your coming my way!

    Montreal, I wish!

    I'll be in the outskirts of Winnipeg. It seems a little rural but is not too far from the city center... maybe a 20 minute drive.
  • blf20
    blf20 Posts: 97 Member
    As someone who travels several times a year, I always research my surroundings before I leave. If your hotel has a website, start with that first. Then ask work colleagues in the area for advice on good routes. If there's a Running Room store nearby, they will have pre-set routes that you could follow. I can't remember the name of the product but there's a mini-GPS that you can set before you run that will take you right back to where you started.

    My experience in travelling in both Canada and the US is that Canada often has more healthy options for eating, although if you are in the far north, the options may be more expensive.

    Good luck!
  • GreenTeaForDays
    GreenTeaForDays Posts: 166 Member
    It doesn't have to slow you down. You can run anywhere right? I would try and eat right and get some milage in. In the hotel room you can set up your own HIIT.

    Make a list of excercises you can do and do a ladder. For instance 40 push ups, 35 jumping jacks 30 squats, 25 lunges, 20 mountain climbers, 15 dips 10 bend and thrusts and 5 burpees. Do these for 30-60sec and a short rest in between. Rinse and repeat.

    This is what I have to do when my husband travels and I'm stuck at home working out. It really gets my HR up!

    Oh and there is an App for that!

    ETA: Most Hotels have stairs so you can add that into your morning training. You might look like a crazy person but you will stay in shape. Make sure you have access to a pool if you get to choose your lodging.

    Very helpful. Love the stairs idea!

    I do expect Winnipeg should have some nice weather. I am lucky ill be skipping out on some of Atlanta's worst!
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member


    I am not am idiot.

    :(

    No, I won't have my iPhone with me and will be doing field work rather then my usual desk job (definitely looking forward to being less sedentary!).

    As for running, I really hope I will be able to find time and nice routes. I have been looking into it. I guess I am just accepting that the weights are going to have to take a back seat. I wanted to start NROLFW :/
    [/quote]

    If you find a route that goes under a bridge, you'll find all sizes of rocks to lift. I do this on my park route. I find one and start lifting. I just realized the other day, "Hey, you could also carry it up the stairs as you do stair laps."

    I don't think anyone was calling you an idiot. Rather, we are saying, "Look around." You'll find an abundance of workouts if you take the time to think about all of your options once you get a look at your surroundings.

    There are many ways things we have in our everyday world that can be used for workouts. Sometimes we just don't "see" them.
  • mfp_junkie
    mfp_junkie Posts: 359
    Like others are asking..where are you exactly going?! I'm from Montreal so I might be helpful if your coming my way!

    Montreal, I wish!

    I'll be in the outskirts of Winnipeg. It seems a little rural but is not too far from the city center... maybe a 20 minute drive.

    Good news. Manitoba just got electricity last year! You're all set.
  • Bagman12002
    Bagman12002 Posts: 216 Member
    If you can talk to the person who makes reservation so you can have a gym and pool and most hotels have internet acccess so If you have a laptop then you still have access to MFP. If you have a counterpart in Canada talk to them about the local area and where to go for a run and for fun.
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