Top Tips for Working Out While Away from Home

When most people think of working out, they generally think about sweating it out at the gym, or perhaps going for a run through familiar territory via a favourite route. However, if you’re away from home, keeping up with your training habits can be really tough. After all, your gym is pretty far away!

Likewise, if you’re in an exciting new destination, one of the last things you’ll want to do is be stuck indoors on a treadmill. Plus, you may not even be staying anywhere near a gym. Though you can have it all – you can travel the world whilst still keeping up with your fitness regime. Here are some top tips for doing just that.

Find accommodation with a gym

Seems a little obvious, but if you can’t survive without the gym for a few days, your best bet is to book London hotels special offers that include access to one, so you can roll out of bed and have your standard workout before you go off exploring.

There are great hotels such as The Devonshire Paddington that have a gym, so you don’t need to feel guilty about that full English breakfast!

Prioritise your workout 

Just as you would whilst at home, don’t just try to find a bit of spare time to work out – make the time. It can be a good idea to work out first thing in the morning, that way, you’ll have it taken care of early on, and can just concentrate on sight-seeing and exploring for the rest of the day.

You’re also more likely to be more sensible with your food choices if you work out in the morning, as you won’t want to undo all your hard work by eating loads of junk food throughout the day, too.

Scope out fitness classes in the local area 

If you prefer group exercise to solo workouts, why not look into attending a fitness class in the local area? As well as getting active, they’re also a great way to try something new, maybe that you wouldn’t or couldn’t at home. They’re a good way to meet people – both locals and tourists alike – too.

There are plenty of classes all over London, including those offered by top hotels near Paddington Station. We’re pleased to share that the Chilworth now even offers hot yoga classes which are without a doubt the perfect way to relax and unwind whilst of course, breaking a sweat!

Explore your temporary home by foot

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new place is to get out there and explore it on foot. Whether you want to join a walking tour, or simply get lost by yourself, it’s a great way to discover your surroundings, and learn something new.

It’s also, of course, a great way to stay in shape, so why not ditch the taxis and walk instead? Just make sure your phone is fully charged before you set off, so you don’t end up stranded if you get a little lost!

Stay motivated with a fitness tracker 

Don’t leave your FitBit at home when you hit the road, so you’ll be more likely to notice if you haven’t gotten your 10,000 steps in! Wearing a fitness tracker on your holiday will act as a reminder to get moving if you’ve been too inactive, and is a great way to see how many steps you’ve taken when exploring a new place.

Hire a bike

Many cities now have some form of user-friendly bike rental system, which is great if you love cycling but couldn’t quite fit your bike in your suitcase! This can be a fantastic way to get around the city, working your glutes as you go.

For example, London’s public bike-sharing scheme, Santander Cycles, is available 24/7, 365 days a year. There are over 750 docking stations and 11,500 bikes available across London to help you get around quickly and easily (and very cheaply).

The scheme includes south-west London, so now you can saddle up anywhere from Shepherd’s Bush to Canary Wharf, and Wandsworth Town to Camden Town and beyond, starting near great hotels like The Chilworth.

Try some simple ‘no gym required’ style workouts 

Throughout the world, you’re often never that far away from a playground or a park, which you can utilise as your own gym. Some even have exercise equipment that’s free for public use, which is extra helpful.

When staying at the likes of the Chilworth, you’ll be within walking distance of one of the best parks in London – Hyde Park. It’s an absolute haven for runners, as the grounds are super special… and right on your doorstep!

It’s also important to be flexible. Incorporate bodyweight exercises into your routine that you can do in your hotel room, such as crunches, push-ups, or yoga, for example. You can find a heap of simple workouts you can do without any equipment online that helps, too.

Don’t forget your rest days

As your personal trainer will tell you, rest days are sometimes just as important as your workout itself. So even though you’re travelling, and want to make the most of your time there, make sure you’re not overdoing it. Factor in time for your body to rest, recover and rejuvenate, to avoid injury and exhaustion.

If you’re going super hard at it, you could even look into getting a sports massage on your travels to speed up recovery, too. Sports massage varies from regular massage as the therapist physically activates the tissues using a much deeper approach. Knowledge and thorough understanding of the musculoskeletal, myofascial, lymphatic and neural systems is vital in providing the best possible preventative and rehabilitative soft tissue therapy. At our boutique spa, we offer an invigorating and intense 60-minute sports massage for just £90 – which we guarantee will be the best £90 you’ve ever spent!

Be mindful of (some) of the food you’re enjoying

Eat right, drink plenty of water, and go to sleep at a reasonable hour, even while travelling. To make it easier on yourself, buy groceries when you can to decrease the temptation to eat out for every meal.

A big healthy breakfast is what fuels your energy for the rest of the day and gets your metabolism going. Our great bed and breakfast option is great for getting a healthy start to your day. Our breakfasts are freshly prepared every day by our hardworking team of chefs, and as well as the standard (and tasty) traditional English breakfast options, we’re pleased to offer lots of lighter ones too, including smoothies and juices.

Also make sure you’re staying hydrated, by drinking plenty of water – and not too much alcohol or caffeine. Most places have bottled water easily accessible for you to buy, but if not, consider investing in a quality self-filtering water bottle.