Planes, trains, and automobiles. That pretty much sums up our life. The only thing missing from that list is hotels. We spend a lot of time in hotels. We even called one home for a majority of the season. My fiancé, Kory, is a professional hockey player, which keeps us constantly on the move.
We started the hockey season off by driving from Toronto to Orlando. After 1,300 miles and three hotel stays, it was nice to finally get settled into our apartment. That didn’t last long. One Sunday night, about a month later, we were out enjoying a nice dinner when Kory got the phone call. The phone call that basically says, “Drop everything and get on a plane first thing tomorrow morning.” So, that’s what we did. We were on a plane to Toronto the next morning before we even had time to process what was going on.
While Kory played for Toronto, we lived in a hotel for two months. Being a professional athlete, it is obviously important for Kory to stay healthy, but I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well. “Healthy” has different meanings for different people, but being healthy to us means eating well and staying active. Both can be a challenge when living in a hotel for 60 days. Since I have had a lot of experience trying to stay healthy while traveling, I would love to share my tips with you.
Eating well
Whether you are flying, driving, or taking the train, it can be challenging to find healthy food options to keep you satisfied on the go. While it’s not as easy to find healthy snacks as it is to find junk food in airports or rest stops, it’s still possible. You just can’t be picky. Try to find a salad with healthy additions, a bag of almonds, or a piece of fruit. Better yet, bring along a cooler with your own healthy
food options. I know that it can be a pain having to use the bathroom many times, but drink lots of water. It’s important to stay hydrated!
While I know the breakfast buffet at hotels can be enticing, what with their huge variety of cereals to choose from and the make-your-own-waffle station, it is best to choose from the healthier options. Go with a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit or eggs, whichever you prefer.
In order to keep our bank account healthy as well, we always cooked our own meals in the hotel room. A crock pot is very useful and anyone living in a hotel for an extended period of time like us should consider that option. There are so many healthy meal options you can make in a crock pot. That thing saved our lives!
Staying Active
Make use of the hotel gym. It may be small, but you will still be able to get a good workout in. If the gym has limited equipment like ours did, it’s important to find ways to constantly change up your workout routine so that you don’t get bored and your body doesn’t get bored. You want to keep it guessing. Try sprint intervals on the treadmill instead of running at a steady pace. If the gym doesn’t have weights, don’t worry, just make good use of bodyweight exercises. Do some squats and lunges. Try some burpees and mountain climbers. The options are endless. There’re plenty of things you can do to switch up your routine.
If the hotel has a pool, swim laps.
Take the stairs. Instead of going up and down in the elevator all day, use the stairs. It saves time waiting for the elevator and saves you from those awkward elevator encounters as well. You all know what I’m talking about.
If you’re staying in a city, walk everywhere. You don’t need to take a cab. Save the money and take in the scenery around you.
Enjoy your travels and keep these things in mind to help you stay on track!
