The Takeaway: Don’t make fitness a chore. Make it a fun part of your normal activity.
My wife and I have been enjoying a vacation in Hawaii before our first child arrives…we’re on our “baby-moon.” Usually when I travel, I take one of two fitness paths. The first is to pack up the TRX, heart rate monitor, workout apparel, and continue with my normal routine, possibly varying it a bit based on equipment available at the travel location. The second option is more of a muscle maintenance and recovery path. Because I usually travel for just a few days, I’ll take some time off from my normal routine to give my body a break.
Since this vacation comes on the heels of taking a three-week hiatus from intense activity (see my recent article on injury and recovery), I didn’t want to continue my inactive period for another 2 weeks. So this time, we took full advantage of our vacation spot and hit the outdoors!
Since arriving in Hawaii 13 days ago, I haven’t been to a gym once. What we have done, however, is walk everyday (not having a rental car will promote that). The benefits of walking are frequently underrated and underestimated. And because my wife is 6 months pregnant, it’s a great exercise for her and it gives us more time together while staying fit.
I had a chance to do the moderate climb up to Diamondhead, the crater that is one of Hawaii’s most recognized icons. This proved to be a great workout and the view from the top was breathtaking. We also went snorkeling, and even shot some video for our upcoming “TRX for Pregnancy” series and E-Book.
To top it all off, I just did a sprint triathlon on Oahu…three days from seeing the flyer in a magazine to starting the swim portion of the race in the Pacific! I’ve written and spoken about functional training numerous times. What’s more functional than being physically able to perform fun activities while spending time with family and loved ones?
Over time, society has made fitness and working out more of a production than it should be. We should follow the example of children – taking part in activities for the fun and not the calorie burn or guilt associated with missing a regimented workout. Fitness should be about staying healthy and living a full life. Don’t get wrapped up in the workouts themselves. Get out, move about, and enjoy it!
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