Traveling for business? Work in a workout

When you're traveling, you can stick to your fitness routine — seriously! Use these simple tips to maintain your fitness program when you're away from home.

If your job keeps you on the road, you know how challenging it can be to maintain your fitness program. Hours of travel and back-to-back meetings may leave little room in your schedule for exercise. But it's not a lost cause. A little dedication and planning can help you stay in shape when you're traveling.

Pack for fitness

Before your trip, call your hotel and ask about on-site or nearby fitness facilities. Then pack accordingly. You may want to bring:

• Athletic shoes
• Exercise clothing
• Swimsuit
• Jump-rope
• Resistance tubing
• Tennis racket
• Music and headphones
• Exercise video or DVD

If you prefer a quicker pace, ask the hotel staff about renting in-line skates or a bicycle.

Start right away

Wear your walking shoes when you travel. If you're traveling by plane, store your carry-on bags in a locker and walk briskly through the terminal while you're waiting for your flight. Pump your arms to increase your heart rate. During your flight, get up once an hour to stretch and walk.

If you're traveling by train, walk through the cars occasionally. Walk outdoors when the train stops to let passengers on and off. If you're driving, take frequent breaks to get out and stretch. Even a short walk around a rest area can boost your mood and energy level.

Check out the facilities

When you arrive at your destination, check out the fitness facilities at your hotel or a nearby health club. Then schedule time for a workout. If the options seem limited, get creative:

• Use the halls. Walk up and down the hotel halls. Better yet, climb the stairs between hallway laps.
• Get wet. Swim laps in the hotel pool.
• Skip rope. Use a jump-rope in the hotel's fitness room or at the edge of the parking area.
• Do jumping jacks. Try a few sets right in your room.
• March in place. Pump your arms to increase your calorie-burning power.
• Try aerobics. Follow an aerobics program on TV, or play an exercise video or DVD from home.
• Use resistance tubing. These stretchy tubes offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them. You can use resistance tubing to build strength in nearly any muscle group.
• Take advantage of your own body weight. Try push-ups, abdominal crunches and leg squats.

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