Raise your hand if you planned on working out during you last trip but felt too exhausted to actually exercise?
C’mon…..be honest!
You’re among friends here. It can happen to the best of us.
Finding a consistent exercise routine while traveling can be tough. When you’re in the comforts of your home, it’s easy to try to stick to a regular workout routine. That completely changes the moment you leave your town for a few days.
How will you be able to squat if there are no barbells?
How can you do a pull up if there’s no pull up bar at your hotel?
How are your legs going to get stronger if there is no leg press?
Wouldn’t it be magically if there was a consistent exercise routine that could stay with us no matter where we traveled?
Imagine not having to worry about playing Goldilocks & The Three Bears while searching for the same weights you were using during your normal workouts.
“This 15 pound dumbbell is too heavy, This 10 pound dumbbell is too light……This 12.5 pound dumbbell is jussst right!”
You would not have to worry about your exact treadmill statistics. The machines at your gym may say that you go at a pace of 3.7 mph but this new treadmill you’re on doesn’t quite feel the same does it?
What about your body?
No matter where you travel, the one consistent thing you will always have with you is your body. Your body is the perfect portable training machine. There’s no equipment needed when you just focus on using your body for exercise.
It’s easy to forget how functional our bodies truly are. We tend to look down upon bodyweight exercises. If it’s not some sort of gadget or object, we believe it’s not good enough to challenge our bodies. Who would want to do a bodyweight squat when a barbell back squat sounds so much cooler!
Its time to put your egos away!
I’m about to introduce you to an exercise that will get the job done no matter where you travel too!
This exercise is so easy that 99% of the people who will read this article will not even attempt to do it!
Why do we fall down?
The problem with this exercise is that it symbolizes life itself. During your diet and exercise programs there will be a mix of good and bad days. Most of the time when we encounter the rough patches of life we tend to give up. Those days are the ones we remember the most.
This exercise will make you realize that its up to you to get yourself up off the ground and get going again! You need to be the one that will push yourself to get to that next level!
It’s so Embarrassing
This exercise is so simple because it will embarrass you. Yes, it truly is embarrassing to do this exercise in front of others. Just like it’s embarrassing to walk on the beach when you had over six months to lose 10 pounds and you didn’t lose a single pound despite telling everyone how much you were exercising before the trip!
This exercise is not macho or cool enough to have an awesome name. You won’t find this on any CrossFit WOD or Muscle Fitness magazine because it’s not “real” enough for fads.
The #1 Easiest Exercise
Here’s the easiest exercise you can do while traveling. It is called Up-Downs.
All you need to do is get onto the floor. Then get yourself back up off the ground.
Complicated right?
Here’s why this is a great exercise:
- It combines the whole body in its movement.
- You have the upper body pushing off the ground like a push up.
- You have your lower body pushing off the ground like a squat and/or lunge.
- You will be testing your balance and agility when you rise off the ground and back onto your feet.
The first time I ever heard of this exercise was in this article by the great, Dan John. It seemed so simple when he said it. Who knew when I finally tried it out myself, that I discovered how much it truly worked the body out!
Imagine doing this exercise consistently while traveling. Not only are you building fitness but you are getting your body conditioned for old age.
Wouldn’t you like to be mobile and nifty when you get older?
How many of us have relatives who struggle to get up out of their seat? A person that does Up-Downs will have the strength and mobility to easily get up off the ground.
As easy as this exercise seems, it can be considered a cardio exercise. Try to do as many Up Downs as possible in five mins and tell me if you don’t find yourself sweating!
You can go up and down on one side of your body or you can utilize both sides (which I recommend) to get all areas of your body involved.
What do you have to lose?
I know I know this sounds super easy! Next time you’re in a room, why not give this exercise a try?
It’s just too simple, right?
I told you earlier, that 99% of the people reading this article wouldn’t try this exercise while traveling. Those will be the same people complaining about not having a traveling exercise to do.
Its time to think outside the box! Get moving today!
